After long and exhaustive 12 hour flight,
the plane started to land Narita Airport. I had never had that long trip. As we
were landing to airport my excitement getting higher. Passing trough the
decking corridor we were inside of the airport. It was so tidy and quite, I
think we were not at the International Airport which is the seventh busiest
airport by international passenger traffic. So everything is in order and
nothing makes a bottleneck. After few minutes, we were done with passport
control. I had read that Narita airport is 60 km far from Tokyo downtown. We
were informed that we may go outside to have a bus that called Airport
Limousine. When most outer door of the airport opened hot and humid air
splashed to my face. Thanks to Kyoko that she noticed us to have light and
cotton dress so that it would be comfortable in Tokyo. I sweltered when I
waited loading of baggage. I swear, I never confront with that hot and humid
whether before. I feel myself better immediately after we get into the bus. It
takes almost an hour to get into the Tokyo downtown. We were placed to the
Hotel which is located in Akasaka Mitsuke at the center of the city. Its name
was Apa Villa Hotel. It was small and cute hotel. My curiosity did not allow me
to take a shower and a little rest after long trip. When I went down to hall of
the hotel, I saw Perizat, Salia and Tolegen. They were also impatient to see
around. We decided to take a walk nearby Hotel. We feel ourselves a little
hungry. I never before have been so happy when I saw McDonalds since I hate to
have fast-food. However it was the only place we thought we could complain and
have something to eat. After taking little lunch we went around to sightseeing
until dinner.
In the evening we have unbelievable dinner
table. Almost nothing was forgotten. Hard-boiled egg dressed with flour and
placed skewer. Broiled chicken kebabs, I think it called as Yakitori, it was my
favorite by the way. There were so much delicious foods I had difficulty to
choose one. There were also tens of kinds of salads. I get so filled I think I
would blast as I got another grams of food but no way Kyoko was brought another
couple of food which I could not taste. Thank you Kyoko for that marvelous
dinner!!!
Fortunately, we took a walk back to our hotel;
otherwise I would get sick of stomach. Before going to our rooms we were
noticed about breakfast time, next day plan and were given breakfast tickets.
In July 14th early morning after
having breakfast, we took a walk to House of Councilors. We walked up to the
main entrance and since it was holiday we did not enter inside of the House.
Walking on the Tokyo streets at noon is very tiresome so we took a rest in
café. Drinking cold drink and resting in the café with the air conditioner make
us feel as recharged.
As it was planned our visit started at 12 o’clock to TNF. We have met with Executive Director of TNF Mr. Ohno. He brought us to
the restaurant nearby TNF and we had a lunch. He met each of us during the
lunch. He memorized our names easily though they are very different for
Japanese even to pronounce. We talked about our countries, our major and our
wishes about the trip.
After lunch, all together came back to the
TNF building. According to the plan we would have meeting with Mr Sasakawa. I
already read about him when I searched over internet. He is the chairman of
Nippon Foundation and devotes his precious life to the charity. We had a tea
and talk. He asked about our goals and our countries. At first we were in a
little tension, after his speech we were pacified. He enlightened us with his
precious advices. We present our acknowledgement for his charity and support
Central Asian Students in Turkey, and present him with our national dresses.
In the afternoon, we went to Shabuzen which
is the special restaurant in right center of Tokyo. It is lovely and beautiful
place with national architecture and decoration. Even waitresses were dressed
in National Kimonos. We had great Japanese cuisine, where we cooked the meat in
the boiled dish. Owing to my memory, I think its name was Beef Sukiyaki. We
spent wonderful time in that restaurant. We express our gratitude to President
of TNF Mr. Ogata. Thanked him for great dinner and gave our present that we
brought from our countries.
In the morning of 15th July, we
had a visit to the Museum of Maritime Science. There were great exhibition of
the Japanese Maritime. We saw marine development and ship history of Japan. There was Submarine section too. In Old-Time Japanese ship exhibition we saw the
oldest ever vessel which was a wooden and 10 000 year old, amazing! On the
observatory decks we had a chance to see Tokyo over the 70 meters above. We had
a lunch on the fourth floor where we have incredible sight of Tokyo city.
