11 March 2014
Dont pet the monkeys
Today in a shocking development, I followed my mothers suggestion and went to Arashiyama.
There are many things to do here if you are a tourist, both domestic and foreign tourists are everywhere. Getting here is easy as theres multiple different train lines and even a little tram thing which I took back.
After many days of not many photos today is a day of many photos, so many in fact that I have over used the word many in describing the many photos below.
On to the many.
Exiting my hotel and I was blinded by the brilliant blue sky. Then a moment of great sadness, I bound into the starbucks for my favourite Japanese food, Green Tea cinnabon, only to discover they now have signs saying how many calories they have. 620 calories in one bun! That was the end of that then, forever.
Once at Arashiyama you exit the station at a train museum with model railways. It was still shut at 9am. However heres a male Japanese person doing the peace sign pose. You dont see that every 4 seconds.
There are too many shrines to mention. You have to pay to go in, so I didnt.
This bridge is one of the main attractions according to signs. I am not entirely sure why, its not even 100 metres long, and even as I was crossing it they were re building sections of it with brand new timber. Also the base is fortified with concrete pylons and theres a dam to stop it from being washed away.
The view up stream is good, you can rent boats. Not one boat was rented.
Now for the monkeys.
A ticket is $5. Theres no mention that its a bit of a hike to get there up a mountain, I didnt mind but many others would be outraged.
I got some detailed warnings, dont pet the monkeys, dont stare at the monkeys, dont feed the monkeys, dont let go of your baby, dont show fear if attacked, enter at own risk.
The view from where the monkeys are fed is great, of all Kyoto. Everyone else cleared off so I had the place to myself.
Whats this I see in the distance? A snow capped peak! Further investigation required.
OK, one last photo of the monkeys.
All over Kyoto, girls get around in Kimonos. I am not sure why, my only theory is they are on their way to work some place that requires you pretend to dress up like its 200 years ago.
My other theory is you pay to rent and play dress ups for a day, in which case you do peace sign poses for everyone who isnt a long haired unshaved round eye in a black jacket looking angry.
If at any time your hands feel cold (its actually not too cold), then dont worry, a warm coffee in a can awaits at every vending machine.
I drink boss brand coffee exclusively, for the smooth flavour, boundless merriment, and instant boost to virility.
The bamboo sea is another of the attractions here. Its not huge. Its tiny compared to the one in Chengdu or wherever I went last trip. But I managed to get competing peace sign posers.
The foreign tourist looking back in the white jacket is priceless.
Also at this point, I saw 2 English tourists wheeling their rented bicycles up the hill having an awesomely loud argument about the stupid bikes and the bloody everything on a side of a bloody hill! Jesus wept, I will take you back to the airport now and throw you on the next plane to anywhere if you dont fooking shut your PIE HOLE YOU TART.
They were easily 50 years old too, which added to the humor for me.
Update: thats them in the photo!
If you divert from the bamboo sea you soon leave everyone behind and enjoy some silent paths to various observation points. The railway below apparently has a small steam train that runs along it.
Me in my awesome jacket. I have had it for over a decade now, I rarely get to wear it. Such occasions are always worthy of a photo.
There are many statues of fierce warrior poets here, dedicated to their poems.
Back at the ground level, and the bamboo sea has been replaced by bamboo shaped decorated plastic pole sea. I like it.
This tiny train goes back in the direction I want to go. Who can turn down the opportunity to take a ride on a ridiculously small train?
Inside the train, it ran up the middle of the streets. It was pretty fast though, stopping about 12 times before we got back somewhere near the centre of town.
My lunch, time for omurice. I have no idea what was in mine, it wasnt fishy tasting, and there was definitely cheese and various small mushrooms.
Something weird though, the girl serving me went hunting around for a spoon. There were 5 other people seated here and they all got a different style of spoon to me.
So my question is, do they give filthy foreigners segregated spoons or what? I noted no one sat either side of me at the counter too. This was all in the basement of a department store.
The basement of Daimaru has at least 50 stalls selling various dessert items. I bought this cause I thought it would survive in my pocket, which it did.
I had no idea what it was, turns out the filling is mainly red bean paste in between 2 small pancakes, with a mystery flavourless green thing (probably rice based) in the middle.
Note the trouble I have gone to in cutting this neatly in half and arranging for presentation before swallowing whole.