Tsukubai

Sometimes I have the feeling with some people that they missing
something essential in their life.
Sensei gave me the answer to these emotions
through the Tsukubai (wash-basin of stone for the tea room).
You have to connect the kanji
in the direction of the clock. At this moment you will
find +/-:" Learn only to be contented".
She who learns just to be contended is spiritually rich,
while those who didn't learn and be contended with
their life are spiritually poor even if they are
materially wealthy.

Thanks to him. I'm more than pleased for all these
unique experiences I had with him.
He took care of me like a father will do to his daughter.
I'm yet missing his presence..

This is the end of this blog.
I thank the people who support me during all this period
and those who give me the opp to know that their are
friends.
Thanks for your friendship and looking
forward to see you soon.



Are

Kansai => Kanto

Washing kendogi and hakama for the first time in a Japanese wasserette..
Collected everything and take the shinkansen back to Kanto.
A short stop in Kamakura and finally met Sensei.
Today I had a special practice with 39 ladies from all ages in +/ 95m2..

Shedule will continue to be intensive.
Time is flying, but every second who passing I'm trying to enjoy as the moment
right now and not more..

Prima donna and spirits

The owner from the place in Kyoto informed me that
the house was a created in order by the prima donna
of madame butterfly!
This side where I slept was a battle field before, so many spirits
going in and out and hanging around the space where I slept.
Not only the kendoka in Kyoto (I think) appraciate
my ken+do but also the (soldiers) spirits.

ume trees and flea market

Sunday is the day where I don't practice in Kyoto on this moment.
Today I went with the cycle to kitano tenmangu temple for the flea market.
Sugoi!
On this moment I have some technical issue with the camera and I'm sad to not have the opp to took my own pics..
Fortunately I can sent you this link where you be able to enjoy the atmosphere of the place: http://walking-kyoto.sub.jp/tenmanume.htm.
People getting crazy to take pics of the ume. kawai!!!
In this market I find much more and find more interesting than the Toji one, but both are a must. You spent like all the morning and afternoon in such place.
There is nice food everywhere, so no trouble you can just enjoy the time looking to the different old pieces like: ceramics, obi, kimono,prints and much more.

Funaokayama park

You remember the paper about the Daimonjo Bonfire?
Well the place where I'm staying on this moment is just
next to the park. What a coincidence...
Here I am alone and not alone. The cats and the monks wake me up.
The sun is coming up through the space where I'm sleeping.

Last year I didn't have time to cook. I didn't have time
because the hard shedule of a full time job, studies and kendo.
What a pitty some people didn't understand this..
Since I'm recoverring from my operation I start to cook
again for my friends and myself.
I start again to take care of myself "como dios manda".

Recoverring start the first days in my new place.
After I return to my roots. My Spanish roots.
Good to be home. Good to feel my father everywhere,
Good to still have my grandparents.
All the village took care about me.
After two weeks and have took some energy
I decided to go to the south.
Andalucia and all his flavours and perfumes.
I travelled around and smell the gardens in La Alhambra such more in the south.
Sevilla gave me my state of mind back. Such romantic place can let nobody indifferent at all. Que bella eras..

Now I'm in Kyoto. Back to the basics. Yes basics. Big issue.
I learn every day a little bit more and lost myself
a little bit more or not??
Lost yourself and start again (not easy to do).
Do something change?? Do I really lose myself???
Just trying to believe in myself and staying confident..

Practice are every day. Every day tjotto hiyaku.
You want to practice a lot. You have to be the first.
Striking paaaaaa! Speed. It's you or your opponent... No time to think.
I'm working in slow motion. Keep centre.Just feel yes feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel..
Hips strongs forward pff and again...

Today I return with the cycle to Toji temple (flea market).
I walked around for 5 hours.
Walking around look to all these people.
Looking to all these: ceramics, kimono, monks,..
I find the people where I bought some stuff
last two years. It was nice to see these couple again.
The woman is so kawai. We remembered each other again
from two years ago.Talk to another pottery men who
told about his experience in Spain..
This time the weather is splendid..