We harried by Kyoko to catch up with Boat
Racing. We went to Racing arena by taking metro then bus. We caught last three
races. After the first race, Murat and Tolegen were eager to play bet. Unfortunately
they lost money. However Kyoko invested her money wisely, consequently she had
her money back plus income.
In afternoon we had dinner party with TNF
scholars. We had good dinner and met with new friend. They are all scholars of
TNF. I met with Gustavo Kishimoto and Chen Chanzey. Both of them were sweet
guys. Gustavo is active. He studies in National Cancer Center Hospital. Chen is lively and very kind girl. She studies international Relations in Pekin University. In the end of the great dinner and meeting we took family photo. This day
also ended with return to the Hotel.
In 16th July, early morning at 7:30, we departed Apa Villa Hotel. We had to catch Shinkansen Bullet Train for Hiroshima that departs Tokyo station at 8:13. It was my first time to board on Bullet
Train. It has great aerodynamic exterior similar to space shuttles. Interior of
it was comfortable. I feel myself as in airplane crew, even I feel better in it
since it was roomier. When we arrived to Fukuyama City we leaved train and were
planning our tour, at that time Bullet Train passed trough middle railway. It
was so fast that we could not believe to its speed.
We had a lunch nearby the Train Station. We
had to take a drive half hour to Tsuneishi Factory. In the factory we were
welcomed with engineer and technician. First of all they gave us briefing about
Tsuneishi Shipyards and of course the safety presentations. We were showed
around the shipyard and were explained about it. There were huge ships those
were built, upgraded and repaired. I have seen those huge ships when they
passing Bosporus and I wander how they could be built. Thanks to Foundation, I
was enabled to examine it right on the field. We leaved factory with great
impressions.
Our next visit was to the Welfare Facility
for people with mental and physical disabilities. This visit influenced us
deeply. There were mentally disabled people. I would like to address special
thanks to the staffs of that facility. They are professional and admirable to
care after those people. They even teach disabled people to make special gifts
which were beautiful and special. After that visit director of facility sent
off us up to the train station. We boarded Shinkansen to go Hiroshima city. We
had dinner in train there are various foods; rice, sushi, shrimps and etc. It
was packed into the box. When we arrived to Hiroshima it was almost night.
We stayed at Hotel Jal City. It was bigger then our hotel in Tokyo. And rooms also were bigger and more comfortable. I
had a good sight on my window. Although it was dense program for that day, none
of us went to sleep. We altogether and Maki went out to see around. Nearby the
Hotel there were nice river. After seeing around night life of the Hiroshima, we sit near river. We had drinks and had a sweet talk. This activity makes us
very happy.
At 9:00 July 17, we visited Hiroshima Peace Park. Crossing the river at the right you would see the evidence of the
A-bomb. There was monument building that was destructed during the A-bomb
blast. It was the least destructed building between all buildings within bomb
affected region. Still it was horrible. Kyoko told us after bomb blast the
river that we crossed was full of human body. Its heat rays burned people; the
pain of the burn causes all those people to throw themselves into the river. Even
imagining of it horrified me. After 150 meters walk we reached the Hypocenter.
This is the point where 600 meters above atom bomb exploded.
We walked through Hiroshima Peace Park
there we see tones of Paper Crane Folded by Sadako who was exposed to Atomic
bomb explosion when she was 2 years old. In her 12th anniversary
doctors diagnosed her with radiation related leukemia. She folded those cranes
in hope of a cure, despite her unbearable pain. Although her valor effort, her
young body gave up after an eight-month struggle.
We also visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum within the Peace Park. First we visited exhibition where panorama of the
Nikajima area before and after A-bomb manifested. There were Hiroshima ruins
and model of A-bomb Dome. I was terrified when I saw melted bottles, student’s
burned summer uniform and charred lunch box. The stop watch was the evidence
and time pointer of the first human shame over humanity. In video room I
watched after bomb explosion records. It is the time when the word can not
express. You should watch it and see all those in yourself to feel what kind of
the horror it is.
