I have a blocked nose and a soiled handkerchief (I know you really wanted to know that :P). I'm not coughing though, and I refuse too.
Shopping was done today, there are some wonderful arcades in downtown Kyoto. Highlight was finding a model shop - that was actually a model shop! Floor to ceiling 'assembly required'! Although it turns out wierd sometimes (Umbrella stores for instance, or socks), this seems to be the way things go in Japan, that most shops are highly specialised.
Model store also stocked model railroad stuff, mostly on the miniature gauge (which my Pop used to have). Lots of nostalgia. :) If not for the relative expense I would have bought some (still might). Unfortunately no Shinkansen700 models.. those things are AWESOME.
..I sound like a train buff now, don't I..? I suppose if I ever had the time or space.. *daydreaming*
Anyway, tomorrow we're heading to Kanazawa for a few days; most likely we'll be back to sightseeing again (And I'll have something more interesting to talk about!)
December 20, 2008
December 18, 2008
Okayama & Kurashika
I haven't been as active in the posting here as I've planned to be.. (you may have noticed). As it's been plus one week since the last one, I will probably do a single back post of all the places I've been and the things I've noticed that day etc. This may happen tommorow (cos of events that will be described) or at some later date..
~
We started off today in Okayama, in a very nice business hotel, Saiwai-so, that we reached the other night. Our plans were to visit U-jo (Okayama-jo or castle), Koraku-en (scenic park) and Kurashiki. We actually completed our plans for once (though sorta)!
Got up late (even for us) and left around 1030ish, with Liz not feeling so good. Went to a pharmacy and got cough meds. Breakfast was donuts and iced coffee. I'm not sure I've ranted about coffee in Japan yet but I will here. I have not yet found a good coffee in Japan. Granted, we haven't been in many cafe's or Starbucks (avoiding it), but the stuff that we've been served has been pretty awful.. I haven't yet given up hope for finding one but.. I suppose every country has to have it's drawbacks.. >_>" Anyway, condensed milk + BLACK iced coffee = terrible. We kept down the main street from the station after this, walking till we reached the river, which conveniently coincided with the start of the castle grounds.
U-jo, which means Crow Castle, is actually properly named Okayama-jo. It's a concrete reconstruction of the original that was destroyed in air-raids in WW2. That would sound very unappealing to many people (myself included) but I do like how they've managed it. Reconstruction didn't take place for all the buildings in the grounds, but for the main walls and gates, a watchtower and the castle itself. The entrance was very leafy and beautiful (photo's will be on fb!). Entering the grounds, there is a large flat open area upon which there is a stone floor plan of the original building. I loved this. Each room had a label for it's use, and the rooms had different coloured stone borders to show whether it was a solid wall or paper wall. As an archaeologist I was impressed that they had had the foresight to do this (reconstructed in the 60's) though in hindsight I guess they could have added this later >_>". Wandering around the walls gave a great view of the city (and of a nearby archaeological site! Business trip, tax deductible!).
The castle itself was also enjoyable. It's nicknamed Crow Castle because of its dark walls and roof tiles (some of you may get a postcard with it on it). They didn't display any photos of the original that I can recall, but it looked fairly true to the original, and you couldn't tell that it was reinforced concrete. I liked that they hadn't reconstructed the room structure of the inside, but had turned it into a museum of the area's history. The top floor gave great views of Okayama too.
Koraku-en was across the river from U-jo. We entered in the South gate, so we kinda did the path backwards and ended up missing things (we were hungry, liz was feeling sicker). It was a nice change from the parks and gardens that we had seen previously. These were mostly associated with a temple or shrine and were condensed types of gardens. Koraku-en was wide open spaces - macro rather than micro. Even though we were out of season for everything, it was still amazing. It was a clear blue sky day, and the large ponds reflected like mirrors. There were some cool bridges (notably, a 8 'bridge' zig-zag bridge), and a nice jap open building surrounded by ponds, all in the shade. Further along we stopped and had mandarins by a waterwheel. A group with a volunteer tour guide stopped there as well - the guy was so enthusiastic, and his fluro green guide vest kinda hyped it :D.
