Serene

Beautiful garden
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Internet cafes in Japan are excellent. Not too expensive, the facilities are great, but even better: free drinks! And good stuff too. Ive been sipping away at a green slushy.

Today was my second day forging into the city of Kyoto. I started the day with a fresh mind and mood thinking my experience from the day before just made me very prepared to tackle anything that came along today. Oh, how I wish I could say the same issues didnt happen again!

I figured this surprise was why I wasn't ever going to get to Golden Pavilion.

Part of the Kyoto station
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Started the morning with a wonderful, filling breakfast and chatted with the innkeeper while a news story about Japanese pro wrestlers ran in the background. Why do so many cultures get caught up in the fake wrestling? Why do bad masks entertain people?

Anyways, the innkeeper feeds me so much for breakfast, I barely have an appetite for the rest of the day. Although this morning, he had prepared a bag with a banana, crackers, and chocolate to take with me. So kind!

I stopped first in at the tourist office in Kyoto for a new map and some reassurance that the route I had planned was a good one. On the 21st of each month theres a large street market by one of the temples about a ten minute walk from the station. Well, the guide book said large, I'd described it as enormous. And shock of shocks I got lost in it. Just as I had enough of the crowds and the pushing and the gawking at the goods, I couldn't get out. Couldn't find an exit. Eventually, I asked a Westerner who had his own personal Japanese guide and he pointed me in the right direction. Perhaps, thats the way to tour Japan; hire a guide to be with you all day.

Bamboo forest; never seen anything like it before
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I did come away with a beautiful necklace piece. Althought I thought it was $1.80 and it was $18. My math skills really leave something to be desired. All I have to do is move the decimal place two spots over for the dollar conversion and I somehow get that wrong all too often.

From there I went back the station and headed up to the North and West. I found a bike rental place quickly but no one was actually there to rent out the bikes. I found another one and was pleased because it hard a large basket. Little did I know that once I started riding it the seat was too low and couldn't be budged any higher. I had planned quite a large bike trip for myself, but my knees couldn't handle the awkard angle.

I forgot to write about the monkey park! I climbed up 20 minutes, paid $5 and got a gorgeous view of the city, mountains and watched monkeys cleaning other.
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Before I realized my plans had been dashed, I was able to enjoy a beautiful and large Japanese garden. It made me feel like I had found a part of Japan that I originally came here for: Serenity.

There are many, many, many sights to see in Kyoto and I felt like I had only tackled a few. I was on my way to the Golden Pavilion when I couldn't handle the knee problem any longer. To my great surprise, I ran into some kind of celebration. A large intersection had been stopped and about one hundred men all dressed in white (some with shorts just not quite thick enough) holding up a very large gold contraption. There are pictures. Young children also dressed up played on drums and again looking around I found myself to be the only westerner. I figured this surprise was why I wasn't ever going to get to Golden Pavilion.

Woman making fish cookies (I think) at the market
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On my way bike to the bike rental place, I once again got very turned around. Eventually I ran into a Canadian woman in a hurry. She was on her way to the station and was also lost. She deftly asked a number of strangers for directions and she put us both in the right spot.

When I was back near the station, I decided to treat myself to a real dinner and perhaps a drink. I headed up to the top floors of the mall again and tried to figure out the small restaurant/small line situation. I'm sure I looked like a very confused blonde lady, but I took my spot in a line and ended up enjoying a wonderful tempure/noodle/other unknown food but good dinner. I added warmed sake to the meal and it calmed me tremedously. I think it was just what I needed.

Random but suprisingly entertaining ceremony
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Time to finish up as the innkeeper is waiting for me. The doors close at 11pm and he's probably worried about me. I'm his only guest right now and he must be confused about me anyways (a young American girl on her own).