п»їTop 10 Videoconferencing Benefits in Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry is going through a economic slowdown due to the global crisis which has resulted in huge losses. The best way to recover from this is to adopt the best technology available in the market and stay in the competition. The invention of the videoconferencing software has created a storm in the world as well as the hospitality industry. This software has come as the savior of the hotels and resorts which are at the verge of closing down. The benefits of this technology are infinite but we have tried to list some of them here:
1. Live demos of the facilities available:
Any hotel thrives on the customer turndown and satisfaction. There’s a cut-throat competition in this industry, so only the best is going to survive. If all the facilities of different packages are shown live to the customer, it is much easier for them to decide.
2.Virtual meetings:
Video conferencing rooms can be set up and given on rent to various business organizations as many MNCs are cutting down on their travel expenses, so they would love to hold their meetings under one roof with various partners around the globe.
3. Staff management:
The hotel staff can be managed from one place. Meetings can be held with all chain managers and instructions can be given regarding housekeeping and maintenance. In case of any breakdown, the concerned staff can be informed through wireless wi –fi system.
4. Distance training:
Efficient staff is needed every now and then in the hotels so online training can be given to them which will save a lot of money and time
5. Wi-fi services for hotel guests:
This is an added privilege which can be provided to the guests .This will result in more guest turnover in the hotel.
6. Face to face interaction:
The receptionist or the desk manger can have a face to face interaction with the guests and solve their problem or provide them with what they need.Infact before booking also the customers can have alive chat with the receptionist through videoconferencing
7. Highlighting the cultural diversity of the place:
The hotel can give a practical experience of the various places of cultural and historical interests to the customers on high definition which will present a life like image of the surroundings and attract more and more people.
8. More customer satisfaction:
The live view of all the facilities and the added privelages provided by the hotel will result in more customer satisfaction.
9.Cost effective and time saving.
10.Peoplelink videoconferencing software provides the best of equipment that is the best investment for the future. It is low in cost and high on profits the most powerful device which will change the future of hospitality industry and will give it tremendous success. Less travel, less expenses, more profits and more customer satisfaction.
Don’t lag behind, its your time .Go and grab the best opportunity, log on to peoplelink.in.
п»їRight information for Commercial Truck Insurance Outlined
The online site bestcommercialtruckinsurance.com has published a list of frequently asked questions, and information, which seems to address the doubts that customers have when seeking insurance online. This site offers the assistance to help customers draw a line on how much information can be offered online, and what shouldn’t be revealed. Identity theft has been a problem for a long time, but with the increase in the number of ways the internet is being used, identity theft has picked up a lot of steam. A lot of drivers looking for cheap commercial truck insurance policies are often searching for the right rates on various sites. However, in their quest for cheaper rates, they accidentally end up providing identity information to those who could misuse it for their own purposes. Customers, therefore, need to be careful while shopping online.
One thing that has to be taken into consideration is the fact that trustworthy sites do not really ever ask the customers for sensitive data even while providing free online quotes for commercial truck insurance. Such pieces of personal data include a driver’s license or social security number, neither of which is really required to get information about commercial truck insurance quotes. It is true that this information allows the opposite side to access more information about the driver that will allow them to offer an accurate assessment. However, that information is what is important, not the personal data, and hence customers can really avoid providing personal information, and instead offer information that will help truck insurance companies provide an accurate assessment like traffic record, or recent accidents, for example.
It is the consumers who can offer more information about their credit history, whether it is good or bad, and if they have received any traffic tickets for any kind of violation in the past. Credit standing, the driving, and claims history of the consumer, and other personal details like gender, age and address are required by the auto insurance companies to set specific rates for the consumers. All this information can be revealed without giving your social security number or license number. At the time of purchasing the policy it might be required for the consumer to provide this personal information to the agent. Even in that case, the drivers purchasing the commercial truck insurance policy are requested to check with the insurance department of their state, whether the insurance company and the agent are indeed licensed to run the business.
If you own an insurance policy at the time of buying a new vehicle you can simply transfer the policy from one vehicle to another as long as the car’s title is in your name as the insurance holder. This commercial truck insurance could prove expensive in some cases, especially when the insurance holder doesn’t have a good credit history. Those drivers, who have a very good driving record, and haven’t received any traffic tickets in the past, will get the insurance policy at a cheaper rate than others.
However, finding the right kind of commercial truck insurance to suit your need is not very difficult as there are a lot of options online. You need to do some research, and you can find hundreds of insurance companies in your area that can offer you a good policy. The policies are also customizable for married couples, family, single drivers or multiple drivers. Student drivers are also offered discounts by many commercial truck insurance companies, when they graduate from driver’s education, and also maintain a very good driving record.
п»їFor Women Only: A Woman's Guide To Success On Command
Copyright 2006 Dr. Eileen Silva
For all the women out there who dream of a better life, more money, household help, relief from the pressures of trying to be a good parent, while holding down a job or two, equal opportunity with or without formal degrees or credentials, for those who dream of having incredible personal self confidence instead of low self esteem --- this one's for you.
In 1982, I, too, was struggling with two jobs and a household to run; I was also a schoolteacher. My idea of extravagance was going on one “nice” hotel vacation a year, and I always hoped that we would pick a good hotel, etc., so it would be really worth all the sacrifices that it was costing. I almost never got a massage or pedicure. After justifying the expenditure, I bought a half day of household help per week during the school year. I did my own laundry, grocery shopping, landscaping, and pool service. I had, by most average American standards, a “nice” home and a livable lifestyle, but it was NOT the lifestyle of the rich and famous. That was until Network Marketing created so much wealth for us that our only recourse was to spend it.
The year was 1995. That was the year we bought our estate, filled our lake with dozens of ducks, geese, and swans. We saw so much money accumulating that we made plans for, and then built, another palatial lakeside home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, got our irreplaceable full-time cook --- picture yourself sitting by the crackling fireplace in the winter while your maid fetches your morning paper, slides a steaming cup of freshly ground coffee in your hand, and takes your breakfast order.
It's all come true for me because I had a dream. First, I created a mentor relationship with some industry experts. I subsequently developed a plan. I have learned a secret about networking that virtually insures my success on command. It's a secret that can change your life, too.
I want to share with you what I know. If you will study these “guidelines” and follow them to the letter, you too can write your own ticket to success in MLM. I call these my 10 steps to becoming 10 feet tall and bulletproof in MLM today:
(1) Choose a company that has been in business at least two years and one that “has its act together,” as opposed to one that just has “great products.” In truth, almost all companies that survive have great products, but great products don't sell themselves. Great promotions are what sell, PERIOD!!
(2) Choose a sponsor like a marriage partner. This is your most important link to the MLM brass ring. Sponsor yourself under the “wrong” person and your upline could erode your business and fail to give much needed constructive coaching, which enables you to make vital on-course corrections. No great athlete functions without a coach and few great MLMers do either;
(3) Become a multi-task specialist. Most women already are, so you likely already possess the supreme qualifications here. A multi-task specialist is someone who handles several tasks simultaneously and does a great job on all. As a working woman, a mother, a cook, a chauffeur, a phone operator, and an emergency room technician, you have probably already earned your stripes here. Most women have . . . and most men have not. This talent alone makes you a definite MLM superstar candidate;
(4) Spend a minimum of 20 minutes per day in “guided” personal development work. By that I mean, personal development books, tapes, exercises or seminars that are recommended by your mentor to help you overcome any self-sabotaging tendencies you may have and to keep you positively oriented;
(5) Develop new habits. You need to set-up a 21 day system which will lock in your financial production;
(6) Create your “name list” of at least 200 people you have met from all walks of life or fewer if you don't want to earn as much. Ask your mentor for some help if you get stuck here;
(7) Recognize the major differences between how men approach MLM vs. how women approach it. You will almost never be successful giving them the same business opportunity presentation;
(8) Be coachable when you see your plan for financial freedom developing, and be coachable when things don't work. I believe that anyone can be led into seeing that “brass ring” and “rainbow's end” in the industry, anyone that is, who will listen to, and follow, a simple 1-2-3 step process;
(9) Realize that your family, friends, co-workers, and environment will surely try to sabotage you the minute you begin to be successful in creating your home-based empire. A careful coaching program can prevent you from self-destructing when a spouse, parent, or other person thinks you are crazy . . . or worse yet, runs you down for believing in yourself;
(10) Since you can start nearly any home-based business for just a few hundred dollars in supplies, training and products, there is no reason for you to do more industry study before getting started. The worst thing that can happen, if you join in a company today and it ultimately doesn't make it, is that you would learn a lot and earn nothing or very little. When you think about it, that's better odds than enrolling in college where you will learn who knows what to prepare you for something that may not exist by the time you have completed your degree and will cost you thousands, if not tens of thousands, whether it can lead to a career or not. If you don't believe me here, ask your doctor (who's probably working twice as hard for half the money he earned 5 years ago, the victim of managed health care). His career in medicine is certainly not what it used to be before all the HMO's took over the health industry.
