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Osaka & Kyoto Free & Easy (part 2)

9 April 2018 blogpastor Leave a comment

Saturday, 17^th March 2018 – Miyama Folk Village

Strangely I awoke early and my wife and I went for a crisp, cold morning walk over the bridge, leisurely taking in the sights and taking photos of the river and mountains and trees. The hotel served a lovely delicious breakfast. It was sad that we had to leave soon after that. We dragged our luggage over the bridge to the shopping street lined with shops selling confectionary and food and scores of touristy souvenirs.

I was seized by a crazy idea: to buy some Made in Japan handkerchiefs and wean away from using tissue paper. Not for any noble reason like saving the earth, but on a whim, to do something different, something old school. This has been happening. Recently I bought fountain pens and ink and started writing my journal with them. For sure it slowed down my writing!

Three drivers in this Toyota – international license needed.

Rural traditional Japanese guesthouse experience off the beaten track

Walking in the cool weather by the river

There are 39 thatched roof houses in this village

We lugged our luggage to JR Saga-arashiyama Station and transited to Kameoka Station where we went to a car rental to for a 6 seater Toyota MPV to drive to the tourism center for lunch and then to the Miyama Folk Village. We struggled to find the Matabe Minshuku guesthouse we had booked online, and walked and inquired around, when it was a mere 20 feet from where we had parked. The host welcomed us in and showed us around the tatami floored traditional farmer’s house. We distributed ourselves (male snorers, male non-snorers, and ladies) into the three rooms. As it was still evening, we explored the village with its rice-fields and unique houses with their gassho zukuri (praying hands) thatched roofs.

The husband and wife team showed us how to eat sukiyaki the Japanese way

At night, we were served farmers’ meal of chicken sukiyaki (casserole) and assorted pickles with rice . The chicken was probably a kampong chicken or an old female hen (with unhatched eggs in its body). The flesh was hard, and the casserole included many pieces of chicken innards. The meal included the ayu – a small freshwater fish of the salmon family, of about 5 inches. It is reputed to be sweet, the tastiest of all river fishes, and usually grilled, and could be eaten completely bones included.

We turned on the heaters as it was a very cold night we experienced. I was glad I had more than enough to keep myself warm in addition to the heaters.

Sunday, 18^th March 2018 – Maizuru Port Center & Amanohashidate

Breakfast with music followed by Sunday reflection

We had a poor farmer’s breakfast. That said it all. It was the Lord’s day and we had a time of worship. We sang the song, How Great Thou Art, and we reflected on Matthew chapter 4 (the temptation of Jesus) and broke into groups of two to share and pray for one another. Short but blessed time. We packed up and drove off to the next stop: the Maizaru Port Centre. There we had an unforgettable, inexpensive seafood lunch.

In Miyazu, we met a 40ish owner is the 13^th generation owner of the 300-year old ryokan. He brought us around and gave us a sense of the history and legacy of the ryokan. Evidently, he was proud of what he did. We were given a room on the ground floor with a beautiful garden view.

300 year old ryokan with a lovely garden view

Posing with the young 13th generation owner in front of his ryokan

Soon we were off again to the Amanohashidate View Land, a monorail or chairlift up the steep Mt Monju to view one of the top three scenic spots of Japan. Debatable, in my opinion. Anyway when you look down from the top you will see Amanohashidate (“bridge in heaven”) a three kilometre long sandbar isthmus that spans the mouth of Miyazu bay.

Beautiful view of the Amanohashidate (bridge in heaven)

Our great leader Jasmine, stared upside down to try to see a dragon!

Pausing along the 3km land bridge sandbar

These trees are really old. We tried to help.

At one end of the 3km sandbar – a good 45 minutes walk

Later on, we went down and hiked the narrow sandbar, which was forested with nearly 8,000 pine trees, some of them showing their ancient age and their interesting unique shapes. We had hoped to find some restaurants at the other end but the eateries were all closed. We decided to walk back and the eateries where we departed from were also closed. We went around hunting for food and ended up having MacDonald’s for dinner! Ironic: flying all the way to Japan to eat American fast food.