From there, we caught a tram back to Okayama station, and then a train to Kurashiki. This was a much smaller city, and all the sights sort of condensed on a Historical Quarter. We visited the Japanese Rural Toy Museum; I can't remember most of the names, but there were boats, horses, zodiac animals, paper dolls, Emperor+Empress? dolls, kites, masks... some of them were incredibly detailed and others that were really old were interesting. It was getting to 4-430ish by this stage and the museums were shutting, so we wandered around the shops and arcades for a while. There was a beautiful canal through the middle (MASSIVE koi, and swans) and people selling handmade jewellery alongside it. I bought a ring from one guy who specialised in taking analog watches apart and making broaches and rings out of them. Very steampunk. Awesome.
Ended up missing the Archaeological Museum and the Piggybank Museum :( Wandered up the hill to what was meant to be a park area, though it seemed to be mostly grave markers, a bamboo forest and a shrine (Achi-jinja). There was a great sight from just outside the shrine, a red sunset! Shrine was pretty pretty, but nothing spectacular. Ended up going back through all the shopping arcades and got a few souvenirs. There were some really odd shops around: one dedicated entirely to Totoro (the ghibli film; haven't seen), and one that was all cat and dog merchandise: statues, fabric, jewelery, paraphenalia.. I felt sorry for the girl at the register, the music was christmas carols adapted to have cats and dogs singing the notes..
Ended the day with Liz getting sicker (she actually bought a facemask to wear!..) and soba noodles (dodgy but cheap). We asked for Coke at the soba place but they didn't have any. However, just as we get our food the lady owner comes back with two cans from the vending machine down the street!.. Japanese people are too nice >_<"
~
Atm Liz seems to be not well at all, so tomorrow will probably be a write-off once we get back to Kyoto. That may or may not mean I catch up on blogging.
Peace out.
~
We started off today in Okayama, in a very nice business hotel, Saiwai-so, that we reached the other night. Our plans were to visit U-jo (Okayama-jo or castle), Koraku-en (scenic park) and Kurashiki. We actually completed our plans for once (though sorta)!
Got up late (even for us) and left around 1030ish, with Liz not feeling so good. Went to a pharmacy and got cough meds. Breakfast was donuts and iced coffee. I'm not sure I've ranted about coffee in Japan yet but I will here. I have not yet found a good coffee in Japan. Granted, we haven't been in many cafe's or Starbucks (avoiding it), but the stuff that we've been served has been pretty awful.. I haven't yet given up hope for finding one but.. I suppose every country has to have it's drawbacks.. >_>" Anyway, condensed milk + BLACK iced coffee = terrible. We kept down the main street from the station after this, walking till we reached the river, which conveniently coincided with the start of the castle grounds.
U-jo, which means Crow Castle, is actually properly named Okayama-jo. It's a concrete reconstruction of the original that was destroyed in air-raids in WW2. That would sound very unappealing to many people (myself included) but I do like how they've managed it. Reconstruction didn't take place for all the buildings in the grounds, but for the main walls and gates, a watchtower and the castle itself. The entrance was very leafy and beautiful (photo's will be on fb!). Entering the grounds, there is a large flat open area upon which there is a stone floor plan of the original building. I loved this. Each room had a label for it's use, and the rooms had different coloured stone borders to show whether it was a solid wall or paper wall. As an archaeologist I was impressed that they had had the foresight to do this (reconstructed in the 60's) though in hindsight I guess they could have added this later >_>". Wandering around the walls gave a great view of the city (and of a nearby archaeological site! Business trip, tax deductible!).
The castle itself was also enjoyable. It's nicknamed Crow Castle because of its dark walls and roof tiles (some of you may get a postcard with it on it). They didn't display any photos of the original that I can recall, but it looked fairly true to the original, and you couldn't tell that it was reinforced concrete. I liked that they hadn't reconstructed the room structure of the inside, but had turned it into a museum of the area's history. The top floor gave great views of Okayama too.
Koraku-en was across the river from U-jo. We entered in the South gate, so we kinda did the path backwards and ended up missing things (we were hungry, liz was feeling sicker). It was a nice change from the parks and gardens that we had seen previously. These were mostly associated with a temple or shrine and were condensed types of gardens. Koraku-en was wide open spaces - macro rather than micro. Even though we were out of season for everything, it was still amazing. It was a clear blue sky day, and the large ponds reflected like mirrors. There were some cool bridges (notably, a 8 'bridge' zig-zag bridge), and a nice jap open building surrounded by ponds, all in the shade. Further along we stopped and had mandarins by a waterwheel. A group with a volunteer tour guide stopped there as well - the guy was so enthusiastic, and his fluro green guide vest kinda hyped it :D.