I personally have spent tens of thousands on college and have degrees in English, Home Economics, and Sociology, with a Masters in Counseling and education. It pains me to report that my highest income in my chosen profession was less than $40,000.00 a year after 18 years of practice and all the merit advancements.
I now make more than twice that amount each month. I did not know such earning potential really existed for me, and I certainly didn't know that all that advanced education --- would be a hindrance to my MLM success, because I would try too hard to “figure everything out” my first few years and never make any money (although I collected a lot of information and tips from other distributors). I call that “the blind leading the blind.”
Be smarter than I was. Recognize that you, as a woman, (an estimated 70% of networkers are women), will be starting on level playing field with every other beginner, every other expert and talented person . . . and, armed with these insights, you will have the greatest inside knowledge of how to make it work. Therefore, you will be a guaranteed superstar if you don't give up too soon or deviate from these guidelines.
There is nothing --- NOTHING --- you cannot achieve if you team up with people who have a proven track record and commit to being undaunted by failure.
This little school teacher from Escalon, California has learned that about the only way you could “mess up” with this plan is to make it harder than it is supposed to be by complicating it with the addition of more steps. You deserve to create that life you love. You deserve to be pampered and to spend quality time with your family. You deserve to set your own schedule. You have never seen a better time to enter network marketing than right now --- TODAY. You can have it all just like I do! Let network marketing open up these possibilities for you, and I promise you will never be the same again!
п»ї10 Tips For Learning Whiteboard Selling Skills Online
How can you get the most out of learning whiteboard selling skills in online? Create a total training immersion approach. Find out 10 best bets to boost conversations, ignite sales discussions and improve results--without leaving your home.
For years, sales professionals have relied on face-to-face instruction to build selling skills. Forward thinking sales organizations know that it is essential to provide presentation skills training to keep sales staff at the top of their game. But then what happened recently?
With rocky economy and uncertainty, even smart organizations are making short sighted choices. With training budgets slashed, and corporations on seeking to do more with less, many sales professionals must build new skills on their own.
What is the best way to build exceptional whiteboard skills… without waiting for your company to provide a seminar? Get online training and create a powerful new skills set.
Use these 10 tips to create a fully engaging experience—from your home, office, or even on the road.
Learning new skills of whiteboard selling is a powerful way to boost results…and make your numbers in any economy. Here are 10 tips for creating a total training experience on your own.
1. Identify Your Big Why
Understanding the value of what you are learning is a must for fueling passionate learning. The big why about whiteboard skills in selling is simple: people buy what they understand.
If you are selling complex solutions, proposing complicated processes or asking for funding for an intricate business…you need to simplify. The fastest way to simplify complex stuff? With a marker, a whiteboard and the skills to engage your audience.
When you show your solution at the whiteboard, everyone ‘gets’ it. That’s a huge Why.
2. Learn The Basics
A lot of professionals believe they already know everything there is to know about presenting. That may be true. But it could be false.
If you’ve been presenting with slides, confident with a clicker and used to relying on scripted words…presenting at a whiteboard is a whole new world. Like any valuable skill—conversation, cooking, or running—there is always more to learn when you encounter new terrain.
Starting with the basics is a sign of being smart.
3. Create Your Whiteboard Zone
Organize your practice zone at home, office or from your hotel room. Wherever you are, set up tools for maximum ease. If you have a whiteboard on the wall, keep it free and clear of clutter. If you have markers, eraser and notes near by, you won’t waste time running around organizing.
Also, if you’re learning on the road or from a hotel room, work with a journal or sketch pad. While it’s not the exact medium you will use in front of people, this helps you gain confidence in skills.
4. Do It Your Way
Learning is the most fun when it matches how you learn. If you love watching video, watch video tutorials first. If you like reading, jump into reading guides and manuals. If you prefer to use visual blueprints, start there.
This is your learning zone. You’ll have the most fun and learn the fastest by doing things your way. You’re in charge of your own learning experience.
5. Experiment
Experimenting is a valuable part of learning. Encourage yourself to try out new things. Try writing while standing. It’s different than writing while seated. Try drawing icons. It’s different than relying exclusively on words. Experiment with different ways to organize data.
By keeping an open mind you’ll experiment and explore. Who knows what you’ll discover.
6. Use As You Learn
Use your new whiteboard conversation skills right away. One of the most fun and rewarding parts of learning interactive skills is that you can use new skills immediately. This is related to Tip 5. Experiment. And keep experimenting by using your skills instantly.
Try out a technique—even if it is the weekend. Many of my clients set up a whiteboard in the living room or garage. They use it to share ideas with neighbors, family and friends. One colleague taught his son to read, by making a game out of drawing icons and words.
It’s very rewarding and fun to use your skills as quickly as possible.
7. Define Opportunities
All day, everyday you present ideas and communicate to others. Take a moment right now to list your key presentations. What sales conversations do you have this week? What presentations are you making this month? List them in advance. As you learn new skills and techniques, review your list. Where could you practice a new skill?
8. Review and Practice
As smart as you are, it’s tempting to think that you’ll get everything by seeing or reading it one time. Stretch yourself. Review.
Watch a video two, three and four times. Read and re-read the manuals. The more you review, the more you’re likely to read.
The first time you learn something, it is brand new. Many people get involved with thinking, “How am I going to do that?”
The next time you read or see the skill, you will have tried it. This means you’re more available to notice nuances and details. This continues with repeated rounds of reviewing and practicing.
9. Follow Your Own Pace
When you’re in a boot camp, onsite program or public workshop, you must go at the pace of the instructor or other students. But when you’re in a virtual class, you set the pace. This is one of the top reasons why people learn faster, learn more, and have more fun learning remotely.
There’s nothing holding you back. There is no one urging you to move faster. Go at your own pace—this is your ideal learning zone.
10. Stretch Your Skills
For total training success, keep testing your own limits. Are you testing and challenging yourself? Are you learning new skills and practicing them in different situations? Are you stretching to replace boring PowerPoints with dynamic whiteboard selling conversations? Stretch yourself and enjoy the rewards.
Use these 10 tips to create a powerful learning experience. Use interactive selling skills to engage clients at a whiteboard. With new options to learn whiteboard selling online, you are in charge.
Take control of your skills and boost your career. It’s the fastest way to get ahead.
Best things about using the services of Seabird Tourists are many. This article focuses on just few of them. Planning any vacation can be a daunting task, and the identical goes for planning for a journey through bus. Occasionally, organizing Seabird tourist buses may well be even much more time difficult due to all of the other variables to think about. Thinking about the way to start booking Seabird tourist buses for a number of days at one time, it is even more essential to pick the excellent buses that you will be absolutely pleased delighted with, than it is to pick the an appropriate hotel.
In case you have already decided that there is too a lot to consider planning and booking your service provider for Ahemdabad bus tickets, then you are already a step ahead of the game. However, a lot of folks devote long hours towards investigation and planning just before they comprehend that they may possibly want a bit of support.
