Visit To The Great Buddha Of Kamakura
It was drizzling all day in Tokyo and we made a
day trip to visit this quaint & lovely Kamakura city.
It is located 50 kilometers south of Tokyo, by the
famous Sagami Bay amongst several green mountains.
Kamakura was an ancient capital with a very rich
Shogunate history and a very popular resort today
for all Japanese folks & tourists, who also visit the
many Zen Buddhist & Shinto Shrines,
little & neat traditional shops and the beach resort.
It's like a perfect quick getaway for the
stressed & hardworking people living in Tokyo.
01. My best tour guide, CFO and COO planned the itineray
that we should take this cute choo-choo Electric Train to Kamakura.
02. She got the "Visit Chops" on paper as a good remembrance.
03. The most famous Buddhist shrine is the Amitabha Buddha's
Bronze statue at the temple grounds of Kotoku-in.
This is the entrance to the 14th century historical site
of The Great Buddha Of Kamakura.
04. All the temples in Japan has this Zen looking water pools.
It is most polite to cleanse our face and hands briskly
before we enter the holy sites.
I had to conduct multiple washes for my
sinful & filthyCB mouth!!
05. This Bronze Buddha's statue was once housed inside a huge temple.
It was damaged several times in fiery typhoons and eventually swept
away by the tsunami.
06. Only the statue has survived in the outdoors until today.
My wife was so sad, cried buckets and walked away!
day trip to visit this quaint & lovely Kamakura city.
It is located 50 kilometers south of Tokyo, by the
famous Sagami Bay amongst several green mountains.
Kamakura was an ancient capital with a very rich
Shogunate history and a very popular resort today
for all Japanese folks & tourists, who also visit the
many Zen Buddhist & Shinto Shrines,
little & neat traditional shops and the beach resort.
It's like a perfect quick getaway for the
stressed & hardworking people living in Tokyo.
01. My best tour guide, CFO and COO planned the itineray
that we should take this cute choo-choo Electric Train to Kamakura.
02. She got the "Visit Chops" on paper as a good remembrance.
03. The most famous Buddhist shrine is the Amitabha Buddha's
Bronze statue at the temple grounds of Kotoku-in.
This is the entrance to the 14th century historical site
of The Great Buddha Of Kamakura.
04. All the temples in Japan has this Zen looking water pools.
It is most polite to cleanse our face and hands briskly
before we enter the holy sites.
I had to conduct multiple washes for my
sinful & filthy
05. This Bronze Buddha's statue was once housed inside a huge temple.
It was damaged several times in fiery typhoons and eventually swept
away by the tsunami.
06. Only the statue has survived in the outdoors until today.
My wife was so sad, cried buckets and walked away!
07. I took all the photos alone including the back of the statue.
I was surprised to see opened windows behind!
08. We proceeded to another Buddhist temple on the hills.
This is the Kannon of Hasadera Temple
(Goddess of Mercy - Guan Yin Pusa's Temple)
09. At the foot of the hill, there is a shrine of the Jizo Bodhisattva
who is famous for caring all the departed souls with his great vows.
In Chinese, he is better known as Di Zang Wang Pusa.
10. The golden statue of the Jizo Bodhisattva.
11. This is the beautiful Hasadera Temple where the Kannon Statue
is inside. Almost all temples in Japan do not encourage
photography inside their temples. In China, everyone is
allowed to take photographs inside the temples and even the
Emperor's tombs. They fully encourage to share.
12. This is the short frontage of the hill top temple.
13. You are seeing the pretty blooms of flowers again.
I was amazed to see their single pots of flower sprays like
that red and purple ones. It is from the same stalk!
14. My Princess by the panoramic ocean view of the Sagami Bay.
15. The other side end of the Hasadera Temple.
16. On the way down the hills, there is a cave with shrines inside.
17. We had to bow our heads really low and crawl our way
inside to see the historical walls and statues.
18. I am too big sized and had much difficulties to navigate
inside the narrow cave.
