Kyoto

More specifically Kyoto, Naru, and Osaka.

This trip was just about the best part out of studying abroad in Korea. A major bonus was that I went right when the Cherry blossoms were out.
And guess what I seen our first night in Kyoto???? A maiko!!! (for you noobs out there, it's basically a geisha). I was surprised to see actually 'practicing' maiko's b/c I didn't think that people actually still did that today. I didn't get to take pictures of them (they were all in taxi cabs) but my director did, so when she sends them then I'll post them. I'm surprised she even got pictures; there was this one spot where alot of geishas were going into a restaurant so all the foreigners just stood outside in a pack with their cameras out. They looked like paparazzi's trying to get pics of celebrities.
Me and my friends weren't going to do that, so we went out for sake, the Japanese version of soju. It took us about a good thirty minutes to find someplace to go.---I've been told before that Japan isn't English friendly... and it's true. barely anything was written in English). Luckily our waiter spoke a little English. He recommended that we try the rice sake warm and so we did. To me, it tasted like warm beer. yeah.... tasty, right?


Okay, so this is the traditional inn we stayed in. It was huge!!!!! The room with the table was our bedroom, and then the next room was just a sitting area which lead to a terrace that had a very nice view of these small monuments (I actually have a video of it that I'll upload later).








The picture on the right the the first course of our 9 course meal. We had soup, rice, noodles, sashimi, a bunch of different kind of rolls, sweet pumpkin, etc. It was ALOT of food for dinner.





On the left was a part of our lunch. We also had salad, tempura (deep fried veggies and shrimp) and sashimi (raw fish). I tried the raw fish, but the texture was too weird for me so I gave the rest to the others. My favorite part of all the meals was the tempura and the steamed eggs with shrimp. yummers. oh, and their noodles and rice. deliciousness.

In japan I think their version of snacks are rice cake things with and without bean paste. The most popular are the cherry blossoms. I personally liked the banana and chocolate ones of which I bought some for my family in Korea.

Out of the three places I visited. Kyoto was by far the most prettiest place to go. The scenery was sooooo pretty. There were all kinds of flowers (and flower bushes- I didn't know there was such a thing) and streams, and alot of people in kimonos. It really calms the mind. And the people here was SOOOOOO nice. At the Inn (I assume it happens at all inns) when the guests leave, the housekeepers and staff would come out out and send us off.

The people in Japan I think are more 'considerate' (not sure if that's the right word). They don't just walk in front of people who are taking pictures (like in Korea), they don't shove people when going through crowds (like in Korea), and I'm not afraid to cross streets (like I do in Korea). I'm not saying that I hate Korea, b/c afterall it's part of who I am, but I really REALLY REALLY liked Kyoto, Japan.