More kyoto..

A few thoughts from our second day in Kyoto. We are definitely happy with the hotel and its location. be There is all you need around so that is great.

Sam is getting pretty good ad just trying anything that seems a little strange and he is definitely leading the way as far as sighseeing/touring... while I just kind of follow. It is great to be able to be a follower for once :) especially ina foreign country where you don't speak or read the language!

We found green tea kit kat so he gave a try..

Then we asked for some rec on lunch places at the hotel and they directed us to the kyoto museum right around the corner. it was great, simple, awesome noodles and rice with... shrimp tempura (what else?). The ground floor of the museum was set up as a small old style shopping/restaurant area. that was cool too.

Then Sam got really bold and decided we should take the bus to the temple/shrine we wanted to see. and we did. and it was not that hard at all. Amazingly. (try taking the bus in Paris)..

Each stop had a sign with 3 circle representing the previous 3 stops to indicate where the next bus was and how soon it might be coming. that was pretty nice.

The shrine itself was pretty but the view and setting was great. Visiting our first buddhist temple was very interesting. Religion is taken very seriously and it looked like quite a few japanese were practicing buddhist. But it also was a strange shift from what I know.

The shrine had a lot of different area where could donate money to get fortune, buy lucky charms for a specific theme (conceptiong, marriage, love, safety etc..), and with the bright colours and gold everywhere, I have to say it felt a little bit like vegas. ie. it was very energetic.

Though that could also be because of all the school girls screaming everywhere..

On out way out we walked through some gardens where stones were covered with fabric ( i called them thongs but i am SURE that is not what they were). they were in little groups all over the hills.. we will have to find the meaning of that.