tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77039710501371864682024-03-05T19:37:14.883-08:00What lies beyond Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-19532858513381045062013-08-15T22:52:00.002-07:002013-08-16T01:59:58.502-07:00Mt Ontake and the Kaida plateau <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Prior to my first ascent of Mt Ontake (Japan's 2nd highest active volcano after Mt Fuji at 3067m) with paying customers this summer, I was required to go on rekkie to assess the route and to time how long a round trip would take.<br />
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After a two hour bus ride from Nagasaki to Fukuoka airport, followed by an hour and forty minute flight to Nagoya chubu airport, a shuttle-train into the city and finally another two hour train ride, I found myself once again standing on the steps of Kiso-Fukushima station in Nagano prefecture, gateway to the southern Alps and the Kaida plateau. After exploring the town, hiking up to a small waterfall and checking out a local sake brewery I spent the night in a cheap but comfortable minshuku situated on the banks of the Kiso river.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lodgings in Kiso-Fukushima</td></tr>
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The next day a small bus whisked me up from Kiso Fukushima to the plateau and dropped me off across the road from one of my favorite Ryokans, Yamaka-no-yu, where I'd spend the night and prepare for the next day's climb. The lovely innkeeper, Yukiko-san, had arranged a lift up to the cable car station for me and after discussing times and what kind of filling I'd like in my rice-balls I set off on one of the inn's electric motor assisted bicycles to explore and to enjoy the rest of the day. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRSgFU2bNIAQeUucT248GkG00mVihHqPL3WoMl_qptak_AK2Z8NOwW7n5YH6WhWEU-uFQ7plIg1ydvzS4qp1pXvH0H-XqaLhBeU_MoTTvNnIH-_cv-oB7IHTlWmgK5oeElMNoz2DLp-ut/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRSgFU2bNIAQeUucT248GkG00mVihHqPL3WoMl_qptak_AK2Z8NOwW7n5YH6WhWEU-uFQ7plIg1ydvzS4qp1pXvH0H-XqaLhBeU_MoTTvNnIH-_cv-oB7IHTlWmgK5oeElMNoz2DLp-ut/s640/DSC_0119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just prior to an invigorating dip in this crystal-clear stream </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't look too bad, from a distance...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg-R7xSOPlLkq7RwkKfgIzVpv9z4nIEtY6WOj0NYEE0m7dj8Ypi0211hROxNv2q99ehaw6sjO0RWR6MZyqIHhpdYh6zSSbd-P_rAGtIPR13WiWA9cEWkYFLKa2eGgnOZwp3xQDE3QXs7d/s1600/DSC_1284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg-R7xSOPlLkq7RwkKfgIzVpv9z4nIEtY6WOj0NYEE0m7dj8Ypi0211hROxNv2q99ehaw6sjO0RWR6MZyqIHhpdYh6zSSbd-P_rAGtIPR13WiWA9cEWkYFLKa2eGgnOZwp3xQDE3QXs7d/s640/DSC_1284.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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In third gear and with the motor doing most of the hard work, I peddled uphill for about 4km in order to find a waterfall that was shown on the anime-esque map I'd picked up at the Inn's reception counter. I could hear the roaring waters pounding down onto the rocks below well before I reached the base of this 30m tall cascade. Needless to say, a refreshing swim was out of the question on this occasion, but the cool breeze given off by the torrent and the rainbows refracted in the spray made for a magical thirty minutes of contemplation.</div>
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Later in the afternoon while on the way back to the inn I stopped off at a small local shrine nestled in the cedar forest at the base of a small mountain, my only company being a plethora of moths, including the one below, which was the width of both my palms, and an array of small, delicate flowers growing in the dappled shade, their blooms hung down as if in prayer before the sanctuary they surrounded. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffdvycNQOLPYJn1jGsK7JGu3bGoTwmhjX2nfnoZpSzXNEKr70PC3VeMAKSQvgXdjZ_xZVhslJag0BweV0vfoZ1FlwXYNfjB4e2jL019iISq2DSL3nNNHHrwKuOcHHJes53QTL57DX5SpK/s1600/DSC_1298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffdvycNQOLPYJn1jGsK7JGu3bGoTwmhjX2nfnoZpSzXNEKr70PC3VeMAKSQvgXdjZ_xZVhslJag0BweV0vfoZ1FlwXYNfjB4e2jL019iISq2DSL3nNNHHrwKuOcHHJes53QTL57DX5SpK/s640/DSC_1298.jpg" width="428" /></a><br />
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The next day, after a 6:45am breakfast of grilled salmon, rice, miso-soup and a few other small dishes, I set out with the father of the inn-keeper in his car to the Ontake ropeway station. We arrived at just before 8am in time for the first lift and after agreeing a pick up time later in the afternoon said our goodbyes. </div>
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The journey up to the top station and the trail head took about a quarter of an hour, the air outside remarkably cooler up there at just over 2000m. </div>
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Initially the path was quite easygoing; flat with little incline, meandering through a lush green forest of low growing conifers and <i>sasa</i> bamboo grass on a well maintained path covered with soft wood chips. </div>
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That didn't last for long though and soon the path gave way to split log steps that rose steeply through the forest for about 1.5km, past the 7th and up to the 8th station.</div>
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Just beyond the 8th station lay a short section still covered with the previous winter's snow, tenaciously holding out against the early July heat. Although not adding much of a challenge to the route it was a nice contrast against the surrounding shades of green and the vivid blue sky above.</div>
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Along the way, between the 8th and 9th stations were reminders that this mountain has long been considered as sacred to certain sects of Shinto worshipers, and subsequently to the Buddhist adherents whose own beliefs had merged with those of their more ancient forbears. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_Y_YZToocfI3xuFW7G_Ll3ZXNiLxmHdiGj_p6I0ovAne3qaa_BGf3eXsOFeCHE26ghv1hgbHqY1ZhH5_mPiuRo04U3P-sgfJuvL5wDfRYfe_QlYAZ-gt7EELuoBvBoOjR5owtPywSpIT/s1600/DSC_1318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_Y_YZToocfI3xuFW7G_Ll3ZXNiLxmHdiGj_p6I0ovAne3qaa_BGf3eXsOFeCHE26ghv1hgbHqY1ZhH5_mPiuRo04U3P-sgfJuvL5wDfRYfe_QlYAZ-gt7EELuoBvBoOjR5owtPywSpIT/s640/DSC_1318.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Statues of Buddhist priests and their accoutrements seated below an Shinto <i>torii</i> gate, small statues of <i>Jizo </i>and numerous memorials engraved in stone flanked this route that was opened in the early 17th century by an ascetic monk named <i>Kakumei</i> in order to open the mountain to more lay people. Prior to that the only other main route had required a one hundred day period of purifying ablutions, and until relatively recently both routes and indeed most of the mountain had been off limits to women, deemed to be inherently impure due their natural monthly bodily functions. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSdCxTj6XlzVRFy_4Iq6m9b7NB9Y2aj3vo91BK1tQ2lLt-HO7WlKDruunGdV2_4lc-aAd-BEyTmm4a0mc4Oo79JPyYkkUhqjttlRMAPN9eAwqYNHMFc9-DtgGYbr-zIyYVcEpGpUAts4A/s1600/DSC_1309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSdCxTj6XlzVRFy_4Iq6m9b7NB9Y2aj3vo91BK1tQ2lLt-HO7WlKDruunGdV2_4lc-aAd-BEyTmm4a0mc4Oo79JPyYkkUhqjttlRMAPN9eAwqYNHMFc9-DtgGYbr-zIyYVcEpGpUAts4A/s640/DSC_1309.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijItFiNRKwuu5h9IbF8wDdVjATEkS_1sGowcI31je3Kd731E9iAWt16jNzcyHBAD4cO_aDndCHnWc18J3JcqmIIuKmUkWcEvD_7Q49nSDlzQiifckej3LxD0RWVtSidPz4iqB9x1Om1d_Y/s1600/DSC_1319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijItFiNRKwuu5h9IbF8wDdVjATEkS_1sGowcI31je3Kd731E9iAWt16jNzcyHBAD4cO_aDndCHnWc18J3JcqmIIuKmUkWcEvD_7Q49nSDlzQiifckej3LxD0RWVtSidPz4iqB9x1Om1d_Y/s640/DSC_1319.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJpvTT8JMRmtQxh_CzyOb-QRwPyRKv9bS_8OpLr7HUDiJuZxgthH2DypLqvLaxbBxyyTgFvlS7VL-FTqsEFuw1lG1o1BW1q2cK_1oanCIFoOMi-vFunwJOrZ_jNEZ66E7F8m8s7MUcGpD/s1600/DSC_1320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJpvTT8JMRmtQxh_CzyOb-QRwPyRKv9bS_8OpLr7HUDiJuZxgthH2DypLqvLaxbBxyyTgFvlS7VL-FTqsEFuw1lG1o1BW1q2cK_1oanCIFoOMi-vFunwJOrZ_jNEZ66E7F8m8s7MUcGpD/s640/DSC_1320.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmsFmRzyOFCalTOez9xFtcSE6BXIDGNt3i6wwNtw4pCX4L_su4tXG6ZS5TCKARNZDlaIt8SZEqev0hasn6kL9SwYSzLvHXbknndmENRlutfHScGM0U1XXoK2SZnvfDT54OoXoqo3nuG8m/s1600/DSC_1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmsFmRzyOFCalTOez9xFtcSE6BXIDGNt3i6wwNtw4pCX4L_su4tXG6ZS5TCKARNZDlaIt8SZEqev0hasn6kL9SwYSzLvHXbknndmENRlutfHScGM0U1XXoK2SZnvfDT54OoXoqo3nuG8m/s640/DSC_1321.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down towards the 8th station as clouds begin to rise from the plains below</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7gBjhylXGLfCb8sMhA9H3z4qShQNns1h0YNlz8vQPWSfjB0AgxaWcpdo5C4owPHaTCPw87UjbdMvaOMwRBKAU0o7PCXZpmtdQRS5DjlnZg4Fkt9C5ix6ntBYTiANnXFrdMTMxJggNaTU/s1600/DSC_1325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7gBjhylXGLfCb8sMhA9H3z4qShQNns1h0YNlz8vQPWSfjB0AgxaWcpdo5C4owPHaTCPw87UjbdMvaOMwRBKAU0o7PCXZpmtdQRS5DjlnZg4Fkt9C5ix6ntBYTiANnXFrdMTMxJggNaTU/s640/DSC_1325.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqTR1BfbtFB16n68TSSzaKNOj7zogtzTyKrYI3NppZZXdXjv5L9sVG5dzlkcwSYpXC2DIi3TuNBpA63ws7lmRTUTdtmUiTzpwkZrMGCXZKdIFZ1qEHWZIvnVRN5Ftbz_5bb6kK9ORPNy-/s1600/DSC_1324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqTR1BfbtFB16n68TSSzaKNOj7zogtzTyKrYI3NppZZXdXjv5L9sVG5dzlkcwSYpXC2DIi3TuNBpA63ws7lmRTUTdtmUiTzpwkZrMGCXZKdIFZ1qEHWZIvnVRN5Ftbz_5bb6kK9ORPNy-/s640/DSC_1324.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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The two huts in the photo above looked deceptively close, as most things tend to on mountains, and with the tree line now well below and a number of hidden ridges above it was getting tricky judging distances. From this spot to the second hut took about half an hour at a reasonably casual pace over volcanic gravel, rocks and boulders. The wind, when blowing in the right direction, carried a strong sulfuric odour that had originated from one of the active vents situated just below the summit. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicATTZOZp_quwgf07Mmvtwm5TyQaH94QpzQippk-z2_7ya5VuedMf9LQbAlefLVmclnryGVsrpbn2UJZ9ePvIS1pM7JZh_CfuZZOEi_YoHRXbab1UOTaYBCavwAm22-5ETVAS8jL-_SyuZ/s1600/DSC_1326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicATTZOZp_quwgf07Mmvtwm5TyQaH94QpzQippk-z2_7ya5VuedMf9LQbAlefLVmclnryGVsrpbn2UJZ9ePvIS1pM7JZh_CfuZZOEi_YoHRXbab1UOTaYBCavwAm22-5ETVAS8jL-_SyuZ/s640/DSC_1326.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bronze statue of the priest Kakumei standing next to a small shrine in which his remains are supposed to have been interred.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoXA1Uw6JDV3U87P8WKExUcNSm6tdfRjAvmZudW_VNf8qlnYPT5oNQy_AWNs2MrRfAz-pnEMl2VsDYDfyuSycpCUsiNsb8vs8Kxo7qrokTBB-wmI_N1ajIJRGV6eFUwYFYkJLJx6g_f7p/s1600/DSC_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoXA1Uw6JDV3U87P8WKExUcNSm6tdfRjAvmZudW_VNf8qlnYPT5oNQy_AWNs2MrRfAz-pnEMl2VsDYDfyuSycpCUsiNsb8vs8Kxo7qrokTBB-wmI_N1ajIJRGV6eFUwYFYkJLJx6g_f7p/s640/DSC_1327.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After passing the last of the huts where I arranged to return later for a cup of powderd green tea, and paying respects at the alleged burial spot of the priest <i>Kakumei,</i> the route to the last section lead up over a ridge, past the imaginatively named <i>"2nd lake" </i>and on to the summit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT2-O05g5uur5Ry_crQ8rsyOPRQqPGKsu1aQf44XtXqEJKQVk96FAwO82xt6iV2UL4le8VoewgqmYpWacnVgaAu7788EW4CPSyHvurMFPXCK90AFQe6yjW3KvBdnanDp-ww-E4PdxP2ID/s1600/DSC_0104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT2-O05g5uur5Ry_crQ8rsyOPRQqPGKsu1aQf44XtXqEJKQVk96FAwO82xt6iV2UL4le8VoewgqmYpWacnVgaAu7788EW4CPSyHvurMFPXCK90AFQe6yjW3KvBdnanDp-ww-E4PdxP2ID/s640/DSC_0104.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV9ZvHXO3uObZL2xgqSZA2fM5SufMgqvXDhDKROwPrP-UInw-wUnF7KNnSy5lHsoLspuWemPQiuwGM19QotPtU3Pjcd8WB5GrXZSckohT7YNexFoiZnllOJgqGt0stsAbwg-whiVvO2_x/s1600/DSC_1328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV9ZvHXO3uObZL2xgqSZA2fM5SufMgqvXDhDKROwPrP-UInw-wUnF7KNnSy5lHsoLspuWemPQiuwGM19QotPtU3Pjcd8WB5GrXZSckohT7YNexFoiZnllOJgqGt0stsAbwg-whiVvO2_x/s640/DSC_1328.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Legend has it that the first man to climb the mountain disturbed a dragon sleeping in the only lake up there at the the time. Incensed that a mere mortal had entered his realm, the dragon thrashed about in the water sending a number of drops crashing down that would come to form the other four of the five lakes that dot the summit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzURln6GHuXdQHhYUKCsGmm1-hMNTlUFav6VMspgXBpGwoVhqCWnks7QzsnjZRuJ57vwej32xpC4DtHAuHS1ij5CL6cto8N6uf9ldbofN2rRXor3i_SrJXH1ELtBqabK0xr0Q67_djOFE/s1600/DSC_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzURln6GHuXdQHhYUKCsGmm1-hMNTlUFav6VMspgXBpGwoVhqCWnks7QzsnjZRuJ57vwej32xpC4DtHAuHS1ij5CL6cto8N6uf9ldbofN2rRXor3i_SrJXH1ELtBqabK0xr0Q67_djOFE/s640/DSC_1338.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FCSZQ0Gc5XvlFlRTzhqsXn651xv57F3lTJJj1krdmOYMakBj0E9nnljyzXiiHlBDaMSxXsg4Hn7XgdScbppTbLy0FrPxRqGMFJZujaIVz2fY-9Lzv-g2q_nocsZ5f9EGjiasPZS0FP1O/s1600/DSC_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FCSZQ0Gc5XvlFlRTzhqsXn651xv57F3lTJJj1krdmOYMakBj0E9nnljyzXiiHlBDaMSxXsg4Hn7XgdScbppTbLy0FrPxRqGMFJZujaIVz2fY-9Lzv-g2q_nocsZ5f9EGjiasPZS0FP1O/s640/DSC_0101.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adherents of the Ontake-kyo sect descending after paying respects at the top </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzKXpSh_C7LCzDNZvjquXSNzk75PxsWvjfKqoV5y5l8LS7whvdgACkq8Vb_0eHI5bywBWaTwhsrU2GNgFU2vFrKzjdpIUwgqMA8-t_AZ0IL6QMzBI5y-g2QaFRJq-XZ59ttzwvPPlIE7B/s1600/DSC_1329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzKXpSh_C7LCzDNZvjquXSNzk75PxsWvjfKqoV5y5l8LS7whvdgACkq8Vb_0eHI5bywBWaTwhsrU2GNgFU2vFrKzjdpIUwgqMA8-t_AZ0IL6QMzBI5y-g2QaFRJq-XZ59ttzwvPPlIE7B/s640/DSC_1329.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final push</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJebww5-seYs9LlOj-yNd-sGAY7LThoUuhZd2K2N26-QGhibX9HUzCE5l56yawn35O5zf50eAC7kSPf5GmMFUkLBQhEVj6GcDk4-RDIztNlmyMQ8NRv5cGUJLX-DRUNyrUx_V919E3EVq/s1600/DSC_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJebww5-seYs9LlOj-yNd-sGAY7LThoUuhZd2K2N26-QGhibX9HUzCE5l56yawn35O5zf50eAC7kSPf5GmMFUkLBQhEVj6GcDk4-RDIztNlmyMQ8NRv5cGUJLX-DRUNyrUx_V919E3EVq/s640/DSC_1330.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHeGfz9jOJGS7oaAhrp_6R6RTJV7sE2v9XYeZ4VEvbYQruhepVUOmOJE9AbTN3HbgV6dCXi6QSkrOG0DkkYbt-kIzkyrlxIMxv7_dRM5HkU7Pztfe4h6KmhInXxvi8l1d_URatYzccQLd/s1600/DSC_1333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHeGfz9jOJGS7oaAhrp_6R6RTJV7sE2v9XYeZ4VEvbYQruhepVUOmOJE9AbTN3HbgV6dCXi6QSkrOG0DkkYbt-kIzkyrlxIMxv7_dRM5HkU7Pztfe4h6KmhInXxvi8l1d_URatYzccQLd/s640/DSC_1333.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The active crater on the South face of the mountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EXbYIf6e4gk7LCvNNqGiZsywUHeVGxlApauDwcsMBNkA0KWRGAD5ZV0I20bwQPVin5ZI2kCixf5BXwHi5yyGCWidNk7oWQmPGVenDQQyPUIn75QNC4NH6QoxGZtgnOfo7eojGVp1HgKw/s1600/DSC_1337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EXbYIf6e4gk7LCvNNqGiZsywUHeVGxlApauDwcsMBNkA0KWRGAD5ZV0I20bwQPVin5ZI2kCixf5BXwHi5yyGCWidNk7oWQmPGVenDQQyPUIn75QNC4NH6QoxGZtgnOfo7eojGVp1HgKw/s640/DSC_1337.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After two and a half hours and almost a kilometer of ascent</td></tr>
