Kyoto scenery pics!

See the post below for my earlier post (and photos of Sam and I) in Kyoto. I thought I'd attach some more scenery pics that I took to give an idea of what Kyoto was like.

Kyoto is Japan's ancient imperial capital and was spared bombing during World War II so is rich in ancient architecture. From what we learned, it sounds like the speed of life is set just a notch lower than it is in Tokyo or even Osaka and we enjoyed the very friendly people, very incredible sights and most delicious food.


Our hotel room! This is where we started from and came back to every day. A 7 minute walk from the Main Kyoto Train Station (with a complimentary shuttle bus in case the walk was too long), the "Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto" was our home away from home.


Our first view of women dressed as Geisha (these are either Geisha or Maiko, trainee Geishas) came in the Ponto-Cho district - an area of tea houses and other entertainments which sounds like the seat of Geisha culture. We would frequently see these women walking around and while walking in front of tea houses could see Geisha and parties through the window, serving tea and engaged in conversation. It was stunning to see this element of their culture so readily and alone was worth the ticket to Kyoto.


A view of the Ponto-Cho district from the river (as opposed to the street where the last picture was taken). Many of them face the river and offer delicious views of the water with an al fresco option.


I got one photo that made carrying around my very heavy 200 mm lens worth it. It is this one of a heron (or some other type of bird) in the Nijo Castle garden catching its lunch.


Detail of the eaves of the Shrine for the Protection of Pregnant Ladies and Their Babies (or whatever its title is). This was my favorite shrine because of its quietude and care-worn state.


View of the entrance of the Kiyomizu-Dera temple/shrine complex of which the "Shrine for the Protection of Pregnant Ladies and Their Babies" is a part.


Altar offerings at Kiyomizu-Dera


Sam and I on the front steps of Kiyomizu-Dera.


My girl sitting on a bench at Kiyomizu-Dera.

Kyoto!

This post is a bit late, but over the past long weekend, Sarah and I were in Kyoto where Sam's Granny spent much time and seemed to gain much inspiration. The weather was cool and pleasant and we enjoyed the wonderful sights of temples, shrines, castles and even one tourist shopping arcade. We saw many women in traditional kimono and even caught sight of some geisha in their tea houses.

We took much public transport and ate a ton of ramen noodles. Delicious!

We also did what all in the McLean family have done since time immemorial in Kyoto - we bought a woodblock print as a souvenir of our trip.

We're glad to be back home now and are having a blast with Meg and Eric, but have taken with us many warm memories of Kyoto and a piqued interest in seeing more of Japan.


Here we are on the JR Haruka Limited Express on our way from Kansai Airport in Osaka to Kyoto Main Station. This was the nicest train I have ever been on and it is just the airport train! It's got seats that automatically turn around depending upon the direction you're going in, toilets, payphones, vending machines, an enclosed area with worktop counters for those who need to talk on their phone and work, conductors that bow to customers and the smoothest ride I've ever encountered in a train. Plus, you can eat in them which you can't do in Hong Kong. Very nice.

If you find yourself taking this train, don't forget that in Japan, you need to put your ticket in the turnstile in order to EXIT the station. Don't forget that. We did.


Life moves fast when you're trying to find your way. Even in Kyoto.


Self portrait in the Kyoto subway.

We are less positive on the Kyoto subway/rail system. It's very confusing to us and many of the lines don't seem to link up, making transfers a matter of exiting one station in order to enter another to catch another line.


On a bridge crossing the moat at Nijo Castle. This is a UNESCO heritage site and former home to the Shogun. It's got special floors that are designed to squeak when you walk on them so that the Shogun and his bodyguards would know if someone was trying to sneak up on him to assasinate him. It sounds much like the floor at MacMahan or at my mother's house and they didn't even have to pay extra.


At the shrine for pregnant ladies and babies, or as we read in Chinese, the "An Tie" shrine. No clue how it's said in Japanese. It was very quiet and we couldn't get in, so we took a picture outside. Apparently, pregnant women in Japan travel to worship at this shrine to ensure a healthy pregnancy and child. I guess they were closed that day though there were plenty of people there.

