Day 20 Lunch At Tajmahal with NATG Ladies
by Donna Charles on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 3:57am
Since I have met Marlon and got married 2 years ago my life has really changed from an abusive relationship to a man that cherishes me for who I am. I thank him alot for bringing me to Japan to be with him for 6 weeks. This will be an experience as I have said many times I will never ever forget. Thanks to all the people I have met while visiting Japan who has made this trip exceptional. : -)
Belinda and I started our day with getting some laundry done and then planning to meet at 11:00 in the lobby. I knew we have to meet early because I needed to buy 4 handkerchiefs for Jim M. to take home with him he leaves Friday morning. We headed down the street and finally found the store we had been in several times before and love the items she carries. Went into the store and shopped for the handkerchiefs and found the perfect ones. When I went to pay for them the lady like always wrapped each one individual in Japanese designed paper. I really love that they are so great in wrapping up your purchases. : -) We were going to be late getting to Becky's but at that point there was nothing we could do, didn't realize that the store we wanted to go to was that far away.
On the walk to Becky's we saw flowers and we both at the same time said let's get some for Becky!! We stopped at 2 places but did not care for the choices we were given. We both know of a spot where we stop often and admire the flowers near our hotel so we take off in a very fast walk so as to not be to awful late getting to Becky's. We find the shop by our hotel and make our choice and then practically take off in a run to get to Becky's with flowers in tow. The flowers are a potted plant so she can have a long time and always remember our visit with her !!!
Finally we are at Becky's house which was also a further walk than we had thought it was. Becky lives pretty close to Bell Mall. Oh well we are at her house and all is well, we gave Becky the flowers and she said she loved them and she in general loves flowers. Glad that she appreciated them !!! : -)
I am really anxious to meet Teresa now she lives in the same apartment building as Becky GREAT. Teresa will be riding with us to Tajamahal. We all go down to get in the car and pull up to wait on Teresa. When Teresa comes out she gives Belinda and I a gift which is a nice set chop sticks, so nice of her!! We talked the minute she got in the car : ) so nice to see her smiling face again its been so long.
When we arrive at Tajamahal I am so very impressed with the place. Its a very nice Indian restaurant that serves great curry. When we arrive there are about 6 NATG women already seated and there sensei Mioki.
The sensei helped order our food and Becky also helped. When the food arrived I could not believe how much we were given. ; -) Teresa and I ordered level B of how hot we wanted our curry to be the rest of the group ordered A. There were 5 levels of heat wow I would not want mine no hotter than it was pretty warm........ yikes......you are given this big oblong piece of bread and that is what you eat your curry with. So all of us ladies dug in and most of them enjoyed their food. : -) Had a wonderful time talking with all my new American friends. At the end of the meal we ordered chi tea; they all liked it but I did not. I left mine just not what I'm used to from Panara Bread.... LOL
We are on our way back to Teresa's apartment where she will dress someone on a kimono which takes about 2 hours to do. Teresa is also a sensei on tea ceremonies wow is all I can say this is such a ritual over here in Japan and is hard to learn, sit, walk, in a kimono. I am very impressed with her skills that she has learned of the Japanese culture. Way to go Teresa great job.!!! Teresa said she owns approx 30 kimonos and also has to practice this skill at least once a week to keep the tea ceremony fresh in her mind.
I am hoping her sensei will give me the honor of attending a tea ceremony with her we will see : -)
Becky has made us all a cup of coffee and we are sitting around the table. On the table Teresa had been making origomi cranes and I said I would like to learn how to do that. Teresa got her paper out and gave it to the sensei to show us how to make. Some of us decided we would try to make, this was very fun at learning how to make these cranes, will have to get the instructions as I will not remember how to do.
Teresa is ready now to put the kimono on some lady, We choose Belinda because this is her last day here in Japan. Teresa shows her the underwear as they call it and told her to go put them on and she would help her. Belinda comes out and the dressing begins.......... there are many many belts, elastic bands etc that Teresa uses to put the undergarments on. Everything is placed on you TIGHTLY making it somewhat hard to breath. Belinda even put the shoes on and the socks with the separation of the big toe from the rest of your toes. Belinda is looking for pretty all dressed up in her kimono thanks to Teresa skills of putting it on her. The pictures will give you more detail of the kimono Belinda even tried on the happy coat which is worn like a jacket over the kimono when going outside. : )
It is time to leave and head home before the guys get off work. LOL Becky takes us to JR train station where we will walk back to the hotel from there. We have truly enjoyed the experience today. Belinda and I chatter all the way back to the hotel.....: -)
It is raining and cold out which is nothing unusual for Japan, it seems like we have warm sunny days now and by the time the guys get home its cold and rainy. Last night there was some snow mixed in with the snow. Decided to stay close and eat at La Pausa, went down to lobby and met Jim and gave him the handkerchiefs we had got for him. We are on our way to La Pausa, we will have to wait but thats ok didn't want to walk anyplace else in the rain and cold. Another Japanese lady and her son came in and we started talking to each other. We take pictures as a group together and continue talking in broken English. Takahiro had been to Canada and taken some English classes there for 3 months and his skills are pretty good. His Mom Nobuko speaks pretty good English also. They are happy that they can learn some English we are happy because we can learn some Japanese from them. The waiter has come to finally seat us and we invite them to have dinner with us so they do not have to wait longer in line. They are very nice and we like them, they agree to have dinner with us.
They help us read the menu and then order for all of us. We end up getting a pizza, 2 orders of garlic bread, and 3 orders of pasta......wow this is great. We all talk together and enjoy each others company. I tell her about our daughter Audry who is in college and has several degrees. She went to college and has a degree in art and now is getting her masters in Teaching. Nobuko asked what she did in art paint? I told her that Audrey's love was pottery and she was very good in making interesting and useful pottery pieces. She then ask me if I wanted to go Sunday with her to Mosco where they sell lots of pottery. She loves going and has made several pieces there by taking a class. Wow I am going with Nobuko Sunday this is wonderful and i am looking forward to going with her. : -) They also paid for our dinners we tried to pay our half but she insisted they would pay. Look forward to spending more time with them. An end to another adventurous day in Japan.
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