I
took the shinkansen train, aka the “bullet train” from Tokyo to Kyoto. It was about $140 and Chihiro told me it
would be much cheaper to take the bus.
However, I wanted to experience the famous bullet train! The ride was so smooth it was almost
unremarkable.
After
I checked into my ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), I set out for the Bamboo
forest. Bamboo trees make an almost
musical sound as they sway back and forth.
I
did encounter an American traveler on my way to the Bamboo forest. After we saw it together, we went to this
monkey mountain. On the hike up the mountain, we spotted
several monkeys, the same kind I saw while visiting Mt. Fuji. At the top of the mountain we had great views
of Kyoto below. And monkeys would walk right past our feet, as
if they didn’t even see us or didn’t care we were there! It was as a cat would walk right past your
feet. Inside a fenced-in shed, we
also handed the monkeys peanuts!
During
our exchanges of pleasantries, the American traveler found out I was a medical
student. He told me a story on how he “blacked
out” the day before while walking with his couchsurfer, which resulted in a
deep cut under his chin. He told me it
happened after eating squid at a cheap restaurant. “This is an awkward question” I said, “Are
you having diarrhea?”
I
diagnosed him with a stomach bug and gave him one of my 2 day treatment courses of Cipro. I hope Karma comes back around.
On
Tuesday I did a temple tour. I then
walked around the Gion district hoping to spot a giesha but didn’t.
I
took a train from Kyoto to Osaka Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning left
early in the morning for my flight to Phuket.
Now
I’m waiting for my connecting flight in Kuala Lumpur. I just had some Laksa and was so happy when
the total was $5 USD! In an
airport! Wooo!!!! Its going to be great in these cheaper countries
of Asia!
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