It's true - I am wheely a person who loves bikes!! Hennie and I set off to look for a big temple just down the road - along footpaths, dodging pedestrians, zinking onto the road when need be - all sans helmet and pretending I am Japanese! and it worked! Magic! before long we were in front of the Higashi Temple - along with the rest of the population it seemed - this is the biggest wooden structure maybe in the world? sat inside while monks were praying but no photos allowed.
then down along the Kamo river - on a wonderful bike path, tho the river itself isn't that beautiful. I guessed when we should cross over and voila - exact spot! by then I needed a shot of coffee so I pulled into the a little cafe and had an apple pastry with coffee and cream.... nice and strong so soon back on the road again heading for the temple with thousands of red Torii gates. was starting to think it wasn't going to be that busy, but around the corner I discovered I was wrong! I had to abandon Hennie in a special bike parking place and commence the walk - or climb to the top of Fushimi Inari Taisha - known for its thousands of red (orange/red) Torii (and steps). Needless to say, the crowd thinned the higher one climbed. I made it to the top! There were a lot of young girls dressed in kimono - looking radiant! maybe it is a tradition for whatever this public holiday was for. there were only a few young men wearing the male equivalent to a kimono. I didn't hesitate to photograph them, as I felt thats part of the deal... they all smiled beautifully.
as most tourist places, its very commercial and at the beginning there are heaps of shops selling the usual charms and trinkets. but its too early in the trip to be buying presents, so I just wandered upwards and then downwards again... about halfway down I was getting hungry again so I stopped at a very traditional little cafe and ordered a serve of Inari - savoury spiced rice in fried tofu pouches. its one of my favourite Japanese snacks. they were really lovely - and it felt just right, sitting on the floor looking out at a Japanese maple in new leaf.
by the way - weather wise, its much warmer than I had expected - yep, too many winter clothes again, but I am heading north and up mountains so am sure they will come in handy..
Hennie and I zoomed down the hill and back to the river where we rolled all the way back into town... still looking for the Philosophers walk and I might almost have found it but not quite - and the bamboo walk... hope to do them on my way out of town tomorrow.
Found the Kyoto Castle but too late - it was closed, so headed back towards the Centurian. I found the Nishimura Market district and slotted Hennie into a parking bay - yoiks its locked, so how do I get her out again - OK 100Yen will release her within 3 hours... no sweat. I wandered around and decided to have dinner in a small upstairs restaurant - this time Rice Omelette - ie an omelette stuffed again with spiced rice, but with a tangy sauce - maybe sorta like Worcestershire ish! I am doing quite well, really eating Japanese food. but then I just needed something to finish off and found another little cafe where I had a twisted cinnamon donut with a decaf soy latte... Bed is screaming to me - but once back at The Cabin I needed a good scrubbing and soaking then move into my standard cubicle. it is big enough for me to sit on the single bed mattress - which fills the whole room... there's a little locker - so like everyone else, I have all my stuff lined up against the wall outside.
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| Gateway to the Higashi Temple |
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| Moat around the Higashi Temple |
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| morning coffee n danish! |
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| joining the crowds getting ready to climb up thru all the Torii gates |
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| Monks don't get public holidays |
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| lunch cafe |
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| Inari at the Fushimi Inari Taisha temple walkway |
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| too late to get to the Kyoto Castle |
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| Dinner of omelette with spiced rice filling - quite yummy! |
