Nadine Brown
Appearances
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Carried along on the breeze, the sound of chanting transports you to another space and time. You listen to the voices for a while. imagining life at the temple in days of old, before exiting the gardens and continuing your journey along the philosopher's path. After a few minutes of walking, you find yourself in one of Kyoto's most historic districts.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Traditional, mature houses crafted from wood line the streets. Their sizes are deceptive as they are narrow on the outside yet extend for up to 20 meters in length inside. The houses used to belong to merchants who would come to the city to trade.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
As you look along the pedestrian street, you imagine that aside from the shops and restaurants here today, it must look much the same as it did centuries ago when Kyoto was Japan's ancient capital. The shop windows along the street are artfully decorated, many with displays of the sakura,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Cherry blossom souvenirs and candies are arranged neatly next to Japanese anime characters and quirky cartoon kittens. On your right, a small shop sells hand-painted fans, and next door, elegant pottery designs depict scenes of the Japanese countryside.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Seven wooden tubs sit at the front of a small food shop, filled to the brim with pickles, shogoine turnips and camo naso aubergines, or eggplants. Bright red lanterns with black calligraphy hang lazily outside restaurants, swaying back and forth as menus show photographs of dishes served inside.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
As you continue to wander slowly along the charming cobbled street, a small courtyard to the left catches your eye. The place looks intriguing, with trickling rock-like water features against the walls and a hammock positioned beneath a Japanese maple tree in the center. You open the gate and enter the courtyard, stopping to listen to the sound of water from the fountains.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You feel the sound fully relaxing your mind. The maple tree is adorned with twinkling yellow lights, and hooked to the branches, you see tiny paper parasols in a range of colors. There's a wooden shop at the back of the courtyard, with the door partially open. Through the window, you see an elderly man in a blue shirt and white apron, crafting larger versions of the paper parasols.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You recognize them as the same ones carried by locals at celebrations and by women dressed in traditional kimonos as they walk the streets of Kyoto. Three of them are on display by the door. The washi paper they are made of is thick to the touch, like a type of parchment. and each one is hand-painted with Japanese poetry, landscapes, flowers or birds.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The workshop is dimly lit, and the sound of the street fades away as you step inside. The place is how you always imagined an artist's studio would be. Sun-dried washi paper is stacked in layers on an old wooden table. Behind, shelves on the wall are lined with pots of powdered paint and brushes in different shapes and sizes.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The man is just about to create a new parasol and invites you to watch his process. He explains that the parasols or umbrellas are called wagasar, made in a traditional Kyoto style, and that they are used to protect one from evil spirits and shade one from the sun.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
you sit down on a stool and smile as he expertly handcrafts the spokes for the parasol, made from bamboo sourced from a nearby forest. Then he shapes the pieces by hand until they are the desired length and width before soaking them in water and taking them outside to dry in the sun. He then begins to create the parasol and handle.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The washi paper, he tells you, comes from the fibers of the gampy tree, which can be found just outside the city. He demonstrates the toughness of the paper by pulling it at either side and says that it's the same paper that people use for the ancient craft of origami.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
He goes on to trim it, then coat it with linseed oil to make it waterproof, before placing it outside with the other pieces to dry. The final stage is the painting. The old man smiles, perching his glasses firmly on his nose as he brings in a complete parasol ready to decorate. He asks you to pick out three colours from the shelf, which you do.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Then, he deposits a large catalogue of sorts onto the tabletop. Opening the thick bound book, you see that it is filled with intricate designs. There are mountains, Lakes, birds, and torii gates, the red ones you see at the entrance to ancient shrines. You ask if he sketched all the drawings himself, and he nods, encouraging you to pick one of the designs.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
One in particular captures your attention. It's a simple design, dotted with pink cherry blossoms, with a tall wooden tiered pagoda in the middle. The man smiles, saying that this is one of his favourites to paint. He turns towards the shelf to select three brushes and fills an empty glass jar with water from the tap in the corner sink.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You watch as he dips the first slender brush into the powdered paint. You are mesmerized by his skill and his steady hand as he expertly paints the blossoms with delicate dabs of pastel pink onto the paper. At regular intervals, he cleans the brush in the water, creating kaleidoscope swirls of colour in the liquid, before beginning to work on the deep brown tones of the wooden pagoda.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