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Having reached the summit and eaten the delicious rice-ball lunch that my inn keeper had supplied me with I headed back down for a cup of tea and a chat with the volunteers of a small NPO that runs and staffs the hut at the 9th station.<br />
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One of them turned out to be a <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony" target="_blank">SadÅ</a></i> master who, while recounting the legends and history of the mountain, proceeded to produce a full array of tea paraphernalia which he used to prepare a fresh cup of fragrant macha. </div>
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After drinking the the thick, bitter tea and diligently going through the motions of clockwise/counter-clockwise rotations my host handed me one of their business cards, printed on a paper-thin sliver of<i> Hinoki </i>cypress with the altitude, 2960m, stamped at the top. Proof that, for this moment at least, here above the clouds we were taking part in the highest tea ceremony in Japan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW9A90l7R_ssP1Aim9Yl42hmMOKpXN2yCpOPq7MXMPwjloTWftNzOOgL8oYpH4v4kyzrfIhFU1YsySfVV02O6fVsUteBFV08656VdKxL3hfwZjDOA_hxm_W5NuTN-JE7JJ4gXuW78SDAJ/s1600/DSC_1344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW9A90l7R_ssP1Aim9Yl42hmMOKpXN2yCpOPq7MXMPwjloTWftNzOOgL8oYpH4v4kyzrfIhFU1YsySfVV02O6fVsUteBFV08656VdKxL3hfwZjDOA_hxm_W5NuTN-JE7JJ4gXuW78SDAJ/s640/DSC_1344.jpg" width="428" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC50SWJqLEQE6L9lMIPmrnxoVd_-t1jsK4213-pydevzxCvC_CulSSD3Y6XOMvQENiKVhduBa0QAMJrXAy1RjZpjSgD6q0LtgL5UgMLAkDS2aWzdIvjrzT9OFot6xUpXK1-QJgkZP3vvWO/s1600/DSC_1347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC50SWJqLEQE6L9lMIPmrnxoVd_-t1jsK4213-pydevzxCvC_CulSSD3Y6XOMvQENiKVhduBa0QAMJrXAy1RjZpjSgD6q0LtgL5UgMLAkDS2aWzdIvjrzT9OFot6xUpXK1-QJgkZP3vvWO/s640/DSC_1347.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-12615320110427482502013-06-09T00:20:00.003-07:002013-06-09T00:39:50.023-07:00Volcamping <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With the rainy season officially upon us here in Kyushu the prospect of a night's bum-camping was causing some trepidation before we set out on the bus to Unzen. As it turned out though, the rain held off and we remained un-dampened from above, although the +80% humidity did keep the swollocks decidedly betty for the duration of our trip.<br />
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Although I'd climbed the route up from the Nita pass to the top of Mt. Fugen dozens of times over the years this would be the first occasion that I'd be sleeping up there, a literal stone's throw from the smoldering volcanic peak of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Unzen" target="_blank">Heisei shinzan</a>, <br />
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I suggested this idea to my guest and companion, Alex, whom I'd met a month earlier on the <a href="http://chickenbento.blogspot.jp/2013/04/the-nakasendo-steppers.html" target="_blank">Nakasendo</a>, when I told him that he was welcome to stay at my place should he feel so inclined, and that if he did, I'd also take him to my local volcano for a hike (as you do).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulfurous deposits from the depths of the Earth</td></tr>
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After arriving in the hot-spring resort town of Unzen we had a stroll around the sulfurous hydrothermal vents and downed a few hard-boiled eggs that had been cooked to perfection in one of the many steaming crevices dotting the area.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a walk around town and prayers to Fudo-myo-o for a safe trip up and back down we headed up the road to the trail head, which runs parallel to Japan's oldest golf course in Japan's oldest national park. </div>
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The path leads up from the golf course to the Nita pass where most day trippers park their cars after having driven up from Unzen via an extremely Alpine toll-road. From here, you can take a cable car up to the ridge station at 1333m, although we chose to take the steep hiking trail instead.<br />
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From here, we followed the ridge towards Kunimi-dake before switching right and taking the steep trail down in to the valley where a number of azaleas were still in bloom, peppering the verdant slopes with splashes of bright pink.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Kunimi ahead</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outcrop on the top right was our goal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning the descent into the valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick rest and hydration before the final push up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fugen-dake peak with Heisei-shinzan volcano summit behind</td></tr>
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The night before we left I thought it would be appropriate to let my companion know where we would be spending the night... <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex looking SE towards Amakusa and southern Kumamoto</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bivvying down for the night, at 1360m, beside an active volcano.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun sets over Kunimi-dake with the cape of Nagasaki trailing off left into the distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final rays of the day </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning.</td></tr>
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After a blustery but dry night we awoke to the amazing dawn chorus of thousands of Japanese nightingales, their distinct calls resonating around the valley below.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot coffee and peanut-butter filled buns for brekkie with a view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NvhA80HSv5ZVfkwkDe8YfuGE6vasqcOIuabJdlZCxGdlZVosaF3PCcZjBigNNiEdPfyIRZWDzVDgl5hgXvhPXrp4Dy5vJIFP3yseOtptmG3CYvRTKKFcdwcqHruClDVcNSkJd5-y-rkZ/s1600/DSC_1247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NvhA80HSv5ZVfkwkDe8YfuGE6vasqcOIuabJdlZCxGdlZVosaF3PCcZjBigNNiEdPfyIRZWDzVDgl5hgXvhPXrp4Dy5vJIFP3yseOtptmG3CYvRTKKFcdwcqHruClDVcNSkJd5-y-rkZ/s640/DSC_1247.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back down to the Nita pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5foxGB_IqYeAbHEj7dWj9HDC7jt1lIcxPGr9zRJCru9lL9NQ96hrjKwwnlPtvfdJQl1xNSFAQ5XsJroe4v-OCAX5lIv1gVXibVNODVPeXw0n3Mmu-f3fOz8RFwsEgvkBPAPxKkElZSN9d/s1600/DSC_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5foxGB_IqYeAbHEj7dWj9HDC7jt1lIcxPGr9zRJCru9lL9NQ96hrjKwwnlPtvfdJQl1xNSFAQ5XsJroe4v-OCAX5lIv1gVXibVNODVPeXw0n3Mmu-f3fOz8RFwsEgvkBPAPxKkElZSN9d/s640/DSC_1248.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View over the golf course and Unzen from the Nita pass. </td></tr>
