The Meaning of Travelling | Mark Lee

Chapter 3: The Golden Pavilion Beyond Time

The Golden Pavilion you saw then was not the traditional ancient temple people often imagined, standing silently through the trials of time and offering spiritual solace. The Golden Pavilion had been completely burned down in 1950 and rebuilt in 1955. But why did people cherish a building that was not considered "ancient"? It must have had its unique cultural value and significance. That day, you explored the "secrets of time" of the Golden Pavilion.

You had always been a disciplined person, usually waking up five minutes earlier than the time set on your alarm. But that day, you had unusually overslept. The loud ringtone of your mobile phone tirelessly fulfilled its duty. You felt your awareness returning a little as you rolled over, squinting to find the phone to turn off the alarm. Not knowing what you were dreaming about, you smiled and drifted back into a deeper sleep.

In the next room, Mark had already had breakfast, tidied himself up, and was sitting in a chair, checking the route to the Golden Pavilion on his phone. Although he had visited the Golden Pavilion a year ago and still had some memories of the route, it was one thing to go wrong alone; if two people went wrong, he felt a bit guilty toward the guy who left a good first impression. Considering the time, Mark put on his coat, opened the wooden door, found a shady spot, and stood casually with one foot resting against the other, idly scrolling on his phone.

To outsiders, Mark looked like a patient boyfriend waiting for his enthusiastic girlfriend who had rushed off with a pile of clothes to the fitting room. However, even the most exemplary boyfriend couldn't withstand a girlfriend who silently made him wait all morning. Mark shifted from standing to sitting on a shady step, changing his phone's content from X to Facebook, then from Spotify to YouTube, nearly resorting to watching the movies he had hoarded for so long.

It was already noon, and Mark turned to look at the closed wooden door behind him, suddenly curious about what dream you were having that made you sleep so soundly. Helplessly, he stood up, amused by his own thoughts, stepped up a few stone steps, and gently knocked on your door.

Knock, knock, knock. You were jolted awake by the knocking sound, sat up, rubbed your sleepy eyes, and mistakenly thought you were back home. Impatiently, you called out, "Who is it?" "[Your name], are you awake?" Mark outside breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, this guy has finally woken up. "Didn't we agree to go to the Golden Pavilion together today? It's already noon. Are you not feeling well? Are we still going?"

Kind-hearted Mark gave you an easy way out.

Hearing Mark's words, you suddenly opened your bleary eyes wide. You jumped up from the tatami mat, slipped on your slippers, and ran to open the door for Mark. You two faced each other, staring wide-eyed. You scratched your head sheepishly and said, "Uh, Mark, I'm really sorry. I... accidentally overslept. Do you think we can still make it to the Golden Pavilion? I'm really sorry."

Mark calculated in his mind: the Golden Pavilion closed at 5 PM, an hour for you to freshen up, an hour for travel time, and three hours left—plenty of time to wander around. The number of visitors in the afternoon wasn't as high as in the morning, making it easier to appreciate the temple's golden splendor. He casually patted your arm and joked, "Young man, the world is waiting for you to save it. You have one hour. I'll wait for you outside."

You caught the hint and quickly washed your face, brushed your teeth, and tidied yourself up, opening the door in half an hour.

Hearing the sound of the door, Mark cheerfully said, "Hey, nice speed, young man." Then, as if remembering something, he stepped into his room and came out holding a plastic bag. You looked at him in confusion, and he handed it to you, saying, "Since you haven't eaten, this is perfect for the road." Oh, this guy was really considerate, you told yourself.

This showed that the first "secret" of the Golden Pavilion's time was that it magically made you forget the concept of time. Fortunately, thanks to you, the traffic was smooth on the way, and when the two of you arrived at the scenic area, there weren't many tourists, making it suitable for sightseeing.

You two bought tickets, walked for a while, and soon saw the famous Golden Pavilion. A gentle breeze brushed against you as the green waves around the temple rippled outward, creating circles of splashing water. Mark leaned against the railing, gazing at the phoenix atop the Golden Pavilion, and recited the words he had pondered countless times: "While other birds soar in space, this golden phoenix spreads its golden wings and forever flies through time. Time beats its wings and flows backward."

The Golden Pavilion transcended the limits of time; its beauty symbolized a lasting influence on Kouichi's life. The concept of imperfect beauty conveyed by *The Golden Pavilion* also left a profound impression on Mark through the written word. This, perhaps, was the second secret of the Golden Pavilion in time.

Although it was afternoon, the sun remained unrelenting, shining brightly. The open area wasn't large, and the two finished their visit quickly. The Golden Pavilion was a one-way route, with the endpoint being a souvenir shop essential to every attraction. Excitedly, you pulled Mark along, selecting souvenirs to bring back for family and friends.

On the shelves were rows of postcards, and Mark stood at a distance, watching you compare which one was better, eventually giving up and each picking one to check out, finding it a bit cute.

No visit to the Golden Pavilion was complete without matcha ice cream. Mark and you each grabbed one, walking and chatting along the stony path.

As time passed, the setting sun reluctantly bid farewell to the people of this hemisphere. Night fell, and streetlights illuminated one by one, adding more color to this ancient capital.

You felt quite guilty about oversleeping that day, insisting on paying for both of you at the izakaya. The slightly tipsy duo, unlike in the daytime when they were more respectful of each other, had a bit of a casual vibe. You promised Mark that you definitely wouldn't oversleep the next day, while he smiled and playfully refused to spoil the next day's itinerary, saying he wanted to maintain a sense of mystery.

You and Mark, full from your meal and drinks, leisurely walked back to your lodging. That night, the moonlight was beautiful; the crescent moon seemed fuller, casting a gentle glow on the two figures below.