Kyoto
OMG, it's been almost 2 months since the last update and 4 months since the trip. Gomennasai! I'll try to be a bit more on-task.
Anyway, Kyoto was the former capital of Japan, and a very interesting city. We started off at a meeting ground somewhere near ACT city, where we introduced Isaac Lee to Hanayume, who seemed to have a crush on him. We set off for Kyoto, which was about a 3-4 hour bus ride away. The bus ride was spent playing cards, mostly taiti, bridge and *cough* poker *cough* with Hong Cheng. Rule number one of poker: Never play with marked cards when you don't know the markings... The scenery along the highways was very nice, especially when you live in a place like Singapore and don't get to see much.
We arrived in Kyoto at around lunch time. Hong Cheng and I found a very interesting shop down there selling swords. Hong Cheng immediately bought one, while I hesitated a bit before buying. Then, we went for lunch. Since we didn't know the place, we decided to trail Muto sensei and Momose san, who were surprisingly, shall we say, close. Reminds me of 2 certain people in school (RI Amaths ppl should know)...
After lunch, we visited a temple known as the Golden Pavillion. Hong Cheng took a very good picture here, so good that many at home believed that it was a professional picture. Scenery was very beautiful, and I'm sad that we don't see any of it here.
There was also a kimono factory, where we learned how kimonos were made. We also learned how to dye fabric using stencils, and produced some nice handkerchiefs, although mine was destroyed when I attempted to write my name. Some nice souveniers were in the shop, and I in particular bought a small crystal thing and a kamikaze headband.
Our last attraction for the day was Kiyomizu Dera, the most famous temple in Kyoto. There were 3 waterfalls there, and apparently if you drink from them, you will have wealth, long life and a good love life. Also, we had some fortune telling stuff done there, although I don't believe in the stuff and didn't take a paper. How it works is, you take a paper with a number on it out of a box/dispenser. The number is from 1-100 and the lower the number, the luckier you will be. I did this a week before when I went to a temple with my host and got 26, so that's not bad. Branden got a 71, and was quite scared, although the custom is that you can make your luck better by tying the paper to a tree or pole.
Souvenier shopping was next, and there were some nice things to buy. Swords, of course, and Branden, Hong Cheng and Gabu each picked up one, which meant that Hong Cheng had a matching set. Also, our dear friend Isaac Lee spent 15 minutes browsing ties, so there must have been a wide variety Japanese food and ice creams, statues, flags of various countries and many more interesting things could be found. I managed to pick up a few things, and my favourite was this iron-on patch from the US Air Combat Command.
Bus ride back was interesting, we watched the movie where our theme song, Hitomi Wo Tojite came from. We all sang it together when it played, and looking back, I can see that we became quite close. Dinner was at a rest stop, and I seem to have grown attached to those "Hello Squares"
At Nambu, we had a few interesting events. Since it was quite late, about 10-10.30, the whole school was dark and deserted. Hong Cheng and I were discussing the famous RI ghost stories with Branden, scaring a few people. Then all of a sudden, Isaac Sim screamed. This was most likely due to 3 people appearing out of nowhere, or at least appearing to appear out of nowhere. Some of the girls also got scared. It seems that our ghost stories had some negative effects...
Once home, I discussed the trip with my host family. They particularly liked the sword and the picture that Hong Cheng took, which I will post once I find it. And so ended another day.
That's all for now, stay tuned for the next instalment! And I promise to bring the next instalment right after my Common Tests!!!
BTW: Gabu is a prefect nominee!
Anyway, Kyoto was the former capital of Japan, and a very interesting city. We started off at a meeting ground somewhere near ACT city, where we introduced Isaac Lee to Hanayume, who seemed to have a crush on him. We set off for Kyoto, which was about a 3-4 hour bus ride away. The bus ride was spent playing cards, mostly taiti, bridge and *cough* poker *cough* with Hong Cheng. Rule number one of poker: Never play with marked cards when you don't know the markings... The scenery along the highways was very nice, especially when you live in a place like Singapore and don't get to see much.
We arrived in Kyoto at around lunch time. Hong Cheng and I found a very interesting shop down there selling swords. Hong Cheng immediately bought one, while I hesitated a bit before buying. Then, we went for lunch. Since we didn't know the place, we decided to trail Muto sensei and Momose san, who were surprisingly, shall we say, close. Reminds me of 2 certain people in school (RI Amaths ppl should know)...
After lunch, we visited a temple known as the Golden Pavillion. Hong Cheng took a very good picture here, so good that many at home believed that it was a professional picture. Scenery was very beautiful, and I'm sad that we don't see any of it here.
There was also a kimono factory, where we learned how kimonos were made. We also learned how to dye fabric using stencils, and produced some nice handkerchiefs, although mine was destroyed when I attempted to write my name. Some nice souveniers were in the shop, and I in particular bought a small crystal thing and a kamikaze headband.
Our last attraction for the day was Kiyomizu Dera, the most famous temple in Kyoto. There were 3 waterfalls there, and apparently if you drink from them, you will have wealth, long life and a good love life. Also, we had some fortune telling stuff done there, although I don't believe in the stuff and didn't take a paper. How it works is, you take a paper with a number on it out of a box/dispenser. The number is from 1-100 and the lower the number, the luckier you will be. I did this a week before when I went to a temple with my host and got 26, so that's not bad. Branden got a 71, and was quite scared, although the custom is that you can make your luck better by tying the paper to a tree or pole.
Souvenier shopping was next, and there were some nice things to buy. Swords, of course, and Branden, Hong Cheng and Gabu each picked up one, which meant that Hong Cheng had a matching set. Also, our dear friend Isaac Lee spent 15 minutes browsing ties, so there must have been a wide variety Japanese food and ice creams, statues, flags of various countries and many more interesting things could be found. I managed to pick up a few things, and my favourite was this iron-on patch from the US Air Combat Command.
Bus ride back was interesting, we watched the movie where our theme song, Hitomi Wo Tojite came from. We all sang it together when it played, and looking back, I can see that we became quite close. Dinner was at a rest stop, and I seem to have grown attached to those "Hello Squares"
At Nambu, we had a few interesting events. Since it was quite late, about 10-10.30, the whole school was dark and deserted. Hong Cheng and I were discussing the famous RI ghost stories with Branden, scaring a few people. Then all of a sudden, Isaac Sim screamed. This was most likely due to 3 people appearing out of nowhere, or at least appearing to appear out of nowhere. Some of the girls also got scared. It seems that our ghost stories had some negative effects...
Once home, I discussed the trip with my host family. They particularly liked the sword and the picture that Hong Cheng took, which I will post once I find it. And so ended another day.
That's all for now, stay tuned for the next instalment! And I promise to bring the next instalment right after my Common Tests!!!
BTW: Gabu is a prefect nominee!
posted by Aaron | 9:06 PM
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