We had visited the Cherry Blossoms last year, and they left an indelible impression on my mind. So, this year when a dear friend texted to inform me that a picnic was on the cards I jumped at the opportunity.

I quote from last year’s post:

History is that the trees were a gift from the Japan’s Women’s Club (JWC) in 2000 (Aside for those, like me, born in the seventies: indeed “history” because it was 18 years ago, yes, year 2000 was eighteen years ago, take a moment, take a moment, now exhale!). The park celebrates the wonderful connection shared between Japan and the Netherlands, which dates back to 1609 when the first formal trade relations between the two countries was established.

During the Sakura (Cherry Blossom) festival, the Japanese practice “Hanami,” a centuries-old practice of picnicking under the blooming trees. The short life of the Sakura is meant to signify the ephemeral nature of life, its fragility, and calls attention to mindfulness, each moment is significant and should be celebrated, lest life slips by. It is also about cycles and karma, themes deeply embedded in Buddhist and Hindu philosophy.

Diligent Candy, Amrita Das

I am sharing some pictures from the day; Indian and Dutch food, Polish Boleslawiec pottery, Kashmiri Kahwa Tea, Japanese blossoms, and a bunch of truly transnational women. Here’s to us blossoming…