As you sit on the stool, watching the mastery of the brushstrokes, you completely lose track of time. fully immersed, relaxed and enjoying the meditative experience. After the parasol is completed, he takes it outside for the paint to dry and invites you to join him for a cup of tea. The old man wipes his hands on his apron, no longer a brilliant white, now speckled with paint.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
And he tells you the art of parasol making has been in his family for many generations. He explains that not many people are interested in learning how the parasols are made. You are the first to visit his studio in quite a while, and for that he is grateful.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The pair of you sit on comfortable cushioned chairs amongst the twinkling lights in the courtyard, sipping the refreshing drink as water trickles from the fountains. After a while, the man says he must continue working, but welcomes you to stay for as long as you like. You thank him for the tea and his company, but say you will continue your journey as you have more of the city you wish to see.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
He nods and smiles. Before you leave, he hands you a finished parasol, painted in your chosen design. It's a true work of art, with pink cherry blossoms and the tiered pagoda on the panels. You offer to pay, but he insists it is a gift and you are welcome to come back any time. You are grateful for his teaching and generosity and accept the parasol graciously with both hands as is customary.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
As you depart the courtyard to continue your walk, your new parasol shades you from the sun. At the end of the street stands a dark wooden pagoda. It's tiered, towering several stories high, and you realize it is identical to the one painted on your parasol. As fate would have it, today is one of its rare open days, so you enter to see what lies within.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
A sign at the entrance tells you that the temple was constructed by Prince Shotoku after being inspired to build it during a dream. The walls of the interior are etched with wooden carvings, which feel smooth yet slightly jagged to the touch, where they have chipped and worn over time. You continue to move slowly around the room and find yourself wondering how old the artwork is.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Then you climb the stairs, stopping to pause at the beautiful yet fading antique paintings and statues on the first floor. You have the place all to yourself and are grateful to see all these years of history without any distractions. On the upper floor, outside from the balcony, you see the city of Kyoto laid out before you.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The patchwork of grey rooftops, wooden houses, and pretty parks blanketed with cherry blossoms. Green mountain peaks stand tall in the distance, and above, an aeroplane flies high, leaving a trail of white in the cobalt blue sky. You notice the sun's warmth on your skin and feel like you could stay in this still, quiet moment forever. Sitting down on the wooden deck, you stretch out your legs.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Closing your eyes, you reminisce about your day and how you began your journey hours ago on the philosopher's path. You are reminded of watching the koi fish swimming in the temple garden without a care in the world. Your mind drifts to the old man, the talented artisan of Kyoto in his workshop, and the pleasure it brought you watching him create and paint the parasol.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
After what feels like hours, you decide to continue to one more destination. So, you make your way back down the stairs to the street. The sky is now a dusky blue with wispy purple clouds forming. The street on which you walked earlier is now quiet, and golden lanterns cast a mystical light on the cobblestones.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The upper windows and balconies are illuminated and many of the shops are closing up for the evening. You turn to your left down a narrow alleyway where one small restaurant appears to be open. Locals sit at the white-tiled counter with steaming hot bowls of noodles in front of them.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You watch as they feast expertly on the contents with chopsticks, every mouthful punctuated with chatter to a neighbouring friend or the chef. You can hear the sound of music lingering in the evening air and glasses clinking to signify the end of the working day. At the end of the alleyway, you turn the corner to your right and realize you have arrived at your destination.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You have been told that this park is one of the best places to see cherry blossoms at dusk, a hidden gem which not many people know about. You walk slowly through a gate along a winding pathway. Evergreen trees stand tall at either side in the grass. The soles of your shoes crunch on tiny stones, and with every footstep, small white lanterns light up around you, edging the pathway.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
As you walk, the landscape around you begins to change, the trees turning from green to pink. The further along the pathway you travel, the denser the cherry blossom trees become. Looking around you, you can see people sitting on blankets beneath lanterns hanging from trees, reading books or talking softly with friends. The ambience is relaxed and you decide to stay a while.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
