After a night sleeping on the not-so-exquisite make shift bed of posh Okura hotel, the group was on the road once again to Kyoto. As the bus approach the ancient city, we saw lots of sakura trees and old Japanese buildings/ houses. In the bus also, the tour guide informed that it snowed in Tokyo the night before. Thank goodness we missed it. Or should it have been otherwise? It hadn't snowed in Tokyo in 19 years!
First thing done was lunch at a Chinese restaurant nearby the town where we were going to visit a temple/ shrine. All along the river were sakura trees. Heian Shrine, initially the official shrine of the emperors, now given to the government as a ceremonial building to house weddings or important events whether national or for royalty. In fact it used to be a palace for the states' emperors of Kyoto. Directly facing the main gate of the Shrine is the Grand Shrine Gate. Supposedly a symbolic piece of architecture but little old me have no idea what it was.
Once again after the look-see-do-the-thing-and-go dance, we headed for more souvenir shopping. Found myself a very, very (very) cute soft toy rabbit and a coin purse. Next we went for another sakura viewing garden. Not as impressive as the one in Tokyo's Shinjuku National Park but this one has a more fun fair feel to it. There were food stalls and picnic spots around the garden solely for sakura viewing.
This garden was called Maruyama Koen and it featured the species the shidane zakura or the weeping/ drooping branches sakuras. Kind of like weeping willows with sakura flowers. After a quick walk around and a stick of grilled calamari, we were off to see another shrine (starting to bore us).
However, when we were there, we were sort of taken aback as the shrine known as Kiyomizu Temple was built only with sturdy wooden stilts 1200 years ago. Yes you heard it, you have to read more on this at the website listed below. The best part about this achitectural wonder is that it was built on a hill (which we had to hike up to reach the top) and it had not moved or even shook during a recent earthquake! This place was also voted to be a candidate for the New Seven Wonders of the World.
In addition to this, the temple was also known as the most popular place to have wishes come true whether for relationships, wealth, health and even in studies. Students mostly flock their way here during summer breaks or exam breaks to "ask" for better grades or finding the right partner in life. Once they have made their wishes and done their steps right, they will proceed to a natural spring divided by the three main categories ie wealth, health and studies. I do not know about the relationship bit, as there was a different area or the temple holding this particular category.
After much fuss trying to look at much of the place as possible, we headed down the hill to the shops - more shopping! Found the handbag I was desperately looking for. Cost me a little more than the one I first saw at Sensoji Temple but I was like I said desperate and this is the last chance we were going to be able to shop for such goodies. Due to the lack of time (this time it's even less time than usual) we were not able to see the Hello Kitty goods. There was a shop that specialises in Hello Kitty and supposedly cheaper than other places we have gone to. Shucks!
Anyway, we were on the road once more this time to Osaka. Without further a do we headed straight for this shopping district called Shinsaibashi where the whole corridor has a long stretch of shops for the fashionable, chic and stylish. Most of the shops here sold reasonable, almost what we would have called "discounted" products such as sports wear like Adidas and Nike going at almost 50% MYR as compared to the boutiques in KL!! And the designs were the latest and have yet to reach Malaysian shores! If not because of the lack of time I would have bought this ultra cool casual shoes either from Nike, Adidas or Puma, I don't remember! Argh! I only remembered that it had velcro straps instead of shoe lace. Don't worry they were original with the fact that it was made in the USA and was on introductory special! Double argh!
Daz was happy though. He bought himself a Vans leather casual. Very styl-o. I saw nice high heels and wedges as well which was the "in" style in Japan but again because of the lack of time I restrained myself very badly.
Eat! Dinner was at this restaurant specialising in Chicken Katsu Don. This one was a plus because the chicken was in a claypot and one was supposed the break the egg into the pot for that fresh don effect. They served hot udon as well which was my favourite.
Walking around a bit more after dinner at this street called Douton Dori Street we were given the opportunity to try out authentic takoyaki. Interesting little snack with octopus filling. I liked the mushy feeling of the pastry holding the filling. But one piece or two was enough not to spoil the taste.
The end of the day was putting up a night as a much smaller and downgraded hotel called Osaka Shin Hankyu Hotel. Cramped room. And for some reason I was feeling sick from cold and tiredness.
Had a bad feeling about it.
Like to know more:
Heian Shrine @ http://www.heainjingu.or.jp/index_e.html
Weeping Sakuras @ http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3925
Kiyomuzu Temple @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dara
Shinsaibashi/ Osaka @ http://www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en/index.html
Hankyu Hotel @ http://hotel.newhankyu.co.jp/osaka-e
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