Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three)

A busy Sunday at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.

Paper lanterns decorate the gates that lead you into the shrine.

Visiting the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo was a great day out.  Not only did I get to see the Shinto shrine up close, but I also got a chance to be part of a very special Japanese celebration known as Shichi-Go-San (or Seven-Five-Three).  This is when girls who are three and seven, and boys who are five (Japanese people believe odd numbers are good luck) visit a shrine on (or around) November 15, to cast away evil spirits and wish for a long, happy and healthy life.

Great care is taken with every little detail.  From head to toe the children
look perfect for their special day.

This is a special day and the children wear a traditional outfit called a kimono.  For some children it is the first time they have ever worn one of these.  They are followed around by family members who snap pictures of them posing in front of the shrine.

Posing with her mom and brother this little girl will always remember this special day.

The children also receive special treats on this day like chitose ame, a red and white long candy stick that is known as "thousand year candy".  Balloons can be seen floating around, a big teddy bear mascot is on hand to be hugged and there is even a play that is performed in the park for families to enjoy.
 

A five year old boy all dressed up for his big day.

Is there a time when you have worn special clothing or a traditional outfit?  Do you have any pictures of that special day?

The Colourful Day in Kuala Lumpur

Being back in a big city after all that quiet time in Phuket has taken its toll on me.  I am exhausted.  So today I went in search of some peace and quiet, and I found it at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.

Hidden among the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur, I see some peace and quiet.

This beautiful temple stands out from the buildings around it.  Its colourful statues, piled high in a pyramid formation (or is it a triangular prism?) above the doorway, welcome all visitors, Hindus and non-Hindus alike.  The temple was built in 1873 by workers that came to KL from India.  It is dedicated to the mother goddess Mariamman, and Hindus come here to make her offerings and to ask for her support and guidance.

This colourful pyramid sits ontop of the temple's entrance.

Before you go in you have to remember to take off your shoes (Hindus feel it is respectful to do this, and will even remove their shoes before entering someone's home or store).  Once you are inside the temple you will find many quiet places to sit, pray and even meditate.  You can close your eyes, take deep breaths and enjoy the smell of flowers and incense that scent the temple.  I sat in Sri Maha for a while and thought about my trip and all the temples I have already seen, and all the places I still have to explore (I wonder if there will be more temples?)

Do you ever meditate or enjoy some quiet time?  What are some things you like to think about when you are sitting quietly?

1Malaysia

All around the city you can see posters with the slogan 1Malaysia written across them.  What do these posters mean?  What are they trying to teach us?

A poster at the LRT (Light Rail Transit) stop.

You see, just like Canada, Malaysia is a country of immigrants.  Over the centuries people from other countries have come to Malaysia (even before it was known as Malaysia) and they either colonized (took over part of the land), or decided to live and work with the locals in a more peaceful way.

When you look around the streets of Kuala Lumpur you can see many different faces.  You will find people from China, India, Turkey, Japan, Thailand and Burma (to just list a few) living together side by side.

The different faces that make up 1Malaysia.

The government is trying to remind Malaysians that no matter where they are from, no matter what language they speak, what religion they practice or what colour their skin is, they are all Malaysian, and all citizens of the country.  The hope is that things like racism (when people are treated badly or differently because of their race) won't be a problem in Malaysia if everyone remembers that together they all make up "one Malaysia".

A poster showing children dressed in different traditional clothing all holding the Malaysian flag.

What's Wat?

When you visit Bangkok you will see wats all over the place.  Now a good question to ask is "what is a wat?" 

The beautiful (and famous) Wat Arun Ratcha Wararam.

Like so many structures that I have visited on my journey around the world, a wat is a special religious building.  Wats are Buddhist temples and they are very important in Thai culture.  Not only do Buddhists come and worship in wats, but these temples are used as schools, monasteries and even as community centers.  On special days you can see entire communities gathered in the garden of the temple sharing a meal together.

Doors and windows decorated with gold at Wat Chana Songkram.

Just take a look at a map of Bangkok and you will see wats scattered all over the city.  There is Wat Noi Nang Hong, Wat Mongkrut Krasat Thiyaram and Wat Sam Praya just to name three...but there are over 50 wats that you can visit while you are in Bangkok. 

Can you think of some of the other religious buildings that I have visited already on my journey?  How are they different and the same from the wats in Bangkok?

Offerings of flowers, incense and food are made to Buddha in temples across Bangkok.

A Visit to Coptic Cairo

When you visit Cairo you will see that it is a predominately Muslim city.  Most of the women are veiled or wear head scarves, and many of the men have carpet burns on their foreheads from praying five times a day on their prayer rugs.  Another reminder that Cairo is mostly Muslim is the call to prayer that booms across the city from minarets scattered about the town.  So is everyone in Cairo a Muslim?  No, not quite.

The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo, called that because of the way it hangs over the rest of the area.

Tucked away into a corner of Cairo is an area known as Coptic Cairo.  This is the centre, and meeting point for several of the Coptic Christians in Cairo.  Built about 2000 years ago, it is a maze of streets, gardens, churches and homes that is surrounded by a tall wall.

The narrow streets that lead you around Coptic Cairo.  It is a real-life maze!

Many famous bible stories have roots in Coptic Cairo.  Some Christians believe that it is where Moses was found floating in a basket by the Queen who adopted him, and some also believe Coptic Cairo was where Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus came to hide when a king named Herod was killing all the babies in the land.  No one knows if these stories really did take place here, but it if fun to explore the winding alleys of Coptic Cairo anyhow.

Is this really the room where baby Jesus and his parents hid from King Herod?   Depends on who you ask.

Being Friday, the day when Coptic Christians come together from all across Cairo to go to church to celebrate, the buildings are alive and humming with chanting and insense.  The streets are bustling with children running around playing tag as their parents cram into one of the many churches in the area (there are about 8 churches in total!).  It is a beautiful part of Cairo, different from the ancient, and different than the new, it is truly a special place to visit.

A man working hard at restoring St. Barbara church in Coptic Cairo.