日光 Nikko

Am hoping that anyone else is doing better, while much is happening here these days, zapping energy fast. zzz...





Which explains why I'm blogging a lil behind, even for the trip to 日光 ( Nikko ) in early November when Bear had a week break.










I've heard so much about Nikko - which encompasses one the World Heritage Sites belonging to Japan, and many renown hot springs. Am taunted from time to time, 'How could you live in Japan and not gone to Nikko?' So Bear decided to check one down in my bucket list, and drove all those loathsome 12 hours - to and fro.


Well, to each his own. Turns out Nikko isn't our kind of nirvana. The scale and finesse are hardly superlative compared to others I've seen, and I've concluded that pictures in books and magazines can be deceiving. Structures are ancient alright but heavy with repaint - I'm the kind who appreciates good pictures, rather than images cleverly photoshoped, get my drift?





　
The red lacquered 神橋 ( Shinkyo : Sacred Bridge ) that arches over the Daiya River. It could only be used by the emperor during feudal times.






Famous 5 storied pagoda, around 36 meters high, an anti-earthquake construction.






Shrines and temples, constructed in glittering gold, but not good enough to awe the visitors. Here in the assuming 'holy ground', the Japanese visitors were endlessly bad mouthing about the visitors of mainland China, the opposite didn't relent either. Imagine me comprehending both sides. I'm just baffled. If these visitors are buddhists and believers, how do they bring themselves to utter slander so openly before their gods and deities?













The three wise monkeys that embody the proverbial principle - see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.





View from 'that famous window'.





Lotsa national treasures within, but no pictures allowed.





Endless towering cedar trees, and gravelled paths. Heed my word, NEVER go in heels like me, wear a pair of steady flats.





This Maple tree is the oldest within the premise.






And off we went to catch some Nikko's falls and fall.













To sum it all... I'm hardly impressed with the reknown sites. People were generally unfriendly. We were prepared to spend liberally but the souveniers weren't attractive, in fact, I bought nothing. I've figured that we've spent more on parking. The accomodation paid with a fat fee didn't fetch a memorable stay. I'm not craving any local delicacy after the trip. This is Nikko, if you ask me. Well at least I've been there once, and for good.


I guess what's memorable is Bear's sweet personality, despite those awful driving, lack of parking lots, and disappointing outcomes. He's a joy to travel with even on a mediocre trip. :)