Kyoto X Seven
...written on 12.17.03, @ 10:24 a.m.
Wed December 17, 2003
Min loves Kyoto. He wants to relocate there someday. On our way down there on Sunday we counted how many times we had been there together in a year. It turned out that we were on our seventh run.
Our mission was to load up on souvenirs for my friends and relatives back in the States. I am leaving next Monday Dec 22 and staying for a couple of weeks. It will be my first time back in almost two years. Oh my Buddha, I didn't realize it had been that long!
We had planned on staying the night, and doing the shopping the next day, we returned to one of our favorite places to visit, Kinkakuji. It wasn't raining, so I got a picture of the famous reflecting pond. We had a beautiful walk around the grounds and then left to find somewhere to eat.
Truth be told, I really wanted a big, juicy, hamburger. I believe that is due to my impending visit to America and I will be getting plenty of hamburgers there, so I stifled my gnawing urge and walked the backstreets of Kyoto with Min, trying to find a suitable place.
After dinner, we had a cup of coffee and then headed out to what has become our favorite love hotel and even got the same room as last time. We planned on getting up early and going to the shops around Kiyomizudera for the souvenirs.
While I was shopping, Min took some self-portraits.
Breakfast at Starbucks, successful shopping, and back to Ogaki, where I was to attend my company's bonenkai (end of the year drink to forget party).
The hotel served us a Chinese food menu in overlong intervals. It was neither tasty nor well-presented. All 130 employees (attendance was mandatory) played a trivia game and then it was time for karaoke. Japanese volunteers were plentiful.
The English songs were slim, but Kaki got up and sang "Like a Virgin".
I was tempted to follow, but the only song I could have done was "Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra and that was too slow of a tempo for that hoppin' party.
Most people opted to spend the night at the hotel, but Min came and drove me home. It was a jam packed day.