Saturday 31 December 2011

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Sunday 25 December 2011

Goodbye Hidekazu

A good friend passed away on the new moon christmas morning, what more to say.

Thursday 15 December 2011

Felt like another Country

As I drove past this building in rural northern Japan, it felt more like being in India, for a split second.

Thursday 3 November 2011

Zao Dam

Nice cycle and an even nicer walk around the dam, beautiful.

Sunday 30 October 2011

Sake Tasting

Very interesting indeed, I never realised quite what a process Japanese sake is, or how special it is. This area, Yamagata,  has some pretty nice stuff due to the tastey rice and pure water here.

Friday 28 October 2011

Nap up a Mountain


Napping in the autumn sunshine, why do I always seem to be a month behind with my posts.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Hiking

Breathing, thinking, enjoying weather.

Monday 10 October 2011

Yudono-san

The giant tori gate leading to Yudono-san shrine nestled deep in the mountains.

Saturday 8 October 2011

Imoni

Nothing like a steaming bowl of taro potato, leek and mushrooms after a hike.

Friday 30 September 2011

Get on Your Bike

Can't resist re-posting this. Found this floating around in cyber-space.  An artist is spraying this around New York city Never a truer word spoken..

Sunday 25 September 2011

top of moon mountain 月山頂上


1984 metres high, tallest of the three holy mountains in this area

Sunday 18 September 2011

while walking up..

mt gassan.  one of the three holy mountains in this area of yamagata used to be called dewa. home of the mountain ascetics who still train in these mountains...

Saturday 17 September 2011

moon mountain.. 月山

view from the walk up....beautiful...mountain spines

Sunday 4 September 2011

growing gourds..

such curious vegetables, funny to see them hanging around on a little plot on the side of a mountain, lovely morning drive..

Sunday 21 August 2011

morning mountain yoga....

memorable morning with some lovely people on the side of a dewy mountain early before it gets too hot, in the mid 30's for weeks..

mt iwate

sometimes called iwate fuji...

Saturday 20 August 2011

cute construction..

only in japan?  i've seen elephant, monkey, frog, and now rabbit barrier supports...

Friday 19 August 2011

aomori

up north for the waves, can see where the tsunami left it's mark.  not so huge, but big enough to shift concrete and bend trees..

Thursday 18 August 2011

bullet trains kissing

with the slogan in support of tohoku on the side ..

Monday 15 August 2011

top of mt zao

clouds and winds had us heading back down to town..

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Celtic Cross

I do like to loiter in graveyards. This was in Oxford, full of academics, very beautiful and quiet spot.

Sunday 7 August 2011

Thatched Cottage

New Forest, Hampshire, picture perfect.

Friday 5 August 2011

Swimming in Cornwall

Absolutely gorgeous,cold, or rather, refreshing, must get down there again,  beautiful beautiful beautiful.

Thursday 4 August 2011

Sunday 31 July 2011

Sustainability Centre

Went for a look around, very quiet, relaxing, in the country, perfect picnic territory ; )

Saturday 30 July 2011

Southampton

Shame some areas are vacant, the bin men were on strike so the litter was piling up.

Friday 29 July 2011

The other half

Curry in tooting, yum! feels a little bit like India here with all the shops and restauarants, love it ; )

Thursday 28 July 2011

London

Regents Park area, wandering around watching how the other half live, quite differently it seems.