Post pilgrimage 5 - The end

 23rd April, Sunday. Day I had been looking forward in particular as I was going to meet yet more old friends. This weekend was going to be the highlight of the trip and didn't disappoint :D

I was to meet them at Zushi(not related to the food :D) which meant basically crossing through Tokyo. Took some time! As it is over 2 hours over 3 train lines and crossing some 110km or so.

Sometimes it's easy to forget scale of this place. In my mind these two group of friends basically live in the "same area" but actually in separate cities with Tokyo in the middle! 

First time I met with this particular friend I was able to experience the "Bushi Taiken" aka dressing up the kimono samurai used to wear and meet her young daughter. Next time in 2 days we cooked together and then they came to encourage me in the Odaiba marathon where I ran 10km. Third time we did food from fish paste along with chatting around(and me getting beaten silly in japanese card games by her daughter!). Next time it was pottery making together with the daughter. This year when she had asked what I would like to do I was bit stumped for an answer(we had done already so much! I was running out of ideas!) but in the end suggested kayaking figuring maybe daughter would like it as well(especially with her father with whom she likes to do stuff together). Seemed to work out so after light meal of sashimi we headed to the place where we could try it.

I also had fun time with the son that was by now about 1.5 years old. Last time I had met him he was still quite small but this time was already more active and didn't seem particularly nervous about me either. Nice! Hard to get photo with him though as he was constantly on the move :D Busy little fellow! Guess best time to get photos of him would be when he's sleeping...

Now never having done anything like this I was rather nervous. And so was the daughter as they were rookies as well! I also had another worry and that was whether they would have wet suits for my size but as it was they had. Bit snug but good enough.

 At first in the beach we were shown basic pedaling and explained what to do if kayak flips over. So far so good. Then it was time to head to the kayak with father in front, daughter in the middle and me at the rear. We were bit surprised when told that I, being heaviest by far, would be better off in the rear. Well this was fairly good position for me but painful order for the dad :D Daughter sometimes accidentally slipped her pedal hitting him straight to the head much to her amusement :D Poor dad!

At first we paddled around the beach and that's what I thought it would be but then teacher led us further to the sea(yikes). We went quite far actually! We then landed on a beach for quick tea&cookie break teacher had prepared. As the wind was juuust about quiet enough we then headed for a quick kayaking over some rocks with seagulls on them.

Just wish I had had camera with me! (above photo was taken by teacher with water proof camera). If I ever get a chance for this kind of thing again and know it in advance I might invest for a camera suitable for taking to a sea. Current ones don't feel like risking in case boat flips over :D

Which it actually did! But on purpose. Before ending teacher asked if we would like to try how it goes when kayak flips over. Ironically the daughter who had been bit anxious about that possibility in the start immediately said "YES!". Guess chance to swim a bit during tea break gave her confidence that the life vests really keep her floating(no problems! They kept even ME floating without effort :D). So on mark the three of us leaned right and...SPLOOSH! We were in water. Alas I  was bit careless so swallowed bit of sea water. YUCK! Rather salty! MUCH saltier than in Finland actually! Compared to this Finland's water is more like fruit juice. Of course this is real sea while Finland's sea is more like a bay. Probably has something to do with it.

Rather nice experience.

 On the way to the restaurant the kids were eating this peelable cheese. Seems they like it. Never eaten cheeese like this. Wonder what's the main purpose is? Or is it really quick snack to eat like this?

 For the dinner we went for Gyoza restaurant. Daughter loves them(well steamed ones. Not grilled ones) and likes to do them herself as well. The sitting place had this rather interesting recession on the hold. Good for me as I had place to put so that my pose seemed like sitting normally :D

Gyoza, more gyoza, even more gyoza! These are way too good!

Monday. Trip was turning toward the end. Left the home with the friend as he left for work which was later than I expected. Arriving to Akihabara we bid farewell for this trip with him heading for next train while I headed to book off to get final book off purchases and sent my walking staff from pilgrimage on post to Finland. Didn't want to throw it away but taking it on airplane would cost 75 euros(I doubt I could convince them to allow me to take it into cabin and it's too long for my bags) and surface mail is lot cheaper.

Incidentally turns out these walking staffs aren't THAT uncommon to be sent around though most are from Mount Fuji climb. But why locals feel need to post them? Taking them by train isn't too much of a trouble. Well unless you have pile of bags to carry as well :D

With this done YET ANOTHER meeting with fellow I had met before walking around the Ginza dropping off bag to coin locker. Backbag I opted to keep with me to save about 6e(not sure did I even have enough coins for that with me at the moment)

 Banana milk shake I think.

 This is actually top of big frigging building that has tons of shopping areas etc. This opened here recently. Getting to the top took more effort than I anticipiated. The elevator had ridiculously long waiting line and I had my backbag with me!

 We were in a quite tall location!

Small water covered area.

 Getting back to Kanda station but by subway rather than JR train as usual I was actually bit lost but luckily close to this statue I got help from a local.

After this I took shower and headed for yet another meeting with old friend I had met on my first trip to Japan. Actually one of the first if not the first I met here especially from those with whom I'm still in contact. It had been over 2 years since we last met as timings hadn't worked out last two times I was in Japan. Frankly been very lucky so far in that work/family hasn't interfered more with meetings than it has!

Anyway meeting was on Ichigaya station and it had came into my attention that this was where Nihon Ki-in(Japan's igo organizations headquarter) was close to this so obviously arriving to the station I went there! Too late to play any games but got couple books from the store and see sights familiar from the Hikaru no Go manga/anime :D Now that I know where this is maybe I can one day come play here as well though would get murdered in game!

Haha the manga/anime drew this place very recognizably.

