I was really looking forward to this day, mainly because I didnt get to go to Kamikochi park in the Japan Alps to see the Monkeys. While travelling to Kyoto on the highway bus I read about the monkey park in Arashiyama and it was a DEFINATE that we were going to go.
So we catch the train, which takes about an hour, and are soon in beautiful little Arashiyama walking through crowded little roads lined with cafes and shops, follow the map across a bridge and straight to the monkey park.
To get to the Monkey viewing area you have to walk up a steep concrete path up the side of a small mountain (its well worth it). All the way up there are signs about how to behave in front of the Monkeys: Do not show the Monkeys any food; Do not stare at the Monkeys in the eye; etc.
About half way up we start to see monkeys in the trees lazing about and a few just sat at the side of the path watching us pass, they are all so close and totally not bothered by us!
We soon find out why. FOOD.
People come from far and wide to see these mokeys but also to FEED them. There is a constant stream of people all wanting to feed the monkeys.
To feed them everyone gets inside this large hut with chicken wire in the windows. The monkeys put thier arms through the wire and people put food in the monkeys hands, and some of them are getting FAT. All quite wierd. But it soon gets alot weirder.
A load speaker sounds telling everyone (including the Monkeys) that it is feeding time, appaently everything alse is a mid feed snack!
Then, after everyone files outside among the monkeys the load speakers start up again but this time with this wierd cancan music and this guy walks about throwing seeds down which the monkeys go crazy over. The music ends, the man goes away and everyone walks about talking pictures while the monkeys finish off thier food. Odd, Odd, Odd.
We walk around for a while taking pictures of bloated, sleeping monkeys and eventually decide weve had enough and head back into town.
At least Ive finally got to see some monkeys.
We head into a beautiful walk through a bamboo grove (which looks pretty damn like the ones in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon just not as big) then we have a walk around the gardens of Tenryuji temple.
Tenryuji is one of the many World Heritage sites in Japan and is as beautiful as many other temples in Japan. I will add pictures later.
Back in Kyoto we go for a walk, heading to the Gion district to try and spot some Geisha. No Geisha tonight but we do bump into Paul from the Zenkoji. If he hadnt jumped out right in front of me I would have walked straight past him (I was too busy looking for Giesha to be taking notice of what was in front of me, at least thats my excuse!).
We all decide to go for a meal to celebrate our serendipitious reunion. It was delicious.
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