Lost in Kyoto
JAPAN | Saturday, 23 May 2015 | Views [253] | Scholarship Entry
"Kyoto is for temple hopping." That’s what all the guidebooks told me.
I grew up in Asia- I had seen them all. The prospect spending my holiday to visiting even more temples didn't particularly arouse me. It’s probably how the French would feel if they were to go on a cheese-tasting tour in Germany. But I decided to go- because it’s Kyoto- it’s rude not to.
I traveled down to Kyoto from its northerly neighbor:Tokyo. I had some doubt of my solo travel abilities here given my limited Japanese, but Tokyo banished it all: the city itself is so well designed, the closest one can get to being ‘lost’ is to get dizzy between metro stops.
Kyoto, however, is a different story. The city is small, but it's not designed for a nervous bus traveler like me. Kyoto station is like a gigantic maze: when I found the exit to the right bus stop, twilight had stolen the city. Hovered under the dusky sky, Kyoto unveiled- buzzing commercial streets and department stores- not the ‘temple-hopping’ town that I’d pictured.
After settling in, I ventured into the old town to uncover a piece of the Kyoto charm. My destination: Gion- the famous district where Geishas have their secret liaisons and Izakayas light up paper lanterns well into the depth of the night.
But it wasn’t long before I got entangled in the Kyoto web- weaved with narrow alleyways decorated with manicured bonsai greens and temple gates. Then, I spotted her- a Japanese lady around 4 feet tall: her kimono impeccable, her steps swift yet steady. As she walked towards me, I looked away, fearing that I might arouse the slightest suspicion of staring. My paper map became convenient as I propped it up to hide my face.
‘Are you lost?’ I heard a soft voice. I looked down and saw the very lady with whom I was trying to avoid eye contact. By now she was by my side, and the only person feeling awkward was me- the ‘normal’ one. ‘Gion,’ I nearly stuttered.‘Gion is close.’ She pointed for me. ‘if you don’t feel like walking, there’s a bus that will take you there.
I thanked her, bowed deeply like a local, and stood there for a long while, reflecting. There is something about this town: its serenity, its unassuming, confident and grounded elegance. That elegance is something I used to know but lost on the way- somewhere in the big cities of our times.. I had come to Kyoto to see the temples, but I realized something right there and then: a journey to Kyoto was never about getting lost amongst the temples, but being found
Tags: 2015 Writing Scholarship
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