We walked to the Peace Park late afternoon yesterday. The experience was difficult to put into words, and I stayed up late reflecting and writing. Many questions come to mind. Simply another piece of history? A further sad comment on the human condition? Has anything really changed since 1945? And then some self examination. Who am I to question? I had no child fighting in that conflict. If I'd had, would I have felt differently? Possibly, but when you are here on the ground and see a vibrant city, the decisions to drop a nuclear bomb on a defenceless population without prior warning is indefensible. It means that I can question these decisions. We all can and should. Governments of all nations have a moral tight to come down hard on wrong footed political agendas, One such misguided nut-bar resides just 400 kms from Japan. He's the one responsible for the low number on the clock below. Sadly, there are others.
Further words, perhaps pointless. Maybe my favourite method of expression will suffice.
The names of all who perished are contained in the box under the arch. They are publically remembered each year.
The ashes of many of those who perished are buried in this mound.
The peace bell...everyone was ringing it.
And this is what provides the hope. No one wants this to happen again.
Almost everyone...
Late last night, I was moved to write my first haiku...my first poem. I've written it in my 88 Temple Stamp book as well to carry with me.
Hiroshima burns,
Lost souls adrift in times space,
Rest now dear children.
I've come to this ancient land to walk an ancient pilgrimage. Only now are the reasons beginning to reveal themselves.
We live in hope.
On A Lighter Note...
Today after a rather cold night on a hard bed (I didn't know you had to turn on the heating switch, cold at 1 degree!) we woke up intending to go to see the Hiroshima A-Bomb museum. However, having spent enough time contemplating death and mass destruction yesterday we decided to head to Miyajima Island to see the shrine and just hang out in the sun. So we jumped a bus to the station, figured out our train and had a quick breakfast...buns and expensive small tea and coffee. Our short train ride brought us to the ferry terminal where we boarded our boat for the island with thousands of our new best friends!
The shrine is a special one, because when the tide is in and the gate is in the ocean and the shrine has water underneeth the pylons then it apears to be floating. Today we were on an ebb tide.
We wandered through the tour groups and "wild" deer (really...hand fed, but called wild) and walked the shore to the Shrine where we found a huge line to get in...did I say it's Sunday here?
Having seen a shrine or two, we decided to give this a pass and started walking towards a park only to find that it led to a twin gondola that takes you to the top of Mount Misen. Having nothing planned, and water with a little food in our bags we decided to check it out. We bought the one way ticket meaning of course that we'd have to hike out. Excellent! We needed a little vertical work after so much flat walking.
The rides up were pretty cool and much higher than we expected. The top of the mountain is 540 metres, and you have to walk in a further kilometre.The views back toward Hiroshima were stunning, but the views out across the Sea of Japan toward Shokuko were pretty hazy. Nice nonetheless.
We learned that Kobo Diashi established the temple on the mountain before or during his work on Shikoku. I remembered reading about this, but the details escape me. Lots of climbing up there and some interesting things to see...mostly the views.
Then we started to descend and found lots of warnings on the way down together with an 119 number to call if bitten. Not sure what to do without a phone? Thoughts Neil?
Tide is falling! We walked to the bottom...hundreds of granite stairs. Hard on knees, but good for our thighs! A few shots as we transited the temple grounds.
I had a stamp put into my book thinking that Hiroshima and the Kobo Diashi temple were a good mix...the last one before Shikoku. Now three very special and memorable stamps.
Then back to the mainland and off to the train and eventually on our way to Okayama by the Bullit! We will stay here two nights and then move on to Tokishima, Shikoku. Lord knows what we will do tomorrow?! Guess we will see how we are feeling then. A good meal tonight and some liquid refreshment. Now I can barely stay awake!
So, goodnight!
I find the custom of putting hats and glasses and such on statues very interesting. Here it'd be making fun, but there it's clearly a way of expressing something serious.
ReplyDeleteQuite a moving day. I wonder if travelling to Hiroshima would make people like Kim Jong-Un or Mr. Trump think twice about boasting about the size of their arsenals. Or would it just encourage them? What works with psychopaths?
Thanks for the post.
Ken
The photos from Hiroshima were chilling but yet the words reflected in the poems were hopeful. I can't begin to imagine the feelings each of you are experiencing on this journey. Thanks for bringing us along...even a little with your reflections Geoff, your poems Annemarie and photos. Thanks, Lisa
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