Had dinner last night in another microscopic restaurant. This time it was like being in someone’s kitchen because you could look straight into the living room where they had the tv on some whacky game show and there was the son of the lovely old lady cook who was entertaining his mates, drinking and laughing. His younger sister was our waitress and she was delivering food into the living room for the layabout son and his mates. He yelled out, “Momma! Momma! conchi@$##^^&*” which in Australian meant, “Mum, knock us up some toasted sangers will ya!”
We had the most magnificent veggie omelette and veggies with noodles dishes for A$20. It’s truly incredible how well the Japanese make use of every space and this kitchen was no exception. Every plate, bowl, and even Asahi beer chiller (they do what looks like 5-litre kegs in all these places) is positioned with purpose and nothing less!
This morning we took off walking to the western side of the Kamo-gawa River which is where we spent a bit of time on the bike tour yesterday and it’s an area that has superb shopping options. We’ve been really restrained as usual with the shopping but to my surprise, it’s Lynda who’s been sucked in by all the fine art and fashion! She weakened again and ended up buying a couple of beautiful things from a clothes shop then we went to the International Manga Museum.
To think that Manga is just comics isn’t doing it anywhere enough justice. The artwork is intricate and the imagination is wild in many cases. The first manga was drawn in the late 1700s and it is a serious art form that generates many billions of dollars for Japan and other countries that now produce it. A manga artist today is expected to produce approx. 20 pages a week to keep their job.
The museum is a beautiful old school dating back to the mid-1800’s and there were lots of photos and original rooms to see. One massive library room had floor to ceiling bookcases of every edition of every manga book in history! There was an attendant there to help and act as security also because many of these books were worth a fortune. The public can sit anywhere and read as much as they like which they take advantage of 100%. There was even a gorgeous kids manga area that I got a photo of without getting arrested. You weren’t allowed to take photos of exhibits so the only ones I got were of manga artists from all over Japan who were asked to donate their interpretation of a geisha. These were cute and many of the artists drew their own caricature down the bottom.
From Manga to world heritage temple. This one is called the Kinka Ku-ji or Golden Pavilion. Can’t say any more than it takes your breath away. Case closed. Before we show photos of the Pavilion this is a photo of the huge remains of a bonfire that happens every August 16 each year (Obon Festival) on 5 hills around Kyoto simultaneously. The symbol is a daimonji and the procession is historically to send off the spirits of the dead. Apparently, it looks amazing.
Insane huh? From here I just started taking photos of rocks, moss and trees like some Zen monk. I don’t know what’s come over me. My third eye is appearing and it has been “squeegeed” to the point that I’m finding wisdom in a passing bird or tree root formations.
So from one world heritage listed monument to next, another 30 mins walk up the road. This time it was Ryoan-ji Zen Temple which was founded in 1450. It’s stunning and is famous for what you could call an “installation” these days called 15 Rocks. Basically, 15 rocks seemingly cast away in a sea of white sand. It is quite calming and to this day they have no idea who designed it. I just pictured a labourer who had just finished fine tuning the rest of the 10 acres of land, finds himself with a heap of sand left over. He decides to chuck it over his neighbour’s fence onto some abandoned rocks and waalaah!, millions of tourists are visiting his neighbour to capture the serenity! To this day his ghost can be heard screaming from the ticket box at the entry, “It was me!! It was my sand, my design! These guys are imposters!”
Before we go tonight, just a quick word to all you Generation Z’s out there. Selfie sticks are no good! If you own one and intend using one, DON’T! They are a metaphor for everything that is wrong in your life right now…obtrusive, pointless and self-absorbing. Please get off your selfies and do something about this environment which needs help and no other generation has been able to fix, including mine (sorry about that). Anyway, if I see any more selfie sticks, they will be inserted into their owners.
