<bgsound src="http://www.ijigg.com/songs/V2BFBCGCPAD" > My Big Big Adventure: My first day on The Land of the Rising Sun

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

My first day on The Land of the Rising Sun

Everything was so new to me. New faces, new places, even new traces of life here in Japan. The first thing I noticed was the cooling weather. It's nice and warm, and this is spring! A weather I truly appreciate in comparison with the whole year hot and humid weather like Malaysia. I begin to love Japan.

Taking a bullet train from Kansai airport to Kyoto is a smooth ride. I noticed that the service level here is that the people are courteous. Even the ticket master gives a polite bow at the doorway for each carriage. It is strange to an eye of a foreigner. I did inquire from a lady who was seated next to me, and she responded that it's a way to say thank you to the passengers onboarding the train. How unusual.

Prior to boarding this train to Kyoto, I have met up with a man from Mumbai, India, where he is heading to Hamamatsu for a business dealing with Yamaha. He recommended me to this place, which was not in my plan. I think I will give it a thought, since I am getting the whole nation rail pass from JR (Japan Railway).

I have to recollect my thoughts when I alighted from shinkansen and stepping onto Kyoto station. It's a start of a wonderful journey, I thought, I can't wait any longer to keep my 25kg bag safely somewhere. It was about 9 am.

I got out of the station and was I felt lost. The station is a huge one, and I have never seen such a modern yet gigantic train station before. I have to ask around to navigate my route to my first stop at the guesthouse, Gojo Guesthouse at Gojo Zaka street.

With my bulkly bag along, I find it's hard to get on the bus. Fortunately, I have a helper from Singapore that helped me with my luggage. Can't thank them enough. Everyone was in awe looking at an Asian girl with has a bag larger than herself, getting on a crowded bus. That was not the end of me with my bulky bag. I have also trouble with the bus fare too. On me, I have nothing but 10,000 yen bill, which was unacceptable on the bus. I was fortunate to find a grandma who was so kindly exchange her small notes with me. Thank you. Well, at least I finally made it. I will remember bus #206. I must say, I am fortunate to meet up with kind people who helped me along the way, even before I started my sightseeing tour. Thank you very much!

Checking in at the guesthouse was easy, but it took me about half an hour before I get myself recollected. The guesthouse was strategically located, and the lodging fee is reasonably cheap by Japanese standard (even cheaper than far away youth hostel). I am glad I found this place.

Getting direction from Yai (a lady at the registration counter in the guesthouse), I got myself a one-day pass and some maps to help me navigate around. It was really useful.

My first stop is the fame Kiyomizu temple, which is about 5-min walk from where I stay. It's not surpring that every corner you go, you will see this jidohanbaiki (vending machine). I got myself a macha ice cream while climbing the slope to this UNESCO protected cultural heritage.

Along the slope, you could see this beautiful tiny shops which sell souvenirs and restaurants, just like any tourist attractions in the world. I am really going to buy those cute items on display but hold back my urge to conserve cash for the rest of the journey.

Kiyomizu temple is thousand-year-old temple situated on top of the hill. It has breaktaking view of the Kyoto city. People come to pray for good luck and there is this love-marriage stone that could help improve the fate of singles. I dared not try it, for I am just afraid that it might not turn out to be what I have wanted.

There, I met up with a Canadian guy, Mojo with his companion, Takano Satoshi from Nagano. They are really friendly people. And I stick on to them for the rest of the tour. It's still best to have local than going alone in an unknown land.

From there, I walked through ninenzaka (second strett) and sannenzaka (third street). These streets are old and laid with ishi tatami (stone mat finished road). On these roads, you could see fancy restaurants occupying the olden day houses. I wanted to try Kyoto delicacies, Tofu, but just can't bear myself to ask, as these two guys I was with have a tight budget. Too bad!

We had lunch at sannenzaka and moving on to Yasaka shrine at the end of the kiyomizu temple tour. Embarking on the bus, we headed to kinkakuji, where it has this gold-plated temple in the middle of the pond. When the water is cleared, you could see the mirror image of this marvellous craved piece reflected. The common thing that shrines or temples has is its accompanied zen garden with ponds full with fish. Lovely.

After visiting the older part of town, we went on to the newest part of town on Shijo (fourth street) for dinner. Surpringly, my first dinner was nothing Japanese, it's just KFC. I was too tired to go searching. We departed after that, and promised to meet up with them tomorrow at the youth hostel they are putting a night at. After a short supper, I headed back to the guesthouse and got some rest for tomorrow.

I met with the new yorkers, lilian and frances at the guesthouse. I was too tired, and I just slept soundly for the night.

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