One of my most peaceful memories of traveling in Japan was walking up the Path of Philosophy (tetsugaku no michi) in Kyoto, the cultural heart of the country. My first walk was alone in early November 1999, when I took my first solo vacation from my full-time job in Japan. I got there just a week before the peak season for the autumn colors. I remember eating lunch at a pathside cafe watching the birds flying around. During that time, there were few people walking along the path. I felt quite lucky to have this tranquil stretch to myself.
The second time, I was accompanied with Jenevieve and we took along our video camera. Again it was autumn, but we were closer to the peak season that time. It would be Jenevieve's last vacation in Japan before heading back to Maryland to prepare our wedding.
The third time, I visited briefly during the peak season of the cherry blossoms. It looked just like the picture here. Unfortunately, I was suffering from eating bad oysters and could not enjoy the environment around me. I took pictures, but those pictures were lost in Korea. Nonetheless, the Path of Philosophy is one of the most special places in the world for me.
The second time, I was accompanied with Jenevieve and we took along our video camera. Again it was autumn, but we were closer to the peak season that time. It would be Jenevieve's last vacation in Japan before heading back to Maryland to prepare our wedding.
The third time, I visited briefly during the peak season of the cherry blossoms. It looked just like the picture here. Unfortunately, I was suffering from eating bad oysters and could not enjoy the environment around me. I took pictures, but those pictures were lost in Korea. Nonetheless, the Path of Philosophy is one of the most special places in the world for me.
