From Uji to Osaka

A trip to Kyoto isn't a trip if you don't find your way down to Nara, the Japan. If you can recall (as it was months ago) I had been up for all night and I was trudging along on very little sleep. I had another ambitious day planned before me. I was to make a stop in Uji to go and see the Byodo-in the Phoenix Hall, one of the more beautiful temples in Japan. From there I was to head to a different train station and continue onto Nara and the collections of temples and shrines, not to mention an ethereal forest. It was a great idea for someone with a full amount of energy, I was decidedly lacking and was riding purely on my Japanophile adrenalin. So without further ado, here are some of the more beautiful spots in Japan.

A bridge in Uji that apparently has significant historical importance...

...and here is the actual bridge of historical significance, I told you I was tired.

The Byodo-in, one of the few remaining Pure Land Buddhism temples in Japan.

Over 900 years old and so beloved it is on the 10 yen piece (dime) of Japan.

Wouldn't be a temple without gardens.

Another image illustrating my exhaustion. A train stop in nowhere Japan. I swear this had meaning when I took it. Unfortunately I cannot for the life of me remember what...

Finally I arrived in Nara after a long train ride (I missed the first train). After putting my belongings in a locker, (nice to be in a country not terrified of strangers) I trudged up the hill and began to explore Nara proper. There were two main temples, Kofuku-ji (pictured here) and Todai-ji, the world's largest wooden building. All across the land were these indigenous deer known as Sika deer that were protected and cultivated by the monks throughout the ages, because they were viewed as the messengers of the gods. They managed to put me in stellar spirits as it is on rare occasions you get to pet live divine messenger deer.

My adoration of pagoda's continues. Kofuku-ji has the second tallest pagoda in Japan. It is only inches shorter than To-ji's pagoda.

Deer eats lunch of an unsuspecting tourist.

This just cracks me up.

The main gate to Todai-ji housing two of the master Sculptor Unkei's masterpieces.

26 feet tall and prone to overt violence Agyo is here to protect the Buddha.

Across the way from the malevolent Agyo is his friend Ungyo, He symbolizes latent strength.

Here is the world's largest wooden building. Originally built in 751 it burnt down twice over the years. After the second maelstrom, the builders decided to make it 30% smaller than the original. They did that and it still is overwhelming. Possibly the most colossal structure I have ever witnessed. Maybe since it is made of traditional pieces and not iron and steel, who knows.

Requisite posing at the Daibutsu hall.

Inside the world's largest wooden building is the world's largest Buddha. Who'd have thought...

The left is the original, the right is the present building.

It was after seeing the massive sights of Todai-ji that I seriously thought about calling it quits and heading to Osaka for some much needed sleep. I was beat, and possibly templed out which is astonishing considering my resolve and interest in that particular area. I decided after resting at one of the gardens that I should persevere and fully explore Nara and the wondrous forest that surrounded the temples. I am glad I did, for it may have been the most beautiful place of all.

A field of a Sika deer.

A Shinto Shrine nestled in the woods and the mountains, the silence was stunning. Allowed for contemplation previously unsought of for myself. It was here that I began to realize that I might not be returning stateside for a long, long, time.

A point and click masterpiece?

One washes the hands and then approaches the shrine.

I am in love with Torii as well.

After exploring the forest for a few hours and thinking my thunks, I ran into this Irish man, who really managed to put a lot of life into perspective for me. His Japanese was stellar and reminded me how travelling alone offers certain experiences that do not exist to groups. We explored the rest of Nara until we ran out of sunlight, and it was only right before we parted ways that we exchanged pleasantries. It is an odd thing to think about the life of friendships. I used to believe that relationships with people should be cultivated into life-long friendships in which every detail is eventually shared and experienced as a collective thought. Now I realize that is a backwards and incorrect way to look at friendships and relationships in general. Many friendships will have a short life-span, that is not to say that they are worthless but that they serve their own unique purpose. I am certain that I will never meet him again, I have since forgotten his name (Chris?) but I believe that our kinship was genuine. Maybe that is all that is required in some relationships? Who knows? Surely, not I. More on this later perhaps.

The nameless Irishman.

