Round two of blogging!

So today I decided that I would resume my blogging. I have gotten the inspiration from friends who currently blog, or have just created their own blogs. I think this is a good way for me to share my experiences with others in my current home, that is Japan. Some of my friends live abroad (i.e. New Zealand, South America, etc.) and I am so curious to know what is happening in their lives since we are so far apart! I absolutely regret my absence from blogging for one entire year! So much has occurred in that frame of time, both good and bad moments. However, since it is still early in the year of 2009, why not start again? I promise to be a better and more frequent blogger.

Moving on, I am really looking forward to this weekend. I am going to the Zenkoji Gokaicho Ceremony at Zenkoji Temple. This event happens every seven years, so I am fortunate enough to be here while it is taking place.
Zenkoji Temple is one of Japan's most sacred Buddhist temples (and a huge tourist attraction). The temple has a long history: around 1400 years old. The ceremony that I am going to started at the beginning of April, and it will be unveiling the Buddhist statue, Gokaicho. Normally, it is kept hidden from public viewing, so this is a great opportunity to see it. Back in February, I went on a guided tour of Zenkoji Temple (which, by the way, was amazing) and learned a lot about the temple and its long history, so that is how I know about this event. Although the statue is a replica of the original, loads of people come from all over to see it, and I want to be one of them!