From there, we caught a tram back to Okayama station, and then a train to Kurashiki. This was a much smaller city, and all the sights sort of condensed on a Historical Quarter. We visited the Japanese Rural Toy Museum; I can't remember most of the names, but there were boats, horses, zodiac animals, paper dolls, Emperor+Empress? dolls, kites, masks... some of them were incredibly detailed and others that were really old were interesting. It was getting to 4-430ish by this stage and the museums were shutting, so we wandered around the shops and arcades for a while. There was a beautiful canal through the middle (MASSIVE koi, and swans) and people selling handmade jewellery alongside it. I bought a ring from one guy who specialised in taking analog watches apart and making broaches and rings out of them. Very steampunk. Awesome.
Ended up missing the Archaeological Museum and the Piggybank Museum :( Wandered up the hill to what was meant to be a park area, though it seemed to be mostly grave markers, a bamboo forest and a shrine (Achi-jinja). There was a great sight from just outside the shrine, a red sunset! Shrine was pretty pretty, but nothing spectacular. Ended up going back through all the shopping arcades and got a few souvenirs. There were some really odd shops around: one dedicated entirely to Totoro (the ghibli film; haven't seen), and one that was all cat and dog merchandise: statues, fabric, jewelery, paraphenalia.. I felt sorry for the girl at the register, the music was christmas carols adapted to have cats and dogs singing the notes..
Ended the day with Liz getting sicker (she actually bought a facemask to wear!..) and soba noodles (dodgy but cheap). We asked for Coke at the soba place but they didn't have any. However, just as we get our food the lady owner comes back with two cans from the vending machine down the street!.. Japanese people are too nice >_<"
~
Atm Liz seems to be not well at all, so tomorrow will probably be a write-off once we get back to Kyoto. That may or may not mean I catch up on blogging.
Peace out.
December 10, 2008
Camera Crazy Day
Most of today was a very tourist-ey experience.
We started off with an adventure to a Japanese supermarket (AA batteries, since my charger has a dodgy voltage >_<"" and Jam + Bread = cheap lunch). Supermarkets seem to be far less common here than in Australia, probably replaced by an abundance of convenience stores and vending machines. The supermarket was an experience. The lady at the register told you how much each item was as she scanned it, and how much the new total was for each item.
After shopping, we caught the bus out towards Southern Higashiyama and headed towards Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu-dera is apparently one of Kyoto's major sights; it's a Budhist temple precinct built protruding from the hillside. The place was huge, but there were people everywhere: only a few gaijin, but tours, school groups and Japanese nationals. This was a Wednesday as well, I imagine it would be even more packed on a weekend. The views were great, and there was a beautiful contrast between the temples, the mountain forest and urban Kyoto in the background. Liz did most of the prayers for good fortune at the temples and the shinto shrines; we both did the Otowa-no-taki spring though. The spring comes out of the mountain and is directed over a roofed area into three channels, falling into a pool. You take a small jar with a long handle, fill it from one of the waterfalls, and either drink or wash your hands with the water. This is meant to bring you good fortune for whatever you wish for.
We went souvenir shopping after doing the sightseeing; it got pretty crazy.. so many shops. Counted like 3 selling paper fans, and only paper fans.. Eventually got off that street and found a quieter one, still selling souvenirs, but better quality. Wandered some until we got to Yasaka-jinja, and Maruyama-koen. The first was a shrine that was quite nice, the second was a park that had an area covered in sakura trees. Would have been very beautiful in spring, but they were just bare trees now.
Walked about in Kyoto near the shopping areas along the river. There are some beautiful streets down there. Walked down Pontocho (a street with teahouses where Geisha's go to entertain) but didn't see any. It was late in the evening at that stage though. Walked about some more and found an alright okonomiyaki place for dinner before coming home.
We started off with an adventure to a Japanese supermarket (AA batteries, since my charger has a dodgy voltage >_<"" and Jam + Bread = cheap lunch). Supermarkets seem to be far less common here than in Australia, probably replaced by an abundance of convenience stores and vending machines. The supermarket was an experience. The lady at the register told you how much each item was as she scanned it, and how much the new total was for each item.