Meg and Eric in Hong Kong!

These past few days, Sam and I have had the pleasure of hosting Eric and Meg here in Hong Kong. They lovely couple have been awfully tolerant of having to sleep on the couch and floor (sorry!) and have been a blast to have in our lives. We've only had them for a few days so far (sadly for us, they must leave on Friday for new adventures) but we've already got some nice pictures as even the Hong Kong smog has lifted in honor of their trip here!


Meg and Eric on the Star Ferry about to pull out for Kowloon.


Meg and Eric at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade with a stunning view of Central and Sheung Wan in the background.


All three of us. This is one for the scrap book, Eric!


At the Kowloon Park aviary where Meg discovered how much she loves birds when she first saw the "Rhinoceros Hornbill."


In step on the way back to the MTR to return to our place.

New Additions to the House!

Christmas and getting married have been good to us. The generosity of family has helped turn our home in Hong Kong into a truly warm home away from the States.


Our bedroom now benefits from a handmade, Roz McLean exclusive quilt and pillow sham set! Together with our paintings from Hanne, we feel like we're snug in Maine looking out our windows at MacMahan!


With our flower holder from Tim and Amy, Sylvia's beautifully matted and framed watercolor cards and Hanne's picture out the view from the front bedroom at MacMahan, the feeling of sleeping while surrounded by family is complete.


The centerpiece of our living room is the painting of Sarah at Potton which turns our apartment into a home. Dick and Dodi's gift of a handwoven afghan helps to warm up the room (and us while we're watching TV!).


Our office area now benefits from two woodblock prints by Sarah's Granny. I'm the lucky one who has these over my desk, but these are clearly in the sightline from the dining table so we enjoy looking at them them while we eat.


Of course, Dodi's afghan isn't the only thing warming up our couch. Sylvia's quilted pillows not only fulfill our need for throw pillows to snuggle with, but warm up the couch with complementary tones. Also, while I may get Granny's woodblock prints above my head, Sarah can take a break from work by looking up at Sylvia's photos which are mounted above her desk.

On top of the bookshelf, you can see the beautiful hand hammered bowl that Patti gave us for Christmas. It awaits guests so we can use it to entertain.

Visit with the VanHovens

Some pictures of the VanHovens with the McLean girls (and friends)





Here are some group shots in front of the VanHovens' home with Kay, John, Jeff, Sylvia, Martha and Brad and associated partners. It's a great looking bunch to be sure!

We had a great visit during which we took over their living room and turned it into a McLean family picnic area. Charlie even made a showing and got some free bacon for his trouble!

Ruston and Sam in China

The Chinese arm of the McLean family (sans Jessie)


Ruston and his 'hawg'

More of the couches and the bedroom

Last couple of the house before moving on...


Here's one from the reverse angle. Shot from the doorway of our bedroom.


Here's one of our bedroom with the brand new spring arm lamps...

couches!

Woohoo! We now have some places to sit in our living room...


1) This one is of our living room. Sam took this by standing on the couch and shooting in towards the dining room table (which has dinner on it).


2) This one is taken from the same spot (next to the door standing on the couch's back) and taken towards our little study / office nook.


3) Here's me at work in our nook. In the photo, you can see our very nifty lamps that are serving as our desk lights.


4) Here's a shot taken from our front door into the house so you can see a larger shot of our living room including the couches, which are in an 'L' configuration.


5) Another shot 'straight in' the door. Our office nook is on the right, the dining table on the left and you can see straight into our bedroom ahead.

More new photos...

The blog only lets you publish 5 photos per post so here are some more...



Here's one of our study nook. Say 'hi', Sam!



A view into our kitchen (same as before since we didn't have to furnish it!)



Here's a shot into our bedroom. You can see our lack of bureaus, but the bed is there! And you can even see our window seat, all our un-put away junk and the foot of our bed.



From the head of the bed looking at our junk.

New Photos with Furniture!

