Circles

So here we are, the final entry to a 7 month journey. Me, overloaded with gifts and possessions from Japan, such an odd log entry to be writing. The cusp between journeys, completions, and new beginnings.

My last week in Japan was perfection. Beautiful, touching, full of love and strong connections.

Japan, for all the so very sad things that have [and are currently] affecting it; is a country with a generous and deeply loving people.

The Sakura, known in the west as 'Cherry blossoms' are magical. Pure white, purple and pink explosions of marsh-mellow waves, a sea of perpetual rolling petal flowers.

I left right at the start of the climax; only in the last 2 days did some of the trees finally bloom at 100%.

My previous camera is really messed up, but may retain good artistic value [it scrambles images in an interesting fashion after the umpteeth concrete-connection].

A few days ago, after several days of debating my funds, I opted to buy a new SLR Nikon camera, its quite a professional gadget - complete with a trip pod for night photography. I'm ecstatic and shooting like the best Japanese!

In the house I was staying, Arthur, Raymonds brother, is someone I connected with effortlessly, a like minded soul, an outdoor oil painter by trade. We spent many nights talking into the wee hours of the morning, he's even a palm reader! [it turns out I have a double heart line...?]. I will miss him.

And many other people... I can't even begin to describe the love that was felt and openly exchanged between Manami, Discesuke and myself. It's very painful to think I will now be so far from them... my dear Tamagashi [hehe].

It was sad saying goodbye to them, and earlier in the week: to Kyoko, Ayumi and Keiko... 3 more dear special japanese friends I met in Tokyo and Nagoya.

It's been such an interesting experience because at first, I really could not relax here, and enjoy my time, and by the end of my stay, I'm so sad to be leaving. Kyoto is the place to be, I'm glad I stayed in this area for nearly 2 weeks.

The people work in Japan too hard, they toil for years and yet between it all they still shine true... like the barren Sakura do: after months of barren coldness and concrete enclosement: the unfold, open and shed their diamond tears of joy.

I'm excited to be going back to Holland, and seeing all my friends again, my mother, the beautiful canals, speaking Dutch and seeing everything again for the first time with new eyes.

This month will be practical in many regards, there is the potential of work [old clients already knocking! geesh!]; and taxes to deal with... and between all that questions about where I shall sleep/work, and my important personal projects to complete.

I'm going to keep up my blog, for what it is worth, as it would seem a shame to stop writing now that I have established good discipline.

Time will determine what words shall these become...

With love,

Sebastian.