Today it will be a rather short entry because I'll let the pictures speak for it and I refer to my picture album respectively.
(My apologies to those, who own a slower internet-connection and therefore have problems with looking at photos).
So:
Last friday was "Labour Day" in Japan and as it conforms to worldwide tradition, no one is working on such a day (then again, this is Japan meaning Convenience-stores are still open 24 hours).
Anyway some people and I decided to join the hundreds and thousands of Japanese and go view Momiji. That's how in Japan the discolour of the foliage, the time of it respectively is called and the viewing of the same (cf. Cherry blossom viewing in spring).
Actually it's rather late for it, Momiji normally happens in late autumn (traditionelly in Japan autumn is considered to be from 8.8. to 11.6.) but like some Japanese told me it gets later from year to year and especially this year, because it was an exceptionally hot year altogether (that's climate change for Japan).
At any rate we decided to go to Kyoto to the eastern Kyomizu-temple (I've already visited it in summer maybe some day I finish my report about that), und before that, to kill some time in Kyoto.
First the Maruyama-park, then another temple, and finally in the later afternoon in direction to our target destination. The main route to the temple is a small road (reminds on old times with shops on the left and right and only for pedestrians), which was hopelessly cramped. Though in the end it was more than worth it. The blaze of colour was partially overwhelming. That's why I am quiet now, and let only the pictures speak (whereupon the first is still from the park and the second one was taken in the other temple).
In the webalbum (link on the right), are the remaining photos under "Japan: Landschaften 2" to be admired, there are well around one hundred from that day.
Also in the evening lots of Geishas were roaming the streets (Kyoto is the cradle of Geisha-culture), whereupon I sadly only 3 photos have of it. Anecdote in passing: On the way home two Geishas asked me if couldn't take a picture of them with their camera (not the ones in the photo). At any rate, she adressed me very hesitantly by an "Excuse me", but when I answered "Yes, go on?" in Japanese, you could, despite the make-up, see her becoming all smiles, along the lines of: "That one can understand me, English is not necessary!"
It takes so little, to make Japanese girls happy ...
Interesting (and funny) facts/opinions about Japan:
In Japan promotion for pubs and the like is often still carried out by puffers on the street. First and foremost they are used for promoting Karaoke-bars and eateries (which are here more or less substituting for our inns). It is really interesting to yet see this kind of advertisement, for at home it virtually has been completely replaced by the handing out (sometimes quite aggressively) of flyers.
And here the perfect in-between snack: Chewy octopus
(as some people constantly want to see pictures of things to eat)
In conclusion a Japanese with a Styrian-style hat (didn't get the chance to ask where he got it from)
