So
I walked and walked to figure out how to go to Kinkakuji from Arashiyama. I got lost and lost
because I thought Daikakuji was the Japanese translation of the Golden
Pavilion. That epic realization came when I was walking around the streets
going to Daikakuji... which was 30 minutes of walking according to the tourist
information booth. Booooo.
With empty streets and no helpful Japanese people in
sight, I had to rely on the bus routes in the handy Kyoto Bus Guide. I was out
of the JPY 500 zone, so I was expecting some additional fee riding a bus, but I
didn’t have a choice anyway. In that area, waiting for a bus took quite as long
as 20-25 minutes - the bus schedules are still posted and still followed in the bus stops. I headed to the transfer point to ride any bus that's going to Kinkakuji.
Kyoto transfer point. |
An elderly man sat beside me during the bus ride. He had limited English. He said he will show me the way to Kinkakuji since he was getting off the same stop - he said that in fewer words. We had a nice "chat" during the bus ride. I mean, I was the one talking and talking, I wasn’t sure if he understood me at all. But he looked so interested in what I was saying, so I told him my Japan itinerary and how I really loved Kyoto so far.
I
told him I was from the Philippines. He said: “Wow, good English from the
Philippines!” =)
He
motioned that we were getting off at the stop. I thought that was it. But he
walked with me along the path going to the main entrance. For a moment, I
panicked. Should I offer to pay for his entrance fee? But it wasn’t gonna be
like that. He shook my hand and told me he had a nice time talking to me. Nahiya ako magpa-picture!