Nagasaki Part 2

The same day that Soojeong and I went to the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum, we decided to visit the Glover Gardens; the former housing property of prominent entrepreneur, helping to industrialize Japan through coal mining, the building of the first steam railway in Japan, helping to establish the new government after the fall of the Shogunate, and he even helped found a brewery that became Japan's Kirin Beer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Blake_Glover)

With the little background information being over, I will now get back to were I left off. We had decided to visit the garden after seeing the beautiful pictures of it in a travel book that Soojeong had brought with us for the journey. Before we could see the gardens, we first had to find the gardens. As we were discussing the best way to get there from where we were near China Town, a woman and her daughter approached and asked us where we were going. We told them that we were off to visit the Glover Garden, and from that point on, she said that she would show us how to get there. I will not forget the kindness this woman showed Soojeong and I, walking with us for at least 15 minutes or more until we were at the entrance to where we needed to be. I find it very special when someone takes time out of their own schedule to help someone in need, and I know that if I can help someone out wherever I am, I will try my best to help them as I have been helped before.

When we reached the top of the hill where the gardens were, we payed our fee, and set off exploring the old homes and gardens of Thomas Glover, and other prominent Japanese and foreign businessmen. It was interesting how the architecture differed from home to home, and it was interesting to see some of the artifacts of the former residents on display. We even saw a 300 year old tree that was given as a gift to one of the owners. Almost every home had a wonderful view of the harbor and surrounding hills. When you see the picture at the bottom of the page of the heart-shaped stone, it is said that when couples touch that stone, their dreams of love will be fulfilled. They had two of them located at different areas of the property, and we had fun searching for them. The weather that day was perfect, and to be able to walk with Soojeong in gardens full of blooming flowers and green trees, is something that I still to this day think about.

There were many types of gardens, fountains, and little waterfalls, and once we had seen most of everything, we began our descent back into the streets of Nagasaki for a night full of looking at lanterns at the Lantern Festival, and eating a famous Nagasaki dish with our friends Yukiko and Yoshito. To be continued in part 3.

The picture of the of the cathedral is that of Oura Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oura_Cathedral)