JT15- Day 12

Hi Gals,

Starting earlier rather than later today. 

Firstly a couple of things to do with sounds that I have had lightbulb moments (bit tortured I know). In Japanese cities you hear a "bing bong" sound at regular intervals and I always assumed it was to identify train stations. I have now revised this to the fact that the sounds identify Public Toilets. 
Next up it suddenly made sense regarding the two types of tones made at pedestrian crossings here in Kyoto. Had always noticed that one of them is like a bird chirp and the other is sort of piu piu. Hadn't thought much else about it- random chance. No such thing here the bird chirp is when North/South crossing the street is ok and piu piu for East/West. How cool is that.
This morning was wet again. Caught the subway from Kujo to Marutamachi and then walked to the Sento Imperial Palace for my 11am tour. The guide was the most animated, erudite and going by the reactions of the Japanese on the tour funniest ever. It truly was the best guide commentary I didn't understand a word of. Didn't know til I got there they can provide an English commentary for various numbered locations on the tour and it was useful but God I wish I had been able to understand the guide. He da bomb. 
The gardens just keep getting better and considering the fact that these ones belong to the boss as it were have been lovingly and expertly tended for over 300 years. They are exquisite. Every angle and vista another OMG moment. The rain drops on the maples and the moss...simply stunning. Had the same problem I had during the Imperial Palace tour. Ran out of battery on the camera. This one definitely takes fewer photos per battery. And of course the spare was in my bag in a locker back at the visitors room near the front gate. So had to shoot quite a few (& I mean q a f) with the phone. At least I had that option. Would have been devastated without it. The comic high point of the tour was our "clean up man". Like on the Imperial Palace tour a bloke follows to make sure no one nicks off and goes rogue. On the IP tour the role was played by a veritable Mr Plod in police or security uniform. Today's incarnation was a very different one. Gave the ineffable presence of retired detective down to the very snappy tweed trilby and stick. Almost laughed out loud when he caught me trying to photograph him and he took a smart veer to the right to avoid being snapped. Got him though and the resulting pic will, I think explain his look fairly well. 
I cannot stress the beauty of these gardens and just one example of the lengths they go to to ensure the desired effect can be demonstrated by the Issho stones. There are 110,000+ of these rounded stones that are laid along the shoreline of the South Pond for a total distance of over 100 metres making it the largest in any of the imperial gardens. They were provided by the Lord of Odawara and are named because the cost of finding and transporting each of them supposedly cost 1 sho (which is a measure of rice of about 2 litres). Pretty expensive pebbles. Still a remarkable vista and shows what can be achieved if money literally is no object. Thankfully the rain held off for most of the tour. Made my way back to the imperial Palace Cafe in the hope that the tempura udon would be available but alas sold out again so consoled myself with the still amazingly delicious grated ginger one I had after the IP tour. 
Went to BIC Camera at Kyoto Station and bought another camera battery. Slow walk back to the ryokan via good old AEON Mall. 
Now time for a shower and bed. 
Up early tomorrow for the "Posterior Festival" parade at 9am. Want to get a good spot by about 8 so will have to leave here about 7:30 at the latest. 

More news then 
Nearly at the end of the trip
Time takes a while to get up steam but now it's hurtling along. 

Lotsalove,

Tim