Getting Told Off by Temple Staff - Encore in Kyoto

Boy were we unprepared for the heavy snow in Kyoto. Technically it is already supposed to be least snow-affected region in Japan, but when we saw the huge snow flakes drifting by in front of our 10F restaurant window on the night of our arrival, we knew we were in for some surprises the next day. The next day (Saturday) Kyoto basically shifted through bouts of warm sunlight and windy snow drift, at 30 mins intervals. We accidentally, or not accidentally chose Kinkakuji as our first destination, totally unaware that the snow has brought loads of spectators to see the snow decked golden temple. We were fortunate to see this in person, but unfortunately the temple staff basically kicked me out for "blocking traffic" and "contaminating temple ground" with my watercolour. And that was after I specifically found a quiet corner that was out of the way of foot traffic, where several other people were also standing still and taking a break from walking. I had barely opened my palette when the closed wooden counter shutter slid open and a man poked his head out. Another guy who had his water bottle on the counter and I both thought he was asking us to move our stuff off the counter, but he only turned his attention to me and started dictating in this I-hate-tourists-and-my-job semi-condescending voice that I am contaminating their temple ground with my paint. So I said, okay then can I use pencil-only? He said, oh definitely not, I'm blocking traffic flow and it is not allowed, and pointed towards the non-existent crowd that I was definitely blocking. It was only too reminiscent of my last similar encounter, which just so happened to be another temple in Kyoto! I mean, that really says something. I'm pretty sure I managed to get more sketched at god damn Hankyu Umeda Station before a station staff approached me.  After a few back and forth, I gave up the fight and just left. Only then did I realize the plethora of surveillance cameras scattered through the premise, which was probably how they spotted me through a closed wooden shutter. They really are only interested in moving the cattles, I mean, the temple patrons, along as fast as possible. But come on, people who were hogging the front row viewing deck taking photos were okay, but me with a brush and sketchbook staying all the way in the back bothering nobody had to leave??

Anyway, when we were taking a quick break waiting out the snow in the resting shed (?), I did a quick one with the now ever increasing number of visitors and a guard managing traffic. Overhearing us speaking English, a girl from New Zealand who was traveling solo asked us to take a photo of her. While my friend was taking the photo, I overheard a Japanese couple saying "oh dear, I had no idea what she just said meant she wanted a photo taken. I would only understand 'photo, okay?'" Which was hilarious because the girl used very polite language to ask, precisely because she noticed we were fluent English speakers. And of course, more polite = more complex sentence construction. 

When approaching Yasaka Shrine, I noticed a strange no-man's land encircled by the edge of the sidewalk, the traffic light pole, and the sidewalk fence. It was also situated at the perfect spot for viewing the front of the shrine. Perfect view + no risk of blocking foot traffic. I really couldn't pass up this opportunity!

 I also did one in Kiyomizu-dera, but the weight of my experience at Kinkakuji was definitely hanging over my head, so it didn't turn out really well (plus the crowd size was much much denser than Kinkakuji)

Kyoto Focus: Yasaka Shrine + Kyoto National Museum

 There were two consecutive weddings going on at Yasaka Shrine. All the same old stuff...until I noticed the two photographers with special armbands! The official wedding photographer of Yasaka shrine and his assistant. So I sneaked up on them while they were busy recording / attending the wedding. The feeling of drawing someone that they themselves would never expect to be captured was great!

The older one of the pair of buildings of Kyoto National Museum, and in my opinion, the best piece of the collections! I noticed this place a few years ago when I visited its neighbour, Sanju-sangen-do
The most interesting part of the building was the relief on the main entrance, it is of completely Japanese motifs.

Kyoto Focus: The Two Pavilions

 The Temple of the Golden Pavilion! Sort of...made it look like a two-story building, but the bottom dark layer is actually the first floor! After reading about it so many times through Mishima, it looks a bit...underwhelming. Maybe I should come back during sunset

Its nice brother, Temple of the Silver Pavilion. Looks a bit mundane at first, but when paired at the right angle with the sand "Moon viewing Platform", there's actually a nice balance of colour and shape (the view also comes with a seating area on the engawa)

Sanjusangendo, Kyoto

Literally means the temple with thirty-three spacings, hence the long hall. As I was almost done sketching the buddha on the left, with only the facial features left to finish, a staff approached me and said, Please do not sketch here. I replied with, well, I know photography is not allowed, why not sketching? She said, it will cause trouble for other visitors, especially when it's crowded. Please ask for the permission to sketch from those monks sitting over there. I was like, great, even this temple works on strict company hierarchy. And so I got a long lecture from the monk in charge of how pens and inks are not allowed in the building, blah blah blah it may potentially harm the precious buddhas. So I guess had I pulled out my watercolour gears instead of my pen, I would be sitting in detention right now lol

(He did end up lending me a pencil to finish my work though)

Kyo-Train (Hankyu) -> SL at Arashiyama -> Umeda Evangelion Store