Since I still don't have the camera problem resolved, here's a little visual of where I'm staying:
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Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Writer's Life is Boring
We saw two more Noh plays yesterday, a shorter piece that was mostly dance, and a longer piece that was quite lovely, and kept putting me to sleep. This happens sometimes with Noh, and I've learned not to fight it too much. It's impossible to sleep through the flute, regardless, and sometimes it feels more like meditation than napping.
The sun was out a little so I managed a walk in the morning, down the street past what I'm told is the local Zen temple and more or less "around the block" and back to the hotel. With a stop at the 100 yen store - again. This time I found something I've wanted since my last trip - big clips, like giant clothespins for holding comforters to a railing to be aired out.
The neighborhoods here, the streets off of and behind the main streets, are small alleyways, but very active, full of houses, of course, but also schools, small grocery stores and other little businesses. It feels, at least to me, like the real life of people going on.
The theater we attended yesterday was in Shibuya, an amazingly busy crowded part of the city. Sort of like Times Square on the busiest day you can imagine, with more shopping. The trip required us to go through two of the busiest train stations in Tokyo (the guidebook tells me Shinjuku station is the second busiest in the world).
I left the group early and made my way back to the hotel by myself. For me, this is always a step toward being comfortable when I travel - knowing I'm OK with the public transportation. Tokyo is actually pretty easy since the signs and most of the announcements are in English.
Now comes the boring part. At 5 p.m. I went back to my hotel room, slept a few hours and wrote for the rest of the night. I'm told there is karaoke in the plans for this evening, so I can make up for the one boring night.
Two more Noh plays today, at the National Noh Theatre.
The sun was out a little so I managed a walk in the morning, down the street past what I'm told is the local Zen temple and more or less "around the block" and back to the hotel. With a stop at the 100 yen store - again. This time I found something I've wanted since my last trip - big clips, like giant clothespins for holding comforters to a railing to be aired out.
The neighborhoods here, the streets off of and behind the main streets, are small alleyways, but very active, full of houses, of course, but also schools, small grocery stores and other little businesses. It feels, at least to me, like the real life of people going on.
The theater we attended yesterday was in Shibuya, an amazingly busy crowded part of the city. Sort of like Times Square on the busiest day you can imagine, with more shopping. The trip required us to go through two of the busiest train stations in Tokyo (the guidebook tells me Shinjuku station is the second busiest in the world).
I left the group early and made my way back to the hotel by myself. For me, this is always a step toward being comfortable when I travel - knowing I'm OK with the public transportation. Tokyo is actually pretty easy since the signs and most of the announcements are in English.
Now comes the boring part. At 5 p.m. I went back to my hotel room, slept a few hours and wrote for the rest of the night. I'm told there is karaoke in the plans for this evening, so I can make up for the one boring night.
Two more Noh plays today, at the National Noh Theatre.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Yes, it snowed here yesterday
This is whining, but I didn't come to Japan to watch snow fall on palm trees, but the cold rain did indeed turn into snow for and hour or two yesterday afternoon. I'm told this is the first snow of the season. It is green in a few places here, and the sun is trying to come out this morning.
I'm having a great time at the workshop, and I'm writing, but that doesn't make for exciting blogging.
Otherwise, Judy and Mariko, who where both here for the workshop in '07, took me for a traditional Japanese lunch yesterday, and were able to help me order "safe" food.
Today, we see two more Noh plays, and then I need to spend the evening writing.
I still haven't worked out my camera problem, but perhaps I can find some time this weekend to get that resolved.
I'm having a great time at the workshop, and I'm writing, but that doesn't make for exciting blogging.
Otherwise, Judy and Mariko, who where both here for the workshop in '07, took me for a traditional Japanese lunch yesterday, and were able to help me order "safe" food.
Today, we see two more Noh plays, and then I need to spend the evening writing.
I still haven't worked out my camera problem, but perhaps I can find some time this weekend to get that resolved.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Writing and the First Two Noh Plays
Still trying to catch up on my sleep and I haven't yet solved my camera problem. Yesterday started with classwork followed by two Noh plays, which is sort of a short afternoon, compared to the full-day programs we saw when I was here before.
The second play had to do with a warrior/musician whose ghost returns to listen to the music of the lute in the night.
I was also able to buy a blue and purple brocade case for my fan at the National Noh Theatre.
Otherwise, I wrote and watched the Sound of Music and caught up on my sleep.
My biggest issue right now is trying to find something I can safely eat. Almost everything has soy sauce and that means wheat. I'm sure I'll get it all sorted out.
The second play had to do with a warrior/musician whose ghost returns to listen to the music of the lute in the night.
I was also able to buy a blue and purple brocade case for my fan at the National Noh Theatre.
Otherwise, I wrote and watched the Sound of Music and caught up on my sleep.
My biggest issue right now is trying to find something I can safely eat. Almost everything has soy sauce and that means wheat. I'm sure I'll get it all sorted out.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Flight to Tokyo and First Full Day in Japan
Only a quick note this morning. My interenet access is limited and will be until the workshop is finished, about March 3.
The various flights were unremarkable, which is always good, right? I did ask for assistance from gate to gate at JFK and Seattle, which made it possible to get from gate to gate, since the flights were booked so closely together. I've never asked for a wheelchair before, or priority boarding, but it made everything easier.
Narita airport was also easy this time. My luggage was nearly first on the conveyor, customs didn't want to look through my luggage, and the bus from the airport to Tokyo was ready five minutes after I bought my ticket.
I'm staying in the same businessmen's hotel as when I was here in '07. The rooms are not the smallest I've ever seen, the hotel (in Nakano-ku) is convenient to the subway and close to the house of our workshop host. At this hotel, you leave the key at the desk when you are going out and pick it up again when you come back to the hotel. So there is always this interaction with the gentlemen who work the front desk. I find it all comforting somehow. And the hotel provides, in addition to the usual soap and toothbrush, complementary socks.
Dave and I had dinner nearby to finish up arrival day and Joyce joined us for a little while.
My first full day, Wednesday was mostly devoted to exploring the neighborhood. I visited with Joyce for a while and then walked over to the 100 yen store, which is pretty much what you would expect from any dollar store, but it's here in Tokyo. I bought a cheap change purse to hold my yen, and some little cozies for kitchen chair legs, that are intended to keep the chair from scratching the floor. I like shopping for bits of junk, I'll admit it. And I'm likely to visit the 100 yen store again before the workshop ends.
Dave met up with me for lunch, and we walked over the the neighborhood Buddhist temple and through the local cemetery.
Then we visited the bookstore around the corner, which has a very tiny collection of English language books. My most exciting find at the bookstore was a bi-lingual guide to Japanese Buddhist Sculpture.
Most of the workshop people met for dinner later in the evening. Of the 10 or 11 people who will be participating, I know six, either from Noh summer camp or my last visit here, so it's a good comfortable group.
No pictures today, since my camera doesn't want to talk to the little netbook I'm using. I hope to have this resolved tomorrow. First workshop session this morning, and then off to the National Noh Theatre for performances of Tsunemasa and Hagoromo, which I'm told will be performed by a company of all women.
Time to get moving. More tomorrow.
The various flights were unremarkable, which is always good, right? I did ask for assistance from gate to gate at JFK and Seattle, which made it possible to get from gate to gate, since the flights were booked so closely together. I've never asked for a wheelchair before, or priority boarding, but it made everything easier.
Narita airport was also easy this time. My luggage was nearly first on the conveyor, customs didn't want to look through my luggage, and the bus from the airport to Tokyo was ready five minutes after I bought my ticket.
I'm staying in the same businessmen's hotel as when I was here in '07. The rooms are not the smallest I've ever seen, the hotel (in Nakano-ku) is convenient to the subway and close to the house of our workshop host. At this hotel, you leave the key at the desk when you are going out and pick it up again when you come back to the hotel. So there is always this interaction with the gentlemen who work the front desk. I find it all comforting somehow. And the hotel provides, in addition to the usual soap and toothbrush, complementary socks.
Dave and I had dinner nearby to finish up arrival day and Joyce joined us for a little while.
My first full day, Wednesday was mostly devoted to exploring the neighborhood. I visited with Joyce for a while and then walked over to the 100 yen store, which is pretty much what you would expect from any dollar store, but it's here in Tokyo. I bought a cheap change purse to hold my yen, and some little cozies for kitchen chair legs, that are intended to keep the chair from scratching the floor. I like shopping for bits of junk, I'll admit it. And I'm likely to visit the 100 yen store again before the workshop ends.
Dave met up with me for lunch, and we walked over the the neighborhood Buddhist temple and through the local cemetery.
Then we visited the bookstore around the corner, which has a very tiny collection of English language books. My most exciting find at the bookstore was a bi-lingual guide to Japanese Buddhist Sculpture.
Most of the workshop people met for dinner later in the evening. Of the 10 or 11 people who will be participating, I know six, either from Noh summer camp or my last visit here, so it's a good comfortable group.
No pictures today, since my camera doesn't want to talk to the little netbook I'm using. I hope to have this resolved tomorrow. First workshop session this morning, and then off to the National Noh Theatre for performances of Tsunemasa and Hagoromo, which I'm told will be performed by a company of all women.
Time to get moving. More tomorrow.
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