Kyoto - The Last Day

Hey Sweetie 🍬

Today, there is a tea ceremony and Japanese sweets preparation on the agenda. I enter the room and am warmly greeted and led to my seat. Passing a bunch of students in uniforms, I wonder if this is part of a school activity because today is Saturday.

If I had known what I was getting myself into, I would have at least skipped the sweets part. The sweets part is driving me crazy. I'm pretty good at lowering or disconnecting my expectations, but this is different. I'd rather paint lion dogs without any expectations.

Besides me, there are only four other non-Japanese people; four Chinese people in their early 50s. Even if you can't immediately tell by their appearance, their behavior or lack thereof gives away that they are Chinese. I heard beforehand that many Chinese people have a "Move, get out of my way" or "King of the Hill" aura, similar to Americans. Conquerors, you know. And at least in this case, I can confirm it.

Looking at them, I can't help but think of the anime film by Studio Ghibli - "Spirited Away". At some point, the parents are transformed into pigs. I look at the overweight Chinese people, it fits them like a glove.

Simple is the Best 🧯

I don't know why I didn't notice it before, but on the way home, I see red buckets filled with water everywhere. Especially in the alleyways, they are standing at every doorstep. I take out my phone and inquire about it. It is as simple as it looks.
It is part of a fire protection system. Sometimes the simplest things are the most efficient and effective. As soon as a fire breaks out, everyone has a bucket of water ready, whether they are residents, passersby, or tourists.

I try to order through UberEats, but no matter what I do, I can't seem to place an order. Some technical error. But hey, at least pickup is available.

On the way to the pickup, I grin as I pass by a bar. There is a handwritten sign that says, "Only alcohol drinkers". :D

I also notice the obsession of collectors once again. It is the third time during my time here that I see a cluttered dashboard.

I have to give the Japanese credit. They have much more pleasant warning and prohibition signs than I'm used to at home.

I struggle through the day. Late working exhausts me, my neck pain, homesickness, and long loneliness don't make it any better. Plus, it's been raining non-stop all day long. I've seen better days. Well, at least I still have a movie to watch today. Kyoto is Nintendo's headquarters, so there can only be one movie. 😅

In the cinema, I watch the exact same ads as yesterday. I'm surprised, this is a children's movie. But before that, there was an ad for Megan, a horror film, among other things. And also advertising for beer? Okay.
When the ad for Rocky comes on, I have to laugh quietly. Yes, almost every prejudice has its roots in reality. I only listened with one ear, but the voice actually just said 'Locky'. 😁😁