Chasing Cherry Blossoms, Old Friends & Uncle Jack

[Jacques Vert]

Typical trip down the river is 2 hours but varies depending on how much rain they’ve had. So a comfort stop before boarding the boat is well advised.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Our skipper pointed out Japan’s “original 711” as we neared the end of the cruise.






Some calm water at the end of the cruise:

 

[Jacques Vert]

By now we’d missed lunch so it was off to Tenryu-ji (Temple of the heavenly dragon):

 

[Jacques Vert]

Of course where there's a temple, there's a garden:







The cherry blossoms may have finished but spring brings many other flowers, including the Azealias.

 

[Gem56]

Another typical Japanese restaurant, this time with Udon Noodles and tempura. You guessed it… Rie did the ordering. Our only decision was hot or cold noodles. Beautiful!















We parted from Rie and Yoshi at this point. They were extremely kind to us and took us to many different places.

 

[Gem56]

Our hotel in Kyoto was the Crown Plaza which is across the road from the Nijo Castle. One of the better Crown Plazas that we have stayed at.

The Lobby Bar has a waterfall outside the windows which gives a nice ambience. Every Friday and Saturday they have someone entertain. First from 5.30 to 6.30pm and then again from 8.30 to 9.00pm. When you sit down the staff will come to take your drink order, not sure if it’s compulsory but be aware that the price on the drinks list does not include tax.

 

[Gem56]

Our last, but by no means the least, catch up with old friends was with Takashi. He was our first home stay student.

He came to Coffs Harbour 14 years ago for a couple of weeks to improve his English. He’s now a medical doctor. He and his wife, who is also a doctor, picked us up from the CP next morning to take us sight seeing in Kyoto.

But of course, first we had to have lunch in another traditional Japanese restaurant. This time Yuba and Tofu at Gion Kyo Ryori Hanasaki.

Taskashi and his wife had organised the menu prior to our arrival.









The Tofu was heating up in this little wooden box along with a pot of soy sauce and a small dish of chilli. So different to anything that we experienced and really nice.






Different flavours to tofu back home.

 

[Gem56]

Then off to the Kinkaku-ji Temple. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day.

 

[Gem56]

Then off to the Fushimi Inari Shrine.





The foxes are the Inari's messengers and consequently there are 2 at the gate where we entered.










Up on the right side and back on the left. You can walk quite a distance, up the mountain to the Shinto god of rice. However we still had lots to cover and didn't have time. Next visit!

 

[Gem56]

These little wooden tokens (can't remember what they are called) are available for anyone to write their wish on. They cost 1,000y and you include your name, where you're from and your wish and finish the face on the other side then hang it up along with thousands of others.

 

[Gem56]

Lastly the Kiyomizu Temple












This Temple has been destroyed by many earthquakes and fires and obviously rebuilt, over the centuries. Supporting structure of Kiyomizu-Temple's Main Hall is constructed with 139 pillars and no nails are used. It's on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It's certainly something to see.

 

[Gem56]

 

[Gem56]

We love the fact that the younger generation always like to dress in traditional costume keeping the heritage alive





Otowa Waterfall - using a cup (supplied) you choose one of the three streams to catch the water and drink it. Each stream has a different quality: health/longevity, love, study/success. You only choose one because it is considered greedy to drink from more than one.











The street leading to/from the temple; lots of (touristy) shops, cafes and eateries

 

[Gem56]

Then of course, after another hard day’s sightseeing it’s time to eat again. This time to the most beautiful tempura restaurant - Tempura Endo Yasaka, with our own personal chef cooking in front of us.





This was my plate that he was attending to



We were treated to delightful delicacies such as eel, sea urchin, prawns with their legs still attached and tempura fish that sat on the plate looking back at us:

 

[Gem56]

Plus many other things that we couldn’t pronounce or had never heard of.

 

[Gem56]

During the evening it became obvious that we had our own private entrance and room. As we were saying "mata ne" to the chef and waitress, we were presented with a beautifully embroided towel. As we left the premises the chef and waitress followed us out and waved us goodbye from the front steps. They stayed there waving until we were out of sight. It was all so special and we felt very spoilt. It was lovely to meet up with Takashi again after 14 years and meet his +1.

 

[Gem56]

Due to some laptop problems during our trip, we felt it necessary to do a back up, especially all my photos. So I have purchased an external hard drive and received it 'Tax Free'. The receipt has been stapled into my passport. Depending on who you ask depends on the answer you get - "can I use the hard drive before I leave Japan?"

Can anyone tell me what the correct answer is?

 

[Jacques Vert]

KANAZAWA

After having caught up with our friends Masae, Hiroshi, Rie, Yoshi, Akiko, Takashi and his +1, it was time to do our own thing for a few days.

We went to Kanazawa the next day where we stayed at the HI. It was very difficult to find this place. First we went to the CP where we got directions: even when we knew exactly where it was on the map, we went around the block a couple of times trying to find the entrance. Eventually I guessed that the entrance was inside the department store, M’za.

You take the lift to the 16[SUP]th [/SUP]floor to check in and ask where the parking is. Parking is actually in the multi-storey car park across the side street and there is an overbridge from the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] floor of the car park to the hotel lifts.

For hotel guests, parking is Y500 per 24 hours.

 

[drron]

Due to some laptop problems during our trip, we felt it necessary to do a back up, especially all my photos. So I have purchased an external hard drive and received it 'Tax Free'. The receipt has been stapled into my passport. Depending on who you ask depends on the answer you get - "can I use the hard drive before I leave Japan?"

Can anyone tell me what the correct answer is?

Yes you can.When you show your passport to the Customs official past security he just takes the form out and throws it in a basket without even looking at that-that was us just 2 weeks ago.

 

[Gem56]

Yes you can.When you show your passport to the Customs official past security he just takes the form out and throws it in a basket without even looking at that-that was us just 2 weeks ago.

Thanks drron for your speedy reply.