Friday, 11th of March

Warming up with ocha

Tectonic tiddly-winks: So yeah the big  news I guess. Earthquakes, devastation and BBC news. We've gone from impotently watching on in New Zealand to impotently watching on in Japan. We're pretty buzzed out guys. Thank you for your concern and prayers. We are safe and sound in Kyoto - but are still trying to fathom what this means to our journey. Horrific poetry - luckily we had looked to go up to the affected area but instead decided to travel down to Kyoto and Osaka. We also would have been in Beppu at this time had our Rail Passes not faffed us - from what I understand this area has had tsunami warnings - I'm not sure if there has been damage there yet. In summary however: Earthquakes - why don't you just piss off please. Praise God though we were not in Tokyo or the affected area. It is sad - very sad - to watch this death toll mount again so soon after watching it mount in Christchurch.

But hey let's move on to lighter notes. Namely, our experience and my inane ramblings.

Shouldn't he have a newspaper
with eye holes cut in it?

Tiny things: They say tiny things please tiny minds. Check out the crossing guys little hat - it's the little attentions to details that count no?

Jentensha-thon: The other day Hannah and I went missioning up to the north of Kyoto on some Jetensha (bicycles). "Ironically they don't have ten speeds" chortled Hannah. It was so much fun - the bicycle is a pretty standard form of transport through out Japan. Not the road bike or mountain bikes you see in NZ - but more of the big wheel single gear roller. It's thoroughly enjoyable though - people don't charge around the place - they gently and majestically roll through the streets. And the best thing: No helmet laws. It can be nerve racking though  and you really need to keep your nerve through out the rabbit warrenesque streets with their blind corners, trucks, mopeds, walkers, and other bikers

They see me rollin - They hatin

Mike Tyson finally gets the
recognition he deserves...

CTRL + S (face saving): It's an interesting society - there is this whole face saving thing. The general notion is that you shouldn't really show your emotions in public. Just the other day we watched on as a bloody great eagle swooped down on this man in a park and snatch this donut out of his hand. Hannah and I watched on in awe and shock - but he kept his head up and he didn't bat an eyelid. It really is quite interesting. The locals seem to have this unapproachableness about them - but should you engage them that veneer shatters into a warm smiling bow of the head, a "konnchiwa" and ensuing conversation.

Monkey heaven: We went to Kyoto Arashiyama monkey park yesterday. In fact we were here when the quake struck - on top of a hill in the middle of the island - which is about as safe as it gets. We didn't feel it at all - but can you be surprised when your surrounded by over one hundred screaming Macaques. We really enjoyed it. After a gentle 20 minute walk up the mountain side you're literally surrounded by these cute native monkeys. Fat ones, skinny ones, young ones, old ones, greedy ones, aggressive ones you name it - they had every macaque under the sun.  Unfortunately we didn't get to witness that ubiquitous shot of the monkey in the hot pool with snow on his head - but never mind. We caught them at feeding time which was cool - I was reminded somewhat of Courtenay Place on a Friday night actually. They were free to roam around and were uncaged which was nice. Although we felt safe you couldn't help but quitely envision one of these guys flipping out and savaging your face in a monkey rage...

Beautiful Hannah with a new buddy

Haiku: We popped up to university and met up with a few academics. One of them an expert in haiku. I've always enjoyed the dirty Haiku poem and remember learning of this poetical form and very young age at Paparangi School. I've written one or two and always enjoy the challenge. It was pretty interesting yarning with this guy (through broken English/Japanese). I was inspired after to write one. Check it out:

Love is not silent;

Its rhythm roars like the sun;

Silences the rain

We have nothing else to say - but a few pictures to sign off with.

Kyoto Manga Museum

"Do you want a knuckle sandwich?"

Kyoto Station - magnificent structure...