Leaving the building I found another book store from where I got more books(sigh...) before going back to station in time for arranged meeting. We spent time chatting over a dinner(with him refusing again allowing me to pay even part of the bill). We went over my Shikoku pilgrimage and some parts of Finnish language he had slight trouble(yet another Finnish speaking Japanese!). Hopefully I was of some help but damn he asks sometimes tough questions ;) Makes one appreciate teachers job even more. Even if you are native speaker doesn't mean you are necessarily good TEACHING it as you might not know why it is so. It just is!

Night view from the station while waiting for the train.

With this trip was pretty much done. Headed to room and packed in preparation for departure next day. Went to the same bar as on thursday and spent another nice time there talking a lot though made sure not as much as last time drinking :D Next day can't afford a hangover...

Finally time to sleep my last night(at least this trip) in Japan.

Well the trip to the airport was pretty simple. From Kanda station to Tokyo station and from there bus to the airport. Easy as pie. No need to reserve ticket. Was early enough I didn't even need to get to the first bus. On airport took bit more effort to find right place to check in(got confusing info) and had to wait a bit for checkin to begin. It was rather crowded at the station though with tons of people. Announcements were going on to not delay with security check. Well I had no trouble time wise since I was so early so once I had got rid of bags(phew. HEAVY!) I went through security check without issue. Bought more candies etc for little brothers and nieces as souvenirs and noticing I could take purchases with me couple snacks and drink for quick second breakfast. Long flight and plane meals aren't exactly that big...

 This size actually. Good but doesn't really fill you.

After long flight(the one thing I hate about Japan is long flights between Finland and Japan) I was at Finland. Getting bags I then went and left. Trip was over. Well except for writing this blog and making photo album that still remains to be done.

Finally couple photos from decorations around Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

Post pilgrimage 4 - Meeting friends, giant statue, JAXA center

With friday not much to say. I was going to meet a friend I first time met two years ago near Narita and the way trains work it would take several hours to get there. Also I had quite a bit of hangover from last night (:D) so didn't feel like wandering around the Tokyo anyway so spent the morning mostly laying around trying to get my head feel like it's not going to explode!

Around lunch time headed out for a meal and ran into konomiyaki restaurant. This is the Osaka speciality I had tried in fast-food stand style but this was more fancy restaurant. And tasty! If I go again to Osaka one day got to try to find good restaurant from there as well.

 Took it with soba(stars indicate how fast they can deliver, not quality) with 2 toppings. Cheese and I think meat was second choise.

After tasty meal I read some more before jumping to the train heading toward Narita and from there local train to final destination.

Rice fields after rice fields.

 Long time not seen view but easy to remember. Nothing changed. School kids walking around just like last time.

 Rest of the night we spent chatting together along with his wife whom I met first time(they had met and married after we had last time met). Nice lady and was rather pleasant night over there. And they had prepared such a good dinner. Thank you is inadequate word in return.

Unfortunately all good things comes to end and eventually I had to head back to train to head back to Kanda. As it is arrived up very late(I think around 11PM) as it was. Nice to meet with him but he is rather far from Tokyo!

Saturday, 23th of April. Yet another meeting with familiar faces as I headed east on Tsukuba express train. Meeting with couple I had met first time in my first trip to Japan and every time I had been here. They are always too kind to me. This day I spent most of the time actually speaking Finnish rather than Japanese(or English) as they are quite fluent in the Finnish so good chance to give them chance to practice it :D I had got plenty of Japanese speaking practice in this trip already so return the favour here!

 Before heading out we had this lovely light meal.

Today we had two places to head and first was this HUGE Buddha statue wife had found out. Never heard of this before but sounded good enough so off we went.

You could see it already from quite far...That's a tall one!

 That's...Very tall. Over 100 meters actually.

 Volume of the real head is 1000 times bigger(note volume. Not height).

Holds guiness record for tallest bronze Buddha statue at 120 meters!

Seems this place is located close to the Warp station Edo we visited on my first trip to Japan.

 Interesting optical effect. This is above the gate leading to the statue. Clearly reflected on the window.

HUGE!

 Nice little park there as well. Probably stunning in cherry tree season.

 Unsurprisingly for Buddhist statue standing on a lotus pedals.

 The hand gestures are called "mudra" and each symbolizes something. Think both one are "gesture of argument" used when explaining Buddha's teachings. Could be wrong though. I'm hardly expert on those.

 Had to try how good my camera can zoom up. Pretty well I would say!

 Idea here is step over foot prints saying sound expressed in hiragana in each step. a-mi-da-bu-ddha aka Amida Budha.

 Inside the statue(unsurprisingly you can enter it) smaller replicas....

 ...And some photos of construction phase.

 Some paintings and explanations of Buddha's life.

 At the top level there were 3 slits. No matter what you looked you saw this exact same view. Interesting effect.

 Another camera zoom effect.

After this we headed toward the next place of interest. JAXA space center. JAXA being Japan's version of NASA. I have been interested in space since a kid(at one point dreaming of being astronaut :D) so when I one day learned JAXA had center you could visit near friend's place I decided that I would one day visit it and they joined along for a group trip there.

 Think this is replica of satelite.

 Another replica(?) I think.

 Hey. Space suits you can take photo of yourself. Obviously I had to try :D

 Bwahahaha! :D

 Okay I have to admit the astronauts have quite a lot to learn. This is just external handling grab controllers...Sheesh. So many buttons!

 Miniatures of all the rockets JAXA has used from 50's onward. Note the tiny one on left...That was basically start of it all as it was used to test out basics of rockets. Bit improved since :D

 Nice miniature globe of earth.

After we had came back we settled down for evening of conversation and made this Korean origin food. Rather easy to do and tasty! Yum yum.

Wife had also found out(again) nice tv program about 5 coloured lakes in bit north. Soooo pretty. Got to try to go there one of these days.