桜、花見、The Season for Sakura and Hanami

Every year around late March/early April the Cherry Blossom trees bloom. They are everywhere in Japan, and huge numbers of people head to the parks, paths and riverbanks to admire what can often be absolutely stunning views. The hanami season also leads to much high spirited, often very drunken revelry. Huge groups of people stake out the best spots with huge blue sheets, and party under the trees until the early hours. The season is brief, but this cold year it has lasted a little longer, as it took the blossom a long while to get into its stride. There is a beautiful tree outside my apartment still in full bloom. The pictures below were taken in Ichigaya, Yasukuni and Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo., and are sandwiched by more Abiko sky and lake shots.

Around Abiko

The pictures below were taken on a wandering weekend, first through Tokyo, the next day round Teganuma, my local lake. There's a colony of cats who live between a fish pond and a chicken farm (who says cats are not smart!) They seem to live a pretty contented life. Incidentally, I just found out that Abiko translated into English means "my grandson". So I live in my grandson. How nice.

Harbinger of Spring?

This early blooming cherry (or is it ume, or is it...) blossom tree caught my eye on one of the few sunny days this winter. Hugging the wall of a dilapidated, long since closed eatery, it seems to be somehow celebrating the past, albeit briefly.

On a less wistful note, I seem to have gathered a small band of followers. Many thanks for your interest. I will try and justify that by posting more regularly. Hopefully the crappy weather of late will improve and allow me to get out and about a little more often...

What is it about planes...

The sun, quite literally, sets on Northwest. I never ever thought I'd be nostalgic about this airline, but I am. I am.

台湾 Taiwan

I have been lucky enough to visit Taiwan twice in the last few months. It's a fantastic place, so close to Japan and yet quite different, in character and landscape. It seems to be less ordered than Japan, yet somehow more laid back with a quirky sense of looking at life. Delicious food of ALL types, literally, and... tea. Tea. I am not known for drinking tea, but spent 3 wonderful hours on the terrace at a tea shop on the mountain at Jofun as the clouds misted and tendriled around us, finally forcing us inside in a burst of wind rain and clattering awnings. Hi Chen!