Kyoto!

I bet everybody has heard of Kyoto? Yes? No? Maybe not? I hope so, cuz it's pretty famous. I went there this weekend--it's less than half an hour by train from school. First I went and explored this HUGE flea market. We're talking, for those in Oregon, something about the size of the annual Christmas Bazaar. Bigger than the Saturday Market, all outside, and happens twice a month: the 21st and the first saturday? sunday? one of those two. It was pretty cool. Had some yummy chestnuts. 

Then we walked to Kyoto station, looked at the map, ate cake at a cake shop. yummy. Then walked all the way to Kiyomizudera. First we looked around the souveneir shops since we were waiting around for the opening of it we wanted. Yes, I know I know, you realize the name Kiyomizudera sounds familiar. That's because I mentioned it in probably my first blog entry about Japan. But this time we were going at night for a special time of the year where they light everything up in the dark. I got some fair pictures, which was quite the challenge in that throng....*Shudder* crowds...

It was gorgeous all lit up like that, and of course as I'm here saying that I realize that I never put those photos into my laptop. Guess I'll do that tomorrow or something. Tomorrow is a study day since it's Japan's version of thanksgiving--a national holiday. No school. Libraries are closed....may have to buy all my meals at conbini's (convenience stores) tomorrow....didn't think about that earlier....

Today I went to t he school culture festival. It wass quite interesting. Lots of yummy food, watched Joel (a friend) perform on the Koto at his club. The Koto is ....remember the movie August Rush how the kid plays the guitar laying down rather than in his hands. Well the Koto is a big huge string instrument that you play flat like that, only its more along the lines of a harp...that's hollow....gah, look up images on google! Anyways, it was pretty neat, and it had a good atmosphere for the performance. Watched a little bit of the international dance performance, watched a Japanese student rap in Japanese...okay...didn't quite get it at all. Saw lots of crazy stuff. Japanese boys dressed up as Japanese school girls, power rangers and scream costume people, cheerleaders who were incredibly athletic, lots of kimonos (but that's pretty common--if i leave the house and don't see somebody wearing one, it's an unusual day). 

Aww well, yawns, I'm kind of tired. Goodnight Neverland,

Jessica