Day 7 : Bye-bye Shoko-san!

Halfway through my journey.

Happy time really flies. Or it's just that i am busy? Since i am in the land of the rising sun. A place, just like any other countries, with thousand places waiting to explore, questions waiting to be solved.

For me, it's just another good life experience.

Experience like strolling on the Kyoto street, with some ladies in kimono walking by some old buildings. Feels like moving back in time, it's those guys with office bag instead of samurai sword that pulls me back to reality!


One thing i like about Kyoto, is the bus service. They probably can take you to anywhere in Kyoto, with daily pass of 500 yen. Along the way you can enjoy the beautiful scene of temples, shrines, and sophisticated buildings, perfect match of old and new.


Today, our first destination is Kiyomizu-dera temple. Located on a hill side, this is one of the most visited temple. Shoko-san and i were more than happy to walk on steep and busy lanes leading to the temple. Both side of the lanes full with souvenirs shop lined with handicraft, omiyage(souvenirs), sweet, to name a few.


Like many other tourist, we take some photos infront of the Nio-mon gate. With it's striking colour, i found it hard to believe that current structures were actually being rebuilt some 4 centuries ago. Since most of the temple is well landscaped with numbers of sakura trees, normally spring is most popular season for visitor. Today i can only notice a handful of foreigners, including me!

But there will be always some locals, high school student's school trip, couples, etc. I remember visiting some chinese temple during my primary school day, guess all the Buddist temple looks almost the same to some layman like me. But the weather, the people, what i hear and see around me, is totally different!


Shoko and i spend quite some time on the main hall(hon-do), it's actually a big suspended platform high above ground, where you can enjoy the beautiful forest view so get your self scared by looking down to the ground where the huge column slowly builds up. Not far away, lies Kyoto city, Kyoto tower is clearly visible.


We spend almost 4 hours here, wandering around to see some pagodas, jizo statue, more and more other buildings. Reluctant, but we have to move on to Kinkaku-ji before it's too late.


Gold. The very first impression i had on this temple, yet another UNESCO's world heritage site. Almost all the photographer will try to capture it's reflections on the pool surface, simply stunning! The compound of this temple is rather small, we just spend sometime around the main temple and heads out.


I purposely slow down while we walks down some stairs. Snap a photo of Shoko-san, from behind. For days she never left me behind, never give up trying to explain things to me, and i see Kyoto through her eyes.

As much as i wanted to say "thank you", i would like to say "Visit me sometime, too". That's when i can truely "pay" back, i think :)


Back in Shoko-san's aparto, i packed and start rolling my luggage on the street again.

Next destination, Shimpei-san's house! For tonight, i will be part of Sanjo-street!