Advertisement
Published: February 10th 2010
Edit Blog Post
tamago
Not as sweet as tamago usually is, but really good So it was a little drizzly this morning. But the weather is nice and warm out. The weather was actually perfect for what our agenda was. First stop, Kyoto station for breakfast. We were told that there was a lot of food and shopping and good Ramen at kyoto station, but I dont think it was exactly what we were looking for. Yuki and bonnie were on the mission for ramen, but mission fail. We ended up (again) wandering around for food to eat and being indecisive as well. This seems to be a theme with our group. if only the food could come to you........ but that will have to be filed with my teleportation idea. So onward we went. making a random stop at a electronics department store of sorts, I think its name was Joshin, and then on towards our morning destination, Nijo castle. We also took the subway for the first time. I can't believe how clean their subway stations are. Its amazing. I am so used to other big city subways that are run down the the smell of urine wafting thru the air and random graffiti decorating the walls. Is this for real or do
they just spend all their tax payers money on sanitation. Again another level of respect that the japanese people have for their city and other people.
So on to Nijo castle. This is the first castle that I have visited that actually has a moat. The day was so overcast and humid but still warm so there was a slight mist clinging in the air. You could see it like a string of cloud hovering over the water which added to the whole experience of the castle. I myself,like to experience things like this on my own so I found a way to ditch everyone and go solo. I think with places like this I like to get away from the crowds until you reach that spot where its quiet, and you cant hear anything except your own thoughts. I find I can really truly experience it and try to imagine and feel what it would be like to live in that time period. Unfortunately pictures are prohibited which i assume is because of the delicate paintings inside. The Ninomaru palace was basically the residence of the first Tokugawa shogun, and the floors were made special and are called
mango tart
how fricken good does this look? uguisu-bari (nighingale floor) which was design so that the floors squeak when you walk on them. This was so that if there were intruders they would be heard. This looked exactly like how you would picture a traditional Japanese house of this stature would look, down to the rice paper sliding doors sectioning off each room, and each room with hand painting on the walls of cherry blossoms and Japanese characters. It was very amazing. And beyond the palace was an extenssive garden with an inner island and its own moat. I suited up with both my cameras, put in my ipod,and spent a good hour by myself taking my time and really soaking up the scenery. I even stumbled across a row of cherry trees that were beginning to bloom and spent a good half hour photographing them. i love cherry blossoms(obviously I've scarred them on my body) I only wish we had them in calgary. I loved spending the day there it was amazing.
So back onto ramen mission. Word on the street was that there was a good ramen place, I actually can't tell you where it was, I was confused. but a bus ride later,
breakfast onigiri
My breakfast, I love this! This one is shrimp and mayo success! Ramen! There was a vending machine outside where you would put your money in, press what you wanted to order and then you go inside and give them your ticket and boom, soup. sounds confusing and I'm still unclear as to how this come to be more convenient but, when in rome...... or Kyoto for that matter. After all the anticipation, finally, Ramen. The last time I had good ramen was this japanese run ramen shop in hawaii, that despite the heat, it became a frequent place that Jill and I went to. But this I have to say was amazing. You could tell the noodles are fresh, and the broth was thick and rich like it should be. I am always a sucker for char sui, so I had to go back to the old fav. It was very oishii!
The day ended with some shopping in the market,( which i've come to realize is basically a very extensive maze and the market /mall runs all throughout that whole area, I really can't grasp any direction at all. We did find a really cute store that had some fun stuff, and the girls there were so cute,
birthday cake maybe
this bakery hs ridiculous sized tarts, and they look amazing. I bet I could eat this all by my self.....ha ha, kidding. (chuckles sheepishly) even though we had a language barrier, we still were able to communicate. Jill let it slip that I was 30(which is a couple hours early) and they gasped and looked at me with open mouths. I don't know if that made me fell better or worse, but you cant fight time. And these are my last hours of 29. Yikes. Well tomorrow is the big day,(also known as do what ever Shannon wants day, which I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing that tag line) So fushimi Inari shrine tomorrow( which I have been soooooo excited about) and of course my tradition of dim sum on my birthday. Until tomorrow..............
Advertisement
Tot: 0.279s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 7; qc: 61; dbt: 0.042s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Mom
non-member comment
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Shannon, Just wanted to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Hope you have a great day. Lots of Love Mom