Kyoto Pics

The kung fu class I observed today was so graceful with big movements, just like dancing, needless to say, I won't be going back there again. So what else is there left for me to try... I've done rock-climbing, aikido, calligraphy and Japanese-style kung fu... Japanese archery is too expensive, I think I'll try pilates next, hopefully it's something I feel interested enough to stick with.

Okay, as promised, photos of Kyoto, there were just too many to choose from. I've got this annoying habit of slanting my camera, need to remember to adjust that next time.

Kyoto

[Shisen-do is such a pretty park!]

Lost? Just follow the people. I think this place, along with the streets around it, has to go on my fave list. Kiyomizu-dera is nice, but I really enjoyed exploring Ninnenzaka and Sannenzaka. There were so many little shops, and so many different things to eat! Like matcha buns, matcha ice-cream and cucumbers preserved in lemon, just to name a few!

[Still on one of the Zakas. This shop exclusively sells ornaments of cats.]

This has to be the best food I had during my holiday. It's tofu manjuu with a free cup of cold houji cha, all served on a pretty round tray. Apologies for the polystyrene, but that's what they served the bun on. It was so delicious, and the tea went so well with the manjuu. Dammit! If only I hadn't eaten so much beforehand, I would have gone for a second!

Really popular with the girls, these ornaments made from material were making them squeal "Kawaii! [Oh my god, so] Kawaii!" I wasn't opposed to a little cuteness myself either ;)

The Silver Pavilion. I personally prefer the silver one over the Golden Pavilion. For one thing, there were other things to see ie. the garden was quite nice, and didn't take me 2 minutes to finish it, and for another, it doesn't look fake and spray painted.

I took a boat tour from Kamioka to Arashiyama. I'd definitely recommend going on this tour in the Autumn. When I went, it was a bit too murky grey and green to really appreciate the scenery, but there were some theme park moments. Near Arashiyama, another boat pulled up beside us (using a motor of all things! They should go for some oars instead like the tour boat) and starting selling shoyu dango and beer. The bamboo field is reminiscent of sword fighting scenes, the sort shown in Asian martial art movies... I saw some ripe-looking take-no-ko too;)

I know, I know, I've posted too many photos already, but don't these flowers remind you of the ones in Alice and Wonderland???

[Path leading to the Tea Ceremony Room, it's part of Daitokuji Temple.]

Loved Nishiki Market, wish I hadn't eaten lunch before visiting. There were so many things to eat :( The above photo is of vegetables preserved in salt and rice bran. Tsukemono is an acquired taste, I can't stand pickled okra, but love preserved eggplant, cucumber and daikon.

Before entering a temple, cleanse yourself at the purification fountain using the hishaku ladles. I can't remember the name of this temple, but it's in the Imperial Palace Park somewhere.

On my last day, I rented a bike and went around chasing down the other temples and museums I hadn't yet seen, and happened to come across Kumogawa River. I couldn't have picked a nicer day to cycle along the river and round off my holiday.

Right, just one more photo. I've got a thing for making supermarket exploration part of my holiday itinerary. In Osaka, I found Graham flour and canned oyster sauce, and in Kyoto, I found century eggs and... milk packaged in plastic! It's such a cool design, I can slurp up every drop of drink without jiggling the straw around or tilting the carton that way and this way!

[Left: Milk. Middle: Milk. Right: Milk coffee.]