Kyoto Day 2 Part 2

After lunch, we visited few more shrines before taking cab to Kamigamo shrine. S was looking forward to visit this shrine as it is the oldest shrine in Kyoto and official World Heritage Cultural site. We went back to our hotel by bus with me napping all the way and he alighted 2 stops earlier so he could visit another shrine. I refused to follow and continued my nap in the hotel. My toes and legs were aching so bad and my toe was infected so it was pretty painful when I reached my walking limit. 

After napping, we went to search for our dinner and discovered a cafe that served western style like fish and chips, meat pie. For uguys that's nothing special but in Aomori countryside, it is difficult to get this authentic taste of western fish and chips. I enjoyed the dinner very much!  

Kamigamo Shrine

Kyoto meat bun

discovered a French restaurant 

found a reasonable price (CafeGreen) for dinner  @ 2nd level, http://www.cafegreen.net/menu.htm

we were the only guests at 5.30pm

super delicious fish n chips @ 850 yen ($10), cannot find this back in my countryside

Meatpie @ 900 yen ($11) also very nice

white wine mussels @ 750 yen

Kyoto Day 2 Part 1

Set off early in the morning and brought the one day bus pass (500yen) as S had planned the visit that required the bus. Highly recommended the bus pass if you will be using the bus frequently in a day since 1 trip would already cost 200 yen the least. 

We reached the first Heian jingu super early but the counter for stamp was not going to open for at least another half hour. Hence we set off to the next destination, Ginkaku-ji, known as the silver pavilion. We were overwhelmed by all the Japanese school kids queuing at the entrance as it was not time yet. It turned out entire the day we were competing with school kids at major attractions lol. No joke, we were stuck with them in the trail, it was not possible slowly intake the view and the kids were never ending. 

hotel breakfast 

my 1st serving

At the bus stop that has interesting system to inform about the arrival of the bus

Heian-jingu Shrine

Inside Heian-jingu Shrine

dedicated to the Emperors Kammu and Komei, the first and last Emperors to rule Kyoto, the buildings are a partial replica of the Imperial Palace of the Heian Period

nobody yay!

Hachida shrine

Ginkaku-ji

Ginkaku-ji

 Inside shimogamo shrine

shimogamo shrine

also part of shimogamo shrine

Kinkaku-ji 

glittering in the sun

the trail around the Kinkaku-ji 

Itadaki restaurant 

inside the restaurant, we were the 1st customers

korokke and hamburger set

the beef set was super delicious, added fried prawns so i would not complain about endless shrines/temples visit

Kyoto Day 1 Part 3

After the walking, finally it was time we were able to check in and rest. When we try to catch bus back to the hotel, it was packed with people that we couldn't board the bus. Just be prepared to walk alot and bring a pair of walking shoes. Took a short nap and woke up to search for dinner. I had heard about how costly Kyoto is, even more than Tokyo and we were prepared buy bento box from Lawson. But of course coming all the way to Kyoto, I did not really want to buy dinner from Lawson which I can do that back at home. Opposite Gion Lawson, we found the Chinese food chain restaurant and all the set was less than 1000 yen ($12 sin). Yay!

After dinner, we walked back to temple and the row of shops to digest our food and to look around since it was so crowded during the afternoon that we just glance it along the way earlier. However at 6, most of the stores were preparing to close their stores.

Our hotel along Gion street, Apa Gion hotel. Comfortable bed, nice breakfast and wifi!  Thanks to my mother in law recommendation!

having dinner at affordable chinese food chain resturant

too exhausted or too hungry?

maybe both lol!

after dinner took a walk around again 

night time has lesser crowd and more comfortable to walk around however most shops closed early around 6  as well.

found Totoro shop yet to close.

and Hello Kitty sweets cafe inside the store.

                                     

                                      

Kyoto Day 1 Part 2

There's a saying (heard from S), Kyoto people have strong legs. I am pretty sure thats correct as most of temples and shrines are on the top of hill or top of flights and flights of stairs. My legs were worn out after the 4th shrine and we stopped to take a ice cream break (but still walking! since it would cost 300 yen more to sit inside the restaurant ! Shocking!). Seems to me Kyoto is even more expensive than Tokyo. 

At one point we passed by a stall that sold crab stick and it looked so tempting and delicious (1 stick for 500 yen $6 sin). As we just had our another dessert break so S refused to let me buy (I was not hungry but really wanted to try).  So i started chanting and chanting and chanting until he agreed when we were walking back, he was saying it must not be real crab as it was too cheap and i said the pictures and sign indicated it was crab.  When we were back at the stall, I read the japanese words and realised S was right, it was fish meat disguised as crab meat! Although the banner had huge crab picture , the words stated beside it was telling the Japanese it was fish meat. At second glance I also realised all the customers queuing were foreigners! Mm.... Not a nice way to cheat tourists... I had nearly became a victim with them. 

magnificent drawing done by a Japanese artist which took him 2 years to complete

directly on roof

spotted geisha being interviewed

think it was international movie festival or something. Alot people in suits

Tea Break!

abit of everything, matcha is Kyoto must try but matcha tea is too bitter even after eating all the sweets

the dessert shop along Gion street

finally the Japanese ladies in kimono started to appear

back at the 1st temple that we went in the morning to collect special stamp

they were in the midst of releasing fishes back to pond

this is the "crab" stick I was talking about! See.. the sign and picture stated crab! 

the ice cream break that required us to continue walking lol...