Japanese Tea Ceremony is a performance art. | Watching the tea being prepared brings you to a state of Zen. | Before the tea is served, I was given typical Japanese sweets. I had to eat it before drinking my tea. It some how “cushions” the flavor of the matcha. | Akala ko, manunood lang ako. Nagulat ako nung after I drank my tea, I was given my own implements to create me own. | Tinuruan muna ako ni ate kung paano hawakan ang ladle, paano kumuha nang mainit na tubig gamit ang ladle. Paano i-pour sa cup ang ladle at kung gaano ka daming tubig ang dapat nasa cup. | You turn the cup clockwise twice, and once you’re through, you turn the cup counter clockwise twice. | Though I will never be able to learn how to perform the Way of Tea, I am happy to have learned how to create it the proper way.
Since I came from Fude Matsuri yesterday, wouldn’t it be fitting that my first activity @okeikojapan is calligraphy? | First, you learn the Japanese terms of the materials being used. Then you are shown how to load the Fude with ink and on how to correctly “do” the brush strokes. After which, you start practicing. | Calligraphy is like a sort of dance, a rhythm. A Zen like rhythm. Sa totoo lang, it is one big lesson in patience. | Though, nag aral ako sa isang Chinese Jesuit school, and I spent 10 years writing it ( unfortunately hindi sha nag retain sa utak ko), minsan lang ako nag sulat with a brush. Mahirap po sha. | Today, not only did I learned to write the Japanese character for “beauty” , I also learned how to write my name. | P.S. You get to being home your calligraphy. 😍
Prior to being dressed, the lady asked me to enjoy myself with some Origami. The staff were busy changing people in and out of their Kimono. | From the origami book presented to me, I ended up doing two Origami Heian Dolls, the emperor and empress. | Nagulat ang mga staff nung nakita nila ang gawa ko... eh nung lumalaki ako, dahil wala pang masyadong advancement in technology, tambay na ako sa library. Doon, gumawawa ako nang simpleng origami from origami books I’d borrow from the shelves. | Folding paper is quite relaxing actually. Try nyo.
Right before lunch, I’ve managed to jump on the boat to Miyajima Island. This place is known fro maple leaves, friendly deer and the red giant Torii gate on the sea. | makulimlim lang ngayon, which is good kasi sun damage is permanent. 😂 | I mis-read the tide readings at the hostel, kaya when we got here, low tide na. Pwede mong lakarin hangang sa base nang Torii na to. | FYI this is a free standing Torii. It is not built into the sand.
Before leaving, there is a ritual here that some people partake, the ritual burning of old brushes. | They said it is to give honor for the work they’ve done. | Disclaimer: hindi ako nag sunog nang pinagluma kong brushes, kasi I find ways to use them or I gladly pass it down to someone who needs it. The festival personnel will give you old brushes that they have collected to burn in behalf of their owners. | Fude Matsuri is a festival celebrated in the town of Kumano, 20 kilometers from Hiroshima City. This festival happens every year and falls on Autumn Equinox, either September 22 or 23.
Hindi ko mapigilan sarili ko, hinahawak hawakan ko silang lahat. It might surprise you, because I myself was expecting the bristles to be stiff. But they were very soft. | and yes, nagulat din ako kasi kasing laki nang ulo ko ang isang brush. *laughs* | Sa totoo lang, at this moment I wanted to cry in happiness, relief and excitement. Hindi ako paniwala nakatating ako dito.
