Kyoto - Off to Kyoto

I'm getting ready, the night was restless. 10 minutes of meditation can do wonders, I'll avoid taking a nap later. 🥱

I take the train from Osaka to Kyoto. It's a big deal here. We have limited options for train routes in my hometown. If you want to travel from A to B by train, you have very little flexibility. Here, on the other hand, there is a lot of flexibility, especially in urban areas. There is a mix of public and private train lines here. This mix also exists with train stations. This is probably one of the reasons why everything runs so efficiently and punctually.

The S6 is canceled again? Well, deal with it.
The Tanimachi Line is 5 minutes late? Well, I'll just go to the competitor.

When transferring, I quickly jump onto the next platform, perfect transfer. I put my backpack on the luggage rack, store it there, and sit down. After the train has started, I realize that I took the wrong one. It's the right line, but the local train instead of the limited express. The local train stops at every station like a slow train and also waits a bit longer. I weigh my options and decide to go with the flow. I unpack my laptop, start typing, and enjoy the scenery. I still have some time until check-in. And I don't have to worry about getting off, that will take a while.

I sit, type, and swim in the sea of thoughts, until something interrupts my thoughts. Something soft. Something made of fabric. Something weighing 10 kg.
'Allow me to introduce myself? Backpack, meet my head. Head, meet Backpack.'
I have no idea how my backpack managed to come loose. I regain my composure, listen to the announcement. This train terminates here. So the local trains only run between the limited express stations. Learn something new again.

As for the timing of my backpack kiss, I have long given up questioning coincidences... 🔮

Arrival in Kyoto 🚉

I arrive in Kyoto, still have about two hours until check-in, so I go to the nearest Starbucks; what a surprise. :D
At the counter, I order a green tea. At least I try to. As simple as it may sound to order hot water with flavor. If you want the most bizarre version of a drink, no problem. But simple tea? No latte, just tea. 🙄 At some point, we manage to communicate. She asks me something, making an extravagant stirring motion. Oh well, why not receive tea that has already been stirred. At the table, I find out that it was the whipped cream motion. 🤨
Who in their right mind voluntarily orders simple tea with whipped cream. By the time I can even drink the tea, the cream has already blended in. I consider it a 'tried and failed' experience.

About Clothing with Style 🥻👔

As I look out of the window and type, I can tell by the name of the place that I'm back in Kyoto. Outside, young women in kimonos gracefully stroll through the streets. No trace of arrogance or haughtiness, just the way it is. I also noticed the more feminine style of clothing here. It probably stood out to me because it's not as common where I'm from. I can't say for sure anymore, as I have exceeded the threshold of habit after seven weeks. New habits are usually established after about seven weeks.

It's a beautiful normality here for women to wear (summer) dresses. It emphasizes feminine beauty without resorting to the cheap 'my skirt is shorter than yours' mentality. It's like the difference between walking along a beautiful avenue with various beautiful flowers blooming and sweetly smelling on both sides. You can appreciate the beauty and admire it as you pass by. Picking the flowers is a no-go.
Or walking through a weekly market surrounded by meat stalls. Naked meat is being thrown at you at every corner as cheap as possible, just for you to devour it.

I am no eunuch - I also enjoy letting my gaze wander over the meat stalls. I'm also just a man, denying that would be denying myself and working against myself instead of loving myself. But... It's hard to describe if you haven't seen it for yourself. It's beautifully different, and it's differently beautiful.

Of course, in Japan, there is a complete range of clothing styles and customs for both genders. The complete range? No, that's not true.
Women here also wear pantsuits and skirt suits, quite smartly.
Women here also wear jeans and T-shirts. There are also trendy girls, although not as common. But it took seven weeks until I saw the first Asian woman wearing leggings here.

And now that I'm thinking about the clothing styles of men here: I haven't seen a single person - male or female - wearing sweatpants. Well, okay, except for a jogger.

I think I'll turn my wardrobe inside out when I get home. Less variety, more style. KISS, Keep It Simple & Sexy.

Home Sweet Home 🏠

I arrive at the accommodation. It's in a rather nice area, the hotel looks modern and traditional at the same time from the outside. The building has four floors. I like it, I go inside and a young female staff member in her early twenties greets me at the reception. She is dressed in a gold-black, modern-traditional outfit. Her English is quite good, I compliment her accordingly. It's always nice to see how people can flourish when you simply speak honestly.

I enter the room, it's even more inviting than in the pictures. I immediately like it. I quickly go to the nearest food market, 6 minutes away, get something to eat, work awaits - or maybe not. 😅

The area is also like a dream for me. On my way here, I passed a torii gate that leads to two shrines. It's practically in my backyard, just a stone's throw away. Down the street is a small park, across the street is a post office so I can finally send out the letters. And the bento cooking class tomorrow is only a 3-minute walk away. The tea ceremony is only 15 minutes away. Like I could leave this country and have only drank tea from PET bottles. 😁