After shopping, we caught the bus out towards Southern Higashiyama and headed towards Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu-dera is apparently one of Kyoto's major sights; it's a Budhist temple precinct built protruding from the hillside. The place was huge, but there were people everywhere: only a few gaijin, but tours, school groups and Japanese nationals. This was a Wednesday as well, I imagine it would be even more packed on a weekend. The views were great, and there was a beautiful contrast between the temples, the mountain forest and urban Kyoto in the background. Liz did most of the prayers for good fortune at the temples and the shinto shrines; we both did the Otowa-no-taki spring though. The spring comes out of the mountain and is directed over a roofed area into three channels, falling into a pool. You take a small jar with a long handle, fill it from one of the waterfalls, and either drink or wash your hands with the water. This is meant to bring you good fortune for whatever you wish for.
We went souvenir shopping after doing the sightseeing; it got pretty crazy.. so many shops. Counted like 3 selling paper fans, and only paper fans.. Eventually got off that street and found a quieter one, still selling souvenirs, but better quality. Wandered some until we got to Yasaka-jinja, and Maruyama-koen. The first was a shrine that was quite nice, the second was a park that had an area covered in sakura trees. Would have been very beautiful in spring, but they were just bare trees now.
Walked about in Kyoto near the shopping areas along the river. There are some beautiful streets down there. Walked down Pontocho (a street with teahouses where Geisha's go to entertain) but didn't see any. It was late in the evening at that stage though. Walked about some more and found an alright okonomiyaki place for dinner before coming home.
December 09, 2008
Bicycles. Silent deadly creatures..
I've now woken up in a foreign country; I suppose it's an item on everyone's checklist of life. Felt really wierd, but almost like staying over at my Nanna's house (something that I can only recall doing once or twice). Waking up in the early hours of the day, which of course never happens when I'm at home, a strange bed (not discounting it's a futon). The low light illuminating new surroundings. I don't think that it's anything you can get used to, or that I would want to.
I had to wait for my sister to wake up, she was dead from the plane ride yesterday, and then after spending an hour or so working out what we were doing these 5 days, we decided to go adventuring for breakfast.
But showering came first.. I am not a small person, but I'm not huge either. This should be taken into consideration. The shower unit appeared to be a self-inclosed drop-in module. There was a space about 1m by half a metre between the shower unit and a curtain (which went straight onto the hallway) to get changed in. After that, I had to stand low in the corner to get any of the water on me. The holder for the shower head was non-adjustable. I may need to just hold it in future.
After negotiating my hygiene, "the breakfast adventure" occured. We decided it was a good idea to randomly walk streets until we found somewhere good to get something to eat. Being hungry and half dazed still, confronted with an army of bicycles (which is never a good thing), this took a while. With the noise of the city, the bicycles are very difficult to hear, especially when they are travelling quickly as most do. The result was several near collisions, and a constant paranoia to turn around every 30sec to check that there wasn't one stalking, waiting to strike (this must have looked incredibly gaijin..). Roads in Kyoto also deserve a mention: In Australia, there will be an area beside the road to walk anywhere you go. In Kyoto, only the major streets have these sidewalks, and they are rarely very big. Most of the smaller streets are lucky to have an area marked out, and the bitumen goes right back to the buildings. The area marked out is often also to prevent cars from hitting power poles (there are no underground cables allowed in Japan, everything goes on poles; 6-7 wires).
Anyway, after wandering a while, and not finding any eating places we ended up buying a portion of fruit in jelly each, then adventuring for a further 10min to find a park to eat it in.
With breakfast completed, we headed off to the two temples we planned to visit today, Nishi Hongan-ji and Higashi Hongan-ji. Both temple complexes had amazing architecture that I really can't do justice too. Photos will be posted. What I will say is that the gate carvings were incredibly detailed, the size of the main temples was incredible (the huge roofs, and the supporting pillars which are entire trees..), and it was a shame that they both had restoration work going on.. :(. We visited Nishi first after breakfast, and headed over to Higashi after lunch (though it was raining at the time). We were allowed in one of the temples at Nishi; the shrines at the front were eye-boggling. So much gold. The other temples were closed to the public. Interestingly, at Higashi there was a line of people (on a tour from Tokyo I think?) who were taking old roof tiles (removed during the restoration work) to their bus as souvenirs..
Anyway, that's it for now. Arigatou gousaimas.
