Turning Japanise-ah : Kyoto

I spent my days exploring tiny cobbled streets on the outskirts of town, tramping from shrine, to temple, to drink machine. These coin operated dispensing machines are everywhere, and trying out the taste sensations they deliver with exotic names like ‘Pokari sweat,’ keeps life interesting
The city is infested with amazing temples. There was one in particular that I remember, just down the road from where I was staying. The roof of the main building was supported by beams so heavy that back in ancient times, when it was being built. The builders had to use ropes made of woman's hair as the ones made of plant fibre were snapping under the stresses of the enormous weights.
There was one length of this rope preserved behind glass. It was coiled up dusty, and rotting, and quite bit Gothic.



I visited a Japanese feudal castle, complete with moats and towers. Lots of structural details around the castle were labelled including the boards that we were walking around upon which were called "nightingale floors." They were specially constructed to squeak as they are walked upon making a sounds like birds singing, to warn the Shogun who may be staying in the castle, of people’s movements and to discourage assassination.
It's so nice on a hot afternoon to slip off ones shoes and pad around ancient floors in socks, feeling the smooth polished grain of the wood.
Nights in the commercial centre of Kyoto are amazing. Its like Rodeo drive mixed with Times Square, with a big dash of Kings Cross. Multiply this by a million people, and then shove it sideways into a different dimension.

Lights sparkle in the river and the shadows make the alleys mysterious haunts of Yakusa and Geisha. Riverside restaurants have wide balconies that stretch out over the water, while tall multi-stored eateries glow warmly down onto the swarming streets. Cartoon like scooters, Parked in clusters clog the footpaths. Shiny (Japanese are encouraged by the government to replace cars every two years so old cars are rare) cars cruise the streets. The whole place is soaked in warm silky air. Hundreds of yummy smells, kilometers of neon, thousands of shops, and huge crowds of people.
Specking of scooters and push bikes. They are everywhere and people like to use the footpaths as cycle shortcuts and parking lots. What really blew me away were the girls that fly past. Dressed up for work or partying (sans helmet) in micro minis and high heels, like two stroke powered perfumed bliss bombs.

LINKS Nara Takiyama