My next stop was a visit to the statue of Daikoku, the Japanese God of business success, to thank him for a great business trip and ask for his continued support. Granted, I don't know a lot about Japanese religious practices, but no harm in hedging my bets. Daikoku is considered one of the seven "Lucky Gods" of Japan. The statue above depicts him as a plump, prosperous businessman, standing on overstuffed bales of rice and wielding a magic, coin-producing mallet. I can't vouch for the magical properties of his mallet, but -- like everyone else -- I did throw a couple of coins his way.
Kiyomizu, literally translated, means "pure water" and the temple complex is dotted with waterfalls and streams. The fountain above is supposed to bring good luck to those who dip one of the temple's tin cups into the fountain and drink of its purifying waters. This morning, a group of local schoolchildren was having a good time dipping the cups again and again into the fountain and taking big gulps of water. "Try some?," asked one of the attendants on duty. "No thanks," I said, watching the cups pass from hand-to-hand. Frankly, I like my H2O without any H1N1. Besides, I had some other purifying waters in mind.
I left the temple complex and ducked into Starbucks where, I'm pleased to say, I once again tormented another Poor Barista who had never heard of a Grande Half Caff. "A what?!?," asked Barista Maruno, "You want half of a what?!?" She grew increasingly agitated as I repeated my order again and again. But once I explained what a half caff is, she rose to the occasion. "Take a seat," she said, "and I'll bring it to you." Ten minutes later, she brought me what she called a Half-and-Half in a cup which she had artfully decorated with images of Kyoto and Mt. Fuji.
I spent some time walking along the quaint side-streets of Kyoto, looking at some of the local arts and crafts. In one shop, I noticed an elderly woman selling what appeared to be packages of homemade candy made out of squid meat. I started to take a picture of it but she nearly slapped the Spycam out of my hands. "What is it with you people and your squid?" I asked, exasperated, but she was unflappable. "I know, I know," I said, "No pictures. But do you mind if I take a few Photograhs?"
By far the most bizarre shop I saw seemed to specialize in rubber ceremonial masks. I couldn't help noticing that right there, next to a golden Buddah head, was a genuine Barack Obama mask with a hand-made sign reading "yes, we can." I support our President as much as the next guy, but I couldn't resist asking the shopkeeper to "bring me the head of Barack Obama!"
My next stop was the "Bullet Train," a true marvel of Japanese engineering. I whizzed through city after city, over bridges, passing rice fields and Mt. Fuji (pictured above) to get to Tokyo, where I made my way to Narita Airport and United Flight #890. I had the privilege of sitting next to a man I'll call "Mr. Spitoon" (pictured below). He spent the entire 10-hour flight chewing tobacco and spitting its remnants into a bottle of Mountain Dew he kept on his lap.
I made it back to 7th and Montana by 10:00 a.m. the same day, just in time to participate in a Sting Operation which finally -- after more than five years -- ended-up thwarting the Notorious Newspaper Thief, the man who has been stealing newspapers from Our Favorite Starbucks when he thinks no one is looking. I stood directly behind him, positioning myself between the Thief and his Getaway Bike. Barista Veronica stood in front of him, glaring directly at him as he pretended to be browsing innocently through the "used" newspapers. It was a game of chicken on a grand scale until finally, the Newspaper Thief chickened out. He jumped on his getaway bike and pedaled madly towards the Starbucks at 15th and Montana ...!
7 comments:
Sorry you didn't get a photo of your artfully decorated half-and-half. Sounds worth the wait.
Hi Webster,
I did get a photo of that cup ... and just added it to the entry at your request!
Best,
Marty
"Bring me the head of Barack Obama"? AND "Mr. Spitoon"? Dang, boy, you sure you didn't just come back from Oklahoma? You must be one of them California Okies! Will Rogers, anyone?
I have a metal bread box loaded with pictures my husband took on his tour of duty in Japan. I wonder if they are still good. I must look at them some day. Interesting entry.
Thank's Marty. It's not as I had envisioned it, so the picture was helpful.
My niece and her fam are going to Tokyo next month. Her Dad (my brother) lives there.
Two Saturdays, and with a shorter day for each, you are like 26 hours younger :o)
great travel blog,marty. i enjoy your trips almost as much as you do---thanks--barb
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