One of my favorite aspects of life so far is that my scientific work has always enabled me to travel, sometimes to faraway places.
Whenever possible, I always tag on some extra days to discover and "feel" a place before the work schedule kicks in, not to mention to take some photographs at my own pace while I'm alone in a city.
The time my work took me to Hiroshima, I had never been to Japan. I had never felt so
acutely aware of how much our eyes read, in a day, until I couldn't read most of what my eyes landed on. I had never felt, right upon arrival, that the light of a place was so different from the light I knew. I had never visited so many beautiful and tranquil temples, had never truly enjoyed sake or tasted such delicious sushi. I learned more about the atomic bomb and its devastation than reading about it could ever show you. I had never experienced such awe at local markets or department stores, especially right when they open, when you are greeted almost ceremoniously. All the locals I met were so gracious, kind and classy individuals - I struggled to remember another place I had felt so comfortable visiting while travelling on my own.
Whenever possible, I always tag on some extra days to discover and "feel" a place before the work schedule kicks in, not to mention to take some photographs at my own pace while I'm alone in a city.
The time my work took me to Hiroshima, I had never been to Japan. I had never felt so
acutely aware of how much our eyes read, in a day, until I couldn't read most of what my eyes landed on. I had never felt, right upon arrival, that the light of a place was so different from the light I knew. I had never visited so many beautiful and tranquil temples, had never truly enjoyed sake or tasted such delicious sushi. I learned more about the atomic bomb and its devastation than reading about it could ever show you. I had never experienced such awe at local markets or department stores, especially right when they open, when you are greeted almost ceremoniously. All the locals I met were so gracious, kind and classy individuals - I struggled to remember another place I had felt so comfortable visiting while travelling on my own.
 |  |
 |  |
The first few hours in a place are always special - that fleeting feeling of novelty, excitement, maybe even mild anxiety when your surroundings are very different than what you are accustomed to - for me, those first impressions get crystallized in photographs and journal entries. Even once I get to know a city well, it suffices to look back on those first hours to feel all those butterflies that come with landing at a new destination.
The more I explored, the more I appreciated the culture, the architecture and local life.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
I was in Hiroshima and surroundings only briefly. I know that I would love to return to Japan and truly devote time to discover many more of its places and cultural experiences.
Until I return again...
Until I return again...
Shop this post:
The Japan collection currently includes Deity | Red Light | Sacred Sake | Wait for me | Itsukushima
Pockets of peace | New life in Hiroshima | Seto Sea & Sky| Miyajima | Koto | (Im)perfection | Temple Guardian, each one on paper, canvas, wood, acrylic or metal.
Pockets of peace | New life in Hiroshima | Seto Sea & Sky| Miyajima | Koto | (Im)perfection | Temple Guardian, each one on paper, canvas, wood, acrylic or metal.
Click to buy the "Japan Six" collection from my Etsy shop!
You may also like:
 |  |  |
RSS Feed