Today we went to the Bamboo Groves of Arashiyama. To get there we had to endure a local train, which was rammed. You know in those online videos that show guards squeezing people into trains? Yeah that happens. It’s crazy. But we got there eventually, although Carol-Ann’s hip was really sore by the time we got there. We slowly walked from the station following the signs for the Bamboo Forrest. Along the way we nearly got run over. By a rickshaw. Hmmm.. Once we got to the bamboo groves, we saw the rickshaws for hire. Always keen to help the natives we agreed to the lucrative amount they wanted for the hour and a half tour around the area.
Turns out that was one of my best ideas of the trip. Our native for the tour was a guy called Taguchi - He told us to call him Gucci. Now, being a mountain biker I’ve seen some pretty strong legs - but this guy had calfs that most people would be proud to call thighs!
[This post is being interrupted…]
Whilst it would be lovely to allow Phil to tell you all about Gucci’s calfs, I think I might cut in here and tell you about the tour. Gucci was a fantastic guide and amateur iPhone photographer (see pictures below). First stop was the thick of the bamboo groves. It’s magical in there, you feel ant-sized, stood in super tall grass, surrounded by weird green light. Gucci took a few snaps of us in the rickshaw with Phil’s iPhone.
Next we went to Seiryoji Temple and got a few more pictures outside, then Hokyoin Temple (we didn’t go in to any of these temples because: (a) we had done enough temples; and (b) I really couldn’t walk). Then he took us up and up and up the hill towards the mountains to show us the historic old town where the Emperor once built his second home because of the beautiful view. Bless Gucci, it really was a long climb to the top and, despite all the effort, he still was able to take a few breaths every now and then to point out something interesting about the area. At the top is a temple to the “god of fire prevention”. As you can guess, the god of fire prevention has kept this area safe for hundreds of years and so many of the old thatched roof homes are still standing.
Passing another few temples we headed back down the hill to the Rakushisha area, which is a rural area, pausing briefly to take in the different landscape and to admire the colourful mountain backdrop, then on to the riverside. At the riverside we visited a Buddhist graveyard where there were little sculptures of all the monks who are berried there, all slightly different. We also saw the Togetsukyo Bridge but I have forgotten why the bridge is famous. In an hour and a half we saw way more than I could have every hoped to have seen walking. I was so pleased. I can’t thank Gucci enough (and Phil because it was his crazy idea). We will definitely be doing another rickshaw tour, if possible.
After a Ramen lunch we went back to the hotel and, as this is our last night in Kyoto, we decided to go for Pizza one last time.
We are both looking forward to moving on to Hiroshima tomorrow. Kyoto has been an experience but we are both done with living on the floor. After 6 nights my body is broken and therefore we have made the decision to change the last part of our trip. So, instead of staying in a simple Buddhist monastery in Mt. Koya for two nights, we are going to stay in a 5* luxury hotel in Osaka (apparently the foodie capital of Japan). I hope the irony is not lost on you.
Phil is very pleased he doesn’t have to end our honeymoon eating vegan food, with monks and sleeping on the floor. I am simply ecstatic about the prospect of chairs with legs and western style beds.
- Hippie -
