Kyoto: Day 3

Sorry guys, it's taken me 3 weeks to tell this tale - getting a bit slack! There's just too much fun stuff on the internet. Yes, I have a problem. Yes, I should go outside more often. Get off my case!!

OK, so, yeah, Kyoto. Day 3. Can't actually remember what we did, but the photos tell the story...
Now, this picture I love. It was one of those random little moments that makes you smile like you've got a banana stuck in your mouth. More heart-warming than a cheap Hollywood flick that promises to 'warm your heart' (you really need to read that part in a deep, voice-over style grumble). This wee tot just sat there, oblivious to the chaos going off around him, happy as Larry, seemingly unaware that perhaps his minder was trying to bump him off.... I jest, I jest!

Just before this little treat, we'd had the luck to stumble across some kind of religous ceremony going off in Nishi Honganji Temple, which consisted of around 20 beautifully robed monks (maybe), chanting in unison. Forgive the ignorance - I haven't a clue what was going off!! But it was quite spiritually calming - until my legs went dead from kneeling for too long!

Then we headed off to Ginkakuji, my favourite spot in Kyoto. 'Gin' means 'silver', but as you may notice from the photo above, it ain't silver. But do not fret, no fibs were told! Ginkakuji is not gin because the poor dude who owned this temple gambled all his yennies at the races; fast horses, fast women, champagne! Not true. But he did run out of money, I forget why.

And here are my lovely ladies; peaking through a beautiful little window in front of a beautiful little garden in front of beautiful little Ginkakuji. Look at the sleeve of my mum's jumper - her arms are shrinking!

This is a tree.

Here's the view of Ginkakuji and it's wonderful gardens overlooking Kyoto. The garden path winds it's way round the zen garden (complete with giant sandcastle), over the carp-filled lake, past the waterfall and up the side of wee hill (which my mum may choose to label as a mountain!). Tad chilly up there, but lovely view, huh?

On leaving Ginkakuji we embarked on the Path of Philosophy - a peaceful little path following a tree-lined stream which samurai and geisha used to stroll along in the warm evenings (I guess!). However, our deep, meaningful philosophising was rudely interrupted by a crazy (but nice) local lady who decided to accompany us along the path (ecstatic at the chance to dust off her English), and the occasional shop!

After shaking off the crazy (but nice) local lady, we headed over to Heian shrine, which sits behind this. It's called a torii. There's one near every shrine, but this puppy is massive! Alas, we didn't quite make it to Heian shrine because mum got a wee, tiny bit grumpy around this time. 'Nough said.

So we got on a bus to head over to our last sightseeing target - this. Toji temple. A five-story pagoda set in pretty gardens. Unfortunately, it was closed. We dragged our tired, cold bodies across town through rush-hour traffic to be greeted by a 'Closed' sign. The guard was not impressed by my 'But we're from England - England!!!', pleas, but he did let me take a picture before shooing us away!

And then we were done. Truly done. Tired and cold with sore feet and the long journey home to look forward to. T'was a mostly uneventful journey, though I feel the need to mention the unecessary train detour (my fault), a lost glove (a damn fine glove - RIP), a new variety of tea I discovered in the vending machine, some botched Japanese homework, and... cake!!