TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO AWESOME MT. FUJI....

Monday, March 31, 2014

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO AWESOME MT. FUJI....

....and Sakae 'Eva' Yagino, our wonderful guide who we all fell in love with. She is so knowledgeable and poured so much information into us that I'm sure some spilled out along the way. In the background is one of the touring ships that we could see from the ryokan.

And the pirate ship that sailed past as well.

Eva recalled our stay as we drove to the train station.

Mt. Fuji doesn't often show itself and we were delighted the day was sunny and clear!

A woodblock print come to life!

Now it's on to Kyoto via the Super Express 'Hikari' (the bullet train) of Shin Kansen line.....which ran at a 150 mph clip! But first a group photo with Eva! We are sooooo happy!

Must have Green Tea Ice cream....

Thank you Pam for the yummy cookie (went perfectly with my ice cream). I never did figure out what the yellow ducky / chicken was???

Eva made sure we all sat together and had window seats. Here's Bonnie & Charlie with Eileen & Judith behind them.

Time to meet Amy, our new guide.

Everyone wanted a photo of these school children....

All accounted for!

And we're off to our new adventures in Kyoto!

1 comment:

Unknown said...: Wow Mt Fuji. So beautiful.; April 1, 2014 at 12:38 AM

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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.