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Once back down in the village of Unzen Alex headed off to seek out some brunch while I set up my hammock on the shore of the Shirakumo-no-ike (white-cloud lake) and caught up with the sleep I'd lost the night before. We agreed to meet outside one of my favorite hot springs where we would soak in the eggy waters before getting the bus back to the city at 1pm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ2SBfLZmqqqsWSYXV8f3vn1HIjLuSe2USR4FJfUWIYzBLBMCF1fZiZh5tiOVyIsqtiXZBt6Z6fWc4xSmOtI8lSf33hmI6LXP1Js4VAwtmdbs7aFffvocKQSubdhD3qWfUpEpMyGLF6Fv/s1600/DSC_1252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ2SBfLZmqqqsWSYXV8f3vn1HIjLuSe2USR4FJfUWIYzBLBMCF1fZiZh5tiOVyIsqtiXZBt6Z6fWc4xSmOtI8lSf33hmI6LXP1Js4VAwtmdbs7aFffvocKQSubdhD3qWfUpEpMyGLF6Fv/s640/DSC_1252.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small shrine to the God of hot water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BGA0XsAlwh1Rd5l6luisZep5CIrBwa0bW0d4Mdv8ww1nKWgXlzJJKK8oY-ib9Ez6xS_jOfEzYjS5nPZ6pFpMrK6NMf7wqUjs218UYsCIyC3XWgd-vXkP4iN3NY8oJSCTM2Kt8xrYJoKc/s1600/DSC_1251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BGA0XsAlwh1Rd5l6luisZep5CIrBwa0bW0d4Mdv8ww1nKWgXlzJJKK8oY-ib9Ez6xS_jOfEzYjS5nPZ6pFpMrK6NMf7wqUjs218UYsCIyC3XWgd-vXkP4iN3NY8oJSCTM2Kt8xrYJoKc/s640/DSC_1251.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite things about this hotel's outdoor bath is the "Beer phone", a direct line to reception<br />
where the only question they ask upon answering is "Yes Sir, how many?".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhqCVAukOtq9nt6rhXTr86Lb5Qh50nLs_nOoPIYXsB-qgrzblQ_uZ0NsGqNbOKdRixkrTtM7vF47ULCyaeBmmKUK1PGmhJzxI2-vEvoDwPG99w5sK_TFWZovLtZMgXAfEoWF6gbzm50Lm/s1600/DSC_1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhqCVAukOtq9nt6rhXTr86Lb5Qh50nLs_nOoPIYXsB-qgrzblQ_uZ0NsGqNbOKdRixkrTtM7vF47ULCyaeBmmKUK1PGmhJzxI2-vEvoDwPG99w5sK_TFWZovLtZMgXAfEoWF6gbzm50Lm/s640/DSC_1254.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is no better way to finish a hike than this...</td></tr>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-84099106466145373412013-05-05T08:53:00.000-07:002013-05-05T17:47:20.175-07:00The Aso moonwalk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's <i>"Golden week" </i>again here in Japan and as usual this annual amalgamation of holidays brings with it a combination of great weather, traffic jams and for most people, the start of the official climbing season. </div>
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My wife and I decided to combine a spot of house hunting in Oita with a bit of hiking in Kumamoto, driving from Nagasaki to check out an old-ish farm house that we'd had our eyes on for a few months before heading down into the Aso caldera to do a circuit of the volcano and the peaks overlooking its still very active crater. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkGYrbjdfbk1ZUGGixMhYLRVWk99FpvRVAa-Vg-DpurmzfP-QtHaQ0dvS7oa9UF8wKe13b7CFI6IQxfpX1B3CpTIY6X8rh69GBzLLbVL47drl5RugwJZqsipbIMW6JOS301NWLvTq-a7X/s1600/DSC_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkGYrbjdfbk1ZUGGixMhYLRVWk99FpvRVAa-Vg-DpurmzfP-QtHaQ0dvS7oa9UF8wKe13b7CFI6IQxfpX1B3CpTIY6X8rh69GBzLLbVL47drl5RugwJZqsipbIMW6JOS301NWLvTq-a7X/s640/DSC_1063.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We found the house (above center) with its lovely surrounding woodland and bamboo groves just outside the small town of Takeda in south-west Oita. Although it was in a beautiful location, with plenty of land and a barn, there was no way we'd ever think about buying it in the state it's in. If it were to let we might have considered it, but the amount of work and money that it needs just doesn't make it a realistic option. We'll just have to keep dreaming for now...</div>
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The town itself is tiny and really doesn't have much going for it these days. It's main draw seems to be the small number of old <i>Buke-yashiki</i> Samurai residences, some still inhabited, that line one of the streets. The building above is the entrance gate-house of one of them!</div>
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After a quick dip in a nearby onsen we drove up into the hills above the town of <i>Aso </i>situated<i> </i>just below a massive active crater that regularly spews out clouds of noxious gasses,<i> </i>in the middle of one of the worlds largest calderas.</div>
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We would spend the night on the lower slopes, sleeping in the car in one of the car parks clustered around the now defunct Sensuikyo cable-car station, at about 900m altitude, in order to get an early start and to enjoy the sunrise the next morning. Before bedding down in our sleeping-bags we went on a quick rekkie to check out the possible routes and to catch what turned out to be an amazing sunset.</div>
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After a reasonably good nights sleep, we were up and out by 5:15am. I decided the previous evening that the best route would be the paved route that heads up right from the Sensuikyo car park towards the crater, before it switches left onto a ridge and up to the peaks above. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbikARzocmc2Z64-XTinFV1_9rgFq4wTuA6XsJSaEOwZnSJJFgL-3GQfHapvuvfCw-RyOtAHpyQHYDjEhhmVRuB9YljV_gFiMF7t8ySn3MFDCk0L4xuklphw2wr0vOm6LsLVZHDx8Zz4hv/s1600/DSC_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbikARzocmc2Z64-XTinFV1_9rgFq4wTuA6XsJSaEOwZnSJJFgL-3GQfHapvuvfCw-RyOtAHpyQHYDjEhhmVRuB9YljV_gFiMF7t8ySn3MFDCk0L4xuklphw2wr0vOm6LsLVZHDx8Zz4hv/s640/DSC_1083.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Banzai!</i></td></tr>
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Upon reaching the top of the old cable car route we were confronted with the sign below. After first carefully considering the imperative tense in which it was written, and then checking the wind direction, I made the executive decision to press on up to the crater rim. What's the worst that could happen? Asphyxiation, as it goes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8eBCJImar4bTc-F1v9BXSmENYiRxkBqPIr6w2GAMCO21FUtZjtM40vjIDnWdXgLQVO1VPXQcV2RSF_nokfzmXCF2HiulZCCDrttVDhVU7Y8ojp3uJKgtnz5Ti_U6-3y57aAXTWjAr_KQ/s1600/DSC_1096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8eBCJImar4bTc-F1v9BXSmENYiRxkBqPIr6w2GAMCO21FUtZjtM40vjIDnWdXgLQVO1VPXQcV2RSF_nokfzmXCF2HiulZCCDrttVDhVU7Y8ojp3uJKgtnz5Ti_U6-3y57aAXTWjAr_KQ/s640/DSC_1096.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At pain of death, literally.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcanic projectile bunkers on the path up to the crater, the ridge up to the peaks on the left beyond.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUwkQ6eSF1EE9ruOH38zrrc6cvKjAVpMKQXIlTkH9M5K9mXNOGI_JkBsXGRnHiUBl19Ocsu9tQ4JDk3T9WMTkhwWhC0l4Rl3JFk5s35gHj9O3OojTp08C_7HqJ4peKVoVQgwWGdNol8Tz/s1600/DSC_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUwkQ6eSF1EE9ruOH38zrrc6cvKjAVpMKQXIlTkH9M5K9mXNOGI_JkBsXGRnHiUBl19Ocsu9tQ4JDk3T9WMTkhwWhC0l4Rl3JFk5s35gHj9O3OojTp08C_7HqJ4peKVoVQgwWGdNol8Tz/s640/DSC_1099.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ridge up to äžå²³ peak. </td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">After skirting a small section of the crater rim we headed left up onto the ridge that leads up to the first of two peaks above the huge crater. It's really difficult to get a sense of scale from the photos but the crater itself (bottom right in the shot below) is half a kilometer wide and over 200m deep. The sulphureous gasses wafting up in dense clouds of steam were thankfully drifting away towards the West. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The barren moon-scape of the Aso volcano.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRLE1Cir5Zg9QcsRiro9n4r58ByffEmmPSEwduRqWHaLMJPIgTuOPxDsmwzocFPk3prB8gy0BVUpmOYbToo8Hhc0eodriIyBxdmXT6u5KCd8NdzbjHzIebwXlp9m0KyYx2hBt3KsjYVMA/s1600/DSC_1101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRLE1Cir5Zg9QcsRiro9n4r58ByffEmmPSEwduRqWHaLMJPIgTuOPxDsmwzocFPk3prB8gy0BVUpmOYbToo8Hhc0eodriIyBxdmXT6u5KCd8NdzbjHzIebwXlp9m0KyYx2hBt3KsjYVMA/s640/DSC_1101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPSbfD-rheZVTIw41xmNZExcWvLjJFaJmKDGXWs_7BMizY_kgMtOvncl3WW1clHJoy01yPMlw9p68YRY9IUxDHuI6kcBhA_TUPgcB7qHwegk7aMkuqziAC7S8XmO00CMbanzIGLa47EjJ/s1600/DSC_1103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPSbfD-rheZVTIw41xmNZExcWvLjJFaJmKDGXWs_7BMizY_kgMtOvncl3WW1clHJoy01yPMlw9p68YRY9IUxDHuI6kcBhA_TUPgcB7qHwegk7aMkuqziAC7S8XmO00CMbanzIGLa47EjJ/s640/DSC_1103.