Do you Kyoto?

We are currently in Kyoto. Still very hot but not quite as oppressive, so that's good. We have all been a little tired while we've been here, all our adventures are catching up with us. Here are some more pictures for you.

Japanese McDonalds. Dan had a green drink with cream on top

Starry eyed / penetrating stares 

Kyoto dragon dog 

Giant crab with articulated legs. My friend Paul would really hate this

We went to the Manga Museum, it was really really good

Adventure Time! Real life drawing on the cafe's wall

So much good stuff. We saw the Manga and War exhibition and it was v inspiring

We also made pop-up cards. Dan thinks he is the winner

However, my one (centre) is clearly the best 

Phoenix with Buddha eyes, by famous Manga person 

We had ourselves drawn Anime style. Dan has an Anime goatee

Manga museum mascot 

These stained windows are in Kyoto City Hall 

Flo's food troubles continue. She did eat some of this though!

Magritte exhibition poster with floating castle. Top drawer

Squid lantern

We went to a temple that had been all lit up, it was magical

It also had a 90's style light show over the kitty poo zen garden 

And all the bamboo was lit up

Attractive travelling companions

Dan & Flo 'sharing'

We used the public toilets near this 

And then we saw a crane in the river! He was catching fish 

Good

The next day, Flo got her nails did

Then we went to a Japanese Homebase place and tried out all the weird chairs

We also met the neighbours of our guest house and all the kids sprayed Dan with water 

See

We had MORE fireworks that evening

With all the other guests and the lovely kids who live next door

Kyoto is a very nice place indeed

I have to say that all the children here are very well behaved, and they have nice manners, always offering you things and waving hello and goodbye. It seems to come quite naturally to them, and it fits in with the feeling of community we have experienced here. It is so refreshing that everyone seems so unafraid and normal, no one seems to be trying to be something. Perhaps it is just my holiday eyes but it feels as if people here really seem to care about quality of life- there is an awareness that all these moments are very fleeting, so they should be as special as possible.

Since my Mum died I have felt this quite acutely, so maybe it is my own perception of things. Holidays are supposed to make you think about your life a bit but I have thought a lot about how life should be lived in general. Perhaps a country that has had two atomic bombs dropped on it has no time for illusion. It feels good really, as if I can take that back home with me. We are half way through now and I am sad as this has been the greatest holiday ever- it has been important. The first half of the year was very hard and it is nice to be in such a positive place, spending time with my two favourites. 

Tomorrow we go to Nara to meet the deer... that will be brilliant. ~ Emma