Turning Japanese Episode 1

I was a bit hesitant to do this post as it could be construed as a rehashing of old vacation photos. Well, I guess it is, but let's try to look at it as something else - the exploration of the aesthetic contributions of another culture. Anyway, we could all use a little Zen these days.

While touring Oregon this summer, we had the opportunity to visit the Portland Japanese Garden, “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan” per His Excellency Nobua Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States. Yes, that's a mouthful and yes, I totally pulled it from their website.

I started culling the photos taken that day and found so many images that I wanted to share - this is going to have to be a 3 part mini-series.

Episode 1.

Yours truly at the start of our tour, The pack holds a selection of iPhone lenses... seriously.

The approach to the Cultural Village is quite dramatic with glass balustraded walkways and stairs. Note the moss covered roofs of the Pavilions. 

Zen Garden through a fisheye lens.

Oh, the serenity!  Feeling calmer?

The requisite Koi. I only added this to fuel Andrew's fish phobia.

Three little...uh, two little maids... visitors, NOT actors.

Moss lawn and stone wall... perfection.

Up the steps....

Down the steps.

We'll rest here for now and center ourselves.

To learn more about the Portland Japanese Garden, visit https://japanesegarden.org/