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distances can be deceptive when there's nothing available for comparative reference. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaFrqyWPr92dPiKWbPDZMTdBeIOD_ZdewBpq4-scDQO0hxVAekqvf8RCBjqqp4iSCyrGczyKkjSoVCletyUpEFELYV2VJA6u_YmspT_NmMLm64JN8SkJAiDet4nD6GJSti7_cwHBQhF6v/s1600/DSC_1104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaFrqyWPr92dPiKWbPDZMTdBeIOD_ZdewBpq4-scDQO0hxVAekqvf8RCBjqqp4iSCyrGczyKkjSoVCletyUpEFELYV2VJA6u_YmspT_NmMLm64JN8SkJAiDet4nD6GJSti7_cwHBQhF6v/s640/DSC_1104.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit5fnInqXcukeYxBWTY5dpxmVkZikENzCk3AaUa54NcpwxLH1gOpRMYJ6s1nMa1Df3LnGfjc4PuCHmyu0341tjkfvioJC_Nrm_yjW5ONxbrREvzhTtynuvdRs9vMTPUIWXNWQuKxsyK02/s1600/DSC_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit5fnInqXcukeYxBWTY5dpxmVkZikENzCk3AaUa54NcpwxLH1gOpRMYJ6s1nMa1Df3LnGfjc4PuCHmyu0341tjkfvioJC_Nrm_yjW5ONxbrREvzhTtynuvdRs9vMTPUIWXNWQuKxsyK02/s640/DSC_1106.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wife on top of <i>Naka-dake </i>(1506m), looking North with the crater below left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rll0m4dGABTMoTd76dcr_c3dd9Y6O-Ihpw0bJJo3mlTkxbBtwa2-AYxlnUe2Cpl_WuIuQgUyRy3onEsGBNy_X7eu9PEFB8joS8Nsi4F6Hy0zIKnwOGrw6rdV41Jk7F1fIUM7QOF4MyWw/s1600/DSC_1108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rll0m4dGABTMoTd76dcr_c3dd9Y6O-Ihpw0bJJo3mlTkxbBtwa2-AYxlnUe2Cpl_WuIuQgUyRy3onEsGBNy_X7eu9PEFB8joS8Nsi4F6Hy0zIKnwOGrw6rdV41Jk7F1fIUM7QOF4MyWw/s640/DSC_1108.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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After enjoying the view from Naka-dake we headed south-east along another ridge towards Taka-dake, the highest of the Aso peaks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bTv10A5PJykMzo1rlNmrQB3nKZyaQ6oMuk4fzSdc5Dy_hHFjjb-SNWaFyc2nWSD5qUGn5IoFQG1xPuEq8_-mrJHIIb9ts9_LjEdejewKHvqVr0wqgFJs7W8uDXN43lxDLk6Z4sIIBA1_/s1600/DSC_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bTv10A5PJykMzo1rlNmrQB3nKZyaQ6oMuk4fzSdc5Dy_hHFjjb-SNWaFyc2nWSD5qUGn5IoFQG1xPuEq8_-mrJHIIb9ts9_LjEdejewKHvqVr0wqgFJs7W8uDXN43lxDLk6Z4sIIBA1_/s640/DSC_1109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ3hwMxZfy29Jrc2QzyZ62fapjqkaO2E53uJiS5RLfvA1hUGNLuXSDisryjfQy_sOfKiby2U9cmfL0wkIjzWArP3n_IV007QlULhvj5oyP_oUGteNuJpdC3W7xHdwJJzNcro8YBameIc0/s1600/DSC_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ3hwMxZfy29Jrc2QzyZ62fapjqkaO2E53uJiS5RLfvA1hUGNLuXSDisryjfQy_sOfKiby2U9cmfL0wkIjzWArP3n_IV007QlULhvj5oyP_oUGteNuJpdC3W7xHdwJJzNcro8YBameIc0/s640/DSC_1110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVQlzNLm-tyScLgnE5yE2cIcOY0zSlL1In18GCuaHy7Cgj7gha6oes6KrelBQ5S24yBv67ZBXgFDygmc56RnXILSdCD17YvYc9dV0R5P6PfmqiBjdMDRZDWa0jCSb14JITvXDXcTRwdlq/s1600/DSC_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVQlzNLm-tyScLgnE5yE2cIcOY0zSlL1In18GCuaHy7Cgj7gha6oes6KrelBQ5S24yBv67ZBXgFDygmc56RnXILSdCD17YvYc9dV0R5P6PfmqiBjdMDRZDWa0jCSb14JITvXDXcTRwdlq/s640/DSC_1111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFl-ddMrmrK2A_YZTLHl1C2OVGOGxrZ-rMrulasI9KnzBE39yWz2gLdPSlvA_lazDSAhZfM4yyYjBKOZHHUutrTiTc4fsQI09zuo8dxlClfsiVOyb17FfSy1ffvtAfsDUFRSjQOr-ccFj/s1600/DSC_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFl-ddMrmrK2A_YZTLHl1C2OVGOGxrZ-rMrulasI9KnzBE39yWz2gLdPSlvA_lazDSAhZfM4yyYjBKOZHHUutrTiTc4fsQI09zuo8dxlClfsiVOyb17FfSy1ffvtAfsDUFRSjQOr-ccFj/s640/DSC_1114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The peak of é«å²³ (1592m).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xMqdXlH3Y0-m9cDEzdo2PhQQhDme2FIT2XbZn4vLF_1oFxKOBXeB65BLPiutTNFXmEfpZiS8BwnRrhHFyoUcZcmA6LfD5L4j8QuLw2d6RL7pE08lqdqhXPJcVDSzFZTK7Jecl-QIyIvI/s1600/DSC_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xMqdXlH3Y0-m9cDEzdo2PhQQhDme2FIT2XbZn4vLF_1oFxKOBXeB65BLPiutTNFXmEfpZiS8BwnRrhHFyoUcZcmA6LfD5L4j8QuLw2d6RL7pE08lqdqhXPJcVDSzFZTK7Jecl-QIyIvI/s640/DSC_1117.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><i>"Some may say<br />I'm wishing my days away<br />No way<br />And if it's the price I pay<br />some say<br />tomorrow's another day..."</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuJ-Aa1nUk3yLvMsUp6x1ctM-EU7TozGY3P6pcrmz6vss-y5Ato5sYBRKB82Bsar5-oLwcDBiOHQK6a7PDTgkqI2Do6XJK5uiga407kjLRdOptqVlJedE_KD4efvGL63Ajjlc2duJzXzO/s1600/DSC_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuJ-Aa1nUk3yLvMsUp6x1ctM-EU7TozGY3P6pcrmz6vss-y5Ato5sYBRKB82Bsar5-oLwcDBiOHQK6a7PDTgkqI2Do6XJK5uiga407kjLRdOptqVlJedE_KD4efvGL63Ajjlc2duJzXzO/s640/DSC_1119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIe2uEL4tHp6MRyalJFxJ103IZsemHwM9aFhS3pUp4COb3e8tgWuE71BY2IZqzHQR923ZL3tTomdwmpBpHeXWQMQBOU-QGRO8MfGlSvqX5LY0qrA0CdkHf1GUSABowMZ-UBm3FUap5du9/s1600/DSC_1120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIe2uEL4tHp6MRyalJFxJ103IZsemHwM9aFhS3pUp4COb3e8tgWuE71BY2IZqzHQR923ZL3tTomdwmpBpHeXWQMQBOU-QGRO8MfGlSvqX5LY0qrA0CdkHf1GUSABowMZ-UBm3FUap5du9/s640/DSC_1120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vytel4sx3ZLBpDvO_EHdiuQGJxNsK28LspqfNUM7v0ZVmHNIgKkd3m3BCe4fL-uSOHbT9mes1YgXr2LuHRweYKGh-Z_eg3wDsF5jbTDiT3Ird4oBBYH-_JcmvpAMm0iGYYXmx-Os7yp1/s1600/DSC_1124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vytel4sx3ZLBpDvO_EHdiuQGJxNsK28LspqfNUM7v0ZVmHNIgKkd3m3BCe4fL-uSOHbT9mes1YgXr2LuHRweYKGh-Z_eg3wDsF5jbTDiT3Ird4oBBYH-_JcmvpAMm0iGYYXmx-Os7yp1/s640/DSC_1124.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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I talked my better half into following me through the scrub and over to another little route that looked "interesting". The rocks around this area are unlike any I've seen anywhere else and are great fun to climb. They're also extremely photogenic!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOo0YgMRC6iZK7oikqBZdkz4NbiQncyVTEi8P6ZmdXLRGzePvDSdzG6AD9NMiGBD5BDeqE1Zt3m4nXlcDpIzFGYLF0RBvnvy5XJEyMfVROjZ1nOu4aOA5NsplOcuK-1gJjBS3MKux8CFB/s1600/DSC_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOo0YgMRC6iZK7oikqBZdkz4NbiQncyVTEi8P6ZmdXLRGzePvDSdzG6AD9NMiGBD5BDeqE1Zt3m4nXlcDpIzFGYLF0RBvnvy5XJEyMfVROjZ1nOu4aOA5NsplOcuK-1gJjBS3MKux8CFB/s640/DSC_1125.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyomKdepEC3yy95cY5WBtWjRQm2DQMLP38malP5vZhJ6Uq83rG2OfsH71d09DLzym3FcduHXzECKRtyltvJ-bcKqFLwh7HojkYWqiIWzU3jdhbmS1jf4-dMEhL2f8Au6sAwrhvY6H3s-P5/s1600/DSC_1129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyomKdepEC3yy95cY5WBtWjRQm2DQMLP38malP5vZhJ6Uq83rG2OfsH71d09DLzym3FcduHXzECKRtyltvJ-bcKqFLwh7HojkYWqiIWzU3jdhbmS1jf4-dMEhL2f8Au6sAwrhvY6H3s-P5/s640/DSC_1129.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beaut'! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik000tax5nEUZ0OJo_e881mUCH8QqSdaYy2fymMnUPJbRzxWFS66pH6iACiUVTZyNv_p4DkBRft_AX65TSt-xhPM_H5KruETayZtlcbYD_4a0qQW4LIjPNv6L6k7ZOzH3uzzffgM84BrdA/s1600/DSC_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik000tax5nEUZ0OJo_e881mUCH8QqSdaYy2fymMnUPJbRzxWFS66pH6iACiUVTZyNv_p4DkBRft_AX65TSt-xhPM_H5KruETayZtlcbYD_4a0qQW4LIjPNv6L6k7ZOzH3uzzffgM84BrdA/s640/DSC_1130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Even though it was still only around 8am the skies that had been so clear during the night were unfortunately beginning to become quite hazy. After a break and a few shots of Neko-dake to the south we headed back over to the ridge and began the long, steep direct route back down towards the Sensuikyo car park. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAVy_9lEnEySnrsDwk1AjXWySiKiOCPLRUjIH9Sbb0A1SAyxs5_PP6oy2L_RA_O7pD_ZJy8krdSL3kJjHfh-M0tPBjXWkkudTdw2orKQ6sJqWGhn3VtCTHc_lzmN0quvl6jmQmE8pK6mW/s1600/DSC_1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAVy_9lEnEySnrsDwk1AjXWySiKiOCPLRUjIH9Sbb0A1SAyxs5_PP6oy2L_RA_O7pD_ZJy8krdSL3kJjHfh-M0tPBjXWkkudTdw2orKQ6sJqWGhn3VtCTHc_lzmN0quvl6jmQmE8pK6mW/s640/DSC_1131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECIYs1jfIbIjS_UvH22rp2TtgpIX_qh0qrPxyutO779eMFTJUKuZAIx2L1F1GtJQntZT6yv6tD2YR_keHCpeaqC_ONTbVrl0p_LWP4qijHy-9uRwvxhD7pNikdTvNn8VirCtU2_8gNV0S/s1600/DSC_1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECIYs1jfIbIjS_UvH22rp2TtgpIX_qh0qrPxyutO779eMFTJUKuZAIx2L1F1GtJQntZT6yv6tD2YR_keHCpeaqC_ONTbVrl0p_LWP4qijHy-9uRwvxhD7pNikdTvNn8VirCtU2_8gNV0S/s640/DSC_1137.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The car park visible far below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjy5l2P2yRUTuKRUhrVkoiJw8dfIm04wncGoWq-mCeQ6oQcEO11D8ubE1oW1s3ObHod35nCBRglVfUVZ4fbLulrrYuOjViNgYNumCs3-VtS1i4X8OWQmzfL1_8FH2Lv8lKYcjDM5dxvX/s1600/DSC_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjy5l2P2yRUTuKRUhrVkoiJw8dfIm04wncGoWq-mCeQ6oQcEO11D8ubE1oW1s3ObHod35nCBRglVfUVZ4fbLulrrYuOjViNgYNumCs3-VtS1i4X8OWQmzfL1_8FH2Lv8lKYcjDM5dxvX/s640/DSC_1135.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switching down and briefly back around towards the crater.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6zxTTAevH-mX6W70W0_UJvgF-1sWtzD1XTFS09kiXiRehFvWy087eG7Y1cjlaG0Z4jIpVBzLFnwgUm9FJ1kX34l9An0527TS3cdobwdfpgRNruk-ksbQXMKwuwJb6MqMCDC4Au19JJTo/s1600/DSC_1138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6zxTTAevH-mX6W70W0_UJvgF-1sWtzD1XTFS09kiXiRehFvWy087eG7Y1cjlaG0Z4jIpVBzLFnwgUm9FJ1kX34l9An0527TS3cdobwdfpgRNruk-ksbQXMKwuwJb6MqMCDC4Au19JJTo/s640/DSC_1138.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2Xz41T_V99FLHPJToZX79lR_5cSlwUqCwXZj2pK5FD5WTOjQ97HtSagBC2JVLDFHBAFbSXGGWu8QuFA0TI75qegVdGX8mDaIGR2iiG9mc8Ta0JIu343bZuT5QaiU6RvfosnwSkt3Xnth/s1600/DSC_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2Xz41T_V99FLHPJToZX79lR_5cSlwUqCwXZj2pK5FD5WTOjQ97HtSagBC2JVLDFHBAFbSXGGWu8QuFA0TI75qegVdGX8mDaIGR2iiG9mc8Ta0JIu343bZuT5QaiU6RvfosnwSkt3Xnth/s640/DSC_1140.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strata visible on the way down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvyWOtICyGmwFIN3YMw7D5MhgfEbfNqArBGB_vywzFRR7QtEu5vgsWfCetH8q4UJvWvn6tzsUji3E2cdWT6BT1oxaQ7R4dVamzix7ZAkgW8f-bpgg-k_NVjiYpFsAAvacovgTAZXZiwzd/s1600/DSC_1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvyWOtICyGmwFIN3YMw7D5MhgfEbfNqArBGB_vywzFRR7QtEu5vgsWfCetH8q4UJvWvn6tzsUji3E2cdWT6BT1oxaQ7R4dVamzix7ZAkgW8f-bpgg-k_NVjiYpFsAAvacovgTAZXZiwzd/s640/DSC_1141.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most technical section of the route.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNeVD2x5MY1ajugoUDg2iarvjSk8udAgVIYvX9_Tco_gDEqlA8_7KJAPZCf1_3zNyeIRuZtK3dMK5BoCq0qqXGdEjywAvsrm0hwIPDyk7dYPBSpvDYgr1TBZ_RdtBIFT4_tleKDWTiyhb/s1600/DSC_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNeVD2x5MY1ajugoUDg2iarvjSk8udAgVIYvX9_Tco_gDEqlA8_7KJAPZCf1_3zNyeIRuZtK3dMK5BoCq0qqXGdEjywAvsrm0hwIPDyk7dYPBSpvDYgr1TBZ_RdtBIFT4_tleKDWTiyhb/s640/DSC_1143.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzzpij4BJK3MjrXICeiNgQpHuM65GMOtH-aQyGj6oxnZqdOhVGY1A-0QcFCkNVU7V4TNxtZhMp3_bMtIGQZpes4mA-TVSUenunulqixGrUKxuBOd6fMv8UkLSptllVO1puUk94Z-J2SiK/s1600/DSC_1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzzpij4BJK3MjrXICeiNgQpHuM65GMOtH-aQyGj6oxnZqdOhVGY1A-0QcFCkNVU7V4TNxtZhMp3_bMtIGQZpes4mA-TVSUenunulqixGrUKxuBOd6fMv8UkLSptllVO1puUk94Z-J2SiK/s640/DSC_1145.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty steep on the way down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudE1btPR7Difsr5mspkA79E840LohP2B414kl6q5-ck9Pn3pLXvEkzf6YG6CGYWPN48IfmDurwRoZYoe2taZW6B7IYmFmHN0fzwQuIAcrIBmeHeSw4zFaEWiikFIrI-eUwBnwwvw4KsfI/s1600/DSC_1146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudE1btPR7Difsr5mspkA79E840LohP2B414kl6q5-ck9Pn3pLXvEkzf6YG6CGYWPN48IfmDurwRoZYoe2taZW6B7IYmFmHN0fzwQuIAcrIBmeHeSw4zFaEWiikFIrI-eUwBnwwvw4KsfI/s640/DSC_1146.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About an hour down from the ridge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgveOyZlqUVgcVvcWkBMFvLyRHhJGek47qV0E-el9scqVHcr7NSbbp5gkgmuMRXPIgdjmWj6PlKOD0IX4qaixsR5wvKmUs7V9xtDKwbYCjfOmtCkFvNH0NDGIzXMzdsFnTo7dVXImBjq7/s1600/DSC_1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgveOyZlqUVgcVvcWkBMFvLyRHhJGek47qV0E-el9scqVHcr7NSbbp5gkgmuMRXPIgdjmWj6PlKOD0IX4qaixsR5wvKmUs7V9xtDKwbYCjfOmtCkFvNH0NDGIzXMzdsFnTo7dVXImBjq7/s640/DSC_1147.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there! </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTXTy0VK0msajm4e5CUUulhh94sjhrVFrf7QWmCoMCl2gA_NbiTi6pra_lBv7jpZDDfbUXQH7DULIDPiLNlpxfFYXNYhieUonT4a4OCjgjNqCv26-p-IC4VgFeve5H28j5IhFNkDvMDPd/s1600/DSC_1149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTXTy0VK0msajm4e5CUUulhh94sjhrVFrf7QWmCoMCl2gA_NbiTi6pra_lBv7jpZDDfbUXQH7DULIDPiLNlpxfFYXNYhieUonT4a4OCjgjNqCv26-p-IC4VgFeve5H28j5IhFNkDvMDPd/s640/DSC_1149.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdTfamebxucJavDweyn4C60CdaiiY9KedZWgFAp7AgEoeQXaxg-LXSHbJ85aeKbGADOcYZ0irqshaSM1K-iQrKZz5TQwyltgUSvVIZfpkkhLUpjZxvHSrKEgkFg8KfYZApdWYHftNTUVB/s1600/DSC_1150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdTfamebxucJavDweyn4C60CdaiiY9KedZWgFAp7AgEoeQXaxg-LXSHbJ85aeKbGADOcYZ0irqshaSM1K-iQrKZz5TQwyltgUSvVIZfpkkhLUpjZxvHSrKEgkFg8KfYZApdWYHftNTUVB/s640/DSC_1150.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The car park still about 15 minutes away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUObimMeieVOTOrSKRTcSPvwcQrqTwiv6oOIA46XzUCm8mGgzLgGKx7a7OlehbTIYdCYusQ2-VXLVYtAsHIBD-14_1sNYk-WPkGl6ci5xB3WDFiNUc79glpGst5lt2mrHJ0AFLFIJiwhe/s1600/DSC_1154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUObimMeieVOTOrSKRTcSPvwcQrqTwiv6oOIA46XzUCm8mGgzLgGKx7a7OlehbTIYdCYusQ2-VXLVYtAsHIBD-14_1sNYk-WPkGl6ci5xB3WDFiNUc79glpGst5lt2mrHJ0AFLFIJiwhe/s640/DSC_1154.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soaking the old dogs and reviewing the route down.</td></tr>
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After a morning up on the mountain we found ourselves back at the car park at around 10am. The route that we had taken took us on a four and a half hour circuit around the crater of an active volcano, saw us gain almost 700m in altitude and ascend two peaks. Not bad going at all, but how does one follow that up? The answer lies below ground in the geothermal waters that the area is famous for. There really is no better way to finish a day's hiking than in a hot, sulfurous hinoki onsen...<br />
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...well, maybe just one!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmIu4CoPP4TZmzKAveqYh4Lc0BWT3cSmmb3m-lPpdWlMHgKnK8O7ynvXQESD-oIOZUpkr_XZjXtr2RD4-qCiKtl6RE4SiDEJYfuFmyXuxCJy2pxgwwl2BPsUaoMuZ5Ae06DpfOoemnjz2/s1600/DSC_1162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmIu4CoPP4TZmzKAveqYh4Lc0BWT3cSmmb3m-lPpdWlMHgKnK8O7ynvXQESD-oIOZUpkr_XZjXtr2RD4-qCiKtl6RE4SiDEJYfuFmyXuxCJy2pxgwwl2BPsUaoMuZ5Ae06DpfOoemnjz2/s640/DSC_1162.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Keep it up, keep it up..."</i></td></tr>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-50934949436114016272013-04-22T00:35:00.000-07:002013-04-22T00:38:57.719-07:00The Nakasendo Steppers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">â If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself; if you want to eliminate the suffering of the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.â</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">â Lao Tzu</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> Have you ever spent 10 days in a foreign country with 9 strangers from 4 different countries, from 8 in the morning to 10 at night? Me neither. Until last week. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> The random e-mail that I fired off to a wonderful <a href="http://www.walkjapan.com/" target="_blank">travel company</a> a couple of months back, which at first took me on a short but eventful <a href="http://chickenbento.blogspot.jp/2013/03/walking-fine-line-in-kunisaki.html" target="_blank">trip</a> to their offices in Kunisaki, led me on April 10th to Kyoto where I was given the opportunity to tag along and experience the Nakasendo, an ancient highway running between the ancient capital and the modern one, via ancient battlegrounds, mountain trails, old post towns and a couple of bullet trains.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> The trip, as you'll see, was amazing. Travelling deep into an area of Japan that I had yet to experience, staying in a wide variety of top-class accommodation, and learning about it's history with an experienced British guide was outstanding. The thing that really made the trip though was spending time with the paying customers who hailed from Australia, the US, Canada and Singapore. Truly fantastic people who by the end of the trip had bonded in an almost unbelievable way. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> For me personally, a sense of trepidation preceded the trip as I was there not only to experience the trek itself but to be tried and tested by our guide and main man, Llew, with a view to becoming a guide myself. Hopefully a good impression was made and my abilities fairly judged. Time will tell. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">For now, Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the best of <i>The Nakasendo</i>... </span><br />
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-40642351307903274552013-03-28T06:43:00.000-07:002013-03-29T21:33:32.140-07:00Kumano KodÅ trek day 7 / One final pilgrimage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i> ãã¿ãããããã </i><i> Crystal clear, </i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i> éãå
ãã sharp and bright,</i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i> 埡å¿ã¯ </i><i>the Exalted Heart</i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i> æªéã®å·£ãã allows no opening</i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>ãããšãŠããªã for evil to roost.</i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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As any true Aikidoka will tell you, the time spent on the tatami is just a minute part of our training. The physical techniques are polished and refined in the dojo, but the real work takes place off the mats and in the real world.<br />
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The basic tenet of Aikido is non-violence. If possible avoid conflict, but if such a situation should occur, seek an outcome in which both parties remain as unharmed as possible.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0DhnAnGd8PY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> We learn how to control, redirect and blend with simulated attacks, how to throw and pin a would be aggressor, and how to protect ourselves should we also be thrown, grabbed, stabbed, punched or kicked. We even go as far as to practice with swords and five foot long staffs.<br />
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But the higher, philosophical nature of Aikido is something that must be practiced at each waking moment, not just while wearing the dogi and hakama.<br />
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A respect and reverence for all living beings, a desire to help create a better world, to polish one's own mind in order to become a better human being, these are the true goals of Aikido as set forth by it's founder, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morihei_Ueshiba" target="_blank">Morihei Ueshiba</a>, or O-sensei as he is often respectfully referred to.<br />
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My life has been greatly influenced, and continues to be so, by the teachings of this great man, and one of my long held wishes had been to someday visit the town where he was born, and where his remains were laid to rest, in order to pay my respects and to express my sincere gratitude to him.<br />
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I was extremely fortunate that the return leg of my recent <a href="http://chickenbento.blogspot.jp/2013/03/kii-hanto-pilgrimage-koya-san-kumano.html" target="_blank">Kumano kodÅ</a> trip would take me through the town of Tanabe on the West coast of Wakayama prefecture, where after a sleepless night in a budget guesthouse, I would have the opportunity to bow before his grave.<br />
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I arrived in Tanabe from Nachi without a hotel reservation at around 5pm and first impressions of the town were not amazing. The whole of the plaza outside the train station looked like a building site, although there was no construction in progress that was obvious to my eyes. The buildings were dilapidated and rusting, a town seemingly in terminal decline with no obvious attractions apart from it's connection to three long deceased historical figures, the most famous of whom was Benkei, the warrior monk.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5QuRwATiaHlurbKHZ717oPArxGIizGzdL2tilLrTI2Rn13RUQ37Swt5xBm90XWEdYO4Y7YcUL1H5UssVS8aQRfakZ4_Rt-NxtNjUwUVV3wvBWsndpKqTXxOelpaDAqpjkHBcs9X6Cl3T/s1600/DSC_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5QuRwATiaHlurbKHZ717oPArxGIizGzdL2tilLrTI2Rn13RUQ37Swt5xBm90XWEdYO4Y7YcUL1H5UssVS8aQRfakZ4_Rt-NxtNjUwUVV3wvBWsndpKqTXxOelpaDAqpjkHBcs9X6Cl3T/s1600/DSC_0648.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benkei, overseeing the chaos and mess of the eki-mae</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
The two cheerful and very helpful old ladies manning the desk at the nearby tourist info center pointed out a few spots on a guide map, including the birthplace of O-sensei, which apparently had long ago been razed to the ground.<br />
Closer inspection of the map revealed a guesthouse nearby, a stone's throw away in fact, so after thanking the old dears for their help I headed over the street to try my chances.<br />
As luck would again have it, there was room at the inn, and after the usual formalities of checking in to such establishments I was shown to the tatami room I'd be sharing later in the evening with two other men.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoh1pwg6n2aaaG1wmaAWGy0bo-4ND-IBs99eA2ZTvpp1cYWg1eGe-xLb6vnB16OsbXWDdaT3CAPC5SxyGH6EZKFM3IRfVR9V3Y8YOuqRS7BdZIqMSDChpt0zMuf_JbCaNL4toLeYZqqwL/s1600/DSC_0618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoh1pwg6n2aaaG1wmaAWGy0bo-4ND-IBs99eA2ZTvpp1cYWg1eGe-xLb6vnB16OsbXWDdaT3CAPC5SxyGH6EZKFM3IRfVR9V3Y8YOuqRS7BdZIqMSDChpt0zMuf_JbCaNL4toLeYZqqwL/s640/DSC_0618.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tennku guesthouse</td></tr></tbody></table> The owner of the guesthouse and the guy working on the front desk were both nice chaps, and for ¥2500, bath and board, you can't really go wrong. The free use of a mama-chari was an added bonus which I made use of in order to seek out a bronze beach-side statue of the founder.<br />
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After checking out the statue I rode back towards the guesthouse, stopping off to pick up what turned out to be the worst tasting, greasiest tempura-don I've ever had the misfortune to eat. Still, it went down and stayed down, and after an early shower I was in my futon by 7:30pm ready for a good sleep.<br />
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My hopes of getting in some decent shut-eye were scuppered around midnight, when the rotund, long-haired otaku who was sharing the same room started snoring so loudly that he woke me up. His raucous din prevented me from ever getting back to sleep and I found myself getting up at 5am and heading out into the still dark streets in order to save myself from smothering him with my rice-husk filled pillow. An exercise in self restraint like none I've ever had...<br />
