19.6.16

OH KYOTO












My aunt messaged me last night to say that my photos made her miss Japan so much, which reminds me that I should remember to upload more. 

Here's the rest before I move on to Osaka. What can I say? Kyoto, you're still one of my favourites.


5.6.16

LUNCH IN A PUBLIC BATHHOUSE










The sheer number of interesting cafes in Kyoto was so mind-boggling, I think we could have spent our entire trip cafe-hopping if we had wanted to.

But of course trying to do our usual nonbiri coffee time was impossible with a little one, so I settled for the few that really caught my eye.

This one was in an old public bathhouse. Isn't the interior beautiful?

@cafe sarasa nishijin


4.6.16

ARASHIYAMA











I remember it was cold that day in Arashiyama.

You probably can't tell from the pictures, but it was one of her mental leap days and she spent a lot of that day with me in tears under the nursing shawl. By the time she felt a bit better much of the day was gone and the plan for the day was completely askew. We didn't have enough time for the monkey park or the Saga romantic train (insert crying emoticon here) but on the flip side, everyone was largely gone by the time we reached the bamboo forest. I think I've never seen it so peaceful before.

On hindsight I wonder if given another chance I would bring the baby along a trip again. Before the baby, I've always felt it was a waste of money to travel with kids. Afterall, what would they remember, and what would they understand? But after this trip I realized that even without understanding, they could see, they could feel and they could respond, even if they remember nothing afterwards.

I'm babbling, but more than alphabets and flash cards or Baby Einstein videos, I want her to see and experience a bit of this bewildering and wonderful world.


"It is good to know something of the customs of different people in order to judge more soundly of our own, and so that we might not think that all that which is contrary to our ways be ridiculous or contrary to reason, as those who have seen nothing have the habit of doing."

- Descartes



THE TRAIN OTAKU STRIKES AGAIN

If you have been following my blog for a while, you'll probably understand why I had to drag poor HC and baby in-tow to go on the Eiden.

Each tram had its own look. Somehow they reminded me of the Toden Arakawa trams that used to run near my hostel.

Train otaku in-training.

The little old wooden unmanned stations were so cute. The tram line apparently has been in existence since 1920s.


We stopped by the Ichijoji Station because of the well reviewed Keibunsha.

Extremely well curated selection of books. Sans-rogue-baby-who-kept-grabbing-at-books I would have probably hibernated here for hours.

Well, maybe next time.