Monday, June 15, 2009
Japan, Naturally
We shopped for toys and souveniers, saw a Cirque du Soleil show, visited the D*sney parks, watched a Sumo training, visited memorable Museum, temples & shrines, rode subways and bullet-trains, ate wonderful ramen and sushi and met some very warm and generous people. But I feel like I have to start with the natural beauty that we saw everywhere we went. Zoom, enjoy!
It was "Iris Season." Purple irises (and other flowers) everywhere!
For Wendy :)
The western Hydrangea is actually a hybrid version of the original Japanese Hydrangea (which you'll see below).
Ravens were easy to spot.. er, hear... they never shut up! I love them and was happy to watch them. They're so shy here in CA, but not in Tokyo or Kyoto. :)
We visited a Shinto shrine called Fushimi Inari ... a park-like shrine spread over a mountain in Kyoto, decorated with 20,000 orange torii gates and statues of the fox god everywhere! But this wild kitty captured my attention. She's very sweet... and very preganant.
My raven friend.
What the original Hydrangea looks like. :)
And below... my favorite nature photo... our guide, Toshi, said that he often stops at this place to photograph for the screensaver on his computer. Who am I to argue with that? It's on my computer as we speak. :)
Japan is truely an amazing country.
Stay tuned for my next batch of photos (ready to go)!
Stay tuned for my next batch of photos (ready to go)!
~Shephard :)
posted by Shephard @ 