19. Yummy! Just ENJOY, EAT & GET FAT lah!..
I had to try the famous bone broths of the Kamakura Ramen
before we boarded the choo-choo train back to Tokyo.
*****
I had to try the famous bone broths of the Kamakura Ramen
before we boarded the choo-choo train back to Tokyo.
*****
#01.. Letchumy is the CFO and COO, and Thambee is sure Anay is the CBO!!! muahahaha..
ReplyDelete#02.. oooh, i would also love to collect as many those "stamps" as possible.. i regret i didn't bring a book dedicated for them but just some loose papers.. next time i go to Japan, i must bring my "stamp book"..
@#%$*!!! I could read your mind and mouth that you would call me CBO. How horrid to earn this title when I only blurted %$#@* after knowing you. Haizs!
DeleteNext time I collect these stamps in a hankerchief for you ok!
#03.. (no comments)
ReplyDelete#04.. oh yeah, i remember the ponds at the entrance of shrines.. surely Anay must go and cleanse your sinful and filthy CB mouth before entering lah, hehehe!!
#05.. the bronze buddha statue survived through many mayhems and is now still sitting solemnly looking over the compound of the temples complex..
I think SK would need to soak overnight in the water tub to fully cleanse his mind, body and soul.
DeleteWe both had the same luck Anay.
ReplyDeleteWhen we visited Kamakura, it was drizzling all day too.
We seem to head there when the weather is wet. I want to see snow soon.
Delete#06.. oh, Letchumy cried a buckets!! were the people around looking at Anay and thought Anay bullied Letchumy??
ReplyDelete#07.. yeah, i noticed those flaps at the back of the statue.. so they are actually windows?? it is hollow inside, and someone could actually go into the "heart" of the Buddha??
#08.. the red lantern is such a contrast to the tone of the temple.. oh, Letchumy's pants too!!
Yeah, she just sat on the bench and wept like the rain. So I ran to snap photos instead. Adoi pompuan.. her heart so fragile and kind.
DeleteI saw people queued up and thought I should hurry to go off as it was drizzling. I have the Buddha in my heart but they chose to enter the Buddha's heart instead. The meanings are different, right?
You know that one can enter the inside of the Buddha right? hihi
ReplyDeleteNow I thought that I should have walked inside the heart and come out as an enlightened person. LOL
DeleteEarlier I was not sure why they queued up in neat line behind the statue. Now I know.
#09.. oh, i love this shot of the flowers among the statues.. it makes me feel so peaceful..
ReplyDelete#10.. (no comment)
#11.. well, another saying that i always hear that is actually more related to the people than the places.. meaning, it doesn't matter where the place is, whether photography is allowed or not, the mainland Chinese groups of tourists will never fail to take photos..
I am learning to snap photos using the perfect angles that could melt your heart. In the past, I simple snapped photos to shiok sendiri but now I pay attention to snapped photos like a National Geographic photographer!
DeleteChina folks are always amazing, loud, dominant and funny! They can be heard miles away.
So I guess the best part of the day ended with a Big Bowl of Ramen!! Yes, I miss the big spoon, big bowl and the smooth ramen taste... Nowadays a lot of people just go for a free n easy tour in Japan, anytime better than walking up wee hours in the morning and sitting in the bus most of the time... hahaha...
ReplyDeletePeople are very smart these days after their friends come back to share the cheapest and hassle free travels. This suit me so that I could wake up later, walk slowly and do my sight seeing at my tortoise pace. No souvenir shop haggling too! You are a better expert in ground tours and I salute your wheel chair tours! Wakakaka
Delete#12.. very beautiful place, i like this photo..
ReplyDelete#13.. oh?? that's amazing and also quite unbelievable huh?? both the red and purple bunch of flowers that look so different are actually from the same plant!! it has a good fengshui, i guess??
#14.. nice view!! i can stand there for 20 minutes to admire the view.. i know Anay can sit there for one whole day~~
Thanks for your rare compliments on my photos. They were all snapped to perfection to suit your eyes, my Thambee!
