Kyoto - Part One

We left Tuesday morning making good time to Kyoto. The hotel was nice except the air conditioning in the room sucked.  We got there around 3:00pm and checked in the headed to our first temple near the hotel. It had a huge pagoda and lovely gardens.  Then off to the train station for dinner.  It had two department stores, shopping and over 70 restaurants.  We found a good place with a great view.  Finished the night at the hotel bar with my sister-in-law while Jeff watched Julia.
Bridge on the way to Kyoto

 Our room with a view of the trains.

 Christine with her trusty travel book

 Pagoda at the first temple.

 Julia running around collecting rocks.

 A walk in the garden with Aunt Christine

 Daddy pushes me up the stairs

 Dinner at the top of Kyoto.

 View from restaurant on top of Kyoto

 Beer for me and water for Julia

 Drinks to end the night!

 Done after day one.

Then next day we were up at 6:00am to have breakfast and go on our all day bus tour.  We saw the Nijo Castle, Golden temple, Imperial Palace.  Then lunch and shopping.  Then two temples and one shrine.  Remember it is 88 and sunny and still humid. At least the bus was air conditioned!  We had several couples on our bus and meet some very cool people from all over the world. One shrine was the Sanjusangen-do, which is a National Treasure because it has 1001statues of the Buddhist deity and 30 guardians.  It was quite impressive but of course no pictures allowed.  The guardians had glass crystal eyes which made them really freaky to look at.   The shrine was called Heian Jingu Shrine
Daddy will keep you shaded from the sun.

 Map of the Castle.  The gardens were my favorite part of all the places.

 Arc to castle

 The golden temple.  Covered in gold leaves.  The picture does not do it justice.

 A painting that was inside the castle.  This was one of the few places you could take pictures inside.

 The process before entering the temple.  Fill with water, wash each hand, hold up to mouth and take some in mouth and spit out, do not drink.  Then tip right up and let the rest drip down.  This will cleanse you before entering the temple.

 The color is good luck.

 If you get a bad fortune you put it on this tree so it does not come true.

 I thought this wish was funny.  Not asking for much.

 View of a the bridge at the temple.

 Julia feeding the coy fish.

 View from the top of the last temple for the day.  Then ice cream before dinner of course.  As we made our way down the hill to the bus we were stopped by Japanese junior high students and asked questions in English, probably for their homework.  He looks at his paper and then to me and says "Hello, may I ask you a few questions?"  What is my favorite Japanese food, What is my favorite sport and where do I come from. It was very cute.

 Julia ready for dinner.

My Japanese Hair Cut Experience

Well the hair was getting totally out of control so I colored it myself.  Yes, that is right, I color my hair.  LOL.   My friend here called and made the appointment and then went with me so she could translated what I wanted.  Thanks Nishimoto-san!  They have a day care next door where we took Julia and it is free if you are having a hair cut.  Then you need to fill out forms that ask things like, What kind of magazines do you like to read?  How strong do you like your hair washed?  Hard, medium or light?
It was the first time I had my hair washed by a dude. First they wrap you good so you don't get wet and then put a little towel over your face - I guess so the light doesn't get in your eyes.  It was a little hard to breathe but I didn't want to break the process.  Great hair wash with a shampoo that made my head tingle.
Then while I waited for the hair stylist I had a message. I little freaked at first when he started with my head but then the neck and shoulders was good.
I found a picture of what I wanted and she pretty much cut and styled it that way.  It took about an hour but was nice to have the full treatment.  Of course I had to put it up in a ponytail shortly after getting home because it was too hot.  But I did manage to snap a picture before.  Notice Julia has not had her hair but and it is out of control.  And a few extras of Julia.

Asleep with my buddies

 When she is tired she just falls asleep no matter where she is.

 Julia and Mommy

 Wearing Daddy's shirt.

Kakegawa Hike

Of course the heat and humidity continue.  So we have not done to much the past two weekends.  Julia has a rash that is worse when she sweats so that makes it hard for us to do outdoor activity since you are dripping sweat after two minutes outside.  So this weekend we went hiking near the Kakegawa stadium.  It was a short drive and there are trails all over the mountain, lots of grass for laying around and a flower garden.  We parked in the Fukori parking lot and there was a path right there.

 The path starts out like this with lots of roots.  Watch you step!

 View of the outdoor stadium from above.  There was a track meet going on.

 The stair path down.  But at least it was a little cooler in the woods.

 Some fruit trees.  Any idea what?  Maybe figs?

 Checking out the view with Daddy.

We then walked around the stadium and found another path on the other side.  Back up the mountain we go.

 Going to find a drink.  We love having vending machines everywhere!

 Taking the paved road back to the top.

 Ahh - more stairs.  My calves are killing me today.

 View from the top.  Our house is somewhere over there.

 This baby is done.

 Pond completely filled with lily pads.

 Wait those aren't girls but boys dressed as girls.  Must be some kind of initiation.

After the hike Julia's shirt was soaked.  Fun day but I think we will come back when the weather is cooler.  They keep saying only a few more weeks.  I heard that before.  But once it is - it will be great.