tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53631787951716173012024-03-14T03:47:57.840-07:00blobbes' kansai kanterunder constructionblobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363178795171617301.post-5736195071204855032009-12-15T08:30:00.000-08:002010-05-15T10:31:14.278-07:00Day 1: Nostalgic NaraThree trips to Japan in 18 months - we were obsessed with Japan. We had spent time in pastoral Hokkaido and uber-urban hyper-modern Tokyo, so this would be a first for us, traditional Japan in all its full glory.<br />
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Our agenda was simple. We weren't looking for any epiphanies, no Pico Iyer moments, just the good life and the finest in Japanese aesthetics. We had in mind a multi-course meal, with Kyoto as the main dish. Kyoto - the mere name evokes images of ryokan, geishas and temples. And if Kyoto was the main dish, Nara, Kyoto's predecessor and by all accounts, more Kyoto than Kyoto, was the appetiser and rollicking hard livin' Osaka was the sake. Shuzen-ji, the onsen town, was the palate cleanser, and Tokyo, dessert, the icing on the cake, to to speak. Sweet.<br />
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We flew out of Singapore in the wee hours of 1 Dec. Our Japanese experience actually started at Changi Airport. We encountered hordes of Japanese students, on school trips to Singapore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzA-rG40eN8NjvOI61f1vBfIIYXwC1pqZXqY6LahYkzHMCGKMrIfR3UhsHcv6yLW14ihoHoUFTakN2wBXUikeFNItikWNH9fV0H3d_aZj8trFOoUJw5hdXKbIcIS9nVz7ThoPehk9BOjS/s1600/1+Dec+09+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzA-rG40eN8NjvOI61f1vBfIIYXwC1pqZXqY6LahYkzHMCGKMrIfR3UhsHcv6yLW14ihoHoUFTakN2wBXUikeFNItikWNH9fV0H3d_aZj8trFOoUJw5hdXKbIcIS9nVz7ThoPehk9BOjS/s320/1+Dec+09+004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">waiting to go home</div><br />
On the plane, we enjoyed our SQ Japanese breakfasts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XTAnP9dlUDC2O-3SprQM1jUKMprSntDHsSPVqS_R4LrYebeSG3dIrIx_mzMkC8qW7YHLah9qksHQR12ORDFH8YBUJRHTTeFW9oSSrMjHWci6ha77QzLCeuaV8MR_Q9caQfA43NDDxt_A/s1600/1+Dec+09+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XTAnP9dlUDC2O-3SprQM1jUKMprSntDHsSPVqS_R4LrYebeSG3dIrIx_mzMkC8qW7YHLah9qksHQR12ORDFH8YBUJRHTTeFW9oSSrMjHWci6ha77QzLCeuaV8MR_Q9caQfA43NDDxt_A/s320/1+Dec+09+007.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">grilled salmon set - always good</div><br />
The flight to Osaka was uneventful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTohBJ5aJ_KcFP_ZLMfjBJPJ0r7-92gV15Uecp17X7oXD0iRimNfLgmcAcUQM2XzbS5jS_BkSZxRyRe7rw-ZQGJ_Ua_5y5wg0exkW-0lY3SO2S11XOrAhyphenhyphen5hh6JOTSOKNjBxJu1hgsib6K/s1600/1+Dec+09+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTohBJ5aJ_KcFP_ZLMfjBJPJ0r7-92gV15Uecp17X7oXD0iRimNfLgmcAcUQM2XzbS5jS_BkSZxRyRe7rw-ZQGJ_Ua_5y5wg0exkW-0lY3SO2S11XOrAhyphenhyphen5hh6JOTSOKNjBxJu1hgsib6K/s320/1+Dec+09+029.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sunrise</div><br />
We arrived at Kansai International Airport six hours later and headed straight to the takyubbin counters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bXiIS55ehufiBas-H6H_hYdIYaC3DonjclkLUUWGAyXSYbpaq9FUfVbholaRs2nUTO5unOq9dQsgyLhyphenhyphene24jg9qmVfF2QTTt1jmnUQWFV-_W6Y3Yqxd0FUgfT1Hw0mmmUgFutCPOaoXY/s1600/1+Dec+09+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bXiIS55ehufiBas-H6H_hYdIYaC3DonjclkLUUWGAyXSYbpaq9FUfVbholaRs2nUTO5unOq9dQsgyLhyphenhyphene24jg9qmVfF2QTTt1jmnUQWFV-_W6Y3Yqxd0FUgfT1Hw0mmmUgFutCPOaoXY/s320/1+Dec+09+030.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">woohoo, there they were</div><br />
On the previous two trips (and on Japan Hour!), we had observed how the local tourists seemed to be travelling sans luggage. How did they manage it? The secret lay in that wonderful service called takyubbin. This was a door to door delivery service that could be used to send luggage from the airport to the hotel and back, or from one hotel to another, so one need never struggle with heavy bags on the train, up the stairs and so on. Voila! Whoever first came up with the idea was a genius. So, for a small fee and a little help from the counter staff, our luggage was safely on its way to our hotel in Kyoto, while we boarded a train to Nara with just a day bag each. Now that was the way to travel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVZEKYFxFwkIgwxXb6jxMCh4NE9Yvb7T_SqKs31fg0_01rP8yVWV0JM13L5B6391n6C15ELyXZ0P7fRCgmAF0XRfot6MkW1xWMQSXu52prxD9F1tzvrx2cnraIRKkWPNutEdoNkhrQRMj/s1600/1+Dec+09+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVZEKYFxFwkIgwxXb6jxMCh4NE9Yvb7T_SqKs31fg0_01rP8yVWV0JM13L5B6391n6C15ELyXZ0P7fRCgmAF0XRfot6MkW1xWMQSXu52prxD9F1tzvrx2cnraIRKkWPNutEdoNkhrQRMj/s320/1+Dec+09+036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Kansai International Airport</div><br />
Nara was the capital of Japan in ancient times. We were looking forward to plenty of old buildings and oodles of atmosphere. But first a quick lunch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUNVLH-ZY9xN9YIEyEl5hsk9nkBrRxDA9kYzuo8E9m3HY_47WCmAEYjpHO7F4ADUOM7ORrEK3kIU-UYVeYQjypU4KDfXkc7hyOISOSblGj1CSTyWhc1KYjbhwSXUpHWcfKincDnEM-EIt/s1600/1+Dec+09+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUNVLH-ZY9xN9YIEyEl5hsk9nkBrRxDA9kYzuo8E9m3HY_47WCmAEYjpHO7F4ADUOM7ORrEK3kIU-UYVeYQjypU4KDfXkc7hyOISOSblGj1CSTyWhc1KYjbhwSXUpHWcfKincDnEM-EIt/s320/1+Dec+09+042.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a noodle shop</div><br />
Across the road from the bus stop, we found a good place to have some noodles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCYqRBreHN2hS2QQq3JOeEBNGFcO0aZtEGEWP9f8vpii6dauwSFYx9t8iZQAUY8KHeGuC5xE_1nFCpVY9yXgF4lmkh2_7PUzMqnAYZOoadnGyXh4DxFi4LrIjLrFdEvdSlu8pX31Wft_6/s1600/1+Dec+09+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCYqRBreHN2hS2QQq3JOeEBNGFcO0aZtEGEWP9f8vpii6dauwSFYx9t8iZQAUY8KHeGuC5xE_1nFCpVY9yXgF4lmkh2_7PUzMqnAYZOoadnGyXh4DxFi4LrIjLrFdEvdSlu8pX31Wft_6/s320/1+Dec+09+039.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tempura udon set (with flavoured rice)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEnjpXLexg3Da6Hl047o8B2lk1CRoLoSSOlbs3PDPkzLLQ6UsxkWo_89WSbi-4TWwygPCI0cJvC5aLhSh_py6bf5Mxjbd3oiOypslcnjiRT0rQT5jUXQQnlLythwrojW3fP1iZ629l4c9/s1600/1+Dec+09+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEnjpXLexg3Da6Hl047o8B2lk1CRoLoSSOlbs3PDPkzLLQ6UsxkWo_89WSbi-4TWwygPCI0cJvC5aLhSh_py6bf5Mxjbd3oiOypslcnjiRT0rQT5jUXQQnlLythwrojW3fP1iZ629l4c9/s320/1+Dec+09+041.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gyu (beef) udon</div><br />
And then it was time to hop on the sightseeing bus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKI9Jm0cbkhswRK7jw91BkUse2BOXPvuqX4AAP1sd9VkyX9zpKyDvRDEaokwtgZum37vCKp9ovTCZ2_q5S8_kxNi13br7jcZXC5zpsTAxBcI4NWIRxrrEwkUyiWa9JHJJ2pzeHDYDGZs9/s1600/1+Dec+09+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKI9Jm0cbkhswRK7jw91BkUse2BOXPvuqX4AAP1sd9VkyX9zpKyDvRDEaokwtgZum37vCKp9ovTCZ2_q5S8_kxNi13br7jcZXC5zpsTAxBcI4NWIRxrrEwkUyiWa9JHJJ2pzeHDYDGZs9/s320/1+Dec+09+044.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">suitably outfitted</div><br />
The sights of Nara were clustered in Nara Park. Formerly a wasteland, the area had been carefully landscaped to bring all the sights together. The park itself eventually became an attraction, the highlight of which included the many sika deer wandering around. The deer, considered sacred for hundreds of years, are nowadays classified as "National Treasures".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWi-U7IsZPLUU445pWctkcX5PMvf6PKBIlJBxi5pLRrtLqPawpx0aS0NBlzyM3Nv4zl3p3D_rbnnnHn6DCaIZ3BX22mZI5jISpIORzTAhMqP7oOFjSAOO3-gpoDdlibEQ-LESKbfJl7zj/s1600/1+Dec+09+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWi-U7IsZPLUU445pWctkcX5PMvf6PKBIlJBxi5pLRrtLqPawpx0aS0NBlzyM3Nv4zl3p3D_rbnnnHn6DCaIZ3BX22mZI5jISpIORzTAhMqP7oOFjSAOO3-gpoDdlibEQ-LESKbfJl7zj/s320/1+Dec+09+051.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Er, Miss, do deer eat children?"</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedemV5WI0hRTftGKkZnXEauO3w1jpMU2IKdPTNxRocwGw-1fX7K2UIrr-g3I-L7BBDUBaEHzQOR8WIAn8efqDyjZRvaTnuasDdpE3j2a__wLFqNYdEOjMRC9_falNvp0iZ8ek16zrgoe0/s1600/1+Dec+09+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedemV5WI0hRTftGKkZnXEauO3w1jpMU2IKdPTNxRocwGw-1fX7K2UIrr-g3I-L7BBDUBaEHzQOR8WIAn8efqDyjZRvaTnuasDdpE3j2a__wLFqNYdEOjMRC9_falNvp0iZ8ek16zrgoe0/s320/1+Dec+09+052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">none too shy - shaking down innocent passers-by for shika-senbei (deer crackers)</div><br />
Other than deer, the park was famous for its display of autumn colours. We (and, it seemed, a million local tourists) were just in time to catch the last of it...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2wnFPW7Zj45bhOTS1g_-X74umPz9DkA-LFsMHxJ-sJ8yHFOacS6KmTxkn7xqD422qzOdDMUterUQhyphenhyphenTVApU7VUtBzUPPWLc1RMM_BQ5Uo2-SRhQvxKcOgv6vTj3l4OshAI2_MDH9k8ib/s1600/1+Dec+09+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2wnFPW7Zj45bhOTS1g_-X74umPz9DkA-LFsMHxJ-sJ8yHFOacS6KmTxkn7xqD422qzOdDMUterUQhyphenhyphenTVApU7VUtBzUPPWLc1RMM_BQ5Uo2-SRhQvxKcOgv6vTj3l4OshAI2_MDH9k8ib/s320/1+Dec+09+066.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio_Ut11TmjAZq0aMZnRkNyXPoGBtpLGAb-_KJbrNnDRCPeupJdVjAcvZq7MDFM69YQEoIZHbHTEwpXgdC5lQJ56hnIbxROdQPYJWPJNpu0OvLJipsUcacb03XOTAtiOeD5d6UMeI1D2PR/s1600/1+Dec+09+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio_Ut11TmjAZq0aMZnRkNyXPoGBtpLGAb-_KJbrNnDRCPeupJdVjAcvZq7MDFM69YQEoIZHbHTEwpXgdC5lQJ56hnIbxROdQPYJWPJNpu0OvLJipsUcacb03XOTAtiOeD5d6UMeI1D2PR/s320/1+Dec+09+071.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTt9KEsTiZaIgoTNVFM3coOUqyZA4LceuCGNv-nEHSu3dE_6RAQJWw8jQ9vW5eQKRhg1vRfuAXAR4a8s57CFSARFAeAYNYjwmtyk9ddYNvJ2lwXPVfYreVGwOGVSIrRnW_CL3T5DHx9tDs/s1600/1+Dec+09+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTt9KEsTiZaIgoTNVFM3coOUqyZA4LceuCGNv-nEHSu3dE_6RAQJWw8jQ9vW5eQKRhg1vRfuAXAR4a8s57CFSARFAeAYNYjwmtyk9ddYNvJ2lwXPVfYreVGwOGVSIrRnW_CL3T5DHx9tDs/s320/1+Dec+09+062.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">certainly induces contemplation</div><br />
One of Nara Park's greatest highlights is the World Heritage site, the Buddhist temple, Todaiji.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiLzphIN3PZDucCvY35E2dPb1glB8kevEpVGobKrBtyxImX6w15iZleORsjsjZPPVi3dsdSu0rFzOa2BhJWv3Fdpbzxp_tOpMZrSzPrwA20YxnPBjPOmh7lNxpEdF-icdkCTqx3vqcboE/s1600/1+Dec+09+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiLzphIN3PZDucCvY35E2dPb1glB8kevEpVGobKrBtyxImX6w15iZleORsjsjZPPVi3dsdSu0rFzOa2BhJWv3Fdpbzxp_tOpMZrSzPrwA20YxnPBjPOmh7lNxpEdF-icdkCTqx3vqcboE/s320/1+Dec+09+075.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">entrance to Todaiji Temple</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGIM-sgSlWs2uDJfTE3mpv-Z5v_SIpln6br3CVfHu7g1tp95k8v4z9aRp4f9kLui26l0YBYx6xYYk0r24AveNbDxAioCJsg66m3wriQDi11FhWd0rDnOyZ55oIffNv3xBvt2YV7RkSlL4/s1600/1+Dec+09+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGIM-sgSlWs2uDJfTE3mpv-Z5v_SIpln6br3CVfHu7g1tp95k8v4z9aRp4f9kLui26l0YBYx6xYYk0r24AveNbDxAioCJsg66m3wriQDi11FhWd0rDnOyZ55oIffNv3xBvt2YV7RkSlL4/s320/1+Dec+09+078.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">guardians of the temple</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cTMJ3qI-DAbWnSEtuUpfy0yk6Bi67_K087w-Zvtu5ZpIHNNC85qR59uz1G0fPoVM4WJ4aV2gLKO2ac72LMHW7lGr7MZKGz_3NSXHJE131HXgjmP0iL_tbsMLkUNkId4dwZQtOzjyDkvC/s1600/1+Dec+09+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cTMJ3qI-DAbWnSEtuUpfy0yk6Bi67_K087w-Zvtu5ZpIHNNC85qR59uz1G0fPoVM4WJ4aV2gLKO2ac72LMHW7lGr7MZKGz_3NSXHJE131HXgjmP0iL_tbsMLkUNkId4dwZQtOzjyDkvC/s320/1+Dec+09+080.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nandaimon, the main entrance</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zbv68LWz2JIhCQHQ55gxRyO4RRyzI_1OfbpWFipXvo9FrEKwzolFVEUrTRBiz2By4KgOJWGL_3AUb1vvl5VrUNHj7GcixMtGfNA-qf8DFWKm1yOq8iHuqkZGecjmeYdfrbIeMVBPi0mX/s1600/1+Dec+09+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zbv68LWz2JIhCQHQ55gxRyO4RRyzI_1OfbpWFipXvo9FrEKwzolFVEUrTRBiz2By4KgOJWGL_3AUb1vvl5VrUNHj7GcixMtGfNA-qf8DFWKm1yOq8iHuqkZGecjmeYdfrbIeMVBPi0mX/s320/1+Dec+09+081.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">built in the 13th century</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMlEiMTzGOwRG8QYNneZyNOFyJ2Auin8Zsxmth6FhsLG5xY2Aby27Ivl35YoGtb5fKWYbozNO1Lz-ipLiLp30H7jDeYNh50XDLTxEzQVQ-ozwpiSSW9CXUfbFxBzfd_5LqkCZ3aRPHBE8/s1600/1+Dec+09+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMlEiMTzGOwRG8QYNneZyNOFyJ2Auin8Zsxmth6FhsLG5xY2Aby27Ivl35YoGtb5fKWYbozNO1Lz-ipLiLp30H7jDeYNh50XDLTxEzQVQ-ozwpiSSW9CXUfbFxBzfd_5LqkCZ3aRPHBE8/s320/1+Dec+09+088.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">door god - a Benevolent King</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy3Byk5EVuSq2bLPG9Of1f1ymISqS7bBOr8FwkkyllLHpKlTiFnUOY0ztMzcVXHb42Gs9Q1OBr5moi6uKnmFMJGdTOXo2EibfLs5KlaR62q5tUmSkiodkVrnYaugcu_BS3ykRZgBc4TLe/s1600/1+Dec+09+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy3Byk5EVuSq2bLPG9Of1f1ymISqS7bBOr8FwkkyllLHpKlTiFnUOY0ztMzcVXHb42Gs9Q1OBr5moi6uKnmFMJGdTOXo2EibfLs5KlaR62q5tUmSkiodkVrnYaugcu_BS3ykRZgBc4TLe/s320/1+Dec+09+094.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ancient lamp</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XZm03jAPNePXBrfbGK4oW9i7GTPoNnkXe-VCEirQSpfs7d0-IHFT2g2eIDW9gJTHj2hc3H3kdPjruolVqN-u3O3jn_7lynuCGVf4etaZnqP9s8uSwOldXoJhyphenhyphen16_lLBxcemom8dgWh1z/s1600/1+Dec+09+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XZm03jAPNePXBrfbGK4oW9i7GTPoNnkXe-VCEirQSpfs7d0-IHFT2g2eIDW9gJTHj2hc3H3kdPjruolVqN-u3O3jn_7lynuCGVf4etaZnqP9s8uSwOldXoJhyphenhyphen16_lLBxcemom8dgWh1z/s320/1+Dec+09+096.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the final gateway</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-UIjzi0LbbFOE-KfTgrecmAVRzANuiUSqTAo7apD6FjxexDv5WzI7_HcDSauCDefLdIxnQpOj9zUuoNPeuYBKuh7GhrqIBoRNDLnV8O9uXI1gVq0L10UW-0aoF0sxP9hBPnZEUfsoqL6/s1600/1+Dec+09+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-UIjzi0LbbFOE-KfTgrecmAVRzANuiUSqTAo7apD6FjxexDv5WzI7_HcDSauCDefLdIxnQpOj9zUuoNPeuYBKuh7GhrqIBoRNDLnV8O9uXI1gVq0L10UW-0aoF0sxP9hBPnZEUfsoqL6/s320/1+Dec+09+104.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">door god?!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI92tOfHT2n1NfB8QyzD9uk8HPIjZmnR_J-8ERu5f93eK5EUk3lAbV3hlH8518rlvzGi4PJuRXCn9S8N7KxkzK0Kbbp8rtNQSKH6TLgUe0I0I4UjX135qVDl32pI1rRNvrXpI25aaX9Yij/s1600/1+Dec+09+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI92tOfHT2n1NfB8QyzD9uk8HPIjZmnR_J-8ERu5f93eK5EUk3lAbV3hlH8518rlvzGi4PJuRXCn9S8N7KxkzK0Kbbp8rtNQSKH6TLgUe0I0I4UjX135qVDl32pI1rRNvrXpI25aaX9Yij/s320/1+Dec+09+111.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the main hall - the world's biggest wooden building (and only 2/3 its original size!)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMnNNDv-G07Jhu-QtUahM-Gj6F6V7Db_25-QysNKpGouO2EpsJJWsGPbzo-gdsr5yB1O3PsU7XtTCvsi4zRQlkETtZFJScSS8_wHwD2E7qArpcIwLc6K3g5Uy9YWkGiIw7THgypWlCNhC/s1600/1+Dec+09+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMnNNDv-G07Jhu-QtUahM-Gj6F6V7Db_25-QysNKpGouO2EpsJJWsGPbzo-gdsr5yB1O3PsU7XtTCvsi4zRQlkETtZFJScSS8_wHwD2E7qArpcIwLc6K3g5Uy9YWkGiIw7THgypWlCNhC/s320/1+Dec+09+124.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Daibutsu (the Great Buddha) - 15 metres tall</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWafmKbz8HvptL6ZPZND9xy7YBnY3CEJ2XvgJHTCVn1gV1DXT4xYoHxuY0NxW_DJpZlAPlewocJpBHBehBPvtrsbMUpxcDE8ml41QaMTCmH_dxWd3CmAhI6Omx2zUBHRse8hKqf7jOEyCL/s1600/1+Dec+09+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWafmKbz8HvptL6ZPZND9xy7YBnY3CEJ2XvgJHTCVn1gV1DXT4xYoHxuY0NxW_DJpZlAPlewocJpBHBehBPvtrsbMUpxcDE8ml41QaMTCmH_dxWd3CmAhI6Omx2zUBHRse8hKqf7jOEyCL/s320/1+Dec+09+133.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Daibutsu (the Great Buddha)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5_5_pbZPp-uDxEpQsNJnMpO48Q35T0KlNUKq4RVEDFWdt5MO4W9FS_RcEjlbIYEcBxiqJJV8vM0fpiAHKJbdLuKyPST9_BGI1I0JzsZ71G6vU-Jhh8IrFhm6uoZMowR4GX9gqGPtGYQI/s1600/1+Dec+09+137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5_5_pbZPp-uDxEpQsNJnMpO48Q35T0KlNUKq4RVEDFWdt5MO4W9FS_RcEjlbIYEcBxiqJJV8vM0fpiAHKJbdLuKyPST9_BGI1I0JzsZ71G6vU-Jhh8IrFhm6uoZMowR4GX9gqGPtGYQI/s320/1+Dec+09+137.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Daibutsu (the Great Buddha)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZHSA9mF4D3-N6hIRHvAksz9LxOg5lFcpoz1Ak42ulnpuo6qaMtxK2lOWj7KhoiyIHJAOITmO5etok8ZtcsmFVJou9Iqat5NP8t1U_LnNLaJjjhQet7w0zuMQ9Wr8HGoWMkF3JCfEb5t4/s1600/1+Dec+09+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZHSA9mF4D3-N6hIRHvAksz9LxOg5lFcpoz1Ak42ulnpuo6qaMtxK2lOWj7KhoiyIHJAOITmO5etok8ZtcsmFVJou9Iqat5NP8t1U_LnNLaJjjhQet7w0zuMQ9Wr8HGoWMkF3JCfEb5t4/s320/1+Dec+09+135.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nyoirin Kannon (Goddess of Mercy)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxhby3TQwoH81g5K6goSyuBDfLQDZbw_Gz3qRoLqGbpWSEzIzOfHiq2If7_JHIgusVc2abVLg-zoxMbMCN2iEVFO70jLD_l0vf5wbVy0ru6Pb2yeFCVnO47MWdkSF4DbKwXkHiwDQrzzM/s1600/1+Dec+09+127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxhby3TQwoH81g5K6goSyuBDfLQDZbw_Gz3qRoLqGbpWSEzIzOfHiq2If7_JHIgusVc2abVLg-zoxMbMCN2iEVFO70jLD_l0vf5wbVy0ru6Pb2yeFCVnO47MWdkSF4DbKwXkHiwDQrzzM/s320/1+Dec+09+127.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">inside the main hall</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTw1z-SWeUllYmto3pq0eID06qPP6FyyKdBaoUT3BohhQtnJwatdsufDavg5_dEqZW56jeHahDqhtmSA5oW03fzKKGHa3UJr8FVBNp1OmoW4L4SgCkLruunn5DT7MKRg0CyN4SatL0CTA/s1600/1+Dec+09+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTw1z-SWeUllYmto3pq0eID06qPP6FyyKdBaoUT3BohhQtnJwatdsufDavg5_dEqZW56jeHahDqhtmSA5oW03fzKKGHa3UJr8FVBNp1OmoW4L4SgCkLruunn5DT7MKRg0CyN4SatL0CTA/s320/1+Dec+09+141.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guardian Statue 1</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZRqlvnL3VyInoBAlxROd6G3z0ge9I8rV5HCoLdSBw7Xc9WB5rxcba5hbLGXXdZkZ-bar5_7liwtT70W9PgFmyhDSaLs2FLVrITnjcUXPwhBlNrZscoemNPcLbVc52hewgROP7RrhsGQX/s1600/1+Dec+09+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZRqlvnL3VyInoBAlxROd6G3z0ge9I8rV5HCoLdSBw7Xc9WB5rxcba5hbLGXXdZkZ-bar5_7liwtT70W9PgFmyhDSaLs2FLVrITnjcUXPwhBlNrZscoemNPcLbVc52hewgROP7RrhsGQX/s320/1+Dec+09+146.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guardian Statue 2</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BMwQrn4FqonF1QfJ-_R4jgIgYyI9mtgc3TTdP74S7mqvcZcr6NqSmdfEdxyWrNUl_1n1R4EUzt-amFYNa-P4x-QFKxqx2mIn6c4Ju7vYcQlFQHYT6yeZp4yUWppP_V-d3ITVEZiuMSXl/s1600/1+Dec+09+144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BMwQrn4FqonF1QfJ-_R4jgIgYyI9mtgc3TTdP74S7mqvcZcr6NqSmdfEdxyWrNUl_1n1R4EUzt-amFYNa-P4x-QFKxqx2mIn6c4Ju7vYcQlFQHYT6yeZp4yUWppP_V-d3ITVEZiuMSXl/s320/1+Dec+09+144.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">head count</div><br />
