I have published the December essay. Please read the full story in:
http://hanami.ath.cx/essay_silence.html
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Outside is pure white scenery. Almost nothing moves. Trees are covered
with snow, and the lake is all frozen. Everything is silent. Perfect
day for dreaming.

I remember the evening in Shi-san's place, and when they took me to
onsen. Onsen was so fantastic experience. The scent of a stone, and hot

water and chill air.. Everyone looked so relaxed there. Sure, the men
could have been more handsome, but then again, even though I was a
foreigner with very white skin, nobody stared at me.

I felt I was part of the place, like everyone else. I stretched out and

looked at the sky. Only few trees blocked my view a bit. I felt very
calm and so peacefull.

My favorite place was a special stone bed located outside. In that
stone bed, a hot water was flowing on the surface, and hot steam was
rising. When you lied down on it, you felt perfect mixture of cool
outside air, and hot steam. People fell asleep in few minutes. To feel
the stone, and warm water flowing down your spine was brilliant
feeling...