Lately it’s pretty hot outside, what with a recent microburst over much of Virginia knocking out people’s power and water, and I’ve been pretty sweaty (especially under a non-breathable polyester white coat on the way to work). I keep having to catch myself from constantly whining about how hot I am, because frankly, it’s very attractive to point out my copious underboob sweat.
But!! You know what place is even more humid than Central Virginia? You guessed absolutely right, Japan. Last summer when I went in August, I sweated more (and bitched less, since I was in the company of Buddhist reverends) than I ever have in a Charlottesville summer, and while wearing respectable shoulder-covering clothing, to boot. And with that segue, here are some more pictures from that trip, since I put up the first post a year ago. Read part one here.
I’ve forgotten the name, but one of the temples part of the Nishi Hongang-ji (basically the main temple for Jodo Shinshu, or my sect of Buddhism). We stayed in a hotel directly across from the temples and went to 6am service each morning with hundreds of other people.
Terrible photo (no flash photography) but where they film samurai movies in the old royal chambers in Kyoto!
Streets of Kyoto taken through a pair of sunglasses (excellent cheapo polarizing filter)
- Ginkgo tree planted circa 800 AD. It is well over 1000 years old. Obviously I took about 45 pictures of it.
View from the top of Hikone Castle in Shiga. I’ll never get enough of the mountains in Japan–they’re always there in the distance.
Noh mask–creepily serene.
Fireworks my host family set off at our going-away party.
Waxing sliver.
Temple at my host family’s house.
Unbelievably green rice fields.
Downtown Kyoto.
Good luck wishes at a temple in Shiga.
Downtown Kyoto.
Dancers at the O’Bon festival at the Honganji.
Kyoto was more historical and less neon/glitzy, the way you see Tokyo on TV (still haven’t been but think awesome city scene, at least that’s what I think), so I saw a lot of temples and Buddhist shrines there, and then spent a few days in the countryside where my host family lived. And got to go to a nekkid bathhouse! No pictures taken there obviously, but it was simultaneously extremely weird and relaxing…think gloriously steamy water in gorgeous baths made to look like rock waterfalls, on the top of a mountain with the breeze blowing through bamboo walls. And then imagine me sitting in it, trying desperately not to flash anyone (one only has two hands, though).
