Ryoanji

This was my favorite place that we visited. I looked over my pictures, and I don`t think they do this place justice. Ryoanji is focused around a rock garden with 15 stones in the middle of raked gravel. The garden is arranged so that no matter where you sit you can never see all 15 - only 14 at a time. If you stand up, there are one or two places where you can see them all. As I sat on the wooden porch, I looked at the carefully arranged rocks, and the trees outside the walls that framed the garden. The sound of rain against the rocks added to the soothing atmosphere. It was one of the most peaceful places I can remember being. After I finished at the rock garden, I walked around the corner to a plant garden. The ground was covered with soft green moss, and the trees and bushes seemed just as carefully arranged as the rock garden. I was amazed at how green everything seemed. I could never find anything that green in Utah. Just like the other places in Kyoto, the air was fresh and clean. I think I was one of the last interns to finish going through Ryoanji. I wanted to stay longer, but I didn`t want to keep everyone waiting. I would love to go back there sometime when I don`t have any sort of time limit.

On a completely unrelated note, I thought the sign on the gate at the parking place was really funny: It is not possible to go through it. Really? I would never have guessed without that sign.