Random Sky Scene

One of the last sky shots taken from Shinanomachi before decamping to the suburbs...

式根島 Shikinejima - Paradise in Tokyo

A 10 hour ferry ride from Harumi port in Tokyo (and still in Tokyo) lies the tiny and idyllic island of Shikinejima. Tranquil beaches, hiking trails, 2 natural hot springs, free camping and incredibly friendly people make this my favourite place in Japan. Every June there is an Aquathon, a 750m ocean swim followed by a 5km run. For the last couple of years I've participated in this race, spluttering around the bay and then staggering around the island. See you there in 2010.

A Distinct lack of Hiking...

Hello! A Happy New Year to all or any of you who are still checking this blog. There has been less activity than ideal recently, in both the blogging and hiking sense. 2010 will be a more active year in these respects, it will, it will! Despite the lack of blogging and hiking, I have not been lounging around on me arse, far from it. Work (that annoying interruption to the rest of life) has been hectic, and, having been tethered to terra firma for the best part of 2 years, there was a travelburst towards the latter part of 2009, with trips to Taiwan twice, Thailand and Hawaii. I hope to keep up the pace this year. Here's to a prosperous, productive and peaceful 2010 for all. The posts and pictures above are a summary of 2009!

Normal service...

...will be resumed shortly. Meanwhile, please enjoy the pictures below.

猫と寺 - The Mystery of Cats and Temples

Happy New Year! It's 2009, the Chinese Year of the Ox. Harbouring secret fears of becoming a little too ox-like myself, one of my resolutions for this year is to do as much walking and exploring as I can. The first foray was a 10km amble between Shinjuku (my part of the world), and Kita Senju, an area in Adachi-ku (ward) in the north of Tokyo, home of my mate Dave. The walk took us through parts of town we'd never been through before, and was particularly interesting for the sheer number of temples and shrines that quietly dot the urban landscape. The kanji below forms part of the name of one such temple. 仁 meaning benelovent or gracious, and 寺 meaning temple. Cats are also surprisingly common in the narrow back streets of Tokyo, but seem wary of strangers, and so fleeting glimpses are the norm.