Dear Portland, Here is what I learnt from you. Your Japanese garden is full of juxtapositions. Shade with sunlight; green with white; rigidity of rocks with fluidity of water; presence with absence; form with emptiness. The differences created meaning. None of the juxtapositions felt forcefully designed; rather they felt subtly discovered. Is it your metaphor for life? One that asks to discover and enjoy the juxtapositions in our very own lives. To realize how they create meaning in our lives. I also learnt that your name was decided by a coin toss. Well, that's how I'm going to take decisions now on.

Love,
Varsha