aitaiJapan

posted by Maria de Lourdes Hernandez Pinada, Mexico

date of activity: August 26, 2005

The most exciting day of my vacations in Japan

Japan is a beautiful country, people are very kind. It was amazing to see how nature is part of the life of Japanese people.

Japanese culture is special, too. I was reading about Japanese culture, but to be there was quiet different.

I really enjoyed my last day in Japan. I was in Kyoto after spending four days in Tokyo…and one of my dreams came true: to be a Maiko.

After to take the romantic train to Arashiyama, we walked around the little town, I was so happy looking at the variety of Japanese food, I bought some vegetables and spices in order to prepare Japanese dishes for my Mexican friends. I enjoyed trying all kind of flavors.

By the noon we went to take the lunch in a temple (Tenryu-ji) whose garden uses the architectural design of borrowed scenery. It looks like the garden is looking at the sky. It seems that this garden is part of the mountain, it’s amazing to see how the garden perfectly matches with the nature and with the mountains.

The food was different, only vegetables presented in red dishes, I really enjoyed taking my foods on the floor, and I think it would be a nice way to enjoy my food in Mexico, too. I tasted for first time, the Japanese beverage named Sake, and I really enjoyed it.

After taking the lunch we went to a Maiko Studio and my dream came true: I was a maiko for 3 hours of my life, enough time to love Japanese culture and people.

Finally I want to thank Dagmar, I really spent the best time of my vacations that day, It is very nice to meet someone who understands about different cultures, she explained me some aspects of the Japanese culture that often we cannot see when we are visitors for some days. I am sure I will come back to Japan next year, because I am in love with Japan and Japanese people. Thanks to AITAI Japan to show me one day in a life of a Japanese.

Regards from Mexico