day 29, 11:12am, hunger

yesterday was a long day. it was raining. it wasn't heavy rain, just constant on and off rainy season rain.
first it would rain heavy enough that i'd need my poncho. then the rain would lighten up and then the pavement would steam. my poncho would turn in to a greenhouse and i would bake. finally, the rain would become an almost invisible drizzle and i would start to debate whether it would be worth stopping to take off the poncho, or whether i should wait for the next shower.

the rain stopped around 1pm. i made it to temple 58 at around 6:00pm. the temple was closed for the evening but i had called ahead to ask if i could use their tsuyado.

and who was at the same tsuyado last night? \3M obosan! i just can't escape him. i'll just have to accept that i'll be seeing a lot more of him over the rest of the trip. it could be worse. he's much friendlier and cleaner than some other henro i've met.

temple 58, senyuji, was a nice temple and the seemed sincere in their religious study. some temples appear to be nothing more than glorified tourist traps.
the staff at the temple invited me to attend today's morning service. i was interested in having a look plus i wanted to be polite since stayed at their tsuyado.
it was interesting. there was chanting, praying, and offerings. basically it was religion, but with decorations that i'm not used to.

well, i just left temple 59 and i'm heading to temple 60, the second last big mountain. i don't think i'll make it today. i'll probably stay at a rest hut at the base of the mountain tonight.

later,