you find a blanket that's been left for visitors. It's cream-colored and resting under a cherry blossom tree at the edge of the park. Although you're in the heart of Kyoto, this place feels like its own secret world, far away from the city. Nighttime slowly creeping in as the sun begins to set.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Lying down on the blanket, you look up at the cherry blossom tree with its branches splayed out above, and let your eyes follow the journey of a tiny petal as it slowly falls. swaying from side to side and coming to land on your hand. The petal feels as smooth as fine silk. It has a darker pink stripe near where the center of the flower would be.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You place the petal on top of your parasol beside you and take a deep breath in, inhaling the delicate floral scent. As you think of your day and everything you have seen and discovered in Kyoto, you find your eyelids slowly closing. and your body fully relaxing on the blanket in the warm evening air.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
It's a beautiful, pleasant morning in the city of Kyoto, Japan. Your map tells you the city lies northeast of Osaka, close to the shores of Lake Biwa. The skies are a pale shade of blue with fluffy cotton wool clouds and the spring sun shines high up above. You are wandering along the philosopher's path at the edge of a narrow canal.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The pathway is named after one of Japan's most famous philosophers. Nishida Akitaro, who walked the route to the university each day. Finding it so relaxing, he would stop to meditate on the way. The canal is lined with hundreds of beautiful pink and white cherry blossom trees. And beyond, in the distance to your right, lush green hills provide a spectacular scenic backdrop.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Beneath your feet, the cobblestones are hidden by a soft petal carpet, where, after a slight breeze, the buds have drifted gently to the ground. As the trees stretch their branches across the canal, they almost touch, creating a beautiful blossom archway. You notice that the colors reflect pastel pink in the shallow waters below.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Nestled among the tree branches, brown-eared baubles and Eurasian tree sparrows search for nectar hidden deep in the buds. As the birds chirp, eager to find their breakfast, you stop for a moment. breathing in the delicate scent reminiscent of almond and cotton candy. On the left side of the canal, behind the row of trees, stand two-storey houses with grey corrugated iron roofs.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
On your right, a talented artist sits on a fold-out stool, painting the sakura, the Japanese word for cherry blossoms, on a canvas in watercolors. Bridges crisscross the canal, allowing you to reach one side from the other. As you do so, you see a large sign. The sign informs you that the Hanami, or viewing of the cherry blossoms in Japan, has been a national pastime since the 8th century.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Throughout the years, different trees have been crossbred to introduce new colours and species. you learn that the trees have a deep meaning to the Japanese people. The fleeting, brief blossoming of the flowers each year represents new beginnings and the transience of everything in life as nature progresses, ever-changing and evolving.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
As you walk along the petal-covered cobblestones, the faint sound of music echoes in the distance. It's a reflective song played on the shamisen, a traditional three-stringed instrument. You stop to listen, closing your eyes, being fully aware of your breath, letting the melody envelop your mind, body and soul.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Opening your eyes again, you find the music leading you along a stone pathway to a small temple. It doesn't look much from the outside, but the rooftop makes you smile. It's wide-brimmed and looks a bit like a hat, the ones you see people wearing on riverboats and in fields to protect their heads from the sun. Two large stone lanterns stand at either side of the entrance.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Instead of entering the temple, you take the winding pathway to the enchanting gardens at the rear. The trees are varying shades of green with a smattering of pink blossoms. A koi fish pond flows through the center. The water in the pond is crystal clear, and as you peer into it, you can just make out the shapes of the orange and white fish as they shimmy left and right beneath the surface.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
Pretty lotus flowers bob up and down on top of the water. Every now and again, the breeze blows, moving them slightly out of position before drifting back to their natural place of origin. There's a small red wooden bridge nearby, ornamental in design but sturdy enough to cross. You step onto it, the wooden slats creaking beneath your feet
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
At the other side of the pond, behind a cluster of bushes, are several large stone statues in seated poses. There are also benches on which to sit. You see a rectangular zen garden to your right and walk towards it. The garden is sprinkled with small plants and several polished stones appear to balance precariously on top of one another in the middle.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You notice a small rake lying on the ground to the side. A sign informs you that raking a Zen garden is often used to put the minds of monks into a meditative state, as they find the action of moving the rake back and forth soothing and relaxing. The sign invites visitors to try their hand at raking too.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
You pick the rake up and slowly begin to make patterns in the sand, feeling a gentle breeze on your face as you move the prongs. You maneuver it first in straight lines towards you, then make undulating sine wave creations in the other directions.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
The Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto
The movement is indeed meditative, and as you find yourself becoming drowsy, you make your way towards a wooden bench tucked beneath a cherry blossom tree. From this viewpoint, you can see the red bridge and the back of the temple. You sit, enveloping yourself in nature. Breathing in, then out again, gently for three rounds of breath.
