The orangest of oranges and greenest of greens...

" The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists."

-Japanese Proverb

     After our amazing Harry Potter adventures we went a little farther North to the city of Kyoto.  Kyoto was the former imperial capitol of Japan so it holds a lot of history and is focused on preserving the city.  We started our two days in Kyoto by visiting Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine.  This shrine is dedicated to the god Inari, who is the patron of business, manufacturing, and merchants.  For this reason businesses have donated Torri gates to the shrine as thanking the god or praying to the god for their business ventures.  Today there are 10,000 of these orange gates creating stunning paths up the mountain.  The main shrine was built in 1499.  

There were so many people visiting the shrine that it was difficult to get a photo without other people in it.  We waited patiently until there was a gap so we could take a photo.  This old man walk right past Lindsey into my photo.  I don't know if you can see my face, but I was not very pleased with that man.

 And look how nice my face looks when old men aren't being rude and walking into my photo.

Lindsey loves modeling for these photos, me not so much.  However because the setting was so beautiful you kind of had to do a mini photo shoot. 

There has been a very popular story on social media lately of this man and his girlfriend who traveled around the world taking photos of the woman looking back while holding her boyfriend's hand.  We decided we would fake having significant others and do the same pose.

The next day we visited a bamboo forest on the other side of Kyoto.  Again a stunning place to visit.  Bamboo is such a cool and weird plant.

Near the bamboo grove was a monkey park.  These monkeys are completely wild but during the day come down the mountain because they know there is food and at night go back into the forest. 

I am a bit afraid of monkeys after one jumped on me in Malaysia but here when you were feeding the monkeys you went inside the building and the monkeys stayed outside.  Kind of ironic how the people are in the cage, no?  But super cool to feed them bananas.  Their hands are just like ours!

These are Japanese rain gutters and they are beautiful and I believe every house should have them.

After the monkeys we attempted to see another temple but it was wrapped in scaffolding for restoration so we decided to skip it.  We instead walked through a couple of neighborhoods that have preserved their traditional wooden houses.  Today these houses are filled with restaurants and shops for tourists but off the main street we could see new construction in the style of the wooden houses.  Its very nice to see how Japan has managed to modernize but also keep its traditional elements.  

Lindsey and I both had to stop each other from making terrible purchases.  I loved these fans, but what am I going to do with a fan?  And Lindsey wanted to buy a parasol.  Again what is she going to do with that?

Can we also make a rule that every house needs a koi pond?

Finally to end our evening we wandered around Gion, the historical entertainment district of Kyoto.  Here is where you can still find geishas working today.  And before you ask no, geishas are not prostitutes.  Their job was to act as hostess at tea houses and theaters.  The were skilled musicians, dancers, and conversationalists.  We were able to see two going from one tea house appointment to the next.  I didn't feel right taking their photo, but they were beautifully done up with their white face make-up and full kimono.  

This is okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory omelette.  This restaurant was so weird but the food was delicious.  

After wandering around some more Lindsey and I headed to Kyoto Station where we boarded an overnight bus to Tokyo.  I wish I would have taken a picture of this bus.  The seats almost fully reclined and had an awning like thing, think like the sun cover on a baby's stroller, to pull down over you head.  It was weird but probably the best sleep I've ever had on an overnight bus.