No Tourist Fatigue

Miksang Sunset, Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

I take another photo of the sun setting behind the famous bridge. Again a perfect moment, the sun right behind one of the pilars. Orange sky, a soft breeze stroking my face, I take another sip of my Caramel Macchiato. I feel blessed just by being here, I really am in the moment. Looking over the water, I see little dots. Swimmers, perhaps practicing for the annual Alcatraz races. Yes, I am in San Francisco, California.


I'm feeling a little mixed up though. It's my 6th time in this wonderful city and this evening the wind feels...warm? Yeah, luke warm it is. T-shirt temperature. Too funny. It's only March (2015) and I haven't seen much more than a lost cloud early morning this whole week. Not Fog City at all. California is now experiencing its worse drought ever, so it seems. This morning I got up at 6 AM and staying in Fisherman's Wharf area, I walked to the Oakland Bay Bridge along side the water. You look directly at the sun this way, perfect to capture mindful moments.


Being an iPhoneographer, I also use the square frame and I often use Instagram too. Adjusting focus and aperture by pressing on the screen, it's really easy to capture the overwhelming colours of the early morning sky. When joggers passed me by, I used their feet and long shadows, together with lines I saw on the pavement. Taking mindful photos like these will give you energy. No tourist fatigue at all. Think of the happy feeling you get when you take a photo of a happy moment. It's pure happiness and it goes straight to the heart.


Visit a place without judging and you'll receive its natural energy. The San Fran energy is one of the best I've ever experienced. After a long day in the city I now watch the sun set in the Pacific Ocean. From where I am I can see the dark shape of the Golden Gate Bridge against the red sky. I feel well tired but also very peaceful. I start walking up the hill to get back to my hotel, very happy to be here.


Be, See, Zen.

San Francisco, Embarcadero

This blog was written for World Nomads (Scholarship entry, 11 May 2015)