Nihon Trip

Day 1 - 10/05/07

Places visited

-Kyoto

-Arashiyama

-Imperial Palace

-Gion

Summary

When we reached Kyoto, it was already drizzing, thus not a best start to our trip. I was still positive and in high spirits that everything will turn out to very well. ( It was indeed an awesome trip) We then have to carry our heavy luggage to find my accomodation place although it was raining.

The positive thing happened to us when a kind-hearted soul brought us to my hostel when at that moment we really lost my way in the bad weather. Thus the first thing that i learn in Japan is if you don know anything, please ask !, Like what Paulo Coelho mentioned in his book , 'Like a flowing river', although neither of both parties can speak the each other languages, we can made ourselves understood by gestures, smiles, facial expressions and the desire to share and ask. The simple desire to share something meant we can enter the world of language without words, where everything is always clear and there is no danger of being misinterpreted.

I realize that truth that the world is really interwined together, there is no culture or language barrier between people. A sincere heart can make you pierce through the other person heart without barriers.

Back to the topic that how i found the building. I was at first skeptical about the K House, my hostel. But it turns out to be really a cozy , comfortable stay for us. No wonder it was voted the best hostel in Japan in 2004.

Day : We followed our schedule and went to Arashiyama , it was recommeded by our friend, Tommy and she told us going to Arashiyama is a must. Thus although it was still raining , we made our way there. It was a beautiful and unqiue place whereby the " Romance train" is the highlight. The Romance train will bring u all around Arashiyama filled with nice scenery. We miss the walk to the Monkey park and bamboo grove though as it was not only raining but the weather is really frezzing us.

Night : We made our way somehow by bus to Gion after a trip to the Imperial place. We did see some geishas in Gion. My dear adviced me not to take pictures of them as they are also earning a living and not icons and have no obligations to entertain the tourists. It was really freezing that the night , all i can recall vividly is the 1000 yen for the dinner that we paid for three dishes in Gion. It was pretty cheap and most importantly , OISHi !.