I thought Kyoto would be all shrines and cherry blossoms, but mostly it was the sound of my own footsteps echoing down empty alleys. I’d imagined some cinematic version of myself—serene, changed, finally at peace. Instead, I felt exposed. The city was beautiful, but it didn’t fill the silence I’d brought with me. There’s a loneliness in travel no one warns you about. You can stand in a crowd at Nishiki Market and still feel like a ghost. I kept waiting for the city to save me, or at least distract me. It didn’t. I left with more questions than answers, and a photo I never posted. #Travel #SoloTravelTruth #PostTripReality