The boys survived Fuji but with sunburns and aching legs... I was so glad I didn't go with them We never made to Ohara as the ryokan (Japanese inn) closed its reception at ten and we were in Kyoto (one hour from Ohara) at eleven. So we went to Tani House as suggested by Tokio-passi. It was cheap (3,000￥/person) and we got snacks and breakfast too. The place is run by Mrs. Tani and she speaks a little English as well, which was nice at that hour.

I feel there's too much to see in Kyoto as we really didn't get to see that much. Well, we did see Kyoto International Manga Museum, Budo Center (boys wanted to visit this one), Kinkaku-ji (a temple covered with leaf gold->see the pic), the Imperial Garden (it was too hot for us to wait one and half an hour for a tour in the Palace), Nijo-jo (a castle that got the boys hyped up), Heian-jingu (another shrine with a lovely garden) and Daitokuji grounds (comprised of 24 temples and it was again too hot to do anything).

We stayed in Inn Kawashima, a ryokan that was established in 1901. It didn't have any keys or locks in our doors and it was really a genuine ryokan experience. We also met Megumi (?), who is coming to Finland in September for 4 days (she worked in the ryokan).

Weather... It is way too hot to do any serious sightseeing, approximately 40 celcius with the sun blaxing right on top of us. We're sweating like little pigs... Locals here carry around hand towels so that they can wipe off the sweat. Men also wrap wt towels around their heads.

We did go to Nara, the first official real capital of Japan (as the capital used to change according to who was in charge etc.). Nara Koen is the park, which has all those lovely shrines and temples, basically everything that Nara has to offer... and lots and lots of deer. According to Lonely Planet, there are about 1,200 deer running around free looking for shika-sembei (deer biscuits) or dry bread from tourists. Some deer are really, really demanding... Tomi also got stampeed by them. In Nara we saw the largest wooden building in the world, Todai-ji. This temple has also Japan's largest bronze Buddha (I read somewhere).

I lit up some insence and candles to protect us from the weather and illness. I also have something going on with my right leg, after I bumped my shin to my left ankle in Shimoda. It was good that there was healing water and a healing image of a Kannon (apparently one of the 18 original followers of Buddha), which I rubbed to heal my leg. It might be working... doesn't seem to be bothering me too much now.

Now were in Osaka, living in Shin-Osaka. Yesterday we were at the Summer Sonic festival and got to see performances by The Hoosiers, The Kooks, Alicia Keys, Devo and Coldplay. I was at first quite bummed out since we missed The Ting Tings and as Coldplay was on at the same time as Justice and Fatboy Slim. So we didn't get to see Justice after all... Well, maybe I'll try Youtube for clips

Now I must go as I'm out of time once again... hopefully I'll get to update this blog at leat once more before we head home.