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A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You realise you're beginning to think of dinner with happy anticipation. You turn and walk slowly back in the direction you came from, parallel to the surf. You see that the shallow imprints your feet made on the way have already been politely erased by the waves. You smile to yourself, acknowledging your role as a visitor to this beach. In a way,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
It is a liberating feeling to only hear the sounds of nature. You feel unobserved, like this is a secret escape. It pleases you to think that even the marks you have made on the beach will vanish, and your visit will leave no trace. Smiling to yourself, you scan the dunes for your silver bicycle. It is leaning against the grass exactly where you left it, waiting for you.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Your steps slow down even more as you walk from the wet area into the powdery, dry part of the upper beach. You focus again on how the small, shifting mounds absorb your toes, covering them as if they are part of the earth. You watch the grains of sand spill over your feet like the contents of an hourglass.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
With each step, you feel the transition as you push from the ball of your foot, lifting your heel. Walking almost feels meditative. As you pick up your bike, you stand and survey the shore one more time. The late afternoon sun casts a golden glow across the landscape The light creates a surprising impression of warmth despite the breeze.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Birds sail back and forth through the air, following an inscrutable pattern. Closing your eyes, you are still savouring the sound of the wind for a quiet moment. Then you turn your bike and roll it back onto the weather-beaten boardwalk. The sound of the surf gradually recedes behind you as the singing of insects in the grass becomes more audible.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
After the sand, the wooden slats feel good under your feet. So smooth. When you reach the country road that brought you here, you stop to put your shoes back on. Then you hop easily back onto your bike and push off with a gliding motion. The ride home seems to go by quickly, but you don't mind because you have a delicious dinner to look forward to.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Coasting back to the place where the bikes are stored, you smile at your silver beach cruiser and return it. you will borrow it again tomorrow. Walking around to the side of the hotel, you climb a couple of wide wooden steps that lead to the broad covered veranda. There are many tables there for you to choose from. Each one is surrounded by wicker chairs. They are laid with crisp white tablecloth
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
The place settings have shining silver flatware and white plates decorated with a delicate blue floral pattern. Other diners recline here and there, taking up about a third of the other seats. They have the carefree look of people who have spent the entire day unwinding. They speak in low voices, laughing delicately and sipping from glasses containing water or fizzy drinks.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You choose a cosy spot in the corner and seat yourself. There is a sweet little vase full of daisies in the middle of the table. A server appears, offering friendly welcome and fills your own glass with icy cold water and lemon. The salty air has given you an appetite. We review the elegant menu. It is filled with lovely, fresh local choices that are perfect for dining outdoors.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
When the server returns, you order a salad and another dish that appeals to you. While you wait for your dinner, you lean back, enjoying the water view. The sun is setting and the white sands make a contrast where they meet the pastel horizon. The breeze that blows across your face is cooling. It will soon be the perfect sleeping temperature.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You think about how lovely it will be to pull the coverlet up to your shoulders tonight and drift off, surrounded by the fresh air from the window. But there is still more of the evening to enjoy first. After a little while, the food arrives. The salad is made of bright green, delicate lettuce and paper-thin sliced red radishes. It is a feast for the eyes. Your other dish is just as fresh.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
It is just the right dinner for this beautiful place. You think to yourself about how much a nice meal boosts your mood you appreciate the careful preparation that is obvious in every detail. You eat slowly, savoring every bite. It's not a heavy dinner, but you feel totally satisfied when you've finally reached the last taste. As your server clears your table,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
She invites you to enjoy a warm drink and some dessert in the sitting room. You make your way through the door that leads inside from the veranda. It opens to the entry of the hotel. The breakfast room is to your left. The rows of identical tables are already set for tomorrow morning, when you know the sun will be streaming brightly into that side of the hotel.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Down the hall, there is a small private gathering happening. You can hear the low hum of conversation and the melodic sounds of a string quartet. The music is lovely. But you prefer to have this time to yourself. You relish that feeling of being apart from the group, doing what you like. To your right, you see the sitting room the server told you about.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
