Today we trekked to Arashiyama to walk through a bamboo forest, see more temples (surprise!) and see monkeys play (again!) I was a bit disappointed in he bamboo forest, well not so much the forest it self just the experience. There was no frolicking through the forest or even hugging a tree, more of walking through well maintained streets with bamboo trees next to you. Still a new experience and everything was green and spring like.
Along the walk was the Tenryuji temple - one of city's five great zen temples. As the story with most of these temples, the building were repeatedly lost in fires and wars and most current halls are somewhat recent (late 1800 to early 1900) - I said somewhat! But the thing to survive were the gardens
Even the mess of unkempt lotus stems were beautiful!
A walk by small cutsy and food shops, restaurant and over the Togetsukyo bridge is Sagano.
Sagano is known for the Iwatayama monkey park. Aprroximately a 30 min uphill hike (more steps!) gets you this....sign specifically says not to take pictures till you reach the park (I couldn't help it!) but we learnt why the hard way...these are not the some what tame but wild monkeys we saw/met earlier. These guys hiss if you get too close, fight among each other and generally act like the wild animals they are.
They are still super cute though!
Even middle of the day, they were a lot more active, climbing trees and such...
But always about eating and looking for food.
The park top of the mountain has an amazing view of Kyoto...I am not sure the monkey's appreciate it.
In a bit of a twist the humans are put into a cage and can feed the monkeys food bought there...a bag of apples or peanuts runs about a dollar. These guys are very nimble grabs the food right out of your hands.
After stuffing themselves time to sloth...
Or play with rocks...grab a handful move the left, then move to the right (Michelle should have a video on her blog.)
They were pretty oblivious to our presence, unless you get too close...then you get a look...
I am torn on how I feel about this park. These guys are a bit more wild than the monkeys we saw before and it feels a bit more like their environment with all the trees and such but still they are trained to ask for treats..
Check out the mom and baby. She almost dropped him so many times while hanging here.
See the guy perched on the step almost falling over? He is fast asleep, post lunch nap. Michelle said he reminded her of me as I seem to be able to sleep in planes, trains and automobiles but I think he is more like my little brother who seems to fall asleep at the drop of a hat no matter where he is!
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