Most famous for its giant torii gate, Miyajima lays in the northwest of Hiroshima Bay, one hour outside the city of Hiroshima. This island is regarded as the home of gods (Shinto religion) and beauty. In a day hike, we circled around the island, but desperately got lost in the woods, when looking for Mount Misen and the ropeway.
Soaked with rain, we finally made it back, guided by the Great Torii (=gate) and the Deers, freely roaming all over the island. Deers are seen as god’s messengers in Shinto religion and are sacred animals. The Shinto belief is strongly connected to nature, which means trees wouldn’t be cut for lumber here.
Mariana, Robin and I agree on valuing and protecting nature and its natural ressources. We do harm to this planet while traveling, for sure, but we also immerse ourselves in the richness of outdoors and try to restore nature by not wasting its gifts.
When staying at the campground, Walden by Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) came to my mind and I want to end this post with his most renowned quote:
All good things are wild and free.
Rivers and Roads 