Even more Kyoto! (last day, I swear)

Aika and I went to the Fushimi Inari- Taisha Shrine. It has a thousand shrines all lined up one after the other for miles around the hills. It took us about 2 hours to walk the entire route. The funny thing was this is where they filmed part of Memoirs of a Geisha, which I was an extra in. Hopefully that won't be my only claim to fame in the entertainment industry.




The last night I was in Kyoto there was a certain shrine that had opened a section that had been closed to the public for a thousand years. In honor of the opening, there were special light displays that gave off a mystical atmosphere to the whole area.

There is a small theme park in Kyoto where they have filmed a whole bunch of Samurai movies and shows. There are recreations of old Japanese villages and costumed characters...and ninjas.

More Kyoto

You could spend a lot more time in Kyoto than I did and still not see everything there is to see. I'm especially glad that I came during the fall. The trees were beginning to change color and there were a few sepcial events around town that I would have missed at any other time of the year. Of course, for a place like Japan, there's never a shortage of festivals.

For the record...

I've been thinking about home a lot lately. I was going to do something rash and come back early. But I decided against it. I can use this time (and who know when it will come again). Though, I am anxious to get back to my life and start things up in L.A.

But, oh, I haven't exercised in just about two weeks. I feel horrible. And I know it's going to take a while to get back to the place I was before.
___________________________________________________

Pusan, Korea Sunday Nov. 29th

Somewhere along the way I decided inside that no matter how good my life was it was never going to measure up to some other life. Since I've noticed this about myself I've been trying to deprogram this pattern in my mind. I'm sure it comes from the low self-esteem I've suffered from growing up.

I have a good life. No one can take away my accomplishments and the hopes and dreams I have. No one can live my life for me either. Imagining isn't living and my life is not a movie I can simply watch happen. My life has meaning and significance but no one can give these things to me.

A whole lotta Kyoto

I was going to spend only one day in Kyoto but Aika thought it would be better to spend three. And thus the legend of the "Three days in Kyoto" was born.

And lots of pictures were taken.


This was outside our hostel. Rub him, rub him for a safe journey.

They didn't have any real beggers in the old days of Japan. So they made these stone representations to throw spare change at.

Men wear hats to the bathroom in Japan.

A gold plated shrine. Those Japanese are so gaudy.



I kept a pamphlet with the names of all the shrines I visited. I'll find it eventually and tell you...in person...whoever you are.

I don't remember...

I don't remember who these people are, but they're a lot of fun.





















Sometimes I drink a lot.

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarium!

While I was in Osaka Aika took me to the giant aquarium they have there. It was very impressive if you're into aquariums. If not, then it was only slightly less impressive than the street performer outside. If you're not into street performers then I don't know what to tell you. There wasn't much else outside the aquarium beside the recycled trash art.

You have no idea how hard it was to get this whale shark to pose with us. And don't even get me started about getting him to put on that hat. "Oh, that hat doesn't go with my fins". GOD! Shut up, stupid prima-donna whale shark!


stupid whale shark!

I forget the names of these furry creatures. I think they're called Steve.

This unfortunate girl was raised by sea otters.