Oyasumi

京都

Gisteren met de bus richting 京都.
Herinneringen komen boven en 'k herken een aantal zaken terug.
De stad is heel eenvoudig qua orientatie.
Bij het nemen van het openbaar vervoer moet je gewoon zien dat
je in de goede richting zit..

K bevind mij in het noord westen van 京都 dichtbij de 金閣寺 (Kinkaku-ju).
Mijn tijdelijke nieuwe plek is een zeer eenvoudig Japans traditioneel huis.
Het is een antiek stuk m.a.w. een geweldig Japans papieren huis.
Meteen achter boodschappen geweest. K geef toe dat k nog mijn zoetigheden
niet kan missen, maar verse tofu is bijna een dagelijkse kost geworden.
Je hebt silk en cotton tofu.
Men spreekt van 2 verschillende structuren: een fijn gevoelige structuur
(vers te gaan klaarmaken) en een iets hardere ruwe structuur
(bij het koken ervan).

'K ben nogal in de watten gelegd. Een eigen ruimte waar de futon klaar ligt en een kotatsu (verwarmingstructuur die onderaan de lage salontafel is ingebouwd).
Deze helpt en is nodig. Papier geeft geen isolatie en alles staat hier open
(ook de hoofdingang). De eigenaars zijn er momenteel niet, zodat ik de komende dagen hier in gezelschap van een aantal katten verblijf.

K sta versteld dat de witte poes zo veel aandacht eist van een vreemde m.a.w.ben ik van harte welkom in zijn thuis. Zodanig zo veel dat hij de schuifdeur van de keuken achterover liet vallen!! AAAh die is gewoon wild.Ondertussen staat de schuifdeur terug op zijn plaats (gelukkig).

Gisteren terug de gelegenheid gehad om in Butokuden te gaan trainen.
Het blijft een heilig plek, die ruimte heeft iets uniek...
Vanavond afspraak niet gemist met T.sensei. Deze had mij in eerste
instantie niet herkend (meer dan normaal) tot na de zware uitputtelijke gi geiko met deze geweldige sensei waar die mijn kendo (als men dit zo kan noemen) terug herkende..
Ondertussen ben k bij een aantal kendoka (sensei)geintroduceerd. K zal er dagelijks paraat staan gedurende mijn verblijf in deze stad (trainingen gebeuren dagelijk uitgezonderd op zondag).

Februarie staat voor solden in de bogu shops, zodat k morgen naar een aantal ga vergelijken. Hopelijk kan ik er met de fiets heen (het is hier al heel de dag aan het gieten).

Gedaan vr vandaag. K zit hier te bevriezen bij het schrijven van dit bericht ...

Buenas noches,

Sena

さぬきうどん

Saterday we went to Kagawa prefecture where we visited
Kompirasan (popular shrine) and Zentu ji temple.
Just for your information my friends: Shikoku is well known
as Japan'largest and most famous peligrimage places(88 temples).
These represents 88 evils that bedivial human life
(according Sh.Buddhism).
Soit these shrine is situated on the wooden hills of Kotohira
(great view of the city).The main hall is situated after 800
steps (it's half disctance of the final inner shrine who has
a very impressive construction).

Takamatsu is famous for: fish, seafood aaaaaand the local
speciality "sanuki udon" (thick white noodles =>
"the Takamatsu one should have a hard structure" usually
served with separate flask of stock and condiments).
We were driving to some udon place where Maki chan asked
me if I knew the name in hiragane to can inform her on the way
to Takamatsu if we passed some udon shop.
We tried udon in two different places to be able to
try different one, but also taste different cooking habits.
During we ate the second one both of us were
thinking the same:the first udon place has a better taste.
The thick white noodle had a hard structure instead
of the second one who was more soft.
Maki chan informs me that such of udon they usually
cooking in Osaka.