Baseball for beginners!

Baseball is a complex game and as I was told tough for a person to learn unless followed for the entire live. Nevertheless, for the beginner these quick rules can help to understand a game.

A baseball game is played by two teams who alternate between offense and defense. There are nine players on each side. The goal is to score more runs than the opponent (one circuit = four bases).

The Equipment

The Positions
There's a pitcher in the middle of the mound who initiates the action by throwing the ball toward home plate. The catcher catches the ball if it's not hit. 

The infielders are the first baseman, second baseman, shortstop (between second and third base) and the third baseman. There are three outfielders: The left fielder, center fielder and right fielder.

The Game
There are nine rounds in professional baseball games and each round is divided in half. One turn for one team and one turn for another.

Each team gets three outs (three batters leave the field if they do not make it to a base in time ~ the ball comes back to a base before a batter/runner does) in each half of the round.

On Offense
Each team has nine players in its batting order, and they must stick to that order throughout the game. A play begins with a batter waiting to hit a pitch from the pitcher. If the batter hits the ball into the field of play, the batter runs to first base and can run to as many bases as he or she deems fit without getting "out."

A batter gets three strikes (a swing and a miss or a ball over the plate in what's deemed the “strike zone” by an umpire) or he or she is out. If there are four balls (a pitch that is not in the “strike zone”), the batter is automatically allowed to go to first base.

When a batter begins running, he or she is then referred to as a "runner". Runners attempt to reach a base, where they are "safe" and can remain on the base until the next hitter comes up. The defensive players attempt to prevent this by putting the runners out using the ball; runners put out must leave the field.

A batter gets a "hit" when he or she reaches a base without getting out, or forcing another runner to get out (and without the defense making an error). Runs are scored when a player completes a circuit of the diamond before there are three outs in the inning.

If a players hits the ball over the outfield fence in fair territory (between the foul lines), it's a home run, and the batter can circle all four bases.

On Defense
There are many ways that the team on defense can get an offensive player out. Four common ways are:

1. Strikeouts (hitter misses three pitches)
2. Force outs (when, after the ball is hit, the defensive player with the ball reaches a base before the runner)
3. Fly outs (when a player hits the ball in the air and it's caught by a defensive player before the ball hits the ground)
4. Tag outs (when a runner is touched with the ball, or a glove with the ball in it)

Kyoto sightseeing DAY 1

14th July marks the first serious sightseeing session in Kyoto!
1. 永観堂 (Eikandō) formally known as Zenrinji Temple, belongs to the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism. It is the most popular in autumn due to its beautiful colours, but even during this season it was more than beautiful:

2. Nanzen-ji Temple and Nanzen-in Garden. 

In 1264, Emperor Kameyama built a place here. He believed deeply in Zen Buddihsm and changed the place into a temple in 1291. thus was Nanzen-ji Temple founded. A part of the palace garden still remains. the garden, constructed at the end of the Kamakura era, is a typical landscape garden with large ponds and lanes for strolling. It is serenely surrounded by woods and has been designated as one of the three scenic, historical gardens in Kyoto. This garden should be appreciated with calm mind:

3. 平安神宮 (The Heian Shrine) is a Shinto shrine. It is ranked as a Beppyou Jinja (The top rank for Shrines) by the Association of Shinto Shrines. It is listed as an important cultural property of Japan. The Japanese-style garden takes up about half the land area:

4. 銀閣寺 (Ginkaku-ji), the "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," is a Zen temple. It is one of the constructions that represent the Higashiyama Culture of Muromachi period. The official name is 慈照寺 (Jishō-ji) or the "Temple of Shining Mercy." The temple is today associated with the Shokoku-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. The two-storied 観音殿 (Kannon hall), is the main temple structure. Its construction began February 21, 1482. The structure's design sought to emulate the golden Kinkaku-ji. It is popularly known as Ginkaku, the "Silver Pavilion" because of the initial plans to cover its exterior in silver foil.

As everywhere around the world, also here people indicate their hopes of coming back by throwing money into a pond:

5. Yoshidai-jinja. As much as I would love to tell you more about this Shrine, I got there quite randomly. I asked a lady on the street what kind of Shrine it was and she only answered that contrary to any other it is believed that many different Gods live there in a harmony:

6. 下鴨神社 (Shimogamo-jinja) in Japanese, is the common name of an important Shinto sanctuary in the Shimogamo district of Kyoto. It is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The term Kamo-jinja in Japanese is a general reference to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine (next point), the traditionally linked Kamo shrines of Kyoto; Shimogamo is the older of the pair, being believed to be 100 years older than Kamigamo, and dating to the 6th century, centuries before Kyoto became the capital of Japan. The Kamo-jinja serve the function of protecting Kyoto from malign influences.

In my opinion one of the nicest Shrines that I have seen so far!

6. 上賀茂神社 (Kamigamo Jinja), although it is uncertain in what year this shrine was established, after the founding of the Heian-kyo capital, Kamowakeikazuchi - jinja shrine attracted worshippers from the Imperial Court as a guardian shrine. The Main Shrine building (Honden) and the Associate Shrine building (Gonden), both National Treasures, are built in the style of Heian Period architecture. In addition are 34 other buildings, all designated as Important Cultural Properties. In ancient times Kamowakeikazuchi jinja was known as the family shrine of the powerful Kamo clan of Yamashiro. This shrine, together with Kamomioya Shrine (Shimogamo Shrine), is also known simply as Kamo Shrine. A stream runs through the precincts, which contain ancient trees. Two tatezuna (sand delta cones) in front of the hosodono building contribute to an atmosphere of mystical and ancient purity as the place where the deity descends.

Unfortunately, the Shrine was closed for visitors and I was not allowed to enter and take photos. Instead they had the Art Exhibition on a field leading to the Shrine: