If Japan is Singapore and Tokyo is the CBD, Kyoto is the housing estates...
Day 1
Came back from Osaka and was greeted by this view
Isn't this just Whampoa or something? Haha
And checked into this pretty awesome hostel
View from my roof, where many many friends were made!!!
But first, my first solo meal. And the restaurant was empty!
And the sunset view. This river is kinda the landmark of Kyoto, every time we get lost, this is where we come back to!
And back to the roof. So I came back to the hostel after dinner and went up to the roof to chill, and first I was joined by two New Zealand teenagers (14-15 year old). They were from a Japanese school in NZ and this is their immersion program; don't let their age fool you, they are kinda mature. Then Bronte from America joined us; she's on a grad trip (did neuroscience and music in school!) with her boyfriend, Bryan, who joined us later when he finished his nap. After the couple left for dinner, two Scots came and join us. Will was really cool, working for his traveling fund and traveling every 3 months or so; don't let his tattoos fool you, he's really leading the life he wants and I respect him really a lot, especially when I later found out that he intend to go to college to get a degree so he can go around teaching English as he travels. Alistair was really cool as well, studying Archeology and working night shifts to support himself. Went out to get more drinks with them, where I saw someone wearing a NUS Economics shirt!!! Turns out Vincent is a senior, graduated two years ago, and is traveling with his girlfriend. Small world! Then came back and was joined by Grace and her boyfriend (both from Australia), at the lounge. We were later introduced to a whole bunch of party people from Canada (really cool heterosexual dude), England, and more Australians. After the rest headed for party, Alistair introduced me to this Barcelonian, and we were hoping a Greek would join us in our independence talk. Haha. Was kinda tired so I headed back to my room and was met with a drinking party!!! They were this bunch of cool Australian Indians (Australians everywhere!) traveling around Japan and I was kindly invited to join them. After some games and chit chat, some of them left for partying, and I headed for bed...
Day 2
After headed back from Nara with Bronte and Bryan, went out to meet Wen, who's here after his Fuji trip!
His ninja room, which I'm crashing for my last night after canceling my last night on the hostel
And free bikes to recee the city!
Dinner was at this place recommended by Bronte/Bryan and it was sooooo goooooood (also because we were really hungry). Really worth the long lines that took us 20min
Saw the night scene... Where the two of us romantically rode the bike down the channel...
And a really happening night life on this Sunday night in Kyoto! And we kinda ended the night here
Day 3
And since Chunyun and Yaoyao were here in Kyoto as well, my 单飞之旅 here kinda ended. Next morning met up with Wen and we rode our bikes down to meet the girls... That's where the torture starts.
Cycled 1.5hour with Wen to Arashiyama and explored abit before the girls join us via public transport
And then the girls came! Chunyun even bought a Yukata to wear in this nice ancient capital to fit into the environment. Many tourist did the same!
And this is me, still looking fine. Not for long though
Then headed for the bamboo forest; though there were more humans than bamboo, it was still very pretty! China ones are probably better though
And a nice model shot. Haha
And here we have Ms Oxford being all retarded. My first Oxfors friend! Haha
Then this: some super expensive citrus food turned into a pudding, so yea, the "fruit" you see here is jelly. Kinda bitter too but pretty refreshing, no wonder it's recommended on Lonely Planet (aka LP lol)
After lunch was another half an hour of cycling uphill to reach this world renowned Kinkaku-ji (金阁寺). Really quite impressive but the windy day meant the reflection couldn't be captured unless we camp and wait
Think their tickets were more interesting than the building itself
Decided to cycle down south to the other end of the city. Passed by this castle called 二条城 which was apparently very well recommended by people who's been here. Didn't stay long though, cos we had a mission on hand...
Tori gates! There's a thousand of them here at Fushimi Inari
Two-way traffic, right-way in
And selfie time! While the professional photographers take their artistic shots
Cycled even more (more than 40km in total in this 35 degree Celsius day) and was rewarded by this pretty sunset
Went to 花见小路 where a lot of restaurants served 怀食 which costs about 8000¥ at the cheapest (that's S$88), they are usually companied by Geisha performance though. Too bad we didn't want it enough to part with 8000¥ haha
There was even some Geisha exhibition going on
Next stop, along the same street
Super awesome dinner, and then we parted ways
Headed back to hostel for the last night there was met new roommates (the Indian+alcohol smell still lingered though haha): Californians, English, and a very brave Canadian Asian girl traveling solo.
Meet Kevin, a budding musician from California (just like Bronte and Bryan!), keeping this photo of us chilling just in case he grow really famous someday. 10 years, 20 years; doesn't matter. It's his second year and he's already performed at two sold-out shows! Very impressive by my ignorant standards
Day 4
Came back from Himeji/Kobe to meet the Chinese gang again. And here you have Yukata-姐 looking in-the-mood with a pagoda as background (and a photobomber)
Found a really nice alleyway and started camwhoring; here we have a silhouette of 像鸡（相机）哥 looking fab
Whole area was filled with rows of wooden bamboo houses. Going back in time!
Then this happened. Start of Gion Festival where these people in traditional costume from one of the respected family paraded the Gion area
Followed them for quite a bit and the boys are ao cute! With wigs and thick blusher makeup haha
Anyway, dinner was more important and we left the party. Went back to this place we saw the night before that looked the least renovated, cos our theory is that the food is nicer this way And it's true!! Might just be one of the most tasty ramen I've ever eaten. And it's just hiding in a inconspicuous corner...
And then we went to chill by the river side, which I would argue to be the highlight of the trip...
I've always been proud to be in yhe large family that I'm in, and I've always found comfort in being the youngest of three because that meant I can have the freedom to do what I like and grow up in a carefree, independent environment. That's also why I've always respected people who are the only child. They bear the responsibility that no others would ever have to bear because we always have someone to discuss family matter with when things turn down south. Often times, only child only have themselves to turn to. And in our HTHT along the river, I felt it first-hand, and it hit me pretty hard. Life can be easier and more in-my-hands like the case of independent Tianzuo; life can also be more challenging in the case of broken-family Yaoyao; but life is perhaps the hardest for Chunyun, at least at the moment, for her mother just left for paradise last October... I cried, really hard, because family means so much to me and the thought of losing any one of them is just so unbearable. What's worse, is that she is now left with just one other person to depend on; and that one person is probably even worse-hit than her in the incident. "No choice but to be strong," reality sucks for real. I've seen some cases before, and I always find the same sadness in me when I hear these. Perhaps, some of us are really more blessed than we realize. Perhaps, it's still not too late...
Sorry for the random reflection and here's continuing the trip!
First takoyaki in Japan! And off to sleep in the ninja house. Really enjoyable, but was constantly plague with the fear that the house might collapse if something happened...
Day 5
Nothing happened! And had this for breakfast while waiting for the girls. McGriddles ceased production in Singapore so yay! Regret not getting the bacon ones though. Non-halal!
Visited the much-raved-about Ryoan-ji; many came and expressed disappointment with this simple Zen temple, but we were busy discussing how the rocks-as-mountains, stones-as-water were made by the monks. Very interesting and indeed, very Zen (less the noise made by tourists like us! Haha)
Cycled to our next stop to see the preparation for the Gion festival! And didn't make it to the 锦市场 cos two of us had a train to catch so left in kind of a hurry (was at Gion at 2pm when the train is at 2:56pm and we had to claim our luggage and rush to the station; took a cab in the end and reached 10 minutes before time to get some sandwiches for lunch. Doesn't matter, we made it!!)
And so my 5-days 单飞之旅 of sort ended in a mad rush but all's good and I really enjoyed my time there. Thanks everyone, old and new friends!
