2013 - OCEANIA - KYOTO CASTLE & THE GOLDEN PAVILION

Still parked in Kobe, I head to Kyoto & the Golden Pavilion....

Passing through Kobe...

You have to look closely, but you can just make out this girl has a youngster in the shopping basket on the front of her bike...

It is quite common here but I failed to get a good photo of it.

a quick glimpse of a Kimono clad lady..

And we arrive at the very aptly named - Golden Pavillion..

and it's gardens..

I break away from my group to get served tea by this girl

These girls are also enjoying some tea..

& then move on to Kyoto castle...

These people are looking under the building at how the Nightingale floor is 'sprung' so as to make a noise whenever someone walks across it. An early warning system of sculduggery in the court.

No photos were allowed indoors. Too bad

These are girls are students who are celebrating their graduation by renting Kimonos & touring the castle. A popular thing to do apparently. They seem quite happy to pose for lots of tourists taking their photos.

Then it's passing street life on the way back towards Kobe

these ladies may dress like this for real..

must be time for dinner...