Kyoto (1 - 2 Jan 2008)
We were near to collapsing under the weight of our bags by the time we checked in at Hotel Matsui (ホテル松井) （Rokaku Dori Takakura Higashi Hairu, Nakagyo-ku，Kyoto-shi，Kyoto-fu）． We were greeted with cinnamon snacks and sake at the reception area, and even won a small gift in a lucky draw. The smiling hotel staff carried our bulging luggage up to our traditional Japanese room. This is what we paid good money for (17420 yen to be exact)!Once we had dumped our bags unceremoniously on the tatami mats, we hurried down to reception to ask directions to Kiyomizu-dera, as it was getting dark rapidly and the temple would close at 6 pm. We located the bus stop outside Daimaru. The bus fare was 120 yen for 6 stops. The interesting thing we observed was that commuters board the bus from the back door, and alight from the front. Payment of the fares is only done when one alights.
My heart was sinking as rapidly as the setting sun when we alighted at the Kiyomizu bus stop. There was less than 1 hour before the temple closed, and it was as dark as 7+ pm back home, meaning we would not get to appreciate the view much. I had visited the temple back in 2004 when the trees were sprinkled with sakura in spring, and had wanted to show Sis the 2 Love Stones there. However, our luck this time was not good. We had to do a very brisk walk through the grounds after the dismal photo-taking and barely saw anything in the dark. What a waste of the entrance fee of 300 yen.
The walk back down the hill was more interesting. The shops were enjoying a brisk business from the stragglers leaving the temple. It had gotten cold quickly over the past hour, and Sis and I ended up munching on hot snacks from each frozen hand. We ended up walking back to Hotel Matsui, taking in the sights along the streets.
Back at the hotel, we were asked by one of the hotel staff if we were Japanese, because according to him, I looked Japanese but Sis didn't. ^_^ After the leisurely long soak in the indoor bath, we ended up watching a variety programme on tv where young children were filmed going on errands on their own. A few of the stories told by their parents were so touching that we couldn't help tearing silently. *Sniff*
The next morning saw us out early with an agenda: to visit another shrine and Gion, the traditional street where maiko (geisha apprentices) still live. However, we were distracted by something happening at Daimaru: rush for 福袋 (fukubukuro) ! Lucky/Fortune bags are traditionally available at New Year's; bags would be filled with mystery items from the respective shops and be sold at lower prices than the usual total sum of all the items. Being broke by now, we could only gape at the 5000 - 10000 yen fortune bags sold at Daimaru. Along the streets, shops were extolling the values of their various fortune bags. Sis could not take it anymore and succumbed to a 1000 yen Revlon fukubukuro. I was greatly tempted by the fukubukuro of the adidas shop (the bag was a black duffel bag for the men and a pink one for the ladies! Inside were sports tops and a pair of shoes!) but it was way. Too. Expensive.
After fighting off temptation for several streets, we finally reached Gion Shimbashi. Immediately, my stress level dropped several notches. Though it was but a small area, it was charming in its unpretentiousness and natural scenery. Weeping willows drooped wistily along the streets and river banks. Mandarin ducks paddled leisurely in the river. Noise was minimal. We saw someone dressed like a maiko (refer to picture below), but weren't sure if she was a real maiko, or even a "she", as there was a photographer trailing her and she seemed to be cam-whoring. She did attract a sizeable crowd of Caucasians though.
When we were done snapping photos of the maiko and doing last-minute shopping, it was time to hurry back to our hotel to collect our belongings and head for the Shinkansen to our next destination: Shin-Osaka.
posted by Addy @ 10:28 PM
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