Local Yokel

As the not-so-famous song goes, "I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so." Such was my intrepid jaunt around Kyoto in the sweltering August sunshine. Per the previous post, I saw more than my share of temples. But I also tried to get around Kyoto to see the city and feel its vibe (sweaty, to be brief). Next to the first temple I visited was a Sunday morning flea market, which I strolled through. It's nice to see that Crap That No One Wants is a trans-cultural phenomenon.

Vending machines are a really big deal in Japan, as far as I can tell. They're everywhere, sell way more than stale chips, candy bars, and pop. Like the toilet seats in Japan (you'll warmly recall what I'm talking about if you've experienced), the Japanese vending machine experience is on a higher plane as well. Clean, stocked, work perfectly every time (no praying that the coil doesn't stop a millimeter short), and sell lots and lots of stuff. They were my cold water dispenser for the day. Nary a hiccup. Probably the dumbest thing I tried was buying a daily bus path for the Kyoto system, but luckily, I managed to figure it out despite there not being a single word of English at the stops or on the buses. Unlike Tokyo, its anagramic neighbor to the southwest is one unified city rather than a sprawling mess of multiple massive city centers. So the Kyoto buses basically went in big circles around different parts of the city and the only way to truly screw up was to go (counter)clockwise when you should've gone the other way. I guessed correctly.

Finally, I stumbled across one of the most unique sushi meals I've ever had. Different types of fishes, different arrangements (see the 4x4 assembly of square pieces above), and different rice (soaked in some sort of vinegar and brine, so soy sauce was discouraged). I ended up eating with a 58-year old gentleman who seemed lean and vital, but talked about his upcoming retirement in two years as the penultimate step toward the final sunset. Demographically, Japan is the oldest of any industrialized nation so I gather there are many folks in the same camp as my lunch partner. Hopefully most are more sanguine about life during the golden years.