Day 4

Last day. Wondered if I should change to an earlier train back to Tokyo as my schedule was sort of loose today. I didn't want to exhaust myself too much as time was reminding me that Monday was coming. Expected to see less people on the street today it was never the case. Dropping off at Kyoto station, I walked in the speed of light to get a locker for my bag. People were also rushing at my back to fight for a locker. Ready, set, and I went ahead to Tofuku-ji, which was recommended by my boss as one of his favourite places.

It was just a stop away from Kyoto station but look, the whole train of people was all going to it, and it was like a few hundred of tourists arriving in every 10 minutes, in an early morning before 9am. In fact, I was already a bit fed up with maples, so today I was going to take pictures of crowds. Normally with such a long queue outside the entrance, it would definitely turn me off and I would just go away. But I had time, I was patient enough to wait and I felt so funny so see so many people were queuing up. The wooden bridge flying over brushes of maple trees was the main spot of this temple and I could only see heads on this bridge. Some guards were shouting loud and trying to maintain the order. I was afraid such a bridge built of ancient wood couldn't afford the weight and would break into half. Failed to take a video of how desperate people were trying to take pictures as it was really too chaotic. What a mess. What is the point of taking pictures like that?

Regained my breath at another end of the bridge, I saw people congested every single lane and every space of the garden down the slope was filled up. Not interested to get myself into trouble to be swamped by faces and so I left and decided to walk back to Kyoto station. On the way back there was no single tourist except me, it was the genuine quiet morning of Kyoto. I needed not read a map but just being guided by my sense of direction. Kidding, such a tall tower in front of the station, who could ever miss it and get lost on the way?

Saw that there is a drama about Jesus Christ staring by all Japanese actors. Very interested in it but it is now only on show in Kyoto threatre and I was leaving today. Then I went to tenth floor to check out my favourite restaurant – Sasebo burger. It was not yet open and still a bit early for lunch, so I just wandered around on the roof of the station, taking some pictures of myself, which is in fact a very rare action. It’s been a year but I cannot stop thinking about it. A huge burger which you have to squeeze it with your palm before eating, so you can see how supersized Americans are when you look at the size of this burger. I bet it is only a meal for boys. Especially fond of the crispy grilled bread and juicy bacon, I think I can swallow two if I am really starving. It was a bit eccentric and unaccustomed to have burger in Kyoto but believe me after three days of traditional food, that’s something to fresh your taste with something very American.

My energy was fully charged and I started walking again. I relish walking in a warm afternoon. My destination would be Higashi-yama. As I walked on this route before, so I knew the estimated time would be an hour or so. Counting how many kilo I’d been walking these days, I guessed it would be more than 80km by my normal walking pace.

Approaching the area of Higashi-yama, crowds and cars were messing up the roads again. No matter how jammed it was, this area is still my favourite place to walk around. Wanted to find a delicate porcelain teacup, with the theme of autumn. Looked around in many shops but still couldn't get any love-by-first-sight. Finally, I made one for myself. It was so funny to design and polish the clay into any shape that you like and I just made a random design with a lip opposite to the place where I suppose to drink. No ear, but two dimples on its face which fit my thumb and index finger. Pretty silly I laughed by myself when I was making it, didn't know if it scared other participants. Can’t wait to receiving my masterpiece.

Shopping mood was aroused and I got a handmade tie with classic dyeing style. As every tie was unique, it was so hard to make up my mind, while the salesgirl kept showing me more and more style. Just remembered I already have a blue-based one so finally I picked the silver white one with pink dye.

Another thing I’d bought was incense stick. Sandalwood is the customary scent of Kyoto and its smell is flowing on the street all days. As I already have a big pack of it, I was looking for musk. However, it was sort of expensive when comparing to sandalwood, even though sales was persuading me with the classic and elegant fragrance of musk. After all I chose something cheaper and but smells classic like. It’s called the scent of red leaves.

Walking along the bank of Kamogawa in the dusk of the evening and the twilight was shining on my back. Then I turned around and walked back again. The riverbank was full of pairs of lover but somehow I was enjoying the solitude of wandering slowing with some music. Had my very last dinner at the time not yet reaching 5pm so that I could eat slowly. Sometimes when I eat alone and see a big crowd waiting outside, I feel a bit strange of occupying a table by my own and turn out finishing quick. But tonight I didn't have to. That was my last tofu dinner.

It was still too early to go into the gate and so I grabbed a latte and sat on the staircase, looking at the twinkling Christmas tree. It was cold. I planned for long to spend some idle time on this staircase and the flyover tunnel, listening to those songs I listent to, when I visited these places five years ago. Places remains unchanged but I've been changing, so does my thought and sense.

一路上有人太早看透生命的線條命運的玄妙

有人太晚覺悟冥冥中該來則來無處可逃

***
I try to figure out why I particularly like Kyoto. I said I love Okinawa because of its stress-free nature. But what about Kyoto? What quality of it that attracts me? I don’t know. Just a special susceptibility from its historical stories. Many relationships as love, hate, life, death were planted under its soul, which grows as roots of affection that accelerate my sensibility. The feeling is complicated, but I can smell it through the clear air when I see all people on the streets as transparent. What I can see, is only its historical air. I don’t have a surge of moving there, but still, I have a feeling towards it.

I know I will be back soon.

PS
Once got on board of the train, I was exhausted. Might be the train was too warm and ventilation was bad, plus the thought of reality revived, I felt like vomiting when I saw the person eating sushi next to me…

*** Links
http://www.logkit.jp/