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Run run run! Go go go! Why can't I just settle down for awhile? Perhaps this is the problem with my whole life, but at least I get to see a lot! I've really struggled with which photos to add to this entry as I have taken so many. I hope I can give the Kansai area of Japan justice! I've taken the night bus from Tokyo, arriving in Kyoto at 5am. The bus ride wasn't too bad. Apart from the fact that the guy sitting next to me snored his way onto my shoulder, and then both of the reading lights were directed onto his side. When I arrived in Kyoto, I was slightly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the station. I hadn't envisioned the cutting edge granite and glass towers in a city known mostly for its' temples and peace agreements. Nonetheless, I found the lockers and the washrooms and made myself respectable for an early start on the temple tourist track.

Historic Temples and Futuristic Expo

Coffeecat
2005-12-24 19:27:10

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Run run run! Go go go! Why can't I just settle down for awhile? Perhaps this is the problem with my whole life, but at least I get to see a lot! I've really struggled with which photos to add to this entry as I have taken so many. I hope I can give the Kansai area of Japan justice! I've taken the night bus from Tokyo, arriving in Kyoto at 5am. The bus ride wasn't too bad. Apart from the fact that the guy sitting next to me snored his way onto my shoulder, and then both of the reading lights were directed onto his side. When I arrived in Kyoto, I was slightly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the station. I hadn't envisioned the cutting edge granite and glass towers in a city known mostly for its' temples and peace agreements. Nonetheless, I found the lockers and the washrooms and made myself respectable for an early start on the temple tourist track.

The first temple I directed my lost feet towards, was the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan called Toji. It's a shame I never found it. I instead took in the intense sounds of the cicadas in the grounds
Although it's not rush hour, it's clear that there are always some people that must go go go!
of another temple. (I later realized I was just 2 blocks away from Toji!) The sound was so intense I almost reached into my bag for a pair of earplugs, but was flagged down by a Japanese man eager to tell me about the plight of the cicada. It's quite tragic that the life of these extremely large flying critters is mostly spent underground, up to eight years in fact. When they finally feel that they are ready for the big bad world, they crawl up to the surface and shed their 'skin'. For the next two weeks it's a race to find a special friend and make as much noise as possible before their life comes to a stop. End of story.

My next stop was to the Kyoto tower, although the guidebook thought it was ...