Hey friends,
I spent the last 2 weeks traveling through the land of the rising sun.
As everything does - my journey through Japan has come to an end.
Here are the top 3 moments from my trip, and the lessons they taught me.
đź—» Mt. Fuji
Grey clouds lined the skies of Tokyo. A cool wind had blown in overnight.
Not the weather you want for an 8-hour bus tour to Mt. Fuji (Japan’s largest mountain).
A quick google search told us that we weren't likely to see one of Japan's major attractions (due to cloud cover).
Discouraged, we decided to leave it up to chance.
“Heads we go on the tour, tails we don’t.”
I ruffled through my bag of coins and pulled out a ￥500 piece (Yen is Japan’s currency).
A large golden coin, inscribed with veins of silver.
I set the coin on my thumb and tossed it into the air.
Landing with a soft thud, the coin revealed three golden leaves.
Heads.
Our fate was decided.
A day that started as a “maybe” became one of my life's most memorable experiences.
Sometimes luck is part of the equation that you can’t control.
Create your own luck by being open to new experiences.
🌿 Tenryu-ji Temple
We woke up in a haze and made our way to the Kyoto bamboo forest.
(We may have had too much sake the night before).
Halfway through the forest, we stumbled upon a small garden - concealed by dark wooden planks.
The group debated going in. I was personally against it - my head was still pounding and all I wanted to do was get back in bed.
We entered the temple garden and strolled along the gravel paths until we rounded a corner.
That’s when I laid eyes upon one of the most beautiful places I had ever been to.
Trees of green surrounded a bank of moss-covered rocks. In the center, sat a still pond, reflecting the distant mountains.
My heart flooded with regret, at my lack of presence for the day.
So, this is a quick reminder to be aware of the beauty around you - as often as possible.
You don’t have to travel miles to be in the presence of something beautiful.
Find the beauty in your everyday life - or spawn beauty yourself.
(The pictures here don’t do it justice)
🎏 Group Travel
Solo travel is a great way to grow individually - but relationships are what make life great.
I was able to travel to Japan with 11 other people, allowing for a mix of groups and experiences.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
These last 4 weeks of traveling, have been a great opportunity to create new relationships and strengthen old ones.
But remember, you don’t need to travel to have this experience, it is available to you at all times.
Make a daily effort to love those around you.
📸 Idea of the Week
I used to clown my momma for taking so many pictures on vacation.
It turns out, she knew what she was doing - per usual.
On this trip, I decided to take a page from her book and take pictures of everything.
Maps, flowers, dogs, etc. - I got it all.
Capture memories as often as you can - just don’t let it impair you from the present moment.
Heading back to America as we speak.
Glad to be back home - with new friends & new memories.
Have a great weekend,
-Rocky “500 Yen” Ferony