17 November 2023
Buddha loves Amex
Sannenzaka and Kiyomizu-dera
Before I get to why Buddha loves Amex, which is amazing, let me go on for a bit of a rant about my laundry.
I googled coin laundry, there were 3 in walking distance, I looked at the photos and reviews and selected the one that appealed to me the most. So off I go. When I get there a guy hanging around outside asks me if I need help. He seemed to speak good English, but I said I was happy to use google translate on my phone. So I select my machine, washing program, exchange notes for coins, and start my load of laundry. The guy comes back in and starts telling me off, apparently I have done it all wrong, the cold wash will not wash my clothes, and I should have accepted his help etc.
I looked at my clothes sloshing around in soapy water, and told him I always wash cold, relax.
He then tells me he owns the laundry, and he hates foreigners, and he wishes foreigners never used his laundry. To which I said, why did you not tell me that before I paid my money in the shop you own to use the service which your business offers? And then he went on an extended rant about how foreigners are all drunks, disrespectful, and getting into fights. So that was cool.
Once my washing was perfectly washed and dried without any assistance, I packed it into my bag and started the walk home to my hotel, when a liquid tanker sewerage or grease trap truck comes around a corner, and the big pump hose falls off the back, still attached by one end to the truck, slides across the road as it uncoils, and knocks a kid off his bike! The kid looked fine.
I am taking it all in for a microsecond, next thing there is yelling and 2 little old men in high vis, surprisingly fat, start running after the truck. They can barely run at all.
I briefly thought, I know I can run after that truck and catch up to it at the next intersection... but I am sure if I do, the hose incident will somehow by the foreigners fault. So I didn't.
And now as promised, why does Buddha love American Express? Because tonight the main Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Kiymoizu-dera, is closed, unless you have an American Express credit card. It seems Amex paid the monks to give exclusive access to cardholders. I thought this was a joke and just ignored the crowd control to go to the front of the various lines to check it out to make sure, and sure enough it was true.
This is starting the ascent up the old streets to the temple from Gion.
You are no longer allowed to take photos along here. There were guys waving red LED wands telling people. I do not think this is an actual law.
There were a lot of people, some were brave like me and took a couple of photos.
Most of the places are shops and restaurants so I don't know why they are trying to keep people away.
All these photos except one are handheld, and it is very dark along here. I did my best.
This is the one shot where I rested my camera on a pole.
Another one of the famous spots. I think you are allowed to take photos here. I heard a middle aged woman with an Australian accent having a roaring tantrum at her husband because most of the shops were already closed.
Here is an open shop. You can buy capsule toys and cheap t-shirts from anywhere so I don't know what her problem was.
What is this line, and why is their a giant light polluting the sky? Amex that's why.
Closed today. Note the American Express sign attached to the temple.
And just because no one will believe me... The crowd control guys were really unhappy at me for taking this photo too. 'Only for Amex'.
I thought it best to flee before the Amex police got me. So I went down this green pipe after Mario.
And finally.. it is a curry, but it is Korean curry! Pork and Kim Chi! Not bad.