Day 6 - Tuesday 18th October
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This morning we all woke startled as a dong rang out at 6:55. We
ate breakfast "buffet style" and it was very tasty. Everybody, led
by the enthusiastic boys, either caught the lift or used the
traditional method of walking up the staircase to our rooms to get
our music folders and our robes, ready for the short practice in the
"Olive Room". Then we jumped on to the bus or on to the train and set off for Nara where we first of all visited the "Tondi-ji" Temple which was amazing. We stepped in through a cloud of smoke to be overwhelmed in awe of the giant Buddha. |
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After reading the inscription about "Vairocana Buddha", we worked our way around the enormous temple looking at the other fantastic statues. Some of the slimmer choir members even got the experience of wriggling through the Buddha's nostril. Once we had wandered round the temple's solid occupants, we visited the shop and bought souvenirs. It was then a stroll to the restaurant, for some of us that is, as 3 people went missing but turned up a bit later to enjoy the lovely meal that the rest of us were already eating heartily. |
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After eating we all made a short walk back to Christ Church, where
we had left our robes earlier. We had another short practice and
then got changed into smart clothing and our robes. Then it was on
to the service, which made up for the practices by being
particularly long. We were told by many people that our singing was
wonderful and the Japanese congregation were very emotional about it
and loved the "Gin Gin"! |
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A few members of the congregation made a big appetising tea for us which consisted of Japanese sandwiches and Mr Gregory's favourite: a KFC. This went down with some better than others but this didn't matter to many, as the boys were quick to run out and play, and those who wanted to browse in Japanese shops were allowed to do so (those fanatical about shopping enjoyed this very much). Everybody was dragged back to the church to collect their clothes and robes. Some of us were given bags of sandwiches and KFC to eat once we got back to the hotel. Last of all, to the dismay of the younger boys, we trudged back to the coach and slowly made our way to the "Palace Side Hotel" which was accommodating us for 3 days with its cosy rooms and interesting Japanese TV. |
Leicester Cathedral Centre
21 St Martin's, Leicester. LE1 5DE
Telephone: 0116 262 5294 Fax: 0116 262 5295
Email: leicestercathedral@leccofe.org