Deletewe do sit on benches to eat our picnic stuffs at scenic spots. Life is short and we should be mindful of the surroundings.
#15.. noted
ReplyDelete#16.. i like the bright red gate, it's the symbol of a shrine..
#17.. a temple in the cave, that's interesting.. i hope Anay did not knock his head while crawling in the cave..
The cave is small and hollow, making me tremble inside as i really hit my head several times. I felt tensed inside and quickly chickened out.
DeleteThe bright red gate always make everyone feel that it is so JAPAN! I will go to see the hundreds of red arches in Kyoto soon.
#18.. at least you got in safely and came out in one piece!! i had a friend who once got stuck in the middle of two rocks, other friends helped to push him out, in the end, scratches all over his fat tummy~~ :p
ReplyDelete#19.. Kamakura Ramen!!! how was it?? nice?? it looks rather clear and i like it..
I saw many narrow spaces in between rocks too and my tummy is not that huge but my neck is too long. So the same story and I backed out.
DeleteThe Ramen was different and not the best so far. Nice try and your observant eyes could detect the colour of the clear soup!!!!
You are so brave to go inside the cave. I dare not for fear of getting stuck hah..hah..hah...
ReplyDeleteI would say my wife is the brave one. No mountains is too high for her to climb too. I always followed after being challenged lah.
DeleteOne thing i don't like when travelling is drizzling, quite inconvenient to walk about...
ReplyDeleteNobody likes rain when they go overseas to travel.
DeleteWe only love rain when we are asleep!
Your wife and I will probably create a flood. I myself cry for small but relevant things. I used to just look at temples as mere structures but after traveling to Japan and China as well and looking at those here in Thailand, I am always excited to see the big differences. And to see what I don't through other people's eyes is already a blessing. Thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteHola! I better remember never to place you both together at temples and sad movies! I would witness the Great Flood and Noah's Ark starts to sail again.
DeleteI always pay deep attention at the Buddha's statues in Thailand, Taiwan, China and Japan. They look different yet similar and serene.
The craftmen must have such great skills to make this huge Bronze Buddha. Thanks for sharing the photos, I have not been to these places before.
ReplyDeleteYes, I also thought the same about it being made during the 14th century when the electrical tools and skylift were not around.
DeleteThat's one beautiful place and yes, it's very serene and calm. It's certainly a good place for frail nerves to retreat and wind down.
ReplyDeleteThat was really a giant Buddha statue. I wonder if this one bigger or the one at leshan bigger ? I guess the window is for maintenance ?
I have visited the Leshan's Big Buddha and that one is very huge like 4-5 storey building and overlooks a huge river.
DeleteHmm.. When I was sun yat sen mausoleum , they also disallowed us from taking pics inside. I guess it depends on the place la.
ReplyDeleteAgain , Japan is always so nice and beautiful. Their temples designed are awesome ! And yes , even the flowers are pretty! The surroundings are so clean and more so in a temple! It seems very cold too judging from your pics !
It was a cold day and will always be cold in my photos as I would never want to pay so much to travel in hot summer which is also the high seasons! We are the same right? The colder the happier!
DeleteWow .. How nice to enjoy a bowl of ramen in the cold weather !! Must be delicious ! And the oceans view is breathtaking ! You should post more of the bay pics here ! Lol
ReplyDeleteEh.. Show some kawaii girls also la!
We were at the hills and the ocean was so faraway. Wah, you hamsap fella want kawai gals to peek in my blog. I should post them in your FB timeline, mahu????
DeleteThe ramen was good but not the best like what i had in Osaka and Fukuoka.
Enjoying your post/photos...and hoping to see it in person soon...thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHope you will visit soon in 2016. You need a good holiday and recharge.
DeleteCB mouth cannot be cleansed one lah, no matter how hard you wash. Once a CB mouth, always a CB mouth, that's why I gave up worrying about offending people wakakaka!!
ReplyDeleteI really like Japanese temples after seeing all your pictures of them. Kamakura is another place that I only seen in games/animes where it was a bloody battlefield during the samurai era. Glad that the modern and actual Kamakura is so peaceful and nice.
