Kyoto

I went to Kyoto with two colleagues last weekend. It was fantastic! It was just as I imagined Kyoto to be, especially when there was light drizzle on the Saturday.

Sunday was exceptional! I can not recall the last day the weather was this good anywhere.

Some highlights were;

1. The geisha: They are everywhere in Kyoto as it was here that the tradition began.

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Originally uploaded by george.deftereos

2. Birdland bar: A tiny jazz bar with a wide selection of drinks. Some are very expensive as we found out. However, any bar with a jazz pianist and bartenders who know the ins and outs of every drink should charge a premium price for premium drinks. I had some very expensive bourbon (cask strength 50% I think) . The bartender/owner also had a chat with us outside when we were leaving. Not because we were foreigners but because he cared for his customers. He would chat with the customers but always be on the lookout to see if your water or snacks needed refilling.

3. Bar Moonwalk: With a cover charge of 400 yen and all drinks at 200 yen, this chain is by far the best casual I've found. Our bartender/manager was from Toronto.

Now, some observations;

1. Taxi drivers: In Japan they are awesome. They always wear white driving gloves. The expensive ones get out of the car and open the door you. The others press a button to open the door. They wait with the back door open so a customer can get in as quickly as possible. In Korea, you ask the driver if he can take you where you want to go. Such a ridiculous system as I would imagine a serious taxi driver would rather go anywhere and get paid instead of sitting idle at an intersection not earning any money. I was refused 3 times to be taken to my home from the airport bus bus stop. And then, because I had given him directions to my home and wanted to get out a block away from where I had said the damn ingrate begrudgingly gave me my change. It's almost as if taxi companies recruit their drivers from all the bigots, racists and uncouth savages available.




2. Politeness: True, in Japan it is overdone. All we heard to every request was 'Hai', meaning yes. Now, that does not mean the interlocutor agrees with you; they are simply saying they hear and understand you. I think it is a cultural trait as Koreans and Chinese do the same thing, just not as much as the Japanese. Also, if someone bumps into you they will always apologise. In Korea, this sometimes happens. In China, it never happens. Not to say that the latter lack manners.

3. Foreigners: There is no zoo mentality in Kyoto. We were largely ignored while on vacation there. Here, random people will say hello to you or point and stare. The random hellos are great. The pointing as if we are animals in a zoo is not. Also, we saw quite a few foreigners working in normal places in Kyoto. Here, you will only find foreigners working in bars in Itaewon.

I will have to go back to Kyoto. The one complaint I have is that people smoke anywhere. Aside from that, it's a fantastic place.