Great days in Bangkok

I always tought that Thailand was nothing so interesting for me filled with western tourists and emberassing fellow finlanders, but after studying in Japan and after aking good friends from Thailand I tought eventually I wish to visit them.

Working in Bali has been quite busy and tiring, so when the time for a short holiday came, I headed to Bangkok to meet Mew (Unfortunately the other Thai friends were still in Japan, or Fon being a bit too far in Chiang Mai for my short trip). The great coincidence was that also Kazuya with his classmates were in Bangkok at the same time. and further more my other KIT friend, Yudai with his friends came to visit Bangkok aswell. The best part  of this trip was to meet these great people again, and to get to know their friends too. Big thank you for Mew for existing and letting me stay in her place and for Ping who also showed me around!

After staying more than six months in Bali I was longing for bigger buildings, more people, escalators, shopping centers, subway and trains and local people living their own life doing their own things. Bangkok really did offer that! In additin to that, the temples and details of Thai culture were so stunning and something I wish to discover. The tilings and level of details in the temple areas were so inspiring and something I havent yet discovered. The amount of shopping malls and markets and seeing always someone selling something was great aswell.

It is difficult to try to sum up everything into just one post so here are the photos:

discovering Ayutthaya with Kazuya and his class mates.

Elephant riding.

After Ayutthaya we took a boat to the Asiatique. 

Temple day. Discovering the beauty of Thai temples.

Shopping or shop hopping

Sweet overdose with KIT friends.

Chinatown with Mew!

Jim Thompson's house, Thai silk!

Mew Kazuya and Ping!

It almost look like Linn were with us?

Hop on your bicycle

In Kyoto on of the best thing is just to roll around with bicycles and see what you can find. This time it took me, Marine and Nina to North-East Kyoto. First we discovered the Kyoto University of Art and Design (which I always tought to be some kind of a museum). It was an interesting mixture of old red tile buildings inside, under, next to and on top of new concrete buildings. The buildings climbs up the mountainside. The view from classrooms and different corridors were really nice. It must be quite nice to study there!
    

View from Kyoto University of Art and Design

Cool new part of KUAD, interesting buildings with long long stairs.

Inside the cafeteria was not that nice. The lamps are cool, but colours not.

After that we hit the mountain. We discovered a small shop called "Salmiakki" selling Finnish design products and yes, I paid 2€ for a "pätkis", a chocolate bar that usually costs around 25 cents. I still haven't eaten it, so maybe I'm savign it for a special event. After that we tried to visit few tea houses and old traditional Japanese building, but since we didn't want to pay for it we ended up to the Tanukisani Fudo-in.

Totally different world. Tanukis at Tanukisani Fudo-in. Now the Miyazakis films feels so much more realistic

Tanukisani Fudo-in, but first 250 steps before that. No wonder they say this temple is good for your health.

After all the bicycling we were hungry and tired. So then it was food and sleep.

But the few last days have been so sunny and well, for me it feels like super hot summer, but actually it is just spring slowly getting warmer. It is nice to see people switching to a summer mood and one of the best ways to spend these hot days is just to hang around the Kamogawa river.

Shiho at Kamogawa riveside.

Music in river.

Busy with parents

Having my parents in Japan.

After getting back from Taiwan my parents were already waiting for me here in Kyoto - so the sightseeing started right away :)

First days we spent in Ninna-ji, Ryoan-ji, Kinkaku-ji and Daitoku-ji. So many gardens, temples, different textures and Japanese aesthetics. We biked to Ninna-ji but after my mother scared some girls and herself with her furious riding we decided to continue by bus. Next day we visited Ryoanjis stone garden and the golden pavillion. In Daitokuji we saw the first blum blossoms.