Back to Kyoto

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I am in Japan!!! A long way from Adelaide, Australia, but here I am in Shizuoka for a year teaching at an English Kindergarten while seeing and experiencing as much of this crazy, mixed up, amazing country as I can!

When Marissas parents were here we went back to Kyoto for 2 nights.

These are my highlights from the trip!!...................

1. Sanjusangendo- the 1001 wooden statues of Kannon with 42 arms each!

2. Weird girl on the bus screwing up her nose, sticking her tongue out and making funny faces at her boyfriend and continuing to do so even after she saw us giggling uncontrollably at her!

3. Kiyomizudera- "Pure Water Temple" Our ryokan was right near here, so we walked up. Not just another temple!!!!

4. Cormorant Fishing at Arashiyama- Not as great as I had expected but still worth doing- felt a bit sorry for the cormorants- once they had caught a fish the man hauled them into the boat and choked them so they had to spit the fish up!!!!

5. Monkey Forest in Arashiyama- The monkeys were funny, and we had a great view of Kyoto- "Its a bloody big city"- right Spiro!!! Marissa also conquered her fear of monkeys here.

6. Fushimi Inari- And re enacting the scene from Memoirs of a Geisha when Sayuri runs through all the torii gates with the handkerchief and the money that the chairman gave her.

7. Being a 'fourth wheel'- some hilarious moments with Marissa, Spiro and Karina- thanks for taking me with you!!!!

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Photos

Fushimi Inari Shrine
This is the main shrine dedicated to Inari in Japan. Inari is the Shinto God of Rice.

Zzzzzzzzz
Its great when the Shink isnt crowded and you can spread out!!!

Kiyomizudera
On the way to the main temple

Kiyomizudera
The "Pure Water" part of it I suppose!!

Kiyomizudera
Hide and Seek- we were sick of waiting for the woman to move out of the way, so took the photo anyway. Good thing Japanese people are short!!

Kiyomizudera
I didnt block her out so well!!! Thats her head, not a chicken pock on my neck!

Nope, its The Love Stone
I got to the end, but Marissa had to help me. So according to this its up to her to find me the man of my dreams.

Kiyomizudera
Turning Japanese in front of the love shrines.

Surprise Surprise
Continuing our icecream tour of Japan

Will that be green tea, green tea or green tea?!
Good thing weve developed a taste for it!!!

Sanjusangendo
Not allowed to take photos inside, so Marissa took one of the poster!

Arashiyama
The boats ready for cormorant fishing

Arashiyama
While we waited for the cormorants another boat pulled up selling food and drinks and fireworks!

Arashiyama
Ok, so it was hard to get a good photo, but you can see the flame used to attract the fish, and a bit of a cormorant.

Arashiyama
Marissas nightmare- lots of bugs in the phone booth!!!!

Comments

[mum]

you have done a great job 2 blogs in a week! Love the pics- CDS arrived today

[spiro]

i want to go back to kyoto
loved japan also your sence of humour and your lovely smile

[sheila]

monkeys
were the monkeys as cute as they looked? Perhaps I should add one to my collection of pets!

[Lol]

good fun
looks such fun you're having Ame. And such a great communicator. Love seeing it all. Thanks very much for the post card. The kids love it too . Very special. Keep it up. School closure celebrations on Dec 3rd, will be interesting to see who owns it when you get back. Wierd huh. They say its progress.... Love from the old quiet Mintaro... xx