The morning greeted me not with a
Sun rather with a song in my ears courtesy of my alarm. Unfortunately, the
alarm woke up my mother who grumbled at me to get ready. After ungluing myself
from the bed, I sluggishly did my daily routine. This was at 4.30 am. After
completing everything including dressing myself, I promptly fell asleep again.
That was at 5 am and the Sun just rising. I was again woken up at 6 am, and
with an expression ranging between blankness and annoyance I combed my hair and
sat down waiting.
At
6.30 am we left our room and had a brief stop downstairs for a breakfast. We
then made our way to the station and with some help boarded the subway to Umeda
otherwise known as Osaka station. And then again with the assistance we found
the JR line, which went to Kyoto. We didn't need a ticket, as that was the
purpose of the JR pass service.
.png) |
Having breakfast at Hotel ANA Crowne Plaza, Osaka, Japan. Apr. 25, 2014
|
The train we took to Kyoto was labelled
special Rapid service. Probably I had thought because it was fast. We arrived
at Kyoto station. Now people are probably wondering why we are in such a hurry,
well you see it is because we have to meet our tour guide at New Miyako Hotel at
8.35 am.
 |
At Kyoto Railway Station. Japan.
Apr. 25, 2014
|
My father thought it was a good idea to leave early to avoid stress so
when we reached the meeting place the time was 7.50 am and we had plenty of
time to dawdle.
Oddly the time passed sooner than anticipated and we found ourselves on
a bus to visit all the important sites of Kyoto the former capital of Japan (if
you spell backwards the name, according to Japanese hiragana, the name Kyoto, ‘Kyo’
and ‘to’ becomes ‘To’ and ‘kyo’ Tokyo, the present capital).
The guide was a Japanese lady, but spoke English relatively well. I
liked for the simple fact that she made us laugh. Her jokes were as follows.
1, The relation between Emperor
and Shogun (the top military commander)
While the Emperor was the supreme one, if he were to take a
decision, which affects the state, he will need the permission of the Shogun.
It’s
similar to know how a husband, if he wants to buy an expensive car needs a permission
of his wife.
2. Japan the major religions
are Shintoism (80% of the Japan population practising it) and Buddhism. There are very few Christians. However during Christmas, it will appear as if
everyone in Japan converted to Christianity.
Not laughing? Never mind; may be it was the way she said because we tourists laughed.
Okay back to our tour. The first
place we visited was NijŌ Castle. There were four buildings each one for
different purposes. One was for reception of guests, another for Samurais and
for important guests. The third one was for the relatives of the
shogun and the last for shogun himself. The place was interesting. It had a
corridor named nightingale corridor which produced the birds sound when stepped
on. This was used in the detection of assassins. We were introduced to tatami mats, which were
mats, made from straw.
The guide brought us to the
garden. In the garden she showed us to the mechanism behind the nightingale
corridor. It was as I thought and interesting.
 |
NijŌ Castle. Kyoto, Japan. Apr. 25, 2014
|
Looking at the garden of the palace one should
imagine beautiful ladies walking around admiring flowers in the season and
shogun sitting relaxed watching the sky.
I enjoyed the place thoroughly and hope to
visit it again in the future. The next place on our itinerary was the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji or officially Rokuon-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple). It was magnificent especially the view at the pond before it reflecting the
golden temple surrounded by trees and
tops of distant mountains made
me want to keep taking pictures.
 |
The Golden Pavilion. Kyoto, Japan. Apr. 25, 2014
|
Irony was, it was a place I want
to take pictures that I failed. The crowd was too much and I had a hard time to
keeping track my guide and my mother who was in rush to I don’t know where and
at the same time snap a shot which would made me satisfied. I felt frustrated
after I exited the pavilion but could not go back because the guide was already
going back to the bus.
Next, we visited the Kyoto Imperial
Palace. While it was special in its own
rights, I did not enjoy it as much as the NijŌ Castle. Either way one must
admire the way of construction. I had always curious about the design of
Japanese and Chinese buildings and this also made me wonder. If it wasn't for
the sun and the dry soil I was standing I would have enjoyed the visit more.
 |
Kyoto Imperial Palace. Japan.
Apr. 25, 2014
|
Since me and my parents were part
of the morning tour only which was from 8.45 am to 12. 20 pm we were left at
the New Miyako Hotel where we met the guide earlier. So, after making our way
back to the station we took a train back to Umeda, Osaka.
We wandered for a while searching for
something to eat and settled in a restaurant (Hotel Granvia Osaka) where we left
with no choice but to have beef curry with rice. Yes, grass for hungry tigers, but..!
.png) |
Having lunch at Hotel Granvia Osaka, Japan. Apr. 25, 2014
|
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