There are numerous factors that necessarily be taken into consideration. By way of example, if you are contemplating taking the bus of Seabird tourists to Ahendabad, then understanding the season is an important thing. It will also be beneficial to know when the weather is right to visit Ahendabad before you actually book Seabird tourists bus tickets so that you can make your trip as comfortable as possible. An skilled travel agency like Seabird tourists will be able to ensure that you get all the details without having to do any follow up. A quick online search for Seabird tourists bus tickets can also reveal a variety of travel arrangements available with Seabird tourists. As a preferred travel agent for people from Ahemdabad, they are out there ready to help you plan the most incredible vacation of your life.
However, depending on your travel need, they may ask to you visit their office once during the course of their regular enterprise hours. You can sit in their office, relaxing; listen to a dozen other travelers pointing out their excellent vacation.
For more information on Seabird tourists and the best way to acquire Seabird tourists bus tickets, please visit our website. We offer hard to match services at the cheapest rates and will definitely feel glad to help you. We have a record number of customers who have availed our services and come to us time and again.
Rome has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best tourist destinations in Europe. The people are very friendly, the cultural and religious history is absolutely fascinating, and the sun is usually shining. If you need further incentive for booking a stay at an outstanding Rome design hotel, read on.
Art
You may be aware that world famous artists such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Bernini all spent considerable amounts of time in the city. You can view some of their finest works in the Borghese and Capitoline Museums. It is also possible to view impressive sculptures in historic religious buildings such as the Sistine Chapel and the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.
Architecture
You'll definitely have the opportunity to view amazing Italian architecture during your stay at a Rome design hotel. It may be worth booking a guided tour of the Colosseum, where brave Roman warriors fought to the death, and there will also be an opportunity to visit the awe inspiring Trevi Fountain. You might even enjoy a refreshing cup of coffee at the Piazza di Spagna, before climbing the Spanish steps and gazing out across the city.
Food
You'll have every opportunity to indulge in fine Italian cuisine while in Rome - design hotel restaurants are renowned for their quality. However, it's also worth paying a visit to fine dining establishments such as the Antica Pesa and the Restaurant Roof Garden, which is situated within walking distance of the Roman Forum. Indulge in delicious Roman specialities such as Fettucini el Burro and Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe. You can round the perfect meal off with some smooth, creamy gelato from a nearby shop.
Drink
Those with a taste for Italian wine will definitely enjoy a holiday in the capital. You'll be able to sample the locally produced wine, Cesanese, which goes particularly well with Gnocchi alla Romana. You may even be keen on trying a glass or two of Italian craft beer at one of the popular entertainment venues such as the Bar del Fico or Cavour 313.
Shopping
You'll undoubtedly want to indulge in some retail therapy during your stay in Rome. Design hotel boutiques are a welcome temptation but you can also head out to places like the Saddlers Union, where a range of fashionable leather bags and wallets are sold. You might have time for a mug of traditional Italian coffee at the Cappuccino Bar before making your way to the busy Campo Dei Fiori market. If you haven't spent all your money, it might be worth continuing to the Maurizio Grossi, where you can buy a variety of hand-crafted sculptures.
Most people today live hectic lives in big cities with very little time to unwind and relax along with their loved ones. Most businessmen and professionals find that their professional life has intruded into their personal life and so they find it is important to get away from the hassles and take a holiday with their dear ones someplace closer to nature. Belarus is one of those places they can go and have the best and most relaxing holidays ever. This country is landlocked and is sited in Eastern Europe bordering Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. She covers an incredible area of 207,600 square kilometres with a population of about 10 million with the main language being Belarusian, Russian and Polish. Getting around Belarus has been made simple with the availability of numerous means of transport like trains, buses and taxis among many more.
In the capital city, Minsk, there is a vast selection of attractions and things to do while you are here and the same applies to other cities. The suburb of Troitskoye Predmestye should not be missed when you are on a tour through Minsk as it gives an insight into the way this city once looked like in the 19th century. You can also visit the idyllic Minsk Lake that is not far from Raubichi and it is dotted with multiple islets and surrounded by dense pines giving it a gorgeous look. The onion-shaped domes of Russian Orthodox churches dominate the landscape throughout the country especially around Logoysk, Kransoe and Molodechno. Pinsk is 300 kilometres south of Minsk and is the second largest city in the Brest region with an abundance of historical, architectural and cultural monuments. 120 kilometres from Minsk is the small town of Mir that possesses the 15th century Mir Castle which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Close to it is the historic Nesvizh which still retains its old buildings. The former residence of the Radzvilli family is one of the most impressive palaces in the country and it is surrounded by a large park with numerous lakes and elaborate gardens.
Visit the Museum of Folk Architecture situated in Orzeto and features original pieces of century-old buildings from different regions of Belarus. There is also the Dudutki Museum which is found 40 kilometres from the capital city and is the only private museum in Belarus that shows traditional crafts and lifestyle. If you are a sports enthusiast, you can enjoy excellent cross-country skiing in the Raubichy Olympic Sports Complex which is 22 kilometres from Minsk. If you love mountain skiing, there are two modern resorts, Logoysk and Silichy situated 30 kilometres from Minsk and skating is also available. One of the highlights of Brest is a tour of the fortress which was used to repel the German forces during World War II. There is a museum inside the fortress which chronicles its history back to the 13th century. If you are a tourist seeking political history, the village of Viskouli is where leaders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine signed the famous agreement stipulating the final disintegration of the USSR.
For accommodation, Belarus has two and three star hotels in Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Mogivel and Pinsk. Minsk and Vitebsk have two to four star hotels; however, two 5-star hotels are soon to be built. There are limited facilities for camping in Belarus, though several camping sites are soon to be organised according to the National Program of Tourism Development. Belarus' is a trip you are bound to relish forever.
п»ї5 Things To Consider Before Selling Gold Jewellery
5 Things To Consider Before Selling Gold Jewellery
When you come across, you will find that it’s very colloquial situation in India that whenever there is urgent requirement of cash, people turn to monetize their gold ornaments. In majority of the situation, it looks like money collected by trading gold is very less than it is expected. There are certain important things you need to look after while gold selling in Bangalore anytime. It will keep you away from being cheated or get deceived.
In order to prevent any compunction, just follow some guidelines prior to trading gold jewellery :-
1)Collect Invoice
A best legal jeweller always inquires for the invoice once you trade for gold ornaments. If you visit to the same shop from where you usually used to buy, if there is any difference regarding pureness, the retailer is not in situation to say something, because the particulars of that is clearly written in invoice.
2)What's it worthy?
You must have better knowledge of the value of gold that is to be sold. So, it is essential to ask for quotations from various shops. As there is no standard method to know the sold price, there can be some changes in the quotation acquired.
Visit various gold buyers shops and collect atleast 3 to 4 quotes to compare the worth of the ornaments and go with the maximum price possible for the price you are looking for.
3)Check For Purity Level
Before you sell gold, it’s essential to check for its purity. Karat meter tells about the pureness of gold. The worth of gold is built on the karat system, which a 24-point scale is representing the ratio of gold a piece of metal consists of.
4)Decide the Ultimate Cost
Deciding the final price for gold jewellery is one of the important tasks to consider. Gold buyers in Bangalore who buy used gold from us first of all liquefy the gold in a kiln and then the left gold which is a pure gold, free from some scums is occupied for decoding the actual price. The whole process is carried out at a minimal charge that is to removed from concluding charge of the gold.
Ultimately, this is sure that once you sell your gold you will be losing the entire labour charge you had paid during purchase time including the tax paid. It is observed that sell price of the gold tend to become lesser than the purchase charge by six to seven percent.
5)Where to sell
It is better to sell your gold jewellery to leading gold buyers in Bangalore as it increases the chances of getting fair amount for your gold.
In India, gold buyers are the best option to go for in emergency. Dgold is very professional and well-equipped, gold buyers in bangalore, having advanced gold purity testing machine. We offer highest price which is usually offered for the gold. We, the pledged gold buyers in bangalore offer you services loan takeover, valuation services, corporate gifting and a variety of services.
