Back in the land of Bento

Light in the Gloom

Home Turf

Birds-eye-View

Mountain in Gradation

Hot Spring Back Streets

Persimmon in Onsen Town

Guardian at the Top

Nice day for a Cycle

Traditional Shops

Have never been in these, sure everything is out of my price range, but I love that they are there, keeping up some of the beauty of traditional Japan.

Salt Pickles

Stored in wooden barrels and allowed to mature.  The smell was, special.

Sun Shine Haguro Shrine

All in the Details

Love the colour combinations and little details that older kimono have.  So much care taken at every stage.

Waiting

Work

Open

Light and Dark

Dark Fun

Kids playing with bubbles..

Summer Curtain

Tarik in Town

It was fun, I'd really been needing to practice in a group with a teacher.  Felt great.

Fresh Air

Ater practice breather.

Cycling

Love cycling around my neighbourhood in the evening, glimpse of mountains everywhere I go.

Vegetarian Cafe

Finally a vegetarian restaurant in Yamagata. The egg is even free range. So good!

Mandala

In the temple to the inner sanctum which houses the Medicine Master, only open to the public once every 50 years. I went for the second time on the last day.  The queues were disappointingly anything but serene.  But still a beautiful morning.

Little Gods Everywhere

Dream Location

This view made me think how nice it would be to wake up to greenery like this, and take a cup of tea and sit on the deck...

Shade and Fresh Green

Breeze from Dark Inner Temple

Yamadera - Mountain Temple

This is the main Temple at the bottom of the climb up the mountain.  Inside the Medicine Master was opened, a once in 50 years event.  The ribbons are tied to the medicine finger, to touch them is to come into direct contact with the deity.

Misty Mountains

Thai Food

Never fails to please.

Fabric Fetishist's Paradise

Pure Thai silk, just gorgeous!

Ganesha Gets Around

Commercial Spiritual Mish Mash

Business in Bangkok

Walk Back Down

Cloud came in, white out!

Hike up to Icy Crater Lake

Not the most clever thing to do with a damaged knee, but sure felt good for the soul ; )

Perfect Setting

We had a lovely Chakra Workshop for the Spring Equinox in the mountains.  Beautiful morning.

Maternity Ashtanga

Shinto Priest Blessing a Car

Haguro Shrine

Shirataka Shrine

Leaving Mt Haguro

Lunar New Year

A trip to Mt Haguro.  Such a lot of snow.  For the first time in my life I lost traction on the uphill and actually started sliding backwards.  Made it though!

Winter Drive

Winter Downtown Yamagata

Sticky Snow