Temple Hopping

KYOTO

Before starting out, Sony and I had a bite to eat, catch up on what was happening in the world, get to know one another and bring food back to Leo who was still snoozing. Still woozy from my day of travel from Bali and little sleep, these guys let me get a bit more sleep while they picked up the rental bikes.  We got a late start though still had the chance to see a few temples. 

Sony quickly got into the swing of the flats

too funny!

flats waking up!

Chion-In Temple

CHION - IN TEMPLE

quick tea break

Sony and Leo at our first temple stop

lighting incense before the temple

incense is is lit as a dedication, a prayer, an offering

sacred waters

Huh?

stopping to ask directions was key, over and over again

KIYOMIZUZAKA & SANNENZAKA SHOPPING
STREETS which lead up to the temple

Japanese shops are smartly displayed

you know that I'm a paper junkie so I stay my distance

making sweet confections

lots of sweet displays!

finely crafted ornate toothpicks

chopsticks shop

lots of very cute bunnies

green tea ice cream stand

caught you, Sony!  Great snacking...

shop girl loved our flats!

Leo asTegu

KIYOMIZU(DERA) TEMPLE

For those of you who know my cycling history will be utterly surprised to hear that riding in Japan is nothing like how I ride at home:  with a helmet, not anywhere near crowds or people, on pathways and not on the road and very rarely take the hills, especially down hill.   All of that is tossed aside, when in Japan ~ do as your travel partners and locals do!  We dodged traffic, other cyclists, pedestrians winding in and out of neighborhoods, along the river, in the hills to the temples and so on.

JAPANESE BATH

After a good first day of getting to know Kyoto on bikes, the three of us head for the pool and spa area for relaxation.  The Japanese Bath is another unique experience:  The Japanese are very fond of taking a bath.  Public baths are partitioned into two sections, one for women and another for men and have very specific etiquette  around the process.

You clean yourself outside the bath, first.  Wash off all the soap before getting into the hot tub, then soak to your hearts content.  IN our first experience at ANA HOTEL we had the option of a co-ed pool and workout room and separate hot tub areas. The ritual of the women is interesting to watch ~ they wash themselves very thoroughly, body, limbs, face, front and back.  They often shampoo and condition their hair while soaking in tub, then make the switch back and forth to the plunge pool, hot tub and sauna.   The next would be to wash again, then spend time at the hair and skin area or perhaps to relax at the massage lounger until you're ready to go!

Below ~ we were getting ready to head down to the pool, sauna, bath area when housekeeping brought us fresh towels.  Sony asked if they could wear their yukatas to the pool when the she shyly said "oh, nooo!" that they were only for the room use.  Leo wanted to know if he could just in his shorts and she bowed and shook her head not daring to look.

look closely...that's Sony in there!

The pool and workout area were co-ed so it was the where we'd meet Leo though once Sony and discovered how great the spa-like area was, we didn't bother to go back to the pool again.  Why bother with putting on a swimsuit when we can lounge around in in a towel or nothing at all.  The plunge pool at first was almost paralyzing but after a few times of sauna to plunge to hot tub and so on, I almost preferred the plunge pool!!