Irishman Walking is about my walking the coastal roads of Japan through a series of summer, winter, spring, and autumn stages. Stage 2 began in the city of Noshiro, Akita Prefecture in the winter of 2009, and ended in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata four weeks later in January 2010. Last summer (2012), Stage 8 started at Shibushi Port in Kagoshima Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, and ended in the city of Fukuoka six weeks after setting off. Then in winter Stage 9 started from Fukuoka and ended in Hiroshima City on the island of Honshu. The stage lasted for three weeks. Stage 10 is planned to start from Hiroshima this coming spring and will end in the city of Okayama in late-March 2013. The stage is planned to last for about two to three weeks.
31 Dec, 2009: It was a round seven o'clock when I pulled myself out from under my sleeping bag and under a pile of damp clothes. The rain had leaked in though the seams and kept me awake half the night mopping up; the fabric of the tent was now dry. “Mmm!” That was a good sign, I thought. Apart from the damp clothes, the dry breeze blowing in from the sea had removed just about all the evidence of the storm last night. Sleep had not been easy, but like previous nights, it was a hit and miss affair. What mattered now was getting ready again for the road. A hole was in the front of my tent to bury some rubbish, and needless to say, to take a dump (defecate) in, too. Then following a nice cup of hot tea, and an assortment of nuts with a little dried fruit for breakfast, I was once again tramping along Route 7 bound in the direction of Niigata.
Yesterday I had felt proud of myself; I had tramped the remaining few kilometers with a newfound spring in my step, despite the pains in my legs and feet. And now there was un-abounded joy in my heart, as I set off again in a mood of fervor, and if all went well enough it should remain confident. In fact, such was my confidence that I had little thought of even the weather being an obstacle. Then again, bad weather at one time or another held up all explorers and adventurers, for that was part of the job. On the whole, I would not say I as blessed with splendid weather, and at times so heavy was the rain, snow, and wind it was almost impossible for me to leave my tent, let alone travel at all.
The temperature gage on my little thermometer read 4 degrees Centigrade when I set off, though the sky remained heavy with low clouds for much of the day. From time to time snow flurries fell, but failed to make an impression on the surrounding landscape. My progress was slow, but steady. Soon I was passing out of the towns of Nikaho, and then Konoura, and then into Kisakata where lunchtime was knocking at my stomach walls. Or as the Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton wrote while on one of his Antarctic expeditions more than a hundred years ago: “The appetite of a man who has just come to camp after a five hours’ march in a low temperature is something that the ordinary individual at home would scarcely understand, and, indeed, the sledger himself has movements of surprise when, after finishing his ration, he feels just about as hungry as when he started.”
Across the way the glass doors of the Season Hotel stood invitingly ajar. A roadside advertisement just opposite the hotel told of food that could be had at a reasonable price, less than ¥1,000 yen. I made my way through the restaurant doors and over to a table where I set down by one of the windows. There was no need to look at the menu for long, as my mind was just about made up before I set down. Just as the bowl of shio ramen (noodles) and a cool bottle of beer had done the trick yesterday, so I ordered the same.
This time an attractive young waitress served me with a delightful warm presence about her. It was the kind of warmth that I had not been near for some years. That was way back in the good old days when I fell in love with the girl who generated such feelings like there was no tomorrow. Thought we have long ago parted, I still thought about her from time to time, especially tramping through some those giant tunnels in Hokkaido. Expressions of warmth toward someone almost always brought with it the desire for a closer relationship, of acceptance, and of course trust, which was so important. Sharing those warm feelings was a powerful tool for building and maintaining those close friendships. That said, however, it was an art in itself trying to verbalize such feelings to someone you were close to. Indeed, this all had nothing to do with the poor waitress, but it was a welcoming thing to sometimes cross paths with really nice people.
A good number of the houses and the towns I passed on my way seemed prosperous along this segment of road, if appearance was anything to go by. Then again, 'believe nothing of what you heard, and only half of what you saw', as the saying often reminded me. Even still, I could not help but notice that people at large were getting ready for the end of the yearend festivities. Many of them seemed to be scampering about doing their last minute shopping at the various shops and stores that were packed. At the larger stores creates and boxes of wines and beers were given the prime spots on the floor space close to the entrance.
At a good few of the houses I passed along the way I saw all ages of people entering them carrying bags, boxes, and whatnot from their cars. One middle-aged woman, perhaps the mother-in-law, was grinning from ear to ear as she directed an attractive young lady, perhaps the daughter-in-law, into through the open from door. The younger being loaded up to the chin with what looked like pre-cooked food. Just then thoughts of my own assignment of food supplies entered my mind, a dwindling assortment of nuts and dried fruit that I carried in my backpack. It was such sights that I envied, extended families, there for the New Year holidays to enjoy to the fullest.
In my heart I hoped someone would stop me and invite in to their warm homes to share their food and drink and company. But this was not Hokkaido where I discovered firsthand that such things actually did happen, if you were lucky. “Mmm!” I wondered if that was that because the average size of their houses, compared to other countries, was extremely small? Thus, only enough room for the extended family to come together. It was true, there were few house in Japan with a living rooms big enough to accommodate more than a few people. And the same was true for homes with yards or gardens big enough to have garden parties. But this was not Tokyo and many of the houses I passed were quite large. Therefore, I was not so sure and felt it was more a cultural thing, than the size of the houses.
Even if the space posed few problems, culturally, the Japanese drew a line between people they considered to be insiders (e.g., family, close friends), and those they considered to be outsiders. Work-collogue, for example, who came under this later category would seldom be invited to Japanese homes. Should an invitation be extended, however, much worry, confusion, and detail usually followed as to what and how to serve the guests. About ninety percent of the Japanese homes that I was invited to down through the years for one reason or another, there was usually some foreign connection. Either the host or the hostess was non-Japanese, or if they were Japanese, they had lived and worked overseas for an extensive period of time. A case in point was my friend Eiji-san and his wife, Emiko, who were kind enough to put me up at their home in Noshiro City in Akita for a couple of days before I began Stage 2 of my long mission around Japan. Both of them had lived and worked in America for close to a quarter of a century, and their daughter still lived there.
Like yesterday, my tramping had been hard but I felt good as I covered more than twenty-five kilometers. Also like yesterday, the snow failed miserably to take hold. At times I tramped through some short-lived snowstorms, but more of a pleasant surprise than annoying. The strong winds continued to make friends with my little well worn tent, which had just about had it as far as its usefulness. To me the wind was far from being friendly, especially when I stood outside my tent in the early hours trying to point Percy (urinate) in the direction of the horizon out over the sea. Just before my little bicycle clock that I carried in my pocket struck the big hour, the clouds broke apart to reveal the most glorious view of the moon and stars. Not only that, it was to be the last sight of the moon and stars that I was to get of 2009. Such was the beauty of the evening sky that if it had of been a Christian I might even have thanked God for that momentary flash. It felt so warming to my heart to watch the moonlight dance across the grassy fragments about camp.
Of course, I knew very little about the sky at anytime of the day, night or year, which was a shame since I loved to know what it was I was looking at. What I did know was that the sun was the nearest star to the Earth, at some ninety-three million miles away. Besides the sun, a lot of the brightest stars were much further away, and needed to be measured in terms of light years. To observe anything even further away, the astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope, which even if I was able to peek through, I still wound not know what the hell it was seeing. Such was the beauty of the evening sky that if it had of been a Christian I might even have thanked God for the way I felt at that moment. “Mmm!” If only I had someone with me now to enjoy the moment with. Then there were the shadows! It felt so warming to my heart to watch the moonlight dance across the grassy fragments about camp.
