Sayonara 2007…

December 22, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized 

Staying at a machiya in the middle of Gion, Kyoto for two weeks from today - Mount Ibuki and Odaigahara are on the list of climbs while I’m down here…

The gods either have power or they have not. If they have not, why pray to them? If they have, then instead of praying to be granted or spared such-and-such a thing, why not rather pray to be delivered from dreading it, or lusting for it, or grieving over it?

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (Chapter 9, verse 40)

Comments

4 Responses to “Sayonara 2007…”

  1. Amanda on December 28th, 2007 5:06 am

    I came across your blog for the first time today. Your writing is bloody brilliant and the photos are stunning. I’ve been knocking around in Kyushu’s few mountains for far too long - you’ve inspired me; I’m definitely going to make my way to the Alps someone in the new year. As of tomorrow, off to Yakushima and as many of its mountains as I can climb in 5 days…

    Keep up the awesome work, matey!

  2. cjw on December 28th, 2007 11:30 am

    Thank you @Amanda - I’m really pleased you like the blog and I’m thrilled that it’s inspired you to get into the Alps. They are stunningly beautiful. Just be careful up there! If you need any info feel free to drop me an email - cjw *at* i-cjw.com.

    Yakushima is great. I haven’t climbed over the top, but I did spend a couple of days there in 2001 checking out the waterfalls and the primeval forest. And the umi-no-onsen on the west side of the island - just remember to take a towel :-) Have a great time!

  3. Nigel on May 3rd, 2008 12:27 pm

    Great website Chris.

    Staying at a machiya in Kyoto over new year sounds like a great idea. Do you know a good one?

  4. cjw on May 6th, 2008 12:35 pm

    Hi Nigel, and thanks! We stayed in Gion - the details can be found at http://www.vrbo.com/105505. It’s a great location and I would recommend it, but the one thing to remember is that you are staying in an old Japanese house - which means it is cold in the winter (and probably very hot in summer). I know Alex Kerr runs a number of them as well. If you google his name and machiya then you should get some hits. Let me know if you need any more info - cjw at i-cjw.com

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