Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Leaf viewing in Arashiyama, Kyoto, 11-26-2012


 
To go or not to go.... I was tired from the day outdoors yesterday, and it was supposed to rain, and possibly pour, all day, and I'd have to get up at 6am!!! to catch the train to the bus... etc. etc. But since I'd already bought the bus ticket (luckily as it turns out) I decided that if the rain was too bad I'd go to the new aquarium instead of walking around to view the leaves. But I did go wearing four layers on top, two on the bottom, plus plastic pants and a rain pancho. Had an umbrella, a hat, gloves and scarf with me. I was ready!

And the rain wasn't too bad. Although it really did ruin my pictures between the water drops on the lens and the backlight since the camera was under my umbrella... It would have been much easier without it, and I would have gotten many better pictures but, oh well. The day was totally worth the inconveniences! And the beauty is in my mind forever.

I had to decide between all the famous and beautiful temples in the main areas of Kyoto and the western area (Arashiyama) which Kathy and I explored in the spring. When we were there I noticed all the maple trees and decided I'd definately go back in the fall. So I did. I had a few places in mind that I'd read about being exeptionally beautiful in the fall. But of course I didn't have Jake with me (or a compass) and as usual, ended up walking in pretty much opposite directions from the sites I was trying to get to! Of course my habit of wandering into little alleyways and deserted shrines doesn't help. And I was also following the color. It's a good thing there was a river there to stop me or who knows where I would have ended up! I was trying to go northwest and ended up first very far east of where I was headed (where I found the most beautiful site I visited) and then, somehow, way south of my next intended sites (that's where the river qued (?) me in that something was wrong...). Oh well. I had a great day. I really do need to get a compass though, at least to get me back to the stations. Although I suppose since I usually have no idea of where I am, I'd have no idea which way to go even with a compass! And look at all I'd miss by not getting lost!
 

So I spent about 4 hours walking around with only some very interesting ice cream (green tea, hojicha (a kind of roasted tea) and chestnut flavors) and some little yuzu dango (little sticky rice balls on a stick dipped in a yuzu (a citrus fruit) sauce with kinako (roasted soy bean powder)) on top to keep me going. The thought of taking off all that clothing to go into a restaurant just didn't appeal to me.

Around 4 I decided to head back to the train - luckily because I had no idea how far I'd wandered. I thought I'd do a little shopping or have dinner at the Kyoto station. But I didn't reach the Arashiyama station until around 5, caught the next train and arrived at Kyoto station at about 20 after. I picked up a nice brie and procuitto sandwich (ahhh the benefits of city life) and a drink for the ride home. Found a bathroom (no toilet on this bus), got back on the bus around 5:45 and we left at 6. Arrived in Tokushima a little late (two ladies had been waiting on the wrong side of the gigantic Kyoto station and had a really hard time finding their way back to the bus so we left late - glad it wasn't me!). I ran for the train since the next one was a 40 or 50 minute wait. Made it with just a few mintues to spare - which was even luckier for me since I thought it left at 9:13, not 9:07...., grabbed my bike at the station and was home by about 9:30. A long but beautiful day.
 
 




























































This is a tanuki.


















Road sign - of little (no) help to me.

With the sky looking like this in the later afternoon I decided not to take off my rain gear until I was safely back at the train station.
 
 
Something funny has been happening to my camera but I like the effect (sometimes).







See the couple having wedding photos taken?













 

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