Kyoto

This was a big trip. We were very busy in Kyoto. We had our good college friends Jim(Randys frat brother) and Laura his wife visit us the week of September 15th - 24th. We took a trip to Kyoto on Sept. 20th - 23rd. It was awesome. I will warn you there are lots of pictures. I think we took over 200 pics but I won't post all of them:) We took the bullet train that goes 120 mph to Kyoto. It was about a 3hr train ride. On the train ride we could see Mt. Fuji. Randy's birthday was on the 20th. He turned the big 28.

Our first day we went to Nara. Nara is Japan's first real capital. We went to the temple Daibutsu-den hall which is known for the enormous bronze Buddha image. On the way to the temple we saw the finest wooden statues in all of Japan. Also there were tons of deers around that you could feed and pet. The temple that the Buddha is in is the largest wooden building in the world. Inside the temple is a wooden column with a hole through its base. Popular belief is that those who can squeeze through the hole, which is the same size as one of the Great Buddha's nostrils, are ensured of enlightenment. Of course we tried it and failed. So we decided that Ethan should fit through it. And he did and the Japanese cheered him on.

On our 2nd day we took a bus tour of Kyoto that started at 9 am and ended at 6 pm. We got to see 6 different places.

One place was called Nijo-jo Castle. It was built in 1603 and is known for its nightingale floors. The floors sing and squeak at every move, making it difficult for intruders to move about quietly. The nails in the floor are bent and then the floors are filled with sand and that is how they got the floors to squeak.

Another one was the golden temple. It is all plated in gold and was so beautiful. I think this was our favorite one we saw.

On the 3rd day we went to Himeji where the only thing worth see there is the Himeji-Jo Castle. This castle is unanimously acclaimed as the most splendid Japanese castle still standing. It took about 1 1/2 by train to get there. It was well worth the trip. The castle was very beautiful and so cool inside. It took over an hr to go through the castle.

Kyoto is very famous for its geishas. So on the last day Laura and I decided to get a geisha makeover. We actually got the maiko makeover. The difference is a maiko is a younger woman apprentice usually the age between 16 - 20 that wants to become a geisha. I warn will warn you we are kind of scary looking. It took about 40 mins to get the make up and kimono on. We had fun doing it. Ethan didn't like me as a Geisha he cried when he saw me.