Lost in Japan

It was a breezy one today, so I wrapped up and went searching for Hokusai. I think I found him.

Today was spectacular. A beautiful day, clear and crisp as a bell. Fuji-san dominated, as it always does on these kind of days. It followed me around all day, and I was drawn to it moth-like at dusk.

Not a supermoon, but nonetheless a super moon.

One of two interesting local parks we have in our city. I don’t visit this one much these days, as I have to use the car to get here, but I used to visit a lot when the kids were smaller, and the zoo next door was more the attraction. A petting section that Hana loved, and a monkey gallery that fascinated (and sometimes included!) Haruki, a semi-famous lesser panda that stood on its hind legs, meerkat-style, and a sit-on train ride were the attractions. Like Hana and Haruki’s childhood, faded or gone now, and I look elsewhere for subjects to photograph.

Oomachi is nice. Has variety in its several walks, and focal points too; the pond, the rose garden, the kingfishers along the stream, and the cats that always seem to be around. On a sunny day, a pleasant place.

A change is as good as a rest, they also say... and I do confess, up until very recently, I did believe them. Now, not so much. Now, I love a good rest.

And, after much consideration, I believe that in actual fact, a change is only as good as a change,and the only thing that's as good as a rest is... another (preferably longer) rest.
This rest was lovely.

It's in an unusually warm autumn this year, which is good for the hobbies, especially taking photos. Unfortunately, it's also an unusually busy autumn at work... sigh... Life is all about balance, or so I've heard it said. I'm guessing those that said it didn't work for a Japanese company, or have kids in Japanese schools... Ah well, at least the books are balanced.

Me? Well, I'm doing my best...

I took a few shots of surf and surfers in the late evening sun the other day. I'm always impressed by the commitment of those guys to their hobby. They roll up the night before, sleep in their wagons, are first in at dawn, and last out at dusk. I guess their schedule's not so different from mine in that respect...

Yeah, I've been known to sleep in the car... of course, it's usually because I've had too much to drink to drive home, so I've crashed in the back seat, slept right through the dawn and woken up dog-rough when the car gets too hot from the sun at lunchtime.

Maybe not that much in common after all...

Sunset... something comes to a close. There's darkness, sure, but also the promise of a new dawn tomorrow... will it be the same again, or will it be something altogether new?