It felt good to be back inside the cramped but warn enclosure of my sleeping bag and tent and away for the smell. It was never easy to sleep when you were thirsty, so I reached over for the soft drink bottle that I got at a vending machine a while back and took a swig. Strangely I did not feel tired, still there was little for me to do now but to listen to the orchestra of sounds and non-sounds outside the tent. The sea beating against the rocky shoreline, the wind whistling through the little pinewood forest that stood nearby, and the flapping noise from the fabric of my tent. There was even the noise from the cars as they rushed along the road not fifty meters up above me. Last but not least, there was the gentle sound of the lead from my pencil upon the notebook paper, which also made a sound at the turn of the page. The there was the sound of my breathing, that everything seemed so much alive to me. Not alive in the harmony so important to the orchestra, but rather, from the different directions, separate and alone, the sounds all came together.
For years I was possessed with that great gift of speaking too soon, and almost with out thinking. In the night sky some ways across the black sea I heard another sound. It was an angry sound troubling to any natural orchestra performing outdoors. The thunder was unexpected! Last night too, the thunder and lightening was only half of it, the heaviest of winds and rains blew and fell relentlessly. Strangely, I felt good! There was still no sign of the rain in these final hours of the year. A few cups of inexpensive red wine and a few pages of Jack London's 'White Fang' seemed as good a way as any to see in the New Year, alone in my tent.
Classic novels like this one by London, and modern history were the only books I liked to read these days. Wine was far from being a modern history topic. Historians believed that it dated back as far as 6000 BC when fermented grapes were uncovered by accident in the Middle East. Like now, wine was produced by the fermenting of grapes, and home-grown wine’s eventually spread to places like to Greece, and Egypt, and then Italy, Spain and France, who exported some of the best wines in the world today. Soon my fast tiring mind now felt to be in harmony with my body as I turned the pages of the book. And with tired eyes, it was in the warmth of my sleeping bag that I saw in 2010.
1 Jan, 2010: When I awoke a thin patchy covering of snow lay about the ground. It must have fallen gently in the night, for I could not hear for the multitude of sounds that eventually rocked me to sleep. On the road was a different story. The flurries of snow that fell increased with the passing of time. Giant snow ploughs were in action now in both directions. Each time one slowly passed me by a small convoy of motorists would follow behind. On one occasion there was even a woman on a motor scooter going along the best she could at near walking speed. “Mmm” Surely it was only a matter of time before the poor woman took a tumble? I thought. I turned to watch her in her efforts until she had disappeared from view. It was hard to see far into the falling snow! It was good for her that she did not fall off her scooter in that time, perhaps for me, too. I thought about the women and about which of the two of us was the more ill equipped for being in the heavy snow that day.
My mind soon focused back on the road in front of me, for now I could hardly see in front of my nose. A wintery mist had begun to form and the crosswind whipped the snow up before it could settle upon the road. “Fucking hell! Was this a blizzard or a snowstorm that I was in?” I mumbled to myself, wishing that I could be somewhere else, like sitting comfortably in front of an open fire with my feet up. Snowstorms happened when very cold air collided with warm air that had risen suddenly. The air had been surprisingly warmer earlier, that I had even thought about stopping to do a little washing. Then a lot of heavy moist laden clouds had begun to form across the sky, which I knew to be important for snowstorms to occur. But there was also a strong wind mixed in with it all, and which kind of made it a blizzard. “Fuck it!” Nothing was more perplexing than not knowing what exactly it was you were experiencing.
Then there were a few periods when the snow would suddenly stop and the sun would break through the low heavy clouds. “Mmm!” Those were glorious moments! Every time this happened my psychological batteries felt as though they were recharged and I was ready to kick up dust, or rather, snow powder once more. However, such moments were so short-lived. Almost as suddenly as the clouds had opened up to let the sunshine through, they closed again. Then the wind and the snow came heavier than before. Looking back, I would never have imagined this morning’s gentle snowfall would become so hazardous as it was now. Often it was possible to tramp along the pavement for the snow that the wind and the snow ploughs had deposited there. At least the roads had the benefit of the snow ploughs.
On the road, I was able to make my way against the oncoming traffic the best I could. However, if there was one thing that annoyed me most of all it was having to tramp along roads where the traffic never let up in either direction. Most of the motorists, I was happy to see, kept well clear of me the best they could. Of course, there were a few who I thought that lacked intelligence or manners necessary for driving in such conditions. Or, God forbid, were under the influence of alcohol it being that seasonal time of the year. Whatever the reason, some drivers passed me by at great speed, and kicking up the snow as they went with barely inches between us. On the whole, it was not easy or necessary for me to think of anything nice or positive about the drivers on the roads, for the need to keep my wits about me.
There was nothing else that I could do but tramp along clumsily through the snow the best I could. At times the traffic became so heavy that I needed to stick as closely as I could to the hedges and twigs that poked out of the snow at the sides of the snow packed road. My body was well protected by the old clothing I wore and by the camping gear I carried. The ice covered twigs and branches at times raked across my red nose and cheeks, and left nasty little patterns of dirt and of red scratches. Even without the use of snowshoes, the longer I tramped the better I tramped. And in time I was better able to calculate the physical limitations on my body, and to measure with some accuracy the distances and times it took between the place names on the road signs that stood along the snow swept road.
The snow was falling now at a blinding pace. A few minutes earlier a short let up in the snow allowed me the chance to stop and check my position on one of my maps. The map was already well-worn and torn from the summer stage on the roads, with my old friend and companion, the Nihon Kai (Japan Sea), down along the Hokkaido and Aomori coastline. Perhaps because of its usefulness during this earlier stage, I had grown sentimentally attached to the map and decided to use it on this segment of my journey, too, at least one last time before finally having to replace it. Sadly, nothing lasted good lasted forever! Experience had taught me that stopping somewhere to await a lull in the bad weather was not always a good idea. It was during one such moment when I came so close to loosing my only map altogether. I had just spread the map out across the soft snow by the roadside to check a few things, when a freak crosswind kicked up from out of nowhere and whisked the thing up from the ground and into the air above about my head. Of course, my hands fought frantically to grasp hold of it but it was no good.
I watched in near horror and disbelief as my poor map now danced in and out of the traffic and then fly up into the air once more and across the road, Route 7. Hurrying across the road and in and out of the now slowly moving traffic, and through the snow again after the damn thing must have looked somewhat comical to the unsuspecting motorists. I felt tired! It was not easy as it was to tramp all day long, and leaden down by a weighty backpack dampened by the elements, and then to have to face this new problem. Running through a snowstorm of a blizzard or whatever it was, and with a load on my back, too, was utter madness. Such was my incoherent and frantic desperation to retrieve my loss at that time that even now I still did not know how an accident did not befall me. Whenever I looked back on it now, how foolish I must have been not caring about myself just because I needed that old map, as if it was irreplaceable.
Suddenly, my map came to a wind blown stop against the hand railings on a bridge spanning high above a set of railroad tracks. It would be on those tracks that I would board a train bound for Niigata City at the end of this stage (Stage 2) of my long and tiring mission. The place that I tentatively planned to call it quits until the spring stage would most likely be at Nezugaseki JR Station, which was according to my map near the boarder that separated Yamagata and Niigata Prefectures. Then there was a 100-meter dash to the bridge to retrieve the map before the wind whisked it up again, and God forbid, blow it down onto the tracks below where it would surely be out of reach and lost for good.
Darting into the falling snow and across a dangerous road between moving traffic was not for the faint hearted, for on the road one needed to be a little mad to get things done! However, my hasty effort did not quite workout the way I had hoped it would. Just as I got to within about one meter of the map, another wind kicked up. From its resting place, the map rose up into the air again and tumbled and tossed through the air and over the slow moving cars back to the other side of the road again from where it had come. Fortunately for me, the map did not go over the bridge, as I had feared it would. Now the wind slammed my map into the side of a snow-covered embankment where it lay flapping about as if in great pain.
At this point the traffic had greatly lessened and soon I too was across the road, and with a dive that Superman would have been proud to make, I hurled myself thought the air and landed on top of my well-travelled map. Then the wet and tattered old thing was quickly folded up and shoved back into my little shoulder bag where I kept my notebook and pencils. For any more damage to it would have to wait to be assessed later on. Now with the map safely secured, I turned to the road proper feeling annoyed with myself for my foolish carelessness, which could well have cost me not only the loss of my map.
