Japanese Pickles

I like trying new foods. I do have boundaries, but I will generally try anything offered in good faith at least once. 

I was intrigued by the specialty food sold in this store in a food mall in Kyoto. But I did not get to taste any of it. My guess is that these rolls right in front are some kind of vegetable in a mustard sauce, but I must call on my blogger friend Kaori from Shinjuku Daily Photo to set me straight.

Postscript: Thanks much, Kaori! Here we have one of numerous kinds of pickles - tsukemono - often served with a Japanese meal. This particular pickle delicacy originates from the Nara period over twelve hundred years ago. The famous kasuzuke, known as shiru-kasu-zuke or narazuke, was made for samurai by pickling fish or vegetables (typically melon, cucumber or eggplant) in a mix of sakekasu (sake lees, what remains after pressing sake mash), mirin, sugar and salt. The amazing part is that a great kasuzuke takes 1 to 3 years to make!  One more reason for me to return to the beautiful Kansai region of Japan.

Kyoto, 2009

The scene certainly fits right in with Mellow Yellow Monday.

How about you... how open are you to new taste experiences?

The Golden Pavillion

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple) is the only one of the original main structures remaining on the grounds of Rokuon-ji (Deer Park Temple) in Kyoto. And even this is not really the original. While the pavilion survived centuries of natural disasters, sadly in 1950 a misguided young arsonist monk razed it to the ground. Yet it is a true replica. And it IS grand.
 
In the 13th century this gold-leafed building was the not-so-humble villa of a shogun (general) until his death, when in accordance with his will it was turned into a Zen temple. 

Sitting on the edge of Kyoko-chi (Mirror Pond), it offers a perfect reflection for James' Weekend Reflections. This is a photo that's been taken by millions of admiring visitors over the years.

 Kyoto, 2009

As a bonus, I offer this less postcard perfect but more unique reflection of Kinkaku-ji as liquid gold with a purple water iris. 

This last photo is a closeup of the third floor with the gold-leafed bronze phoenix standing over one meter / nearly four feet tall. The bell-shaped windows are in the Chinese Song Dynasty style. The smallest of the three floors, this room was used for tea ceremonies and visits with close friends. 

Each floor was designed in a different style of architecture and had its own function. The ground floor was a reception hall used to welcome visitors and the second floor was for important meetings with honored guests. Simply put, the higher up you got into the building, the more intimate you were with your host, the shogun.

In 1994 this site joined the many historic monuments of ancient Kyoto inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Holding Up the Sky

Kyoto, 2009

We were temple-hopping on foot in Kyoto and along the way I saw and snapped this golden sculpture. I now wish I'd stopped a bit longer to consider a better angle to take the photo, but still I think it is quite an imposing piece of public art. I also didn't get any information about it, so if anyone can fill us in, that would be super.

PS. Thanks to fellow blogger VP from Livorno Daily Photo for this link to some information about this sculpture.

Perhaps the folks at Mellow Yellow Monday would enjoy this. You'll find many links to blogs offering creative takes on mellow yellow.

[SkyWatch] Blue Sky. Three Seasons?

Kyoto, 2009

On first glance, one could say there are three seasons represented here.  But in fact, the clear blue sky is the same in each image, as I captured these within 20 minutes of each other.

Posted for SkyWatch Friday where amazing skies from around the globe await you.

Not Just Any Old Roof

Osaka, 2009

I'm joining Wordless Wednesday and Sepia Scenes. 
Visit the sites for links to more takes on the themes.

L is for Lamps and Lanterns

Japan has an abundance of beautiful traditional lighting styles. These are just a few styles of lamps and lanterns I captured in Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, more simply known as Kiyomizu Temple.

 Kyoto, 2009

 

Kiyomizu Temple is a World Heritage Site in Kyoto. Dating back to 786, not a single nail was used to build the temple, the brown building you see on the right. The orange buildings on the left were added in 1633. 

ABC Wednesday is up to L and there you'll find more links to people's creative posts using the letter.

K is for Kimono

Are these middle-aged women I saw in full traditional garments - or kimono - former geisha or are they just dressed up for a photo op on a glorious Sunday at the temple in Kyoto? I didn't care; I thought they and their rich and colorful silk attire were simply fabulous!

 

 

 

Kyoto, 2009

At ABC Wednesday you'll find many more takes on the letter K.

Cat Lover

I really don't know the first thing about cats, never having owned one as a pet, but I have gleaned that when people love cats, they really care for all cats, never mind the size, shape or color. (Dog lovers, in notable contrast, seem to be very particular about breeds.)

But I had never associated cat adoration to any particular culture until I went to Japan. There, it struck me, cats are not just loved, they are revered. Cats -  images of cats - are found: in art, in cartoons, on posters, and all over consumer merchandise, from clothes and fashion accessories, to stationery, to giftware and home decor. Cats, in short, are everywhere!

It wasn't surprising to me then to see this young woman spend significant effort to capture these presumably stray cats in a park, totally oblivious to my capturing her.

Kyoto, 2009