Around Kyoto, somewhere on Hiei mountain.. 

I suddenly remember several little sketches I made around Nara and Kyoto. In particular the day where we borrowed the funicular to climb up at the top of Hiei mountain facing Kyoto valley. We've taken a bento break, sat on several tree roots. Denys has brought some French cakes - nice to eat ! At the end of the meal, Kyoto's side has offered us a beautiful view. We were at the same height as dark clouds which covered the valley. Sometimes the sun took opportunity of cloud holes to throw its rays through them as arrows of light! At this precise instant, clouds turned to a very dark grey increasing the beauty of the natural but ephemeral picture in front of our eyes.

A short while after, on our way back, clouds moved rapidly, and as a little rain was falling down, we have saw the birth of a rainbow. Just the time to take a picture and we were asked to restart the walking in order to reach Sanzen In temple (three thousand lanterns) in Ohara before sunset.

During the walking, climbing down the hill, we have saw a small piece, at the horizon, of the large lake called Biwa lake. Afterwards, steps became more and more hazardeous, sometimes very high, sometimes earth was very sliding. The old trees and stones covered by moss and lichens, small bamboos and tree fern made a nice green carpet. I was captivated several times by well singular things. 

Old trees - certainly died since a long time - with some spots of moss, strange shaped aerial roots, perhaps some flowers also and.. a baby tree which has found a kind of nest inside it. This simple event revealed me, somewhere, the heart of Japan: Energy and Serenity.

Energy, because every thing, everybody is active and spends a lot of energy to make life better. Their philosophy without judging other bad, just to follow rules (perhaps too much, I don't know). And their Serenity, being nice, being quiet, being gentle, being open to other, to the future. Simply being. 

Think, think and think again.

A couple of days after, we met Dave, an English guy who retired in Japan since thirty years. He found this subject interesting and exciting. We shared several minutes as much as we could. Anyway I realised how much that could make sense. Down from his pretty house, he shown us a similar case. Over the little river, an old piece of wood presented a hole twenty centimeters wide. Do you guess what happens there ? A young tree has simply found here a place to grow. Dave seemed very impressed with our discussion and told us he will moved it to a nicest and prosperous place to give it a second chance..

I remember from time to time his words, I could say his quote : "remember at each corner, there is something interesting to observe, you know ! So start sketching.. now?"

Back to a ryokan - I don't remember which one - I sketched again an old tree with a baby tree at the top.. as a champion on a podium! I used a local paper based on mulberry tree fiber and dark ink. The idea was to use the help of Gerard to bring it to him. And here it is. By the words of Gerard, Dave has appreciated it. Not only the present but also the thought we might have to him. In January, what a surprise when we received a couple of postcards from Dave...

A piece of paper, a pencil, a sketch and words come. That's also a way to communicate. A way directly coming from the heart. A way which does not ly. It represents the essential of what you think and what you are able to reproduce and draw out at that time. Or even sublimating what you see. A second time is never the same. The first time you draw something, it is with a new eye. You observe with new eyes. It is not a copy, it is not a photograph. It is an expression. Our own expression.

Enjoy it! and don't forget: energy and serenity..