Dragon Flying

Looking fierce.

Beer Goggle View

Little Snake

Peering out at me.

O'bon

When the spirits return to visit and we head off to Temples to meet them.

BBQ Backdrop

Snuggling Watermelon

Every Cloud

Has a silver lining.

Budding Lotus

Found round the back of a Shinto Shrine in the most peaceful setting.  Can really understand all the spiritual symbolism surrounding these blooms.  Rising up gracefully from the muddy depths.

Zao Dam

Beam of Sunshine

New Incinerators

Five shiny new incinerators to burn all the tsunami debris. Piled so high, we walk through it all to the surf spot, a constant reminder.

Fifteen Months On

Back to my regular surf spot.  Amazing how nature creeps back in and fills all the empty spaces with flowers, fish and insects.  Beautiful.

Rooves of Tendo

Fun

Summer

Best thing to eat when it's 37 degrees celcius indoors!  Phew, hot, do love it though.

Last Coffee

With a housewife.

Yamagata Vegetables

Absolutely delicious darling ; )

Table for Tea

Was very impressed by the laquer work on this table, very original.

Temptation

Sunday Morning Practice

Was just lovely, who could ask for a better start to the day.

Retro Kimono Fabric

Farewell

Could be time to say goodbye to these old boots.  As much as I love them, I just don't wear them anymore. Have done so for the last 10 years.  Hard to let go though.

Designer Fabric

Hermes no less.  Beautiful.

Gassan Nishiki

Yellow Cherries, yep they're supposed to be this colour.  Very delicious too!

Shadow of a Sunset

Teach a yoga class here.  The windows don't open, and we're not allowed to lift the blinds.  We make up for it with practice.  Who thought of designing buildings where you can't open the windows, seriously!

Young Rice

Perfect Morning

Summer Food

This was good, summer salad, risotto and cream of asparagus soup.

Summer Solstice

Charity Yoga Class up the mountain.  Beautiful.  Fresh sweet air, birds singing, gentle breeze good crowd of people.  Thank you.

Radiant

Lovely view when I leave work.

Jion-Ji Temple

What a gem tucked away in the foothills.  Must get back here with my big camera for a morning.  This took me totally by surprise.

It was founded by a Brahmanic Indian priest in 746.  The current structure is only 400 years old.  Shall be making another visit soon, when the cicada are in full chorus, fully equipped with camera gear and notebooks.

Thatched Temple

What a fine temple.  Jionji.  Can't believe this was my first visit to this impressive Buddhist Monastery, and right on my doorstep. It's a very rare place of practice.  Most temples nowadays are very much part of the funeral industry, making money by keeping ashes of the deceased and performing funeral rituals. More like a family business handed down from father to son. Nice in it's own way.  But this place felt..how to say... authentic.

Temple Stairs

Nothing I love more than the feeling of excitement and expectation when arriving at the foot of a flight of stairs leading to a Japanese temple.  The way the gate house peeks out at you from the shady trees at the top.

Giant Pink Rose

Brightening up the staff room.

Time Eater

Been spending hours upon hours on my new obsession.  Making yoga mat bags.  I have a cloth fetish.  Time to finally put my stocks of cloth to good use.  This is one of the first experiments.  Many many more to come.