James Wynn

I was wondering around one of the less travel corners of Kyoto a few days ago and I noticed the top of a peculiar statue peaking over the top of some bushes. “Well, that looks just like a -”, I said to myself. After a little investigation I realized that I had stumbled upon an entire shrine dedicated to worship of both the penis and the vagina. I’m not to sure about the specifics, but I’ve heard that this used to be a large part of the Shinto traditions. Regardless of their origin, I took a few pictures to share with the good denizens of the intarweb. Please enjoy.

This is a short review, and a summation of my complaints with the Kyoto International House.  At first I was unimpressed by the unfinished look the place presented: mildew on the blinds, most of the place is much need of paint, and there is a greasy shine on many surfaces.  I pushed past this initial evaluation and tried to find the bright side of things.  The people I’ve met are nice, and there is free internet in the lab.  As days a pressing to a week though, I have uncovered more and more frustrating nuisances.  No kitchen utinsels are provided, including pots, pans, spatulas; nothing.  There is no soap, nor anything to dry ones hands on at any sinks.

To be fair, I should point out the things you do get here.  You get a room, approximately 7′x12′, with accompanying desk, chair, bed, shelf, and ‘closet’.  You get two blankets and a pillow and two changes of sheets.  The room has an airconditioning unit, but no heater.  They provide you with a mailbox, and a small locker in the kitchen in which to store dry foods.  As I said before, there is a lab with free internet.  There is also a lounge with a TV, a few couches, and what appeared to be a VCR.

Perhaps I am being to hard on the place for such a cheap price, around 23000YEN/month, plus electricity.  I think many of my complaints are purely asthetic; if they would slap a new coat of paint on the walls, clean the kitchen a little better, and provide some soap and paper towels at the sinks I would be much more content in living here.  I would probably even be willing to part with a little extra yen.

Ok, perhaps its unfair to say that the utility sucks.  It is the only peice of software available that can migrate your photos from gallery to flickr and it just doesnt do it very well.  I dont know how many people use it, but it took me 2 hours of messing with this utility so I could do about 2 hours of work to migrate my pictures.  Time I COULD have been using to take NEW pictures.

So, if I get a chance I think I will update the script and add a little much needed documentation.  Maybe even add a little front end for the sad little thing.  I mean, it works, but so does a one legged panda on a unicycle.  Its just sad to watch it go.

I visited Kyomizu temple again, which marks the 3rd time now.  Its the only thing I’ve consistantly done everytime I’ve come to Japan.  I’m not really sure why I keep going back either, its a total tourist trap.  Excellent view though.

Moving from dorm to dorm has totally screwed me up.  My  shoulders, back, legs, knees, sooo sore.  I need to just start taking taxis or something.  Blach.  On the bright side though, I think all this new soreness has made me all but forget about my tooth.  hahaha.

Kyoto International House looks a bit sketchy to me.  The management seem nice though, and I havent really had a chance to talk to any of the other residents.  Perhaps I’m just being to quick to judge.  Could be that it just needs a new coat of paint.