May 18th: Kyoto Trip with OMU buddies
The day started at 8:30 and we left the hotel to head for the metro towards Kyoto station. After we took a bus to our first destination, Ginkakuji, also known as the Silver Pavilion, is a beautiful Zen temple that is immersed in nature. This includes landscaped gardens that had significance toward the reflection of moonlight. The temple was surrounded by many plants, including bamboo. One can get lost in nature itself and admire the elegant architectural structure of the temple itself.
After exploring the temple, we as a group were starving so we headed to a local udon shop, called Omen Udon which was a recommendation by Professor Hirose. I had the vege-udon with a side of vegetable tempura, and it was heavenly. Later in the day we stopped by a small shop to try Otabe, a traditional Kyoto dessert made with red bean paste wrapped in a mochi like dough. It was so delicious.
Next was another bus to the Museum of Modern Art. Here we immersed ourselves in a combination of Japanese traditional art through a variety of mediums. It was so beautiful. After we walked across the street to visit the Heian Shrine. While on our way there were so many little pop-up shops that you were able to buy small trinkets like a market of some sort. Upon entering the Shrine, we were met with a stage and seats which was confusing at first, but later we found out it was in preparation for a festival.
Soon after we made our way to Horando, matcha cafe. Here we indulged in varying matcha desserts such as ice cream and warabmochi with matcha, which was quite different from the typical mochi that you get. It was a really enjoyable experience.
Our adventure concluded with a visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine, which is known for its thousands of torii gates. We ascended the stairs all the way to the top and while doing so bumped into another group and joined forces. It was so much fun to get to know more people and I am so glad to have had just a fun time with the OMU buddies that came along with us as well.
After we parted ways, half of the group went back to Osaka while the other half stayed in Kyoto and traveled toward Uji. During our time in Uji we tried to stop by a strawberry cafe, but it was closed to the public, so we went to a nearby Starbucks. This Starbucks was the fanciest one that I have ever seen, it was a modern glass structure. Next, we departed to a nearby convenience store to get dinner or even just a snack before heading home. While on our way to the station home we walked across a large bridge that overlooked an even larger bed of water which was interesting to experience.
My time in Kyoto was a trip that I will never forget, especially the people that a meet and spent time with. I owe it to them for making the trip even more enjoyable than it ever would have been. And for that I am so grateful for this program and the experiences that it had given me the chance to live.
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