One of the most popular features of the temple was the "healing pillars". Legend had it that anyone who could squeeze through the holes at the bottom of the pillars - reputedly the size of the Great Buddha's nostrils - would attain enlightenment.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HyF4wsOB9iiWxdiJLAO9UNDesLsn5n59d50a151Sr7FULVTRWwR5Yr8az4WHZ_xy5aOQm_nO1yrHDOM4lGwRgCZbsYu3qGlAONkSRlzujkARet4W-iwys0zkGD24nVI8PWKVUDrhesK9/s1600/1+Dec+09+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HyF4wsOB9iiWxdiJLAO9UNDesLsn5n59d50a151Sr7FULVTRWwR5Yr8az4WHZ_xy5aOQm_nO1yrHDOM4lGwRgCZbsYu3qGlAONkSRlzujkARet4W-iwys0zkGD24nVI8PWKVUDrhesK9/s320/1+Dec+09+151.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">passing through Buddha's nostrils</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrgcAqKlyBi1dxHEgJradb0RoS77thCA3Z8Eq9jjN_rz6piGJ3OP19Yfi0yxR__WYdQpZHScO8oMOLnvo4R81GSd87fEK28eAiUQjCflCm0HabwmVaONEMGhpvIWQY-Z7YccH_4Gvvyrk/s1600/1+Dec+09+157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrgcAqKlyBi1dxHEgJradb0RoS77thCA3Z8Eq9jjN_rz6piGJ3OP19Yfi0yxR__WYdQpZHScO8oMOLnvo4R81GSd87fEK28eAiUQjCflCm0HabwmVaONEMGhpvIWQY-Z7YccH_4Gvvyrk/s320/1+Dec+09+157.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one of the arhats or luohans (no, not the fish, but the Buddha's enlightened disciples)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HoXLiytnFuxSdhUttR26Y8eOKG6Yc53Kc2jeiauGZUnlkkjzVFqpFjLdBA_o8p23ozLVU3n1kcIicpwCfaa4zKPtHs_tGRYH5g9FhDEef0qL_PcTbboG4pktGwESynnLw8aWDawQLzHE/s1600/1+Dec+09+159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HoXLiytnFuxSdhUttR26Y8eOKG6Yc53Kc2jeiauGZUnlkkjzVFqpFjLdBA_o8p23ozLVU3n1kcIicpwCfaa4zKPtHs_tGRYH5g9FhDEef0qL_PcTbboG4pktGwESynnLw8aWDawQLzHE/s320/1+Dec+09+159.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rubbed smooth by adherents seeking a cure for ailing body parts</div><br />
We spent the rest of the afternoon without an agenda per se. There were several other sights - the Kasuga Taisha Shrine for one - but we preferred just pottering around the park, immersed in the reds, yellows and oranges. After all, this was our first fall experience and the park was decked out in its finest.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uJZNwiO1s0u5K95kZ4KJh36XLsxN_VDC9E0yvOBYo92nidI5gDkBwJGM6o5_Vohhf9unRS7FniWxHbGQ1QIBHjgQ7uht7bVca3EeCVtAxV4Q6dHx-myL1OBNj_xWs4TFY5JrwBU6KHoA/s1600/1+Dec+09+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uJZNwiO1s0u5K95kZ4KJh36XLsxN_VDC9E0yvOBYo92nidI5gDkBwJGM6o5_Vohhf9unRS7FniWxHbGQ1QIBHjgQ7uht7bVca3EeCVtAxV4Q6dHx-myL1OBNj_xWs4TFY5JrwBU6KHoA/s320/1+Dec+09+170.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3daFz2AG8FCbmXwkMJ9oyqDBhTV2R8zFtzONe9oJCS6IwTJZDlIYr-98DbDpT4gpoF8dTxGqZrDPPl3zMZIDzq2Hb_mVX0nvSNcoqyv6ep8ciyPpAId6qZgXs-8NI2szXKqpVvzZHqsDF/s1600/1+Dec+09+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3daFz2AG8FCbmXwkMJ9oyqDBhTV2R8zFtzONe9oJCS6IwTJZDlIYr-98DbDpT4gpoF8dTxGqZrDPPl3zMZIDzq2Hb_mVX0nvSNcoqyv6ep8ciyPpAId6qZgXs-8NI2szXKqpVvzZHqsDF/s320/1+Dec+09+174.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2W0eWAWnaKh8VKlqRTZk3E4Db2A6GP9Gq_EoIwqPKQzDHpbtDN7pu0MhWfkj4cJ8wubu93fgnXDN1s6vGA3RLyRnuLYUPoFrpO1gWukc51W2CW_fdPEZUrlqfYXbUX1hbJ0_t7z5EraLS/s1600/1+Dec+09+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2W0eWAWnaKh8VKlqRTZk3E4Db2A6GP9Gq_EoIwqPKQzDHpbtDN7pu0MhWfkj4cJ8wubu93fgnXDN1s6vGA3RLyRnuLYUPoFrpO1gWukc51W2CW_fdPEZUrlqfYXbUX1hbJ0_t7z5EraLS/s320/1+Dec+09+177.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibodFX_fU5ha1D5uyuYqnM-sa19p2nu5XuyL2lkoHY5SouWqxEei078xrw8nDgRvzv0O0d7s93tp79qLpO0Dpbzitv1s7eMDo2nu__pqQdQ9A3oFpou4_AgbneoL_GKoGqc2j3FKamsam0/s1600/1+Dec+09+179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibodFX_fU5ha1D5uyuYqnM-sa19p2nu5XuyL2lkoHY5SouWqxEei078xrw8nDgRvzv0O0d7s93tp79qLpO0Dpbzitv1s7eMDo2nu__pqQdQ9A3oFpou4_AgbneoL_GKoGqc2j3FKamsam0/s320/1+Dec+09+179.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUri1gKzR0nwXKx0gM6_uIirk4HM8rP56XJN2U8970e85fdUeeiQsJM2ahCfEB2he7wg0mXDaDyZBtzi5mJ52zgnT6L_oIiOv3uKsofqlJTu5htDojkXZQKhbRj0tSc3KC3KOlbJIijudr/s1600/1+Dec+09+183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUri1gKzR0nwXKx0gM6_uIirk4HM8rP56XJN2U8970e85fdUeeiQsJM2ahCfEB2he7wg0mXDaDyZBtzi5mJ52zgnT6L_oIiOv3uKsofqlJTu5htDojkXZQKhbRj0tSc3KC3KOlbJIijudr/s320/1+Dec+09+183.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8Lf6pOZRyTi1SQOtUWYnSugnvt3alVw8Cz14668dJ8v0Z7pFYhUXbW970I8mRgeSCPA6RloS-gaeC3ZRJW1w6qSlfDQ5hJLfaPLlzRHNjmgIywNfnhnLaEkCjm8Sv1Z8hQ9Rsulk-Rmd/s1600/1+Dec+09+184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8Lf6pOZRyTi1SQOtUWYnSugnvt3alVw8Cz14668dJ8v0Z7pFYhUXbW970I8mRgeSCPA6RloS-gaeC3ZRJW1w6qSlfDQ5hJLfaPLlzRHNjmgIywNfnhnLaEkCjm8Sv1Z8hQ9Rsulk-Rmd/s320/1+Dec+09+184.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lRnzN3U0-EZKnsWz0pzFXmgeWfNqH9lcJ0NQIc-4eZgArjfysB4aiBdQAInhpyoAsL4G_XYYJcWscUTW7zeRJ5U-J6DQDCxAGBfsn0lUtXcQLGkX1jR8fnoZRoCX0A6XPecvGCpixO0O/s1600/1+Dec+09+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lRnzN3U0-EZKnsWz0pzFXmgeWfNqH9lcJ0NQIc-4eZgArjfysB4aiBdQAInhpyoAsL4G_XYYJcWscUTW7zeRJ5U-J6DQDCxAGBfsn0lUtXcQLGkX1jR8fnoZRoCX0A6XPecvGCpixO0O/s320/1+Dec+09+186.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK3SQE_FKi0pxbLIKqYiF-CacHrZhTjkIkX1wgzRE3Pk8BA0OCHuZkKFcdqTjXsHo2xKoyxopbYoTl2VGaLIjkB-iPWoO-9iUoeArmTnxCJKL3WgShQvBnlFjzGlZm6qW6t9hLdOL_Zli/s1600/1+Dec+09+189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK3SQE_FKi0pxbLIKqYiF-CacHrZhTjkIkX1wgzRE3Pk8BA0OCHuZkKFcdqTjXsHo2xKoyxopbYoTl2VGaLIjkB-iPWoO-9iUoeArmTnxCJKL3WgShQvBnlFjzGlZm6qW6t9hLdOL_Zli/s320/1+Dec+09+189.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirweT97zALEGB8obIjuc4068-i2Mq0kQemtksQ7J0SNAjtxAmMmeGVL2qAwDxhF-tbxKLq3mmc4A72pIO35hQPOeWB5doVWjJjQzabMw-IK978WZ5kEvIsIxmtgDa5ROVAg_pIJA_L1P2s/s1600/1+Dec+09+191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirweT97zALEGB8obIjuc4068-i2Mq0kQemtksQ7J0SNAjtxAmMmeGVL2qAwDxhF-tbxKLq3mmc4A72pIO35hQPOeWB5doVWjJjQzabMw-IK978WZ5kEvIsIxmtgDa5ROVAg_pIJA_L1P2s/s320/1+Dec+09+191.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyhbGTd-DOPgylGA1CZz1kf946SW5kCYglDcMlVeeWNnxxv5fBN-ZDaEVe7nfbM0K1-SuQMtpaaUWtJjEcTKXasfY40d3xT8Tq6_nvH_0nl-4RFSWyhs3KDeeqnM9ojZTb3xuDmBNvDgJ/s1600/1+Dec+09+195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyhbGTd-DOPgylGA1CZz1kf946SW5kCYglDcMlVeeWNnxxv5fBN-ZDaEVe7nfbM0K1-SuQMtpaaUWtJjEcTKXasfY40d3xT8Tq6_nvH_0nl-4RFSWyhs3KDeeqnM9ojZTb3xuDmBNvDgJ/s320/1+Dec+09+195.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">do I look better from this angle?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HlzSciCcj8seRytjnNaCa_YYeijCZ5JZR6WgdbFeE1yzmlm3r57Ov84agkfOioIrEBF8qISR6t6BgoJVTb8AepdpQHUCNVIcAFFkT1bhb7kN4roBPEzFZIHiTDiNrUhaDm_9bp6RD2AJ/s1600/1+Dec+09+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HlzSciCcj8seRytjnNaCa_YYeijCZ5JZR6WgdbFeE1yzmlm3r57Ov84agkfOioIrEBF8qISR6t6BgoJVTb8AepdpQHUCNVIcAFFkT1bhb7kN4roBPEzFZIHiTDiNrUhaDm_9bp6RD2AJ/s320/1+Dec+09+200.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSeYWdMtvwE4K7QdVdxv_SwMxmPNEJUEGgL32Gjj083tsZWUIkZhfsxJU03WxPYFFbOwi7Kx2cI_2pBMF9DCQ40kytJtzpj1x9IvfcmQNU0jXIYhAH43-0RCsnBOx1MW3B7QjZtrWNXDW/s1600/1+Dec+09+203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSeYWdMtvwE4K7QdVdxv_SwMxmPNEJUEGgL32Gjj083tsZWUIkZhfsxJU03WxPYFFbOwi7Kx2cI_2pBMF9DCQ40kytJtzpj1x9IvfcmQNU0jXIYhAH43-0RCsnBOx1MW3B7QjZtrWNXDW/s320/1+Dec+09+203.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ9sfMKUG0zgbTmaAQnh4u5i58UiTp92uVkgG9QN2NAjGPwco-0vbknWt-MtgreCQCgtl5hC8b1kY-x4El5QcTHCRmSBhA3jBK7FcGmofVd3yfv1zjX0JgaCQ64vjqzuuVGUFBvaiWS1k/s1600/1+Dec+09+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ9sfMKUG0zgbTmaAQnh4u5i58UiTp92uVkgG9QN2NAjGPwco-0vbknWt-MtgreCQCgtl5hC8b1kY-x4El5QcTHCRmSBhA3jBK7FcGmofVd3yfv1zjX0JgaCQ64vjqzuuVGUFBvaiWS1k/s320/1+Dec+09+205.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBYUspJiXsbAluzAESztxvhaAiYqgY4rDrNLoCZWwVxsA-tGSIGzcbY3ygXit-pBT2t7gzvwAvxHl8ijwgeGNVLifGV_Hn9g4MS9txe1Uc-AjwSNQDmGCGsQ91b3HhmbOzXdweEpWZgsZ/s1600/1+Dec+09+211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBYUspJiXsbAluzAESztxvhaAiYqgY4rDrNLoCZWwVxsA-tGSIGzcbY3ygXit-pBT2t7gzvwAvxHl8ijwgeGNVLifGV_Hn9g4MS9txe1Uc-AjwSNQDmGCGsQ91b3HhmbOzXdweEpWZgsZ/s320/1+Dec+09+211.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a chaya or traditional teahouse</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-lVPzPR48Y_RBVOH9p8uwHzDUMndyFLg4W7CgKq5Q4AhU_dvVH3jDGHEwXNosQFGE4F5y0mufybjds1ae9hjIrSE1oQ688qdSWGE0nmUIC55PdKdiUhKjWFacDSyekWuy-1HZCZL2jw-/s1600/1+Dec+09+220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-lVPzPR48Y_RBVOH9p8uwHzDUMndyFLg4W7CgKq5Q4AhU_dvVH3jDGHEwXNosQFGE4F5y0mufybjds1ae9hjIrSE1oQ688qdSWGE0nmUIC55PdKdiUhKjWFacDSyekWuy-1HZCZL2jw-/s320/1+Dec+09+220.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu2gXAC5_qk5p1pIjj-wCVbYd7AjUfe1gujy4ocoe6S9bxtI8fXnCcLYLCQi0f_6Ny48wHURJsragkTczpP6fxrPVBHfblNnHcFfQTMXSr0pT1d-_ZFeN8cuADxyPohSHL4IBrTWfZNrN/s1600/1+Dec+09+231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu2gXAC5_qk5p1pIjj-wCVbYd7AjUfe1gujy4ocoe6S9bxtI8fXnCcLYLCQi0f_6Ny48wHURJsragkTczpP6fxrPVBHfblNnHcFfQTMXSr0pT1d-_ZFeN8cuADxyPohSHL4IBrTWfZNrN/s320/1+Dec+09+231.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoptw0xVe98X3cLU2P_bvxJMzFMp3j6seqKpNXnxvGZf-OZUQCmxsvNnI9i79Z7YvRBdqPd7x09YIJjJT8xYFndSLW4PkI6HuCEwazvoB4uTOOYEj51nSNeXylb4Kr10QClfZc4LtfxcI/s1600/1+Dec+09+239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoptw0xVe98X3cLU2P_bvxJMzFMp3j6seqKpNXnxvGZf-OZUQCmxsvNnI9i79Z7YvRBdqPd7x09YIJjJT8xYFndSLW4PkI6HuCEwazvoB4uTOOYEj51nSNeXylb4Kr10QClfZc4LtfxcI/s320/1+Dec+09+239.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kDlxeB4Ls6GxlaPrMUpV9Kfvw7HRzRRVjedp46bVhECwkgCsiA5KpmYwF0yTAwyPak5igMWwgq0eqMiVSAANe4TkdujrPeUPxWbofqiw7La2eKt5Mpq3Hc0mF1SG-PFcEjk1OM67AQEf/s1600/1+Dec+09+241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kDlxeB4Ls6GxlaPrMUpV9Kfvw7HRzRRVjedp46bVhECwkgCsiA5KpmYwF0yTAwyPak5igMWwgq0eqMiVSAANe4TkdujrPeUPxWbofqiw7La2eKt5Mpq3Hc0mF1SG-PFcEjk1OM67AQEf/s320/1+Dec+09+241.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtQVd5NHy98mwTn-QuoPseFtVi0qgMZZFb0DbqFU-Xuh1g2rsFi2Zgxj_b4SwnqDZparaPC3TJ116idQ_SXZYk8_NGMry7pCvTSvM_peNjeQTKGThaWABCaP_FlWAD_ti3oZrtnrgslgf/s1600/1+Dec+09+249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtQVd5NHy98mwTn-QuoPseFtVi0qgMZZFb0DbqFU-Xuh1g2rsFi2Zgxj_b4SwnqDZparaPC3TJ116idQ_SXZYk8_NGMry7pCvTSvM_peNjeQTKGThaWABCaP_FlWAD_ti3oZrtnrgslgf/s320/1+Dec+09+249.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim52NRGFJeQFHoMsX6EvAotUsJygrUtB1UB0yzOtcnDgu-IjJdlkcdo3yX9RdX0mZ5iboqmvfmJETUqISadTDILy-vsgaZC0n1sgpGDBDzGZDV8Wrlv_LtBfgZKdlPoV3qbKA2Rp7b8a4L/s1600/1+Dec+09+253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim52NRGFJeQFHoMsX6EvAotUsJygrUtB1UB0yzOtcnDgu-IjJdlkcdo3yX9RdX0mZ5iboqmvfmJETUqISadTDILy-vsgaZC0n1sgpGDBDzGZDV8Wrlv_LtBfgZKdlPoV3qbKA2Rp7b8a4L/s320/1+Dec+09+253.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsOkEi2ScJuHg0n-h6k0JDtQgA8cp_mHE2n3XN6peiK6Yzp1rvMuxp1_ieTc_9yn-l8GaBQD3yISrKqTp3-6RK_OeqAk3z444t7dfvcuzrsw3qPMHMxtjzWN2tWAqPrQm4tCNVyGsMr_q/s1600/1+Dec+09+260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsOkEi2ScJuHg0n-h6k0JDtQgA8cp_mHE2n3XN6peiK6Yzp1rvMuxp1_ieTc_9yn-l8GaBQD3yISrKqTp3-6RK_OeqAk3z444t7dfvcuzrsw3qPMHMxtjzWN2tWAqPrQm4tCNVyGsMr_q/s320/1+Dec+09+260.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR98jJP58EmgfDwfxgR-Sqww-R44njsJleRIeSC41G9xxdC4waBjkfT-RgcQS3WNwTzKpAGHifJXI3-Iz-5CTC5HHc2pOUPC8Hxb5Z69P6_2hWB7abWfbxC_o9oiqtS54oFitYotNN-M5/s1600/1+Dec+09+278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR98jJP58EmgfDwfxgR-Sqww-R44njsJleRIeSC41G9xxdC4waBjkfT-RgcQS3WNwTzKpAGHifJXI3-Iz-5CTC5HHc2pOUPC8Hxb5Z69P6_2hWB7abWfbxC_o9oiqtS54oFitYotNN-M5/s320/1+Dec+09+278.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBwPejQcpZJN5GONKTkL6mVmlsxONJ8DFFb4SvrzsuxwTs1PTMVZbHMPHfjlbc56tof2JZYFeLT7qr_spgX4T5iqhcrSy09P3pPm0ZZDLt3K_sHbBDBu1tQsy7a60_bJHEh7C-rryn7DB/s1600/1+Dec+09+286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBwPejQcpZJN5GONKTkL6mVmlsxONJ8DFFb4SvrzsuxwTs1PTMVZbHMPHfjlbc56tof2JZYFeLT7qr_spgX4T5iqhcrSy09P3pPm0ZZDLt3K_sHbBDBu1tQsy7a60_bJHEh7C-rryn7DB/s320/1+Dec+09+286.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG1Uxwr-QPqrybtEGox6Y3aKd5lnYfGWIiSSHE-hLU_TPxxKVhup30l-U8EyXXgFw-Edjb52666Tnh_y8qUWvQmMvpd3zM_6yTzHDyauv7GpAxKfgAEvGgHgM83SwaifV6mIzECkTnKlm/s1600/1+Dec+09+290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG1Uxwr-QPqrybtEGox6Y3aKd5lnYfGWIiSSHE-hLU_TPxxKVhup30l-U8EyXXgFw-Edjb52666Tnh_y8qUWvQmMvpd3zM_6yTzHDyauv7GpAxKfgAEvGgHgM83SwaifV6mIzECkTnKlm/s320/1+Dec+09+290.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbL6p-GUzgpjsRaDKiK-aBq3MGMb_GwCns0xh_iHII_9VVYshay9aR_OT6OsV5Y-N3PFMWELOhEdwGSEluEjQtHEM_pKeWg3kNpx4OmK88Dihaj9sFOJVHBcezRTaiPAjQa-FjwCvkn-Q/s1600/1+Dec+09+294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbL6p-GUzgpjsRaDKiK-aBq3MGMb_GwCns0xh_iHII_9VVYshay9aR_OT6OsV5Y-N3PFMWELOhEdwGSEluEjQtHEM_pKeWg3kNpx4OmK88Dihaj9sFOJVHBcezRTaiPAjQa-FjwCvkn-Q/s320/1+Dec+09+294.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F-MkU-ZLwOzrkHdwJMxOlcL44cwpcttbeuitYahQ1J51io2mTRw9BNPW20iGbquTKzEMHA7yw-4oe1H9dwRie83J2RTKvfQ_iyVyr729zoddndtFpkx5EGgvicVs1F0S51BdeJjCv83j/s1600/1+Dec+09+296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F-MkU-ZLwOzrkHdwJMxOlcL44cwpcttbeuitYahQ1J51io2mTRw9BNPW20iGbquTKzEMHA7yw-4oe1H9dwRie83J2RTKvfQ_iyVyr729zoddndtFpkx5EGgvicVs1F0S51BdeJjCv83j/s320/1+Dec+09+296.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Jmqw0fA7bEdluEhKwPfwN8Ek7QGtRA47QeDH2wKdPsjKrPsa7fkhXoFJqtfvo3jJy-OcZJZ8Z3RM25wHENJcvvmgTnXZO50eWmJv6n9aFpC6S4yiwoQhyphenhyphenfI0GcQXM9QarfsnWgswXyhd/s1600/1+Dec+09+301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Jmqw0fA7bEdluEhKwPfwN8Ek7QGtRA47QeDH2wKdPsjKrPsa7fkhXoFJqtfvo3jJy-OcZJZ8Z3RM25wHENJcvvmgTnXZO50eWmJv6n9aFpC6S4yiwoQhyphenhyphenfI0GcQXM9QarfsnWgswXyhd/s320/1+Dec+09+301.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVxl0QNoN_0KDx5f8h85LOeOJA7dCNNEqRfeUaVQvXRRdhZY-Hq_P2kV9i6GWh-2bSE2ezeeuNk5WoleENc-2r2USq7LYqD4jfDl0g6TST0j8daLLAFPTJyLY6RAjoLOG8W9jmv3HdHA7/s1600/1+Dec+09+310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVxl0QNoN_0KDx5f8h85LOeOJA7dCNNEqRfeUaVQvXRRdhZY-Hq_P2kV9i6GWh-2bSE2ezeeuNk5WoleENc-2r2USq7LYqD4jfDl0g6TST0j8daLLAFPTJyLY6RAjoLOG8W9jmv3HdHA7/s320/1+Dec+09+310.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dG_QsCYxabUvP4-H7YOqe55ZrgUb2fTwqYQyv23CKIH7KxQswZ4viCfKgL4vcAvQjiPpKnHmB9AB5aLnxhajhiOSxcD36jyWSasIjMJM2dppwOiTt98Fi7prX2u-EOTdbzIRulonpdIr/s1600/1+Dec+09+314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dG_QsCYxabUvP4-H7YOqe55ZrgUb2fTwqYQyv23CKIH7KxQswZ4viCfKgL4vcAvQjiPpKnHmB9AB5aLnxhajhiOSxcD36jyWSasIjMJM2dppwOiTt98Fi7prX2u-EOTdbzIRulonpdIr/s320/1+Dec+09+314.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not cherries</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHPXEZ5CLFpYE8aR0lEcNzDF1s9m_EgnKYromt7g9AxQS4qvOkL-FvDmapndeLVRvA_jFb0y2yKxZLrTZsrjGH6D21Pv5EMAvimgjJH9TWme9tG-KVGKcCYlBrQgu2tJ8HVh3QasxrdBc/s1600/1+Dec+09+317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHPXEZ5CLFpYE8aR0lEcNzDF1s9m_EgnKYromt7g9AxQS4qvOkL-FvDmapndeLVRvA_jFb0y2yKxZLrTZsrjGH6D21Pv5EMAvimgjJH9TWme9tG-KVGKcCYlBrQgu2tJ8HVh3QasxrdBc/s320/1+Dec+09+317.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">persimmon!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4azCHdtMX34m5zEAWuYZBsZ-zFjAjtilrYBjhVickScWXTyPZxTrN_6U1oKTy0y7b16a3bR86XMMYWQP95rCJnktofmGMm3N7U6PNiX8y7vMwGT3ePBOIZsOAtV9JrSVHPBDAGYWaop2Z/s1600/1+Dec+09+320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4azCHdtMX34m5zEAWuYZBsZ-zFjAjtilrYBjhVickScWXTyPZxTrN_6U1oKTy0y7b16a3bR86XMMYWQP95rCJnktofmGMm3N7U6PNiX8y7vMwGT3ePBOIZsOAtV9JrSVHPBDAGYWaop2Z/s320/1+Dec+09+320.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnM8KCazBZw-_kLux5XrWX1qqhNRfz2_Q1cJcle-xttqqFhwYuqle93TDJFj08NVIo2uwYcCtQyd_BepHnDmOHvCXS1JbNeOC-2ly71_lY02oWkG5ArxE3qG5xqlPxxwkdhrjZpGTuHFa/s1600/1+Dec+09+324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnM8KCazBZw-_kLux5XrWX1qqhNRfz2_Q1cJcle-xttqqFhwYuqle93TDJFj08NVIo2uwYcCtQyd_BepHnDmOHvCXS1JbNeOC-2ly71_lY02oWkG5ArxE3qG5xqlPxxwkdhrjZpGTuHFa/s320/1+Dec+09+324.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">good idea</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY2idoumJ_yRCjb-aohzpW_CrqSc2P_z_iSyDKyNY88fB-g7WzqSE40-dO-gFrFiwsAtek3jGrod0QwsZKMq2QzTOewM65uUKQ9jb8Dqfffv5jCSGJ3448fiiZB75eLAneUQdPhWNXZ2u/s1600/1+Dec+09+326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY2idoumJ_yRCjb-aohzpW_CrqSc2P_z_iSyDKyNY88fB-g7WzqSE40-dO-gFrFiwsAtek3jGrod0QwsZKMq2QzTOewM65uUKQ9jb8Dqfffv5jCSGJ3448fiiZB75eLAneUQdPhWNXZ2u/s320/1+Dec+09+326.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">good idea?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENzQnSjALAaDvgjzXp-MtxbdpbsLHD9A0xV0cnIEshhGOPoDBZAKWqp4Ww6LhNF3hilqEtzmP2ZHALPHXm1uEJcWARStSX6miX13P1hNxngHzwfe4eJnFuaJYplIIlzk83fZr92PaAFrQ/s1600/1+Dec+09+338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENzQnSjALAaDvgjzXp-MtxbdpbsLHD9A0xV0cnIEshhGOPoDBZAKWqp4Ww6LhNF3hilqEtzmP2ZHALPHXm1uEJcWARStSX6miX13P1hNxngHzwfe4eJnFuaJYplIIlzk83fZr92PaAFrQ/s320/1+Dec+09+338.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBDAAOuLxZJbVk5criZu9Yf5nzAsN0ALV2tCaVwFm5sXQM6_hNHC9K8CAPOZnYKrc-PkIBJ88H6FlDe_YNi16E_x5vytwntX_rVlZS1kKUQLFdiIP_x-mNYoNMhXfsEO3feBU8_Kvzm2V/s1600/1+Dec+09+344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBDAAOuLxZJbVk5criZu9Yf5nzAsN0ALV2tCaVwFm5sXQM6_hNHC9K8CAPOZnYKrc-PkIBJ88H6FlDe_YNi16E_x5vytwntX_rVlZS1kKUQLFdiIP_x-mNYoNMhXfsEO3feBU8_Kvzm2V/s320/1+Dec+09+344.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jpwrGcmAsF4n_k2W3HXN-pJDe2RFx7LLb7DbxEhwYnELBNvL_vH_RYv0F5ZZE1qRkcrY5gyRP5enWVmaLVBUC3aK9b3wLUiOpgX5ZqueMPTdsLKiXPAc9yS4R2EIMEwOJ56cnwuDr7iM/s1600/1+Dec+09+345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jpwrGcmAsF4n_k2W3HXN-pJDe2RFx7LLb7DbxEhwYnELBNvL_vH_RYv0F5ZZE1qRkcrY5gyRP5enWVmaLVBUC3aK9b3wLUiOpgX5ZqueMPTdsLKiXPAc9yS4R2EIMEwOJ56cnwuDr7iM/s320/1+Dec+09+345.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">duckies!</div><br />
