Nishiki Market - Kitchen of Kyoto

I already made a post on Nishiki Market but I found out that I took more pictures here than I though. It is also known as the Kitchen of Kyoto. Enjoy!

Koto-in at Daitoku-ji, Kyoto, Japan

I have previously posted about Koto-in and you can find that post here. I was able to access it this time and was glad that I did. I actually went twice and both times I met really nice people! Anyways hope you enjoy the photographs!

 

Richmond's Cherry Blossom's 2014

 

I enjoy Cherry Blossom season as most plants are starting to bloom and there is such a great fragrance in the air. Threes are white or other colors before they are all green and adds a different view for everyone to enjoy. The peak bloom only last about a few days or so as long as there isn't any strong storms that destroy the blooms. I love heading up to Washington D.C. for the festival but I missed out on that this year because it was the same day as my move out/in day and that took priority. 

Shorenin Temple - Kyoto, Japan

I ended up going here really early in the morning before there was much people. I arrived before it opened and waited. Part of the Tendai Sect, it was one of the monzeki temples which had head priests that were associated with the Imperial Family. It is also known as the Awata Palace since at one point in time the palace was burned and this was used as a temporary palace.

Tofuku-ji Temple's Hojo Gardens

Tofuku-ji Temple complex has some amazing gardens. I missed out a lot my first visit and I am glad I put a few hours time into visiting in the Autumn this past November. I arrived right after my visit in the morning to Fushimi Inari Taisha. The main building when you walk in has some great gardens and this is what this post is on. These are part of the Hojo or the abbots quarters. 

Below is the Southern Garden, where it has four rock groupings that represent the Elysian Islands. East to West; Eiju, Horai, Koryo and Hojo. The far right corner has moss covered mounds that represent the sacred mountains.

Path of Bamboo in Sagano

The bamboo in Arashiyama and Sagano are a wonder to walk into. If you really want to enjoy it without anyone present you need to get there early or you are out of luck. I remember the first time that I had walked down it was in 2012 and it was super crowded around noon. I traveled through it in this past Autumn at 8 am and it was quite and such a serene thing to be apart of.  

Seiryoji Temple - Arashiyama, Japan

Walking back from Sagano to Arashiyama areas in Kyoto I came across  this large temple complex. It is commonly know as Shaka-do. The main hall is seen below...

Japanese Tea Ceremony

So I looked up on a day of down time about the Traditional Tea Ceremony. I wanted to see what it was all about and found one that was near the Kyoto Station. It was in a small courtyard of this hotel where there was a small garden and a hut in the middle. This being a tea room. I was able to see what takes place during the ceremony and actually follow along with my own tea. It was me and three others besides the instructor so it was nice and personal. It is rather fascinating what they do and if we had done the actual one it could have lasted for hours. 

Iwatayama Monkey Park - Kyoto, Japan

I didn't go here on my first trip to Japan because I was uninterested but was glad that I gave myself a chance to visit. I had time and visited a lot of Arashiyama and I wanted to get away from the strong crowds that was down around the bridge so I came up here. It is located on Mt. Arashiyama and has 180 Japanese macaque monkeys. I will give you a heads up that you will pay at the bottom of the mountain and then hike up for about 20-30 minutes to the top which is a little strenuous. You will enjoy a great view of the city though!

Deer of Nara Japan

Now you probably have heard about Nara and their deer. They are literally walking all over the area mostly in Nara park. They are friendly but don't "try" to pet them. They don't mind you and you can walk up to them and they wont run unless you are running at them. You can buy deer crackers to feed them and once you have it in your hand they will attack. They come over quickly and start head butting you if you don't start feeding them. It was funny and I had a few people start taking pictures of me with the deer butting my butt!

Walking in Higashiyama, Kyoto

The Higashiyama area near Kiyomizu-dera is certainly an interesting place to walk around. Lots of shops with souvenir things but also original crafts and foods. Lovely old buildings and 98% pedestrian streets making it awesome to walk around. If you get to Kiyomizu-dera and need something to do, walk along the streets and head north to Gion, you wont regret. 

This lovely lady was posing for some pictures, she was very elegant.

Isuien Gardens - Nara, Japan

These gardens are truley beautiful. There was a single spot that you just didn't want to move your eyes from, everything about it was great. It was like the perfect spot for viewing. I met some American's that were traveling in a senor group and she agreed with me that she didn't want to leave and was even 30 minutes late to the tour bus because of it! It was created in the Meiji Era in Nara and was once two separate gardens before being one. The garden is 145,000 Square Feet! This part of the garden had a great view where you can see borrowed scenery with the mountains in the back and the top of the Nandimon Gate door that leads up to Todaiji.

Jackson Ward in Richmond

Few weeks ago I went to a Meetup for the Photography Group and we walked around Jackson Ward in downtown Richmond Virginia. Jackson Ward has a lot of history behind it as a historic African-
American neighborhood. It is called Jackson Ward because it was named that at the time when there were certain wards in the city and it stayed. Jackson is a registered National Historic Landmark as of 1976.

It was the center of Black Commerce in the community and it was called "Harlem of the South" for its commerce and entertainment in the ward. If fell is disrepair for awhile with the growth of Richmond like 95 and oddly enough the growth of the Civil Rights movement. It wasn't till the mid 1900's that investors came to fix up homes and restore the area. There is a lot of neat architecture in the area and lots of iron work. 

There are alos a lot of colors that can bee seen with the artwork on the side of buildings there now...