Day 11: Kyoto
8 November 2006
Today, we planned to have a short day then go to our Maiko Night tour, where we will see a maiko-san dance. We went breakfast at Starbucks and then went to Toji Temple near our hotel. The Toji Temple has a 5-storied pagoda. So, we spent about an hour exploring the place since we had to pay Y500 to get in each person.
After Toji, we went back to the hotel to get on the net and get our Maiko tour voucher. Then we had lunch and walked a bit around the mall. At about 3:30pm, we went back to the hotel to have a rest and then had shower. My mom thought the tour started at 6:50pm so I took a nap. At about 5:50pm, I picked up the voucher and saw the pick up time was 1650pm!!!! My heart sank! I said “It’s 1650, 4:50pm, mom!”
By that time, it was too late. We raced to the pick up point and the conceirge phoned our tour guide and then rushed us into a taxi. It took us to a restaurant. When we got there, it was 6:30pm already. The tour guide told us the dance was over but we could have our dinner as planned. I told her I didn’t mind missing the dinner, that maybe we could rearrange another dance another night. She told me it wasn’t possible as tonight was the last night until the next season. My heart sank even further.
I was so upset, no word could describe how I felt then. I didn’t want to blame my mom because she already felt bad about it. So, I went outside, sat on the roadside and my tears started to roll down my face. I was just so upset. I missed this dance that I had looked forward to for over six months. The tour guide tried to console me saying that she would try to get the Maiko-san to sit with me and take picture with me. I said that the most important thing I looked forward to was the dance. That was when my tears just couldn’t hold back. The tour guide went in and told the Maiko-san that I was upset and the Maiko-san was so kind to dance once more just for me.
I felt happy but embarrassed at the same time. I didn’t want to cause trouble but I was really devastated that because of my mom’s blunder, I would miss a performance I had waited for 20 years to see. The maiko-san was only a 18 year-old girl. I guess she could understand why I was upset. I guess it could also be since it would be the last performance of the year. So, at the end, I saw the Maiko dance for the first time. My mom was happy too. I didn’t know how to show my gratitude to the young Maiko-san.
