Japan Day 29 - Slow But Eventful

And so went our first day in our third major city after Osaka and Hiroshima. Acquainted new friends, a quick meet and greet with the Emperor's former estate, and a roof over our heads. Life is grand. Day two in Kyoto was more mellow yet eventful all the same.

Today is a little off course due to an old enemy coming back to pick a fight. Sister's knee is doing just fine, but the rain came back to flounder our day. Nothing for nothing, we made the best of what we had.

Kyoto is not a cyclist's dream state, but the drivers are kindly aware of street rider's presence and familiar with their flow habits. We survived a little bike ride rain as much as we could and faced the day.

Believe it or not, I've managed to stay away from doughnuts this trip. Sister helps, she's better at staying away from bread than I am. A chain of stores, Mister Doughnut serves some good treats if you ever find yourself in front of one. A little pricy but you get what you pay for.

Warm lunch for a cold day.

Come to Japan and you'll see many famous actors image in advertisement work you normally would not  back home. John McClain selling coffee? Go figure.

Our second night at our air BnB guest house turned out to be a party! Yes, we all cooked and laughed and enjoyed the brief exchange of customers and cultures comparisons that ultimately sift to the top of behavioral mannerisms. Here, our Japanese, Spanish speaking, friend helps with Italian pizza.

This is not a soup nor a dressing. It's the batter sis and new friends mixed up to make....

....to make takoyaki (fried/grilled octopus dough balls! Takoyaki, made at home or bought on the street, are always served way too hot. Great for impulse control, bad when you're stomach hits you with a starving octopus crave.

The party lasted well into the night. And so I was surprised when our host Yuta (why don't I have a picture of us?!) invited us out to a late night temple gathering. Ah, usually I would decline this sort of thing only because my beliefs lean toward something closer to agnosticism. However, I am told tonight is special. Tonight and only tonight is there an annual ceremony last through the night until 7:00 the next morning. Intreagued, I threw on a sweater and cycled with Yuta and company into the street light and neon sign lit night.

Before temple, a quick detour. Kai, another housemate, was working late a famouse swanky gyoza restaurant. Naturally, we stoped off to surprise and embarrass him a little =) 

Hopefully Kai would meet our crew here. Upstairs is where the ceremony room held visitors and priests, all participating in a rhythmic beating of wooden instruments provided in neat rows along the floor. The grid pattern of about fifty instruments rotated out as people came in and kneeled down, picked up a stick and joined the bang bang banging of the crowed. The monotonous rhythm sometimes beat off course, though it would be quickly realized and fall back into sync with the group to creat a unified thump that could be heard far outside the temple walls. Impressive for a two thirty am crowd. All night and all day people came, drummed, prayed, and passed on. The ceaseless beat never once dying or coming to a soft clap.  

Even in the wee hours of night, a lines formed to come in and take part and give thanks durring this special one day event.

That's all for today. Tomorrow will be a, literally, brighter day! Got something's lined up so stay tuned for our semi-last day here in Kyoto. 

Love,

-A