Kyoto with Rachel and Richard

Kyoto

My sister Rachel came to visit me with her friend Richard, so we went to Kyoto for the weekend. Despite staying there 3 days, we only saw a bit of Kyoto, as we also went to Nara and Amanohashidate.

We went to Fushimi Inari Shrine as I've always thought that paths of Tori gates look cool since watching Memoirs of Geisha. I also wanted to have a video of me running down the path like the girl in the film, not that I want to be a geisha! Unfortunately Rachel hadn't seen the film, so she wasn't quite sure what I wanted, but the result was funny all the same.

At the youth hostel Rachel and I tried bathing Japanese style. It was an interesting experience: the sign told us to wash before getting into the bath, so we used the sink next to the sign, however when we went into the next room, we found showers where we were meant to do this. 2 Japanese girls passed us a little plastic seat each, that more like a potty, to sit on while we showered. Afterwards we got into the large bath, which was baking hot. With both of getting in at the same time, along with a Japanese girl, we created a bit of a tidal wave across the rest of the room :S Getting out I looked like a lobster. It took me half an hour before I returned to a normal colour. This was about the same time that I appreciated the effects of the bath - before I was just feeling hot. Unfortunately Rachel and I didn't manage to try an actual onsen (hot spring) while she was here, this is still on my things to do.