Isui-en garden, a photo from Nara, Kinki

Photographer's Note

‘Nara – Isui-en garden’

My outward journey to Japan was not without obstacles. I had bought a KLM-ticket from Brussels to Amsterdam and from there to Osaka. But when checking in at Brussels Airport, KLM told me that the flight to Amsterdam was overbooked and that I had to wait until all passengers were on the plane to see if someone hasn’t shown up. The company had sold more tickets than there were seats in the plane and their computer had chosen me as the one who had to wait (despite the fact that I already bought and paid my ticket months ago).

The explanation of KLM was that every airline applies this practice. So they did also!
My point of view is that I bought a plane ticket with their company. So I had a contract with them and not with another airline to go to Osaka on that exact day and not on another day or with another airline (which they proposed as a solution). And I wanted the company to fulfill its commitment.

At the time of departure, it appeared that all seats were occupied but there was one person on the plane with a ticket from another airline (most likely someone whereby that other flight was overbooked and that person was given a solution by flying with KLM). Since I had a KLM-ticket I had priority. So that person had to leave the plane so I could go. I admit that I was glad that I could leave with that flight but I found this a terribly shameful practice of the company. Someone who had already taken a seat on the plane was forced to leave it again!
Once KLM's catchphrase was ‘the reliable airline’!

In Brussels the air carrier assured me that there was no problem for the flight from Amsterdam to Osaka.
Yet my boarding pass would only be available in Amsterdam. Once there my fear came true. The reason why I couldn’t get a boarding pass in Brussels was that also the flight to Osaka was overbooked.
In Amsterdam I had to wait until all passengers were checked in and the boarding began. Fortunately for me, it appeared that less people than expected had checked in and I could board the plane.

After these rather stressful hours (from 8.30 am till 2.30 pm) I hoped to get some sleep during the 10-hour flight.
But on the seat to the left of me was a man with an incredibly large overweight. This may seem amusing but it’s not fun to be pushed back on a smaller part of my seat during the entire flight. I had no idea of his social values but rule number one was not to talk to strangers. Rule number two was not to sit still during full five consecutive minutes …

After the flight of 10 hours (which seemed endlessly to me) we arrived in the morning at Kansai Airport (Osaka). There I took the train to Nara (with a change in Tennoji) and that was the beginning of a wonderful journey through Japan. I had beautiful spring weather. The cherry trees were still in blossom.
I experienced Japan as a very interesting and exciting country and enjoyed the delicious cuisine. Above all, there were the extremely friendly and helpful Japanese people.

The picture is taken in the Isui-en
This beautiful garden in Nara dates from the Meiji era (1868 – 1912).
Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan from 710 till 785. Although in the history of the country this is a relatively short period, the city is one of the most interesting places to admire Japan’s cultural heritage.

jhm, holmertz, ikeharel, marabu61, serp2000, Cricri, cornejo, siudzi, Romano46, Oceania, saxo042, Kielia, danos, nikkitta, ourania, josepmarin, pili51, kato, Angshu, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhm (191357) 2014-05-04 4:44

Dag Paul,

Ik heb uw verslag gelezen en er blijkt enorm gesjoemeld met tickets.
Dus reizen heeft dan ook een deel risico's op de grond.
Ik heb nog nooit gevlogen, dus ben ik simpelweg een leek in deze materie.
Boven mijn huis hangen iedere dag veel witte condens strepen van vliegtuigen, en nemen zeer geregeld mijn zon af.
Terug naar uw foto, deze is heerlijk om naar te kijken, zeker met de weerspiegelingen in het water.
Heel mooi fotowerk, bedankt.

Prettige zondag,
John.

Sergiom (115636) 2014-05-04 4:47

Bonjour Paul

Un très beau jardin comme on aimerait bien en avoir un dans notre cour. Tout semble à sa place et se reflète parfaitement dans les eaux claires du petit lac.

