KOYA-SAN > KYOTO
Nice early start at 6am after not so comfy sleep on futons.
630 for morning ritual watchign two monks chant whilst a numpty used their camera flash.
1/2hr later moved onto fire ritual of drums and monk building pyre before we walked round, wafted smoke from ashes over ourselves (ppurification) and bowed to three shrines.
Breakfast back in the room at 730 (beds packed away and trays already set for us) was, erm, not so tasty. Rice with miso, puck of fried bean tofu in broth and super strong plum thing.
Went for a daylight graveyard walk for more pics, making it back for checkout at 10am (accom on credit card, 44,500Y cash for tour). We then wandered through town along bus route, stopping for coffee and cake then bussing it final windy road to cable car to find our wayon lots of trains to Kyoto.
Walked through busy Kyoto and found Ryokan with english speaking receptionist.
Cool jap room. Went out in town and found bar. Nobu bar didnt speak much english and expensive beer, yamazaki, martini and grapefruit deli and nibbles.
Went wandering and ended up in restaurant with yet another beef menu.
Coolest waiter who we obviously secretly tipped 15,000Y – Yeo.
Went bar hunting, Yeo caught up with us and took us to a crazy airtight Jenga bar where losers had to do shots. Toilet in a cupboard/
Lost Yeo and wandered home as decided we didnt want to ruin Arashiyama with too much tequila. See phone notes for Leo (perhaps english name! from north china, lived korea, studies in japan)
home with ice cream.
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