:: My Urban Eyes ::
All that I see, and then some.
:: Monday, October 24, 2005 ::
How I Spent My Weekend: Part I
Of several! Pictures is the best way to show you guys. ^_^
Saturday I went to Kyoto to see the Jidai Matsuri, or "Festival of the Ages". It's one of Japan's newest festivals, starting in 1895. Around that time the Imperial capital was moved to Kyoto. Everyone was pretty sad about it, so they decided to have a big parade outlining Japan's history. I think over a thousand years are covered, it's really quite something.
My friends and I, all gaijin (foreigners), arrived pretty early. We camped out a great place to stand on a bridge and passed the time by playing Go. Japanese people would gawk and wonder as they walked by, saying stuff like, "The foreigners know how to play Go?!". Hehe. Every once in a while someone really wanted a good look, like this gentleman here.
These fifes were the only music in the whole parade. The whole atmosphere was pretty quiet compared to American parades. People oooo-ed and ahhhh-ed as pretty things went by, but that was about it.
This fella represents a historic figure... not quite sure who, though. One good thing about being a foreigner and sticking out in a crowd is that people will pose for you, like this guy. He has a fitting sense of decorum, I think.
This guy, on the other hand, likes to live it up. He made the entire street crack up--just look at the people in the crowd behind him. ^_^
Her highness graces me with a smile. Well, "smile". -_^
The really important children were accompanied by someone who carried a chair for them. When the parade stalled for one reason or another, they got to rest.
You can't tell from these pictures, but it was quite cold in Kyoto that day. A lot of the people in the parade, especially those sitting and not moving at all, looked like they were doing all they could not to shiver.
It was a bunch of fun. Afterwards we went to a curry restaurant and filled up on really warm food--it was much needed!
Unrelated note:
To all the Rat fans--hi!!! Welcome to my blog! Feel free to read back a bit--I've posted quite a few pictures since I arrived in August. Leave a comment if you like, too! It doesn't even require registration, just proof that you're a human (very easy, no worries). ^_^ Goooooo Rats!
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 1:34 AM [+] ::
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