Bon dimanche

Serge

holmertz (83300) 2014-05-04 5:04

Hello Paul,
Oh, so you went to Japan (and obviously you were not the only one). I actually consider doing the same in the autumn. This is a lovely view from a day when the weather was perfect and the pond looks almost as clear as a mirror. The buildings make me think of remarkably nice tourist bungalows, but I suppose they have a rather different purpose.
Kind regards,
Gert

dta (95522) 2014-05-04 5:06

Bonjour Paul ,
L'overbooking est une pratique toute à fait déplaisante . Finalement , il faudra ne retenir que les bons côtés du séjour au Japon .
Un très joli jardin japonais , avec de superbes reflets .
Amicalement

tenretin (3110) 2014-05-04 5:24

Bonjour Paul,
Superbe cliché plein de poésie et très bien composé. La note est vraiment instructive. Un belle image.
Merci pour le partage.
Cordialement,
JP

Corry (4508) 2014-05-04 5:56

Bonjour Paul

Superbe image de ce jardin qui se reflète parfaitement dans l'eau sous un beau ciel bleu. Du deux pour un ! Très bien fait.

Yvon

carlo62 (81029) 2014-05-04 6:51

Ciao Paul
una bella luce illumina questa foto, piacevolmente calda.
Splendido il riflesso e meravigliosi i colori, mi piace molto la composizione.
Saluti
Carlo

marabu61 (11587) 2014-05-04 6:59

Bonjour Paul
What a beautifully pleasing scene here of this japanese garden. The warm light is sublime, the colors pleasing and the reflections in the water perfect. When I was in Japan, I really fell in love with these well groomed gardens.

Concerning your situation with the overbooked flight, I completely understand your frustration. As a former employee of a mayor airline I know how overbooking is handled. There is a whole department monitoring every flight and deciding on overbooking in each case. Unfortunately for airlines there are a lot of no-shows on every flight as especially business people tend to book more flight than they really need and of corse get fully refunded for not flying. For a airline it is unfortunately more expensive to fly with an empty seat than paying the hotel fare or the booking on an other airline. Out of 16 Mio. passengers my airline transported in 2013 the airline had to bump only around 200 passengers even though every flight was overbooked by about 10%. It is still frustrating if it is you who is bumped but should put things somewhat in perspective. Anyway airlines are obliged to transport you to your final destination within 24h in case of an offload. Something we stand by passengers never could hope for .... :-)
have a great day
Daniel

serp2000 (47063) 2014-05-04 7:17

Hi, Paul,
Oh, I see you are typical Mr. Itchy Feet, as Malgo said me. ;) Oh, so stupid situation with the tickets... I think, everyone could tells some amazing trip stories with the air companies. Once they have lost my baggage somewhere between Moscow and Vienna for 4 days till New Year. ))
The photo is wonderful! very nice composition, superb colors!
Have a great new week!
Serghei

Cricri (176) 2014-05-04 9:55

Bonjour Paul
Un lieu plaisant, très joliment présenter en utilisant les reflets en avant plan, bonne lumière et couleurs, intéressante note
Belle soirée
cricri

cornejo (61182) 2014-05-04 10:15

Hi Paul, very good photograph of this beautiful and interesting postcard beautiful garden with pond, beautifully composed and captured this beautiful image with good sharpness, depth, light and color. Excellent and interesting job well done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good evening and happy start to the week.
Warm greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

siudzi (34141) 2014-05-04 11:14

Hi Paul,
I read your note and I really cannot understand this practice with the overbooking. Anyway, I am happy that you managed to get to Japan and your trip was so great!
This is a very beautiful image full of lights and intensive colors. The water reflections bring something very interesting to the scene. Well done! TFS!

