On my way back to Kyoto city center, I run into a religious Shinto-procession of some sort, which blocks an intersection for the better part of an hour. Two flocks circle each other a few times, each having a group of 28 men carrying a heavy shrine. At the same time they are jumping and dancing and shouting, so the large cymbals at each end of this 10 meter long construction, like a monster-sized tambourine, bang against each other. The guys take turns doing it, because it clearly is very hard work. A motorcycle dealer placed right next to the intersection explains, in detail, what the whole thing is about, this being one of the preciously few instances where I have just a little idea of what is going on before my very eyes.
A chopper shop even closer to town catches my interest too, resulting in another one-hour break. The place builds four of five different set styles of choppers, one of these being a genuine Zero rip-off, utilizing new Shovelhead style engines. But they’re nice folks, it is Nimbus showtime again, and before riding on I test-sit an insane 70’s style construction with a 2½ meters long front fork, which they claim the owner actually rides.
At Taro Café I rent a bicycle, to better explore the shopping and partying areas of Kyoto, which of course is crammed with people. It is Friday evening, there’s a national holiday, and seeing they only have one week of vacation each year (usually between Christmas and new years) the weekend get used to the max. Had I not bought this computer laptop thing, so today’s many impressions could be guided out of my skull and into the laptop, my head would have exploded. Now I can start every day with a clean slate, essential especially on days like these, where it feels like someone somewhere up there is sitting with a finger on the ‘fast forward’ button.
So I look around in the shops, take in all the faces, the clothing styles, the shop windows, the elaborate crafts (wooden combs at 8,000 yen and upwards), and a hard, by and large successful, fight against going on The Wild Tourist Shopping Spree is being fought. Only one temple today, squeezed in between the shop in one of the endless arcades.
A chopper shop even closer to town catches my interest too, resulting in another one-hour break. The place builds four of five different set styles of choppers, one of these being a genuine Zero rip-off, utilizing new Shovelhead style engines. But they’re nice folks, it is Nimbus showtime again, and before riding on I test-sit an insane 70’s style construction with a 2½ meters long front fork, which they claim the owner actually rides.
At Taro Café I rent a bicycle, to better explore the shopping and partying areas of Kyoto, which of course is crammed with people. It is Friday evening, there’s a national holiday, and seeing they only have one week of vacation each year (usually between Christmas and new years) the weekend get used to the max. Had I not bought this computer laptop thing, so today’s many impressions could be guided out of my skull and into the laptop, my head would have exploded. Now I can start every day with a clean slate, essential especially on days like these, where it feels like someone somewhere up there is sitting with a finger on the ‘fast forward’ button.
So I look around in the shops, take in all the faces, the clothing styles, the shop windows, the elaborate crafts (wooden combs at 8,000 yen and upwards), and a hard, by and large successful, fight against going on The Wild Tourist Shopping Spree is being fought. Only one temple today, squeezed in between the shop in one of the endless arcades.
Ingen kommentarer:
Send en kommentar