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Marty's Adventures
Ok let's try this again....I am feeling a bit better. I have come down with a horrible cold and thankfully brought some cold medication with me, although it will run out soon! I decided to book a tour to cover as many places as I could in one day. I booked a Kyoto/Nara full day tour. We started the day visiting the Nijo Castle. The castle was built in 1603 . It is one of the finest examples or early Edo period and Momoyama culture in Japan. The gate in was so beautiful. We took our shoes off to walk around inside. The floors squeak as you walk. These are called Nightingale floors, or as our guide called them ancient security system! Then we went to the Kinkaku/round Temple.....also know as the Golden Pavillion. WOW so beautiful!! With the fall colors it was just amazing. There were of course sooooo sooooo many people jockeying for that perfect picture of the Golden Pavilion. I took my pictures and hurried along to less crowded space and just took it all in. Then we visited the Imperial Palace. Again very beautiful and majestic. I love all the wood. Apparently the Royal family does stay there when they are in Kyoto and that inside the palace it is very modern, as I imagine a rich Japanese home would be. We had a "traditional" lunch....again in a very non traditional bar!? Lunch was good....rice...tempura....tofu....a broth with rare beef that was cooking in it. It was good, but not very much food. Thankfully I brought snacks! Those who know me well know there are typically snacks in my bag somewhere when travelling. My mother knows this well!! We changed buses after lunch and headed out to Nara. In Nara we visited the Todai-Ji Temple. This temple has a very massive Budha. There is a hole in one of the pillars that is the size of the Budha's nostril. Children and very small adults try to pass through this hole. Apparently it is a sign of good luck. This big girl did not try....I will have to find good luck else where. Out front of this temple there are thousands of deer. They roam freely around and will even come up and nip your pocket looking for food. They sell biscuits for the tourists to feed them. I did not partake in the feeding, but I did get nipped a few times. Finally we visited the Kasuga-Taisha Shrine. This one we walked up a hill and stairs surrounded by these old stone lanterns that they put new paper on. Apparently only two times a year these lanterns are lit. Wishes are up on paper and then put on the lanterns. In the old days the rich people would donate the lanterns but know they donate to have their wishes on the lanterns. By this time I was utterly exhausted and hopped up on cold medication and I was just wishing for my bed. I had an hour and half long ride back to Kyoto on the bus in the dark. I tired to nap but was not successful. Once I arrived in Kyoto I had planned on going to Gion Corner for a traditional show. I had an Amazing Race moment as I bolted off the bus and into a taxi and made it to the theatre with 30 seconds to spare!! Phew! The show consisted of a Chao ( tea ceremony), Koto music ( Japanese harp), Kado ( Japanese flower arranging), Gagaku (court music), Kyogen ( ancient comic play), Kyomai (Kyoto Style Dance) and Bunraku ( puppet play). They were all very neat to see but my favourite was the Kyomai Dance. So beautiful and elegant. By now it was 8 at night, I had been out of my hotel room for over 12 hours. I needed supper so I walked back through the Gion District ( no Geisha's this time). I ended up having a big salad, which made me very happy!! I made my way back to my hotel, medicated myself and promptly went to sleep!
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