hanamikoji / 花見小路

以前從沒想過會去同樣的地方旅行兩次，尤其是海外，但是今年夏天我回到了睽違五年的花見小路，內心當然是有些感受，那個冬天我和其他三名單身女性同行，這趟旅行只剩下我，不過如果京都之行是上天給單身女性的獎賞，我倒覺得自己很幸運。

It never occurred to me that I would travel to the same place abroad twice. However, this summer I found myself in Hanamikoji (a road in Gion, Kyoto), where I had visited five years ago. I did have some mixed feelings. That winter I was in the company of three other single women, but on this trip, I was the only traveler. As an optimist, I can't help but wonder, if a trip to Kyoto alone is the gift God has for single women, I consider myself to be the chosen one.

花見小路上倒不是花朵遍野，而是一條充滿著高級料理亭的小路，我遠渡重洋，居然就只是來拍攝這些望著門外觀看的歐吉桑，這種悠閒的心情真的是只有我獨享。

There are no flowers on Hanamikoji (hana: flower). It is a small lane lined with classical restaurants. I traveled all the way just to take photos of those middle-aged men who looked at the by-passers during their break time. No one could beat my leisurely pace.

但是我看到的不只是歐吉桑，再走一趟花見小路讓我把人生又想了一遍，雖然來到同一個地方，心境已轉了好幾峰。之前的旅行精華在於和最熟悉的同伴探索新世界，之後我們選擇不同的路，沿途我看到很美好的風景，遇到許多我真心喜歡的人，我希望你的路也同樣佈滿美麗的花朵。

Well, I saw more than those men. Revisiting Hanamikoji gave me a chance to think about my life again. I felt something quite different from many years ago. That trip we took together was beautiful in that I explored a new world with the most familiar people in my life. Later, we went on diverse ways. On my journey, I saw lovely scenery and ran into many people I truly like. I sincerely hope that your road is filled with as many flowers.

誰說重遊舊地沒有驚喜呢？這就像是我們每天走同樣的路線去同樣的地方上學上班，我們都明瞭今天已不是昨天，而生活的每一刻都是一條花見小路，到處充滿了不可預期的美麗‧‧‧

Who said that there are no surprises in revisiting the same place? We take the same route to go to the same place for studies or work every day. We all know that today is not yesterday, but every moment in life is a path filled with flowers and unpredictable beauty...