There are only a few photos in this lot that are personal. But to be honest, Kyoto is so beautiful at this time of year that you just have to take these postcard shots. We saw this huge solar panel out the windows of the Shinkansen bullet train as it shot by. Actually, Mandy feels woozy when she looks out the window, so she probably missed it. I have never dreamed of such a huge solar panel. It probably powers all of central Japan.
We ate at this restaurant at the foot of Daimon-jiyama, near the Silver Pavillion. I thought of my mother when i saw the colourful ivy crawling around the wall.
This was a typical sight in Kyoto: beautiful coloured leaves. We decided to take saturday and hike up a mountain called Daimonjiyama. Once a year they light up these enormous fires in the shapes of Japanese written characters. There are three or four mountains around the city that these fires are lit and you can see them from all over Kyoto. We want to return for this festival. Check it out here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gozan_Okuribi
These fire pits are in the shape of 'Dai', meaning large. It was amazing to see these huge shapes even when they weren't lit up.
It was refreshing to get out into nature and see some Japanese trees and plants.
It did rain quite a lot on our climb up and we got chilled, but luckily, at the summit, the sun peaked out and warmed us nicely. Mandy's like a Meerkat, she's a friend of the sun.
This is Kyoto from the summit of Daimonji-yama. It's not a huge mountain (466m), but in flat-bottomed sneakers, in the rain, it was big enough. The hike took us about 4 hours. I'm pretty sure it's usually misty like this, and the city is quite obscured.
Mandy thought of her own mum when she saw these ferns. This is the end of November!
When we had nearly reached the bottom, near Nanzen-ji temple, we saw a sub-temple, and there were some structures, this bridge, and a little waterfall, where there was a guy having a ritual shower in the freezing water, during which time he is supposed to be saying a prayer. I would be too distracted to pray at a time like that.
This is Nanzen-ji temple. I liked the mix of coloured trees, and the little family of grotesque creatures at the foot of the tree. They're often seen outside restaurants, and are supposed to be good luck.
A very rare sight in Japan: an aquaduct! Built in the style of the Roman aquaducts by an emperor to uh, well, you know... transport um...
Hey look! A Japanese wedding procession! The bride and groom dressed in traditional wedding kimonos were slightly bashful, and who wouldn't be bashful, getting married in the middle of a tourist trap at high tourist season!
This is Mandy and me, having lunch at Kyoto station, a huge monstrosity that got us lost a few times trying to find our way through.
There are only a few photos in this lot that are personal. But to be honest, Kyoto is so beautiful at this time of year that you just have to take these postcard shots. We saw this huge solar panel out the windows of the Shinkansen bullet train as it shot by. Actually, Mandy feels woozy when she looks out the window, so she probably missed it. I have never dreamed of such a huge solar panel. It probably powers all of central Japan.
We ate at this restaurant at the foot of Daimon-jiyama, near the Silver Pavillion. I thought of my mother when i saw the colourful ivy crawling around the wall.
This was a typical sight in Kyoto: beautiful coloured leaves. We decided to take saturday and hike up a mountain called Daimonjiyama. Once a year they light up these enormous fires in the shapes of Japanese written characters. There are three or four mountains around the city that these fires are lit and you can see them from all over Kyoto. We want to return for this festival. Check it out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gozan_Okuribi
These fire pits are in the shape of 'Dai', meaning large. It was amazing to see these huge shapes even when they weren't lit up.
It was refreshing to get out into nature and see some Japanese trees and plants. 
It did rain quite a lot on our climb up and we got chilled, but luckily, at the summit, the sun peaked out and warmed us nicely. Mandy's like a Meerkat, she's a friend of the sun. 
This is Kyoto from the summit of Daimonji-yama. It's not a huge mountain (466m), but in flat-bottomed sneakers, in the rain, it was big enough. The hike took us about 4 hours. I'm pretty sure it's usually misty like this, and the city is quite obscured.
Mandy thought of her own mum when she saw these ferns. This is the end of November! 
When we had nearly reached the bottom, near Nanzen-ji temple, we saw a sub-temple, and there were some structures, this bridge, and a little waterfall, where there was a guy having a ritual shower in the freezing water, during which time he is supposed to be saying a prayer. I would be too distracted to pray at a time like that. 
This is Nanzen-ji temple. I liked the mix of coloured trees, and the little family of grotesque creatures at the foot of the tree. They're often seen outside restaurants, and are supposed to be good luck. 
A very rare sight in Japan: an aquaduct! Built in the style of the Roman aquaducts by an emperor to uh, well, you know... transport um...
Hey look! A Japanese wedding procession! The bride and groom dressed in traditional wedding kimonos were slightly bashful, and who wouldn't be bashful, getting married in the middle of a tourist trap at high tourist season! 
This is Mandy and me, having lunch at Kyoto station, a huge monstrosity that got us lost a few times trying to find our way through. 
4 comments:
The colors are beautiful in Kyoto - you were right about that! I like the picture of you & Mandy having lunch... very creative!!
apparently, I am anonymous... but really I am cary!
Hey anonymous Cary, thanks for your comment! Ya, i asked the waiter to climb up to the ceiling to take a photo of us. He obliged, and went to get his jet-pack. it was well worth it!
... little late for a comment but some of the greenery pics remind me of our excursion to thetis island - beautiful...hope you guys get to explore lots, hp
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