Blogs from Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan, Asia

Viime paivat Kiotossa ovat olleet aika taynna ohjelmaa. Kavimme katsomassa geisha-tanssia Ponto-cho Kaburenjo teatterissa. Oikeastaan ensimmainen osa ohjelmasta oli naytelma, joka sijoittui Kamakura aikakaudelle. Kilpaileviin klaaneihin kuuluva nainen ja mies rakastuvat toisiinsa. Nainen luulee miehen kuolleen ja ryhtyy nunnaksi. Mies tulee vierailemaan talonpojaksi naamioituneena. Tarina paattyy siihen, etta mies ja nainen eroavat pysyvasti. Eraanlainen japanilainen versio Romeosta ja Juliasta siis. (Taytyy tunnustaa, etta kuulimme Fumielta naytelman juonen etukateen. Emme toki ihan nain hyvin osaa muinaista japania ;) ) Naytelma oli hyvin esteettinen geishojen ja maikojen pukuloisto ja meikit ja kaikki liikkeet olivat viimeisen paalle hallittuja. Toinen osa esityksesta oli tanssia. Petra suostutteli Fumien ja muut vieraat (australialaisserkukset, Mayan ja yhden puolalaisnaisen) viet... read more

The next day in Kyoto, I met a new friend, Michael, who is the owner or Osmosis spa in Freestone California, about 2 hours north of San Francisco, and one of my favorite places in all the world. They offer what is called an enzyme bath, which is cedar wood chips and rice bran in a large wooden tub, then liquid enzymes and water are put in to create a fermentation process. This process creates heat, and it can reach 140 F. It is kind of like steamroom and sauna at the same time while you are covered in wet sand or mulch. It is very detoxifying and warming, perfect precursor to a massage. Anyhow, I contacted Michael asking about enzyme baths in Japan, where they originated, and he happened to be visiting Japan at the ... read more

I have to admit that one main reason I decided to go to Japan this time is the ohh so tempting straight flight from Boston to Tokyo that JAL is initiating with their brand new 787 Dreamliner planes from Boeing. In all my travels I dread layovers specially long haul flights and this will be a chance for me to be on a brand new spanking jet! Check in was a bit slow at terminal E at Logan, the check in staff always apologising ,it's the maiden voyage we are still working out the kinks, while waiting my turn I heard some commotion behind us and it was the flight stewardesses having photos taken with the Minutemen dudes all costumed up and ready for the media, I did not realize how big this event was! At ... read more

Last weekend I took myself off to Kyoto. I'd hoped to catch the sakura season before it ended, although as it transpired I was about a week too late. There was still the odd cherry blossom here and there, but most of the trees had shed their flowers and the famous night lit trees in Kyoto parks and temples had ended the day before I got there. It rained solidly for two of the three days I was there, and I also accidentally timed my trip for the same weekend when all of the schools in the area had a weekend visit to Kyoto (including the third years at my school!). Despite all this, I still really enjoyed my visit and absolutely love Kyoto. The first morning I strolled along the Philosopher's Walk (Tetsugaku-no-michi), which is ... read more

M - Kyoto is the place in Japan for seeing temples and old style Japanese architecture. As a result it is pretty mobbed with tourists. We were expecting this but even so it was quiet a shock after the relative quite of southern Japan. However the big tour groups seem to focus on the main 2 or 3 sights and don't seem to get going until after at least 9am. Once the tour buses arrive the main sights are a little too busy for our liking but if you get there early and then move to the other sights you can still get a much quieter experience and the sights are just as impressive. If the weather is right a walk along the Philosophers walk is well worth it as it links many interesting temples and ... read more