photos & templed out

First off, this is the URL to access my Flickr account: http://flickr.com/photos/72423346@N00/

Hopefully these photos will bring more color to the enthralling journal entries you find yourself reading every day. If you don't like dead fish, there is an obvious Set you should not peruse through.

I visited Arashiyama today in southwest Kyoto, which has the Chikurindou (Bamboo Grove Road) and a bunch more temples and shrines (surprise). I walked alongside a group of schoolchildren led by teachers to visit the shrines, and i got more than a few "haro"s. I turned to one source of a most lively haro and said "ohayou!," whereupon he gave an expression of exaggerated surprise, and i said in Japanese "i can speak japanese, kid." They all got a kick out of that one, and this started a domino effect of haros down the line as they passed me, to which i responded "hey!" They loved that word, and when i saw them a second time, after they all bowed and shouted at me, they all started shouting "hey!"
The bamboo grove road was beautiful, and strolling along it with some soft-serve matcha ice cream just made it heavenly. I also took the opportunity to eat lunch at a Buddhist monk restaurant. They serve up a cuisine called "shoujin ryouri," which roughly means "cuisine of diligence." This may not be the most appetizing name, but i can assure you it was the best meal i've ever had (or perhaps rivaling a similar meal at a tofu restaurant on different temple grounds during my last visit three years ago). Myriad flavors, endless shapes and textures, a delicately chosen assortment of colors, forms of tofu that you've never dreamed could exist. Best 30 bucks i've ever spent. And the only case i'd ever spend that kind of money on a meal -- it's just that good. Did i mention you get to eat it in a beautiful temple-style building, sitting on a red carpet upon tatami on nought but your shins? Or if you get tired, your bottom?
I came back quite early today and entered the hostel even though it was "closed" for "cleaning." I said, "screw that," and just flipped open my laptop at the table. One of the workers came in and was so surprised to see another human there during off-hours he was rendered speechless. I had to make believe i was stupid in order to win back his favor -- i said i thought you could enter, but just not eat at the table, and by golly, i wasn't eating. Being stupid saves much hardship. And other times it is the source of hardship. Hmm... maybe hurdling down that philosopher's road on that rickety bike did have an effect on me...

I'm pretty much templed out now. No more temples will impress me for a couple of days. I hope it wears off soon because i'll probably be subjected to more in a day or two. I am in the midst of slowly planning my wild excursion to Touhoku, which ends with a ferry ride to Hakodate (where my school and future host family are) and probably a torturous and sleepless night, the morning after which i start school and meet my host family! I'll be lucky if my eyes aren't hanging out of their sockets by slimy strings and i don't smell like a sick old goat after a thunderstorm.