Kyoto pt4 - Golden Temple

I scurried away from the Silver Pavillion in hope to catch the Golden Temple before dusk fell. I could not resist one of the lovely tourist paths that are lined with numerous shrines and smaller temples. This took up a lot longer than I imagined and really requires an entire afternoon to do justice to the experience. I aborted the journedy and hightailed it for the bus that would take me to the other end of town. I rode a lot of buses in Kyoto and it was fun and easy. Very tourist friendly. The picture below is a shot of a shrine, perhaps the mice shrine. I wanted to visit on behalf of T & M and Tim and Russell. Ok, I know they are not mice....but degus, however that is spelt.

So along the way to the Golden Temple, I saw the streets lined with these poor scrawny looking trees. Looks like someone overpruned perhaps. I don't quite get it. It is because of the electrical wires - trees are simply not allowed their full bloom and glory. I heard that pruning of this kind is a seasonal thing, like before the New Years, hedges are seriously pruned. Or is this, a manifestation of bonsai-gone-mad. I am all ears!

And after much rushing around and anticipation.....The Golden Temple just before closing time - 5:00pm. I don't care and pay up and run to take a look before it gets too dark. Ahhhhh, despite the descending darkness, it is beautiful and I take way too many picture, but will demonstrate some restraint by posting only two. I love Kyoto!