Took the bus from Paleiochora to Rethymno and on the way from the bus station (bus stations are surprisingly lovely in Greece) to our hotel I saw locals swimming at this little spot so I stripped off and jumped in. Heaven.
This is one of a pair of komainu, which from the 14th century onward, began to be placed outdoors to guard shrine and temple entrances.
Komainu always appear in pairs, with one having an open mouth and the other a closed mouth. Together they represent the sound “a-un”, the Japanese transliteration of the sacred Sanskrit syllable “om”. This syllable symbolizes the beginning and the end of all things, similar to “alpha and omega” in Western traditions.
The komainu pairs embody the principles of yin and yang, life and death, and the dual nature of existence. The open-mouthed “a-gyō” represents the beginning the active principle, and the inhalation of the breath of life, while the closed-mouthed “un-gyō” symbolizes the end, the passive principle, and the exhalation of the last breath.
So as my trip is nearing the end, I feel an achievement in my Aikido training, knowing that this is just the beginning of a long journey.
Had a nice and peaceful morning visiting the local Shinjuku shrine where I met the komainu on the picture and then afterwards the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden. Then headed to the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center for the last day of Aikido training on this journey.
Side to Side 