Konnichi wa my fellow Americans,

I’m over here on the other side of the world. The far far east where the sun rises. I read on the postcard that Japan is the paradise of the east. That may be true. Although it is cold (but about 20 degrees warmer than China), its still a lovely place. Or at least Kyoto and its environs are. But what do I know, i’ve only been here 3 days and 4 nights.

Japan

So lets go back for a quick recap. As i said in the last blog i think, Kyoto is mostly known for its  ancient Temples and Shrines. There are so many of them. Temples in the east are like Cathedrals in the west, there are many and they are beautiful, but after you have seen tens, you are a bit over them.  I am a bit over temples, so i decided to see two that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.The Kiyomizu-Dera and The Golden Pavilion, both over 1000 years old and surrounded by a lush landscape, gardens, ponds etc. Impressive!!!

Yesterday i took a day trip out to Kibune and Karamba for a little winter hike.  I was only able to hike for about an hour because the path over the mountain was closed. It was nice walking alongside the river though it was picturesque. Afterwards i went to a Japanese hotspring called an Onsen. Its basically an outside sauna or bath as they call it. You have to get into these in your birthday suit. No bathing suits allowed and you have to shower before hand. The water is boiling. The constrast was stark from the neck up (which was feeling snow flakes and gazing at snow capped mountains) and the neck down (which was submerged in a sulfur sauna). It was nice and relaxing though. I am not sure if its my cold or i am just tired, but my whole body aches these days, so it was much needed. This Japanese grandma asked me where i was from and how did i feel being naked in the bath, since in the US we wear bathing suits. The other people being naked part is no different from people in an ACAC locker room, who are way too free with their nakedness. I didn’t mind it so much because for the 1st twenty minutes i had the place to myself.

Besides those trips

I took a self guided 5 hour walk around the city to the Gion (geisha district) and Higahiyama neighborhood. It was a bit of a wondering down narrow streets, up hills, into parks and shrines, shops and cafes. I tasted a bunch of snacks for free which is right down my alley. On one street, they give you a cup of green tea while you sample snacks. My favorites were these triangle dough things that are filled with psuedo jam. There is a pic of them in my album.

I saw about 8 Geisha’s walking around, some with men some in groups of friends. They are nice and take pics with people.

Green tea ice cream tastes just like green tea, it ok, but i will go for vanilla next time.

Mostly i’ve been eating noodles because they are good and cheap, but there are these triangle rice things with salmon inside that i love.  they are like sushi but shaped differently. There are a host of other snacks that i have eaten that i can even tell you the names of. The food is good and not as greasy as Chinese food, which i like. Today, i am having sushi with a couch surfer friend. I will go to the market probably tomorrow to take some market food pictures which is always the most interesting.

Japanese gardens are amazing. Thats really all that needs to be said about that.

People are generally pleasant, Kyoto is a more laid back city. Most people are interested to know where i come from and ask with a smile, followed by a “Welcome to Japan, how do you like it?”  Randomly i ran into an old man walking down the street twice. I think its funny all of the characters you meet traveling. He stops me in excitement and says “Welcome, Welcome, Where are you from?.” I say NY. He says he lived there for 7 or 11 years, i can’t exactly remember. Then he pulls out a piece of paper with Japanese and  english written side by side and asks me if his english sentences make sense. This goes on for 5 minutes. The next day, i see him again. “No sir, I am from NY not London and yes i do remember you from yesterday.” This time he proceeds to quiz me for 5 minutes with NY trivia to see if i was a real New Yorker. “How many Burroughs are there, why is it called the big apple etc.” Was he nice or just crazy? Maybe a bit of both.

Randomness

I could potentially come up with a new identity. Most people assume i am from Africa anyway and that i am younger than i am. So i could be 23, from say (lets pick a country that i like), Kenya and just finished University and taking a Gap year. No need to change my name (kenyans have english first names) or put on an accent (although i an muster one up for affect) because nobody here has probably met a Kenyan anyway. I think I will try this for a day. hahahahahaha. I crack myself up.

19 days until American soil. Yes, i am counting down and ready to come home, but not before i say hello to some of my Ozzy friends in Australia.

I wrote this poem, not on this trip (i am not exactly sure when i wrote it, i think i have a habit of burning myself out), but is appropriate for how i am feeling after 7 months of traveling. It called “Throw my head back and laugh”

Far beyond burned out

at the core of ash

the aftermath of a crash

thunder has roared

and lighting has flashed

a broken limb keeled over

and bruised reed with a gash

Left over scarps

The last crumb in the stash

Only thing remaining

is for time to pass

I must keep going

in pursuit of that moment

when I can rest my weary feet

relax my mind

and breathe at last

but for now

I am wishing this very moment

were the past

To be finally done with it all

throw my head back and laugh

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Sayonara friends