Osaka & Kyoto free and easy (part 1)

7 April 2018 blogpastor Leave a comment

Before the trip my main concern was the weather. How cold would it be? I was afraid I would be ill equipped to cope with cold weather. I prefer hot weather to cold. To be safe, I packed in three cashmeres, a woolen, several long sleeves, a long pants with fleece lining, a down vest, a jacket, a light windbreaker, gloves, a scarf and a beanie. During the trip, I had to play around with the layers day by day, and at different points in the day. It worked. However, the one thing I forgot was an umbrella. On the third day in Osaka, I bought a Made in China foldable for a few Singapore dollars.

Wednesday, 14 March 2018 – Flight to Osaka

We met at the airport at 12 noon and the flight was at 2.30pm. We arrived at about 9.20 pm. We actually lost a day in travel but saved $200 because this SIA ticket was cheaper than the overnight one. From the airport, we took a train to Hotel Nissei, Osaka where we would stay for two nights. Late supper was in an eatery that happened to be open at that late hour along a shopping street. Nothing remarkable except very friendly, young waiters.

First meal in an Osaka restaurant along a shopping street near the hotel

Thursday, 15 March 2018 – Glimpses of Osaka

Hotel breakfast was buns, hardboiled eggs, and mayonnaise mashed potato with hot coffee and tea which was fine by us, but by the second day I was happy we were changing hotels – the queen-sized bed was the size of a super-single and it creaked. We started off at 9am and explored around the hotel for a while chalking up an hour or so in a Daiso nearby. Then we went in search of an unagi (eel) restaurant near Hommachi Station (M18). It was deliciously inexpensive. Thick, tasty grilled tender flesh over fragrant Japanese rice. It was a chain restaurant: Unatoto.

On the road train around Osaka Castle grounds

Guards at the entrance of the Osaka castle gates

Outer ring of the wall around the palace park

We then headed to Osaka Castle Park and there we were transported around the grounds in a road train. We were not keen on entering Osaka Castle, as we have been to quite a few castles before. We wanted to look at the plum blossoms in the park and that we did.

Khoon, Daniel, Peter & Eunice, Karen at Japanese crepe dessert cafe

Jasmine (planner), Jabez, Kenny & Jenny, Deborah, Jacob

We explored a few covered shopping alleys at Barbara shopping area for an hour or so. Tea was tucking into fantastic Japanese crepe together at a cafe, and observing how uniquely fashionable the passersby were, especially the ladies.

When the weather is hot all year round like in Singapore, comfort takes priority: Polo shirts, round neck T-shirts, bermudas, blouse and skirts. In a cold country, there was so much more you can and have to wear: hats, scarves, gloves, stockings, boots, jackets, layers of clothing, vests – it was fashion galore.

We searched for a few second-hand shops but the pre-loved clothes were all branded stuff and were too expensive. A couple did spot and purchase for their young adult sons a few Paul Frank limited edition T shirts with cute monkey prints at prices you would pay for a brand-new jacket. This was a revelation for me!

The night is young at this famous shopping area

Well known icon of the Osaka night shopping streets

From there we went to that famous street with that huge Dotonburi Glico signboard of a runner hitting the finish line, and a gigantic crab with pincers that move. We walked around there to soak the atmosphere, enjoy street food like takoyaki (octopus balls I call them) to look for our dinner, which was for me a forgettable ramen (wheat noodles with toppings). We slowly walked back to the hotel through the shopping alleys and my wife hunted for cosmetic products my daughter requested. It was a long day. We walked thousands of steps and many kilometres.

My first impressions of Osaka are that it is clean but drab with buildings that are old and boring, and in dismal shades of grey, brown and neutral colours. The grey and cloudy skies of autumn only accentuated this feeling of monotony, darkness and gloom. How do the Osaka people (15 million) survive the winters and autumns? I guess their shopping streets give some relief with their bright colours, lights (especially at night) and variety of designs.

Friday, 16^th of March 2018 – Kyoto Arashiyama and Sagano bamboo forest

In the morning, we went to a street (near Nissei Hotel) with many shoe wholesalers. Unfortunately, there was nothing interesting to buy and we moved out of our hotel at 11am and travelled to Arashiyama to be at the beautiful Sagano bamboo forest. We checked into the Arashiyama Business Hotel, a smart hotel with lovely views of the bridge and river.

