Day 8 - Kyoto II

I have been doing so much lately, I am having trouble keeping track of all thats been going on. I have ambitious plans to jog/run the Fushimi Irani mountain shrine tomorrow at 630am, so I cant stay long -- but I want to write about today in Kyoto. Life has slowed down drastically and these days remind me of the days before the Kumono Kodo. Its weird, I feel I am still in the Kodo a bit -- like, my body is still crying and my mind keeps reverting to moments on the trip. On the other hand, Im eating (at all) in restaurants and taking showers and such. It was one of the best trials Ive been through. I would love to return one day -- better prepared, and hopefully with company. Its such a great experience. Im glad I did what I did and almost died, but I would rather have company. Im not sure who would join me after I flirted so hard with oblivion. ANYWAY.

Last night, I nimbly dodged locals attempting to fry my mind with free shots. The irony -- I would accept free shots, gladly, at any other time -- but I get them when I need to get up and adventure. Alas, poor Yorick. 

Today I went to the Imperial Palace, The International Manga Museum, various shopping destinations, Shoren-In Temple, Fushimi Irani (I gave up and vowed to return and conquer tomorrow) and I ate at a Vegan Restaurant which was actually the best meal Ive had on this trip and the entire restaurant gravitated toward me -- like I said and will continue to say -- take a step out, and see how you reek of adventure.

Today I met four little boys Soda, George, Yoda, and Tsiguri. I think Tsiguri is the only person who gave me a real name lol. Real creative kids -- Soda and Yoda. They were hanging out in a bhuddist temple in their school uniforms eating ice cream, saying hi to everyone. I fist bumped them and they applauded that I am from America: America very cool! Ninja!!!, said George. I dont know where the quotation signs are on this japanese keyboard. Itallics for life. 

National Manga Museum wowed me. I couldnt really take photos inside because it was heavily camera-d. It was actually more of a manga library than a museum. They had mostly models submitted in what seemed to be an international Gundam model competition. Some of them were quite impressive. Not really my cup of tea. I almost cried at how spectacular it was that a place like this existed. It reminded me of my old elementary school, Rock Creek International, on foxhall road, DC. An old, marble (? Slate? Polished Rocks?) school -- but this was filled to bursting with manga. All over, kids were relaxed and reading Manga. Hilarious, I saw one kids mom chew him out -- probably for going to the manga library instead of where he was supposed to be. 

Here are some pics I found online. My fav pic was the one with the divet. Kids were really chilling in this divet, reading manga! Also there were probably 10K volumes here. Also, I bought alot of presents here ;)

I visited THE most BEAUTIFUL garden I have ever seen, in Shoren-In Temple. I was stunned by the intermingling of rock, water, foliage, height, and human structures. Like, ogm -- YES OGM -- that was the pinnacle of human art for me, right there. In one moment I was sauntering through dense woods on the path and I happened into a heavy branch right in front of me. I was in such a good mood, I cupped a leaf and kissed it. I kissed a leaf, because the garden was so pretty. In that moment, I was just like get over here you beautiful leaf and let me kiss you.

  

This is NOT grass -- it is RAF moss. What verdant moon is this, that moss grows unperturbed instead of grass????

I once saw a young man, keeled over, crying in front of a Van Gogh.

Now, I have seen nature and its beauty. 

I still have no idea what was wrong with him.