Kyoto

I have one day left to be part of the life of Kyoto. Yesterday, as with most days, I walked a lot but without any real plan. I’ve done the things here that I wanted to do. There are many more places to see that I will not see, but only because I chose not to see them. I don’t know what I’ll do today, meaning that I had plenty of time and more than I needed. No regrets, though. This beautiful city needed all the time I gave it and I’m satisfied, if tired. That is not Kyotos’ fault. Two months of traveling has about worn me out.

The challenges I figured to face were as much as I thought they might be – the food issues and the language difficulties. Still, I found my way along, and adapted pretty well. I came here to see and experience Japan, not so much to experience the cuisine or learn the language. The thing is that the food and language issues were barely separable. Not being able to communicate my allergy requirements meant that, after a couple of weeks, I gave up trying. I like to think it was a way of being kind to my hosts who, it was very clear, were doing their best and didn’t wish to make me sick or worse.

I’ve had two months of trains, buses, hotels, bikes, walking, and making plans for each day. I’ve been lost more times than I can remember. I’ve gotten by with such bits of charm that I possess – smiles, bows. Politeness always works.

I’ve run up against my dark companions of a lifetime that show themselves more often than I like to admit. Since they’ve come up too frequently, I’ve been paying them more attention than when they pop up less often. They are my challenging dharma gates that I’m being called to enter. I will enter them! I vow it!

I talk to myself all the time and find it best to have humor with my foibles and my lack of common sense, or failure to follow my good sense when it tries its best to help me along.

This intensive travel brings out many qualities, good and not so much so. I will continue to reflect on these things in the days and months to come.

As for Kyoto? I will remember this city, not as I had imagined it, but as it is, like me, possessed of age and bits of wisdom, grace, beauty, and some madness here and there.

Of the things I will remember most, it might be turtle walking on the Kamo River. I walked all three versions of those turtles yesterday and I may do the same today. As I do, I shall speak with my turtle friends and our dragon allies, of coming to the realization of my true self and, in so doing, help all to cross over to the other shore.