Here is the dreaded traditional Japanese toilet. I have neither the aim or the stamina to use this contraption that is level with the floor.
Ads on stairways and sometimes on escalator. It is cool looking and effective. I think I may go see "jumper" after this ad.
The ice bar in Tokyo, the whole bar is made out of ice. You are only allowed to be in here for 45 minutes. It was freezing and they gave us space age suits.
I saw the "christmas story" one too many times and wanted to see if your tongue really sticks to the ice. The movie was right.
We decided to go to an Onsen, which is a Japanese hotsprings. It was really relaxing. We even got massages and just relaxed in the hot springs after a long week of siteseeing. Downside: you have to be naked and the place is divides men and women. Therefore, I saw more naked men then I felt comfortable seeing, it was border line disturbing. Why not some bathing suits, it is about time to change this ancient tradition. Also, they had this game there where I got to throw real ninja stars- It was crazy. I hit the target twice in 5 throws and won a plastic ninja star. It was odd how they let you use these dangerous weapons at a game, but it was fun nonetheless. 
We rented bikes in Kyoto and saw all the sites by bike. I think we biked over 12 miles throughout the day because the sites are so spread out. Somehow we never got lost and each bike had a basket and a bell. I rang the bell every thirty seconds as if I was Mr. Softee going through the streets of Kyoto, it was lot of fun. It was a great deal only 10 dollars for the day and I couldn't imagine going any other way.
Here is a small mountain town in Kyoto. It was the first time I was able to breath fresh air since I have been in Japan since Japan's air quality is a bit poor. My sinuses cleared up and makes me want to move to the mountains someday.
Memoirs of a geisha-- the one next to me looks smitten over me- who can blame her. I think Kyoto is the last place in Japan where they have geishas and you see many walking around the city. We decided to wear our complimentary hotel robes around the city. People were dying laughing because they said "Kyoto Inn" on them. People would stop and point and laugh continually. I think they thought it was so funny because it was be like someone walking around in a Motel 6 robe in the US and they probably thought that we thought they were traditional robes. I even saw someone use the move that I used before where they pretended to be taking a picture of something else and when we looked they quickly put down their camera. I have been the source of a lot of comedy in Japan, why stop now.
The golden pavillion- here they had this little bowl where people we're trying to throw money into it and it was difficult. I made it on my second try and yelled out "Yata", which means "I did it" and the Japanese really got a kick out of it.
Beware of falling rocks
The orange temple (I don't know its real name)
Bowing to a tree and praying for peace on earth and that we did not get hit by cars as we biked throughout Kyoto. There are alot of small streets where cars fly around corners, probably as dangerous as the Ninja star game.
Double dragons on the ceiling of the oldest Zen temple in Japan, called Kenjii temple.
Again , Japan is not made for tall people. I was as tall as the roof.
A rock garden. The Japanese have the right idea- easy to manage and serene looking. I may start one when I get home
Krissy, put on your eye muffs- I could not resist the power of the geisha
This restaurant was like a dungeon. We did not know what it was when we entered- I knew that it would be really good food or we would be tortured, I was hoping for the first option. This really small door led down many stairs to a really cool traditional Japanese restaurant with excellent cuisine.
People are always dressed up in customs. These penguin guys weren't as excited about the picture as I was.
There was a monkey park in Kyoto where they let you play with the monkeys. I was really excited about this one and we biked for like 40 minutes to get there and unfortunately it was too late and it was closed. I might have to take another trip just for this reason. I have no clue why they don't have this in the US (besides the threat of disease), it seems awesome.
When in Japan a lot of people where these masks. I first thought that all of these people were going into surgery or robbing banks. But here, it is neither, they are just afraid of germs.
Dogs in sunglasses and jeans- only in Tokyo.
What's wrong with this guy?A. Dead
B. Drunk
C. Protesting something
B. Drunk
C. Protesting something
D. who knows, he's french.
Answer D: This french guy was laying on the street. You never know with the French. They worship marginal US celebrities (like Mickey Rourke and Jerry lewis), make movies where you have to guess the plot and it is mandatory to appoint mimes to a certain number of gov't positions, so it could be anything. Just kidding, this guy passed out drunk. A warning to all of you students reading, don't drink or you could end up like this French guy. His friends started yelling at me for taking his picture, but I tried to tell them how else is he going to learn not to drink that much. I told him how in the states you could get much worse- your eyebrows could be shaved off, you could be put in an uncompromising position or worse. He did not really want to hear it so he called me a bad name and I just called him the only french insult that I knew, "laisse incompentante." I only knew this word from the "Home Alone" movie when the cousin calls McCauley Caulkin it. McCauley is haunted by it for the rest of the movie- hopefully it was just as cutting. This group of French people were not really that friendly and completely out of control.
Hopefully, I will stop being lazy and post some more. I am off to forget the fact that I turned 30.
