Many Wednesdays when we go to the International Center to teach English class and take a Japanese class I am fascinated by the beautiful flower arrangements that are on display there.
This last week was no exception. There were two new arrangements. Both were beautiful in there own way.
Last week, in my English class, we talked about foods that are found in different cultures. The breads in Japan filled with sweet beans came up. I learned that the sweet beans are called anko. Anpan is bread filled with anko. I find this a delightful sweet treat similar to donuts filled with fruit but not near as sweet. This is a package of five different rolls filled with sweet beans. It was delicious.
Saturday, Terry and I had scheduled an apartment check in Nobeoka. It is a three hour car trip from Kumamoto on very winding mountain roads. About an hour into the drive is the Tsujunkyo Bridge. With the help of my English class students we found out that the bridge releases water every Saturday and Sunday at noon. This bridge was build in in 1854 to supply water to the Shiraito Plateau where people suffered from water shortage. When water is not needed to grow rice the water flowed out each side of the center of the bridge and back into the river. We arrived at the site with ten minutes to hike to the bridge.
It is fascinating to me that the arch has a keystone. The bridge does not look like it has mortar between the rocks but water does not leak out so there must be some kind of mortar to hold the water in the ditch across the top.
This is looking across the bridge. The water has been released and you can see it coming out both sides of the bridge.
This picture shows the man releasing the water. There are two holes on each side of the bridge that are opened. This picture shows the two streams of water on this side of the bridge.
What a beautiful functional treasure found in Japan. It is a wonder created by a genius who had and ingenious solution to a everyday problem. Today the public has the opportunity to enjoy this wonder.
This is the view from where we parked the car. Notice the rice fields still being used around the bridge. Water still flows though the bridge to the rice fields.
Sunday evening we had a dinner appointment with the family of one of the members of the Stake Presidency. We were served a wonderful meal with katsu chicken. We enjoyed getting to know their family.
Scripture for the week:
Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.
1 Nephi 7: 12
1 comment:
Asians really have a way with flower decorating. One time, when I was a missionary in Taiwan, I put a bouquet of flowers on the stand at church. After a few minutes they disappeared, only to reappear some time later arranged in a very beautiful Asian way. I can't even begin to do what they can do! lol
Post a Comment