Temples Galore

Well, I didn't get around to leaving Kyoto and exploring the nearby towns this weekend, but i still got plenty of tourist action in. I visited a couple Buddhist Temples instead. I had originally planned on only visiting Kiyomizu-dera, one of the more famous temples in Kyoto, but i got lost along the way and ended up visiting another temple called Chion-in. Both were very impressive, but seeing as how Kiyomizu-dera is more famous, it was also more touristy and crowded, which was a bit of a let down. Still interesting and fun though. Oh, in reference to our meeting discussions about suicide rates in Japan, Kiyomizu-dera is renowned for being a place were people jump off it's large veranda. Originally it was believed that if you survived the fall then you would have your wish granted. However, it has become a site where sometimes people come to intentionally commit suicide, much like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Thankfully, most people survive the fall due to the heavy vegetation below.
On monday, the AC was broken in my office and the office next to mine, as with the heat index at 95 degrees F, we decided to take the day of and go swimming at a nearby lake, known as Biwa-ko, which was considerably more fun than work. This week also so the Gion Matsuri, one of the most famous festivals in Japan. It originates form the repurifaction of the Yasaka Shrine, but as with many things in Japanese culture it has become a secular festival as well, with lots of kiosks, street vendors, parades, and performances.