Getting Philosophical

One week ago there was snow, and today it is like summer. The locals think it's crazy too. But crazy works in our favour today, as the cherry blossoms are a good week early and Kyoto's Path of Philosophy is one of the prime cherry blossom sighting locations. 

Known as the Tetsugaku-no-Michi in Japanese, this mile-long path that follows a small, fast running stream, got its name from a 20th century philosopher named Nishida Kitaro, who apparently wandered lonely as a cloud along here until he became lost in thought. The rest of us don't have time to get lost in thought for we would bump into any one of hundreds of other would-be philosophers.

photographers

what they are photographing

Houses and cafes line the path which lines the stream and very patient drivers cross at small bridges as mooning couples and gormless tourists stop and take endless photos of themselves and the scenery. There are geishas and tourists dressed as geishas (for a hefty rental fee) and Japanese girls and boys who also pay to dress up. Older ladies put on their kimonos too, and its lovely to see everyone sauntering along just because a certain species of tree has decided its that time of year again. It's enough to make you think. And ponder. And wax lyrical. Or just to meander.