The second half of the trip was with Brandon. Through him, I met a new friend, Marin as well. Prior to that though, Brandon and I spent a day roaming around Kyoto, particularly the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Nijo Castle.
The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest has no doubt been on my bucket list. It was so surreal finally being there itself. Yes, there were tons of tourists because we had a rather late start, but that did not dampen the mood nor take away the beauty of the place. I have to admit that it was places like these that make me choose to travel to Osaka rather than Tokyo, and I have to say it was really worth it.
It was out second day of Kyoto when Marin joined us. Bringing us to tourist spots and good sushi, she embodied the reason why it is good to have a local friend to show you around (similar to Yumi!). She was also present to introduced good ramen to us at Nara the following day.
I have to put it out that by the halfway mark of the trip, I have already fallen in love with where I was staying. It was so peaceful and quiet, it kind of reminded me of Tasmania, and oh how I miss Tassie. That being said, the last full day, being the day we travelled to Nara, was the hardest. It was so painful to leave Tamatsukuri, but it is through this that made me certain that I will be back. Heck, even if I stay somewhere else in the future, I will probably still take a train ride to Tamatsukuri just for a coffee or whatever. It has already become a hot spot for me.
That doesn’t take away the pain of leaving that area and my holiday. Until now I still think of Japan and the places I have been to, both the places I went when I was travelling solo and the places Brandon dragged me along to (yes, that mountain in Nara). I would give up three quarters of my savings to relive these moments and soak them all in again. I still look back at the pictures and videos, but nothing beats being there itself, breathing the cool air and gazing at the sights with your own two eyes.
Phenomenology, that’s what it is.
Pictures from phone:
Pictures from DSLR
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