A Special Place

Hi Blogheads,

Today I'd like to write about a special place. I think i'd describe a special place as somewhere were you feel at peace with the world just by being there. I've been lucky enough to feel this way on numerous occasions (don't forget I'm much older than you) - eating bread and cheese for lunch on a precipice in the Pyrenees with friends after a 6-hour hike, a sunset on the big dune in La Valle de la Luna, Sunrise on the path between Aguas Calientes and Machu Fichu, lunch with seagulls on a beach in Abel Tasman, New Zealand. I have special places in Chile too (lots in Valpo, San Pedro, Valdivia, La Vega; etc.) However, one moment that tops them all is visiting the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, in February, 2017 .

I mean WOW!

This building is just the epitome of Zen. It is embedded in it's environment. Moreover, it was the centre piece of a novel by one of Japan's most revered authors, Yukio Mishima. Mishima is a modern legend. He wrote about a military Coup and then actually tried to put the same plan he wrote about into action. His attempt failed and, rather than give himself up, he committed Hara kiri (i.e. He killed himself).
So, great author, great story, AMAZING building, AMAZING surroundings.
Even though there were lots of other people (tourists), the feeling you got was one of tranquillity and understanding. It was as if the environment had been created as a work of art instead of having any functional use. The building was meant to be contemplated and viewed, not used or lived in. This is actually a restored version of the original building that dates from 1950 after it was set alight when a Buddhist monk attempted to set himself on fire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji) .

Write about a special place you like,
Say:
Where it is,
When you went there,
Why you think it's special,
What you know about it's history.
Mention anything else you think is important or interesting. Try to write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on my blog and on the blogs of all your classmates.