Family Dys-Function in Kyoto (Day Three)

so the reason for the visit (yes, there was one besides temple hopping and eating), was for a ceremony to mark the 13th year of my uncle's death and the 7th (although it was a year early) year of my cousin's death. so the family gathered at my aunt's house in shimogamo for the whole she-bang:

my cousin's widow and his 18 year old daughter. yes, she looks and acts like she's still 12. if you think they lack a somber tone for the occasion, you're not alone but trust me when i say, this is pretty typical of this family.

my dad's brothers acting like they are listening to each other:

the monk arrives and prepares for the ceremony:

long long long prayers are mumbled. i take pictures because i can't read the kanji and i have no idea what they are saying and because i don't really get down with stuff like this. also, my aunty wanted pix:

refreshments afterwards:

and on to the grave site which has more praying and incense but yay! with the added annoyance and blood sucking mosquitos of which there are PLENTY in kyoto:

and a swank chinese lunch at a hotel. time to booze up!

i know my dad's cousin is laughing in the picture and it looks like a good time but man, was this one of the most trying lunches of my life. the reason my aunty wanted my dad to come and subsequently, me, as he was unwilling (japan in the summer is something you NEVER want to experience if you can help it at all) is because my relatives basically SUCK at having fun. yes, i know, it's a funerary ritual but it's been a long time and it should be about fun rememberances about those who have passed. after trying hard to get a conversation gong from my vantage, i got up and occupied the seats of those who escaped to the bathrooms to make conversation with different people. this was one tough gig.

at least the food was really good:

with my cousin and uncles:

the siblings minus my dad:

ah, the stress of family gatherings . . . . this is why i can really only visit once a year.

Foody/Temple-y Kyoto Day Two

Though not technically family, Aochan and his wife are very much like a real uncle and aunt. they take me places, they send me stuff, and they love having me over which is always nice.

this year is the final year in my long continuance of unlucky years. apparently, the ages between 31 to 33 are "bad luck" and given the past few years, i'm not exactly inclined to argue with that. So aochan does some research on my behalf and finds out that i must pray to Seishibosatsu to grant me leniency dueing these difficult years. he says the rain and all the crap of late is because i have not been praying to the right god. well, alrighty then. so he takes me to Nininji temple to set the cosmos right:

the rain had let up for a bit and the heat was on. you can't see the steam coming off of the ground but trust, it was there:

they don't open the main temple where the goddess is housed on a daily bases but my girl is on the left side of this building. she room shares with a couple others. so i prayed to the left:

aochan secures me a good luck amulet:

the clouds parted and the weather really cleared up! wow, the praying to the right gods thing really does work!

and on to food! the best bowl of hiyashi chuka i've EVER had:

and shaved ice with sweet green tea and red bean paste:

dinner at home. my aunt and uncle eat well; they are fantastic cooks, and tonite was no exception:

yum! thank you!