As we meandered our way out of Nara Park, we passed by...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_FL_nvl3vX05XyXLZ73otCSyFqN4cZQVCW8sYNyOkLONtFHfqFof7RQm4vLYIIhahuf_Evf6EfJRhfnX6s5h9GttZFevqtnDzaAcrzflREehImz4RwOK0ixzCsA0EyNbhS7piOm-7WQD/s1600/1+Dec+09+371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_FL_nvl3vX05XyXLZ73otCSyFqN4cZQVCW8sYNyOkLONtFHfqFof7RQm4vLYIIhahuf_Evf6EfJRhfnX6s5h9GttZFevqtnDzaAcrzflREehImz4RwOK0ixzCsA0EyNbhS7piOm-7WQD/s320/1+Dec+09+371.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... the Nara National Museum</div><br />
It was too nice a day to be indoors - we were enjoying the gentle sunlight and bracing air far too much to want to tour the museum.<br />
<br />
The last stop on our Nara Park tour was another World Heritage site, the Buddhist temple, Kofukuji.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNMtHmzH02uPovhJULxq_vGCzZ3rEsgWljproe-4aowiyiLIgYnuzYgjFe3c81LhxG_o703BRb6W_ATvF6cSzu4eNen7OQAp_sZRspVDcxkLa81q2oigKiz8okhQqjdrg0Ean81FLMvyb/s1600/1+Dec+09+374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNMtHmzH02uPovhJULxq_vGCzZ3rEsgWljproe-4aowiyiLIgYnuzYgjFe3c81LhxG_o703BRb6W_ATvF6cSzu4eNen7OQAp_sZRspVDcxkLa81q2oigKiz8okhQqjdrg0Ean81FLMvyb/s320/1+Dec+09+374.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tokondo (East Golden Hall)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZp46hfMMg0nnbBWOjvSRZJSZuBbA1BtmFWs0LWiHJGOGb13MLyF-dhAOtjwNucupj91ncMtXhNiYMcdf180Jh1762veEz75ViemulKklfpZU9d3SsuZkvKyzC5QdqP-MaVWM_F11ivcqH/s1600/1+Dec+09+423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZp46hfMMg0nnbBWOjvSRZJSZuBbA1BtmFWs0LWiHJGOGb13MLyF-dhAOtjwNucupj91ncMtXhNiYMcdf180Jh1762veEz75ViemulKklfpZU9d3SsuZkvKyzC5QdqP-MaVWM_F11ivcqH/s320/1+Dec+09+423.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tokondo (East Golden Hall)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVH2XWxRb5Fw36MaHlloGjm-Tr_dtjl-2lo8J8NTdPiKwhxPWrpRMmH3BklQzPRb9IDf2_ydRDvgQKZ5DrUzNqN9UiRGHpU2REMr2DGFquOvk3jWK4loOCt1Dv7fxzcYFM2wnXNe6e0uy/s1600/1+Dec+09+378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVH2XWxRb5Fw36MaHlloGjm-Tr_dtjl-2lo8J8NTdPiKwhxPWrpRMmH3BklQzPRb9IDf2_ydRDvgQKZ5DrUzNqN9UiRGHpU2REMr2DGFquOvk3jWK4loOCt1Dv7fxzcYFM2wnXNe6e0uy/s320/1+Dec+09+378.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gojū-no-tō (Five-Storied Pagoda)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIBY4FMrI104mhyphenhyphenRZZHLXuBSRCI0cIALBI24mBDh3FWMXBOXTIFQAs3lQhg2nQROT3kRqcQ90RBYq50mJlwlz_LV_04Z2Ceq3p1hNbL1Lxv3bi5lv-c5KPoiTH5om6E1nLoXHlOJPdTql/s1600/1+Dec+09+386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIBY4FMrI104mhyphenhyphenRZZHLXuBSRCI0cIALBI24mBDh3FWMXBOXTIFQAs3lQhg2nQROT3kRqcQ90RBYq50mJlwlz_LV_04Z2Ceq3p1hNbL1Lxv3bi5lv-c5KPoiTH5om6E1nLoXHlOJPdTql/s320/1+Dec+09+386.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nan-en-do (South Octagonal Hall)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXOZSdxGLktsBzagdyTHH9BzYNI7npFNaTcYeLr-QM5CJnYzghIq73yKBVhJ9n9rYVIDNEWgi_6iXUFliD9KOXSLgAdURWCkJYMZ2MfMO_eBMvZHh9jxnVMWxXBWrV5h5xQArdYGc7CgC/s1600/1+Dec+09+389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXOZSdxGLktsBzagdyTHH9BzYNI7npFNaTcYeLr-QM5CJnYzghIq73yKBVhJ9n9rYVIDNEWgi_6iXUFliD9KOXSLgAdURWCkJYMZ2MfMO_eBMvZHh9jxnVMWxXBWrV5h5xQArdYGc7CgC/s320/1+Dec+09+389.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nan-en-do (South Octagonal Hall)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq6mkvfXFX541seHV1A7kwbHqSxa1rHb84_8PGrkpHdtfZ3-9lj5keJ0g-ewo9XrnZhRjnU0brLiXp-1ef5zWmd6stmG6AYqfE8amM7j-uF2eHHyB8EFawRep3ewuzSxWYzaM0CQwwyqK/s1600/1+Dec+09+433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq6mkvfXFX541seHV1A7kwbHqSxa1rHb84_8PGrkpHdtfZ3-9lj5keJ0g-ewo9XrnZhRjnU0brLiXp-1ef5zWmd6stmG6AYqfE8amM7j-uF2eHHyB8EFawRep3ewuzSxWYzaM0CQwwyqK/s320/1+Dec+09+433.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nan-en-do (South Octagonal Hall)</div><br />
In the soft sunlight, the temple buildings were resplendent. We hung around the temple grounds, munching on some...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I8sQvbj5j8aZ4ycUaQF8Pjakeu6woMjJNhdwP8bR3BDt1NK0Y6Znmi_wbTlF8FLAxbqGbRcu85K6wjYDm3fJ1LZePj68bgnOt0JOMxjtRvUtl3UFYkjrlNCuZO9zQS_gX-qKCLsnZUn4/s1600/1+Dec+09+382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I8sQvbj5j8aZ4ycUaQF8Pjakeu6woMjJNhdwP8bR3BDt1NK0Y6Znmi_wbTlF8FLAxbqGbRcu85K6wjYDm3fJ1LZePj68bgnOt0JOMxjtRvUtl3UFYkjrlNCuZO9zQS_gX-qKCLsnZUn4/s320/1+Dec+09+382.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... dried persimmon, bought from a shop at the temple</div><br />
Persimmon, or <i>kaki</i>, the lady running the shop told us, was Nara's signature fruit. In the meantime, there was lots to observe...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDMA-oGIyLZYOxlG7hB58eiY0IJ2pHfpwQAKNv6mxnYvhOjD216ZMuKBenDCiWdATQ9NEpR4_welhAKkjZUlnp1xfNradldFB8hyphenhyphencfVrtpzwE3AGXmykZfE2RT5Z-5YgT087fwkBe7YFl/s1600/1+Dec+09+397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDMA-oGIyLZYOxlG7hB58eiY0IJ2pHfpwQAKNv6mxnYvhOjD216ZMuKBenDCiWdATQ9NEpR4_welhAKkjZUlnp1xfNradldFB8hyphenhyphencfVrtpzwE3AGXmykZfE2RT5Z-5YgT087fwkBe7YFl/s320/1+Dec+09+397.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">priestly duties</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZFEHz866zKWd-thD6j3RWE_CVc3ydBKAMs3el1GNVjSbslmVlIJBkyePq4LSJ1ztZVXyWJS-hHbsTH6Bnjmh9pwRqTgqvsY_kERdaCfkGlWyq1dps5ei6peSYXl_9w1SH8xTMtlTNT64/s1600/1+Dec+09+425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZFEHz866zKWd-thD6j3RWE_CVc3ydBKAMs3el1GNVjSbslmVlIJBkyePq4LSJ1ztZVXyWJS-hHbsTH6Bnjmh9pwRqTgqvsY_kERdaCfkGlWyq1dps5ei6peSYXl_9w1SH8xTMtlTNT64/s320/1+Dec+09+425.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">trendy worshippers</div><br />
Eventually, we were done in by our sore feet and tired legs. It was time to head to our accommodation for the night, the Nara Park Hotel. We had every intention of experiencing a traditional ryokan on this trip but the rates for traditional ryokan in the vicinity of Nara Park were exorbitant. The more reasonably priced Nara Park Hotel sounded like good value for money, so for the first ryokan of our trip, it would have to do.<br />
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From Nara Park, we hailed a passing cab and found ourselves at the doorstep of a hotel situated next to a highway. The staff at reception were professional, though not exactly fluent in English. Check-in was quick and easy. After that, our room attendant, Kumiko-san, showed us to our room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzbT0dVvbHVPnaF1l360veOzXUWECZPpmxTsLxUdSbBmqLNEJtZxfRoAxzn9ISGScKaq_ZZHg9KFJts6SHIIsxtxtIgb6A461yQ9T1da9qgjtQwUIk1A7Mn834ZfHDbkeU-NMzsZplntP/s1600/1+Dec+09+439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzbT0dVvbHVPnaF1l360veOzXUWECZPpmxTsLxUdSbBmqLNEJtZxfRoAxzn9ISGScKaq_ZZHg9KFJts6SHIIsxtxtIgb6A461yQ9T1da9qgjtQwUIk1A7Mn834ZfHDbkeU-NMzsZplntP/s320/1+Dec+09+439.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our room</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NmTK8qdt8Ka3epsrn3XZYTy3eSe2D7Ym1xfBtirFqtAhtEpPBFqHi1HChCxnMLy_pR4FeZ6vrg9DyUSikQ8qsf2pwM0IO225uLp9hBim1y9ScRCNImrvX00hn8yb0h4UJ0_mkKxHcumf/s1600/1+Dec+09+443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NmTK8qdt8Ka3epsrn3XZYTy3eSe2D7Ym1xfBtirFqtAhtEpPBFqHi1HChCxnMLy_pR4FeZ6vrg9DyUSikQ8qsf2pwM0IO225uLp9hBim1y9ScRCNImrvX00hn8yb0h4UJ0_mkKxHcumf/s320/1+Dec+09+443.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in-room tea set</div><br />
Much like a Ritz Carlton butler, Kumiko's job was to explain to us what to do and where to go which she did promptly and cheerfully. We were thrilled to find out that dinner would be in our room. Finally, a Japan Hour kaiseki dinner in our room! Then she left us to enjoy our room and the baths.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVz0veWlOTB_WYrmYvGB8l-ASNCWbm2-HNFbrVoRXVgKU-FJ4blBOrTotfjY-Qsy-2I6-a_f_5xcjUMkeGrIxtYPApt2XbnMxvqFnDZJ7tGJNLyEJ-a0VgjwNNkXB4cavWSsypwuVUtyP/s1600/1+Dec+09+444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVz0veWlOTB_WYrmYvGB8l-ASNCWbm2-HNFbrVoRXVgKU-FJ4blBOrTotfjY-Qsy-2I6-a_f_5xcjUMkeGrIxtYPApt2XbnMxvqFnDZJ7tGJNLyEJ-a0VgjwNNkXB4cavWSsypwuVUtyP/s320/1+Dec+09+444.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sunset already?!</div><br />
This was our first experience of winter. By 5, it was all dark outside. We had luxuriated in the baths and were all ready for our first in-room dinner.<br />
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At 6, Kumiko appeared with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoK0QocUgZjdLiEyUd5fj1621PmF-GI1l2u1Ev7NTkUVPGH4zxJqKodlh6_5SGKaTIH5saZjS3dtDOeaYFaW2bFTPnvx9vk1Tf-2oG_2IhdtuTJmNj8cBIhvJWmIzy83KpwYgcDgU-ndY/s1600/1+Dec+09+449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoK0QocUgZjdLiEyUd5fj1621PmF-GI1l2u1Ev7NTkUVPGH4zxJqKodlh6_5SGKaTIH5saZjS3dtDOeaYFaW2bFTPnvx9vk1Tf-2oG_2IhdtuTJmNj8cBIhvJWmIzy83KpwYgcDgU-ndY/s320/1+Dec+09+449.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the whole spread</div><br />
We sat on the floor, in our yukatas, sitting carefully so as not to not flash anyone inadvertently. We didn't know where to start at first - it was all so beautifully presented - but start we did, with Kumiko popping by every now and then to explain various things. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAYnGziZK97CjjT_69wlyWiPIgpU0wlvlI1mPkbEqg1FhW4kJVI5tWvlRonjKNJAxhqu57qcjGwi4dMPZaVb18VKvAxgwGRVoxB3WNozQRoADmCOvhdhYSrRoZO8GENC6Zs2u0zhIzPfN/s1600/1+Dec+09+453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAYnGziZK97CjjT_69wlyWiPIgpU0wlvlI1mPkbEqg1FhW4kJVI5tWvlRonjKNJAxhqu57qcjGwi4dMPZaVb18VKvAxgwGRVoxB3WNozQRoADmCOvhdhYSrRoZO8GENC6Zs2u0zhIzPfN/s320/1+Dec+09+453.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">appetisers - regional flavours for the season</div><br />
The appetisers included a kind of Japanese "cheese" (something made from milk as far as we could tell) and various aspic-like concoctions with Japanese flavours such as shiso. Interesting!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33ew9rTAOOIWzCe5RIHG9M2JMDLNSsemnPqi-NCs9WpsTfCR1twtdQCcXwINlzFKwU2UjZHd5eBly1MMBGNx0pdjxYkRX0XgxOzdPNJC_3JRVlNXcIVZvFAE6ZjPVUj385hDVGtdLwx38/s1600/1+Dec+09+457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33ew9rTAOOIWzCe5RIHG9M2JMDLNSsemnPqi-NCs9WpsTfCR1twtdQCcXwINlzFKwU2UjZHd5eBly1MMBGNx0pdjxYkRX0XgxOzdPNJC_3JRVlNXcIVZvFAE6ZjPVUj385hDVGtdLwx38/s320/1+Dec+09+457.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for the paper <i>nabe</i> or hot pot</div><br />
The fish for the hot pot was <i>anko</i> fish or angler fish, a traditional winter delicacy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnC0cihIXjSCF3PlR3e5xgxgHisNQpX_9VLiD3R6Ju0Yu9jKidgt6q6UCqjXXzxXprGcDVxuzwznqBvMtzrrBzTQ-ZUNNhIeOnWp4xvjHLUMjXGoU47G88YIy66RhamQDxrzKWHzorKEF/s1600/1+Dec+09+455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnC0cihIXjSCF3PlR3e5xgxgHisNQpX_9VLiD3R6Ju0Yu9jKidgt6q6UCqjXXzxXprGcDVxuzwznqBvMtzrrBzTQ-ZUNNhIeOnWp4xvjHLUMjXGoU47G88YIy66RhamQDxrzKWHzorKEF/s320/1+Dec+09+455.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sashimi moriawase</div><br />
The sashimi was delicious. My favourite was the <i>ika</i> roll, oh so sweet squid rolled with seaweed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqvvASfAJqufZVczkyWcwk6H8grL3zQ_oYG7na34VkBVeEJMx6Vxo_IuQ8TFSwbhBf1ABwDD9J0W4A4gjPqkEE6IWtydxoEBD6cKSB7r-uY8gbvz743y-KJuf0MlWV4Q2b-NKFxAhLiYR/s1600/1+Dec+09+458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqvvASfAJqufZVczkyWcwk6H8grL3zQ_oYG7na34VkBVeEJMx6Vxo_IuQ8TFSwbhBf1ABwDD9J0W4A4gjPqkEE6IWtydxoEBD6cKSB7r-uY8gbvz743y-KJuf0MlWV4Q2b-NKFxAhLiYR/s320/1+Dec+09+458.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">clear soup</div><br />
There were two kinds of soup - first, a dashi-based clear soup.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzUjWtEtzw3loQ1CVYOrAPRlkdN09dO2J863nukNEtSum0K1tyamwcrNnjPyHmv6uAQH_GY2KAATEs0t18twt1seTbJj36H_6bq849Y5Z9IIuZeA0LlRcv2Y6n3CPhyY2uA1h7qjvrXEb/s1600/1+Dec+09+461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzUjWtEtzw3loQ1CVYOrAPRlkdN09dO2J863nukNEtSum0K1tyamwcrNnjPyHmv6uAQH_GY2KAATEs0t18twt1seTbJj36H_6bq849Y5Z9IIuZeA0LlRcv2Y6n3CPhyY2uA1h7qjvrXEb/s320/1+Dec+09+461.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">guess what this is</div><br />
We found this exceptionally delicious but could not quite figure out what it was. It was some kind of vegetable that had been stewed with miso. Kumiko came to the rescue. It was <i>kaki</i>, she said, fumbling to find the English word for it. Persimmon, Nara's signature fruit! She was most pleased to find out that we knew exactly what <i>kaki</i> was. (Incidentally, <i>kaki</i> is also the Japanese word for oyster, another winter delicacy. How confusing...)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WUth8YdOPZ8Y4yGpmuyHVbooN4UKJwhBtC8oDClpz2xnJpAz4Z7kn0Pj-4baDvXzjsv6Z1jkxXskhCMO_jf0EjcI1vOB8Q0SbrVMC8DIz_HwAoXRHhqOVqS7yrHQCOaKpPlLmr8I3d5V/s1600/1+Dec+09+465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WUth8YdOPZ8Y4yGpmuyHVbooN4UKJwhBtC8oDClpz2xnJpAz4Z7kn0Pj-4baDvXzjsv6Z1jkxXskhCMO_jf0EjcI1vOB8Q0SbrVMC8DIz_HwAoXRHhqOVqS7yrHQCOaKpPlLmr8I3d5V/s320/1+Dec+09+465.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tempura</div><br />
The tempura was served, not with a dipping sauce, but with flavoured salt. Nice!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6ONfhLzIxPvG3zOMWgNfjeF0MZ2Er1r6iKfc69cPax_iSBakS0k-auH1CshHH-QUVQKIMmhbRkuN6AkBkf4YI3MO7RD8JOlVgXgswLgrafutnCtD5_Al_Snn4IrV8nezECuRAG1c7spD/s1600/1+Dec+09+467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6ONfhLzIxPvG3zOMWgNfjeF0MZ2Er1r6iKfc69cPax_iSBakS0k-auH1CshHH-QUVQKIMmhbRkuN6AkBkf4YI3MO7RD8JOlVgXgswLgrafutnCtD5_Al_Snn4IrV8nezECuRAG1c7spD/s320/1+Dec+09+467.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kansai beef</div><br />
Kansai, most notably Kobe, is famous for its beef. Kobe beef this was not, but it was good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGrBOIStN4Wb8W776qmj6scWGMjwB06SmWCM78TWyOg6Z5fOAHVZcymEaopM29c005H61Kx07KE9BEGc8ZH4tNQgOzYvFpJIT5ZB3KqMMWf0SGK8FyC6kvvb2qrSdf6B06FDTq_85enfl/s1600/1+Dec+09+469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGrBOIStN4Wb8W776qmj6scWGMjwB06SmWCM78TWyOg6Z5fOAHVZcymEaopM29c005H61Kx07KE9BEGc8ZH4tNQgOzYvFpJIT5ZB3KqMMWf0SGK8FyC6kvvb2qrSdf6B06FDTq_85enfl/s320/1+Dec+09+469.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pickles, to be eaten with rice</div><br />
According to Kumiko, Nara and Kyoto are famous throughout Japan for their pickles. HM loves pickles in any form but I am sometimes wary of the tarter ones. These were great - more mellow, not so tart.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dQHWIF9OFRJxmj4OM23m_o6rXoYRAkg5e9hd9uf8mZq6Z6ymyApQ4Gr35HHaHnTeoaGREFKW6D_-ObRFwCX42EC9rQbJhtncolDCH4puXRS02_utsB7ZPQNyFMKIjlCvjOY71xZ7sBtC/s1600/1+Dec+09+472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dQHWIF9OFRJxmj4OM23m_o6rXoYRAkg5e9hd9uf8mZq6Z6ymyApQ4Gr35HHaHnTeoaGREFKW6D_-ObRFwCX42EC9rQbJhtncolDCH4puXRS02_utsB7ZPQNyFMKIjlCvjOY71xZ7sBtC/s320/1+Dec+09+472.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">miso soup with yuba</div><br />
Even the miso soup was typically Kyoto. It was made with red miso, not white, and yuba, the soft beancurd skin that is ubiquitous in Kyoto cuisine, was added.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbz3socVA4ElNjCb_s1bIIYPkW4Q7KwrKys5FAMSWzWax8F_MwmOF83WtlezthM4gPl0ZYtth_ShTHI_vr0UEQPXTaNqEkbSZNNsYVf3TMM3gwN9-TeCGpPAyygvtXJYZqDnzRnowjlPK/s1600/1+Dec+09+474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbz3socVA4ElNjCb_s1bIIYPkW4Q7KwrKys5FAMSWzWax8F_MwmOF83WtlezthM4gPl0ZYtth_ShTHI_vr0UEQPXTaNqEkbSZNNsYVf3TMM3gwN9-TeCGpPAyygvtXJYZqDnzRnowjlPK/s320/1+Dec+09+474.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kusa mochi, served with kinako or soy bean powder</div><br />
Dessert came in two parts. First, we had kusa mochi, flavoured with the Japanese ingredient, mugwort. Then we had some fruit:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PI6NmhXSHMKQvQRWbRQYK6GphyphenhyphenARR3w5R1NSSvLCiQ7qQD3ZwsnibQ61WnrqTAMdCrzj8zjCgzpQzEbw1RTvsZqdV77OhKe-Z-Afcdn4wYLJtHGxdnQ4bBEGxhH6vbo1aw_MRL7dFAYe/s1600/1+Dec+09+475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PI6NmhXSHMKQvQRWbRQYK6GphyphenhyphenARR3w5R1NSSvLCiQ7qQD3ZwsnibQ61WnrqTAMdCrzj8zjCgzpQzEbw1RTvsZqdV77OhKe-Z-Afcdn4wYLJtHGxdnQ4bBEGxhH6vbo1aw_MRL7dFAYe/s320/1+Dec+09+475.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Japanese pear and orange</div><br />
That was a big meal. We sat back, stuffed. It was impossible to sleep so soon after a meal like that. Instead, we sat by our window, playing with a set of tangrams (badly, I must add) that the hotel had kindly provided and sipping tea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0046Hi6m-fhjcytiH1gozX6UoQfaRZmB4XF6Y-t40EBL20f7HFAT4eQe7gUNF4ifCHMVDnN_mDwMZTh-ux0q04v51tC1vWdgxpgBiiUcVptjzK9LbsJyuvgTgV-dOnyiqTDbysbf4HnQd/s1600/1+Dec+09+476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0046Hi6m-fhjcytiH1gozX6UoQfaRZmB4XF6Y-t40EBL20f7HFAT4eQe7gUNF4ifCHMVDnN_mDwMZTh-ux0q04v51tC1vWdgxpgBiiUcVptjzK9LbsJyuvgTgV-dOnyiqTDbysbf4HnQd/s320/1+Dec+09+476.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tangrams</div><br />
In the meantime, Kumiko and colleagues cleared our room and prepared our futons.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSVfA9Xue25EjPC1w0toT6b2zyqpyQWLtyK9AG8T6Hm_x2uukCPIRMmvvWPc6GxKVXKH-G9TEcfB4HGd-nt0kBkiiQ2KO8gvswbV4keHygNPuYU0DVcg9Qf5u2-ijWUocFMBvWd1K3RlC/s1600/1+Dec+09+479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSVfA9Xue25EjPC1w0toT6b2zyqpyQWLtyK9AG8T6Hm_x2uukCPIRMmvvWPc6GxKVXKH-G9TEcfB4HGd-nt0kBkiiQ2KO8gvswbV4keHygNPuYU0DVcg9Qf5u2-ijWUocFMBvWd1K3RlC/s320/1+Dec+09+479.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all ready for bed</div><br />
