CAPE TOWN DIVA

A day that met with vivid vermillion & a serene Zen garden

You know how planned tours can be...a bit same old, same old - a big yawn some of the time. And then something amazing comes along and all is forgiven. Yesterday's tour was like that. I was on a walkabout that took us to a few interesting places but it was the Fushimi Inari Shinto shrine and the Gion area that did it for me. The shrine, in Fushimi-ku in Kyoto, is done up in vivid vermillion, and is the hugest I've seen so far, winding all the way up to the top of the hill, via a seemingly endless path of torii structures that are donated by Japanese businesses to bring them good luck.

Fushimi Inari Shrine...

Walking the tunnel of thousands of torii pillars...

And then beautiful Gion, the oldest Geisha district ...Kyoto...pale pink cherry blossoms...(apologies re the pics, the day got dark and grey )

And the most beautiful willows...

In Geisha outfits...(not real Geishas though)...

A real junior Geisha...(junior Geisha's wear the higher heels)...

Old streets...

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Labels: Kyoto 2014, Travel

Kyoto Station, an architectural masterpiece...

I was early meeting the walkabout tour today so spent 2 hours exploring the Kyoto Station, Japan's second largest that includes a shopping mall (The Cube), Isetan department store, government offices & more. It was designed by architect Hiroshi Hara and opened in 1997, Kyoto's 1200th anniversary. The 15 Storey building is glass and steel, very futiristic - I felt like I was in 2080 or somewhere way in the ahead years. Considering Kyoto isn't a very 'out there' city in terms of massive skyscrapers and innovative architecture and with many cultural hertitage sites, the arrival of the uber modern station inspired other high rise developments like the Kyocera building - they say the city's landscape has never quite been the same since. I, for one, am totally in awe of the Kyoto Station. I am sure people saw me gawking and grinning like a daft person. The pics tell all....

The Happy Terrace on the topmost level ...

And those admiring the bamboo surrounded terrace garden...

The observation deck...

...Where you'll find a calm space to have your sushi in peace...

So if you're doing the bullet train whilst in Japan, make sure you stop at Kyoto, if only to stare at what surrounds you...

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Labels: Kyoto 2014, Travel

Kyoto outskirts, first of 3 days...

So I only just got here and bee lined for the walkway along the river. The cherry blossoms are more evident here than in Tokyo but I want to see way more- lots of them- dense pink and white flowering trees everywhere please...let's see what the next 2 days bring me. Meantime, I'm exploring the area...I'm out of the main part of of the city, in Shogoin...very pretty but without the blossoms a bit whatever...

City Hall...