Visual Overload

Kyoto, Japan -- Well, the lights are on very low and people are sleeping in my room in the hostel and I am so very, very tired. Mostly the feet...Well, after travelling by bullet train through the beautiful country side of Japan, I arrived in Kyoto last night and walked the city exploring as much as I could in a few hours... which the only real notable things I saw were the Kyoto Tower and the Toji Temple. I also found a Presbyterian church when I was walking along... I saw a cross in the distance so I followed the streets till I got there. It was dark and closed up, so I didn't go in and see people or check it out.

Today I got up at 8... and headed out at 9 and came back tonight at 9... well, I stopped back by here like twice, but once was only for less than an hour and the other time just to use the restroom.

So, first, went to see Kinkakuji temple... the golden one... it was ethereally beautiful. Gorgeous. I could have just sat there all day. Incredible... and I'm afraid that the pics won't be able to show it well, but even what they show is beautiful.

So, afterward I went back to the Toji Temple and went in (since it was closed last night)... It's gigantic and going in to the various temples to see the gigantic golden buddhas and people bowing to them was heavy. So, I listened to worship music on my mp3 player and praised God and prayed.

By this time it was already raining and pretty cold.... but I had borrowed an umbrella from the hostel, so it wasn't too bad... Ok, then to Gion... which is the famous geisha district. I went there and walked the alley ways and saw the shops and it was like... what you think of Japan and the alleys and wooden panelling and fancy rooftops... that's Gion. I wish I had gone a little earlier to see it in the light, but still it was exotic (even though that always give an impress of warm, and warm I was not) and maybe romantic? I can't choose the right word right now.

So, I stalked the streets and walked into a million shops but I kept my eye out for the geisha. I saw one and then 2 more as my bus was about to head back to the hostel area. I couldn't get any pictures though! There was a girl though in a beautiful kimono who was coming back from doing tea ceremony. She was really nice and we chit chatted and I got a pic of her.

I don't know if I've ever been so happy to sit down after walking for like 3 hours straight (after walking all day) when I got on the bus... Came back, found a Ramen shop close to the hostel, got some stuff from the convenience store for breakfast for tomorrow and came back to shower.

So, I'm kinda taking in now everything that I saw and experienced today... it was incredible... Buddhism is obviously a lot stronger here than in Tokyo... And the impression I get of Kyoto is completely different from that of Tokyo...So, mostly I travelled by bus and foot today. The youth hostel is great, one of the cheapest around and they can tell you how to get anywhere, and have anything you could possibly think of and a million pics of people who have stayed here and their travels. From where I sit in the bed, I can see the Kyoto Tower and... well.. a million buildings.

Anyway, that's an update on what I've done... I've had a lot of time to think today and so I'm still trying to process all that's gone on in that brain up there and all that my eyes have taken in today. It was a great day, not even the rain or the cold could take away from it...But! tomorrow I heard there will be sun... in which case I'll bike (you can rent a bike here at the hostel) down to Fushimi Inari, which has the tori gates that go on for forever and ever and if I get time, will go to the Nijojo Castle which has a lot of history behind it... Tim recommended that one to me, and I can get there on bike. And then on to Nara I'll head...So, it might be a day or 2 before I make it back to blogging... I really want to take advantage of this time to pray for direction and the future and just learn and see... and it's a good time for me to try to hear and wait on God. I know what I would like and what I see and feel and all- but I won't move without confirmation-- and knowing it for myself for sure first. :)

I'm going to bed. My legs are still ache-y from the miles I've walked today, but it was worth it. Boy was it worth it.