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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