The Zen Gardens in Kyoto, Japan
Me and a Buddha!
Ryoan-ji (The Rock Garden) Kyoto, Japan
There are 15 stones, but only 14 visible at one time and is carefully tended to by monks!
More of the Gardens! This place was the most peaceful place I have ever been, I was in awe of what was around me. There was a purpose for the placement of everything in these gardens and it was incredibly centering (:
Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Temple)
A little Japanese boy playing with the bell. Its tradition in Japanese culture to ring these large bells in order to get the attention of the Gods before they pray or practice a ceremony etc.
The incense is supposed to cleanse your soul!
Eating dinner at a traditional Bed and Breakfast in Kyoto-- maybe more of a mat and breakfast haha
I couldn't tell you half of the things I ate either
Annika, Em, & I!
Just Monk-eyin' Around
Streets before the temple
Geishas!
A graveyard at the bottom of the temples. It's really interesting, they put running water along the walkways because it is supposed to sound like angels crying!
My overall impression of Japan was surpassed anything that I was expecting! Something noteworthy, is how kind the people are. People would help with directions if we needed it, they would go out of their way to try to speak English to us, they were generally a quiet group of people (they don't talk on transportation systems) and are respectful to your own space. One day, Hutch and I decided to venture off in Kyoto at night and couldn't find our hostel on the way back. We were trying to make dinner( that is a few pictures above) so we were literally sprinting through the backstreets of Kyoto, and we see a man and his wife walking. We stopped frantically and he knew absolutely no English, but realizes we are in a hurry, leaves his wife behind, and runs us at least 7 blocks to our hostel! It's that type of going out of the way that I'm talking about.
Japan was a very comfortable, warm, and inviting place, and I would absolutely love to go back again some day!
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