To amuse you with some photos that I took during the trip. Giving us a hint of where we have been and what we have seen.
I got up the bed everyday at 8 in the morning. Had my breakfast. Ready to go. Accompanied by tea and mochi every evening before bed I read and planned ahead what to do the next day though we had a very rough itinerary beforehand. 京番茶 and 黑糖蕨餅 are my favorite!
Like I said books and people and friends told me how I look at the country and the places. There is countless temples in the city of Kyoto but only 金勝寺 has put me in awe. If there is only one temple you make a pilgrimage in Kinki region (近畿) it must be it. Situated in 滋賀 竜王山 the old and vast cypress forest grabbed my attention first. Built during the 7th century its aged appearance and spiritual charm made me speechless with respect. 石塔寺, built during the 6th century by 聖徳太子, is another one worth a visit. I am so attracted to its unique and primitive character.
When I am having my trip to somewhere what really interest me is those little ordinary things and the nuts and bolts of the places. I try to go as far as I can. I am not going to write down everything I have done during the trip like where we stay, what we eat, what I have brought home because like all of the travel experience it got to be gone through by yourself and these vary depending on preference. However, there are a few books to share that is to sum up my spiritual appreciation during the trip. They are 1)白洲正子の世界『二十一世紀への橋掛り』 2)坂田和實『ひとりよがりのものさし』3)内田鋼一 『MADE IN JAPAN : Things as Just They Are』
What makes this trip different is that I have been wanting to get to know more about Japan - the culture, the people, the history for which I have great respect.
(to be continued ...)
* Please forgive my bad photography because I did not have a good camera and I never frame a shot for more than 2 seconds. If I do so that would remind me of work ... . So I look at the photos as documenting what we have seen. Our eyes will not beautify them but our hearts do.
