A bit of business before we start today's story. If you want to see all the pictures from our trip to Panama in one convenient location. Click here:
Okay, story time.
On Saturday I opened the door to find the Kanto, the advertising rag run by the Stars and Stripes, laying on the mat. This was nothing new. The Kanto appeared at our door every week, though there seemed to be no system for when it would appear. As usual I threw it on the floor inside and continued out to start my errands for the day.
When I came back a few hours later I picked the paper up off the floor and started to read. Most of the Kanto is useless to us because it targets several bases in Japan, so most of it is inapplicable to us. But the front page can be fun. Usually some freelance writer covers an event or attraction happening over that week or month.
"Look, Grant, this garden place looks pretty. Oh, and they're having a bonsai exhibit. Too bad we can't see it."
"Why not."
"It ends tomorrow."
"We could go tomorrow."
"Really?"
"There's no reason why we couldn't."
And that is how Grant, Haji and I ended up staring at a train map around 10 o'clock on Sunday morning trying to figure out the quickest way from Yokosuka to Negishi station. We were already on the train when said map staring occurred. We knew we were going the right direction, what we didn't know was when to get off. There's a moral in that somewhere.
Anyway, we decided we needed to transfer at Ofuna. As we approached Ofuna station I glanced out the window and immediately slapped Grant's arm. He looked up and I pointed. The head of a giant, and I mean giant, female Buddha towered over the trees on the side of a hill. "I want to go there." I said. And next Sunday we will, so stay tuned.
We got to Negishi without incident. Then came the tricky part. My directions said we were supposed to take the bus to the garden. None of us had ever taken the bus and upon arrival in Japan we had been cautioned that while the trains were pretty easy the buses were a source of great confusion to the uninitiated.
So we walked. The map on the back of the pamphlet I had printed out showed only major roads, but between that and Haji's iPhone GPS thingy we managed.
The garden was worth the 30 minute walk. It was designed by a wealthy businessman called Sankei Hara. He liked to reconstructed historic buildings and stick them in is garden. It was opened to the public in 1906. Even in winter the place is beautiful. The Japanese have this ability, which most Americans lack, of creating gardens that are beautiful all year round.
Plum trees near the South entrance. We are just beginning the plum blossom viewing season.
Grant and Haji at the entrance to the inner garden.
A cruddy picture but a cool story. This lantern is said to have saved a man's life. He stepped aside just as his assassin was swinging a sword. The sword ended up buried in the lantern instead of the man.
"Look Grant," Haji said. "An ancient Japanese bus stop."
The view over the lake was really spectacular.
Tee-hee, Haji hates having his picture taken. Shh, don't tell him.
Some ladies leaving an event held on the grounds. It always makes me giggle to see Kimono coupled with modern purses.
Me on the bridge.
Yay! Bonsai!
This was my favorite tree because it had just that one tiny orange. The tree itself is only about six inches tall.
The first person who tells me what kind of tree this is wins a prize.
A pretty stream.
The pagoda from below. Evidently this is the oldest pagoda in the region.
Amazing stairway through the rock.
The view from the observation deck.
I leave you today with that image, and a quote from the conversation Grant and Haji had before leaving Sunday morning.
Grant: "Haji is a level ten adventurer."
Haji: "It's a good thing I brought my +10 adventuring jacket."
(if you didn't understand that conversation, congratulations - you're not a nerd."
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