Enlightenment

Christmas was spent in Kyoto which is as close to perfect as it gets for Kyoto is the Japan of my imagination. Naturally my imagination is heavily influenced by Memoirs of a Geisha (the book, not the movie.. tsk).. so as we were strolling down a quaint cobblestone lane which followed a stream on one side and was lined by discrete japanese inns on the other, i spied a Geisha (whom are notorious for flitting on the peripheries of ones vision like a shimmery unicorn.. you know they exist, its just hard to prove) and quickened pace to catch up.. but amongst other things, Gieshas are trained in the art of evasion so i can only conclude that when she saw me she morphed into just another kimono clad person.

pagodas are at the end of every lane! not really.

fushimi inari.. hundreds upon hundreds of tori gates wind their way up the mountain

It truly is stunning and though i realise that my Japan exposure is still very limited, im gonna go ahead and say ..if there is anywhere in Japan where zen can be attained, its Kyoto. Interestingly, during the war, the decision was made to leave Kyoto untouched due to its cultural and historic significance.. so many of the temples and shrines remain not only standing but well groomed and packaged with a bow.