Sayonara!

The transition of solitude, calm and peace of Bali to constant companionship, busy and hectic schedule was a bit of a challenge to start.  Not knowing my travel mates well, and figuring out where I fit in this new dynamic.  We came from different prior travel experiences – though the common bond of international travel helped.

It was Leo's idea to give me this mini shrine from Fushimi Inari.  Later, he felt that his hives, stomach issues, lightheadedness might be affected from having taken this shrine from a Temple.  In this photo Leo hold his evil eyes for protection from any bad energy!!

Both Sony and Leo were pretty amenable to camping out with me in a western style hotel even though their comfort level was in a natural setting outdoors.  So I am grateful for that.  My heartfelt thanks for Sony for caring about how I was managing, for making so much of this trip come together on a daily basis, for hanging back with me on the bikes, for a worthy component in scrabble, for teaching me all about the “freebies,” Japanese bathhouse etiquette, the in depth conversations about life, love and travel and much more.  You'll be glad to hear that Japan is elevated to a 9 rating.

To Leo for encouraging our meeting in Japan, for making the trip come together, for musical quizzes that only you and I know the answers, for spirited photo competitions, for your willingness to play scrabble, for my winning massages, for the gifts from Mongolia , China and Japan …makes me wonder about the origin of those gifts, and for his fine cinematic choices and for navigating us from place to place.

90 minute bus ride to Osaka
2.5 hour wait
3 hour Jetstar flight to Taipei

Osaka airport was wide open.  Deserted.

Actually kind of spooky...

like twilight zone

eery

4.5 hour wait in business lounge

10.5 hour flight Taipei to SFO

international terminal Taipei

10.5 flight, two meals, 5 hours of sleep, 1/2 movie on Air China

Ah, arrival in SFO at 6:37pm.

Dylan and Susie met me with the third suitcase which we check in, head to have a baileys then off to board the plane.

Virgin First Class offered free wifi so I skyped with Tony.  Man, some stuff is super cool!  I worked on the blog in the air.  Very cool.  Flight was another 2 hours...

It was such a beautiful day, I rode my bike and took these Seattle photos to remind myself and others what a fabulous city we live in!

to round off my day in preparation for work on Monday after arriving late Friday night, got my haircut into a new style.  What do you think??

A Japanese, JAPANESE Meal

ice cold sake served in frozen bamboo cups

Sony and Leo, how do you like that title?  FYI - must be spoken in the appropriate high pitch.

This tiny place only takes Japanese speaking guests or those accompanied by nationals as the chef owner doesn't speak English and menus are only in Japanese.  Kyoto is well known for it's Kansai cuisine; available in this region and in this style.  Reiko chose beautifully for us!

Leo with Reiko in the background making menu choices!

Sony and I are happy campers to be sharing my last night
in Japan experiencing a foodie feast!

Leo not feeling great,  was a good sport hanging in
there through dinner.

tender beef, taro chips & roasted taro, sashimi in an autumn presentation

not sure of the first two fish, squid and flounder served with radish
sprouts, wasabe and shiso flower buds

ika and shiso flower, flounder

crepe wrapped cheese

grilled eel

stewed daikon and tofu

frothy boiled soy sauce

fried blowfish

Reiko and I donning fall leaves - CHEEZ-A!

matsutake musubi

KYOTO Tenryu-ji Temple

Bikes were the perfect way to see the city, getting from one temple to another and a true sense of life in Kyoto.  As a rider at home, I’m generally decked with helmet, gloves and proper reflective gear and a pretty groovy bike with plenty of gears.  Though rental bikes were pretty cush since my buddies always chose a more deluxe model for me ~ thank goodness.  While I didn’t complain, in my head and under my breath I was grateful to make it through each day without too much damage to my body…or ego. 

Rickshaw drivers have tremendous quad and glute power!

Arrived at Tenryu-ji with 30 minutes to spend on these fabulous grounds.

My special talent is in making people disappear. Would you believe there were actually hundreds at this Temple?  My powers at work...

The light was perfect for capturing the landscape

Happy to make Tenryu-ji my last Temple; leaving Kyoto and Japan on a high note.

Confessing to Sony, I am glad to be pushed and that they didn’t alter or take into consideration whether I cared to ride 7.5 miles to the other side of town to see a bridge or this temple. It was a great ride through town, a bamboo forest, small fields and gardens and the piece de resistance of temples:  Tenryu-ji.  Spectacular colors.  It was worth the ride. 


ALL of it was. Every bit of the experience and yes, even the dodging of traffic. And my screaming “SUMI MASEN,” or "WHOA."  Every once in awhile I'd get a funny response from Japanese chuckling at my screaming. 




Leo, Sony, Reiko and I