GRATITUDE + CONSCIOUS LIVING Page 16 of 22

I am hugely grateful to friends and family for putting me up while tenants remained in our house, but tonight I am excited to be able to sleep in my own bed again.

Bliss!

One day old

Posted on 2012-10-10 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

There could be no better welcome home present than a new baby nephew. I am totally in love… Here he is at one day old.

(more…)

The kindness of strangers

Posted on 2012-10-08 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Mrs Tanaka with a bowl of azuki kake-gori (shaved ice with azuki beans)

It never ceases to amaze me what an important role strangers can play in our lives. Many years ago, when I first went to Kyoto at the tender age of 19 to study, this particular lady made a huge difference to my time there.

(more…)

Finding safety

Posted on 2012-10-05 at 8:52 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a long dark wooden hall, standing in front of an army of more than 1000 many-armed kannon statues.

They are about the same height as you and are staring directly at you.

They stand proud, several rows deep.

How do you feel?

(more…)

Kyoto cafes part 8 – Sagano-yu

Posted on 2012-09-23 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Do you ever go into a particular cafe and feel all the tension leaving your shoulders as you give a sigh of happy comfort? That is how I feel when I go into Sagano-yu cafe in Arashiyama, a beautifully restored old Japanese bath house which is now a cafe and shop.

(more…)

Thank you Japan

Posted on 2012-09-20 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

It has been amazing. There are so many people and places to thank for making it such a special experience. Here are just a few of them.

(more…)

Japan: The price we paid, the memories we made

Posted on 2012-09-18 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Any bold move, big change or great adventure requires a sacrifice of some kind. This is true in business, life and travel. It’s simple economics – every choice you make has an opportunity cost. Every dollar you spend on a plane ticket is a dollar you can’t spend somewhere else. And the bigger the challenge, the greater the risk… but of course the bigger the reward can be.

Today I found myself sat pondering what we have missed by taking a leap, packing up and moving to Japan for six months.

(more…)

Kyoto cafes 7 – Amuca

Posted on 2012-09-16 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

This little place – Amuca – is tucked away on Kamidachiuri, just West of Karasuma-dori. I go for the arched windows, big table, tiny handmade goods and great coffee, but the lovely owners also sell donuts, have racks of magazines and like to chat.

(more…)

Packing up and moving on

Posted on 2012-09-15 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Six months.

180 days.

Half a year.

It seemed like such a long time back then.

Now it is hard to believe our Japan adventure is nearly over.

As we pack up our things, empty our flat, fold up our memories and tuck away our plans, we head out, hand in hand, for a new adventure.