After sunset I took the train from Nara to Osaka. I was fully exhausted by this point and set out with one goal in mind. Find my futuristic capsule hotel amid a city of 5 million. After a few hours I did finally find it. I am slightly ashamed to admit that I just crashed and went to bed and missed out on all of the famed Osaka night-life. I may not have missed that much as the next night was to be the end of the honeymoon, and the shocking return to reality. All things end right?

Well with that I end the 3rd of four installments of my initial trip to Japan. To rate my feelings at this moment in time would be really in the Stratosphere. I really felt like I had come home, and I hope that the feeling comes back again sometime soon. Until next time past dwellers....

Will "So far in the future it takes him months to recount his adventures" Dunkel out

Fish fishy fish!

This has been a very weird month for me, I have had almost 3 weeks off from work and have largely felt like I don't know what is going on in my immediate future. With a small of amount of insecurity (the first time I've felt this in 7 months) I decided I needed to do something drastic. Luckily for me and my impulses my friends steered me in the right direction. I am now the proud owner of 5 fish! Tiger, Basel, Fujin, Raijin, and Mashita (Korean word for delicious). Well I thought being the bread winner to a colorful group of fishy friends. Well as luck would have it I am now only the bread winner of 2 fish. Fujin, Raijin (the gods of Wind and Thunder) died when they got sucked into the filter, while the cause of death of Mashita is still being investigated. So that's what my drastic impulsive decisions have led to, murdered fish. Better than children I suppose.

TACO!

Will out

The greatest week of my life part two: The rest of Kyoto

At last at long last I continue my post on my fantastic and eye opening trip to Japan. Yes I know it has been almost 7 weeks, and you have longs since lost interest, I don't care. I feel the need to finish this extended post before I lose all drive to do anything. Plus I haven't seen any clamors for more posts or any competing blogs so I still think I am the most successful of anyone that I know so there.

Anyways onto the 2nd 3rd and 4th fantastic magical days in Japan. It started off with a bit of a whimper as I overslept by a fair margin and awoke at 11 AM instead of my planned 7. I was thus forced to rush and see as much of the lovely city as I could wrangle in the the remaining 10 hours of daylight. I will say that I managed to do a fair amount and that I regret nothing! I began my day walking north through Higayashima in the grand idea of finding the Path of Philosophy. I did indeed find it but not before finding places that might have changed my entire view of the world...go figure. My personal favorites of the day were Eikan-do which made me want to be a monk and Honen-in which made me realize that I couldn't hack it. All in all it was a fantastic way to spend a day and that doesn't even include the nightcap!

This was taken from Nanzen-ji, I found it to be rather unremarkable but nonetheless had pretty gardens. Climbing the old Gate for the view was fantastic though!

One of my 2 pictures of Eikan-do, I thought I had taken more but apparently I was mistaken. A truly beautiful place with a tremendous feel to it. One of the most fantastic things about visiting temples and shrines is that you must remove your shoes, which enables you to add a whole different sense to your experience. Eikan-do was one of the better "touch" sights.

A delicious and nutritious lunch at a place called Omen. You will notice the beverage. I believe that while on holiday two rights must be observed, lax drinking policies and a heavy indulgence in ice cream. Luckily for me I love green tea soft serve.

Makes me hungry....

Ginka-kuji. The famed Silver pavilion. was quite the sight even if it was under renovation...

Perhaps the most interesting feature were the ramrod straight trees. I was completely enthralled. Then again the gift shop was also special...

Honen-in. A fantastically beautiful temple complex nestled next to the mountains covered in moss. I love moss now. It might be my favorite green thing. Well aside from Gumby.

It was next to this hillside graveyard. Just too many beautiful things to see in Kyoto.

To this day I am uncertain if it is sacrilegious to take a picture of the Buddha. It certainly was a spiritual place that Honen-in.

That night I traveled from my hostel to Gion, the geisha district and found the Yasaka-jinja. Another tremendously beautiful and special place in a city filled with them. p.s. I am moving to Kyoto. Who wants to join me? Anyone?

I just loved how the lights hung.

The make-out spot of Kyoto. I guess I am intruding. It really was pretty though...

