everything is art

“When we get out of the glass bottle of our ego and when we escape like the squirrels in the cage of our personality and get into the forest again, we shall shiver with cold and fright. But things will happen to us so that we don’t know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in.”

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On our last day we went to this theatre where they taught us some nifty things about Japanese theatre. The presentation really dragged on but overall it was pretty fun. They gave us socks like the Geishas wear. 

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Last dinner in Japan :( !!! We went to a restaurant where you grill your meat in front of you! Japan is known for some of the freshest and healthiest beef. 

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Our second to last night, we arrived in Kyoto! We were given some free time to explore so my friends Carson & Taylor walked around with me. It was so humid!  

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we zoomed by some farm land and little villages at 130mph! 

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Inside the bullet train! The train felt like a plane, because once it takes off and you get going so fast it feels like you're flying! Fun fact- When the lady with the candy trolley enters each train car she bows to everyone in the car.

Confused foreigner alert- I went to the bathroom on the train and I legit stood in there 10 minutes trying to figure out how to flush the toilet! Realized there was a button on the wall. 

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Waiting for the bullet train! We are headed to Kyoto! 

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Ferry Ride back to the mainland. When we were on the boat this Japanese man who looked about 35yo, came over to my friend and I as we were sitting on the ferry. He asked where in America we we're from. He even wanted me to pull up where we lived. I was very concered as to why he needed to know where I lived! But the smart traveler I am only told him we lived in Philadelphia. Technically that's a lie because I live 30-45 minutes from Philly, but I didn't want him to know exactly where I lived! 

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Literally one of the most memorable moments from my trip! 

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I sure did take a lot of pictures inside the beautiful shrine! 

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As we were walking through the shrine and a wedding was taking place! Only a small amount of people were inside the this room of the shrine and the rest of the people had to stand outside (which is where we were standing). The bride walked out [pictured in top picture]. We only stayed for a few minutes to let the actual people who were attending the wedding have room to see. 

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When I entered into the shrine the bright orange/red colors was mesmerizing! We were floating (not really) over some of the cleanest water ever. We walked through, following the arrows. The Itsukushima Shrine was built in the 16th century, based off of designs made in the 12 century. The shrine appears to be floating at high tide, and at low tide you can walk around the shrine. On-going repairs beginning September 2005 the shrine is almost in full repair from a disastrous typhoon. 

The shrine is dedicated to the 3 daughters of Susanoo-no-Mikoto (The shinto god of the sea and storms) This Island is considered very sacred. No deaths or births are permitted on this island. All pregnant women need to leave the Island when their due date is becoming closer. All elderly people are to move away when they become ill. 

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It was raining so hard! See the kayakers?  

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It was POURING down rain! So hard my socks were soaked through 

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Town of Miyajuma on the Island of Itsukushima

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yup so we stepped off the ferry and you know the first thing I see? DEER. WILD DEER. just walking around! Where I'm from, the closest you can get to a deer is if you see it dead one on the side of the road, or mounted on walls.