Slow Boat to China

We will be in Shanghai tommorrow morning, so I better write about Hiroshima and Kobe before we land. Otherwise they will be lost in the blur. Kobe is a big, bustling port city, with very high density living. The main thing I noticed was that Saturday is laundry day, because most of the balconies on the rows and rows of high rise apartment buildings had clothes hanging to dry. On the bus trip to Hiroshima we passed over a hundred miles of beautiful mountains, perfectly undeveloped. Such a contrast from the coastal area. There were small rice farming villages in the valleys we passed. Hiroshima is also a big commercial city. Visiting the Memorial was a somber experience ( Just as seeing Pearl Harbor was), but ultimately it was very uplifting, because it was about forgiveness and peace. An 85 year old man stopped us to talk. He said his father and younger brother died in the explosion. He said he was angry until about 5 years ago; now he just wants to talk about peace and living together and no weapons. And the 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate from Kenya just happened to be there that day. We heard her speaking to the press, and Danny videotaped part of it... We were in awe, as were the students. And our tour guide made the most beautiful origami ball ( out of 30 separate folded sheets,all different colors) ,and she gave it to me. The whole day left me speechless.