So we have new furniture! Woohoo! Here are some shots of our semi-furnished apartment. We're now only missing some couches, a coffee table, our bureaus and bedside tables. And we'd like to add some more lighting as well. So without further ado...




This one is looking from the front door into the house at an angle to the left. You can see our dining table, Ikea bookshelves and one of our bookshelves. You can see the edge of our bedroom door to the very right.



This one is from the front wall of the house (the same wall as the door is one) but from the opposite side. Here you can see our study nook, into our kitchen and the other side of the door into our bedroom.



Shot from our study nook at our bookshelves.



A shot from our bedroom doorway towards the front door.

New Apartment! Yeah!

So we found a new place that we'll hopefully get the keys to on June 16th (Dad's birthday) and be moved into by first or second week of July. Very excited. Right now, we've only got the preliminary contract signed with the 'real' lease agreement to be executed on May 20th. It'll be nice to have an honest to goodness one bedroom apartment with a real kitchen and a bedroom we can close the door to.

We quite like our potential/hopeful new landlords and hope that we'll be able to stay here for a while now.


This is what the apartment looks like when you walk into the front door looking slightly to the left. The kitchen is to the right.

This is looking from the front left corner of the living/dining room along the left wall towards the kitchen. You can see the front door on the right.

Looking into the kitchen. The door is open and so covers the fridge and some of the counterspace and cabinets on the right hand side.

Bathroom looking directly in.

Same bathroom, looking slightly to the right so you can see the tub/shower.

This is a relatively 'high angle' (I held the camera above my head to get more of the room) looking from the end of the closet into the room. You can see the bottom edge of the bed in the lower right hand corner of the photo. The room is actually quite large and has room for a desk and some more storage.

Looking from the end of the room (by the TV from the last picture) back. You can see here not only my beautiful bride but also the built in closets / storage with drawers along the bottom and storage above our heads.

A friend's blog triggered some thinking in me - I feel like there's no way to truly love someone unless you open yourself up to be vulnerable to that person. Unless you let that person in enough so that they are in a place where they could really mess you up if they wanted, they're not in a place where you both can truly learn if you're right for each other.

I'm not saying run around and let people hurt you and hope you eventually meet the right person who won't (that's just plain stupid). But a few things:

1) It's almost by definition - love opens you up to be hurt by that person. If you don't want to hurt, you'll never be able to love fully because you'll never let yourself TRUST that person. If you're afraid of the ball, you'll never be a player.

2) Even if you find that person and you do love each other in that forever ever after way, you're still going to hurt each other. It's gonna' happen. It's a 100% guarantee. The reason you're going to stay together is because you trust that your partner didn't mean it and that they really are sorry. That no matter what happens, life is going to suck more without that person than just sucking it up and dealing and getting over the hurt. The point is that you love that person more than the damage from the hurt inflicted.

I know that I hurt S really badly. But we're together. And it's forever. And I know. We've both handed each other a knife. And though we've accidentally slashed each other at times (I doing more damage than her) we know that it was accidental and that we're always sorry. We don't doubt now that we're going to make it. We just know it. Like we know that the sky is blue or that water is wet.

Trust. Love. Hurt. It happens. But love is the one that makes it all worthwhile.

I believe in it like some people believe in God.

So I thought I'd try a new font (I like courier) and post some pics that make me relaxed in the midst of this howling typhoon blowing outside...

voice

So I've been reading a few blogs lately - some on purpose and some by accident, but it's been an interesting ride. Since the purpose of me starting this blog was to try to figure out what blogging was about and to understand it's attraction, I thought I'd let you all know what I've been coming up wtih.

Of the 'on purpose' kind, I went and found Stephanie Klein's blog after reading about it in the NY Times supplement to the Chinese paper here in Taipei. It's very interesting. I mean, that girl writes! I italicize not because I think she writes incredible prose (though it's not bad at all) but because she writes a lot! She must spend at least a couple of hours a day writing. And she still has a job. Of course, with a book deal and an article in the NYT, I suppose it makes sense to keep writing. She gets paid for it. I mean, sheesh, there are only slightly more than 2000 blogs with more trackbacks (is that what it's called?) than hers. That's pretty popular.

