Fromage and a Japanese Parade

It was a big weekend for us...

I bought a pink bike and call it the 'Pink Fromage'. We've been ridin' all over town.

We went back to Kyoto for a festival called Gion Matsuri. It was mostly made up of a parade with several floats (30 or so) which to us all looked very similar. They depict ancient themes and figures and were awfully tall...

And pulled by men. It was very, very hot, too.

With beautiful paintings of different scenes and men riding on the floats ringing bells...

Some floats were also carried by men...

It was a great, three day weekend. It's started raining again and I only have 3 more weeks for school before our summer vacation, which is going to be filled with friends visiting us and going to Shanghai! I am quite looking forward to the nice long break and maybe when we get back it will start cooling down a little bit here.

Earthquake...?

We felt our first earthquake today! And let me tell you, I wasn't even entirely sure it was an earthquake. I thought that a large truck was rolling by in the street or somebody was moving something large above me. Mr. Nakamura didn't mention anything about it so I noted the time, went about my day and forgot about it. When I got home, Rob mentioned he felt rumbling at the same time but also wasn't sure if it was psychosomatic or not. Then I remembered and became excited for living through my first earthquake. It was negligible and we haven't seen any news reports of it, given the tiny magnitude of it. Yet, it was certainly an experience and I feel silly for being as excited as I am to have finally felt an earthquake.

Karaoke

I sometimes feel like I want to share every single day. If ever it is too much, my apologies, well not really; if it's too much then don't read. I do this as much for myself as for all you back home. I have a terrible memory, and well this enhances it. Also, everyday a huge adventure and I'm excited to tell you of the things we've encountered. And last night was some of the most fun we've had yet.

Nami, the English teacher at Hotuku, invited us to meet her and a friend, Ryu, at Izakaya; traditional Japanese bar. And they have food. She calls and tells us that it's only a 15 minute bike ride along a riverside path, but of course we only have one bike and have been walking a lot so decide that we'll just walk it. With Chu-Hi's in hand we set off. It's glorious and not that far.

We arrive to the bar about 40 minutes later. Here you take your shoes off at the door. You sit on the floor at the table but there is room for you feet underneath, there's a deep hole in the floor under the table. Just a little more 'Japanese' than other places we've been. It's also nice being there with a local. They order drinks and food for us and they explain things. We got to try so many new and different things that we wouldn't otherwise have been able to. We had chicken kidney on skewers. We had tako (octopus), possibly raw, in wasabi sauce. We some of the best edamame I've ever tasted. We had amazing rice in an ancient rice cooker served at the table. And of course we had drinks.

We ate and we chatted, for hours. We were the last people to leave and we learned some things as well. Nami's name means 'wave', as in tsunami. I thought it was cute. Ryu is visiting from Kyushu where they are from and he was staying in Osaka. He was scared of the trains for some reason and took a taxi home, which is not cheap. Earlier that day he was at a Pachinko Parlor and won 100,000 yen. That's $1300. He didn't need it so he gave it to a student who was at the Parlor.

After shutting down the Izakaya we head down the street for some good 'ole karaoke. A very big deal here, everyone does it. The nice thing about karaoke in Japan is that it's in private rooms with only you and your friends. You pay by the hour and there are books full of songs to choose from. We sing and sing and sing, for an hour; and then we venture home. Yeah, it's a long walk for some but very enjoyable for us, especially in the middle of the night with nobody around.

Rob, Kyu and Nami at the Izakaya

Karaoke

Kyoto

This past Sunday, 3 July, we made a day trip out of Kyoto. I can't explain how remarkable of a city it is. Its so very different from Osaka and acts as the 'storehouse of Japan's traditional culture'.  From our house, including the bus to the train station, it takes about an hour to get to Kyoto. We decide to do a walking tour of the 'must sees'. And it was well worth it. When we first stepped out of the station we were happy to have come. There is just a different feeling to this city. We began our trek up a narrow road towards the mountains and almost instantly we see a pagoda rising against the skyline. We are headed towards Kitomizu-Dera, the king of all temples in my opinion and also one of the most famous landmarks of the city, and quite busy. 

We spend a good amount of time here, climbing stairs and getting off the beaten path by following a hiking trail into the mountains for a few minutes. There are so many different shrines and temples and waterfalls and statues and buddhas to see here; it's unreal. The view is also unreal. You feel hidden up in the lush forest, yet can see most of the city, if only it weren't hazy.

We descended from the temple on a street called Kiyomizu-michi, the busy path with so many things to see, feel and smell. This pedestrian walk is lined with gift shops and cafes, tourists and geishas. Very marvelous and enchanting. We continued branching off of streets, each with its own character and charm. One called Ishibe-koji is perhaps the most beautiful street in Kyoto. It's basically a cobbled alley filled with traditional Japanese inns and restaurants, and very peaceful.

Next we randomly, but correctly, follow a charming flight of stairs into another temple, Kodai-Ji. This one was founded in 1605 by a woman, in memory of her husband. There is stark contrast between this and Kiyomizu-dera. We are instructed to take our shoes off and take a very well plotted course through the grounds, which include gardens designed by a famous architect, a zen rock garden, and teahouses.

From here you can see an enormous Buddha protruding from the tree tops, and the entire time we hear Hawaiian music. Next door (?) there is a hula dance performance going on underneath the Buddha. From here we head to Maruyama-koen, a lovely, lovely park. I lay on a concrete bench and watch the willow sway in the wind while pigeons court around my feet. In the center of the park, where we happen to have taken our seats, is the giant Gion shidare-zakura, Kyoto's most famous cherry tree. I imagine it's stunning during the blossoms.

At this point I'm nearly too exhausted to do much more exploring, but somehow find the strength to walk downtown for lunch. Downtown is a bit more similar to Osaka, but still unique. There are many more Gaijin and traditionally dressed locals. We have a very late lunch in Cafe Independants, a hip, bohemian cafe serving sandwiches and beer, just to my liking. After strolling and people watching for some more collected time, we venture back to the station and ride home with our tired little feet.

A link to more photos Rob put on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100333240495273.2738255.10203887&l=14562c5c6

Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-michi

Entrance to Kodai-ji

Giant Buddha

Geishas