Geisha
Let’s view the world through the eyes of an artist.
We are delighted to bring you the art and world view of this year’s Solo Traveler Artist in Residence, Marie Pottiez, a visual artist and traveler. On her blog, Miles of Happiness, Marie illustrates her journeys, inspiring people to travel beyond their comfort zone. Seems like a good fit to us. Here is Marie’s perspective, sharing her travel experience and a series of images of Tokyo. Marie’s illustrations are also available for purchase on her blog.
Sushi
Images of Tokyo
It’s 6 o’clock in the morning and I am drinking a matcha tea in the company of a couple of Japanese tourists, waiting for our sushi to be ready. We are in Tsukiji Fish Market, one of the most amazing places to be directly immersed into the local culture. It’s so incredible, I’d like to be able to memorize every moment, every face, every scent of this place. People drive fenwicks and scooters, they scream, rush, throw fish from stand to stand. It’s bustling, vibrant, and it never stops. I could spend my day here, drawing, only drawing and eating sushi. But Tokyo awaits me. The neon, the temples, the parks, the screaming crows, the tiny old lanes, the insanely original fashion, the kimonos, the art scene, the saké.
Tokyo garden
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
I know we shouldn’t expect too much from a trip. We should just go and ‘see how it goes.’ But I’ve dreamed about it, I’ve read books, watched movies, counted the days until departure. Today, my expectations are so high, and I’m afraid to be disappointed. Sometimes, real life is even better than your imagination. Tokyo isn’t the city of my dreams. It’s way better than that. Do you know that feeling, when you arrive in a place where you instantly feel like you belong there? There is something that makes me feel at home in that immense city where most people don’t even understand me. It’s hard to explain. The last time I felt that way was three years ago, in New Zealand.
Ryokan, a type of traditional Japanese inn.
A Tokyo temple
Tokyo is futuristic and authentic, it’s vibrant, creative, innovative, and full of surprise. One minute you’re in a park, watching a Geisha dancing with gracefulness, and the next minute, you’re buying bunny socks in a Lolita shop. Is everything possible in Tokyo ?
Lolita
See more from the Solo Traveler Artist in Residence in Images of Beijing, Images of Singapore, Images of Australia, Images of New Zealand, and Images of Hong Kong. You can connect with Marie on facebook, twitter, instagram, and pinterest.