Japanese Garden: a piece of Asia in Chile [ENG | ESP]

There are several ways to travel the world. The most direct, obviously, is to take a plane, a train, or a bus and travel to other places. But you can also _travel_ through the pages of a book, through cinema, art, the flavors of exotic cuisine, and of course through the cultural exchange promoted by states and nations that create ties with the purpose of sharing part of their identity through museums, exhibitions, or places that celebrate that relationship. >Hay varias formas de viajar por el mundo. La más directa, obviamente, es tomar un avión, un tren o un bus y desplazarse hasta otros lugares. Pero también se puede _viajar_ a través de las páginas de un libro, a través del cine, del arte, de los sabores de una gastronomía exótica y por supuesto a través del intercambio cultural promovido por los estados y las naciones que crean vínculos con el propósito de compartir parte de su identidad a través de museos, exposiciones o lugares que celebren esa relación. One thing that capitals or large cities in almost any country have is that the more people live there and the larger they are, the greater the diversity in ages, origins, professions, cultures, and pasts, and that enriches life together. That's something I like about Santiago de Chile: one can find representation from different religions, cultures, or countries, have Indian food for lunch, visit the Thai embassy, attend a German concert, walk down Paris Street, or see a Polish film series. That has been—for me—another way of traveling the world: letting the world come to me and taking advantage of these spaces. And while Santiago has corners that celebrate the land of the rising sun and there are a couple of gardens, restaurants, the embassy, etc., it was in La Serena, Coquimbo Region, where I found the most beautiful Japanese garden in Chile and one of the most beautiful outside of Japan. I've always felt that Europe calls to me more strongly, but exploring the Asian continent also appeals to me. In the case of Japan, more than its technological avant-garde and the metropolis of Tokyo, what draws my attention is its more rural side, its temples, villages, small towns, and its nature. That's why I'm so drawn to gardens that evoke the landscapes of those lands on the other side of the world. >Una cosa que tienen las capitales o las ciudades grandes de casi cualquier país es que mientras más personas viven allí y mientras más grandes son existe mayor diversidad en edades, orígenes, profesiones, cultura, pasado y eso enriquece la vida en común. Eso es algo que me gusta de Santiago de Chile, que uno puede encontrar representación de diferentes religiones, culturas o países, almorzar comida india, visitar la embajada de Tailandia, asistir a un concierto en alemán, pasar por la calle París, ver un ciclo de cine Polaco. Esa ha sido - para mí - otra forma de viajar por el mundo: dejando que el mundo venga a mí y aprovechando estos espacios. Y si bien en Santiago hay rincones que celebran la tierra del sol naciente y hay un par de jardines, restaurantes, la embajada, etcétera, fue en La Serena, Región de Coquimbo, en donde encontré el Jardín Japonés más hermoso que hay en Chile y uno de los más lindos fuera de tierras niponas. Siempre he sentido que Europa me llama con más fuerza, pero explorar el continente asiático también se me hace atractivo y en el caso de Japón, más que la vanguardia tecnológica y la metrópolis de Tokio, lo que me llama la atención es su lado más rural, sus templos, villas, ciudades chicas y su naturaleza. De allí que me atraigan tanto los jardines que evocan los paisajes de esas tierras al otro lado de mundo. https://images.hive.blog/DQmPwd2qQrMgwd2hPG7oGcq8Zo5oy3vyAsK2oZJFeSHEH6W/20240313_120904.jpg https://images.hive.blog/DQmdv2jdTRawVFg35HTcqARG6Wa9AaL2SjzUBfqnzxBGPF1/20240313_122507.jpg https://images.hive.blog/DQmbiwec4QXqR4kSseBtoymP8y6gZznTJR5ajqmhUq6yrSz/20240313_122006.jpg https://images.hive.blog/DQmYAdmRDyTPRsrfLsjc89TNCMvkVcaHqLTTtGYcmL3zhFB/20240313_122323.jpg The Japanese Garden in La Serena is beautiful. It's not as large as the one in Buenos Aires, and perhaps lacks a building to house exhibitions and art shows—something the one in Argentina also has—but otherwise, it's as good as it gets. The place is carefully preserved, and everything is arranged so that no matter where you are, there are elements to enjoy and contemplate. >El Jardín Japonés de La Serena es hermoso. No es tan grande como el de Buenos Aires y quizás le falta un edificio para albergar exposiciones y muestras de arte - algo que también tiene el de Argentina - pero por lo demás no tiene nada que envidiarle. El lugar es preservado con gran recelo y todo está dispuesto para que sin importar en qué rincón del lugar uno se encuentre haya elementos que se puedan disfrutar y contemplar. Flowers, hedges, trees, bodies of water, ducks, swans, turtles, stones, dirt paths, sculptures, buildings, signs, bridges—across the entire grounds there are countless nooks and crannies, beautifully arranged for the visitor's enjoyment. However, the goal of all these elements isn't just to admire beauty or search for a beautiful photo; it's to connect with nature, contemplate the passage of time, and reflect on our own transience. Pausing in the midst of our daily routine, escaping the hectic pace of the city, and taking a moment to smell some flowers or follow the flight of butterflies can help us slow down the pace of our lives and remember that it's those little details that truly matter. It's no secret that Japanese society has values deeply rooted in an ancient spirituality, and that many of its virtues—a certain serenity, longevity, a sense of honor—are derived from its respect for nature, the seasons, the sun, the trees... much of this can be perceived and reflected upon by visiting places like this. I understand that there aren't many areas with benches to sit on because the idea is for visitors to follow the path, giving way to others, but I would have loved to have sat for a while in each corner to hear the sound of the water, see the animals, feel the wind, receive the warmth of the sun... it's a place to linger all afternoon. All day. | --- | --- https://images.hive.blog/DQmcrR1rKsNdSEYkMg2xq9o8BdrtKKZwgrAQJrDVTWm3gC2/20240313_124608.jpg |