Of Gion, Kyoto and Geisha

Yesterday was the climax of the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto. Since it was also a national holiday here in Japan as a day for the Sea/Ocean, we went to Kyoto to see and check what it feels like.

(hay naku... feeling ko na na napupurol na ang english ko dito. it seems na bakikaw na paminawon ako written english. hahay... sa dami na kasi ng alam ko or pinag-aaralan kung wika ay di ko na masyadong ginagamit ang english. dito, nagagamit ko lang mostly yung mga nouns lang kung may hindi maiintindihan na nihongo. wala na yung mga grammar/sentence contruction ek-ek... grrr... hanap kaya ako ng english-speaking foreigner rito, para naman hindi na lalala pa ang english ko pag-uwi ko ng pinas... heheh...)

anyway, balik ta sa Gion and Kyoto.... yesterday`s weather was weird... buong araw umulan. pagtingin ko sa terrace ko sa apartment na umuulan i thought na baka sa kyoto walang ulan... ngeek.. pagdating namin dun, ang lakas din ng buhos. malapit lang pala ito sa osaka. 30 mins lang din just like kobe...

bumaba kami sa kawaramachi, and pinakadulo ng Hankyu Kyoto Line. Kawaramachi as they say is the center of Kyoto City where the department stores and restaurants can be found. One step away from the main streets, however, and people can see and feel the old Japanese culture. Yeah. tinuod gyud. Kuyaw ayo sila magbalance sa new and old. gina-preserve gyud nila what it was. yet they are so advanced no?

I like Gion. tungod kay gaulan lagi kaayo and the parade wrapped up around 12 noon, we spent time walking along Gion and its nearby shopping streets. And did you know that Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district? To experience the traditional Gion, we stroll along Hanami-koji, a street lined by beautiful old buildings, teahouses and restaurants. It was around 5:30 in the afternoon and we were able to spot a geisha apprentice or was she a seasoned geisha already? I don't know, I am not sure... I was so mesmerized by the sight of a mysterious and gaijin-shy woman making her way to a teahouse. I had not even managed to take a picture... waahh... There were many people outside the teahouse, mostly tourists and foreigners. And they behave like paparazzis - eagerly waiting for a sight of a geisha...

Anyway, we spotted two geishas that afternoon... I'll be back to this ancient place for sure...