Why are people so cruel? Why is power so destructive?
I felt uncomfortable to be here. To stand on the soiled remains of human beings.
I felt ashamed to say "I'm an American". As if I may have had something to do with it.
60 years later, an ire cloud still hovered above the lovely Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb monument.
Both stood before me as a reminder of our past and to encourage world peace as a future.
I was at Pearl Harbor 25+ years ago. I can still recall the emptiness within, when I realized beneath me were massive submarine tombs. The banging, boom-boom-boom, of the men sinking to the bottom of the sea. They knew death was their destiny.
I have been to similar places in the world, like Dachau concentration camp in Germany and Ground Zero of the World Trade Center in NYC.
Life is so precious, I question if peace in my lifetime will exist. Sadly, I think I know my answer.
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| Atomic Bomb Monument |
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| A part of Peace Park dedicated to the children lost |
Everything in the Hiroshima area was booked solid. We spent two hours trying to find something, anything, anywhere.
Ryukyu...That's what was left. I thought she said traditional. This guest house "home-stay" was on our list. We got a map and walked their. 10 minutes takes us twice as long. No street names were available to read. What? Just count the streets and if you reach the metro tracks you have gone too far.
I'm thinking, no lady your directs are a little too far out.
Searching for the "Home-stay" guesthouse I must have become delirious or something and started to sing R..Y..U..KYU where are you??? It brought a smile to my face as it reminded me of a girl named YINEBU, Syd and I met in Canada during the Olympics, who was from Japan. I sang the same silly song to Syd when we were awaiting the arrival of Yinebu.
We finally found the place with some neighborly assistance just after noon. Check in, change and head out for some sight seeing. OMG! What is this??? It didn't look very traditional to me. It appeared familiar, something my grandmother owned many years ago...A bordering house. Our new found home was three stories high, one urinal and one squatter and we had some heavy luggage to lug you know where.
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| Common Bathroom shared at the bordering house one long sink. |
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| Claudia and Drew our boarding room housemate |
I just didn't have it in me to move this junk another step. With my wrist in a brace and moms back in a brace, the little old lady, three inches shorter than me, grabbed moms bags and proceeded up the narrow winding stairwell.
I took off my shoes, placed on my indoor slippers, grabbed my bag and followed the lady to our cubical.
1/8 inch paneling separated the sectioned off walls.
We were #23. There must have been 30 cubicles. What a killing she made!
We quickly calculate a mathematical word problem.
If strong hunchback lady, who carries heavy luggage to 30 rooms, has 60 guests a night, who pay 6,000 Yen per futon mat... Wow she makes $2250 dollars a night "cash only" for a 8'x8' area and a mat on the floor.
She was our most expensive accommodation in Japan and probably will be our most expensive on our trip in all of Asia.
We think back, should have, would have, could have!!!! Lockers at the station and go, go go!! That's the way to do it right!
I spend time day dreaming how I could divide something into nothing and make some extra cash. I enjoyed the mind calculations and being part of her conquer and quest. After all she did carry our luggage. We had hoped for the price we were paying, she would carry it down too. We had already paid so we figured our chances were slim. And when we departed... she was there bright eyed and bushy tailed and carried all the luggage down :)
We spent an afternoon on Miyajima Island.
(A world heritage totaling 17 shines and of course many others fabulous Mt. Misen's Wonders.)
I really wanted to see the iconic symbol of Japan, the O-torii Gate. (The big red one that floats on the water) As the ferry slowly cruised towards the Island, there it stood just as it has since 593. The famous "Gateway" to the Itsukushimajinja Shrine standing in the sea. Such beauty.
By the time we docked and walked our way across the Island the tide was slowing moving out to sea. At first, I was disappointed. But then all of us flocked to the sight to stand beneath the gate in awe.
I can't believe it took me five years to come back to Japan.
I love it here!
