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.
December 10, 2008
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!
December 06, 2008
I haven't left yet.
Woot. Japan!
Read the blog. It will make me feel all nice inside. Post comments, suggestions, etc. I don't know how often I'll update (depends on when I get net access). I'm thinking of typing posts up on eeepc then posting when I get the chance. Thus there may be spurts of posting.
So far basic logistics of trip are:
Leaving for Nihon, 7am 8th December;
Kansai Airport -> Kyoto
Kyoto -> Hiroshima (15th)
Hiroshima -> Okayama, Kurashika, Himeji, Hikone -> Kyoto (19th)
Kanazawa, Yamadaya, Takayama (22nd)
Osaka (23rd)
Tokyo (27th - 9th/Jan)
Kyoto (10th - 14th)
Narita Airport -> Sydney (10am 16th January)
Now all I need do is pack!
Read the blog. It will make me feel all nice inside. Post comments, suggestions, etc. I don't know how often I'll update (depends on when I get net access). I'm thinking of typing posts up on eeepc then posting when I get the chance. Thus there may be spurts of posting.
So far basic logistics of trip are:
Leaving for Nihon, 7am 8th December;
Kansai Airport -> Kyoto
Kyoto -> Hiroshima (15th)
Hiroshima -> Okayama, Kurashika, Himeji, Hikone -> Kyoto (19th)
Kanazawa, Yamadaya, Takayama (22nd)
Osaka (23rd)
Tokyo (27th - 9th/Jan)
Kyoto (10th - 14th)
Narita Airport -> Sydney (10am 16th January)
Now all I need do is pack!
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