Kyoto Chaos: Lost in Translation (and Matcha)
ok, so i landed in kyoto. 1653316, that's the flight number, just in case you're trying to track my increasingly erratic movements. and then, 1418179232... don't ask. i honestly have no idea what that is. it just popped into my head.
temp: 37.03, feels_like: 37.24... it's warm. like, really warm. i just checked and it's… thick. humid. the kind of warm that makes your clothes stick to you. hope you like that kind of thing. the pressure is normal, humidity's a little high, but hey, it's asia, right?
i'm staying in a tiny little guesthouse near *Gion. honestly, it’s a bit of a maze getting around. everything smells faintly of incense and something sweet, maybe mochi? the neighbors seem to mostly ignore me, which is fine by me. if you get bored, Osaka is just a short train ride away - check out some cool street art if you're into that [link to street art blog].
first impressions? sensory overload. the people are incredibly polite, but i'm pretty sure half of them don't speak a word of english. i tried ordering ramen at a place near the Kiyomizu-dera Temple and ended up with something that looked suspiciously like seaweed and mystery fish. it wasn't bad, just… unexpected. apparently, you have to bow when you pay, which i definitely forgot to do. i think i offended someone.
i spent yesterday wandering through Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. it was beautiful, like something out of a movie. but also packed with tourists. someone told me that if you go early, you might actually get a moment of peace. i heard that... and they weren't kidding. it was a sea of selfie sticks. i managed to snap a few pics though.
i’m trying to embrace the chaos. taking things one weird, delicious, confusing experience at a time. i even attempted a tea ceremony today. it was… intense. a lot of precise movements. a lot of bowing. i’m pretty sure i messed up the etiquette at least three times. the tea itself was surprisingly bitter, but i forced a smile and pretended to enjoy it.
oh! and i saw a geisha! a real one! glided down the street like she was made of smoke. it was magical. like something straight out of a film noir. i'm definitely going to try and catch her again.
i'm thinking of heading to Nishiki Market* tomorrow. supposed to be the best place to try all sorts of local delicacies. someone warned me about the octopus on a stick. apparently, it’s… an experience. i'm still on the fence about that one. i did see a recommendation for a great cooking class on TripAdvisor [link to TripAdvisor Kyoto cooking classes] if i end up wanting to learn how to make something other than seaweed ramen.
the weather is starting to shift, becoming noticeably cooler - perfect for exploring temples without melting. i just grabbed a matcha ice cream, which is basically the official flavor of kyoto. it's seriously good, and i'm pretty sure i’m going to need several more.
so yeah, that’s kyoto so far. it’s overwhelming, it’s confusing, it’s absolutely amazing. gonna go explore some more. wish me luck (and maybe send snacks).
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/midnight-mess-in-the-city-that-never-sleeps
- https://votoris.com/post/visakhapatnam-where-the-humidity-clings-like-a-bad-memory
- https://votoris.com/post/getting-around-yaroslavl-a-film-scouts-guide-to-random-frames
- https://votoris.com/post/tbilisi-my-messy-lovehate-relationship-with-the-city
- https://votoris.com/post/shopping-in-milan-from-local-markets-to-luxury-malls-and-my-neardisaster-with-a-vespa