It had been a long day with many new experiences. Traditional Japan was exotic, a far cry from our usual reality. We really felt like we had travelled in time and space. We went to sleep looking forward to Day 2.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363178795171617301.post-66502019749437389752009-12-14T07:19:00.000-08:002010-05-15T10:31:41.275-07:00Day 2: Kyoto KoanThere's nothing like a warm snuggly futon for a good night's sleep. We woke up, refreshed and in time for breakfast. Unlike dinner, breakfast would be served at the restaurant downstairs. But first we pondered - should we not wear our yukatas downstairs? Weren't yukatas expected to be worn everywhere in a ryokan? Which was worse - being dressed in our street clothes while others were dressed in yukatas, or the reverse? After some handwringing, we took a deep breath and just went with the former. Surely, as foreigners, we would be forgiven for any faux pas...<br />
<br />
Downstairs, we were relieved to find that, while some of our fellow guests were indeed dressed in their yukatas, others were, like us, dressed in their street clothes. We surmised that it wasn't de rigueur in ryokan hotels, unlike traditional ryokans. What was traditional though was the breakfast.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOX9EQsUiRicKsSuqaP2wZdnexdatgjRX75QLRm0-guXYnOThrs6fp_b1Pt7pCIS45xtmSzxKnoEJW7QQq_SaKm-kpG6dBNPP_DzDct_1SanWJqry7OfqR2w4XwGkbPVkQc-k9oWRdCIP/s1600/2+Dec+09+286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOX9EQsUiRicKsSuqaP2wZdnexdatgjRX75QLRm0-guXYnOThrs6fp_b1Pt7pCIS45xtmSzxKnoEJW7QQq_SaKm-kpG6dBNPP_DzDct_1SanWJqry7OfqR2w4XwGkbPVkQc-k9oWRdCIP/s320/2+Dec+09+286.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the ultimate Big Breakfast</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kn60OVBOhTvUFySpvyerngNQnonc5vMMS_0n8SI7jBGq6cO3vSg3EnUJEH-DjqtiseOY2hJNim9hHwWHkdWcUoddpyqHc-TNNaRhpia6BOs1JXEffmXCv6LmVl-Xj63UmUSsYMWbO4aT/s1600/2+Dec+09+288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kn60OVBOhTvUFySpvyerngNQnonc5vMMS_0n8SI7jBGq6cO3vSg3EnUJEH-DjqtiseOY2hJNim9hHwWHkdWcUoddpyqHc-TNNaRhpia6BOs1JXEffmXCv6LmVl-Xj63UmUSsYMWbO4aT/s320/2+Dec+09+288.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tofu, for sure</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b9m6VaUrRzeOpvcJvdNrmSwtz1aIZ-eXOT_uTtWGKjZcZyIa0o6qD-lPno2i934hXSwVzTnpba0EFG5W1dhzBUky9Pu5J4Xv0rcbU3B-vjpRNTKSmkgydtMGXWIz7nusMOv03YggD7OI/s1600/2+Dec+09+290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b9m6VaUrRzeOpvcJvdNrmSwtz1aIZ-eXOT_uTtWGKjZcZyIa0o6qD-lPno2i934hXSwVzTnpba0EFG5W1dhzBUky9Pu5J4Xv0rcbU3B-vjpRNTKSmkgydtMGXWIz7nusMOv03YggD7OI/s320/2+Dec+09+290.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a dashi-based soup</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkSV7fW2zhCrqMFlOtHeAtSDx5gGGYVGP8hfdMgGE09GuluR-l3Otsdqrt9ExLjcAYCGW3I2lg-sVyQvdD8vIGSggxpQQyYaHSHAEokatJuWy3g1xHsLmgzAKp3XQJWqDccTjrs4MizzL/s1600/2+Dec+09+292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkSV7fW2zhCrqMFlOtHeAtSDx5gGGYVGP8hfdMgGE09GuluR-l3Otsdqrt9ExLjcAYCGW3I2lg-sVyQvdD8vIGSggxpQQyYaHSHAEokatJuWy3g1xHsLmgzAKp3XQJWqDccTjrs4MizzL/s320/2+Dec+09+292.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">something different - brown rice porridge garnished with rice crackers</div><br />
After breakfast, we ventured down to the basement for one last bath. On the way there, we were most bemused to see people dressed up in period costumes. Was this some kind of cosplay convention? Some of the participants looked a fair bit older than the usual cosplayer...<br />
<br />
On the way down to check out, we saw the "cosplayers" moving in and out of a function room. I put forth the theory that it was some kind of fair where the sales staff had to be in costume. We didn't get a chance to ask anyone just then; Kumiko-san came by to say goodbye while we were checking out.<br />
<br />
After that, we rushed onto the hotel's shuttle bus, with one other departing guest, to be ferried, to the Kintetsu Nara Station. Enroute though, the shuttle bus driver, having a chat with our fellow passenger, pointed out a film set... "Dorama..." he said in Japanese. Ah so, mystery solved - the "cosplayers" were in fact actors in some drama (get it?) and the hotel's function room was their green room.<br />
<br />
Our original plan had been to proceed to Kyoto in the morning. However, it had been such a pleasure exploring Nara the day before, we decided not to leave quite so soon, so from Kintetsu Nara Station, we first walked back to Nara Park.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCyUpu588BOma7y9FpF6w7I-D96y2QASF3Xxz2jfRCYvSQs8kqxLMYOKOP2KKHNTtRDF9lzVMz6XdXxeNJXzOqJHu-3s-d66duqn6yDjAOg8gTiI7oFwirQSNhUtiks-FmQI2THGL9qb6/s1600/2+Dec+09+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCyUpu588BOma7y9FpF6w7I-D96y2QASF3Xxz2jfRCYvSQs8kqxLMYOKOP2KKHNTtRDF9lzVMz6XdXxeNJXzOqJHu-3s-d66duqn6yDjAOg8gTiI7oFwirQSNhUtiks-FmQI2THGL9qb6/s320/2+Dec+09+005.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Oh what a bee-yoo-tee-ful morning..."</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxAmZjppXFVE91a7zMtYDQ_VReKt4_NdzEqLerrtKdsxF4JlWZuB7T1497iBRLW7GCAotZP-AIKIbUAp4Cf0Ld-zhWvlfG2x9l5tu8NWk3eIlyfM7mqHNXvHpeQSQX3mh8CbvFT4jL5QJ/s1600/2+Dec+09+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxAmZjppXFVE91a7zMtYDQ_VReKt4_NdzEqLerrtKdsxF4JlWZuB7T1497iBRLW7GCAotZP-AIKIbUAp4Cf0Ld-zhWvlfG2x9l5tu8NWk3eIlyfM7mqHNXvHpeQSQX3mh8CbvFT4jL5QJ/s320/2+Dec+09+007.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Oh what a bee-yoo-tee-ful day..."</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpHVO2N004gG6YfdrOl_v4RIRHEHU0QbvGEBDUfJqdHrLi6QkcJhJX7JTNz_7m7MdTeuRQG-5SfeuSjIhX4jU3-bF8VfDCAAX1aN0iDvcsFrzlxZsmAM6p1vRU2j6rePg9CmpheJZihn-/s1600/2+Dec+09+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpHVO2N004gG6YfdrOl_v4RIRHEHU0QbvGEBDUfJqdHrLi6QkcJhJX7JTNz_7m7MdTeuRQG-5SfeuSjIhX4jU3-bF8VfDCAAX1aN0iDvcsFrzlxZsmAM6p1vRU2j6rePg9CmpheJZihn-/s320/2+Dec+09+009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I have this wonderful feeling everything's going our way..."</div><br />
Naramachi was the area we had yet to venture into. Literally "Nara Town", it was where the old shophouses had been preserved. In the Nara period though, the entire area formed the grounds of one of Nara's most important temples then, the Gangoji Temple. Most of the temple complex had since disappeared, much of it burnt down in the preceding centuries, leaving just a few extant buildings.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHpIcKFMfWT0kOv0TbeYg_2repTN3zoMrMQy2Co2h2FzH8JIUNV9xb2ssnz7lfRfooHSdo9r6vimISsba2TzvBbViVim1LTzqH0DJ6YdYGu4GY2h1zloF6kC3JhrmItMKeOhteApLsR_C/s1600/2+Dec+09+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHpIcKFMfWT0kOv0TbeYg_2repTN3zoMrMQy2Co2h2FzH8JIUNV9xb2ssnz7lfRfooHSdo9r6vimISsba2TzvBbViVim1LTzqH0DJ6YdYGu4GY2h1zloF6kC3JhrmItMKeOhteApLsR_C/s320/2+Dec+09+011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">formerly a monk's dormitory, now a temple hall</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlgnK3nXJZzR7r82zsMFdiXHB9RzzOD75qFB50-Iwuke1DWA0nXUNYbwlEc3WohGrSOUPuocb9qPFVFZ5WmUsBP1rSAfuvB2BsEOhK0nvD2rG8hnvsnyZBWKGwP2v1E_XikZlgs3i38ce/s1600/2+Dec+09+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlgnK3nXJZzR7r82zsMFdiXHB9RzzOD75qFB50-Iwuke1DWA0nXUNYbwlEc3WohGrSOUPuocb9qPFVFZ5WmUsBP1rSAfuvB2BsEOhK0nvD2rG8hnvsnyZBWKGwP2v1E_XikZlgs3i38ce/s320/2+Dec+09+015.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the distinctive lattice work doors and white stucco walls</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHf3xOCmv6Hh-Azn8NVYFyZmSAKKx_VxdcAi4JCShE7LgZA4DPR4cPDzhilf1m1W_kAMqvVp3IVWnRfIvqizr3IySWZJFG5RejK-BJ1DTF_ssD_ikHOdNxWsToQNVJsDVKoDq8JPyg8-9/s1600/2+Dec+09+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHf3xOCmv6Hh-Azn8NVYFyZmSAKKx_VxdcAi4JCShE7LgZA4DPR4cPDzhilf1m1W_kAMqvVp3IVWnRfIvqizr3IySWZJFG5RejK-BJ1DTF_ssD_ikHOdNxWsToQNVJsDVKoDq8JPyg8-9/s320/2+Dec+09+018.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rows and rows of...</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQd0Y9bBTr9qCYtLJVu9_LYYR30GUQQ6z_Q6jtWTHDl4XBI8WOV4jscgMk1ND-JcGY8IDH5eeU8EzSfMQeMIK74AFbSEBjR8-DQ9D7lRQ5Qe4marbmvWX-XBhW9D_t8VbO5Tah1p1Z_tH/s1600/2+Dec+09+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQd0Y9bBTr9qCYtLJVu9_LYYR30GUQQ6z_Q6jtWTHDl4XBI8WOV4jscgMk1ND-JcGY8IDH5eeU8EzSfMQeMIK74AFbSEBjR8-DQ9D7lRQ5Qe4marbmvWX-XBhW9D_t8VbO5Tah1p1Z_tH/s320/2+Dec+09+019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">stone buddha images</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8qabImLGOwqANU0NfiCTBLWyjOUUDl90_FZu3NmhfwxG1B_KR9z06CcMYkTghJlvngNYKjfeY4DPDEmWdW6-oftzu4R6GQTyQJ4D29I-GMxhKCC8uOlmH2-H9Xow3uVA5NQ9BCV-UuPr/s1600/2+Dec+09+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8qabImLGOwqANU0NfiCTBLWyjOUUDl90_FZu3NmhfwxG1B_KR9z06CcMYkTghJlvngNYKjfeY4DPDEmWdW6-oftzu4R6GQTyQJ4D29I-GMxhKCC8uOlmH2-H9Xow3uVA5NQ9BCV-UuPr/s320/2+Dec+09+023.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">worn smooth with time</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy5z4pY5raEmsJgvlasyxLvCY3jwufOcApnTEFjU3rTlCEXomvphhgoMSXR8-RFMXBJdmVS774eNvsZoUeBvS9cvkHot3GOHQi6hISJdcov965cESY1agam1w5ykGSdGZ2gLPqzDpO7q8/s1600/2+Dec+09+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy5z4pY5raEmsJgvlasyxLvCY3jwufOcApnTEFjU3rTlCEXomvphhgoMSXR8-RFMXBJdmVS774eNvsZoUeBvS9cvkHot3GOHQi6hISJdcov965cESY1agam1w5ykGSdGZ2gLPqzDpO7q8/s320/2+Dec+09+025.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">memories & memorials</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9WxYPLsC-ikuc1g5v6Cj4NYA_GjrvDRteQpEgCi4wSeMpSZNF9TRQfTRgVZQZZ1Dvv_avUeKOcSGAQ7pitwdrgQCzaUgF_jn-cqm2lcuIr12Fr2SembPpLmO_5WeMDFqlwBfvH_DvxI9/s1600/2+Dec+09+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9WxYPLsC-ikuc1g5v6Cj4NYA_GjrvDRteQpEgCi4wSeMpSZNF9TRQfTRgVZQZZ1Dvv_avUeKOcSGAQ7pitwdrgQCzaUgF_jn-cqm2lcuIr12Fr2SembPpLmO_5WeMDFqlwBfvH_DvxI9/s320/2+Dec+09+027.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the original roof tiles (c. 13th century)</div><br />
The grounds may have been small, but they were picturesque.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasTvIE6TtDp0MLyHq5Q5-LxQyoAyN3I0PgGgcxnzss9eVfKFo5JaUNSTtqv9D5Oac1BcgY3uZPOrV94NT3kovJ33_r8yqPoG1OaSKfL2PUv4ZWZB0dj_1teq7AR2MPag6SWP1y_cJqpOw/s1600/2+Dec+09+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasTvIE6TtDp0MLyHq5Q5-LxQyoAyN3I0PgGgcxnzss9eVfKFo5JaUNSTtqv9D5Oac1BcgY3uZPOrV94NT3kovJ33_r8yqPoG1OaSKfL2PUv4ZWZB0dj_1teq7AR2MPag6SWP1y_cJqpOw/s320/2+Dec+09+013.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what kind of bird</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaNpC1sHZ2ZWRL8_wXePn8FlzApsqZc692gxCzxNTzS3qT_GGyUv4LDnLsM1zbN9jMNDEowF-wtRCTAT8tQsasAo9FwzoQJy4lV7Ls3VHONg-dTyLBwFYOJwBxSVSGfC_V-MJ_QsNlEZV/s1600/2+Dec+09+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaNpC1sHZ2ZWRL8_wXePn8FlzApsqZc692gxCzxNTzS3qT_GGyUv4LDnLsM1zbN9jMNDEowF-wtRCTAT8tQsasAo9FwzoQJy4lV7Ls3VHONg-dTyLBwFYOJwBxSVSGfC_V-MJ_QsNlEZV/s320/2+Dec+09+031.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">some kind of fruit</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguezHJJTWPRUniCjjAVWTqFsPxS3tTEgw72d_-iW-Glblh1AbyANRp34NwAWsFZMskcS-BTfomDQZ43QS_kfdgx6aAzy_kRS6EAeibl8CvzIONRL_B1L3VSkn12LqrMBVb1o9ZEn5SHGzE/s1600/2+Dec+09+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguezHJJTWPRUniCjjAVWTqFsPxS3tTEgw72d_-iW-Glblh1AbyANRp34NwAWsFZMskcS-BTfomDQZ43QS_kfdgx6aAzy_kRS6EAeibl8CvzIONRL_B1L3VSkn12LqrMBVb1o9ZEn5SHGzE/s320/2+Dec+09+033.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">flower</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkQarvVmiiHhUVXcKVNso6HkanRxqyrUlTqNMtm73BjPQ81-T2iL1i-g5UapDrBgT31KPysQH_U742ztPDTu6cSNFjGmWqNw3OXRFRh3Y40lVmaicW5IEFpJ5BaRjVg_h0j75gxm2Yd29/s1600/2+Dec+09+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkQarvVmiiHhUVXcKVNso6HkanRxqyrUlTqNMtm73BjPQ81-T2iL1i-g5UapDrBgT31KPysQH_U742ztPDTu6cSNFjGmWqNw3OXRFRh3Y40lVmaicW5IEFpJ5BaRjVg_h0j75gxm2Yd29/s320/2+Dec+09+035.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">flower</div><br />
The rest of Naramachi consisted of rows and rows of <i>machiya</i> or townhouses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudnUllt2XMF0iTvfkpIihz6WfO3NxeQLSINlCEfjZ4sHBDlD2yFmzYI-ZaXKZERIJl6vdW8msC6wnH7eh3uLrPHKlh86uenVAn-kfGR5or1YCb9JXxivCeyucphPcM4zBsuynyVKImWt1/s1600/2+Dec+09+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudnUllt2XMF0iTvfkpIihz6WfO3NxeQLSINlCEfjZ4sHBDlD2yFmzYI-ZaXKZERIJl6vdW8msC6wnH7eh3uLrPHKlh86uenVAn-kfGR5or1YCb9JXxivCeyucphPcM4zBsuynyVKImWt1/s320/2+Dec+09+038.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">converted into cafes and restaurants...</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqlYaOpcrZSBG0j0EjQeEp8nJeSUYwbqpf76PAGmPMiqSJ4iEb5cHmaSlhvZubZcZeUMb3noPahplK3ayEjiiC90RwC3RLxlQ8qrIuBBDipykJLe_Dptth0wUXUl50dTWGRDEkE1vwj9d/s1600/2+Dec+09+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqlYaOpcrZSBG0j0EjQeEp8nJeSUYwbqpf76PAGmPMiqSJ4iEb5cHmaSlhvZubZcZeUMb3noPahplK3ayEjiiC90RwC3RLxlQ8qrIuBBDipykJLe_Dptth0wUXUl50dTWGRDEkE1vwj9d/s320/2+Dec+09+049.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and shops</div><br />
Amidst the commercial enterprises were the museums like the Naramachi Shiryokan.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N0WRuW5Uqf5IY3O6_nkDgAJeMSd3c0tumt5VHIZC-uRY3B58dFVl9d2whP4twaavbI-jb-bqSuiiIuqLpIruxMvP8yvIu793td8Ofhw9XAaHUbC9jQ_IUGwQLiSwcG3MTf9zC2ZLA-eN/s1600/2+Dec+09+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N0WRuW5Uqf5IY3O6_nkDgAJeMSd3c0tumt5VHIZC-uRY3B58dFVl9d2whP4twaavbI-jb-bqSuiiIuqLpIruxMvP8yvIu793td8Ofhw9XAaHUbC9jQ_IUGwQLiSwcG3MTf9zC2ZLA-eN/s320/2+Dec+09+051.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a social history museum</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59JcqIxHip0Z4fXOTmA5K5WWTmLxkUZMgEQhnBDWbhHuRrNE9P9qhZtUnY0cR9YzwS0PUSdUzVlv3jg7xgiSIaMasV7luKHCaQA4pBV5QyZqVr_AvKPsOTUWQGjG9H16g0Nnz4dx7RoOg/s1600/2+Dec+09+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59JcqIxHip0Z4fXOTmA5K5WWTmLxkUZMgEQhnBDWbhHuRrNE9P9qhZtUnY0cR9YzwS0PUSdUzVlv3jg7xgiSIaMasV7luKHCaQA4pBV5QyZqVr_AvKPsOTUWQGjG9H16g0Nnz4dx7RoOg/s320/2+Dec+09+053.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">preserving artefacts such as these signboards</div><br />
Unfortunately a number of these institutions were only open on the weekends, so we had to content ourselves what was on the outside.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDg3e6kXa4zySG4KfaPajeYlsX8s_NoeaTQZ6YgnRVEV1NHHme5-vRYZ4OV-KxysfCfG4TZoYjPtFpdtirQJjjw_vEWq8acQAs8Ylh2q1wnCvzOTZEguW6hQKrvnOWVX170lSnhRUwFMop/s1600/2+Dec+09+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDg3e6kXa4zySG4KfaPajeYlsX8s_NoeaTQZ6YgnRVEV1NHHme5-vRYZ4OV-KxysfCfG4TZoYjPtFpdtirQJjjw_vEWq8acQAs8Ylh2q1wnCvzOTZEguW6hQKrvnOWVX170lSnhRUwFMop/s320/2+Dec+09+057.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">like these roots that were drying - were these decorative or therapeutic in function?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fbWEhfsGhKHE7W0GLVc5I7RPCPHkOqtqqT9TkxAWMrRgB2KTBFiHBl5guBPtx0xQjFYNEK4ukdhGbt6kp7Qw_Re0RW9KIEXbYGWsDDfKU3x1fkx_3djf0qPg2B7qPj3ylL6djJgBBM2q/s1600/2+Dec+09+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fbWEhfsGhKHE7W0GLVc5I7RPCPHkOqtqqT9TkxAWMrRgB2KTBFiHBl5guBPtx0xQjFYNEK4ukdhGbt6kp7Qw_Re0RW9KIEXbYGWsDDfKU3x1fkx_3djf0qPg2B7qPj3ylL6djJgBBM2q/s320/2+Dec+09+046.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">decorative & functional</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspD_fEMua4IOWZG5blXBnW78jNIeftM-DK8d1X-YhO2vyixNUS1So0BETCB-oDXc4LyQHYaa74O4RZfda8SSv2YwLdZD3-0ztpaoYWzmTmNhZLCn5VYYf4aWHfa95x4pG-WEs2K3LCKCK/s1600/2+Dec+09+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspD_fEMua4IOWZG5blXBnW78jNIeftM-DK8d1X-YhO2vyixNUS1So0BETCB-oDXc4LyQHYaa74O4RZfda8SSv2YwLdZD3-0ztpaoYWzmTmNhZLCn5VYYf4aWHfa95x4pG-WEs2K3LCKCK/s320/2+Dec+09+061.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">decorative but possibly functional</div><br />
Not everything was closed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoFAnD_TlaqNP7_C_N7rOFFKeV3_28KR4jYcVkWxGU71b8YLVup222CqeI3UsxRprlwwB8SvdKSr1ScxojQ9imAm8lCUofLNhZZ8N0Gzescim9Sy8Bea2RUSiWSDWqM1aLsFddEmK1StB/s1600/2+Dec+09+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoFAnD_TlaqNP7_C_N7rOFFKeV3_28KR4jYcVkWxGU71b8YLVup222CqeI3UsxRprlwwB8SvdKSr1ScxojQ9imAm8lCUofLNhZZ8N0Gzescim9Sy8Bea2RUSiWSDWqM1aLsFddEmK1StB/s320/2+Dec+09+064.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we did manage to catch some exhibitions</div><br />
And then there was the Naramachi Koshino-ie or Lattice House, a conserved machiya that was open to visitors.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfZASaz22D6nCaAGNlJ9Mx4YwpEnoDpsNIA_RYmZ5-4kqheABt3-K9GhgHBILTVgp9QfmlKy30SqIrlXYRi9mw07qJ2bsVuLsIqNAn8dLNfg4LVzU2yLxfzMpQohQ-m_J1l391iRLjxer/s1600/2+Dec+09+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfZASaz22D6nCaAGNlJ9Mx4YwpEnoDpsNIA_RYmZ5-4kqheABt3-K9GhgHBILTVgp9QfmlKy30SqIrlXYRi9mw07qJ2bsVuLsIqNAn8dLNfg4LVzU2yLxfzMpQohQ-m_J1l391iRLjxer/s320/2+Dec+09+067.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">view from downstairs</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4-mP5CNDPEFCFvwbuRkC1TCdwoNCFbY2nO19I230QfOQhCQvqd7rM73e7QAt7M42eAYLhmNyiR08KoI45C9RK_z4KuhQ5zv4Hmk6qZEwLTDDkbvzZviXUFGl1gmGJzmLHNHYwLeOyzfL/s1600/2+Dec+09+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4-mP5CNDPEFCFvwbuRkC1TCdwoNCFbY2nO19I230QfOQhCQvqd7rM73e7QAt7M42eAYLhmNyiR08KoI45C9RK_z4KuhQ5zv4Hmk6qZEwLTDDkbvzZviXUFGl1gmGJzmLHNHYwLeOyzfL/s320/2+Dec+09+068.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">view from upstairs</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrwa6sOn322ZpwRn3IzuUt-fHMOd0gZnW5yDUYEFxz648UbKg9Kus9wW5QPi1Xzeeu5L12o-tC1kCg9-8ww4sPqfxp5oPA4unLSQMQ-6vE10vJGh3xinMh_eza7V4GHG9aPfLr-El2OAG/s1600/2+Dec+09+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrwa6sOn322ZpwRn3IzuUt-fHMOd0gZnW5yDUYEFxz648UbKg9Kus9wW5QPi1Xzeeu5L12o-tC1kCg9-8ww4sPqfxp5oPA4unLSQMQ-6vE10vJGh3xinMh_eza7V4GHG9aPfLr-El2OAG/s320/2+Dec+09+074.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the kitchen</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5oGer-ISm4Yg0tRGeY8kTpz6PforNry8crJcCnobKwpv1wXboWlkO3oVcA-cyDYjYxnQ7wERCjhKFv08qC9CEXqs6VxgcGOLFQ6RNBNSxookbMW1u6vC3JZBpp84dNZkC0sOMEiABvzy/s1600/2+Dec+09+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5oGer-ISm4Yg0tRGeY8kTpz6PforNry8crJcCnobKwpv1wXboWlkO3oVcA-cyDYjYxnQ7wERCjhKFv08qC9CEXqs6VxgcGOLFQ6RNBNSxookbMW1u6vC3JZBpp84dNZkC0sOMEiABvzy/s320/2+Dec+09+076.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the eponymous latticework - note the ingenious pulley system for opening and closing windows</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2SGHxU8Nxig4Qp8Ep9mJ4wqVlgsVcMnLtSux5TYJ-bPdy9in6EZ8aifbDJbOLwLntQ8qr68b0HoI_TDhLPJQdW2-ylCCGZ2f5_vhl_XvWPgEpzgnImaTr_LeOgmljRxn3ettX7QOhmtk/s1600/2+Dec+09+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2SGHxU8Nxig4Qp8Ep9mJ4wqVlgsVcMnLtSux5TYJ-bPdy9in6EZ8aifbDJbOLwLntQ8qr68b0HoI_TDhLPJQdW2-ylCCGZ2f5_vhl_XvWPgEpzgnImaTr_LeOgmljRxn3ettX7QOhmtk/s320/2+Dec+09+079.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a local tourist</div><br />
