2011

Hello there new year. I can’t wait to see what kind of interesting things you’ll bring. Another year in Japan. Another 365 days with my baby girl. At least one trip back to the good ole U.S of A. I bid you farewell 2010. You were good to me. 

So I’m not really into new year’s resolutions. I always fail about 2 days into it…if I last that long. I know some folks that are giving up some pretty hefty items. Like meat, sweets, FACEBOOK. Geez….I couldn’t even imagine. I’d love to do something for a whole year. Really impress myself with my commitment.

Resolution #1. read The Bible every day.

Resolution #2. no candy.

Resolution #3. blog at least 3 times a week.

Resolution #4. quit cursing.

Resolution #5. Drop these last pesky 20 pounds.

These things should be attainable. We’ll see. So, that is it for now. I still have a few more hours to come up with something. Last post of 2010.

Kyoto part three

Day three: Continued. These next two photos were taken out by the Yasaka pagoda. I love all the beautiful colors.

Geisha? We were in the Gion district. I saw this lady being escorted by the gentleman in blue and then shortly after we took her picture another lady dressed like her and with a painted face walked by being escorted by a gentleman in blue. I couldn’t get my camera out quick enough for that one though. I think we spotted some geisha. What do you think?

Another random shrine I came across. I feel like I’m failing you readers!!! I wish I could tell you more about these places.

A gigantic tori outside the Heian shrine, that we did not visit.

We tried out a new Indian restaurant. It was yummy. And while inside we met two fellows that were visiting from London. Every Christmas holiday they travel to somewhere new. One was wearing a UT shirt so we talked about Texas a bit. The statue is of Ganesh. A very popular deity for Hindus.

I thought it was pretty neat that right in the middle of all these modern buildings would sit an old shrine. I saw that in quite a few places!

 

End of day three finally. There are so many pictures. Hope y’all are enjoying them!

Kyoto part two

Day three: First stop on day three was to yet another shrine. I can’t give much information on it because we just just came up on it and I jumped out and started taking pictures. Gotta love a good find.

Next we found a parking lot and took off walking. We came upon this fellow.

Kyoto is a large city so they have lots of shopping and are much more westernized than our little town of Iwakuni. Hello American food. We ate at T.G.I.Fridays.

I always get a kick out of translations. Thought this one was interesting until I walked by the store and saw that it was literally a whole store for socks.

They were playing some lovely Christmas music.

Minamiza Theater

I know everyone has seen a Starbucks but they were all over the place and Peter and I were stoked about it. We got our fill of it while we could. Mmmm… Starbucks!!! I don’t think you can ever really have too much Starbucks.

This is the Yasaka Shrine. The outside of it anyway. We were running out of day light at this point and I had other things I wanted to see. The Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Gion district. People can stop by and pray for prosperity and health here. The Gion district is where you might just find a geisha walking around.

While walking…

The Yasaka pagoda

Day three to be continued…

What a $265 dinner looks like

Peter and I have learned a valuable lesson twice now. Just because something cost more, doesn’t mean it is going to be better. Some of the best things I have ever had were CHEAP!!!!! But when we went to this steak house and got all settled in, we had no idea it was going to cost so darn much. At that point we had already committed. I mean…we already had bibs on for goodness sakes. Don’t get me wrong. This was a good meal but I have had just as good for hundreds less!

A hostess dressed in a kimono walked us down this lighted hallway.Looking inside the restaurant.The chef preparing our veggies.The condiments from left to right. Salt, soy sauce & ginger, a sweet mustard, and a peanut butter & ginger sauce.The veggies and then the red and white things  had  no taste but they looked pretty.

The appitizers. No idea what it was but all very tasty!The meat, waiting to be cooked. Peter got a sirloin and I got the filet. A salad. A thick miso soup and then a soup that tasted faintly like broccoli and cheese.

Rice, Japanese pickles and green tea. Everything all cooked and ready for eating.And last but not least the festive dessert.

Then there is this sweetness. Cora never meets a stranger. She teetered on over to the couple eating next to us. They loved her and entertained her for a little bit while we finished up our meal.