Best wishes,
Gosia

Romano46 (18472) 2014-05-04 11:21

Ciao Paul
la prima foto di un viaggio che si annuncia interessante e ricco di ottimi spunti e di altrettanto meravigliose fotografie conoscendo le tue capacità e tenuto conto dell'ambiente che vai a visitare.
Come esordio non potevi proporre di meglio. I colori sono belli, decisi ma nello stesso tempo ben dosati, il soggetto riflette la tipicità del luogo e la composizione, come sei solito fare, ben studiata.
Complimenti. Restiamo in attesa delle tue successive foto.
Ciao e buon inizio di settimana
Romano

lousat (121003) 2014-05-04 11:59

Hi Paul,i read incredible things in your note about your flight,it seems like my adventure the last year from Milano to Banjul...ehehe...no problem,don't worry,in holidays all is permitted and it must to travel with this idea..ehehe...the pic is truly beautiful,great capture from this garden with spectacular colors and reflections,i like it! Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

emka (139176) 2014-05-04 12:49

Hello Paul,
Finally the photos from your new journey, you promised a surprise and it is surprise. :). Yes, there happen sometimes adventures and when they end well, there is something to tell about and to remember. And what be the travelling was worth without adventures? I have heard about such practices but I have never experienced it. But finally you reached Osaka.
I am VERY curious what you have seen in Japan. I also remember it as a country of very friendly people and splendid cuisine.
I considered going to Japan for cherry blossoms but it seems to me risky, the best time is very short, so I went in autumn to see acer reddening. But I was a bit too early. And sakura cherries I saw in Washington DC.
I do not remember this garden in Nara. Wonderful shot, the deep colours are fabulous.
Have you met Takero?

WArm regrads MAlgo
PS. I will post a few more photos from Causasus and there will be new supply :).

Oceania (5202) 2014-05-05 6:45

Hi Paul,

This time the year, it's in time for the cherry blossom. The light on this picture is perfect. The setting is so gorgeous. A truly beautiful picture!

Kamilutka (8107) 2014-05-05 7:04

Hello Paul,
welcome back to TE and from what I see we will be able to enjoy some series from Japan.
Looking forward to more as already the first picture looks very interesting. The garden with the tiny trees so typical to this country has been captured in your lens in very nice way. The colors are properly saturated yet still natural and the composition with the little pond reflecting the plants and the wooden house is very pleasant.
Good light and well managed.
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Kamila

saxo042 (38078) 2014-05-05 7:37

Hi Paul,
This is a very fine picture and I am glad that you you, at last, managed to reach your destination. Your note is really interesting too!
Kind regards
Gunnar

Kielia (24077) 2014-05-05 8:12

Hi Paul,
what an adventure! You are presenting a very interesting impression of this fascinating house, accompanied by a nice note. You are giving me a detailed idea of the architecture and lifestyle in this region. Very good photo work! The moody reflections make the image very attractive. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

mesutilgim (115430) 2014-05-05 10:49

Hello Paul,
A real photographic masterpiece in your gallery with this beatiful scenery and amazing reflections.
Perfect TE entry enriched with many interesting and usefull notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

ikeharel (98802) 2014-05-06 2:25

What an ordeal described, Paul, but so well compensated with the magnificent garden scenery you saw and beautifully posted.
used marvelousely the variable light, and collected the reflection on water superbly.
Charming place, calm ambiance and adorned with the old lanterns.
Impressive photojob.
Ike

chrislo (4097) 2014-05-08 3:11

Dag Paul,
Het geheim van je bestemming was goed bewaard gebleven, je was dus in Japan en tussendoor een slachtoffer geweest van overboeking. Gelukkig wordt je vakantieplezier niet verminderd, maar toch hoop ik dat je compensatie kreeg voor al de last. Deze foto is een mooie inleiding tot Japan en geeft ons een heerlijk beeld van de omliggende natuur en een geslaagde indruk van de lokale bouwstijl. De weerspiegelingen in het stille water trekken onmiddellijk mijn aandacht en zorgen voor een aangename foto, heel mooi samengesteld. Het straalt hier pure kalmte en rust uit. Prachtige sfeer, goed perspectief, en heel mooie kleurtjes. Dat belooft veel goeds voor de komende foto's.
Groetjes,
Christian

danos (110395) 2014-05-11 11:55

Hi Paul,
nice the view of this section of the Isui-en garden,after your problems you had in Brussels with KLM.You were lucky that your abventure was solved and travel in Japan,this fascinating county.
I like the light and the colour management of the image with the reflections to make the image even more effective.

