After the wetness of Day 2, Day 3 was sunny and bright. Knee-ache came and I was not able to walk for long hour, so we skipped (and missed) many places first planned. Put it this way, perhaps not that bad that we could come back and visit them next time next trip?
Anyway Ohayou gozaimasu. The first place which was suppose to go on Day 2, put on top of the list on Day 3, not regretting the visit - Kinkaku Ji (Gold Pavilion). I have been to Silver Pavilion before (past trip). To compare, I prefer Gold Pavilion, perhaps due to the "atas-ness" of the Gold.
Waited for 3 buses to past before we could squeeze into the City Bus which head Kinkaku-Ji. Raku Bus was still not in operation as we were early. Passed by Nijo Castle on the over crowded bus, it was flooded with school students up to the gate as well. We decided not to get down otherwise we would waste alot of time waiting for the bus again.
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| One of the "Dai" ji (BIG) |
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| Entering Kinkaku Ji (Golden Pavilion),or another name for it is "Deer Pavilion" |
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| After entering here, you will pay tickets |
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| 五戒： 不杀生，不偷盗，不邪淫，不妄语，不饮酒 |
Right before entering, we could see the Chinese character "大" (BIG) near Mt Kinugasa. Actually there are 5 of them (or 6, becuase another "大" located near near Ginkaku-Ji on Mt Daimonji) located on 5 mountains in Kyoto (Kyoto Gozan), They would be lighted on 16 Aug every year to guide spirits back after visiting their old homes, quite interesting right?
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| The most beautiful scene in Kinkaku Ji |
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| A path to walk before you reach |
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| The pheonix on the roof top is a highlight |
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| Is that a pheonix? |
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| Maple leaves against the lake |
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| You like it? |
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| It says that there are 3 storey, the top storey housed Buddha Relic right in the middle of the hall |
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| Just follow the path, walk and walk |
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| Just look and see, no going up |
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| The stone forms like a Koi fish in the cave |
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| Representing the 5 elements, many try to tip coins into the alm bowl |
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| Old cave of white snake spirit which was subdued by Heavenly guardian |
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| You can buy a candle and light at the side |
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| Receeing the food. Difficult to bring back since expiring pretty fast (a week) as the food are all freshly made and consume early type. |
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| Crowded? |
After our visit to Kinkaku-ji, we make use of our day pass to take bus to Kyoto Centre area. It was so excited to see Kyoto tower, shape of a hugh candle stick, after 3 days in Kyoto. (Actually we could see the tower from afar from Omiya where we stayed, but quite far away).
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| Some kind of political event |
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| Kyoto Tower Hotel |
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| Kyoto station |
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| Very cooling and windy, do you see the falling maple leaves? |
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| In the bus, notice the students outside? |
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| We reached Kyoto station |
Rumbling tummies brought us to 1 new eat house along the road near Higashi Hongan-Ji. It was newly open I guess. You buy your tickets from the ticket machine near the entrance and hand it to the counter to prepare your food. Buying food to me was easy, but I find digging so much coins inconvenient esp. you have to keep looking at the face value :)
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| Newly opened "stand and eat" eating hut next to 7-Eleven but we have 2 children too short to stand and eat, so we have a table to eat enjoy our food! Notice all Congratulating flowers the same except for the name of well-wishers, why har? |
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| Beef curry rice |
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| Hot soup Soba with raw egg |
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| Free Onigiri with any meal ordered |
So we went Higashi Hongan-Ji. It was a fine day and we spend time on the short stroll. The breeze was soft and cooling. We admire the moat, the road, the tree, the street and buildings. It was not very crowded. Peaceful inside, we could see Kyoto Tower from afar. The children were excited about the pigeons, yellow ginko leaves spread everywhere, it was a peaceful sight.
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| Inside the hall, actually no photography is allowed |
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| Introduction to Higashi Hongan Ji |
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| Street outside Higashi Hongan Ji |
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| 一切众生皆有佛性 |
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| Kyoto Tower seen from the moat outside Higashi Hongan Ji |
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| PIGEONS, excited (and scare of their poo too! Hoot over better take cover!) |
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| Ginko leaves all around in this temple (instead of maple leaves) |
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| Little red ridding hoot |
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| Wash your hands before entering the hall |
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| Pigeons take sip of their daily dosage here |
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| Take off your shoes before entering the main hall |
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| Ginko tree |
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| Kyoto Tower can be seen from Higashi Hongan Ji |
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| Ginko leaves everywhere |
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| Ginko leave |
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| Casual stroll along the street to Higashi Hongan Ji |
We gave Nishi Hongan-Ji a miss due to time constrain and took a bus from Kyoto bus station to Sanjusangen--do. This was another temple but it was an unique one which I personally recommend to get the tickets and go in.
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| Sanjusangen-do long hall. No photography inside |
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| Very colourful and beautiful garden |
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| Tickets to one of the UNESCO Heritage |
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| Sanjusangen-do |
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| Beautiful garden |
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| Even twigs and branches are neat |
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| Nice? |
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| Maple leaves again! |
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| Maple leaves everywhere |
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| Purify your hands before entering |
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| 国宝三十三间堂 |
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| Love the long hall |
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| Long hall housing many Guan Yin inside |
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| Leaves floating on a puddle of water |
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| Ancient arrow shooting area |
Just opposite Sanjusangen-do (across the road) stands Kyoto National Museum. We gave the museum a miss as we were still thinking how long to walk to the station (with a painful knee) to get to Fushima Inari. Finally we decided to give Fushima Inari a miss again. So many gave up iteneries, was quite disappointed at first because of poor health, but after settling down at McD, we began munching down our burgers and coffee and forget about Inari. Afterall, it creates an excuse for next visit.
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| Kyoto National useum |
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| Museum just opposite Sanjusangen-do |
We got back to Kyoto station on any bus and walked around Kyoto station. The dusk came early and was beautiful. Sunset or Moonrise, we could see the sun (or moon) with naked eyes.
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| Taking a rest. Fries, sio sio munching non-stop! |
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| No chance to taste Ebi-burger in Singapore due to steep price. We tried Ebi burger for the first time in Japan. |
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| Taken at dusk |
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| Dusk, do you like the sun or moon? I do not have the direction at that moment. |
Visited Porta and went up to the peak of the Kyoto station Building to see Nightview of Kyoto before we head Osaka the next day.
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| Hotel Granvia Kyoto, right on top of Kyoto station, very convenient but Ex. |
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| Kyoto Tower seen from Kyoto bus station |
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| Reflection of Kyoto Tower and moon on the glass panel |
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| Seeing round moon in Kyoto |
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| Seeing Kyoto Nightview from the peak, the Kyoto Tower is a reflection, nice? |
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| Half of the Kyoto Tower can be seen from the peak of Kyoto Station |
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| Big Christmas right at the ground level of Kyoto Station |
They said Buta Man from551 Horai was delicious. Being Chinese ourselves,
we grade "OK lah". Also I thought the vinegar-sweet sour pork was nice,
but hmm "Could be better", cannot be compared to our Gu-Ru-Yok!
See you in Osaka!
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