// Day 4 (3/5/09) Kyoto and Nara //

Kyoto is a city known for its temples and ancient trails.

But I didn't get to see my religion's temple. (maybe there's none in kyoto)

Most of the temples there are more of a tourist attraction than a place for some solemn religious ceremonies.

Erm, we didn't went into any of the temples cuz

1. those are not of my nor lynette's religion.

2. I've got holey socks on and we're supposed to take off our shoes in order to go in.

3. the need to pay admission fees. (not cheap!)

haha but the shops which lined up the streets are definitely worth a visit!

they sold rather exquisite stuff like kimono dolls, scarfs and food like mochi, green tea.

one thing good is that we could try the food they were selling before purchasing! haha

Daikin says it's 20 degree celsius. (cool weather =))

say bye to new osaka hotel! ( only 3 min walk from shin osaka stn )
and the takoyaki balls we had for breakfast =D

Train departing for Tokyo. But we'll get off after one stop to kyoto.

our train! it's streamlined head look like a plane.

not forgetting the handsome train conductor.haha i've got his face (and whistle) in another pic^^

Bus to the kiyomizu temple, the most popular among tourists.

it's a walk up the slightly steep slopes.

along the way we saw geishas!!! are they for real?

they actually stopped for us to take pics! =D

And they HAD bodyguards and a woman fussing over them.

cutesy stuff in the shops.

before i forget, a man working at the luggage storage place in kyoto station actually pointed to my disney's popcorn tub and said "KAWAII NE!" and kept asking me if i went to tokyo disneyland.

It goes to show how much japanese adore cute stuff. yes, even a man in his forties!

The irresistable green tea ice-cream.

We tried it at a few places but kyoto's is super nice.

I guess cuz kyoto is famed for its green tea plantations?

220 yen ($3.50) please. For a 15 minute ride, their bus fares alone already super ex.

Their inner city (feeder) bus works in a different way.

Everyone gets up from the back door, taking a ticket each.

At your stop, you'll go to the front, slip your ticket into a machine and this meter tells you how much you have to pay.

Then you will put in the coins.

And the bus driver will return you a "Arigatou gozaimashita"

Exact fare must be paid cuz no change is given.

Rice balls and hand rolls from their convenience store!

these taste like singapore's jap food. (not very flattering)

haha after eating authentic jap food for days, i think my expectations for jap cuisine has greatly increase!

Even their small, unnoticeable shops serves better food than sg's sakae or ichiban.

Nara Deer Park. You could buy deer biscuits for 150 yen and feed the deers, which roams freely in the park. Or should i say they laze around, due to overfeeding, most likely =P

Back to Tokyo (4 hrs) - new hotel, chisun inn asakusa.