October 5, 2012 –
Goooooooooooood MORNING!!!! How did you sleep??? Did you forget, as I did, that you were in Kyoto and not in Shirakawa-go or Takayama??? Ha ha ha! I think all this traveling has gotten me all mixed up! :-)
There are lots of things to do and see in Kyoto but we've narrowed down our list of things to see today to: The Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Market and the Gion district.
We just finished our Japanese breakfast at the inn and they little old lady who appears to run the inn tried to explain to us which bus we need to take to take us to the Golden Pavilion.
Waiting at the bus stop….
Takahanacho- remember this bus stop! This the is the stop we need to get back to as our inn is just down the street from this stop.
Hey! We lucked out! The little old lady who appears to run the inn just pulled up with her little van and said she'd give us a lift to the Golden Pavilion as it's not too far from the inn. THANK YOU!!!! What a nice, thoughtful and kind thing to do!!!
We're here! We're at the entrance to the Golden Pavilion….along with several hundred other people. EEEEEEeeeeeeeEEEEeeeK!
For some reason lots of school groups are touring this particular site today.
After buying tickets and a short walk check out the lovely view from across a pond:
Sadly, this is as close as we got to the building. Unless we missed something we weren't allowed inside the building. I honestly can't tell you anything about the building. But doesn't it look pretty?????
Like I mentioned, there were several school groups touring this site while we were visiting it:
This group of students wanted to do a survey on foreigners. It was fun talking to them.
Not sure what's the deal with these statues but check out all the coins!
Ah! People are trying their luck by flinging coins into the bucket. A sort of a ring toss but with coins.
We gave the girls some coins so that they can have a try. Sadly, they got close but they missed the bucket.
Lots and lots of school kids!
An incense burner with a little shop in the background selling candles to light. The candles have different meanings attached to them depending on which one you buy.
Check out the different candles….you can pick out ones that suit your needs. I think we'll get one that claims for relaxation and one for easing test time.
Annika is lighting one of the candles on the flame.
Placing the candle with the other candles….
How about a nice coffee???? The breakfast at the inn had green tea but I'm afraid I need coffee- not tea- to get me going in the morning!
Check out the amazingly life-like display outside the little coffee shop. At least, I hope it's not real food on display!
Ahem….just a reminder:
How to use the Japanese-style toilet! Kind of wish they'd had this description in the Chinese toilets when we first arrived!!! (PS. the pit toilets in Japan have all been CLEAN. Yes, CLEAN. Unlike most of the pit toilets we've encountered in China.)
Well, we're heading out the gate and towards the bus stop. I think our next stop will be the Nikishi Market (if we can find it!).