Ali made a new friend
Kyoto is one of those places where you can have so much fun getting lost meandering around the curiously intimate streets. We visited a few galleries this morning. Quite liked the etchings of Tadayoshi Nakabayashi and the paintings and lithographs by Dean Bowen. Visited a few more temples. Played with fans outside an antique shop for a while. Maybe a little too long. I was mesmerised by all the different patterns. Ali and I seemed to be determined to find the most elaborate and effective. Imperial palace was nice. There are mountains not too far away no mater which way you look in the city. It must be nice for Kyotoites knowing that they don't have to go very far to get away from urban life. I have been keeping an eye out for Geisha girls all day. Never saw one, but I did learn some interesting things about them. Contrary to popular belief, they are not prostitutes. "Gei" means arts or performance in Japanese. "Sha" means people. Geisha are professional hostesses who entertain guests through various performing arts. Geisha girls and women are trained in a number of traditional skills including; Japanese ancient dance, singing, playing instruments, flower arrangement, wearing kimono, tea ceremony, calligraphy, conversation and alcohol serving manners. Apparently these talented women go through extensive training to learn these skills. Needless to say, their company doesn't come cheap. I was told that a reputable house in Kyoto could charge me as much as 1,000 yen. Without a doubt the things that we have seen and done today have been wonderful, but there is more to Kyoto and Japan than meets the eye. It's a feeling. A 'vibe' which is difficult to describe. Maybe it's the clean, organised environment that is making me so relaxed. Perhaps it's the civilised, traditional, courteous Japanese that put me at ease. Whatever it is... I like it. It feels different and special.