Never in my life had I encountered anything of which to be really afraid of. Some of my friends in Belfast had, for example, got themselves wrapped up in 'the Troubles' big time, and as a result of their efforts spent much of their youthful years in the infamous Maze Prison, which was used to house paramilitary prisoners during the mid-70s to the mid-2000. Also called Long Kesh on the outskirts of Lisburn, the prison was built on the land there where a former Royal Air Force station used to be. In some ways my friends had played a prominent role Irish history, including the1981 hunger strike for which they had put their names down for selection. Though in some ways it was fortunate none of them were chosen. With strong signs of peace well in hand, the prison was finally shutdown in 2000 and demolition began soon afterwards on 30 October 2006, but was halted a few years later.
A good number of their friends even died in the Trouble’s for one reason or another. So many innocent people died in the thirty years of the conflict, which I guess was the darker side of the Republican and Unionist struggle during those times. Fate had played a hand in my own course in life. For the closest that I ever came to death was the result of a series motorbike crash on the Fulham Road in London. That was in the 1970s during the height of the Troubles in the North, the accident itself was not very far from Saint Stephan’s hospital where I spent a year. My elder brother Paul, who used to visit me in the hospital, was killed soon after I came out.
That too was the result of a motorbike accident that he had in Peterborough where he was on holiday with his lovely wife, Sally. They were married a little prior to my own accident. Not only that, the same priest who married them, also performed the funeral ceremony, all within the space of little more than a year. Therefore, as a result of shock of my brother’s death, and my own near death experience, what better thing was there left for me to do than to travel the world? I had been lucky in that I had never smoked or taken drugs beyond what came in the tea, in the coffee, or in the beer I drunk. However, all those exciting, interesting, and knowledgeable things that traveling had about it then it was a drug or sorts that I was hooked on.
The extent of the bombings and roadblocks had now gone from the streets and cities in the North. It was not uncommon for the young to seek out new aims and identity by going to one of the big institutions, like, Queen's University, Belfast or the University of Ulster. In many senses I guess I was fortunate not to have got caught up in the Trouble's at all. Of course, I knew what fear was, and from which it was made, but I did not need to volunteer for some life and death mission like my friends had done. Nor did I see my tramping about the world during those years of the Troubles in terms of danger, or anything to be afraid of. I was simply too busy moving from one country to another to know or care about the unknown, or to feel any fear for the excitement of being caught up in it, if there was such a thing.
Beyond being hit by a car crossing the road, there was no worry about some catastrophe thing waiting to happen, like a bullet or a bomb with my name on it. Tramping the roads seemed so natural to me, or kind of like ‘sex’ or ‘lust’ was to a young person, in a quaint sort of way. “Mmm!” No! It was even greater, I thought, as I made my way back up onto the road. Perhaps on par with that thing we call ‘love’. Tramping along the coastal roads kind of justified my existence in life, it was much bigger that any political or national cause.
Stopping to talk to people I had never met before in places I had never been to never fail to fuel my determination on the road. Tramping along the coastal roads for long periods in the day demanded discipline and obedience, and common sense. But on a few occasions even common sense told me that disobedience was sometimes necessary. This rule of thumb was important, for it told me to expect and be prepared for the unexpected. Like the times when I came across an old abandoned road with a sign posted telling me to keep out, and which I decided to use instead of the newer road, which often ran through a massive tunnel. The problems of trying to get though the freezing weather conditions were also a case in point. For the last five kilometers into Sekata I could barely see ten meters in front of my nose for the high wind and heavy snow that came at me from all directions.
Still my spirits had picked up greatly since the map happening some kilometers back. Perhaps because I was well aware of the fact that nothing lasted forever, good or bad. In short, if the miserable weather was not going to let up, the least I could do was to get my butt the hell out of it for a while, which I did. Soon I was sitting in front of the television in a warm hotel room waiting for the bath to fill up. The tiny plastic wrapping of the little plastic cup in the bathroom read, 'WASHED UP', which kind of summed up the state of my own condition after being out on the road in such atrocious weather. The college and university marathon relay race called ‘Ekiden’ in Japanese was on the television. The race had become part of the New Year, and was run from Otomachi in Tokyo to Hakone, and then back to Tokyo again, which was some 217.9 kilometers long. But all I could think about was the hot bath, which was now ready and how great the water felt as I stepped into the bathtub.
All through the night the wind and snow hammered against the window of my room as if calling me out to tramp just that bit more, the call of the wild. Not being able to sleep well, I began to feel confused and restless! I had hoped to rest well in a proper bed, too, but seemed unable to do so. “Mmm! Perhaps I should be out in the snow instead of in the warm hotel room.” I told myself. “After all, wasn’t that what my mission was all about, to experience everything, in all kinds of weather?” Then again, when I was outside in the snow more than my balls had become nearly frozen!
Outside was so cold in fact that I even worried about coming down with something like hypothermia. Hypothermia was when the body temperature dropped way below what was considered good for you. Being in icy water or out in the snow for too long were good enough reasons to feel worried. The symptoms I read could range from shivering, your skin turning unusually pale and cold, or even falling down. Irrational behavior or slurred speech was also clear signs that something was serious.
Planned or unplanned, I was game for most things. As a result of this gung-ho spirit of mine, it had been by sheer blundering that my mind was formed the way it was. My love for the outdoors did not exactly come as naturally as I would perhaps have preferred. Rather, it was something that I kind of fell into, more for want of something challenging to do with my humdrum lifestyle in Tokyo. In my heart I knew that this segment, or Stage Two, that had been mainly on the coastal roads, was nearing its end. And mainly because of the atrocious weather, this two-week long winter stint had really worn me down physically and mentally.
A glance through the open bathroom door at my tattered map spread out on the floor below the air conditioner to dry. “Mmm!” On the map I could make out the pen mark I made earlier, and which I knew represented the city of Tsuruoga, and where I thought might be as good place as any to rap things up at. Besides, time was also against me, and I needed to think about getting back to Tokyo to work. But it was no use trying to think further than that about anything now beyond sitting in the hot bath just a bit longer. Tsuruoka was the second largest city in Yamagata Prefecture after Yamagata City located on the coast of the Sea of Japan.
2 Jan, 2010: At eight-thirty the phone rang. It was from one of my friends in Tokyo. "How's the weather?" she asked me, in her voice sounded crisp, commanding, and always to the point. My friend always spoke to me like a boss spoke to a subordinate. Of course, I knew her character well enough not to mind. "I don't know! I'm still in bed half a sleep. Just a moment," I answered, dragging myself up on one elbow to open the curtains near the bed. "I couldn't make it out clearly from here, but I think a strong wind was still blowing the snow about on the ground way below. And the sky still looked pretty miserable." After I few more words about my plans and health the chat ended.
It had already been decided last night to stop one more day at the hotel, mainly to take a look about the attractive little city that had an estimated population of around 111,500, about half that of Belfast. From a historic high of around 400,000 prior to 1914, Belfast's population was on a gradual and persistent decline. And though currently stable, estimates for 2008 showed the population there to be almost 270,000. Japan’s population was declining, and the same was most noticeable when you got away from the big cities. The world had over 6.6 billion people, the population continued to grow, with most living in urban areas. The population in Japan was expected to decline from around 130 million to less and 117 million by 2025. There are more than a million temples in Japan; half of them seemed to be dotted about Sekata.
3 Jan: This morning the television reports on a lull in the snowy weather conditions raised my spirits. I decided to push on along the coastal road to see where it would take me by the end of the day. On the television the second day of the Hakone Ikiden marathon was under way. In a just a few minutes I would be under way, too, as I closed the door of room 603 behind me to take the elevator down to the hotel lobby to return the key.
