Japan, Oct 2006

Imperial Palace, Kyoto. The day started off nice enough, but halfway through the tour, the skies opened up and doused us in a shower that rivaled anything I've experienced in Ireland or Wales (I'm an expert in these matters, it rains in these places constantly). Everyone was diving for cover but we didn't mind because being Irish we 1. are tough and 2. we're well used to water falling from the sky! It was strange though - it was really warm. 

Kinkaju-ji (The Golden Pavilion) Kyoto. The day we visited, it was really dull and grey and overcast. After we got off the bus, we had to walk up a hill for what seemed like forever. I was getting a bit tired and grumpy until we finally reached the top and turned the corner and saw this sight. It was so beautiful, and all of a sudden the day didn't seem to grey and depressing. This is so beautiful -it was so radiant it was like sunshine, and was totally worth the uphill trek.

It's a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. It's current incarnation has been in existence since 1955; in 1950, the original pavilion was burned down by a monk who subsequently attempted suicide on the Daimon-ji hill behind it. He served 7 years in prison for arson, but was found to be suffering from mental illness and was released.