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15 pts!

@ Dream of Kyoto

Hi, I’m Deedee! I'd like to show you my favorite places. One of them is my home … if you do really well in this quest, you could get a full-sized version of it! But where is my home? It’s near Kyoto, a city I love. Is this picture your dream of Kyoto?

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10 pts!

@ A mountain home

Where is Kyoto? Near to mountains. There are east mountains and north mountains. I’ve flown over both. Here’s a picture I took! These are the North-Mountains, taken from the Hiei-zan, part of the East-Mountains.

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11 pts!

@ Kyoto heritage

Japanese people have a strong sense of heritage. This was first built in 1612. After bombing, it was rebuilt. Is this the newest old building in Kyoto? Or the oldest new building? I don’t know, but I’ve perched on the roofs many a time …

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15 pts!

@ Kyoto phoenix

This phoenix is the most famous bird in Kyoto. The building is named after him. I think he's too stuck up to talk to me. But the building was made to create a Land of Happiness. So naturally, I live near here!

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11 pts!

@ Kyoto today!

Well - most of Kyoto isn't like the earlier scenes any more. This skyscraper looks like it wants to be in Koyaanisqatsi ... you know, where the moon passes the skyscraper? I just use it to check my feathers are all in the right place after a long flight.

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11 pts!

@ Kyoto folk

Kimonos all have a MEANING. Hoomans think cranes live 1000 years. No, my uncle Kaito only lasted 205! Hoomans think clothes made of plants protect against things plants protect them from. So why don't they walk through nettles in a coat made of dock leaves?

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67 pts!

@ The Kyoto I love

Kyoto streets have trees for birds to perch in, and sidewalks for hoomans to walk on. This is Arashiyama, west of Kyoto. It’s a lovely place. Temples, shrines … and lots of titbits dropped on the street where I can pick them up!

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69 pts!

@ Kyoto food!

This is Nishiki food market. How smart of the hoomans to put 100 food shops in one place! People drop things all the time as they are leaving, and I get to pick which bits I like!

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10 pts!

@ A Kyoto home

Kyoto hoomans make homes from wood and paper. Paper is made of wood. Why not live in trees? Hoomans fill their homes with art. But the pictures show things I can see from my tree! Hoomans puzzle me. I’ve tried having a house myself. I hope you win it!

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14 pts!

@ Kyoto coffee

Whilst they are running around between houses and shops, hoomans like to get snacks. I know all about that because as soon as they see me, they throw me a morsel. This is a coffee shop. Nobody has thrown coffee at me, so I don’t know what it tastes like …

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64 pts!

@ My favorite kind of tree!

Hoomans hold hanami feasts under Sakura trees. So I perch in the branches and chirrup happily, and then they drop me some food, and I eat it, and then I go back in the tree and chirrup some more … how could a bird be happier? Sing, eat … sing, eat!

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61 pts!

@ Peaceful Kyoto

Hoomans are always changing the landscape to make it look the way they want it to. As a bird, I like the landscape the way it is. But sometimes the hoomans get it so right, even I like what they have done!

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15 pts!

@ Katsura, Kyoto

When it gets really hot, I like to go down to the Katsura River, where I can dip my toes in the cool water. I don’t like swimming, but nothing cools me down quicker than all six toes in the river!

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12 pts!

@ Bamboo curtain

Bamboo is much loved in Kyoto. When the hoomans make a grove out of it, it looks really spectacular!

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12 pts!

@ Stepping stones and carp

This is a shrine the hoomans made, with a pool full of carp. I don’t eat fish (unlike my uncle Kaito), but I like hopping on the stepping-stones to see them. I saw Flounder here once … just after Joy was elected and he wanted somewhere far off to sulk in!

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13 pts!

@ Japanese garden

Japanese people think gardens are a place to relax and meditate. I don’t know what they think about, but I like to turn up and sing to them. Whatever it is they’re doing, they seem to like bird song while they’re doing it!

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11 pts!

@ Kyoto shrine

This is a very serious garden called a temple. I don't think I am supposed to sing here, and mother said it is very rude to perch on the railings. Especially if you do what birds do when they perch ...

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11 pts!

@ Kyoto art

Hoomans create some wonderful art. I don't know where those eight foot high mushrooms grow, or the three foot high butterflies. But it all looks very tranquil!

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11 pts!

@ Kyoto parasol

Hoomans in Kyoto love wagasa. Sometimes they are painted with cranes or cherry blossom. Red ones ward off evil spirits. Purple is for long life. White ones are used at funerals. I don’t know what yellow ones mean, but a little yellow one would be just right for me!

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14 pts!

@ The Kyoto area

North-east of Kyoto is a village called Shirakawa, where my uncle Kaito lives. Some of the farmhouses are 250 years old. The roofs are made without nails and withstand heavy snows. Some houses have silkworms in the attic, but Kaito hasn’t been able to get in and eat any!

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12 pts!

@ Tango-hanto sunset

At the end of a lovely day, I like to fly out of the city and watch the sunset. This place is called Tango-hanto. You get a wonderful view once you're out of the city, or flying high above it.

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11 pts!

@ Tango-hanto coastline

You liked that view? Just travel two hours north of Kyoto to the Tango-hanto Peninsula. There are onsen (hot springs) and wonder­ful coastal scenery. There are sandy beaches with rocky capes, little farms, forests and mountains, joined by narrow, winding roads.

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14 pts!

@ Kyoto culture

Now night has fallen, let's go back to the city and take a look at the lights. These are decorative temple lamps.

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@Late night food in Kyoto

You're hungry after a long day? This is a traditional Japan­ese restaurant, made of bamboo. I don't eat fish, so you can have the sushi!

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@Goodbye, Kyoto

I started with a dream of Kyoto as it once was. This is a dream of Kyoto as it now is. I'm Deedee. Kyoto is my favorite place, and I hope you come back again soon!

Betsy has enjoyed visting Kyoto, but it is time to go home. Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy this event!