Rant - Blogabond

Chico, United States

I am in Chico, CA, surrounded by material I should be studying. Instead of studying for finals, however, I am preparing for my semester abroad. Though I'm not to leave for 92 days, I am making lists and more lists and doing everything I can to keep myself thinking about the trip, mainly because I can't keep my mind off of it so I might as well be productive while I'm at it.
Today I took steps to secure a storage space for my furniture and other belongings while I'm away and for the first time really contemplated my room as someone else's room. And fully realized how without a paddle I am when it comes to where I'll live when I come back. I'm sure it will work itself out, and there's still a chance I'll live with these girls another year. Without a plan, though, I can't help but obsess. Yay worry.
In the meantime I do have other things to do like pack and chase down luggage and get a student visa and learn some Czech.
We'll see how this goes.
I can't wait to be there already!

Kyoto, Japan

Torii@Ninna-ji

I have been going around quite a lot now, visiting temples, shrines, pavilions and castles and I have to say the clear winners are the shrines for me.
True, temples often have astonishing and really massive gates and halls and beautiful screen paintings and of course exploring a castle has its own thrill, but in the end I am just more interested in finding a small shrine somewhere amidst lots of greenery, moss growing everywhere and few to no other visitors around. It is there that I can feel really at peace and like I can esteem the beauty surrounding me. The same with gardens, the great and well visited Heian shrine itself was less interesting for me than the gardens surrounding it.
Seems like I am more of a nature-type than expected.

That is of course only my personal view and temple-hopping is fine as well, I just want everyone to consider visiting some off-the-beaten-path shrines if the chance arises.

So long and stay tuned,
JuergenS

written by

JuergenS on July 26, 2010 from Kyoto, Japan

from the travel blog: Two month of Japan

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Welcome to my travel journal.

Chico, United States

About temples, shrines, pavilions and castles

Kyoto, Japan

Heading South?