Sophistication, Sushi, Soiling!

Arrival at Kansai Airport or KIX, our first Japan experience.

• KIX, built on an artificial island I am adding a picture to show the sophistication and aesthetics of the airport.
• Sushi train at KIX. Each table has a private screen with pictures you can press on and add quantity. Once your order placed it is brought to you by express lane with a separate train that stops exactly at your table. All items are freshly made and delivered.
• Heated toilet seats, they lift up automatically as you enter the toilet, water cleansing of your behind and heated wind for drying purposes. All controls are on my right I needn't come near the toilet with my hands. A special button with a music note to 'mask' windy noises with a wavy sound.

We took the train to Kyoto the kids are noisy, very noisy, the Japanese are quiet, very quiet.
The man who checks the train tickets introduces himself, takes a deep bow, proceeds to stamp the tickets and once finished thanks everyone and bows again.
We are all sitting in pairs, Matt found a button that allows a pair of adjacent seats to pivot thus allowing four people to sit opposite each other. He keeps on repeating "Maman c'est un reve on est au Japon".
The kids are noisy, very noisy, the Japanese are quiet, very quiet.
We arrive in Kyoto exit the train the stations exit is in an electronic shop.
We find a taxi that brings us to the traditional Japanese house we rented. It is small but so practical.
We wonder the streets it is seven PM, the streets are quiet, very quiet, our kids are noisy very noisy.
A little restaurant serving Yakitori and Sashimi make our evening complete.
We walk back, our kids are noisy very noisy, the streets are quiet, very quiet.
Late wake up rainy day pouring, it is over twenty degrees Celsius, we are cold, we are scared of coming back to the Belgian weather.
Another good night sleep after take away sushi.

The sun is shining, we heard about the AOI Matsuri festival, traditional parade but when we get there we can't see anything because it is to crowded so of we are to loose ourselves in Gion the geisha quarter of Kyoto.




An amazing place, we walked for about four hours amongst the old houses, spotting geisha's, looking at school kids, we are stunned by the beauty of Japanese women and the way they dress. Louboutin seems to be the standard in casual day to day dress as Nike or Puma may be in the West.
The kids are happy yet still noisy very noisy and apart from the gambling halls even the parade was the quiet, very quiet.
Looking at the Japanese or as little as we know externally now they seem calm and composed.
People have literally walked out of their way more then once to help us. Someone even proposed to Val to wait in front of the supermarket to get butter from home(the super had run out).
Kindness here has a different meaning so does helpfulness, we are in awe at the smiles and willingness to help.
We have as we did in India difficulties to find a bin yet on the contrary to India everything is immaculate.
If anything negative is to be said is that the kids are trampling my nerves like a heard of elephants fleeing fire, I am impatient and my tolerance is tested again and again.
I think we all need space! The twenty four hour, seven days a week scheme takes its toll once in a while.
This too shall pass.

Sayonara!