Mankai ado about noithing...

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Saturday was yet another example of how crazy the Japanese are, and how much more crazy the rest of the world is.

My archi class and prof traipsed through Kyoto station top to bottom east to west in an effort to rip its architectural value to shreds. It is possibly the most stupidly designed building in Japan!!!!!!!! This is where you can't use the term: "not just a pretty face". It's only a pretty face. or at least a moderately pretty one. Then we zenned out at Daitokuji (spelling wa yokuarimasen) temple complex. Zenning out consists of taking notes about tea rooms, snapping a million research photographs, AND relaxing on the stoep of one of the most famous gardens in Japan, being served tea and cake, and just generally being slow, relaxed and self indulgent!

Then, the sprinting began! This is the point where it should be noted that there is a new olympic sport: Hanami Sprints, invented by yours truly and an assortment of mates from Uni. It consists of fitting in as much Hanami (flower viewing) into one afternoon and evening as is possible, in as many places as possible. We zigzagged across the city from park to temple to palace grounds to temple to canal.... (You get the point)... on subway, bus and foot. Unfortunately the ratio of foot to bus was such that my legs got a great workout and I slept way to well....

The flowers were gorgeous and the crowds were huge. I labelled the Japanese crazy by virtue of how mad they go about cherry blossoms, and the foreigners worse by virtue of actually flying all the way to Japan to join in with the Japanese.

Apart from wondering through the trees or picnicking by day, the other beeg custom is to enjoy the blossoms illuminated at night, whilst getting progressively more intoxicated. I reckon the alchoholic accompanyment has something to do with grown men getting very excited by flowering trees.

Of our many hanami destinations, my favourites were the Philosopher's walk and Kiyomizudera, at the latter of which my camera batteries decided they had had enough! We walked along this canal (after finally discovering where it was - taking a subway train and a bus in opposite directions...) lined with cherry trees until dusk. It was spectacular. Then we raced to kiyomizu before admissions closed. We were rewarded for our speed walking by a most amazing temple (by day too!!) lit up and surrounded by huge trees, huge crowds and almost as many cameras. The atmosphere was somewhere between a carnival and a spiritual enlightment. Once again with adults acting like children, oohing and ahhing at the fantasy world we were submerged in!

Most definately a must-do-in-Japan if you ever happen to be here at the right time!

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Photos

Sakura
Imperial palace gardens, Kyoto

Kyoto Station
Betcha didn't know about this modern monstrosity in the ancient capital???

Real!
Those leetle sand gardens many of us have in our bedrooms inspired by the "zen" craze - let me tell you a secret: They actually make the real one with bits of crushed rock!

Zen
My view from the stoep at Koto-in

Comments

[Makiko]

i also went to kyoto to see sakura. there are many people! people, people, people.... but sakura is very beautiful! cherry blossoms are my favorite flower! :) do you like it?

[Graham]

flowers
um flowers oooooo. excuse my excitement but after studying the breeding patterns of flowers and plants, for an entire year i hav developed an understanding for them. i dont care 4 them. but hey whatever blows your hair back. luv me

[bee]

amazing
im amazed!you really have hot footed it around japan! you r going to need more that a scrap book 4 all those memories! ps i've been eating lotsa chocolate bunnies and marshmellow easter eggs!hee hee yum yum. pity about the waistline oh well bunnies are curvy and cute!