Regards,Danos

photoray (13981) 2014-05-12 20:01

Howdy Paul,

Beautiful tranquil scene of the Japanese Garden mirrored in the glass like water, and the classical architecture within.

And glad you survived the flight and hopefully your next journey will be more relaxing. U.S. airlines also use to overbook seats, but now Federal law prevents this. Instead airlines offer standby chances now.

Thanks for sharing,
Cheers,
Ray

nikkitta (17070) 2014-05-13 14:56

Hola Paul

Lot of anacdotes about overbooking, being at 13 hors fly from Europe, but finally you arrived, good to tell the misgiven
Your first capture from Japan seeem a perfect mirrow, being house and garden between blue sky and lake
Well done, regards
Maria
I know about japon only reading Murakami, now through your captures

jemaflor (125717) 2014-05-16 2:49

Salut Paul,
Magnifiques reflets avec ce miroir d'eau, c'est parfaitement présenté, les teintes sont agréables.

SWEETFREEDOM (24623) 2014-05-17 23:41

Hi Paul,
what a beautiful garden! i like warm colors, details and the beautiful reflectins.
regards
Alessandro

patpatch (1601) 2014-05-20 5:38

Bonjour Paul,

C'est vraiment le type d'image que nous avons tous en tête
dès que nous pensons au Japon.Ces arbres aux silhouettes de bonzaï se refletant dans l'eau du bassin,comme celles des magnifiques et typiques lanternes de pierre.
Très belle prise de vue et mise en page.Une vue très zen propice à la méditation.
Amicalement.
Patrick

mkamionka (53776) 2014-05-23 6:18

Hi Paul,
I was just wondering why your reportage from Armenia was so short but I see you just returned from another journey.
Beautiful work here. There is a nice labirynth of trees and decorative elements and everything pleasantly doubled by the 100% reflection and well balanced as well.
Excellent work,
M

ourania (51103) 2014-05-23 13:47

Hello Paul,
I like very much the freshness of the light and the gentle brightness of the colours. This place is so lovely, pure and tranquil, it can make you forget weariness and worries and help you feel full of positive energy. Your picture has great perspective and clarity, the view is totally filled with details and yet it feels so calm. I also find very appealing the glimpse of the shady interior of the house. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely weekend,
Ourania

josepmarin (59383) 2014-05-24 11:16

Hi Paul,
though you've suffered many incidents during your journey, finally you arrive in Japan, and we can enjoy your good photographic work.
As this photo, where the traditional architecture and the exuberance of the gardens play a fantastic aesthetic role, while its reflections on the pond duplicate the whole beauty of this place.
I admire the quality of light and of colors, you've created a beautiful composition.
Best regards,
Josep

kato (11630) 2014-06-01 8:17

Hello Paul,

You're capturing well this garden by a good composition and excellent tone/clarity, so it's interesting and impressive to see the typical japanese garden with pond, stone lantern, tea house and the surrounding greenery. And, the reflection projected to the pond draws out a good atmosphere.

Kind regards,
mikio

Angshu (56760) 2014-06-10 23:54

Dag dear Paul
Its rather a sad tale of flight booking that you mentioned and I cannot be sure how in this age of communication we have situations of overbooking of flights! Its unbelievable.
Glad you made it well to Japan and enjoyed your trip there. You show a lesser seen place (at least to me) from the land of the Rising Sun...did you meet any TE member there?
Best Regards
Angshu

adores (46979) 2014-06-15 17:20

Hi Paul!
Hope you had a great time there, in spite of all the troubles with the flight. I'm sure it's a fantastic country to visit. This is a very nice Japanese garden, with the traditional house, the stone lanterns... It's a beautiful shot, with good colours and reflections.