Afterwards, we visit Chugoku Shimbun, Hiroshima local newspaper in Japanese language that serves A-bomb man made disaster. We got
information about nuclear nations that threat the peace. We get also information
about the nuke bomb experiment in our countries that we never heard before. I
would like to present them my special thanks for their struggle for abandonment
of A-bombs in the world.
At 13:05 we leaved Hiroshima arrived Kyoto at 14:50. We planned to go Golden Pavilion. On the way we realized that Kyoto is the beautiful, green and lovely city. It is the city where I would like to live.
It is quite, calm, and relaxing. There were grassgreen nearby river and youngs
and kids were playing. It is like reflection of my reverie. Driving a few
minutes on taxi, we got the Golden Pavilion. Here I saw the real ancient
architecture of Japan. It is within the forest and in harmony with the nature.
I was enchanted by Golden Temple, Kinkaku/Rokuonj-Ji Temple. The Sekka-tei Tea
House and Fudo-do, a hall dedicated to the God of Fire also leaved over me
great impressions.
We stay in Iroha Ryokan Hotel at that
night. Hotel was wonderful. It is built and decorated in ancient style. Rooms
are completely same with what we saw in Japanese cinemas. Doors were sliding
and table was low to sit on the floor. Bed also placed on the floor as it was
in ancient times. After placement in Hotel we went outside to see wonderful
city and have a dinner. On the way we confront with ritual pace, man with
kimonos were walking and take relics on their shoulders. I wander and asked
from Kyoko and Maki, thanks to them they answered for each question of us with
patience and compassion. They told me there are walking holding very heavy
relic and bring it to the temple through the streets.
We had a dinner in restaurant where in the
middle of it there is beautiful garden with rivulet. There were waitresses with
regional kimonos, paper walls and sliding doors. We again taste delicious
Japanese foods.
In the morning 18th July sadly
we departed lovely city Kyoto. At 12 o’clock we are arrived Tokyo. We visited
to Japan Guide Dog Association Training Center. We were introduced with
facility. There are visually handicapped persons who were employed and members
of the Center for acquiring trained dogs.
We are grateful to Director of the Center
for his pleasance of showing around the Center, explained about training of
Guide Dogs both in theoretical and in practice. We are closed our eyes with
goggles and asked to try walk around. I personally feel myself helpless.
Getting guide stick helped up to some point. However walking with guide dog
gave me confidence and I had successfully passed all hindrances even high
obstacles were passed without difficulties.
We went back to our Hotel in Akasaka
Mitsuke and went out to have a dinner with TNF Staff. Again we had a great food
and music. Here I taste something which was unbelievable. When I saw it looks
like greenish mayonnaise, I took the whole portion on the dish. When I ate it I
felt myself as I was shocked by high voltage electricity. I thought my mouth
evaporated and passing through my brain. Actually, I already had dizziness
after tasting that little poison I felt myself as I did not walk but flying. I
asked about that food, she said it is the hottest additive and called wasabi. I
do not forget its taste and aftereffect.
In Saturday morning we had sightseeing of Tokyo. We preferred to go Electronic Center in Ikabara. There were electronics what ever you
would like to buy; notebooks, TV, DVD players, cameras, camcorders, etc. I
liked one of the digital cameras. It was same brand that I used but 2 models
higher then mine. Unfortunately, responsible guy said it was sold out and there
wasn’t anymore. Therefore I bought another camera with Canon brand but I like
that camcorder too.
In 19th July we were supposed to
be ready on time since Airport Limousine would be once an hour. In case any of
us misses the bus, s/he should spend a lot of money. We departed from Hotel and
arrived to Narita Airport. 9 day passed so fast I could not realize we were at
the last day. We had great trip. Unfortunately it was short.
I would like to thank to JATCAFF for
affiliation me to trip. I am in debt to Kyoko, Maki and Murat for their great
effort to spent wonderful time during trip.