There is a table set up for tea and coffee service. A selection of elegant truffles and tempting cookies has been laid out for guests to sample. Comfortable wingback chairs and overstuffed couches beckon. You appear to have the entire place to yourself right now, which is exactly what you hoped for. Twilight has fallen outside the windows, which are open just a bit.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
The saltwater air drifts pleasantly across the cozy space. Table lamps cast welcoming pools of gentle light throughout the room. You pour your favorite evening drink and take a small plate with the dessert. After selecting the most comfortable looking armchair, you sink into its soft embrace, placing your cup and plate on a nearby end table. There is a stack of books here.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You open one and begin to read a chapter about local wildlife while you sip your drink ever so slowly. the sound of the distant surf forms a peaceful backdrop. Meanwhile, the distant music of the string quartet reaches your sitting room from down the hall. You smile to think that you are secretly getting a private concert. Turning the pages of your book,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
you become absorbed by the illustrations of the birds you saw on the beach today. Your mind is filled with descriptions of sandpipers, gulls and terns. You slowly nibble your treat in small bites, taking long, soothing tastes of your warm drink. Losing track of time, you sink ever deeper into the chair. A surf and the music are lulling you into a drowsy state.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You are vaguely aware of a grandfather clock in the hall as it gently chimes the hour. The music from the room down the hall quietly ceases. There is a hum of activity, closer now, as the attendees of the party head up to their rooms. They speak in warm, low voices, bidding each other goodnight.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You can't make out everything they are saying, but you imagine that they are perhaps making plans for tomorrow. A walk. sunrise swim, a leisurely cup of coffee on the veranda. As the voices dwindle in number, you realize you are quite sleepy and think longingly of your own tidy upstairs guest room with its window on the sea.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Closing the book, you run your fingers along the irregular edge of its heavy, cream-coloured pages. Exhaling completely, you carefully place the book back on the stack where you found it. Standing up, you stretch luxuriously. you realize you have waited until the last of the other guests have vanished from the corridor. The front hallway is silent, but for the ticking of the clock.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
After slowly climbing the whitewashed wooden stairs, you make your way up to your room for the night. Your door opens quietly when you turn the silver key in the lock. The room is a modest size, which lends it an air of snug privacy. The queen-size bed is furnished in simple light colors. It has a weathered-looking antique metal bed frame and is piled with an abundance of soft, cushy pillows.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
In the rest of the room, the patterned wallpaper brings a homey touch to the otherwise simple decor. A lamp glows cheerfully by your bedside. and your fresh white sheets and a pale coverlet have been turned down by the staff. You ready yourself for sleep, slipping on a velvety soft pair of flannel pyjamas. You rest your feet just briefly,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
on the age-worn wooden floorboard, remembering for a moment the similarly smooth wood of the boardwalk from earlier. Sitting on the edge of the bed, you lift your head and look straight out of your window, where the stars are twinkling over the sea. A little breeze winds through the room, infusing it with a lovely salty freshness. Sliding into the crisp, cool sheets, you stretch your legs.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You are completely comfortable here. You breathe deeply and feel entirely relaxed. as you turn out the lamp, causing its golden pool of light to vanish obligingly. You snuggle down into your comforter and inhale deeply, letting the air back out in a sigh of contentment. Lying there, you gaze at the moonlight, It forms a triangle on the painted white wood floors.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Somewhere down the hall, another door opens and closes quietly. This entire seaside retreat is going to sleep for the night, as if in silent agreement. feel like you are cleverly hidden away in this sweet, safe place. A sense of relaxation evades the entire hotel. Everyone here seems so happy and well. Your mind wanders as your eyes begin to feel heavier.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Closing them, you see the boardwalk again in your mind. It stretches almost to the horizon, just a line between the sand dunes. The smell of salt water is all around you. And the grasses whisper mysteriously in the wind. You are sinking into a state of total relaxation. Your mind is free of structured thought. Your breathing becomes slower and deeper.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
