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Published: January 2nd 2008
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Monks bringing in the New Year
This is a hard to see picture of a row of monks chanting and then 'striking' the bell before the New Years! So Jeff finally made it, and soon after he got to the hotel, it was time to go out and figure out our plans for the New Year. I heard that one temple was good, but on the internet I was reading that this one close by Gion had Maiko and Geisha there, and afterwards everyone gathered in the park to drink and dance. So that place sounded cool. We get there, and its crazy. SO many people were out there and in the temple little shops were set up that sold everything from fish on a stick, to wii and gameboy video games!
We walk around the area, enjoying a nice view of the city at night and then go back towards the temple as its getting past 11pm. We see that a ton of people are in line and soon we get behind them. We hear the gongs in the background. I had read that the gong is (ahh, I heard not to use the word struck, but better term is invited) invited and every so often we hear it again. I think it happens for 100 plus times and until midnight comes. Yeah, much cooler then watching
New Years Geisha
These women look like they were taking pictures and going out like everyone else in Japan on the New Years. There were a total of 5 Geisha in this group, here they were getting ready to walk down an ally to get on with the rest of their day! an acorn being lowered by crane. So finally we make it to the front and notice that there is a bunch of monks hanging out around the bell and swinging and long rod into it! Its crazy, they do some chant and then 'bong!'. Very cool. We watch that for about 10min, then we have to go back down. So the place was full of peoople, but no i didnt see any Geisha, regardless, still a very neat way to bring in the New Year.
The next morning, we have some traditional breakfast that was offered at the hotel. I really got weirded out. The little bit of sake that they offer at the beigging was nice, but everything else was hard to swallow. A big assortment of pickeled vegs, a whole fish with no eyes hanging ou in the botttom box of my bento box, little whole fishes, shrimp cooked but with his tail and head still attached. I cant rem. what else, I think I tried lots of things, didnt like most, ate my rice and drank my soup then as we were walking down the street, found a muffin and ate that!
We figured, because
Big Buddha
May not be a great shot, and its also hard to imagine how big this guy really is, but wow, he is awesome! lots of things were closed for the New Year, that wed just spend sometime walking around. Showed Jeff around Gion, and where an old Tea House, where Geisha perform, was. Think about eating lunch somewhere, but it was packed. Instead we try walking towards this one museum was thought miht be cool to check out. So as were walking, Jeff poins across the street and hes like "Hey, theres lots of people over there taking pictures!". I dont think he got to see what they were taking pictures of, cause in that moment I freaked out and grabbed the camera! GEISHA! Real Geisha, there were in a place where I couldnt just cross the street and see em closer. So I stayed there taking as many pictures as I could, I got a few good ones, and ended up counting a total of 5!!! WOW! Do you guys realize that there are only about 100 left in Kyoto?!?! And seeing one can be rare, and Ive seen 5 on that day (Prolly doing some special for he New Year) another in Gion a few nights before, and 4 others (that may or may have not been real) down the street
DEER
I got to feed and pet many of these friendly creatures in the Nara Park! from where I was staying! CRAZY!
So we stop some place for lunch and end up having an American style lunch, after the breakfast, I needed something 'normal'. We realize we wont have much time at the museum, so we head out to the Fushi.. I forget the rest of the name, please forgive and Ill go back later and change it, butt the really cool place where you see all the Tori gates lined up and just walk through em!!
After realizing hat everyne in Kyoto was at this place, we finally make it around back to go through the gates. Seems that on New Years everyone goes out to the shrines and say their prayers and wishes for the New Years to the Gods. So we go up the mountain and take path that I wasnt able to go on when I had come out before. It was soo long and crazy. i do believe we made it all the way up the mountain!! Towards the end I couldnt take going up any more stairs, but in the end it was worth it. We got to see the sun fall on the citty and take in a great sunset!! It was really cool, too bad pictures like that dont always come out the way you really see em.
The next day, today, we leave the hotel and make out way to Nara! The first capital of Japan! We get here, check into the hostel, have a lunch at an "American" resturant. (Ok, we had the trad. Japanese brekfast again this morning, and it was even worse then yesterday.. what did me in was the cold half boilded egg in some strange tasting broth, but hey I tried. And when I say American style, I mean it was as American and Chinese food in the States is Chinese). Then we walk down the street figuring out how to get to Todaiji-Temple. We find a map, in Japanese, on the side of the street. A Japanese man asks where were going and then we show and tell him, soon his wife and son (about my age) come out and they say they are going in that direction and we can follow them, HOW NICE?!?!? Wow.
So we take some secret ways and end up seeing an Emperors tomb on the way there, and it was great. These people lead all he way to Todaiji Temple. I have been so lucky to come across such nice people in this country!!
Todaiji was AMAZING!! There was some H U G E Buddha in the middle of the hall with two buddhas around him. Other statues were there too, but I really cant spend time ttalking about this thing, its something you need to see to believe.
From there we walked around the park and hung out the deer! Yup, they are people friendly and some places sell like waffers that you can feed the deer. So as soon as you do, others come up to you and try to get feed! Some were nice enoough to let you pet them!!
So with all that, were calling it a day and soon getting ready to go out and eat some Sushi.. mmmm Unagi!
I do have to say hat being in a big city, Tokyo then a small downsize to Kyoto, and now being in a place with so much land and trees and houses, its so nice. Nara is a great place and full of so much beauty. Anyone planning a trip to this great country really needs to stop by nara!!
Hope everyone had a great New Years!!!
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jen
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!requesting a picture of you and jeff in japan together! dooo it!