My first sighting of the Nihon Kai (Japan Sea) came on Route 112 as I crossed over the Akagawa River. Just across the Sodeura Bridge that spanned the river stood a cafe called 'Afternoon Tea.' There I dropped my backpack at a wall by the entrance and made my way inside where I sat down at a table by one of the large windows. Most prominent among the items of the cafe's interior design were two wedding dresses. I learned from the attractive proprietor that perspective young couples would meet at the cafe to discuss their future plans together. Perhaps the wedding dresses on display helped the young couples to keep their minds focused. 'Young Love' as the words in the Bob Marley song went, came to mind. I also learned that the cafe was also used for other meetings and functions, such as, ikebana or flower arrangement groups. The bunch of fresh flowers in one of the corners must have been placed there for one of these groups.
From the menu I ordered a mixed pizza, a cup of coffee, and a bottle of beer to start with. For whatever reason, just about every place to eat at I visited since leaving Noshiro City served bottles of Asahi "Dry" beer. Regardless, a nice cool beer gave me the kick-start I needed before heading off again down the road. After leaving the Sekata Central Hotel this morning the weather had for the most part been rather good. The snow too was melting here and there, which did not exactly make my tramping easier. The sun was doing its best to break through the heavy clouds. Fortunately, the road was not so busy, which gave me the chance to keep my boots dry by tramping near the dry center where the road was free of snow and slush. Perhaps the motorists were still in their futons or beds sleeping off a heavy night of drinking and partying.
It was that time of the year! When motorist did pass me by in both directions, they seemed to respect my presence by either slowing down, or moving well clear of me, which kind of happy to see. Perhaps it was also that time in the year when people behaved more humane. At other times I got only long hard faces from the drivers or passengers when tramping down through, for example, much of Aomori and Akita prefectures. Therefore, I tended to refrain from looking at the drivers or passengers in the passing cars if I could help it.
Later on in the day there were a few tiny flutters of snow that fell, but nothing so bad as to write home about. One noticeable change in the elements came when I pulled into Yonohama, a nice touristic little seaside resort town. About that time a high wind blew in from the sea that would have whisked a grown man's feet from under him if he were not careful. It was my first real encounter with the my old friend the sea since leaving Sekata that morning, and quite a while since I last found myself having to face such a fierce wind, too. All the way along the coast as far as Yonohama, pine trees blocked out the sea from the road and buildings. No doubt during the day the pine trees had given me a fair bit of cover from the wind. Apart from a concrete wall that ran for some distance, there was nothing in sight to protect me when I left the town.
There was a traditional Irish blessing that went something like this:
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
The sunshine warm upon your face
The rains soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
For the life of me, I could not recall a single time on the roads when the winds were ever behind my back. And the only time the roads rose up was to meet me, were the damn steep mountain passes I had to tramp across. In fact, the Japanese would just as soon go over a mountain as go around it. As for rain, there was nothing more irritating than having to tramp the roads in it. Fortunately for me, there were no sign of rain now, but with the passing hours the clouds ruled the aging sky, whilst wind blew steady. As I leant forward into the wind I could feel its power. At least it kept me from falling flat on my face as I made my way along the road, and now with some difficulty for the blisters in my feet. Perhaps in warmer conditions it might even have been considered a pleasant tramp. However, in this unpredictably cold weather, all I wanted to do was to get as many kilometers under my belt as possible, blisters or no blisters. Along the way towards Yonohama I passed through a couple of old towns of which the remnants of an earlier age could still be seen.
This was most noticeable in the form of roof tiles on the wooden houses, if not in the architectural design of the wooden buildings, which were rapidly disappearing across Japan. Of course, much had changed since the time I cycled around this country in the late-1970s, and then again in the mid-1980s. It was around the late-1970s, too, when Alan Booth made his epic walk from Cape Soya to Cape Sata. Besides the old wooden buildings, now long gone from the towns and cities that Booth and myself passed through years earlier, so too had large segments of the coastal roads disappeared and reclaimed by nature. The same could be said for many of the tunnels, now abandon. In the name of that thing called progress, new roads and longer tunnels had replaced all of the old ones.
When I arrived in the Yonohama it was easy to see that a large part of town’s economy came from tourism. As I made my way along the clean wind swept streets I passed as many, if not more, hotels and Japanese-style inns than actual family homes. The town was too busy with tourists for me to even consider making camp. “Mmm!” What the hell, it was too early anyway, I thought was I tried not to think about the pain in my feet. It was near the little town of Komo that I finally found a secluded little place to pitch my tent a way from the prying of any people. The place I choose to make camp was next to an empty building, which took the blunt of the crosswind blowing in from the sea. Though in reality, I think my tent received as much of the wind as the building, for it rattled the fabric all through the night that sleep came slowly, but gradually.
As I sat in the Abraham-Hicks seminar this past weekend, over and over I heard Abraham tell people, “You can’t create a new reality for yourself by continuing to ‘beat the drum’ of what ‘is’… you have to start telling a new ‘story’ for yourself or nothing will ever change.”
I started thinking about the stories I was telling myself about my daughter. On the drive up to Portland where the seminar was, my daughter and I had a few ‘moments’ about how much money she had to spend on clothes and what she expected to be able to buy (it was a lot more than I had been expecting!). We argued about it a few times and afterwards, I felt angry and disappointed.
As I sat there listening to Abraham talk, I decided to create a new story for myself about my relationship with my kiddo and our weekend together.
Abraham continually says that the only reason what we want isn’t showing up in our lives is because we haven’t yet aligned ourselves up with it vibrationally, or we’re not in the place of feeling it. In other words, if we create a new ‘story’ around something we want, and change how we feel about it, we change our vibration. And if we change our vibration, we attract something different.
So I spent the next few minutes writing out exactly what I wanted to experience with my daughter over the weekend… like how much fun we would have, what great bargains we would find, and how much we would enjoy being together. I continued with how I wanted to feel that she was very appreciative and grateful for our weekend shopping together, and that I felt the same.
I wrote about all the things we wanted to shop for and how we would find them easily and at a great price. And then I wrote what a joyful experience the entire weekend would be for both of us.
The results were incredible. How quickly we can turn things around if we can just let go of our old stories and decide to create something different for ourselves.
It doesn’t have to be hard, difficult, or complicated. It can be amazingly simple… we just have to do it!
During the lunch break from the seminar, I went up to see my daughter in our hotel room since she had been asleep when I left in the morning. She was a completely different person than she had been the night before. She was loving, excited about spending time together as soon as the seminar was over, and grateful that I had brought her with me. I heard more ‘thank you’s’ and ‘Mom, I appreciate you so much’, that weekend than I have ever heard before. We had so much fun together, and we found some great bargains!
But it all started with me deciding to ‘sing a new song’ about who she was and what our relationship was like… and how I wanted to feel.
Once I changed my vibration, it attracted something different. It was never about her changing, it was about me, but first I had to stop ‘beating the drum’ of what was, so I could change what ‘could be’.
I would like to say that I’ll always remember to do this work when I’m being challenged in a relationship… hmmmm. I would like to say that, but…
What I do know is that it does get easier the more I practice, and the more I practice, the more I remember to do it. And maybe next time instead of waiting a whole day before I jump in to turn things around, I’ll remember after a few hours… at least, that’s what I’m going to intend. :-)
Until next time… may all your stories be great ones!
*****
Примечание!
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Новости
ПолянаАртФест
С 20 по 26 июня 2025 года на площадке курорта Красная Поляна, Сочи 960 состоится грандиозный Международный танцевальный форум "ПолянаАртФест", который проводится при поддержке Президентского фонда культурных инициатив, Министерства культуры Российской Федерации и Министерства культуры Краснодарского края.
В театре "Урал Опера Балет" завершилась открытая для зрителей репетиция новой версии "Каменного цветка" Сергея Прокофьева по мотивам сказок Бажова в интерпретации хореографа Антона Пимонова. Премьера - уже завтра, 4 апреля.
Международный танцевальный форум "ПолянаАртФест" - это уникальный проект, главной идеей которого является массовое вовлечение детей и молодежи в творческий процесс, создание пространства для коммуникации представителей танцевальной культуры. Форум пройдет с 20 по 26 июня в Сочи, Красная Поляна.