Arriving at Arayashima – lovely calligraphy

So lost in photo taking! Who is missing?

A “couple” shot is mandatory is such a romantic place

We just had to take this shot with the Japanese girls

We quickly went off to search for the bamboo forest. It was a 30-minutes walk before we reached the beautiful forest. Surprisingly there weren’t that many people. Perhaps the earlier drizzles had dampened visitors’ enthusiasm. Anyway, we spent close to an hour taking pictures, and more pictures and more pictures. The path of the bamboo forest led away to houses on both sides of a path that led into the main tourist thoroughfare. There on the main street we walloped the best udon and tempura of the trip.

A beautiful forest lies within this building!

It is called a kimono forest. Ingenious.

As darkness fell we went to the kimono forest, a creative collection of gorgeous cylinder-shaped lighted-up pillars displaying kimono designs that edged both sides of the path to the tram station. I thought it was such a great idea that Singapore should adopt somewhere for tourists to shoot videos and take selfies. Should not be kimono but maybe orchid patterns of all kinds.

We ended the evening in the single men’s room with fellowship, tid-bits and thanksgiving. It was comforting that this hotel had such lovely rooms.

Rick Seaward: a man sent by God

30 March 2018 blogpastor 25 Comments

I did not have an opportunity to know Pastor Rick Seaward personally. I was surprised that his sudden death from a car accident put me in a pensive mood. When I saw the Facebook image with the 1955-2018 it hit me. He was born the same year as me. I always thought he was my senior because of his crop of white hair.

My first memory of him was when he came to our fellowship during its formative revival years and preached a passionate message on Isaiah 61. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” This turned out to be the message his life embodied, and he went home in a glorious blaze, powered by the fire in his bones.

After that speaking engagement, I never saw him again until he showed up suddenly as the founding pastor of Calvary Charismatic Center(CCC) – a pioneer of the “church in the hotel” trend. That church grew rapidly and became the first megachurch outside of the mainline denominations (according to Harford Institute for Religion Research a megachurch is defined as one that sustains an attendance of over 2,000).

CCC also became well-known for their prodigious church planting throughout the world through their Gideonite program. They were the “it” church in those days. They also had great evangelistic rallies in the former National Stadium and blessed the local church pastors with inexpensive or free church conferences.

What strikes me about Rick is his amazing gift of faith and unflagging missional fire. He poured out his whole life and put all that he is and has at God’s disposal.

His bold desire to reach people of all races and religions caught the attention of government authorities zealous to prevent religious disharmony. He was slapped on the wrist. He was later hauled up for a technically flawed, financial transaction that had more press than it warranted. Another slap on the wrist. At that time, he was criticized for not being a Singaporean, a foreigner. Today he would have been called a foreign talent.

For a period of time he left Singapore and pastored in Auckland to help stabilize another megachurch. He left the CCC in the hands of local pastors he mentored. CCC went through a decentralization process of several regions and I thought that was one of the great redemptive things that happened as a result of the troubles that CCC went through. CCC, with its name changed to Victory Family Center, is today a family of congregations that worships in seven locations.

Billy Graham has gone home to glory a few weeks ago at a ripe old age of 99. That’s a whopping 36 years longer than Rick! Two great men of God. One an evangelist. One an apostle. Two giants. It saddens me when I think of his early departure.

I am sure most of us have accepted Rick’s early departure as something of a mystery, as a part of God’s sovereign plan which we do not fully grasp or comprehend for the time being.

Has Rick finished his God-assignment? Is that why God has taken him home?

Is Rick the one seed that needs to fall into the ground, so that it will bear much much more fruit in the decades to come?

We do not really know for certain.

We do know that it pains many to see such a giant go home when much remains to be done. The church in Singapore owes this man a great debt. He is a great loss not only to his beloved family and the church he founded and led. He is a great loss to the Love Singapore movement and the church in Singapore that has received the mantle of Antioch of Asia.

Father, we do not understand, and we do not want to pretend that we do, but we trust You completely. You are too loving to do evil, too wise to do wrong, and too powerful to have lost control. We trust You and entrust all the grieving family members and church members into Your loving care and comfort. Amen.

If you have memories of him you want to share, feel free to use the comment box below.