Philosophical Kyoto

OK, so since it is Golden Week (Goruden Ueeeku), we are heading down to Kyoto.

No, I know what you're thinking, but the reason is not, in fact, to view Kyoto's well-known Polish Dill Pickles:

We need to firstly cross the Duck River:

And head down to the Philosophers Path. This is a path that runs along a canal. Nice, isn't it?

However, we are slightly late. During Sakura season, this is, apparently so beautiful that it may bring you to tears. That probably won't help you to become a philosopher. However, the air is very good - look at all the green stuff on the trees:

And the canal water is so fresh that it contains lots of Carp. One more than one occasion I head children asking their parents about the fish. All answers were: "yes, it is tasty!". The fish get progressively smaller as you go upstream, which gives you the impression that the big ones are too fat to make it, or that they slim down a lot on the way. However, observing the Carp swimming against the tide was somewhat philosophical.

So far, so OK, but then we get to ...

... a random pair of old teddy bears on a bespoke toy bench! With walking sticks! Clearly this has some deep meaning.

Also impressive were the dustbins, with a pair of what looks like smiling eggs ready to perform general cleaning tasks. Industrious.

You can also get Philosophy Soba (noodles)! Wow. Even they've really commercialised the experience, or this is a chance for gaining great wisdom. While I was pondering these two equally attractive options, I found...

A temple dedicated to "tying destiny" - i.e. marriage. Good place to put it, in Kyoto, that is.

And this temples mascots are a pair of mice. They promise to open your luck, bring wealth (always a good side-benefit), and tie your destiny. One seems to hold a scroll of something serious and important, possibly a diet plan, because the other one seems to have eaten all the pies.

However, this sign was the most interesting and informative, I found.

" YOU'VE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING ! "

Tidying up after poo is the responsibility of the dog owner. Please discipline you dog to, as much as is possible, do poos in your house. Let's take poo home and tidy it up there!
- Kyoto Municipal Home Animal Discussion Forum, Kyoto Health Protection Board


And this, very slightly, reminded me of the market - you've got to face up to your liabilities.