Saturday 5 May
The final day is upon us! we decided to keep to our normal routine 0845 breakfast - the usual ingredients; back for ablutions and in the lobby at 1045 - ready to go.
Leaving the bags we headed to the nearby temple complex where a service taking place - shoes off again - and view inside. Off the beaten track we headed into the suburbs of narrow streets and shops selling religious artefacts and came across a small cafe run by an american - not the most efficient - as he left the cafe in search of a friend who had just left. As it turned out in search of coca cola. The coffee was worth the wait although the cups were small.
Duly referred we entered the next temple with the 4th largest wooden structure in the world. It was spectacular. A slow walk back to the hotel in time to catch the 1305 shuttle bus to Kyoto station.
Having arrived early and having bought our tickets the day before lunch was called for - the only problem being one with capacity for the large number of suitcases and an ability to meet the diverse dietary needs of the group. We succeeded.
We were smoothly guided from level to level, gate to gate, platform to platform - smooth and incident free. Arriving at platform 30 the Hakura 35 was being cleaned ahead of the 90 minute journey to Osaka airport and HK Express to Hong Kong.
There was a slight glitch in case the check in demanded proof of onward journey from Hong Kong - as has happened before when leaving Japan - but luckily we sailed on through !
We were pleased that we had not purchased priority boarding as we were on ahed of them !
The final day is upon us! we decided to keep to our normal routine 0845 breakfast - the usual ingredients; back for ablutions and in the lobby at 1045 - ready to go.
Leaving the bags we headed to the nearby temple complex where a service taking place - shoes off again - and view inside. Off the beaten track we headed into the suburbs of narrow streets and shops selling religious artefacts and came across a small cafe run by an american - not the most efficient - as he left the cafe in search of a friend who had just left. As it turned out in search of coca cola. The coffee was worth the wait although the cups were small.
Duly referred we entered the next temple with the 4th largest wooden structure in the world. It was spectacular. A slow walk back to the hotel in time to catch the 1305 shuttle bus to Kyoto station.
Having arrived early and having bought our tickets the day before lunch was called for - the only problem being one with capacity for the large number of suitcases and an ability to meet the diverse dietary needs of the group. We succeeded.
We were smoothly guided from level to level, gate to gate, platform to platform - smooth and incident free. Arriving at platform 30 the Hakura 35 was being cleaned ahead of the 90 minute journey to Osaka airport and HK Express to Hong Kong.
There was a slight glitch in case the check in demanded proof of onward journey from Hong Kong - as has happened before when leaving Japan - but luckily we sailed on through !
We were pleased that we had not purchased priority boarding as we were on ahed of them !