I wonder why people in Japan love Christmas. Like Muslims in the world we have no reason why we have to celebrate Mr.JC’s birthday. When I was a kid I used to celebrate Buddha’s birthday sometime in April, I got Makeup, first and last time in my life, I only remember an elephant marched with us and this was my first time I saw an elephant in my life. Later I listened a tourist guide explained in Chen Mai northern Thailand that an elephant showed a king where to build a temple and this was how Chen Mai was established. Well, that’s why an elephant I thought. The elephant is a messenger to Buddha, ancient MSN/Yahoo Chat/ICQ/Skype!
“ Hello Buddha, how are you doing today? How is your back-pain doing? Really? Greet your boys!“
Well, if I write something like above to other Prophets I get my head cut off, my home is bombed or caned 5 times at least. That is why I like to be a Buddhist and Shintoist because of tolerance to other way of faith than some old men who never left convents and own walls tell me what is wrong and right for me. Just go to any temple in your near. Buddha is smiling, Jesus is in pain. No more word needs.
This photo is from Sapporo - my home in Japan. I took it in middle of Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo. Yes, Munich Germany is Sapporo’s sister town. We both got beer ( Have you ever tried Sapporo Draft or Sapporo Lager?). That is however the only common thing for us. Oh one more common thing; we both have very cold asses in winter! I think winter in Hokkaido is slightly harder than in my Swiss home. Temperature is lower and this hard breeze make Sapporoneans feel even colder than actually air temperature is. I am leaving Sapporo soon and move down to Tokyo to fetch my daughter. We both then fly back home for Christmas and New Year.