Muahahahaha!! Filthy mouths speak alike.
DeleteJapan has so much to see, to do and to be abused according to one's desires. LOL
I will be heading soon to see the next atomic site after Nagasaki. I love to eat their food and see their old streets with the rickshaws running. So sentimental.
Even raining, still so many visited this place. Last year when I went Tokyo with my family, I have to choose between Yokohama and Kamakura and at the end, I opted for Yokohama. Maybe next time
ReplyDeleteIt drizzled often in Tokyo during my visit but it was so light that we won't need umbrellas sometimes. Unlike here, when it pours, it really floods the roads. Argh!
DeleteHow did you like Yokohama? It is near Tokyo too and no once can visit all the places in one visit.
Regarding the chop, I love to collect it too. Especially when visit country like Taiwan, there are plenty of them. I'm going crazy.
ReplyDeleteCheck out my blogpost of the stamps I collected in Taiwan
http://dianateo-dt.blogspot.my/2015/03/reasons-why-i-revisit-taiwan-for-third.html
Now I get the idea from you to get a proper booklet to chop the stamps like a passport book with the first page showing our photo, name and place of birth!! Wakakakaka
DeleteI plan to chop on hankerchiefs too!
how come there are windows on the statue? Is there a room inside it? A temple maybe? but where is the entrance though?
ReplyDeleteI think I would love to experience that Cave tour.. it looks eerie out there yet exciting at the same time
I think the windows are for ventilation inside when the Buddha is feeling hot. LOL. Just kidding.
DeleteI believe there are rooms inside the statue.
4. It's nice to be polite always, but what if the water gets so called during the winter? :D
ReplyDelete12 & 13. Very beautiful blooms. Looks like they're chrysanthemums.
It would be really wonderful if I could step into this place one of these days.
You are right and they love to grow chrysanthemums.
DeleteMake a visit there soon. Japan is a very lovely country to live or have vacation.
Really enjoy your Japan trip photos. Hey, your princess is so charming with her red pants. Very sharp looking.
ReplyDeleteWhen we went for travels, I always lost sight of her in the crowd as she looked like one of the kawai gals. So I had to look for her red, pink or striking pants.
DeleteWhen will you visit Japan again?? I remember you speak and write so fluently アンゼリン!!!
Open windows on Buddha's body look interesting, maybe there is a door to go "inside"?
ReplyDeleteYes there is a door and many people queued in the rain to enter. I wonder if they entered to feel the Buddha's heart? LOL
DeleteOh the cave? That's nice! I would love to go in too. Btw, all those buddha statues are awesome. You had a great tour with your princess!
ReplyDeleteYou will need to visit Japan again soon. Go Free & Easy tours with your kids.
DeleteA window at the back is really strange!
ReplyDeleteI am also surprised. I think many big statues in the West also have doors. I saw the Statue of Liberty with winding steps inside.
DeleteYea, got to be aware where can take and where can't take, or is to be polite to ask first, last time I felt so embarrassed to ask, but now I would rather ask before get shout by the staff OoO
ReplyDeleteWhen they put the "NO CAMERA" signs, I would still try to curi-curi snap photos for my blogs. Wakakaka
DeleteI didn't go this place too. I miss Japanese Ramen in Tokyo so much.
ReplyDeleteGo again soon. Life is so short and don't bring your money with you after death....even if you could. LOL
DeleteThe best ramens are definitely not in Tokyo. They are in Fukuoka (No 1) as Ekin Cheng went there to eat. I saw him on the stool eating there, not in the spa pool. Wakakakka
Oh yes, I've enjoyed my trips to Kamakura too! I wanna try going there by public transport some day as my friends drove me there the past few times ^_^
ReplyDeleteVery interesting how the Buddhist statue alone survived the storms and tsunami to stand there pretty strong! The Hasadera temple looks elegant and the architecture is admirable.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of having the stamp there for people to get a chop as remembrance. I remember doing that in Taiwan.
ReplyDelete