Kyoto...more..Temples

Top to bottom:
Kiyomizu Temple
Imperial Palace
Nijo castle
Ginkakji (silver pavilion)
Kinkauji (golden temple...yes, that is real gold leaf covering the entire temple!)

Flashback Friday

Tammy arrives tonight! This picture is from her first trip to Singapore, July 2007. The first trip was with her family, this time we get her all to ourselves....girl stuff!

Nara and the Ryokan......

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese Inn. Upon arrival, you trade your shoes for these slippers. Our rooms had tatmani mats for flooring, and a low table as the only furniture. We changed into a kimono while there, and were treated to a 2 1/2 hour keizeki dinner, served course by course. It was lovely, relaxing, and such a grand introduction to Japan! After dinner we returned to our rooms, to find the table gone and foutons on the floor for sleeping. When we left the next morning, the mama-san and her staff walked us out with a gracious smile and a bow. What a warm memory!!

Kyoto, Japan

I just returned from a 5 day adventure in Kyoto, Japan with a group of 8 crazy women from the American Women's Association! What a wonderful time we had. Our first day we visited the Todai-Ji Temple in Nara, with its enormous bronze buddah. This temple was built in the 8th century, and is the largest wooden structure in the world. The bronze Buddah is 67 ft. tall!
Oh yes, this is the first of many group pictures...our first night we stayed in a traditional Japanese Ryokan, thus the matching kimonos! The rather reserved Mama-san did not know how to take us at first, but soon warmed up to our silliness.