Zen and the art of temple hopping

Kyoto .. seemingly the home of all the temples in the world. But fortunately they are so calming that once you have entered the first one you are not sure you want to go anywhere else. They have Zen gardens with carefully raked gravel, stones placed importantly, carp swimming through their heart shaped ponds and little waterfalls to wash away your worries.

We spent a nice warm spring day chilling in the temples, removing our shoes every few steps. We have drunk green tea in the ritual way sitting on the tatami mats contemplating a pretty waterfall (or at least some freaky concoction that they claim is green tea ... perhaps they saw us coming.) We have seen five different temples (or sub-temples), from the austere Zen of Nanzen-ji temple (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3905.html) to the Tendai Buddhist Shoren-in temple (http://www.taleofgenji.org/shoren-in.html). We are now at one with the world.

The bullet train was fast - smooth - and very safe. In 30 years of running, they proudly tell us there have been no fatalities. Oh, and we caught a glimpse of Mount Fuji on the way. Wow. What a mountain.

Hope to do the whole Memoirs of a Geisha thing soon, and perhaps a few more temples :)