Arashiyama is breath-taking majestic beauty, the likes of which parallel the awe of Muir Woods.  I was alone, but for a person next to me and I said (in English) "Wow, it's unreal.  It reminds me of how I feel in Muir Woods."  The person spoke back in fluent English and said "Right."  I was as shocked that I spoke out loud, not really expecting anyone to be able to understand me, let alone come to realize the person next to me was a Singaporean American from LA who was winding down the last days of his trip to Asia before his move to San Francisco.  The world was so small in that instant, yet surrounded by some thing near incomprehensible in its beauty and stature.  I felt safe and very sound there, one of those places I could never leave.  I left a piece of my heart there.