By this time, our stomachs were rumbling. Kyoto would have to wait till after lunch.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-swTwqjHr4Sh7BY6oNH_SRaz1ybcXjPdLeS23vsWSbBtf5diPQisPs_rewg5EjuP6yTg_GNwu-kHo6Lunr6JKtcDxzuiQPhCztjPEv5144gP62ZVHHm3PfP3fXM7357UAHpjHBlBhvl2d/s1600/2+Dec+09+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-swTwqjHr4Sh7BY6oNH_SRaz1ybcXjPdLeS23vsWSbBtf5diPQisPs_rewg5EjuP6yTg_GNwu-kHo6Lunr6JKtcDxzuiQPhCztjPEv5144gP62ZVHHm3PfP3fXM7357UAHpjHBlBhvl2d/s320/2+Dec+09+091.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tempura Asuka - this restaurant caught our eye</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd0bLfbvQsBmQiFF1crmRYU5nRiZRFOM1nFDURiZlK3-svyLV2-IclqAQTMJo29BhvIXtXDk5c_X7oqAcLCVXtnX-yfqyjtHgBxECwfL1FsLNYmBHkfpvtp4KSrg9AaIolWaoVHoUY6q4/s1600/2+Dec+09+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd0bLfbvQsBmQiFF1crmRYU5nRiZRFOM1nFDURiZlK3-svyLV2-IclqAQTMJo29BhvIXtXDk5c_X7oqAcLCVXtnX-yfqyjtHgBxECwfL1FsLNYmBHkfpvtp4KSrg9AaIolWaoVHoUY6q4/s320/2+Dec+09+081.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">inside the restaurant</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv60CjbmOWXCw_4V1uebAjtq9c1x0ucPCobAHO0lRVGG4NXUM9JHG_JQkq3uuiCwLU8Sjj5Zs0vLauEe-sSJ18RnsiYjPdMF1pF6Us3yu6ESsydntXgMKl-mg7CokE-RkrSIZK3e5PFbe/s1600/2+Dec+09+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv60CjbmOWXCw_4V1uebAjtq9c1x0ucPCobAHO0lRVGG4NXUM9JHG_JQkq3uuiCwLU8Sjj5Zs0vLauEe-sSJ18RnsiYjPdMF1pF6Us3yu6ESsydntXgMKl-mg7CokE-RkrSIZK3e5PFbe/s320/2+Dec+09+083.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one of the sets we ordered - before</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8X15Oe_AYpVA0kNeNPUR0BexSxhLguxfvP0HDGvvQqYm3S2F-KBqsx7Bb0M-g4tVrp8EjSItf_KT253fnN_H3GA9eTDBs0zsw9ItzGoMJwdmgqAC6WfMhhsiZ1Jb6iHZ4XjJkuwEQWwF/s1600/2+Dec+09+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8X15Oe_AYpVA0kNeNPUR0BexSxhLguxfvP0HDGvvQqYm3S2F-KBqsx7Bb0M-g4tVrp8EjSItf_KT253fnN_H3GA9eTDBs0zsw9ItzGoMJwdmgqAC6WfMhhsiZ1Jb6iHZ4XjJkuwEQWwF/s320/2+Dec+09+085.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">after</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSIkKBaAcQKlC5eEFakxVbwEVGY9KU_8zmSFrru6BfHUqZE6ceLW7e0TA3pHXUl7fwvCSb5BAcC2pIjFWrgYTVpfu7jFvbGoi9A2HS7CYZM8V1TWlw_-TO0TaCbx-VpURipvnV2gHJTpk/s1600/2+Dec+09+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSIkKBaAcQKlC5eEFakxVbwEVGY9KU_8zmSFrru6BfHUqZE6ceLW7e0TA3pHXUl7fwvCSb5BAcC2pIjFWrgYTVpfu7jFvbGoi9A2HS7CYZM8V1TWlw_-TO0TaCbx-VpURipvnV2gHJTpk/s320/2+Dec+09+087.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what was inside the bento box</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_K17P4k5VX9QoOZWUgwRTbZoKgIvhCgXJ5_pGXQLVCK-qI63mj6pvNPLB0OBslzS71F_IkISPCPf_LfQzZvipAVwrcS6Z-JxKB-5h21IQuGQndlKbkM0KhhVn7Ig-RHc_4Trw_vvmLjT/s1600/2+Dec+09+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_K17P4k5VX9QoOZWUgwRTbZoKgIvhCgXJ5_pGXQLVCK-qI63mj6pvNPLB0OBslzS71F_IkISPCPf_LfQzZvipAVwrcS6Z-JxKB-5h21IQuGQndlKbkM0KhhVn7Ig-RHc_4Trw_vvmLjT/s320/2+Dec+09+088.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what was inside the bento box</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fw5tNLZku7mrV97R9PtaALu37-_lNUEHJYb2uHSts1L91PsguRhUlyeN-1cFC1Nnxh5_0h2EQsMe9Io-9yOTLd-BA1KxNNXTBu8V4xjbJUO_lUZYf-EelesOtOml0dgBdGpGzODB5kKN/s1600/2+Dec+09+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fw5tNLZku7mrV97R9PtaALu37-_lNUEHJYb2uHSts1L91PsguRhUlyeN-1cFC1Nnxh5_0h2EQsMe9Io-9yOTLd-BA1KxNNXTBu8V4xjbJUO_lUZYf-EelesOtOml0dgBdGpGzODB5kKN/s320/2+Dec+09+089.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the house specialty, tempura, of course</div><br />
Sated, we were finally ready to leave Nara. We headed for the JR Nara Station on foot. On the way, we passed by...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmIgSuD_n-VsK6_YbGbHFwfPfYZXc-bnfFmHGuws3VP2eslcH4U1CZsWXAXIQsl5Duz16c0ifKDxGJQ_Il1sHgevdK7qdnTiWM02e4KTcZ5RwTiEXNfRx7EJOKx_kfx6RzIR6nR_QoKwV/s1600/2+Dec+09+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmIgSuD_n-VsK6_YbGbHFwfPfYZXc-bnfFmHGuws3VP2eslcH4U1CZsWXAXIQsl5Duz16c0ifKDxGJQ_Il1sHgevdK7qdnTiWM02e4KTcZ5RwTiEXNfRx7EJOKx_kfx6RzIR6nR_QoKwV/s320/2+Dec+09+093.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a shrine probably</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0BOM0NUSzPpQ8bep1cArDLG4buG5u5HhcpVbtMXKsyUd_sJIa7J5Yyem4ZJkMCR_QbMjkNSM5wLJveHk8VYQ2ghIlUKJuAmV9Lbfsz4lFAq2HsK7Wjv1NcYrA3BiNu_lUgjCZZ9evmS-/s1600/2+Dec+09+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0BOM0NUSzPpQ8bep1cArDLG4buG5u5HhcpVbtMXKsyUd_sJIa7J5Yyem4ZJkMCR_QbMjkNSM5wLJveHk8VYQ2ghIlUKJuAmV9Lbfsz4lFAq2HsK7Wjv1NcYrA3BiNu_lUgjCZZ9evmS-/s320/2+Dec+09+094.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Sarusawa-ike once again</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBVIhaox_3C1j0uyfHUF6iTXCCJJ0GFDRMX2XvA39_4CqK4AMK3g8Rxm7qjTi0VwpZRTOcgj3z1tcfxTzp-7GK_eRhLkS4DTAfosO9v7e_9ueNdGFHHGEzqdspc0axBKnXBQ7fLu0d12a/s1600/2+Dec+09+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBVIhaox_3C1j0uyfHUF6iTXCCJJ0GFDRMX2XvA39_4CqK4AMK3g8Rxm7qjTi0VwpZRTOcgj3z1tcfxTzp-7GK_eRhLkS4DTAfosO9v7e_9ueNdGFHHGEzqdspc0axBKnXBQ7fLu0d12a/s320/2+Dec+09+098.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">its denizens</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_quk_AWbZGzGJMRBjaHPXCEbb_phxSVZnR6uReo_oR4_s8a_hscOVKrgFxHDA1YgN-Cxf2FC7e-Bmr2wn8h5T4HtT15u_RpRGn5FXIxLy_M8zKEG-Z06sdvI_ScfbNg_iGBIqLYXS0y2W/s1600/2+Dec+09+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_quk_AWbZGzGJMRBjaHPXCEbb_phxSVZnR6uReo_oR4_s8a_hscOVKrgFxHDA1YgN-Cxf2FC7e-Bmr2wn8h5T4HtT15u_RpRGn5FXIxLy_M8zKEG-Z06sdvI_ScfbNg_iGBIqLYXS0y2W/s320/2+Dec+09+100.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">including a grey heron</div><br />
After that, it was straight down a pedestrian-only street towards the station. The street though was lined with food...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02QyDIKiIUegKgD2IOoBHgsG-2E5bmMRlgoC7wUibi6S_0A63V2CPjonczj84Z5U9k8mPsx5K9tfJTCVLCmb68gIiVOCq4oCqv4kLk6TeGvkqfLs3uYWfHgzFJt5U-0_JyhOAIau2_1Ei/s1600/2+Dec+09+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02QyDIKiIUegKgD2IOoBHgsG-2E5bmMRlgoC7wUibi6S_0A63V2CPjonczj84Z5U9k8mPsx5K9tfJTCVLCmb68gIiVOCq4oCqv4kLk6TeGvkqfLs3uYWfHgzFJt5U-0_JyhOAIau2_1Ei/s320/2+Dec+09+102.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hmmm, would that be mock seafood?!</div><br />
As eager as we were to get going, it was hard to ignore the crowd outside this place.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9BBaTH0v_lSJNtkWkYlqZI4C1ruGBEiaG2aP4MN3VhR7Y1EL2mrWUirZ_ZQXRqQlEpP-qbU0JB__9poT_CTmRjfhqojlnxVec1dAS5KmnQW25oGCU-gB6ZsmSCB-k5kZ_GmLGDhZaBTM/s1600/2+Dec+09+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9BBaTH0v_lSJNtkWkYlqZI4C1ruGBEiaG2aP4MN3VhR7Y1EL2mrWUirZ_ZQXRqQlEpP-qbU0JB__9poT_CTmRjfhqojlnxVec1dAS5KmnQW25oGCU-gB6ZsmSCB-k5kZ_GmLGDhZaBTM/s320/2+Dec+09+112.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what was everyone hanging around for?</div><br />
The shop sold mochis. Oddly enough, they weren't the handmade sort. It was the novelty of a mochi-making machine that was the draw.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk73uw4ECBvN8LXTfbpjss-1MiI6zSLKtSgaWk5dWYADpmCCysbz9-2RKhBRXCgsYohpjXmRIHbp5V-x-lP5DM109cS7TMKvMtPG2nXGcXOMztK0HyYeF2mG8zVGFMrWOmNQD60Vs6UYHM/s1600/2+Dec+09+105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk73uw4ECBvN8LXTfbpjss-1MiI6zSLKtSgaWk5dWYADpmCCysbz9-2RKhBRXCgsYohpjXmRIHbp5V-x-lP5DM109cS7TMKvMtPG2nXGcXOMztK0HyYeF2mG8zVGFMrWOmNQD60Vs6UYHM/s320/2+Dec+09+105.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">oh look at the machine "lay" mochi</div><br />
Handmade or otherwise, we had to have some.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-FKTtAN45YxFnYsvUagoFEZPIaFHW3G110MDaFJG1TzOKPGYLnDDmQKAweGU4KZw2JiPfwFiaWfjr90O6Um2LR7WU9rkL3pRzUunONftboTBuqYqND0W1UtC3E3AfoowKSCjS1F1_do/s1600/2+Dec+09+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-FKTtAN45YxFnYsvUagoFEZPIaFHW3G110MDaFJG1TzOKPGYLnDDmQKAweGU4KZw2JiPfwFiaWfjr90O6Um2LR7WU9rkL3pRzUunONftboTBuqYqND0W1UtC3E3AfoowKSCjS1F1_do/s320/2+Dec+09+108.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we had one each</div><br />
And those were some of the softest, stickiest mochi we had ever eaten. Yummy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8FVZWxxh05h6ga6h_k-NLHlwWIdpwOWZB1FNDA0-i21LE4Ge4TrKFXpYPcqqS3zZ9BkVFO5S4-RuO7HW0feu3bkyhosxsc5pRdMnIyzGSXfkLhKQobMa9_w7iaFCIkjQAMgPFNw9B0Z4/s1600/2+Dec+09+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8FVZWxxh05h6ga6h_k-NLHlwWIdpwOWZB1FNDA0-i21LE4Ge4TrKFXpYPcqqS3zZ9BkVFO5S4-RuO7HW0feu3bkyhosxsc5pRdMnIyzGSXfkLhKQobMa9_w7iaFCIkjQAMgPFNw9B0Z4/s320/2+Dec+09+113.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">finally, the JR Nara Station</div><br />
We caught the next JR train to Kyoto.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbHVWNmyafqi0-rHHFRIkVCFHxaC7OolfAI9GxqedQ-v3pRIab6hOAwXlaCK_LLrF2MgqdLBbw119_k7DLk7B5gwgXIKJgkkJvwHDmTvXrG3pbWFCAZe47v_pPP2I_Nqp1_PI1KhadgU-/s1600/2+Dec+09+115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbHVWNmyafqi0-rHHFRIkVCFHxaC7OolfAI9GxqedQ-v3pRIab6hOAwXlaCK_LLrF2MgqdLBbw119_k7DLk7B5gwgXIKJgkkJvwHDmTvXrG3pbWFCAZe47v_pPP2I_Nqp1_PI1KhadgU-/s320/2+Dec+09+115.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a J(apan) R(ailways) train</div><br />
Less than an hour later, we arrived at the JR Kyoto Station, and, boy, was it an edifice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcFkV-R7bLNnThro1G5R23gN_rcGI05QuHO41_J69GNtjb8_ZzCka8vILpDZHsL2Hpb5DyMppQZH5chJWtAkpGQxtTg87jFVISnfFOuicSTLvDLLE5nxb6d8x9sTyMbRkNh9G7-LHgaR8/s1600/2+Dec+09+119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcFkV-R7bLNnThro1G5R23gN_rcGI05QuHO41_J69GNtjb8_ZzCka8vILpDZHsL2Hpb5DyMppQZH5chJWtAkpGQxtTg87jFVISnfFOuicSTLvDLLE5nxb6d8x9sTyMbRkNh9G7-LHgaR8/s320/2+Dec+09+119.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">emerging from the platform, this is what it looked like.</div><br />
Kyoto Station in and of itself was worth a spot of exploration. (The wonder of travelling without the hassle of luggage - we could dawdle as long as we liked.) First, we admired the modern steel and glass architecture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg84kXN5C6sKuwFeaZTkcj51HtoFe2wBc0d8pMK5Mng45pvP1DU8T7EYehdi4K4DM5Yzof-xsSBbWnBYD7h20KyMUSuNFi95y4FALEhs2YQhcPkGYRRFz0ctKM_23a6a34MB2HSbASHjm/s1600/2+Dec+09+120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg84kXN5C6sKuwFeaZTkcj51HtoFe2wBc0d8pMK5Mng45pvP1DU8T7EYehdi4K4DM5Yzof-xsSBbWnBYD7h20KyMUSuNFi95y4FALEhs2YQhcPkGYRRFz0ctKM_23a6a34MB2HSbASHjm/s320/2+Dec+09+120.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">steel and glass</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdUlUmf-kgmKlw3owOL75K0lnftJogXPr0klHCY3tBp0NzLxvRaaCGoQTBtG0G0OhWPmfpcOa_U-MQKij6H32RJV-inQ-vy3EMK175nxeU8eJB_1F-fh6QrgjesHCFgUsKWOM5PiCvuv9/s1600/2+Dec+09+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdUlUmf-kgmKlw3owOL75K0lnftJogXPr0klHCY3tBp0NzLxvRaaCGoQTBtG0G0OhWPmfpcOa_U-MQKij6H32RJV-inQ-vy3EMK175nxeU8eJB_1F-fh6QrgjesHCFgUsKWOM5PiCvuv9/s320/2+Dec+09+124.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">steel and glass</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QWsecwOd-7OI4fRp74wCA4GDAoBQNulSdfXn2BtoGB_qKHlAviQlq5gRUqeFkmY61K6qQngcK_hyphenhyphenaRb03O8S3CVRzldw-21i1aib4j8yP_nm9v1BFzB2jLGNLRp4tK-WD02PjrvNfad0/s1600/2+Dec+09+128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QWsecwOd-7OI4fRp74wCA4GDAoBQNulSdfXn2BtoGB_qKHlAviQlq5gRUqeFkmY61K6qQngcK_hyphenhyphenaRb03O8S3CVRzldw-21i1aib4j8yP_nm9v1BFzB2jLGNLRp4tK-WD02PjrvNfad0/s320/2+Dec+09+128.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">steel and glass</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlQXWhyphenhyphenBqHYW7CJUrORTtjN7esKoGOBRE7nAekbDgQGc3FVgO95qWYF7cy88dCiHNzmmCdrp1C18e4dn37MTKBCYcuK3vWc7FQ450tTnqaV_QTkuRAcM8cAgoYCo9vQcoGe43fDQh7Gz5/s1600/2+Dec+09+130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlQXWhyphenhyphenBqHYW7CJUrORTtjN7esKoGOBRE7nAekbDgQGc3FVgO95qWYF7cy88dCiHNzmmCdrp1C18e4dn37MTKBCYcuK3vWc7FQ450tTnqaV_QTkuRAcM8cAgoYCo9vQcoGe43fDQh7Gz5/s320/2+Dec+09+130.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">steel and glass</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYl1q4fCoR3ptz845KAo8_u2VsS_9eLiJ6x28AY9MxAZDXdyyIrsnGR62eS0kBdQdOeTnpD7xznLqFyeYM7WDe4AXXCgepm_HTqivU8t6rQ22zjDi0QOfU44cSeNp8Lx7m7prI3MnELGR/s1600/2+Dec+09+134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYl1q4fCoR3ptz845KAo8_u2VsS_9eLiJ6x28AY9MxAZDXdyyIrsnGR62eS0kBdQdOeTnpD7xznLqFyeYM7WDe4AXXCgepm_HTqivU8t6rQ22zjDi0QOfU44cSeNp8Lx7m7prI3MnELGR/s320/2+Dec+09+134.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">steel and glass</div><br />
We made our way to the viewing gallery (yes there was one, on the 10th floor).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyPkehyphenhyphenzC-nb2206JVx7zjhFnvdxv1U7AV3YAxYl3s5bjA1XW7-WkSMPYd7TOiCbbLLlx_xpccfCWihn2vdW4FvThT1wC7GfS0ikiSsoGjjpHWo14ky8wnmkjHBZN44cyMWyo28I1mSkX/s1600/2+Dec+09+137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyPkehyphenhyphenzC-nb2206JVx7zjhFnvdxv1U7AV3YAxYl3s5bjA1XW7-WkSMPYd7TOiCbbLLlx_xpccfCWihn2vdW4FvThT1wC7GfS0ikiSsoGjjpHWo14ky8wnmkjHBZN44cyMWyo28I1mSkX/s320/2+Dec+09+137.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kyoto Tower</div><br />
Then it was teatime so we did as the Japanese do - we stopped for a spot of tea. Left to my own devices, I would probably have opted for something savoury, like ramen. HM of course would have none of that. In any case, the Japanese thing to have would indeed be some form of pastry.<br />
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At the station's food court, we found a dessert shop, specialising in ice cream and more. We had something familiar...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2B6pyFpY3KpvHaVJLjwwS4bCbvtdCSf8cYzk6t5Ne14k5-J8Tpqsp_HE0lGG5dtQ7QX3PuZO0k6eIwDtYArWHX_mo1SLcr0uZ4hz6BfwiilIpHpGxnicRcgyj35WPFCK9nO53RHs4mt9/s1600/2+Dec+09+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2B6pyFpY3KpvHaVJLjwwS4bCbvtdCSf8cYzk6t5Ne14k5-J8Tpqsp_HE0lGG5dtQ7QX3PuZO0k6eIwDtYArWHX_mo1SLcr0uZ4hz6BfwiilIpHpGxnicRcgyj35WPFCK9nO53RHs4mt9/s320/2+Dec+09+146.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">matcha (green tea) ice cream, with warabi mochi and kinoko powder, on a matcha wafer.</div><br />
HM insisted on trying something new.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOFdxm_T9DHvhMyn5mMi5bnV5hVe2HfxMDuK43cXSAwt13L8VuaCATfN3DmrBCQEcud3cl8qQlN1MuqL7jUAyFuicyg0ezasreU7kzmHMPnbFxUm1LjV7KbIXSWd6znHMHfYs4_I__R1q/s1600/2+Dec+09+144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOFdxm_T9DHvhMyn5mMi5bnV5hVe2HfxMDuK43cXSAwt13L8VuaCATfN3DmrBCQEcud3cl8qQlN1MuqL7jUAyFuicyg0ezasreU7kzmHMPnbFxUm1LjV7KbIXSWd6znHMHfYs4_I__R1q/s320/2+Dec+09+144.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a "motfuro" - as far as we could tell, some kind of "sandwich", made with some kind of waffle and Japanese red beans</div><br />
I dismissed it as some newfangled novelty but had to admit, the chewy texture was surprisingly delectable. We just couldn't put our finger on what it was made of...<br />
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After tea, we took our first subway ride in Kyoto. Emerging at the Karasuma-Oike junction, we had our first good look at Kyoto. Our first impression? If Tokyo was Times Square, Kyoto was 5th Avenue - broad boulevards, stately buildings, smartly dressed people.<br />
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We located our hotel, Hotel Monterey Kyoto, but not before getting a little disoriented at the Karasuma-Oike junction. At check-in, we were politely informed at our luggage had arrived before us. This was the way to travel indeed!<br />
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To be honest, we had been a little concerned about the decor; it had looked a little over the top in photos on the internet. We were relieved to find that our fears were unfounded! Our room was striking...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzh1x3HihBwjvVWgSTRVrZ5R4D3Kd64iDZ06_w_qFlC5oqMHoNN0DH4TbtARv4JVnUWaZ6TZZCmtKiVuv61AAYRlx3vIfzU1bFAxWgfQbsjfAA8ysaUzAoFL7ZLEknH3Pr8HJ8kOKjPqp/s1600/2+Dec+09+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzh1x3HihBwjvVWgSTRVrZ5R4D3Kd64iDZ06_w_qFlC5oqMHoNN0DH4TbtARv4JVnUWaZ6TZZCmtKiVuv61AAYRlx3vIfzU1bFAxWgfQbsjfAA8ysaUzAoFL7ZLEknH3Pr8HJ8kOKjPqp/s320/2+Dec+09+150.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our room</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T7LbdXzrPX0OIJxXuIdfHHWrfv8AubO6B01FhKEmqHJqGJQFholIlh04sHuGkCEPyInxsxNlLFBtcPunfviJNWEg5PnBIfh-Yy__MQQvN6YYPD9UAHze7RXWlyqFj5yAHG8aK1X3I674/s1600/2+Dec+09+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T7LbdXzrPX0OIJxXuIdfHHWrfv8AubO6B01FhKEmqHJqGJQFholIlh04sHuGkCEPyInxsxNlLFBtcPunfviJNWEg5PnBIfh-Yy__MQQvN6YYPD9UAHze7RXWlyqFj5yAHG8aK1X3I674/s320/2+Dec+09+151.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our room</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxaFcrxyLHi2lS_FIQapyNyxy47gRldTpc4Ba8S2CAhuU-xoZFgSX_LRF8U-Jfi5K44eVgzuo3kRPYvMjw629JDB6EY2ifT0-yMwoDaTe8h1CKxzeVjH71ILpNH4kt6yExmh3L_bF6SzD/s1600/2+Dec+09+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxaFcrxyLHi2lS_FIQapyNyxy47gRldTpc4Ba8S2CAhuU-xoZFgSX_LRF8U-Jfi5K44eVgzuo3kRPYvMjw629JDB6EY2ifT0-yMwoDaTe8h1CKxzeVjH71ILpNH4kt6yExmh3L_bF6SzD/s320/2+Dec+09+154.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our room</div><br />
