fluffy cars..

what's it all about? is it only japanese girls that do this?? do people in other countries need furry dashboards and cuddly toys to keep them company on their commute?? this girl fit the bill so well, she was in the overtake lane driving very very slowly chatting on her phone, oblivious to the world outside, and lining up on her tail! couldn't resist taking this at the traffic light!

rose season..

again, this kind teacher is bringing in roses from his garden to brighten up a very decidedly grey office!

kamoshika - japanese deer

looking for a nice spot to do yoga, i found this beautiful deer...ok so a little different from what we usually expect of a deer, but he was so cute, and apparently shortsighted!
*I checked the dictionary, this is a Japanese Serow: a goat-antelope with short, sharp horns, long, coarse hair, and a beard, native to forested mountain slopes of SE Asia, Tawain and Japan.*

new job...

i love that they give me a lovely cup of coffee before my lesson...perks me up ready for the hour and a half of 42 very lively girls!!!

sweets from kyoto...

made from very sweet azuki beans...absolutely delicious, but most difficult to take a picture of!

greenery...

and plenty of it, this is the moat to the old castle that is no longer there, i pass it and breath in deeply on my way to work...

time to fill up the fields!

tea party....

for the full moon, complete with lots of lovely homemade cakes and hawaiin hula dancing : D

portrait...

of a HUGE bee i found on the beach!!

laying in the sun..

fresh spring...

greeeen!!! spring only seems to last a couple of days here, so have to appreciate the delicate fresh leaves while you can! it's already heating up for summer.....26 degrees today ; )

my birthday cake...

in the shape of a fish of all things!! guess that's what you get when you marry a surfer ; )

temple...

at the bottom of mt chitose, i absolutely love this temple at the bottom of my favourite mini mountain...think it's also very old, but must check, shall be back there soon to eat the bamboo shoots ; )

purple mountains...

couldn't quite get the full glory of mt zao in purple, but it really was very beautiful!

golden skies....

and will be golden week soon, a week when practically the whole of japan goes on holiday. time to stay home, do the local thang and avoid crowds!!

need to..

to go to the mountains...

stormy weather..

with a mood to match ; )

all time favourite lunch..

dark buckwheat noodles, and deep fried vegetable fritter, with wasabi and onions....mmmm

cherry monster..

spring is..

popping up everywhere it can ..

books arrived..

from india! always love receiving these cloth wrapped packages..

tree to tree

night time..

walk through the blossoms on top of the banks of an old castle moat...

tis the season to be cherry..

ride to work...

in spring is always beautiful ☆

easter sunday

To Delhi by Train

Lovely way to travel, and this porter was great! Didn't really need my bag carrying, but they take you to exactly the right spot and keep all the beggars away too.

Thunder Storm

Took out the electricity on my last night in Rishikesh, perfect.

Temple to Shiva

Ram Jhula

Beatles came to Rishikesh

In the 60's and studied transcendental meditation here.

Evening With

Some Sadhu

Sipping the Ganges

Foothills of the Himalaya

Cooking Lesson

It was amazingly delicious!! We made Ravratna, Malai Kofta, Veg Biryani and Naan, yum!