Балетмейстер и художественный руководитель известного парижского кабаре "Мулен Руж" Джанет Фараон скончалась в возрасте 65 лет. По данным французских СМИ, Фараон в последнее время серьезно болела.
Ансамбль "Донбасс" прибыл из ДНР в Ставрополь, чтобы поздравить местных коллег-музыкантов с 20-летием. С казачьим ансамблем песни и пляски "Вольная степь" дончан связывают давняя дружба и многократные совместные выступления.
В Северной столице состоялась - необычная балетная премьера. Во-первых, она была представлена на сцене Большого драматического театра (БДТ). Во-вторых, готовитовила ее для Петербурга московская команда, в составе которой сплошь звездные имена.
Балет Берлинской государственной оперы возобновил хит своего репертуара — "Лебединое озеро" в постановке Патриса Барта, творчески переосмысляющей классический балетный сюжет. По мнению Татьяны Кузнецовой, с новым составом исполнителей знаменитый спектакль-долгожитель выглядит на удивление свежим.
IX-й Международный фестиваль искусств "TURAN-IAF" предоставляет уникальную возможность погрузиться в многогранный мир культурного обмена. Мероприятие, проводимое с 02 по 07 мая 2025 года в живописной Анталии, Турция, обещает стать незабываемым событием для всех, кто интересуется искусством.
One Dance Championship по Caribbean Mix на Moscow Ball 2024
И еще один обзор участников чемпионата по одному танцу уже по карибским танцам. Комментирует финал "Кубка Деда Мороза и Снегурочки" по танцу меренге на Moscow Ball 2024 Анастасия Демидова, чемпионка России WADF по salsa и bachata, чемпионка Европы WADF по salsa и bachata.
Инклюзивный бал как явление зародился в Самаре в 2014 году, в Москве же, такие праздники проводятся раз в году, начиная с 2022 года. Это возможность сделать людей с инвалидностью чуточку счастливее и здоровее — общение и взаимодействие дарит счастье и уверенность.
Легендарный танцовщик Владимир Васильев встретил свое 85-летие новым "Лебединым озером". Про его танец писали: живописует телом, когда летит - это поэзия, порыв духа. В его живописи присутствуют те же движение, динамика - которые видны сегодня в любых позе и жесте мастера, когда он что-то показывает танцовщикам...
Ведущая балерина Мариинского театра, звезда "Русских сезонов" Сергея Дягилева, первая исполнительница постановок Михаила Фокина, эмигрировавшая после революции в Великобританию, вице-президент Британской Королевской академии танца.
Шоу-программа – это уникальная танцевальная дисциплина, которая позволяет танцорам примерять на себя разные роли и демонстрировать сразу несколько стилей в одном танце. Сейчас танцевальные шоу популярны в медиапространстве в формате видеоклипов, набирают обороты соревнования среди профессиональных пар.
- Господи, как я волновалась! Меня так трясло, что боялась, как бы дрожь не заметили в зале. Но потом взяла себя в руки. Подумала: я же ради этого все затевала. Полгода тренировок и репетиций. Ну а раз назвалась балериной, то вперед на сцену.
Сегодня посмотреть классический балет на сцене невозможно. Это будет не он, а позднейшие советские редакции редакций, с обломками подлинника. Чтобы разглядеть в этих редакциях настоящий классический балет, нужно хорошо знать матчасть
При словах Африканский танец, наверное, у многих появляется ассоциация с человеком, танцующим под звук барабанов и абсолютно владеющим всеми частями тела, которые умело подчеркивают ритм. Африканские танцы всегда имели сильную связь с землей. Как говорят сами африканские танцоры, они чувствуют пульс земли, и выражают его своими позами, жестами и шагами.
В современном мире граница между этими профессиями становится все более размытой, и многие хореографы успешно работают в разных жанрах, используя элементы классического балета в современных постановках. Однако, понимание различий между этими профессиями помогает лучше оценить сложность и многогранность мира танца.
Ведение социальных сетей - одно из самых важных правил
В современном танцевальном мире одну из главных ролей занимает имидж в социальных сетях. Благодаря блогам танцоры не только набирают популярность, но и развивают и делают более известными танцевальные направления. Как набрать подписчиков? Чем привлечь аудиторию? Для чего вести блог?
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С 20 по 26 июня 2025 года на площадке курорта Красная Поляна, Сочи 960 состоится грандиозный Международный танцевальный форум "ПолянаАртФест", который проводится при поддержке Президентского фонда культурных инициатив, Министерства культуры Российской Федерации и Министерства культуры Краснодарского края.
В театре "Урал Опера Балет" завершилась открытая для зрителей репетиция новой версии "Каменного цветка" Сергея Прокофьева по мотивам сказок Бажова в интерпретации хореографа Антона Пимонова. Премьера - уже завтра, 4 апреля.
Международный танцевальный форум "ПолянаАртФест
Балетмейстер и художественный руководитель известного парижского кабаре "Мулен Руж" Джанет Фараон скончалась в возрасте 65 лет. По данным французских СМИ, Фараон в последнее время серьезно болела. 
Ансамбль "Донбасс" прибыл из ДНР в Ставрополь, чтобы поздравить местных коллег-музыкантов с 20-летием. С казачьим ансамблем песни и пляски "Вольная степь" дончан связывают давняя дружба и многократные совместные выступления.
В Северной столице состоялась - необычная балетная премьера. Во-первых, она была представлена на сцене Большого драматического театра (БДТ). Во-вторых, готовитовила ее для Петербурга московская команда, в составе которой сплошь звездные имена.
Балет Берлинской государственной оперы возобновил хит своего репертуара — "Лебединое озеро
IX-й
И еще один обзор участников чемпионата по одному танцу уже по карибским танцам. Комментирует финал "Кубка Деда Мороза и Снегурочки" по танцу меренге на Moscow Ball 2024 Анастасия Демидова, чемпионка России WADF по salsa и bachata, чемпионка Европы WADF по salsa и bachata.
Инклюзивный бал как явление зародился в Самаре в 2014 году, в Москве же, такие праздники проводятся раз в году, начиная с 2022 года. Это возможность сделать людей с инвалидностью чуточку счастливее и здоровее — общение и взаимодействие дарит счастье и уверенность.
Легендарный танцовщик Владимир Васильев встретил свое 85-летие новым "Лебединым озером". Про его танец писали: живописует телом, когда летит - это поэзия, порыв духа. В его живописи присутствуют те же движение, динамика - которые видны сегодня в любых позе и жесте мастера, когда он что-то показывает танцовщикам...
Ведущая балерина Мариинского театра, звезда "Русских сезонов
Шоу-программа – это уникальная танцевальная дисциплина, которая позволяет танцорам примерять на себя разные роли и демонстрировать сразу несколько стилей в одном танце. Сейчас танцевальные шоу популярны в медиапространстве в формате видеоклипов, набирают обороты соревнования среди профессиональных пар.
- Господи, как я волновалась! Меня так трясло, что боялась, как бы дрожь не заметили в зале. Но потом взяла себя в руки. Подумала: я же ради этого все затевала. Полгода тренировок и репетиций. Ну а раз назвалась балериной, то вперед на сцену.
Сегодня посмотреть классический балет на сцене невозможно. Это будет не он, а позднейшие советские редакции редакций, с обломками подлинника. Чтобы разглядеть в этих редакциях настоящий классический балет, нужно хорошо знать матчасть
При словах Африканский танец, наверное, у многих появляется ассоциация с человеком, танцующим под звук барабанов и абсолютно владеющим всеми частями тела, которые умело подчеркивают ритм. 
В современном мире граница между этими профессиями становится все более размытой, и многие хореографы успешно работают в разных жанрах, используя элементы классического балета в современных постановках. Однако, понимание различий между этими профессиями помогает лучше оценить сложность и многогранность мира танца.
В современном танцевальном мире одну из главных ролей занимает имидж в социальных сетях. Благодаря блогам танцоры не только набирают популярность, но и развивают и делают более известными танцевальные направления. Как набрать подписчиков? Чем привлечь аудиторию? Для чего вести блог? 