In the evening, we headed out to Gion, the heart of Kyoto's traditional nightlife scene and the district where geishas could still be spotted. Armed with a one-page bus guide provided by the hotel concierge, we took our maiden ride on a city bus to the Yasaka-jinja or Yasaka Shrine.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpbK3xoTjzo9OigqpYaTC1xgVCOdrLulAVFeuVRwmKxPt5f8Z7sYqF_HoYsmdnfgCEKn4R0xmHkAmRXduZQ8ZQfnfoprEkwypLF77xEofjxsGgf9t3FcdJuLtqTlh4vXKAgV3O8U7toRY/s1600/2+Dec+09+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpbK3xoTjzo9OigqpYaTC1xgVCOdrLulAVFeuVRwmKxPt5f8Z7sYqF_HoYsmdnfgCEKn4R0xmHkAmRXduZQ8ZQfnfoprEkwypLF77xEofjxsGgf9t3FcdJuLtqTlh4vXKAgV3O8U7toRY/s320/2+Dec+09+158.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the main entrance</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBsb8LyNikmEM5O1IqK6qnG8KCy91O-DoldRpUBe2yK3ZCStrFoeSGlay0CSd0XikaLhADFM5urPuF5-u3EQ3bH8nuZYPSW_f3ntWLoz_6eeysQTxUvqx0wU-Xeb1gHuRBXQWRRD6UhTi/s1600/2+Dec+09+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBsb8LyNikmEM5O1IqK6qnG8KCy91O-DoldRpUBe2yK3ZCStrFoeSGlay0CSd0XikaLhADFM5urPuF5-u3EQ3bH8nuZYPSW_f3ntWLoz_6eeysQTxUvqx0wU-Xeb1gHuRBXQWRRD6UhTi/s320/2+Dec+09+170.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">inside the shrine</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBB2Gc9VavOfodABB5rE9AfNy2eD4soSh01XdNir8nMYCwrSJ7H0DOBhsfWwjqnG_620WDwRejNHQ1psZ-kr4vQKtPth_6ydONtKx_e8XkhGR51m7tv9FOuWvsSgIzFlWjzeAoeXF8tfua/s1600/2+Dec+09+162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBB2Gc9VavOfodABB5rE9AfNy2eD4soSh01XdNir8nMYCwrSJ7H0DOBhsfWwjqnG_620WDwRejNHQ1psZ-kr4vQKtPth_6ydONtKx_e8XkhGR51m7tv9FOuWvsSgIzFlWjzeAoeXF8tfua/s320/2+Dec+09+162.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dedications from devotees</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcTWELFNge9Hjh5mJ0h5S9YYO_0Hw78SiSEPW-YTsXoNED6LlI1fQoZgWH8Ex51EvFDAGQKB9kix5Mc_j36pYBohLI6yOgihn7SH-IpWCMbuQaXpRTZYUcOD9KjSWFT2nTDyXZG3B7ppE/s1600/2+Dec+09+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcTWELFNge9Hjh5mJ0h5S9YYO_0Hw78SiSEPW-YTsXoNED6LlI1fQoZgWH8Ex51EvFDAGQKB9kix5Mc_j36pYBohLI6yOgihn7SH-IpWCMbuQaXpRTZYUcOD9KjSWFT2nTDyXZG3B7ppE/s320/2+Dec+09+180.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not surprisingly, the shrine's devotees were businesses in the area</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLQiKxXPRMcrEgQTq2Xi-8Gi1tuCijIZiRgIAkWBDArsUw2GVupjPpfhfW7HzFN05aBjvPHleYJ-X9wZJZRM1H3M8wQzZTfIh1gquCgarxLX_sNUpcHV_QKajWeLeysqlGT6VG0zdo9FD/s1600/2+Dec+09+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLQiKxXPRMcrEgQTq2Xi-8Gi1tuCijIZiRgIAkWBDArsUw2GVupjPpfhfW7HzFN05aBjvPHleYJ-X9wZJZRM1H3M8wQzZTfIh1gquCgarxLX_sNUpcHV_QKajWeLeysqlGT6VG0zdo9FD/s320/2+Dec+09+186.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">never too late for a blessing</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68ZQ2OT8bVdnopdQcJgyeLMLjivHtoRl2SwELa8IJes1u7qc8jBHXIwonhCLVo0IWMFsnjCNzyypmrUKhRcR862hkHsnULoqIhYws9MSRo-F2dmvWAKp-8uNQQPGBcTdjqt4bl5S8qYLw/s1600/2+Dec+09+192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68ZQ2OT8bVdnopdQcJgyeLMLjivHtoRl2SwELa8IJes1u7qc8jBHXIwonhCLVo0IWMFsnjCNzyypmrUKhRcR862hkHsnULoqIhYws9MSRo-F2dmvWAKp-8uNQQPGBcTdjqt4bl5S8qYLw/s320/2+Dec+09+192.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a beautiful moonlit night</div><br />
The lanes of Gion were lined with restaurants and bars, much as it must have for centuries, with well-preserved <i>machiyas</i> even. We wandered around for a bit, indeed catching a glimpse of kimonos and powdered faces trotting down small lanes, disappearing into dark entrances and getting into posh cars, but no more than that. It was cold out and dinner beckoned. Serious geisha-spotting would have to wait.<br />
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Most of the dining options in the area seemed exorbitantly priced and/or exclusive so we chose a mid-range option which, more importantly, was guaranteed to serve a piping hot meal - a shabu shabu restaurant!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwI8Odzh0kLj1QoSnZmMRuUjVAUCHOuP-mlHq8oBN3aa5Lm9zDOo7YsHE9DYPzYUj3zYgUeSUX8IHZOC95RTtOMjqEVdaizHNxI-aV4cuFUwYb1pbmSiAoThKTqH7BaVwJt2KIHWsqtx9/s1600/2+Dec+09+196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwI8Odzh0kLj1QoSnZmMRuUjVAUCHOuP-mlHq8oBN3aa5Lm9zDOo7YsHE9DYPzYUj3zYgUeSUX8IHZOC95RTtOMjqEVdaizHNxI-aV4cuFUwYb1pbmSiAoThKTqH7BaVwJt2KIHWsqtx9/s320/2+Dec+09+196.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">small and cosy</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P3f4ezeuiY-puXgv8UFLyvIeqZNiUlnezdSK0i5shfZNURuGkfqvXoU_ktN9jE5KrdZkztuhVbpBmTxAnpERZEW-jSD_L9gX3BvSRADna1uN_G-lKH-a6D2RXd69JtKxSFgEbj9G_Wfc/s1600/2+Dec+09+198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P3f4ezeuiY-puXgv8UFLyvIeqZNiUlnezdSK0i5shfZNURuGkfqvXoU_ktN9jE5KrdZkztuhVbpBmTxAnpERZEW-jSD_L9gX3BvSRADna1uN_G-lKH-a6D2RXd69JtKxSFgEbj9G_Wfc/s320/2+Dec+09+198.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the side dishes - my favourite was the tofu-equivalent of a "lion's head" meatball (bottom right-hand corner)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmeE6gHp73uOsbI0iwTTXCuxYBUPg-tSmmY9vZh72k9LJz1jdTbT3iqtgfS_YQz7iozs4lhYVmpkQaHjRvl8YzRJ6IOVRWUlCLUhBA4rP-bgxNNNIoOX05sYLoYYKinJwZcj-r-cs_KgC/s1600/2+Dec+09+199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmeE6gHp73uOsbI0iwTTXCuxYBUPg-tSmmY9vZh72k9LJz1jdTbT3iqtgfS_YQz7iozs4lhYVmpkQaHjRvl8YzRJ6IOVRWUlCLUhBA4rP-bgxNNNIoOX05sYLoYYKinJwZcj-r-cs_KgC/s320/2+Dec+09+199.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nicely marbled beef</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvKc2cRt8CUsG33fkEkiMg_XESR0ULKQr6CiwbEbM3UIc2PlpGeYZB3atojpyI9bu7K-Q5cmKvMKVZHdYWWoUn1H_nQedcF9uY1u0Sc4v7ajumVWTfY6EDY4Vco1OkCmw8FK1zMyOJLFc/s1600/2+Dec+09+202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvKc2cRt8CUsG33fkEkiMg_XESR0ULKQr6CiwbEbM3UIc2PlpGeYZB3atojpyI9bu7K-Q5cmKvMKVZHdYWWoUn1H_nQedcF9uY1u0Sc4v7ajumVWTfY6EDY4Vco1OkCmw8FK1zMyOJLFc/s320/2+Dec+09+202.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the veggies for the pot</div><br />
It was just the thing we needed to get warmed up. Fortified, we sallied forth to continue our exploration.<br />
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Out on the main street, we were happy to discover a <i>dango</i> <i>mochi</i> stand. We had just eaten but HM has yet to encounter a <i>mochi</i> she can resist.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb2hRcYiiKWDBuQ_HX03S3SO_y1V6Agh0xMYQ5TdSJ6FDrAjfH3CmJZTMNXGSp2cplXDUS5rnGvqzfiaAKTFvcinnxW_14fVWA9Xfs89Chi8wxJYmWz21UkQqzfXMjQkOQmrMmrnhs1Bl/s1600/2+Dec+09+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb2hRcYiiKWDBuQ_HX03S3SO_y1V6Agh0xMYQ5TdSJ6FDrAjfH3CmJZTMNXGSp2cplXDUS5rnGvqzfiaAKTFvcinnxW_14fVWA9Xfs89Chi8wxJYmWz21UkQqzfXMjQkOQmrMmrnhs1Bl/s320/2+Dec+09+205.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all kinds of mochi</div><br />
And I discovered a type of mochi that was just my cup of tea - savoury mochi!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjUFt66ryAbSk7YR4LfD3usaeJIDv8-TfhUz4pvE5m6Mh2Q4pTJWme8ihDcOaX1v1dxWOxPic52r6reppYONaPbF6vGawjr9KPwq5fdPMaodQPT1HsaQlD7TkPUv_q1bXEZykVj4vBTJL/s1600/2+Dec+09+210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjUFt66ryAbSk7YR4LfD3usaeJIDv8-TfhUz4pvE5m6Mh2Q4pTJWme8ihDcOaX1v1dxWOxPic52r6reppYONaPbF6vGawjr9KPwq5fdPMaodQPT1HsaQlD7TkPUv_q1bXEZykVj4vBTJL/s320/2+Dec+09+210.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">coated with a soy sauce and sugar syrup and grilled to caramel-ly goodness</div><br />
That served as dessert. Across the road from the mochi stall was this big building.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-iTi8WTywGq3kaednViBEABEhi9BmQ07dBSq4qSr5do8Y-M7-mWvWma3YnWXny6T6DveeYYm6I-hB7MKcKe1UfbGcenCJiVbNy1bzTylOPagC-CxRk4hzfCHvc22X9bIAK_2K-YeBx-L/s1600/2+Dec+09+214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-iTi8WTywGq3kaednViBEABEhi9BmQ07dBSq4qSr5do8Y-M7-mWvWma3YnWXny6T6DveeYYm6I-hB7MKcKe1UfbGcenCJiVbNy1bzTylOPagC-CxRk4hzfCHvc22X9bIAK_2K-YeBx-L/s320/2+Dec+09+214.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">clearly some kind of institution</div><br />
We made a mental note to find out what the building was.<br />
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We plunged back into the warren of small lanes, following Lonely Planet's walking tour itinerary.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Une9O-8wjbonK32z-8nzBnj36_l13QhoYzjoT9iG6zqbh558CkCSRCsX6AueMKfGzD7RQ0Ue_MA18qIbDBGe_WFqAedTn5jmiJimyQXegxzSbrd3h6pEq9t1pbR5RNW8ZLzOFhJkQcov/s1600/2+Dec+09+236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Une9O-8wjbonK32z-8nzBnj36_l13QhoYzjoT9iG6zqbh558CkCSRCsX6AueMKfGzD7RQ0Ue_MA18qIbDBGe_WFqAedTn5jmiJimyQXegxzSbrd3h6pEq9t1pbR5RNW8ZLzOFhJkQcov/s320/2+Dec+09+236.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rows and rows of machiya</div><br />
Right at the end of one of the lanes was the bridge, Tatsumi-bashi, which overlooked the Shirakawa Canal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUZzPNHHCnmF0ClxgVP0p3-sq_1aBBK6aoeKAP-guCZgy0rC1BGN4qWe6ZUjhQmq3JijiAxW0LmbQy61MlSVMixJ5yLpjL6Zft_4eJpQkYX-PfOB0OFRCEz_PZQbun1tgJxHQ0_ewhM2X/s1600/2+Dec+09+225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUZzPNHHCnmF0ClxgVP0p3-sq_1aBBK6aoeKAP-guCZgy0rC1BGN4qWe6ZUjhQmq3JijiAxW0LmbQy61MlSVMixJ5yLpjL6Zft_4eJpQkYX-PfOB0OFRCEz_PZQbun1tgJxHQ0_ewhM2X/s320/2+Dec+09+225.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">scenic spot especially at night</div><br />
Next to it was the Tatsumi Shrine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqiyK77SMNUDXB2GR-GwOxcKerqsy-heKBPmPDnCS1UOPvLuT_BvZkub0zBYNeBkNLgHgyFdAKt2ujNrLbCNKxmrNLyBqoRLmI84lVz0xkng2Auzdnt1wz5ias6ctZF3VtJuP9StBDE-b/s1600/2+Dec+09+231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqiyK77SMNUDXB2GR-GwOxcKerqsy-heKBPmPDnCS1UOPvLuT_BvZkub0zBYNeBkNLgHgyFdAKt2ujNrLbCNKxmrNLyBqoRLmI84lVz0xkng2Auzdnt1wz5ias6ctZF3VtJuP9StBDE-b/s320/2+Dec+09+231.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">where hostesses and mama-sans reputedly prayed for good business</div><br />
We waited around a bit but didn't catch any hostesses or mama-sans in action. Perhaps it was the wrong time of evening. Onwards we walked, passing more...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTLcjme6L4uUSCOUqSU-RyjuGwJDfYESm3jtOshJE75pJ523w6QrbuU0mAbCP_wtICJtARlQMMReRI7Vn6EOJer5QfYRDy5cBs_xTPbKUKqHX4HhfM7fhP1tvDzyR2s3a0kLopylwQeI4/s1600/2+Dec+09+242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTLcjme6L4uUSCOUqSU-RyjuGwJDfYESm3jtOshJE75pJ523w6QrbuU0mAbCP_wtICJtARlQMMReRI7Vn6EOJer5QfYRDy5cBs_xTPbKUKqHX4HhfM7fhP1tvDzyR2s3a0kLopylwQeI4/s320/2+Dec+09+242.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... exclusive restaurants and bars</div><br />
We finally came across some cheap eats, as recommended by LP. Near the main road was Issen Yoshoku, an <i>okonomiyaki</i> joint.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10P1IcCCjj7n3KTzvlETAIGWiflzbx9ah4FLr_vRHwJqp0lkLzZmEV8HAmnyjPZ2rJBAtyGqtvS36F6QO5uBLGFtrZA5jiHJNpyQyFCc2Mb_G0mLLIauKk2lr6bkQVvWGwVnVGf_cjQI_/s1600/2+Dec+09+246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10P1IcCCjj7n3KTzvlETAIGWiflzbx9ah4FLr_vRHwJqp0lkLzZmEV8HAmnyjPZ2rJBAtyGqtvS36F6QO5uBLGFtrZA5jiHJNpyQyFCc2Mb_G0mLLIauKk2lr6bkQVvWGwVnVGf_cjQI_/s320/2+Dec+09+246.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">food being freshly prepared</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nSUB-7ZBthyHkOvBEQ7y_JgHVaNh0d8fOPslYaEBzUnYDuf-WzPEiqOvott-S8EfrCWtskgTzEIiyMCcpRsdUlufUP1TurhLbkVNmt6lH8-y8H3Y-SHSlKMsbhw0gJFuxxUT-SiDwH3k/s1600/2+Dec+09+247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nSUB-7ZBthyHkOvBEQ7y_JgHVaNh0d8fOPslYaEBzUnYDuf-WzPEiqOvott-S8EfrCWtskgTzEIiyMCcpRsdUlufUP1TurhLbkVNmt6lH8-y8H3Y-SHSlKMsbhw0gJFuxxUT-SiDwH3k/s320/2+Dec+09+247.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all ready to go</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OeD0dCojQ_FEDfq3naCl0sRpcIBsI94we35tvHl83YyZoZGP1Au8Lrdwkg2JzhCo7HHRFiKYh0V4XzP7dMwJXAunD8jNpo11G4amBeOd48eTxmwA4pbPhmgywtXYY4VRhp20pHC0sMuq/s1600/2+Dec+09+249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OeD0dCojQ_FEDfq3naCl0sRpcIBsI94we35tvHl83YyZoZGP1Au8Lrdwkg2JzhCo7HHRFiKYh0V4XzP7dMwJXAunD8jNpo11G4amBeOd48eTxmwA4pbPhmgywtXYY4VRhp20pHC0sMuq/s320/2+Dec+09+249.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">spot the waiting customer!</div><br />
We considered trying one but were still too full from dinner and dessert to eat anything else.<br />
<br />
From that corner, we crossed the road. According to our LP guide, this was the grand ol' kabuki theatre, the Minami-za.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHESe_S527uR7rPyvucXq2S7lFTEAJVarwc5ZM-xnjl7S2kkVAw8ySDQtiYOt9OEue5h6zwJiQrLVUWd5nO80Sy3N1IoByTlNUIGtJLQ2kUv2fd7Sjc02ulCtQnSq1C8u4PVABOp_HhWni/s1600/2+Dec+09+254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHESe_S527uR7rPyvucXq2S7lFTEAJVarwc5ZM-xnjl7S2kkVAw8ySDQtiYOt9OEue5h6zwJiQrLVUWd5nO80Sy3N1IoByTlNUIGtJLQ2kUv2fd7Sjc02ulCtQnSq1C8u4PVABOp_HhWni/s320/2+Dec+09+254.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mystery solved!</div><br />
From there, we crossed the river, Kamo-gawa, to Pontocho, an even narrower alley. Still paved with cobble stones and lined with traditional buildings, we could almost step back in time...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnio26zryWywmr5GHHDTa9bAo9G6dmkuOxR62PsD0Xi44BfOzDv7t9_HKmiCgv0hP3qCgOJlC3wE7r4xRN26fz-V2hBB3OvnfUUx7Mpj8dH0f5is3-qxaL-5YX82PC4izvvBmKtPUrja4Q/s1600/2+Dec+09+268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnio26zryWywmr5GHHDTa9bAo9G6dmkuOxR62PsD0Xi44BfOzDv7t9_HKmiCgv0hP3qCgOJlC3wE7r4xRN26fz-V2hBB3OvnfUUx7Mpj8dH0f5is3-qxaL-5YX82PC4izvvBmKtPUrja4Q/s320/2+Dec+09+268.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... except for the liberal use of modern day neon!</div><br />
We noted that, amidst the high-end restaurants and bars, there were indeed more casual <i>izakaya</i> and even...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYct7uNzdwdn-dathLG_BH4-nMJ2KO0AEOOspyBMRm238KZ158eHVZUwXyXfD3qH9eMkzZ6uvGsbXEVYxOEWNMpDrCpNmo140gFohgk7s1qc6TEJV7XQuZq7S428-7mL-OknJEeeKYtVPH/s1600/2+Dec+09+277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYct7uNzdwdn-dathLG_BH4-nMJ2KO0AEOOspyBMRm238KZ158eHVZUwXyXfD3qH9eMkzZ6uvGsbXEVYxOEWNMpDrCpNmo140gFohgk7s1qc6TEJV7XQuZq7S428-7mL-OknJEeeKYtVPH/s320/2+Dec+09+277.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... street food</div><br />
We would have to return on another night to check out the possibilities.<br />
<br />
Back at the bus stop, the audience from the Minami-za was just spilling out of the building after a show, proving that kabuki was still popular. While they milled around, possibly wondering where to head to next, we boarded our bus. It was time to call it a night.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363178795171617301.post-49311357624872768072009-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:002010-05-16T01:34:34.056-07:00Day 3: Kyoto KoanWe were excited - it was our first full day in Kyoto. Alas, it was a wet dreary day indeed, not the best of conditions for good photos. Still, we were determined to make the best of our time in Kyoto, starting with a warm breakfast at none other than a Starbucks! (In between the ryokan stays, we figured we should opt for more modest breakfasts.)<br />
<br />
Just down the road from Hotel Monterey was a busy branch popular with the office crowd. We found a table and had some warm ham and cheese type sandwiches, and coffee of course.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwr_yL9jjSnqVU4Svd-xBBv-JJUoapMMRvsPiN8X5PgC8j8zgzGctwFdMgZxSW5S49HzfzedNQ-kpYvw3KLQFtmUu5TNjrDZowtIQiTl75Idkouu6tq1MCLFOXMg2a_rVEBXfITvaFFQy/s1600/3+Dec+09+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwr_yL9jjSnqVU4Svd-xBBv-JJUoapMMRvsPiN8X5PgC8j8zgzGctwFdMgZxSW5S49HzfzedNQ-kpYvw3KLQFtmUu5TNjrDZowtIQiTl75Idkouu6tq1MCLFOXMg2a_rVEBXfITvaFFQy/s320/3+Dec+09+002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">obviously gearing up for Christmas</div><br />
Our first stop for the day was (arguably) Kyoto's most well-known tourist attraction, the Kinkakuji or Golden Pavilion. A bus from around the corner took us all the way there.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy5WmwxuNxiZXYCf6YuShHX78VnQZhIvOBRhJmAoejX8vUhSYIpkT7TceyafLjfLiJOtrREsumaLz_r2_mKY3lqmEdwRGsPuw0whzjzdTbZWvlNnzv8H3aafjG-SYQJH6xnlm4b73mAB3/s1600/3+Dec+09+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy5WmwxuNxiZXYCf6YuShHX78VnQZhIvOBRhJmAoejX8vUhSYIpkT7TceyafLjfLiJOtrREsumaLz_r2_mKY3lqmEdwRGsPuw0whzjzdTbZWvlNnzv8H3aafjG-SYQJH6xnlm4b73mAB3/s320/3+Dec+09+005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the rain was a bit of a dampener but it did add to the atmosphere</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7PPZjYAC_MDVOZuUIEP-uUr2fDi4-8kGycA1Hn8C2nh7lsXU1updRrqorq5eBYASVpejHsugI0EIHo9Y92erwy6Fc-uVLO4S_57jBha_4Eni_0NoB9MXYajIBmZgmgOeA_RStvEVFnDw/s1600/3+Dec+09+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7PPZjYAC_MDVOZuUIEP-uUr2fDi4-8kGycA1Hn8C2nh7lsXU1updRrqorq5eBYASVpejHsugI0EIHo9Y92erwy6Fc-uVLO4S_57jBha_4Eni_0NoB9MXYajIBmZgmgOeA_RStvEVFnDw/s320/3+Dec+09+011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">THE Golden Pavilion, adorned with gold leaf no less</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yQv2LL6r_uaM-ksg_L0yJzIWAr1A66Xwef0LA5FRhHCaQVbz2ihGp4yiYleGiuvyNTs3kU0hCCXzF-8JD-GzJ3TzEgLOKHb_GOCMszbYBKDKLa7qwYlB2zQXk3aTEhx-YK2No9U5TG8S/s1600/3+Dec+09+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yQv2LL6r_uaM-ksg_L0yJzIWAr1A66Xwef0LA5FRhHCaQVbz2ihGp4yiYleGiuvyNTs3kU0hCCXzF-8JD-GzJ3TzEgLOKHb_GOCMszbYBKDKLa7qwYlB2zQXk3aTEhx-YK2No9U5TG8S/s320/3+Dec+09+020.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we thought this was the less ethereal chicken at first but figured later that it had to be the phoenix</div><br />
