Post #32 (15.05.14) >> Gion

Rather than return to dinner in Osaka, we stayed in Kyoto and headed to Gion.

Gion, most famously known for its active Giesha district, is located around Shijo Dori between the Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west.

Hanami-koji Street is the most popular street in Gion.
This street and its side alleys are lined with traditional wooden Machiya houses many of which now function as restaurants.
These restaurants serve highly skilled, beautifully presented Kyoto style Kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine).

Amongst the restaurants and shops are a number of Ochaya (teahouses), the most exclusive and expensive of Kyoto's dining establishments.
These tea houses are where guests are entertained by Geiko (Geisha) and Maiko (Giesha apprentices).

Many locals and visitors to Gion hope to see and possibly capture the sight of a Geiko or Maiko via camera lense.
These made up white skinned doll faces can be seen on their way to or from an Ochaya in the evenings or while running errands during the day.

As expert hostesses, Geiko and Maiko ensure everyone's enjoyment by engaging in light conversation, serving drinks, leading drinking games and performing traditional music and dance.

Despite some beliefs, they aren't prostitutes, some may be but if they were, it wouldn't be known anyways.

Dining with a Gieko or Maiko is very expensive !* worth it ? I don't think so.

Honda S800 ... Grandpa of the S2000

Japanese ladies in traditional Kimonos

Dinner time !!!

Post #30 (15.05.14) >> Pork lunch

For lunch today we headed into "The Cube" Level 1 underground food court.

The Cube is a huge underground shopping mall connected to Kyoto train station.

Pressed for time, we didn't explore any of it.

Lured in by the food displays in the shop window, we entered KYK, a restaurant chain specialising in panko bread crumb fried pork cutlet.

The guys don't eat anything that is foreign to them which means i have more than one :)

Ginger rice

Tonkatsu mmm

scallop & shrimp

With our bellies satisfy we headed back above ground to catch a bus to the next temple.

Post #29 (15.05.14) >> Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi is an area that is to the south of Kyoto city.

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is the head of the Inari shrines, dedicated to the Shinto God of rice.
It is known for its thousands of bright red torii gates which snake upwards in crisscrossing paths up Mt. Inari which stands at a height of 233 meters.

It takes an hour to walk up to the peak of mountain.
There are many sub-shrines along the way up.

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is a place where locals come to seek blessings for prosperity.
Each Torii gate bears the name of its donor/contributor.
Those who have received good fortune return and place torii inscribed with their thanks.

Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds
In Japanese mythology, the fox is a crafty creature who can transform into human for espionage and trickery.
Think about that evil chick that turns into a white fox in 47 ronin ~.

This shrine is where Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed.

Fushimi Inari Taisha
68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
http://inari.jp/

At this point in time, I had digressed from the group.
Whilst they continued to keep walking, i fell behind snapping away with my camera(s).

Here, whilst continuing to ascend the mountain (red dot in the middle of the map) I started to wonder where the boys were.
I sent them messages via whatsapp but got no return.
OK.. strange
At the same time i was sending messages back and forth to Cat back home in Australia, she stopped replying too but i thought she was just busy at work.

Whilst i was still ascending the mountain one picture and torii gate at a time, the boys reached the peak.

All alone with no contact with the others i continued on. *WhHAaA WaHHh*

Much need hydration for rejuvination !

Without realising where the peak/mountain top was, I began to descend down the mountain.

It rained on and off.
I was soaked head to toe without an umbrella.

By the time i got back down to the bottom, the guys had been waiting 45 minutes for me.

They had the same lack of mobile phone data reception that i experienced.

They thought i had fallen into a ditch somewhere, and were contemplating whether or not to go back up and look for me.

About 30 minutes later at Inari train station, all of our phones buzzed and dinged as the messages came through.

The must see Fushimi Inari shrine was very spectacular.

I managed to explore everything it has to offer one torii gate, fox statue and mini shrine at a time.