Day 22: Toyama to Kyoto 290km, 6.5hrs, 17.5-23°C drizzle; Day 23 Kyoto

-
Here he is 
the centre of my universe
Ops manager
Driver

Our world has
Begun to glisten
With early morning
Gentle drizzle

Not so many 
Photos along the road
But plenty of coffee stops

Warm welcome at Kyoto
Brighton hotel
Birthday to celebrate

Visual delights
and organoleptic
Morsels for our palates

Well done, Dick!

Tour of Kyoto
Shrines galore
Imperial palace beckons

With a tranquil garden scene
Reiwa the theme.
Beautiful harmony 

Exploring on foot
Sets up a thirst 
For tea and 
A bowl of ramen



The centre of my universe.

The Toyama Glass Art Museum - a visual treat from the back of the motorbike.
Road signs with pictures. Sometimes the umbrellas were turquoise blue. That didn’t mean that the sky was blue.
Gateways to shrines are dotted along the way.
Dinner was a delight. Several courses, visual treats and delicious morsels.

From the bus window this morning.
Mosses and stone. Public art in the  underground shopping mall at Kyoto Rail Station. Prada, Gucci and other designer stores.

The Kyoto Imperial palace grounds.
With a peace-filled garden
With a little island and a crane perched on a rock. Willow pattern in green.

An earthquake escape place for the emporer.
The Imperial palace was relocated to Tokyo in 1869.
Hot noodles with tofu for me, cold ramen for him. Huge bowls filled.



Reiwa
Beautiful harmony 
Is the theme announced by the new Emporer.


























Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Homeward bound: Picton to Queenstown, New Zealand. 875km, 11.5°C-22°C

-
Image
We saved the best for last. The longest distance we have ever ridden two up in one day. From Marlborough's Wairau Valley vineyards... To lake Rotoiti And the forest-clad hills  That accompany us south and to the west coast. Coffee stop at the Beeches in Murchison Awesome pies for lunch in Hokitika Whitebait fritters at the Paringa Salmon Farm. So good to be on familiar roads, So close to home We decide to make a run for Queenstown while the sun is still shining. Through the Gates of Haast Over the Haast Pass To the warmth of Central Otago at Makarora Along the shorelines of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea Through the early evening golden light  Etching patterns on slopes of the Crown Range. Home to Te Komata  Our house on the hill Which welcomes us with open arms. We are truly blessed to live in this part  of the world. Vineyards spread across the Wairau Valley. Home of Marlborough wines.   Lake Rotoiti - high water this summer. Beyond lake Rotoiti Dual single lane rai
Read more

Ngorogoro Crater

-
Image
Ngorogoro Crater formed 2.5million years ago after a volcanic eruption. The crater is about 19km in diameter and has steep sides. The road descending into the crater is definitely a 4WD road. Steep and rugged. The floor of the crater has lakes which provide water for animals year round. There is a resident population of wildebeest and zebra, buffalo, zebra, many hyena, lions and birds. While we were visiting the area the skies were magnificently moody. The crater is around 2300m altitude so it was pleasantly cool. Short grass necessitates knee bending for the warthog whilst feeding. One of the many hyena cooling off. A weaver bird.  There were lots of weaver bird nests in the trees. Some birds were on the winge carrying straw to their nests. The superb starling. A contented wildebeest Plenty of lions on the prowl. Weaver bird nests Zebra galore  Lions having breakfast on a freshly killed buffalo. Getting around by Caravan 
Read more