Things - funny and different.

One thing I really like are the toilets in Japan. They must have the cleanest bottoms in the world. There are many squat toilets but more and more fancy western loos with sprays and music and dryers. It feels so clean to have you rear washed. I would love one at home! They are fancy bidets of course but much easier than those. They also have toilet slippers. Slippers to wear into the toilet area. The changing of shoes , house slippers, toilet slippers, outdoor shoes and shoes off at the front door, so they never touch the wooden steps or inside is yet to become automatic. No wonder every one used to wear thongs and slip off shoes. We seem to be taking them off and putting them on all the time. Remembering which way they should face is also a challenge.  

Anne and I have had some great laughs together. When we were in Kyoto I visited Irene's room and came back to tell Ann ,with wonder, that they had two taps. In a dry way she said we have two taps too. Of course we had but not a drinking water tap. It seemed such a stupid thing to say that we just cracked up and fell about laughing.

It is surprising how arriving in Koyosan and its calm environment has relaxed us all. It is a soothing place where the only sounds are birds singing, frogs croaking, sometimes like kookaburras, gongs from the temples sounding and on the hour music is played for a few seconds. Total harmony. The famous rock garden.

At one of our evening dinners the boys got reminiscing about their early youth. David revealed he was a member of the Wee Willie Weeties club, and was a Tarax Top Man. Bill not to be outdone told us about his toy submarine that he'd got out of a cereal packet. He was fascinated by the going up and down which was made possible by bi - carbonate soda some how packed into the sub. David had a diver that used air. We laughed and laughed over all these old time shows and toys.  It will be a long time before we forget Wee Willie Weeties!

The Kyoto tower is a landmark we ventured up. It's height was based on the size of the population when it was built. Now there are more people they need to add extra to the spire! We wanted to have a drink but the bar had smokers and wasn't pleasant. This is something we have found here. Smoking is still more prevalent than at home and happens in restaurants.  There are often smoking rooms but they are not enforced.

So many women wear hats. Even the  girl taking the tickets to the lift at the tower was wearing a hat, The female bus driver had a hat. The ones in uniform often wear hats like boaters or foreign legionaries. 

The conductors on the train wore a hat and bowed every time they left the carriage.

The girls in school uniforms that are like sailor suits seem a little strange but girls will be girls and I had to smile at the skirts rolled up at the waist to make a ini skirt instead of the sensible knee length! 

Lots of women wear long gloves to protect their arms from the sun. They look very formal going to work!

The people seem to be genuinely happy in their work, taking pride in what they do. The train guards are very serious about their jobs and could be the assistant pilots to a jet airliner by their demeanour. It is a pleasure to see the pride in their work. It makes some Australians seem so sloppy. Bill the architect is always commenting on how things are made with both quality and aesthetics in mind, right down to a light pole.

 Cypress branches for offerings

 Door decoration sculpture

I had tried to meet up with a former rotary student who had stayed with Mum and Dad.mhiro was sixteen when he came to stay and became a much loved member of the family. Unfortunately he is very busy with work and has not been able to meet me but sent some beautiful flowers. I was very thrilled to receive them and will try again from Tokyo.