We presumed the Golden Pavilion must be breathtakingly beautiful in the sunlight, reflected in the waters of the pond surrounding it. As it was, it just seemed a little small... We were more taken by the rest of the grounds.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBn04qogxsr_GALpcGhDiK5bc5LogtmDmf5_bbHZ7CblF9G74Qz3E38EHPJtxu58SSRIiJnGTgQdd_1Z14wS-DUqyA2YLwU0xkLHBHVkTYx-ActpQJam6BhWuz227Rf9eiSncX2zTReSA/s1600/3+Dec+09+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBn04qogxsr_GALpcGhDiK5bc5LogtmDmf5_bbHZ7CblF9G74Qz3E38EHPJtxu58SSRIiJnGTgQdd_1Z14wS-DUqyA2YLwU0xkLHBHVkTYx-ActpQJam6BhWuz227Rf9eiSncX2zTReSA/s320/3+Dec+09+018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the ducky residents</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uKs73cL-K4PrfJA6lj6izNFTNFP9PQVtHoWV-UeDDx1g8xBkfE4dM-y1w6H6qZUyjf8aC_Xwyc5P31wrlI9IlvM9EjLLyb6NGZKV-BgB8US-43zhn4kwxt52SK88r2nMMWUG2IOuzUgL/s1600/3+Dec+09+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uKs73cL-K4PrfJA6lj6izNFTNFP9PQVtHoWV-UeDDx1g8xBkfE4dM-y1w6H6qZUyjf8aC_Xwyc5P31wrlI9IlvM9EjLLyb6NGZKV-BgB8US-43zhn4kwxt52SK88r2nMMWUG2IOuzUgL/s320/3+Dec+09+035.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">these fruit again - what were they?!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl-LeDI91FMZQon3MrNmwBhtNhpY-KAr-d405bNH2u5KdPp1InhEyE2H1w-ddn8WzDkjz_dYPau_D7wcNhtEsokMyfvjxYjbt5iV7dHj-PZg9JYbowNFiPT6fjAo_7H2ljcz_OQjHcgMt/s1600/3+Dec+09+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl-LeDI91FMZQon3MrNmwBhtNhpY-KAr-d405bNH2u5KdPp1InhEyE2H1w-ddn8WzDkjz_dYPau_D7wcNhtEsokMyfvjxYjbt5iV7dHj-PZg9JYbowNFiPT6fjAo_7H2ljcz_OQjHcgMt/s320/3+Dec+09+037.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a much-admired waterfall</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxGkrlHK-woYW7PZgFeIUK0F4svS1oQXQNCWc4JemlElZHO69BlB5YdHMfod4us7RL_ga4M_RrX6qGpWVVM2mP6uwYfN7R3OwcibfQl2eFUtWniSJFfSkY_gvXEkVVSNcP0RxvhlVWM2u/s1600/3+Dec+09+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxGkrlHK-woYW7PZgFeIUK0F4svS1oQXQNCWc4JemlElZHO69BlB5YdHMfod4us7RL_ga4M_RrX6qGpWVVM2mP6uwYfN7R3OwcibfQl2eFUtWniSJFfSkY_gvXEkVVSNcP0RxvhlVWM2u/s320/3+Dec+09+065.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">still very much a place of worship</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xVOgY_2wMG0Qdku6vk7ERguMYGH79WsZIlcpfra7LT215Gsd5ffTkNis4S-aA_Fbi-FrySwOzuvtn7WQEYWfRSETWyJM0tdaH5i-LCO-haiiinIv0hyphenhyphenOUXXlv27N-Tf2mbpUXYhKI9Z7/s1600/3+Dec+09+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xVOgY_2wMG0Qdku6vk7ERguMYGH79WsZIlcpfra7LT215Gsd5ffTkNis4S-aA_Fbi-FrySwOzuvtn7WQEYWfRSETWyJM0tdaH5i-LCO-haiiinIv0hyphenhyphenOUXXlv27N-Tf2mbpUXYhKI9Z7/s320/3+Dec+09+059.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with many worshippers</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d14GDP_gsgBuV1hs9nGMYfYq6HOa2zLGJRI63gGZQ0qzuPAcwEyNCdcAuil-6bXFuigMFms_HVyPR6_tRMm9WC4mDJMPez5h_9Xx71T4DDop917K2n0zE1JmlLlHm6-3lwkTSul6brhn/s1600/3+Dec+09+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d14GDP_gsgBuV1hs9nGMYfYq6HOa2zLGJRI63gGZQ0qzuPAcwEyNCdcAuil-6bXFuigMFms_HVyPR6_tRMm9WC4mDJMPez5h_9Xx71T4DDop917K2n0zE1JmlLlHm6-3lwkTSul6brhn/s320/3+Dec+09+061.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cleanliness is next to godliness, even if it's fortune dust (sic) we're talking about</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjcWmh2p5z2UzIeJByruDYgMwJrbCT6TX_AFPgSF3O_MRt3naQj4fLqNdiVD465Sj82SYtPWfmCMn9g3aClsUcjJilBHItz-7edo1Fg9sbNGuiNrPBTffXDQDttYT9alfdaS99Q0zN16P/s1600/3+Dec+09+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjcWmh2p5z2UzIeJByruDYgMwJrbCT6TX_AFPgSF3O_MRt3naQj4fLqNdiVD465Sj82SYtPWfmCMn9g3aClsUcjJilBHItz-7edo1Fg9sbNGuiNrPBTffXDQDttYT9alfdaS99Q0zN16P/s320/3+Dec+09+039.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what's that on the ground?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JqRhXwo0Tw-NeOWnVhsChkz9G26MMfd1Sobkh4aPJVyAaATBchTmG8KWSqeoNrtAFjQfWRaw90coC-rH5lhs_BMQ1dSEnhS4FM9HbEyDUwPlKNRw53jz8U1dRsnofZMrjx2ax0pgC5El/s1600/3+Dec+09+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JqRhXwo0Tw-NeOWnVhsChkz9G26MMfd1Sobkh4aPJVyAaATBchTmG8KWSqeoNrtAFjQfWRaw90coC-rH5lhs_BMQ1dSEnhS4FM9HbEyDUwPlKNRw53jz8U1dRsnofZMrjx2ax0pgC5El/s320/3+Dec+09+045.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not leaves</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfglTwb7n9wuW4S0aI_pFTbd2VNRlF17978HsWCKVPX84DpNks0qF25fieN0gOgknH3cLaTNqqbxdf2O96AFYJ8Jm0XkX0wNLJeKAoiqEMlL9KwwpnspKtg_yyYU898PFgS8m1W4RvhSz4/s1600/3+Dec+09+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfglTwb7n9wuW4S0aI_pFTbd2VNRlF17978HsWCKVPX84DpNks0qF25fieN0gOgknH3cLaTNqqbxdf2O96AFYJ8Jm0XkX0wNLJeKAoiqEMlL9KwwpnspKtg_yyYU898PFgS8m1W4RvhSz4/s320/3+Dec+09+042.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">coins tossed for luck! so whose idea was this...</div><br />
It might have been pleasant to loiter in the grounds had the weather had been clement, but the intermittent drizzle was annoying enough to drive us to move on to our next destination.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5VrIrKzmeQcjichlNRFPSGr3Cmy5xr7CVIW7nNRdXCJrk1OYARBdJQqFEb5-s_82Ikvdof3uGtGt41S_6-aY7vHwRJMI2ndiiRAv00k7G-L7CllDOFJYWhrCmkVSZ6WvpgHxwjEQM13k/s1600/3+Dec+09+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5VrIrKzmeQcjichlNRFPSGr3Cmy5xr7CVIW7nNRdXCJrk1OYARBdJQqFEb5-s_82Ikvdof3uGtGt41S_6-aY7vHwRJMI2ndiiRAv00k7G-L7CllDOFJYWhrCmkVSZ6WvpgHxwjEQM13k/s320/3+Dec+09+066.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and so we left Kinkakuji</div><br />
We took a bus back towards town and stopped at another of Kyoto's major attractions, Nijo Castle. Here, we hoped to stay dry indoors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7fKcglrTjubv9DIMUDSMaXY76clEnBACa2grlFTk3PxJsYi9BCY1YS02SVF7WSMCVBUZNGp9gDEj9lSy9XcOXy9cR4sW8RzLIOg58wIBDN5T6tpxyJlLaq9ha9LXFbtcwyfn9yJzIOOY/s1600/3+Dec+09+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7fKcglrTjubv9DIMUDSMaXY76clEnBACa2grlFTk3PxJsYi9BCY1YS02SVF7WSMCVBUZNGp9gDEj9lSy9XcOXy9cR4sW8RzLIOg58wIBDN5T6tpxyJlLaq9ha9LXFbtcwyfn9yJzIOOY/s320/3+Dec+09+072.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">entrance to the palace grounds</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSbjXDuVVZgXptNXvJYt3ANLJ8Pd8k50w9SP6FGr2zgos5eibpP47plOQkv4IU02FeEVJqwtuNtnjSvp203OON70d69ZHvVPFQOhYTjuWbckvJZLqXyi7fBBb9HC4aq-Wr_ptFawIfMEG/s1600/3+Dec+09+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSbjXDuVVZgXptNXvJYt3ANLJ8Pd8k50w9SP6FGr2zgos5eibpP47plOQkv4IU02FeEVJqwtuNtnjSvp203OON70d69ZHvVPFQOhYTjuWbckvJZLqXyi7fBBb9HC4aq-Wr_ptFawIfMEG/s320/3+Dec+09+075.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">despite the rain, there were lots of visitors here as well</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeMBJwFint-jrR921zp959m-BE4YgtiEmPif9mJdNO5HiNFEdIenQttY7r-0IiksphH9USVz4_8dwe27hC9IB3UFwlVLipfXcNkR6OPMI0ZHKHzzcqWfGj5Kk1VzMjZbRROp4LgJuY3NU/s1600/3+Dec+09+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeMBJwFint-jrR921zp959m-BE4YgtiEmPif9mJdNO5HiNFEdIenQttY7r-0IiksphH9USVz4_8dwe27hC9IB3UFwlVLipfXcNkR6OPMI0ZHKHzzcqWfGj5Kk1VzMjZbRROp4LgJuY3NU/s320/3+Dec+09+088.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">photos weren't allowed inside so we had to contend ourselves with photos of the outside</div><br />
Nijo-jo's claim to fame, other than being founded by the great Tokugawa Ieyasu, was its elaborate security features - the "nightingale" floors which were constructed to make a noise when anyone walked across them and the many secret doorways from which the shogun's bodyguards could emerge when needed. Like the many schoolkids visiting, we had great fun squeaking across the burnished wooden floors in our socks. Take that, ninjas! (Of course the many fine paintings and elaborate wall carvings were impressive too hehe...)<br />
<br />
Outside we were entertained by the many school groups rushing to take the obligatory group photo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguO3SRhc5Z2h7NgzsT4KUHMAdP5WwWOizJuDIHSpFCaeQMLW2giZ2FrPb0D0GEB2lzpgyvj6G2Kzx9U_-P2NSWtdW1fI8lG-tj9nzDmqDrdGrUk88HEkaDJXDOUwtdXr3Z51dSxklRco10/s1600/3+Dec+09+092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguO3SRhc5Z2h7NgzsT4KUHMAdP5WwWOizJuDIHSpFCaeQMLW2giZ2FrPb0D0GEB2lzpgyvj6G2Kzx9U_-P2NSWtdW1fI8lG-tj9nzDmqDrdGrUk88HEkaDJXDOUwtdXr3Z51dSxklRco10/s320/3+Dec+09+092.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the best part of the learning journey?</div><br />
Despite the slight drizzle, we decided to at least have a look at the rest of the grounds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwc-AnaphJrDdEy8P5QRgbjvBPkk3NeoZ3SMk8ID5zdIvWW4vhmXScTWR8Je4nOS-ZuuPP4hBLr35GmVX_8XqhgyO4kQm31xPgOES3Xkyag6IJLX1kn92NS_Ks6UYPA0S4WOqVFjGmk8a/s1600/3+Dec+09+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwc-AnaphJrDdEy8P5QRgbjvBPkk3NeoZ3SMk8ID5zdIvWW4vhmXScTWR8Je4nOS-ZuuPP4hBLr35GmVX_8XqhgyO4kQm31xPgOES3Xkyag6IJLX1kn92NS_Ks6UYPA0S4WOqVFjGmk8a/s320/3+Dec+09+102.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so that's how they protect tropical plants like palms from the cold</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RxJiN2DG8UqeXT9Rvb0ZAUS0rS3XxB9EYXZlTt3tNeTAOX4YaZSPVPvDLzcIKO9kSrQXeD0on3nsKfSiNB48VGBKUr8UIlCjsNBvLslcbEOWBmsPV4kJwprAf4hwt04O4YXmm-CvFcpA/s1600/3+Dec+09+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RxJiN2DG8UqeXT9Rvb0ZAUS0rS3XxB9EYXZlTt3tNeTAOX4YaZSPVPvDLzcIKO9kSrQXeD0on3nsKfSiNB48VGBKUr8UIlCjsNBvLslcbEOWBmsPV4kJwprAf4hwt04O4YXmm-CvFcpA/s320/3+Dec+09+103.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">every castle must have at least one bridge</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVlcpHynROiwzvAuuWTUgLg6kvQnET4Z4h-H-TZtjxuks97iAkLzrooRnIWcys2efnS7TiqxQKdC-8zVCL4NGrKUH7bUV87lrwZcGPlS1zJacAG8-LJYPJraoK3UEOJpy9cwstivJRwAe/s1600/3+Dec+09+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVlcpHynROiwzvAuuWTUgLg6kvQnET4Z4h-H-TZtjxuks97iAkLzrooRnIWcys2efnS7TiqxQKdC-8zVCL4NGrKUH7bUV87lrwZcGPlS1zJacAG8-LJYPJraoK3UEOJpy9cwstivJRwAe/s320/3+Dec+09+104.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">otherwise no one (except those ducks) would be able to cross the moat!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmejtozX4IjHQ39e0eBCzAkzhcNA1eaUFdFttlt4LgzBo9fVwVkmRWMb-mScoixDz4mSOjIPvg7j0nQZhfpcOJVbt1Vs9O3PwZIowPNIIgHgj_fCoyOlRs_ltboC4fy9cvh9jZGxzexn7/s1600/3+Dec+09+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmejtozX4IjHQ39e0eBCzAkzhcNA1eaUFdFttlt4LgzBo9fVwVkmRWMb-mScoixDz4mSOjIPvg7j0nQZhfpcOJVbt1Vs9O3PwZIowPNIIgHgj_fCoyOlRs_ltboC4fy9cvh9jZGxzexn7/s320/3+Dec+09+113.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Honmaru Palace, sharing the grounds of Nijo-jo</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh_BsxkQQ4S3pWaV1oGkiKw7srMBux9huCgj0sdrTqxnKRylg2FhyphenhyphenuwJjc8NgB9H2EYhcyqsTDMe5kU-CbVnQ5Nexjh_BgWWLJ_esuBw2giG049sgQge0hqfdo-kClakwk80mkGBoI9zv/s1600/3+Dec+09+117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh_BsxkQQ4S3pWaV1oGkiKw7srMBux9huCgj0sdrTqxnKRylg2FhyphenhyphenuwJjc8NgB9H2EYhcyqsTDMe5kU-CbVnQ5Nexjh_BgWWLJ_esuBw2giG049sgQge0hqfdo-kClakwk80mkGBoI9zv/s320/3+Dec+09+117.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the rain, while incessant, was in its own way, pretty</div><br />
Eventually, the wet-induced cold got to us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4Th3OjIDPiYccCynemRsF25asrQtX3DRNQcqzJLn1eDkz2a8H_n_NlM3kYFAvoBPJD-S-m4Kyf8vXx1FQTgPHEOlQ8jqtW4fdAUrl8BWQjk4OaOoyPnmy9hWCbdF-F0KoT68evQoraqM/s1600/3+Dec+09+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4Th3OjIDPiYccCynemRsF25asrQtX3DRNQcqzJLn1eDkz2a8H_n_NlM3kYFAvoBPJD-S-m4Kyf8vXx1FQTgPHEOlQ8jqtW4fdAUrl8BWQjk4OaOoyPnmy9hWCbdF-F0KoT68evQoraqM/s320/3+Dec+09+158.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we popped by the cafeteria for a cup of hot coffee</div><br />
With the rain pissing down, we figured it was time to retreat. With two of Kyoto's highlights under our belt, we felt we deserved to put our feet up in warm surroundings. On our way back to the hotel, we remembered that we had yet to have lunch and it was already way past lunchtime. Fortunately, in one of the lanes near our hotel, we chanced upon what looked like a promising ramen shop (but then again, we have yet to come across a disappointing one!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZxt1WrRYZCG8I3-sX-Qa5K6RVQtzZOXziogiJj1PtNMcehZuGm_StK6_Lbo2su60v9VqGvy0WLMOI2M0KG9R3PT_Xu-QnFZUJfb_uRHv7xhUXlfLU30fPJsSgTINi1M2TbW0rJoL65ks/s1600/3+Dec+09+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZxt1WrRYZCG8I3-sX-Qa5K6RVQtzZOXziogiJj1PtNMcehZuGm_StK6_Lbo2su60v9VqGvy0WLMOI2M0KG9R3PT_Xu-QnFZUJfb_uRHv7xhUXlfLU30fPJsSgTINi1M2TbW0rJoL65ks/s320/3+Dec+09+168.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the ramen shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-1N4DbCgdYg6NQ1jxA4QhPo7I76fNT_CPzlEFnkfgT-qGgQvm9jGQ2K_sDNPbjn3Tg7oP4l9OsjNuswEDOo2wwXUZGWnQ6YUITaaUe_0u8214QiL6nw3KYwko90fr4e-F6Ip0Y7Q_T_g/s1600/3+Dec+09+166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-1N4DbCgdYg6NQ1jxA4QhPo7I76fNT_CPzlEFnkfgT-qGgQvm9jGQ2K_sDNPbjn3Tg7oP4l9OsjNuswEDOo2wwXUZGWnQ6YUITaaUe_0u8214QiL6nw3KYwko90fr4e-F6Ip0Y7Q_T_g/s320/3+Dec+09+166.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">inside - a typical counter</div><br />
We were ushered upstairs, even though there was space downstairs. Was this an attempt to sideline us or perhaps the staff thought we'd be more comfortable upstairs...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz7VZJ7SB1lIegKhnnICU7cBgTY-EZGt-U-6hnIgVk_lfKvnUPr1aDHphgiWSjt_fuzodX0NrhpvxyNRjeWdyCvwhebAvQDACTX0Fjm0GSZJoP5P4y9RgRyKt3a5Fo9rGCHSKnQimidPb/s1600/3+Dec+09+159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz7VZJ7SB1lIegKhnnICU7cBgTY-EZGt-U-6hnIgVk_lfKvnUPr1aDHphgiWSjt_fuzodX0NrhpvxyNRjeWdyCvwhebAvQDACTX0Fjm0GSZJoP5P4y9RgRyKt3a5Fo9rGCHSKnQimidPb/s320/3+Dec+09+159.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">they even turned on the TV for us</div><br />
We tried to make sense of a Japanese soap sans subtitles, while slurping down...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknZXLmhaGZSYn0bR0P076SI8ghf2C9HXx-XLRgywNTSJdEQ5YxuCVJliNPwScmVNTmT7G4UJiH3ETZgvqXGh6mOG0Fzr8_hwEBafUs3BIlZ6Fzg6xg2OmLDJG2D9KpH23n4aYGI5TFm-n/s1600/3+Dec+09+161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknZXLmhaGZSYn0bR0P076SI8ghf2C9HXx-XLRgywNTSJdEQ5YxuCVJliNPwScmVNTmT7G4UJiH3ETZgvqXGh6mOG0Fzr8_hwEBafUs3BIlZ6Fzg6xg2OmLDJG2D9KpH23n4aYGI5TFm-n/s320/3+Dec+09+161.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a kare ramen (only in cold weather is this a good idea!)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbSQub4eJ8jrGHZosuLM-aeGxneC9pgbsb8OhyKx4N5XxYjzdlymVmqleFVJrUhATTOZIo2yhQfpcgkPEf2kqmFQR0Xz274Ct4RPf6OOfKiVtPfo28tdBwAMu5eqF4iOaDG7is1VG80sr/s1600/3+Dec+09+164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbSQub4eJ8jrGHZosuLM-aeGxneC9pgbsb8OhyKx4N5XxYjzdlymVmqleFVJrUhATTOZIo2yhQfpcgkPEf2kqmFQR0Xz274Ct4RPf6OOfKiVtPfo28tdBwAMu5eqF4iOaDG7is1VG80sr/s320/3+Dec+09+164.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a yasai ramen (HM feeling a distinct lack of veggies in her diet)</div><br />
With full bellies, we felt rejuvenated enough to forgo a rest, barring a quick pitstop at the hotel to use the, uh, facilities. Instead, we squeezed in a visit to the Kyoto International Manga Museum which was a couple of blocks away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdqR4J9gCLDlXHtgPCybUzbWg2c-WhF_0dpBaYZUZ9NZivNPMuZ6kd93j9snUZ5JHltvDur36sHZXuOkbbkuC3Ff6-t3vLCGwbGkinAOU6WuhWxxwZFaDhV2GTcFfxFrZeaICwLAgY27I/s1600/3+Dec+09+178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdqR4J9gCLDlXHtgPCybUzbWg2c-WhF_0dpBaYZUZ9NZivNPMuZ6kd93j9snUZ5JHltvDur36sHZXuOkbbkuC3Ff6-t3vLCGwbGkinAOU6WuhWxxwZFaDhV2GTcFfxFrZeaICwLAgY27I/s320/3+Dec+09+178.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the museum was housed in a refurbished school building</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs59vJsr6IVi5KI2r7uijR7DX1j5-8hKxjmXO2COHGZKoJC1Z56mVEief7_DkGdgq0rYmYkY8dA25IS47kg-CC-vviOogDZhZkXexBW5Ma9LvsLk1XVSfSshV5oofBN2ZMZ2901IegNM9/s1600/3+Dec+09+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs59vJsr6IVi5KI2r7uijR7DX1j5-8hKxjmXO2COHGZKoJC1Z56mVEief7_DkGdgq0rYmYkY8dA25IS47kg-CC-vviOogDZhZkXexBW5Ma9LvsLk1XVSfSshV5oofBN2ZMZ2901IegNM9/s320/3+Dec+09+180.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">three stories high</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7Do4RX7BDwoNR2jr_MabPyKgX1ZlLz0VT-IiMB45QQvDzrR6VtuUZsCZDZuBOFBxTMY4XN5Xp5NeDEa6UnBQGMoWo0M7OTTFjISJjCytL0YwZ9uspY6feKkrON-hRJEWYoMHxnk5iiEG/s1600/3+Dec+09+175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7Do4RX7BDwoNR2jr_MabPyKgX1ZlLz0VT-IiMB45QQvDzrR6VtuUZsCZDZuBOFBxTMY4XN5Xp5NeDEa6UnBQGMoWo0M7OTTFjISJjCytL0YwZ9uspY6feKkrON-hRJEWYoMHxnk5iiEG/s320/3+Dec+09+175.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with interiors lovingly preserved</div><br />
The museum was an experience unto itself. It resembled nothing more than a library, with rooms and rooms filled with nothing but shelves and shelves of manga, and visitors quietly reading. There were several exhibitions, one depicting the evolution of the four-panel cartoon and another celebrating...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSUK4LoLy2TqUOzGnwr5L3odrJx9dhluj4TZVTnRM7LvbpJLHruSLSH5fiL65rUZaDfyXQPnRXo9ewX9E4aBGgFZRODfIiMJ_JTWuCcvk-KfhtPx3fcNx8YjgSB9G117clpS6db0KqRDX/s1600/3+Dec+09+173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSUK4LoLy2TqUOzGnwr5L3odrJx9dhluj4TZVTnRM7LvbpJLHruSLSH5fiL65rUZaDfyXQPnRXo9ewX9E4aBGgFZRODfIiMJ_JTWuCcvk-KfhtPx3fcNx8YjgSB9G117clpS6db0KqRDX/s320/3+Dec+09+173.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the life and times of Shonen Sunday, a boys' manga magazine</div><br />