We recently arrived at a grand old hotel overlooking the shore. This establishment, an elegant dame of the seaside, is painted bright white. The building has a gabled roof with black shingles that are gently weathered by the sun. It is a dignified place, not showy, and it is only three floors tall. The front of the building is lined with orderly rows of decorative windows.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
The rooms on the highest floor have small balconies that jut out of dormers in the roof. This hotel feels timeless, as if it has been sitting here happily for hundreds of years. But it doesn't seem to be tired. Instead, it emanates a feeling of steadfastness, of wisdom and persistence. It is late afternoon, and the other guests are scarce.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You think they may be swimming, napping, or reading in the sun. All of these ideas sound appealing. But you will save those options for tomorrow. Right now, you are yearning to explore. You borrow a bicycle that stands with a few others on the side of the building. They are made available for guests, just waiting there cheerfully like a gift.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You have selected a silver beach cruiser with a basket on the front. As you take it by the handlebars, you feel the delight of getting to ride it without making any arrangements or asking for permission. It is simply yours for the afternoon. Sitting back on the comfortable leather seat, you pedal forward. You feel the solid presence of this heavy bike beneath you.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
It is made for a leisurely, smooth ride, as if it will never have any need to move too urgently or rush to get anywhere. You coast down a road parallel to the beach sticking your feet wide out to each side for the fun of it. Even though there's not a single person in sight, it's as if you are showing the world that you have a plan not to exert yourself.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You don't really know exactly where you are going, but you are hoping to eventually find your way to the water's edge. A salty breeze is blowing past your ears. It ruffles your sleeves gently as the sun shines warmly on your shoulders. The road underneath your tires is well worn in two large wheel tracks. There is a grassy strip down the middle. You watch the strip run by you
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
a line of green against light brown. As you ride, the dunes rise up and down between the road and the waterfront. When you speed up, pushing the pedals faster, the terrain rolls by rhythmically, taking on a mesmerizing quality. In the spaces between the little hills, you get glimpses of sparkling blue waves beyond, like a game of peekaboo.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You come to a wood plank walkway that heads in the direction of the water. This is where you will pause. Popping off your bicycle, you remove your shoes and put them in the basket that hangs off the front. Then you begin walking the bicycle toward the surf. The planks are smooth underfoot and dusted lightly with gritty sand that reminds you of large sugar crystals.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
You wonder if you are the only person for miles around. Hidden among the dunes, you are immersed in the rustling of the grasses. They wave by the thousands around you. Each individual blade joins with a thousand others in a subtle chorus. The gulls cry out as they soar through the sky above. Up ahead, you hear the relaxing sound of the sea crashing gently on the shore.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
The boardwalk you are following gives the illusion of narrowing further on, where it emerges from the dunes and ends on the beach. The foamy surf gets closer and closer as you near that point. You lean your bike against a grassy little hill. It will be here for you when you return. The powdery sand is loose under your feet at first.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
Its colour is very pale, ranging from almost white to shades of beige. Your toes sink into it, the ground moulding to their shape. As you get closer to the water's edge, the texture of the sand changes, becoming packed and damp. The temperature of it changes too, It retains the coolness of the water that has recently washed over it.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
This part of the beach seems impervious to the warm rays of the sun. You look down while you walk, relishing the idea that you have left your mark on this stretch of pristine shoreline. But as you move, the footprints you made in the sand begin to fill with water. The sea doesn't seem to mind your visit, but it won't let you lay any claim to its shores. The tide is on its way out.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
As you venture even closer, the water occasionally washes over your feet. The sensation is bracing and cold as the tiny waves briefly cover your toes and slide away as if inviting you to give chase. You are not completely alone as it turns out. The only other people you see are a couple who are lounging some distance away in striped chairs.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Sleepy Stay at the Scandinavian Beach Hotel
As you watch, they stand up and run down to the surf, splashing boldly into the cold water. They dive into the waves, determined to take the plunge. Then, shivering lightly, they stand up dripping and laughing together. Returning to their seats, they towel off and wrap themselves in thick, cosy hotel robes. Then they open a wicker picnic basket and begin to share some fruit and cheese.