Eclipse Viewing in Japan

The first day I was in Kyoto, I was treated to an annular eclipse.  I had to travel from Europe to Japan to see it, but see it I did!  I was lucky because it wasn't cloudy.  So I hit the streets in the early morning with thousands of Japanese school children to see the eclipse.

Here's the image of the eclipse, as seen through the leaves of a tree.

I tried to take a picture by using my solar filter against my camera, but it didn't work out too well.  But hey, you can see the sun and the moon, very, very far away.

As totality approached, I saw the sky dim.  Was it coming cloud cover?  Actually, no, it was the moon, which I suppose reached the critical amount of solar coverage to actually substantially change the amount of brightness on the Earth.

Totality was pretty cool.  Through my solar glasses, I could see the moon, surrounded by the sun, in a lopsided glowing orange ring.  It only lasted a minute though, so no pictures, however, my parents, who lived in "the best city in the world to see the eclipse" got some awesome pictures.

A point to anyone who can explain why sometimes we see a total eclipse, and sometimes we see an annular eclipse.

Temple Hopping

The main thing travelers to Kyoto complain about is "Temple fatigue".  With thousands (literally!) of temples and shrines around the city, there is definitely plenty to see. 

First is Nishi-Hongan-ji Temple, established in 1272.  Like most of the other temples in Kyoto, it is made of wood (therefore, the grounds are littered with no smoking signs!)

The elaborate tiles on the roof of the temple.

A lone woman carries her shoes with her as she goes to pray in the temple.

The main temple hall, with huge wooden doors in front of sliding screens.

 Temple bell.

Outside the temple.   Note the interestingly shaped trees.  Their long branches are sculpted.  You'll see more examples later.

The main gate was impressive!  It was made of black wood, and painted with fantastic animals.

The main tree in the courtyard.  Again, note its branches.  They are so long and heavy they need poles to support them.

Heading to the next temple, I pass an orange Tori gate.

Another blue heron in the pond in front of the temple.

Next up is the To-ji temple, established in 794.   It has a 5 story pagoda (one of the largest I saw).  The main hall contains several (rather large) Buddah statues.

Around the temple.  

The temple bell.

My first encounter with raked white pebbles.  There will be many more!

Walking to the next temple, we see a huge Tori gate in the city.  They're everywhere!

The Shoren-in Temple.  This was one of my favorites.  It was so incredibly peaceful.   All of the walls were screens, which could be rolled back to see the amazing garden.  The fluid movement from indoors to outdoors contributed to the magic of this temple.

Passing from room to room, all separated by sliding screens.

The gardens.  So peaceful. 

I think that if I could have a house designed like this, I would be very content.

Behind the temple was a bamboo forest, with conference friends Kari and Richard for scale.

The giant bell on the temple grounds.  We even rang it!  

The massive gate of the Chion-in Temple.  The large wooden gate is one of the largest in Japan.

Another sculpted tree.  Look at how long the branches can grow when they are supported!

Old Kyoto - Gion

Perhaps the oldest part of Kyoto is Gion - the "Geisha" district, where there are many exclusive tea houses and shows where you can see Geishas and Maiko (apprentice Geisha) perform.  In fact, I saw a few (with their faces painted white, having perfectly shaped hair with flowers and silver chimes dangling delicately, shuffling down the street in their traditional platformed sandals).  No pictures here (I would have had to stalk them, which is probably not a good idea), but more pictures will come where I saw Geishas elsewhere.

However, there were several other women wearing kimonos, who either worked in the tea houses, or just came to Gion for a night in the "traditional town".

A statue of the woman who started kabuki theater, even though it later came to be performed by males.  A point if you can guess her name!

 

When I was in Gion, a festival was occurring.  Right place, right time.  There were several rickshaws, and people holding palanquins with small shrines or trees on top of them.  

 

Outside of one of the small shrines in Gion.

Many shrines had streamers made of thousands of colorful paper cranes.

 

Kennin-ji Temple, which I just happened to wander across, located in southern Gion.

The narrow passageways, lined with power cords, in Gion.

Circumnavigation Part 3: Welcome to Japan

And so I arrive in Japan- the farthest East I've ever been.  As I passed the International Date Line, I jumped forward in time, skipping over a day of 2012.

My first night in the hotel in Japan, I found not only a New Testament, but also the Teachings of Buddha. 

After arriving in Japan, I took a walk from my hotel to try to get thoroughly lost.  My first stop is the temple near my hotel.  

 

Over the moat and through the large wooden gate, I come across the main temple.  It's made of wood (like almost all the temples in Japan), and there are prominent no smoking signs everywhere.  In fact, most of the temples have burned down numerous times in the past (the magic number seems to be four), always reconstructed in the same way.  Luckily for us, most of the temples haven't burned down in the last hundred years or so.  Perhaps it's due to new lightning rod technology or new no smoking signs?

Outside Buddhist temples, there is typically a fountain used for washing of the hands or rinsing of the mouth.  This temple had a very prominent dragon fountain. 

After the temple, I had to complete my ritual of getting lost.  So off I went!  I was impressed by the parking they have here in Japan.  With many people on a very tiny island, they often have to get creative for space.  

Statues on a bridge.

Kyoto is an experience for all of the senses, especially smell.  It seems that wherever I go, something smells amazing, whether it be incense in the temples or grilled yakitori meat.  As I walked along the river, I could smell the scent of jasmine wafting through the air. 

Along the river, there were many beautiful blue herons.

Walking along the river.  There are still some trees that, even in May, are red.

My Circumnavigation Adventure Continues.... and a Trans-Oceanic Conspiracy Revealed

On the way from Europe to the US,  I was upgraded to business class.  It was amazing.  We had real silverware and comfy headphones.  We were served steak in a mushroom onion glaze and thinly shaved potatoes.  In addition, I was in the first row, so there was plenty of room to spread out.  I had a footrest.  I never was so relaxed on an trans-Atlantic flight.

Fast-forward a week, and now I'm on my way to Japan.  Thirteen hour flight this time.  I was in the second to last row of economy, and behind a woman who reclined her seat as far as humanly possible.  I fight down the rising panic of claustrophobia as I sit shoved into the back corner of a flying tin can, popping sleeping pills and hoping that unconsciousness will come and I won't remember this experience.       

So... was the airline kind to upgrade me on my first trip?  Or did they do it in a diabolical plan to ruin every economy airline trip I take from now to the end of time?