We even took part in a quiz - "What two sports were frequently featured in Shonen Sunday?" - but didn't win a prize. All too soon, the hour came to an end. The museum would be closing soon and we had plans down in Gion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino_kUMxb-uNVY3R6hJEPBeJL66nF7R_r_a9FeB-9Vx8MFoQai4gejbbF5n8XXeWaOoHmLp-W1F5LGGQau3Io3356ywa1nbY_UNYdgPO4lKc3cF0XxOGbPE7ia22jkwqTExdeh19wBAmPv/s1600/3+Dec+09+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino_kUMxb-uNVY3R6hJEPBeJL66nF7R_r_a9FeB-9Vx8MFoQai4gejbbF5n8XXeWaOoHmLp-W1F5LGGQau3Io3356ywa1nbY_UNYdgPO4lKc3cF0XxOGbPE7ia22jkwqTExdeh19wBAmPv/s320/3+Dec+09+186.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">no, it wasn't to check out the mochi shop again</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnBTV9RrXprn7Qbx_tVv5mq_iMENh922OuuxsAaj2PQjfwUnFud4JJcK0W42InnnLUdcg3rc909JdDCAneR0C5NRh2kJWb2HbMjfI6OWMgR1j-a93QGpLz7oNQRI_xPAL2zJ5yDYPWqsm/s1600/3+Dec+09+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnBTV9RrXprn7Qbx_tVv5mq_iMENh922OuuxsAaj2PQjfwUnFud4JJcK0W42InnnLUdcg3rc909JdDCAneR0C5NRh2kJWb2HbMjfI6OWMgR1j-a93QGpLz7oNQRI_xPAL2zJ5yDYPWqsm/s320/3+Dec+09+185.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">although we couldn't and didn't pass up the chance to have more mochi</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaXGqSzC3ryz_OC7fYR5kuqk6KhrYKa-ciJhR7JsjpcS3L25MGhzFr7f0pgxkp9brN-u_5O-bg-VnAbsrehlsRAxqBoGyggVP-xR9H-g0Cxntt6sE2F7QBPE6NQG4moYkXp2zymcManfn/s1600/3+Dec+09+202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaXGqSzC3ryz_OC7fYR5kuqk6KhrYKa-ciJhR7JsjpcS3L25MGhzFr7f0pgxkp9brN-u_5O-bg-VnAbsrehlsRAxqBoGyggVP-xR9H-g0Cxntt6sE2F7QBPE6NQG4moYkXp2zymcManfn/s320/3+Dec+09+202.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nor was it to explore the traditional shops in the area, particularly this popular sweet shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSq85O9crgx3rHBhWz7n1DrEgMkG60-mSVPVkllm-OVcsbhEGRhKN84FcT0lur0O9CYSP3OgaXc_eNybPLXKOTwnLHS3eBLWeOTZJv9aGCpX-2vQZWYH96RRyDsLyGDGSc_RZtGTwfdBQ/s1600/3+Dec+09+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSq85O9crgx3rHBhWz7n1DrEgMkG60-mSVPVkllm-OVcsbhEGRhKN84FcT0lur0O9CYSP3OgaXc_eNybPLXKOTwnLHS3eBLWeOTZJv9aGCpX-2vQZWYH96RRyDsLyGDGSc_RZtGTwfdBQ/s320/3+Dec+09+200.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">such pretty sweets in a box</div><br />
This was what we had come for, an adventure at...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv0LaWpLz1OKxvcjNhPtng2Ml7Sft4U3T67UJZnAo9LelD-BCD-07h-BxeOoNVL0yW7k3sTgcDVX0aanm4V_t8mwvJBLHON1kNW9dlm2kz4uZbIdd_3F_Ky69b2BG2k1HFf59gsi7ioTU/s1600/3+Dec+09+196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv0LaWpLz1OKxvcjNhPtng2Ml7Sft4U3T67UJZnAo9LelD-BCD-07h-BxeOoNVL0yW7k3sTgcDVX0aanm4V_t8mwvJBLHON1kNW9dlm2kz4uZbIdd_3F_Ky69b2BG2k1HFf59gsi7ioTU/s320/3+Dec+09+196.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">literally, the "Dream Factory"</div><br />
At Yumekoubou, one could be transformed into a geisha for an evening, for a price of course. For curious <i>gaijin</i>, this was the quickest way to experience what it was like to be a geisha; real geisha spend a lifetime in training and it is almost unheard of (with one or two notable exceptions) for foreigners to be allowed into this exclusive community. Enterprising photo studios had therefore sprung up, offering makeover packages and bookings online.<br />
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We were greeted at the door by a young man who proceeded to explain to us, in limited but understandable English, the various packages. HM opted for the maiko makeover; maikos are junior geishas and they get to wear the more colourful kimonos. Then she was asked: did she want prints or just the CD? CD please - we didn't have the time to wait for prints to be made. With the formalities done and much bowing, the young man handed HM over to a make-up artist.<br />
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We were then ushered into a dressing room where we were handed a set of undergarments and tabi (Japanese socks) for HM, and lockers for us to store our things in. I was told I could keep my camera with me, to document the process for posterity. Then we proceeded upstairs to the make-up room.<br />
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We had expected it to be busy but it seemed like we were the only customers that night. I watched as the friendly yet professional make-up artist fussed over HM. First she laid on a layer of white powder. Then, she applied rouge to the eye-lids and the cheeks. Over that, she applied a layer of white foundation which was then smoothed over with more powder. Then came the red eyeshadow followed by the use of a black pencil on the eyebrows. Following that, she finished up with deep red eyeliner and lipstick on HM's eyelids and lips respectively.<br />
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Make-up done, we were ushered into the next room, where a variety of kimonos and other outfits were hung. If we had so wished, we could have dressed up as samurais! From the lot, HM chose a black and red kimono, but first she had to put on several intermediate layers and be tied to accentuate various aspects of her figure. After that came the kimono and the obi, and to complete the transformation, the elaborate hairpiece and accessories. Voila, a maiko!<br />
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In full regalia, HM could only shuffle gently and genteel-y, and shuffle she did, into the photo studio. The photographer turned out to be the nice young man from the reception. With many a "so so so" (Japanese for "I see"), he positioned HM in a variety of poses, with various props and against various backdrops. The whole process was painless. And then it was all over.<br />
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By the time HM had disrobed and cleaned the make-up off her face, the CD was ready. We had a nice chat with the make-up artist who was most excited to hear about our itinerary. Before we left, she gave us a tip: the autumn temple light-up was still on that week. We had to visit the temples, especially Kiyomizu, by night. We assured her we would.<br />
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Leaving Yumekoubou, we headed towards Pontocho for dinner, passing by the riverside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSixGtGOWrHHF5Q36xaw44umAWsZ8qCK8l0ZxvY1XiVpzlgLiBdFDNk8SZ2Y3_HCxHKp8j9Hs0i34qyrJtnfTdqzfTPoqxVx5R_ubiBlnr1T4-E6GSNXAiDGYi_tuaaqAJSQ4X0l1dOl/s1600/3+Dec+09+395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSixGtGOWrHHF5Q36xaw44umAWsZ8qCK8l0ZxvY1XiVpzlgLiBdFDNk8SZ2Y3_HCxHKp8j9Hs0i34qyrJtnfTdqzfTPoqxVx5R_ubiBlnr1T4-E6GSNXAiDGYi_tuaaqAJSQ4X0l1dOl/s320/3+Dec+09+395.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the founder of kabuki</div><br />
We had spotted this izakaya the night before. It had looked busy yet not overly crowded. There were obviously other more trendy places in the area, but we were looking for something...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5pb9GJAimE0esyCQzLSOiMIohpir6RpWbgAlrjsESuVv4u3l9ikyblERRBlDjwoa78Qx7lGq2xrdzPk2R2IZkIpnMduMlbrPp5yMeylOHIC4OICluF8Os6RqrofG1TlrNFQ-YGKCc2J3/s1600/3+Dec+09+428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5pb9GJAimE0esyCQzLSOiMIohpir6RpWbgAlrjsESuVv4u3l9ikyblERRBlDjwoa78Qx7lGq2xrdzPk2R2IZkIpnMduMlbrPp5yMeylOHIC4OICluF8Os6RqrofG1TlrNFQ-YGKCc2J3/s320/3+Dec+09+428.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a little more traditional</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZNUXFh0pOiHiBvJmky0aSXbK0_7HsUDZyMdsYhHOzF1fsQAJCpYVm3VKRZCxf-pwtBLHjs-1TgPgiO6VdyEUTUckYV7oUfK9ez3paWzsHcwqtg0Jdhu9vKfaiSD_BScDsv3XIWOFCCvh/s1600/3+Dec+09+429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZNUXFh0pOiHiBvJmky0aSXbK0_7HsUDZyMdsYhHOzF1fsQAJCpYVm3VKRZCxf-pwtBLHjs-1TgPgiO6VdyEUTUckYV7oUfK9ez3paWzsHcwqtg0Jdhu9vKfaiSD_BScDsv3XIWOFCCvh/s320/3+Dec+09+429.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we particularly liked the look of the obasan running the place</div><br />
Once again, we didn't get to sit where the action was. Instead we were ushered upstairs...<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYDJ25PWegeNjUx95nvN7wpBMebabOVyFWf07xmI2qPoHed7Xty6wyc5YtU4PdMau68ScBH-zrGeFbkh9DqB6s1vaJPHHauEL5wxe-Hviy_H3LGOAq9N61rbDs-GDFcY02ZZDMp59nHvh/s1600/3+Dec+09+423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYDJ25PWegeNjUx95nvN7wpBMebabOVyFWf07xmI2qPoHed7Xty6wyc5YtU4PdMau68ScBH-zrGeFbkh9DqB6s1vaJPHHauEL5wxe-Hviy_H3LGOAq9N61rbDs-GDFcY02ZZDMp59nHvh/s320/3+Dec+09+423.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">we had the room to ourselves</div><div><br />
</div></div>The girl who served us turned out to be from mainland China, specifically Shanghai which was, as she pointed out, only an hour away by air. We noted the trend - that there were many more immigrant workers, especially from China, and that more often than not, we were being assigned such waitstaff. While this made for easier communication, it wasn't quite what we were looking for in a trip to Japan, especially when our very honest service staff admitted that she didn't particularly like Japanese food!<br />
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So what did we have to eat, from the extensive menu? We had...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGFvWhCAGiEfHy1ungKvYQUkpUHbwweUG8cPbTZ8gm9ISzD12h3M5CAnelaheZpTSlxvYFWaQeJdD5xsABNhA3GJua92bsSv66OiqEMOuMzj_8lY0WoD1y8rqxXnHnIutTnSMB55DQJo2/s1600/3+Dec+09+400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGFvWhCAGiEfHy1ungKvYQUkpUHbwweUG8cPbTZ8gm9ISzD12h3M5CAnelaheZpTSlxvYFWaQeJdD5xsABNhA3GJua92bsSv66OiqEMOuMzj_8lY0WoD1y8rqxXnHnIutTnSMB55DQJo2/s320/3+Dec+09+400.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">oden, the Japanese equivalent of yong tau foo</div><br />
We tried, for the first time...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0894yE7JW0mEG-JvLlm_mPb_IPDbgF6DmJt2XNprv4F7JCqgNNKGqlEGl_UGDQSTp8KsyoCVX-XEuxVSl2wQvB8j_pE6cYtwerDTN4ZoZFESnvFdR9VIZX92Qk7wEyUAi1nKgZ5GZ_cw/s1600/3+Dec+09+404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0894yE7JW0mEG-JvLlm_mPb_IPDbgF6DmJt2XNprv4F7JCqgNNKGqlEGl_UGDQSTp8KsyoCVX-XEuxVSl2wQvB8j_pE6cYtwerDTN4ZoZFESnvFdR9VIZX92Qk7wEyUAi1nKgZ5GZ_cw/s320/3+Dec+09+404.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>yuba</i> (beancurd skin) sashimi - similar to mock chicken</div><br />
and followed that up with...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacQIlrwANmSya8LDpMM2H6NXoclOne5UsRFZoGzJWJKy-VY-pMh5EiOCt7gABDRxPGqp1WgyLYhyNDcmzoedg_mOmPaPfnRWmc-t3WCwh-lp0TDmQDvAfOj27GeM6Azfy16svCPbQeBLN/s1600/3+Dec+09+406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacQIlrwANmSya8LDpMM2H6NXoclOne5UsRFZoGzJWJKy-VY-pMh5EiOCt7gABDRxPGqp1WgyLYhyNDcmzoedg_mOmPaPfnRWmc-t3WCwh-lp0TDmQDvAfOj27GeM6Azfy16svCPbQeBLN/s320/3+Dec+09+406.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yudofu aka...</div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKSOFPtxHGlvkZVSrmrhjb_IJjzqqzU_QJPMAsaVOi44ecLH9zPvw5Qi-8EJjfTTA3XnDT7KvuVcRUR4MJXnSj3ySki6Y147hl2lEYw5Th9TE3PlBCOsVP1K2Ki3TcQFsBKm0tYs3LCss/s1600/3+Dec+09+411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKSOFPtxHGlvkZVSrmrhjb_IJjzqqzU_QJPMAsaVOi44ecLH9zPvw5Qi-8EJjfTTA3XnDT7KvuVcRUR4MJXnSj3ySki6Y147hl2lEYw5Th9TE3PlBCOsVP1K2Ki3TcQFsBKm0tYs3LCss/s320/3+Dec+09+411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">tofu hotpot</div></div><br />
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... ordering as we went along...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8llWpambgKGtXaEeVETLNMnz5a8w4pM1wUe4vE67tFIwK4ZZEMZWr1kvyPdXT4casqYvst8HngDy_ldO7UrCK7nccXR8eEQcbU_dALb77oAOB9PljtuCjDwlWu9wdgZdDJqZezyujFERT/s1600/3+Dec+09+409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8llWpambgKGtXaEeVETLNMnz5a8w4pM1wUe4vE67tFIwK4ZZEMZWr1kvyPdXT4casqYvst8HngDy_ldO7UrCK7nccXR8eEQcbU_dALb77oAOB9PljtuCjDwlWu9wdgZdDJqZezyujFERT/s320/3+Dec+09+409.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">stewed eggplant with miso</div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0akSLz4K9gvzCK1Huoxsoa89HOIONLlkTJeZ7sqPvd67wkUhKWz90VQgcsFojr9TaCV7pqSWd2d4Q22icrDmOEdvi7boO2ACSaQuUz2Ukvj6NSbjHldAPCEH7s0oF5HdSSfDfwRoG1wE/s1600/3+Dec+09+417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0akSLz4K9gvzCK1Huoxsoa89HOIONLlkTJeZ7sqPvd67wkUhKWz90VQgcsFojr9TaCV7pqSWd2d4Q22icrDmOEdvi7boO2ACSaQuUz2Ukvj6NSbjHldAPCEH7s0oF5HdSSfDfwRoG1wE/s320/3+Dec+09+417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">grilled fish</div><div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdG__OK1-livOl3wxiO1RQ4OubfMtwfGXAWUzpehRp0l96bRiT8VbGQDWbrbSPYVWl0wPG3ISJlsgoFG2EmvkJ69JlrLajy_3dwF3z9HcZCO1mz7KKxsm21JG85DImmWpFsAeAU-U50aU/s1600/3+Dec+09+419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdG__OK1-livOl3wxiO1RQ4OubfMtwfGXAWUzpehRp0l96bRiT8VbGQDWbrbSPYVWl0wPG3ISJlsgoFG2EmvkJ69JlrLajy_3dwF3z9HcZCO1mz7KKxsm21JG85DImmWpFsAeAU-U50aU/s320/3+Dec+09+419.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Japanese fishcake</div><div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwIH4Gx-kY5O2QMkqKvdheRdUa9w2s9RjuRSw0oD7TMNBKBeF0mR1veG_ZrwC1nUVO3PFNzTyPdDezhW9Yffe00bWQmFSezcK-EazxxA8YQ_pqtRdtsFUMaDjViYgoT6pgkOHk03ZGvdI/s1600/3+Dec+09+412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwIH4Gx-kY5O2QMkqKvdheRdUa9w2s9RjuRSw0oD7TMNBKBeF0mR1veG_ZrwC1nUVO3PFNzTyPdDezhW9Yffe00bWQmFSezcK-EazxxA8YQ_pqtRdtsFUMaDjViYgoT6pgkOHk03ZGvdI/s320/3+Dec+09+412.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and some nigori sake</div><br />
in quick succession. We looked for one last thing to end the meal and asked our waitress to recommend something different. She suggested <i>mofuro</i>, something that she said was the latest trend in Kyoto, very popular with the izakaya's customers. Here, they were served with <i>mentaikoi</i> (spiced cod roe). Mofuro - now why did that sound familiar? We decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised to be served this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoX-esRc5ikRD9JlGyZZbVhXitVT0E4ojtuMdy3AB5-XIIeJqkQ_-xGJlwqEZ5IjqiEs69H5E2WdW4qRHxRIb3ER46Y00JQzC0LtYfjAl0T2dx9ZQ2PWnNNU2zPXtHbdTYynIYBpnpuii/s1600/3+Dec+09+422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoX-esRc5ikRD9JlGyZZbVhXitVT0E4ojtuMdy3AB5-XIIeJqkQ_-xGJlwqEZ5IjqiEs69H5E2WdW4qRHxRIb3ER46Y00JQzC0LtYfjAl0T2dx9ZQ2PWnNNU2zPXtHbdTYynIYBpnpuii/s320/3+Dec+09+422.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">clearly a versatile ingredient</div><br />
Whatever <i>mofuro</i> was, we liked it, especially the texture and we were intrigued. A check with Google, back at the hotel, revealed that a <i>mofuro</i> is a waffle created using mochi! Apparently someone enterprising had stuck a lump of mochi into a waffle machine and, as they say, the rest is history.<br />
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It had been a most enjoyable meal, its honest-to-goodness simplicity in direct contrast with the fancy kaiseki-type meals Kyoto was famous for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-mJchU4D7Ev_1XZluNnHPx5vSk7SMe5Fs-qCqyKYC_KCswZhHA5veURpGMeJ_7IcnnV934qgV87oBwKFr5vPy90BsAerTpIsclyUEVRg-PwxyrndBwgZKfwSpQoRwU5o3ift4IkJ_K5R/s1600/3+Dec+09+426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-mJchU4D7Ev_1XZluNnHPx5vSk7SMe5Fs-qCqyKYC_KCswZhHA5veURpGMeJ_7IcnnV934qgV87oBwKFr5vPy90BsAerTpIsclyUEVRg-PwxyrndBwgZKfwSpQoRwU5o3ift4IkJ_K5R/s320/3+Dec+09+426.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we collected our shoes from these lockers</div><br />
Before turning in for the night, we took the opportunity to admire the hotel's faux-European decor.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w5LS8hYRa1LdUTVy2w57LPA4OWehedVS9iaUfLTuFKbeVtkRJWzWOW2aifCWq99Kii7y4GxvFJKpo0owzPYCt4chexugk8kwYShBPzGfT1fX0qLFlcxh7Ytl90YfjlF88GCVGbKIcQRZ/s1600/3+Dec+09+434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w5LS8hYRa1LdUTVy2w57LPA4OWehedVS9iaUfLTuFKbeVtkRJWzWOW2aifCWq99Kii7y4GxvFJKpo0owzPYCt4chexugk8kwYShBPzGfT1fX0qLFlcxh7Ytl90YfjlF88GCVGbKIcQRZ/s320/3+Dec+09+434.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzC0kYpleg5GDQ09pypCPjaKt5f7UC0F3MVRqfRhhgic5bAAV6Ab5aX1Bob7HEBYkmRIegZL0J08YFC_8f4duoIJ8ZzbfrlG_8x9bhXBPbIiaqh8C33FbWvJZ7RxzIBqmBu7-shH_rUqw/s1600/3+Dec+09+440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzC0kYpleg5GDQ09pypCPjaKt5f7UC0F3MVRqfRhhgic5bAAV6Ab5aX1Bob7HEBYkmRIegZL0J08YFC_8f4duoIJ8ZzbfrlG_8x9bhXBPbIiaqh8C33FbWvJZ7RxzIBqmBu7-shH_rUqw/s320/3+Dec+09+440.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1-I51xR9UJkLUz4lxI1QkHXAU9KWcK60Wse3MFM6I1O4EFpM2TbitYUdmaec2R4TOSjWKHwrYZv4VcTmfEb_7g7PBewGOr-6KT0lmKR_AKWd-kDAT9r-sS7o898_AbWwbfdLnB5Dl3Pi/s1600/3+Dec+09+443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1-I51xR9UJkLUz4lxI1QkHXAU9KWcK60Wse3MFM6I1O4EFpM2TbitYUdmaec2R4TOSjWKHwrYZv4VcTmfEb_7g7PBewGOr-6KT0lmKR_AKWd-kDAT9r-sS7o898_AbWwbfdLnB5Dl3Pi/s320/3+Dec+09+443.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgkl8VFZa9Xqj4NlmddwKigJZzJDGC7gZLYBvqp5zVNPPDxcL4ZhNgBhaEhb-XwLiwCvsGb-uuIuMcL0rkr-Z-z2uhrQoNUpMwA3ZeHn3ocZJfsg8upxjZFxVRh5M0XUs3z9Ug7EG5ajD/s1600/3+Dec+09+445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgkl8VFZa9Xqj4NlmddwKigJZzJDGC7gZLYBvqp5zVNPPDxcL4ZhNgBhaEhb-XwLiwCvsGb-uuIuMcL0rkr-Z-z2uhrQoNUpMwA3ZeHn3ocZJfsg8upxjZFxVRh5M0XUs3z9Ug7EG5ajD/s320/3+Dec+09+445.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgldUjpXZbJ6nqnl-J8R9NE42C7hi6Ii8E0dfsRoPcA32Axw_4dvkDEYb0uN-1oY81-Z9XmTI0BpCYtL_kOsJ8appSOAdDEkfZWonDMrKZ6RJymw3_RTydRkXe9YdpslqTjgiyMPtPeuI/s1600/3+Dec+09+447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgldUjpXZbJ6nqnl-J8R9NE42C7hi6Ii8E0dfsRoPcA32Axw_4dvkDEYb0uN-1oY81-Z9XmTI0BpCYtL_kOsJ8appSOAdDEkfZWonDMrKZ6RJymw3_RTydRkXe9YdpslqTjgiyMPtPeuI/s320/3+Dec+09+447.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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What could we say about Kyoto so far? That it clearly cherished and celebrated its traditional roots, but wasn't above embracing the new and innovative. Interesting ne.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0