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I used to live in 21 West End, Upper West Side of Manhattan. For the 11th time in 12 years, we are about to move to a new house in two weeks. Ever since Manhattan, I have been moving farther East, inching closer to its edges.
From Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, and now Kyoto. Prior to New York, it was Washington DC, Dili, Jakarta, Minneapolis, Singapore, and various cities in Malaysia. These are not just cities I’ve traveled to but places I have had the privilege to have called home - albeit fleetingly.
I am a mother of two. And for the past decade, I have been an international consultant for early childhood development policy, primarily working with UNICEF at its HQ and two regional offices across Asia Pacific.
The unexpected surprises that I got thrown into along the way are perhaps the most defining moments in my life — miscarried our second unborn child; relocated from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur to escape air pollution, which led to my passion for the climate change and early childhood intersection; diagnosed with chronic health issues two years in a row.
Kyoto
Just this morning, I saw a long line in front of Mikane-jinja 御金神社 (shrine for monetary blessings). Once again, I could not understand what the fuss is about to wait in such a long line. On hindsight, I realize that was me too!
For a long time, I chased brand names like many others. I took pride having worked my way into UNICEF, UNESCO, University of California Berkeley, National University of Singapore. And the various accomplishments I have done (see About Me section for key writings & publications).
The metrics in my life seem to have evolved now. So what now, after having a polished CV? What is the point of it all? Perhaps Kyoto has rubbed off on me. Kyoto is the location of the signing of 1997 Kyoto Protocol Treaty on Climate Change. Kyoto is the city with 17 UNESCO world heritage sites.
Kyoto is also the perfect embodiment of timelessness with more than 1,900 companies that have been around in the prefecture for at least a century, some are over 300 years ago. These include some of the sites I have visited recently:
Almost 150 years ago — Ryuoen 柳櫻園, a tea specialty store since 1875
> 300 years ago — Shoyeido 松栄堂, an incense store since 1705
>350 years ago — Kazariya, a sweets restaurant selling aburimochi since 1656
The modern iteration of a tea room (see image below) I visited as part of the Kyotographie+ exhibit featured the creative makeover work of artisan Shuji Nakagawa based on a 700-year old ki-okeh 木桶 craft.
It intrigues me to learn that Kyoto prizes itself not on fame, desire for profit-making, nor mass production for scaling up, but on the idea of less is more - focusing on quality and innovation rather than quantity. It is the idea of sitting and being patient with your craft, building the essence gradually, evenly, for a long duration into time.
About this blog
Life is full of surprises and changes. Life unfolds in seasons. Post-COP28 whirlwind of a work trip, I had a sudden inspiration to book myself into a tea meditation session for January 2024 to rediscover rest. Little did I know that I would end up being hospitalized early into the new year. And that one tea session led to a continuous curious interest into meditation, tea, Zen, Buddhism, nature, spirituality, solo long walks - now folded into my routine.
I hope to use this page to share my wide-ranging explorations based on practices, observations, readings, and conversations in this season of my life. Unedited by others, not held back by any media gatekeepers. Writing and reflecting not for the sake of others, but for my own unfolding journey.
Why 72 Seasons of Tea?
“East wind melts the ice. Mist starts to linger. Grass sprouts. Trees bud. First peach blossoms. Caterpillars become butterflies.”
I used to think of tea and meditation as ‘calm’ and ‘peaceful’. Getting to know it closer, it is actually much more dynamic and active than I was first alluded to. The traditional Japanese calendar marks a full year into 72 micro-seasons based on 24 divisions.
72 subtle rhythms of ecosystem and truths from nature - signaling the impermanence of life, each moment matters, time dilutes and expands subjected to our our very own practice of mindfulness.
Hope you will join me in my explorations.
-Peckgee, 30 April (穀雨 Grain Rains: 牡丹華 Peonies Bloom)
This blog is 🤩 amazing keep posting please!