This here is Daisuke. He was eating at the same restaurant as I was and he never spoke a word to me. It wasn't until a few hours later that when I was sitting on the river bank that he felt that he should talk to me. His reasoning being that we both owned Moleskines, the same notebook of Hemingway and Picasso, and thus had fantastic lives to catalogue. I will agree with Daisuke as he taught me several important life lessons the most important of which is Tamasii. Look it up.

The next morning I went on quite the adventure with a Philly boy named Frank. 6 temples. 1 Castle. 10 hours. 1 gigantic bike trip. All in all a fantastic way to spend an evening, not even counting the evening excursion.

Two things Japan is known for Baseball and Temples

A graveyard at Kodai-ji temple

Kodai-ji was a lovely temple that had a really pretty pond that was known for its reflections.

Japanese breakfast sandwich.

Chion-in Temple had a terribly large mon or gate and rocky-styled stairway to match.

Underneath one of the eaves was an umbrella that was to welcome rain and keep away fire. I must spent 15 minutes looking in the eaves before finding it. Its the golden knobby thing. After a trio of temples Frank and I headed west to do our other trio. Time was against us and I still hadn't found ice cream, but morale was high. We made a detour to Nijo-jo and the Shogun's castle. It was pretty but had nicer gardens than anything else.

Following Nijo-jo the magical mystery tour continued west under cover of sunset, and the race for time truly began. The mission was to finish 3 temples in 2 hours, a tall order when each compound was massive and had so many beautiful things to see. Here are the highlights.

Me in my kabuki pose at Ninna-ji temple. Absolutely lovely with everything you would want in a Japanese temple ground, from big houses to pagodas to gardens. Good catchall place.

I am just a sucker for the Japanese architecture, and pagodas. I don't think I will ever grow tired of them. Lets hope not anyways.

Five of arguably the most famous Zen rocks in the world at Ryoan-ji temple.

Wouldnt be a trip to Japan without a golden building would it?

This is the lovely Kinkaku-ji temple, or "The Golden Pavillion"

We just managed to scrape together enough time to complete all the temple exploits I had planned I couldn't have been happier. Another beautiful day with rich history and eye candy galore. I will admit jealousy and the burning desire to never leave all the pretty set in here.

Chassu-Ramen, melt in your mouth delicious. Its the gold standard of Ramen, and makes me sad that the ramen we know has the same name. As far as noodles go it is way tastier than Mi-goreng. Which is saying a lot.

I ordered this by saying I'll have what he's having, while gesticulating wildly to the Japanese man next to me. I still dont know what it was. Eel maybe? Definitely delectable.

After dinner Frank and I went back to the hostel to see if we could find others that wanted to roam through Kyoto. We stopped and watched a Kung-fu movie first, it had every single cliche you might think of in a Kung-fu film. From dudes with scary monkeys, to lasers, to fighting Lions. It might have been the greatest movie of all time, but I shall never know its name, (Bruce Lee was in the beginning but then died 10 minutes into it... Only to reutrn for the last 5.) I have no idea why he was hired. Anyways after the movie we managed to convince an Aussie (Johnny) and a Swiss (Adrian) and we set out about the town. In our travels we met rogue Washingtonians, rich white rappers, go-go dancers, and even had fireworks. Truly a great way to send of Kyoto in style. Here are some of the more tasteful shots of the night.

Fireworks on the river!

We convinced some workers at a Karaoke house to join us for Karaoke after their shift ended and these were the lovely souls that dropped by. Oh by the way it might only be a North American thing to sing Queen at a Karaoke, because other than Frank and I it was dead silent when Bohemian Rhapsody came blissfully to life.

Here's the gang: Will, Frank, Adrien, and Johnny. Oh Kyoto I miss thee.

You know it was a good night when the sun comes up and an Aussie is flipping you off for taking his photo. It's only 6 am Johnny!

So that was my Kyoto portion of the trip and I know what youre thinking. Dude you went to Japan 2 months ago I am so past caring. Well I will trudge along and give you the rest of my awesome story because I told you I would, and I am no liar. Only terribly terribly lazy. Until next time (I swear I'll be better)

Will Out