japan adventure - day 2

at the bus near gen's place at ginkakuji. we're trying to learn how to read the bus times, numbers and stops :)

walking along the famous philosopher's path going towards ginkakuji (silver pavilion). they say that in spring, this place is beautiful is spectacular with the cherry blossoms

zen garden inside the silver pavilion

a wishing pond inside the ginkaku-ji 

the silver pavilion was built in the 1940s and was named not because it was covered in silver foil but because that was the initial plan

we really had to take a picture of this forest inside the complex. if only my father could see this personally, he'd be in heaven. this is one of my father's loves - beautiful forests

shijo area where we went looking for the nishiki market :) right in the middle of this place are lots of shrines!

inside the nishiki market where you can find most of japanese goods!

the best new thing i discovered at the nishiki market - vegetables in tubs of miso so they can be preserved

this is one of the street foods that got me curious at nishiki. it's an octopus stuffed with quail's egg. my friend said that in japan, most of the time, when you pick something up for a free taste, you are expected to buy that product. so unlike in the philippines when you can just grab a stick for a taste and just walk away if you don't like it.

shrines right inside the nishiki complex. i guess that if you don't look for it, you won't even notice it

my first sushi meal! this was already cheap at 220Y per plate which includes only 2 sushis

one of the best experiences in kyoto - sushi bar! although sushi are being replaced regularly on the conveyor belt, you can still order what you want on the computer beside your table. it will then be delivered by an express train on the second level conveyor belt, as anni is doing in this picture. the train even looks like a bullet train!

while waiting for my sister's friend near the keihan train station. the houses beside the river becomes a night destination in summer.

geisha statue just right beside the bridge at the keihan station (i assume it was keihan station)

this water fountain is usually found right in the entrance of any temples in japan. i once read that one must wash their hands first before going inside the temple. i noticed that some do not but for those who do, they even drank and washed their faces here!

looking towards the street from the yasaka shrine gate

for those who watched the virgin snow, where a korean guy visited kyoto, this is where the guy met the girl he fell in love with. i got my first japanese fortune here but unfortunately, nobody could read it for me because it's in japanese text!

the nearest i could get to see a japanese cemetery. this is far off the mountain behind the buddha we saw while walking towards kiyomizu-dera

going up and up and up towards the kiyomizu-dera temple. we walked so far the complex beginning from the yasaka shrine. you could imagine how tired we were by this time and we still have a lot of ground to cover. we also had to walk fast so we could make it before closing time at 5p! :) gen's famous lines for those lagging behind was: "we're near, just ten more steps." and upon arriving on the last steps, she'll then say "okay, another walk to the left, but we're near!" LOL. how our companions must have hated us! LOL.

the entrance hall of kiyomizu-dera

the famous tourist photo of the kiyomizu-dera. this stage looks like it's suspended in air

the love shrine's love stone. it's said that when you reach this rock while walking blindfolded from the opposite end, you will find your true love unaided soon. for those who needs help reaching the rock will need help in finding that one true love. the first time i tried it, i was way off and the second time, i was aided by my friends. so i guess that means i need help to find my true love, huh? :)

on our way back, we saw these people lining up for something. when we got closer, we saw that they were drinking fresh water coming way up from the mountain. as tourists, we hurriedly lined up to try it. the mugs we used, for hygiene purposes, are placed in ultraviolet containers for cleaning before being used again by the others

notice that the basement of the temple is only made out of woods that are not supported by bolts (according to my friend). it's like the original bridge of sighs at cambridge.

the kiyomizu-dera gate is so orange, don't you think?

the bus on our way back to the ginkaku-ji area :)

09/28/10