A Walk in the Park

Today, I dashed out in the early morning and found myself feeling a bit down at the return of the cold weather.  True that this often does not stop the activities of the day, but it is a bit of a downer sometimes, this kind of chilly weather.   On colder days, I sometimes think of the many many other places I would rather be (although the lands of sun and sand were never meant for me).  So, I thought of Japan just a few months ago, which was about the same temperature, but was altogether much more different.

Along with two great friends of mine, I was taking a stroll in the Shinjuku Gyoen, once known as the National Park Shinjuku Imperial Gardens. A bit of a long name, the original. Anyway, whenever I happen to be in Tokyo, I do not immerse myself in the cacaphony of the city but rather avoid that like the plague that it is.  Instead, I opt for finding quite remote spots in which one can catch one's breath.  Quite often, to do so requires actually being in the vicinity of noise, but very easily, once one is in an environment such as the Shinjuku Gyoen, all the material and aural nonsense that encompasses the city disappears.

A moment or more of contemplation.

No trace of the Tokyo that is beloved by outsiders.

A very lovely feeling, but it was bittersweet as almost immediately after these photos were taken, I was on a plane back to New York City.