Kyoto and Kiyomizudera

Kyoto was nice. Rain was in the forecast but it didn't. It was cloudy. We went to see Kiyomizudera 清水寺　(pure water temple). We got a little lost on the way once we got to Kyoto, but eventually we got a cab there. It was crowded with lots of other tourists. You'd have thought it was a weekend.

We did some shopping and we saw the temple as well. It was very relaxing not to have to worry about the kids or cater to their needs. We also went to see the 紅葉　(red leaves). I wouldn't say the autumn leaves are as spectacular as the northeast in the states but it was pretty.

It was also nice not having our tour guides around, Ryoko and Sonoe. With all those other distracting elements not being there (the guides and the kids) I found I was much more relaxed and didn't freak when my wife wanted to spend some money on getting gifts for friends back home. I even participated and got a yukata for myself. Brenda helped pick it out.

The Familiar Made Unfamiliar

One of the most baffling aspects of life in Japan for this westerner is the concept of the familiar being made unfamiliar. That is to say there are many conventions here that are from the west like baseball, fast food, fashion (or the lack of it) and retail stores. At first the illusion of normalcy can make one feel at home until you realize something is not quite right. For instance, in an electronics store there will be slogans printed on the walls:

The sign is in English. Do any of the employees speak English? No. Do even half the people who are ever in that store, whether customer or employee, read English? Probably not. Why bother? I don't know, but it is very common. You will pass by many young men and women sporting t-shirts bearing sentiments in awkward English. What would that young Japanese woman do if some foreigner just walked up to her and, without previous introduction, asked her out on a date? He'd just be doing what her shirt read, "Ask Me Out On a Date!"

So, what do you do in the States when at one o'clock in the morning you get the munchies and you have nothing in the cupboard? You jump in your car and head for the nearest 24 hour store like a 7-11 or something. They have those here. Maybe you would be interested in a hot dog, nachos or a slice of pizza even if it has been under a warmer for a few hours.

However, they are not going to have your slice of pizza, nachos or hot dogs (actually, sometimes they do have hot dogs or corndogs--they're not very good!)

What is that stuff? It is the equivalent of a slice of pizza, nachos and hot dogs in Japanese cuisine. Sometimes you'll find squid, octopus, konyaku and various things that you will never find in my mouth.

They do have more familiar items for the finicky western palette.

Ah yes! Corndogs and yakitori in the plastic thingy there. In another compartment just to the left you'll find some dumplings filled with curry or red beans. Yumm!

McDonalds is pretty standard wherever you go. In Japan they do have some quirky additions like McShrimp Burgers, Fish Nuggets and the Japanese love to have a fried egg on their hahmbahgah or cheezubahgah.They are not bad I must say. And McDonald's coffee is still the best!