I had to wait for my sister to wake up, she was dead from the plane ride yesterday, and then after spending an hour or so working out what we were doing these 5 days, we decided to go adventuring for breakfast.
But showering came first.. I am not a small person, but I'm not huge either. This should be taken into consideration. The shower unit appeared to be a self-inclosed drop-in module. There was a space about 1m by half a metre between the shower unit and a curtain (which went straight onto the hallway) to get changed in. After that, I had to stand low in the corner to get any of the water on me. The holder for the shower head was non-adjustable. I may need to just hold it in future.
After negotiating my hygiene, "the breakfast adventure" occured. We decided it was a good idea to randomly walk streets until we found somewhere good to get something to eat. Being hungry and half dazed still, confronted with an army of bicycles (which is never a good thing), this took a while. With the noise of the city, the bicycles are very difficult to hear, especially when they are travelling quickly as most do. The result was several near collisions, and a constant paranoia to turn around every 30sec to check that there wasn't one stalking, waiting to strike (this must have looked incredibly gaijin..). Roads in Kyoto also deserve a mention: In Australia, there will be an area beside the road to walk anywhere you go. In Kyoto, only the major streets have these sidewalks, and they are rarely very big. Most of the smaller streets are lucky to have an area marked out, and the bitumen goes right back to the buildings. The area marked out is often also to prevent cars from hitting power poles (there are no underground cables allowed in Japan, everything goes on poles; 6-7 wires).
Anyway, after wandering a while, and not finding any eating places we ended up buying a portion of fruit in jelly each, then adventuring for a further 10min to find a park to eat it in.
With breakfast completed, we headed off to the two temples we planned to visit today, Nishi Hongan-ji and Higashi Hongan-ji. Both temple complexes had amazing architecture that I really can't do justice too. Photos will be posted. What I will say is that the gate carvings were incredibly detailed, the size of the main temples was incredible (the huge roofs, and the supporting pillars which are entire trees..), and it was a shame that they both had restoration work going on.. :(. We visited Nishi first after breakfast, and headed over to Higashi after lunch (though it was raining at the time). We were allowed in one of the temples at Nishi; the shrines at the front were eye-boggling. So much gold. The other temples were closed to the public. Interestingly, at Higashi there was a line of people (on a tour from Tokyo I think?) who were taking old roof tiles (removed during the restoration work) to their bus as souvenirs..
Anyway, that's it for now. Arigatou gousaimas.
December 08, 2008
Air Conditioning is your friend
Heya blogosphere,
I'm currently siting in Cairns (International!?) Airport enjoying the modern conviences of free internet and ac.
Was up at 4am this morning, left at five, to go to the Sydney domestic terminal. Check in went okay, queue took forever and the guys in the queue next to us went so much faster...
Mum got pulled up for having scissors in her handbag. My big chunky metal watch didn't set off the detector, which says wonders for their use (I only remembered I had it on after I'd gone through).
Flight was ordinary. Jetstar domestic to Cairns. Dutch people were siting next to us, guy didn't look so well, he spent the entire trip with his head against the seat in front. Had two windows to look out from, ended up shutting one to prevent sunburn. Music and reading was in order. Music didn't go so wonderfully; my old headphones , which were awesome, are missing one of the plastic-ey ear bud things (they're in ear phones). So instead, I've been using my sisters old iPod earphones.. which are dodgy. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up a new pair.
I have a three hour wait now, then 7.5hr flight to Kansai Airport. Yay!
I'm currently siting in Cairns (International!?) Airport enjoying the modern conviences of free internet and ac.
Was up at 4am this morning, left at five, to go to the Sydney domestic terminal. Check in went okay, queue took forever and the guys in the queue next to us went so much faster...
Mum got pulled up for having scissors in her handbag. My big chunky metal watch didn't set off the detector, which says wonders for their use (I only remembered I had it on after I'd gone through).
Flight was ordinary. Jetstar domestic to Cairns. Dutch people were siting next to us, guy didn't look so well, he spent the entire trip with his head against the seat in front. Had two windows to look out from, ended up shutting one to prevent sunburn. Music and reading was in order. Music didn't go so wonderfully; my old headphones , which were awesome, are missing one of the plastic-ey ear bud things (they're in ear phones). So instead, I've been using my sisters old iPod earphones.. which are dodgy. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up a new pair.
I have a three hour wait now, then 7.5hr flight to Kansai Airport. Yay!
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