Of the by accident kind, I was searching for Singapore online and ran into some random guy's blog that I wound up reading for awhile. I don't remember what was really actually in it, but something struck me that strikes me every time I read a new blog - the voice.

There does appear to be a narrative voice that many bloggers share. It's almost an irreverent, brief, choppy sentence structure and style. I noticed it first because I noticed the similarities between EH's blog and the Washingtonienne's. Then I noticed it with this Singaporean guy.

Then, I noticed something interesting. When I read Stephanie Klein's blog, I was actually confused. Because her narrative voice is so different. She writes in a more literate style. Not to say that choppy and declarative isn't literate. Just ask Hemingway. But she does more with non-traditional structure and seems to take more risk with point of view. She also covers many topics in a post. I like that. It makes it more fun to read. Well, sometimes, it makes it harder to read, but it's definitely a different style that struck me. I liked it.

I can definitely understand why she has a large fan base and readership. I enjoyed reading it, looking at her photos and learning about her. But I wonder what the point is. I mean, I'll likely never meet this woman in my entire life, yet, I am interested in her life. Just like I am interested in the lives of that Singaporean dude, or of the Washingtonienne (Jessica Cutler). I suppose that we can all learn through each other even if we never meet (after all, I read BOOKS by authors I'll never meet). But what interests me about blogs is that it's so close to the people who write them - that it is mainly about the people who write them. I enjoy learning about these people. I don't know if it's a voyeuristic desire or boredom with my own life (and thus a desire for vicarious existence) but I don't fully understand it yet.

But of course, I always find myself skimming through to find the racy bits of peoples' blogs. It's nice being male - we're easy to satisfy :)

Anyhoo, those are my thoughts on this today. Thar's a gale blowin' outside (actually, Typhoon Matsa) so I'm going to upload this before I lose power. No work tomorrow! Awww Yeah!

In other news, Sam moves in tomorrow! That is also exciting news. As soon as she has a place, it's sort of like I have a place. And so that excites me.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Headline on Yahoo! News: Japan ends blanket testing for mad-cow disease

Why? Did they figure that since the cows were mad, it didn't matter if their blankets were to spec? C'mon guys! Mad Cows need to keep warm too!

Sam's new place!

SAM found a place! Woohoo. Well, I guess technically, she's only signed the preliminary contract and she still has to sign the actual lease, but I figure it's ok to hope for the best.

It's in a clean building, she like she likes the location and we've already been brainstorming on how to outfit it - all at Ikea, natch!

It looks good to me - cozy - the perfect place to snuggle with my sweetie :) See pics at http://chinesesamovar.blogspot.com.

Only flaw is that it lacks an oil ventilator. Will have to see how to fix that problem.

In other news, I love Skype. Interesting fact is that so many people pronounce it Sky-pee here even though the site itself says it's supposed to be pronounced like 'hype' or 'type.' I suppose it's just that we're in Asia? Or do they have separate branding here? Not sure, but I am left with the conundrum of how to prounce it. I could pronounce it Skype because that's the way it's supposed to be pronounced. But will people who pronounce it Sky-pee, and, I assume, believe that is the way it should be pronounced think that I am a) being pompous or 2) become embarassed when they realize their errors? Or will they simply c) realize that they are pronouncing it incorrectly and correct themselves? Not sure. It'd be cool if they did c) and corrected themselves. It'd be sort of like a tipping point thing - maybe I could start a movement, somehow and through the random chaotic movements or all these people, somehow through those forces of chaos manage to correct the pronounciations or everyone who's saying it wrong.

Who says I have delusions of grandeur? ;)

Yay!

Sam found an apartment. It's in North Point, convenient to bus and subway and apparently small.

I can't wait to see it! :) Hopefully she'll send pics and we can all see what it's like.

Very exciting.

As I was posting the last thread, sitting in the dark in bed letting the wireless networking doing it's thing, a bug flew and landed on the screen.

I hate bugs. They scare me. I get dry mouth and cold skin and tingly in the base of my neck when I see a cockroach. This was a little one so I wasn't really fearful of it, per se, but it made me wonder if its larger kin were somewhere in the darkened room waiting to come out and play as soon as I fell asleep. That begins to worry me.

If I had 7 wishes (there used to be a TV show about a kindly black fairy godmother that would visit children through their TV's and give them each seven wishes - does anyone else remember this show?) One of them would definitely be that wherever I went, all bugs within a 2 mile radius would drop dead and disappear. I like this more than wishing all bugs dead simply because I'm also somewhat of an environmentalist and understand the important role that bugs and insects play in our ecosystem and don't want my fear to harm the earth. Of course, I also understand that were I to walk by an insect research center that used bugs to study something important to the human race, this would be a source of not insignificant consternation to those scientists or lab techs or whoever. But this is one of those situations where they would have to take it on the chin for the greater good - my fear of things with more than four legs.

Of course, the bug wish would only be for if I had seven wishes. If I only had one, it'd be to win the megamillions lottery when it was over $360 million. I don't want to come off as venal, but hey, walking away with around $160 mil NPV post tax isn't bad. And after giving away to family, causes etc. I'd 'only' be left with less than 70 mil which is still enough to live somewhere without bugs.

Wish two would be to be able to read, write and speak the twenty most spoken languages on the planet (and their dialects) as an educated native (with academic registers). That'd just be cool.

Wish three - ability to impart good health on whomever I want.

Wish four - ability to stop time. I got this idea from another TV show from when I was a kid whose title I don't remember. This girl could stop time and walk around while everyone else was frozen. She could also unfreeze people by touching them and they could so stuff together in the frozen world. Pretty cool. Don't know what happens, though, if you're driving when time stops. In the show, the lights stayed on while time was stopped which implies machines still continued to operate. This could be very dangerous. Anyways, the main reason I want this wish is so I can sleep. How often are you falling asleep in some really boring meeting or class and you just wish you could sleep, but know you can't miss what's being said? Well, for me, it's all the time. This would effectively combat that. I could stop time, nap to my heart's content, then restart it and nobody would ever know.

Wish 5 - the bug wish.

The others I'm still working on. World peace isn't one of them. Not because I wish conflict on people, but because I actually think it's impossible. Call me a cynic, but I think conflict is key to how humanity evolves and improves itself. No competition, no evolution. I'm hoping for a better tomorrow.

Friday night alone

I'm not lonely in the sense of not having people in my life to spend time with, but more in the sense that SAM is in HK and I'm over here in Taipei. She's already deep asleep, I bet, and here I am feeling a bit alone without her on the other end of a phone or on the other side of the bed.

Anyways, just thought I'd post a pic of us together to make the blog more multi-media. Don't expect music or video, though. Just not that talented.

Sometimes, it feels like the more often I look at photos of her, the more I smile. It's nice.

we're on a roll now!

So it's been awhile. And yes, a lot has changed. What to say but that in the first go around, I obviously didn't find that thing that made blogging compelling for me. But now I'm back and willing to give it another shot. And it's largely due to the last few days being rather blog-ful.

Not only did I discover and read the blog of a friend of mine, but I was also emailed a link to Jessica Culter's blog (why don't I ever meet these girls?) - http://washingtoniennearchive.blogspot.com/ - and discovered that SAM even has set up a blog now. Somehow, all this vicarious blogging has me now itching a bit to try this out again.

I discovered how much I enjoyed these three very different blogs. Each one was a different glimpse into the life of some person - two of whom I know and one whom I don't. I learned something in all three. Well, at least all three were entertaining in different ways. Power of human expression, I guess.

I suppose that this blog would be more interesting if I actually wrote about something personal. I think I may actually be writing about blogging rather than anything else because I'm a bit worried about how public this forum is. Interesting fact for self, I suppose. :)

So that's it for this entry. A bit weak, but it'll have to do for a restart effort. We'll see where this goes :)