We often talk about time as if it is real, yet according to Albert Einstein and many scientists, time is only an illusion. Time is subjective and personal, and everyone has their own concept of time. In Zen Buddhism, the founder of Soto Zen, Dogen Zenji (1200–1253), also wrote about time [...]

Kasumiga Pond
 
Kenrokuen is considered one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens alongside Mito's Kairakuen and Okayama's Korakuen. Located in central Kanazawa, the once-private garden covers an area of 11 hectares (almost 25 acres) next to Kanazawa Castle. The original garden named Renchitei is said to have been created by the 5th [...]

Sunny and warm afternoon at Nara park
 
My trip began in Osaka, though I barely spent any time there except for the evenings. My good friend has recently moved to Sendai (we originally met in London) flew over to Osaka to meet me before I continued on with my journey. And I [...]

 
"The Peach Blossom Land" was a Chinese fable written by poet Tao Yuanming in 421 CE about a fisherman's discovery of a hidden valley - an ethereal utopia where contented people lead an ideal existence in harmony with nature, unaware of the outside world for centuries. It is similar to the mystical and [...]

 
The usually tranquil Philosopher's path was full of tourists with selfie sticks during the cherry blossom period
 
I have been warned and I knew when I struggled to find accommodations three months before my trip, yet I still went to Kyoto during the sakura season. It was not my plan to visit [...]

 
Believe it or not, but you don't have to travel to Japan to view sakura/cherry blossom! These photos of sakura were taken in London's Swiss Cottage!
I wasn't aware that the Camden Council had planted rows of cherry trees between the Swiss Cottage Library/leisure Centre and Hampstead theatre, so I was slightly in [...]

The last days of cherry blossom in Tokyo's Shiba park
 
Due to all the traveling, I have been slacking on the blog writing lately. The next few entries will be on my trip to Japan last month...
This year, sakura/cherry blossom arrived in Tokyo at the end of March, as predicted by [...]