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A quick stop at a Lawson for some breakfast and a twenty minute walk later and I found myself standing before the gate of Kozanji, the temple of the high mountain, with a small bouquet of flowers that I'd bought from a self service stand along the way.<br />
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Still before 7am and the sky was overcast, grey clouds hanging low above the temple grounds. In this diffused dawn light however, the colours around me seemed incredibly vivid. In contrast to the drab, rusty hues of the town outside, the garden and the path to the cemetery were glowing with verdant mosses, colourful flowers and various types of beautiful cherry trees all in blossom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHwtdCJsemS9vx4oN4CY4c7aifjF7BRl6cDoL2lpKKTUFaYgft1WR9n6-NEl7CduvwD_iq2f6CmPn-NyAlh7HRg4v6q3JTwdkYJw3V4ASPFzNfowLpL7lPLqItK44u5hbNGasWfAAvvW1/s1600/DSC_0641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHwtdCJsemS9vx4oN4CY4c7aifjF7BRl6cDoL2lpKKTUFaYgft1WR9n6-NEl7CduvwD_iq2f6CmPn-NyAlh7HRg4v6q3JTwdkYJw3V4ASPFzNfowLpL7lPLqItK44u5hbNGasWfAAvvW1/s640/DSC_0641.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0hPokhgWpN6Axu3SGQDOgdbUdwqnlqkNd2ykW-c9nWDuaz6HFWuEheCO-Fnaz97UGW36CqzbQrHBVFhj1DeVzCFOhzA47_zsas7LrLNRDzJ3O6bnpZB_5rbX3v4HtzFk8IdOwoSlT5-e/s1600/DSC_0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0hPokhgWpN6Axu3SGQDOgdbUdwqnlqkNd2ykW-c9nWDuaz6HFWuEheCO-Fnaz97UGW36CqzbQrHBVFhj1DeVzCFOhzA47_zsas7LrLNRDzJ3O6bnpZB_5rbX3v4HtzFk8IdOwoSlT5-e/s640/DSC_0645.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-ythYElBy42JXzNuqWfmQI86s_FWfW6ZLDz_njai4X6EZFaPRcdH95lX1g9UtUQ3I-fza_CM-aU4Gp1mpOA-dbyGRXd9hxdaYhC12apfvQUJFiRwFyT_ewn2z39eX6JI0ZMxarbheiag/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-ythYElBy42JXzNuqWfmQI86s_FWfW6ZLDz_njai4X6EZFaPRcdH95lX1g9UtUQ3I-fza_CM-aU4Gp1mpOA-dbyGRXd9hxdaYhC12apfvQUJFiRwFyT_ewn2z39eX6JI0ZMxarbheiag/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzbZx-mgTVBnreM_HDqs_-KNiakF-__KXRwdOK2T_lJLW4ag8xuSs5wPOYoiXLQKMqydwCsPZ8yB6g5zjI2Vjs_DIaVlzktLjj1yYVeoq_4PPCcMv5Pnr_QFV5oeVk3AISKL_bb_cYiVH/s1600/DSC_0638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzbZx-mgTVBnreM_HDqs_-KNiakF-__KXRwdOK2T_lJLW4ag8xuSs5wPOYoiXLQKMqydwCsPZ8yB6g5zjI2Vjs_DIaVlzktLjj1yYVeoq_4PPCcMv5Pnr_QFV5oeVk3AISKL_bb_cYiVH/s640/DSC_0638.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB6uFI2Q2Byu1Kc58cnOz66knw3is4YQjpzIuw6Bo-xLZTG5g_352sRNgI-KyrbiHyAk-H4wWuXVzNx73OX3UQJJd3GnbzL5rP20T20F8kUFFRKjZuaMCAkUoBEXfa2Ro6rYTZT-jB7kI/s1600/DSC_0647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB6uFI2Q2Byu1Kc58cnOz66knw3is4YQjpzIuw6Bo-xLZTG5g_352sRNgI-KyrbiHyAk-H4wWuXVzNx73OX3UQJJd3GnbzL5rP20T20F8kUFFRKjZuaMCAkUoBEXfa2Ro6rYTZT-jB7kI/s640/DSC_0647.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuexiB_6_BGFUMDiOJYlYy2FuXWdMCfejVLxGK6o446HRy2mPtjjd0ps-gTnSl8wu2M5pn_x_2IrazShnkewX7ApagyKBiKCtFz4OjnaWtS_8Ei0hmFIn0pTPhOm3sFMe4AIKgTLIoE4mY/s1600/DSC_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuexiB_6_BGFUMDiOJYlYy2FuXWdMCfejVLxGK6o446HRy2mPtjjd0ps-gTnSl8wu2M5pn_x_2IrazShnkewX7ApagyKBiKCtFz4OjnaWtS_8Ei0hmFIn0pTPhOm3sFMe4AIKgTLIoE4mY/s1600/DSC_0644.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiROrFjqdvcUh10qD5VZKq7PVAu2zYOjI9fQP4G3Cv0l19hD78kT3u0JLwFSzaY_0TCt5T0i5Yyp64sSn8IHqIi6lvQ716vPFC3YeNH4OQm-la-4hHsTmDsJjawAN-exEwMZP6ZiVogomN/s1600/DSC_0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiROrFjqdvcUh10qD5VZKq7PVAu2zYOjI9fQP4G3Cv0l19hD78kT3u0JLwFSzaY_0TCt5T0i5Yyp64sSn8IHqIi6lvQ716vPFC3YeNH4OQm-la-4hHsTmDsJjawAN-exEwMZP6ZiVogomN/s640/DSC_0635.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> After a little searching, on a tombstone tucked away in a corner of the cemetery, a simple inscription;<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei O.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptQf8QE_tgjXEJvFqm3HI6aJCHAM7Q0omA74qr6xX1N5iRRVg7vHpEzj1di8jpDc-5y7_1L3mdxb47MEFJMe_pBjbR8BC5nYuQ47mcMNSxq72CcrDd3T8wVdFbtQrDy8-zNB2HdXWU08b/s1600/DSC_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptQf8QE_tgjXEJvFqm3HI6aJCHAM7Q0omA74qr6xX1N5iRRVg7vHpEzj1di8jpDc-5y7_1L3mdxb47MEFJMe_pBjbR8BC5nYuQ47mcMNSxq72CcrDd3T8wVdFbtQrDy8-zNB2HdXWU08b/s1600/DSC_0634.JPG" /></a></div> I cleared a few fallen leaves from the surrounding gravel, added the flowers I had brought to the bouquets that were already there, joined my hands for a moment, then finally, bowed deeply.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-66186025276749761042013-03-28T00:36:00.003-07:002013-03-29T21:33:22.508-07:00Day6 of the Kumano kodÅ trek / Yunomine-Shingu-Nachi-Tanabe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> I'd been getting used to rising with the sun each morning since my trip started 5 days earlier, and today was no exception. After dinner, another soak in the minshuku's onsen and a quick call to my wife to say goodnight, I had fallen quickly into a deep sleep the previous evening and awoke now at just after 5am. The sky outside was clear but still dark, although the glow of the approaching dawn could be made out above the mountains surrounding the small valley of Yunomine onsen.<br />
I headed to the bathroom up the hall to brush my teeth, past the rooms where a small group of young Swedes were still fast asleep, and then proceeded down the stairs in my blue and white yukata to the hall where, after slipping into a pair of brown rubber slippers, I quietly unlocked and slid open the front door and stepped outside.<br />
The air was as clear and crisp as it had been during the previous mornings up in the mountains, and the subtle scent of cherry blossoms could be made out, albeit mixed with the sulfuric gasses of the hot spring.<br />
I made my way down another small set of steps to the guest house's private bath house, undressed, poured a few wash bowls full of piping hot water over myself before slowly slipping into the wooden <i>Hinoki-buro, </i>the small window that was half open above me framing the dark silhouette of the heavily pruned black pine outside against the deep indigo of the pre-dawn sky.<br />
After a good soak, I returned to my room and poured myself a cup of green tea which I sipped as I finished packing my rucksack.<br />
My bus to Shingu was due at 6:55, so after reading a few pages of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsurezuregusa" target="_blank">Essays in Idleness</a></i> and folding up my futon I descended to the lobby to say farewell to my hostess Takeko-san.<br />
The small bus arrived exactly on time and soon I was whizzing along side the Kumano river on a 1 hour trip to Shingu where I'd visit the second of three shrines that make up the Kumano sanzan pilgrimage.<br />
The bus stopped every now and the, either to pick up some still drowsy school kids or to let one of dozens of dump trucks coming from the opposite pass on the blind bends that followed the snaking river's course.<br />
Just before 8am the bus stopped and I got off just a hundred meters or so from the main Torii gate of the shrine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvLRAr6cvM9S3MD045hyphenhyphenya1Clp_ng_tIG0MrkqtPh-6O-MRRc7tR_xOM_WcvPFAzluaJop7vwrO2P-TL1k9DhIK34DUqB9ZpZzJOzyg5JpYM-ADFA1PTe3R6D_iL2_FWuWKLW06pvhBwZ/s1600/DSC_0552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvLRAr6cvM9S3MD045hyphenhyphenya1Clp_ng_tIG0MrkqtPh-6O-MRRc7tR_xOM_WcvPFAzluaJop7vwrO2P-TL1k9DhIK34DUqB9ZpZzJOzyg5JpYM-ADFA1PTe3R6D_iL2_FWuWKLW06pvhBwZ/s640/DSC_0552.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf77_fTQyEUPlSTiWOeilAuUwi6qdpCanBqpyx3KfmnQqQRxnTpuGRPHe-P3YHN1BcuJCu-r0waj3kLZqxWjPgzU14g-TeS4e0IIs-hP7M4YqGn6UzbQRwUKVkh3PLDlMatCOHAb4AXWX3/s1600/DSC_0566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf77_fTQyEUPlSTiWOeilAuUwi6qdpCanBqpyx3KfmnQqQRxnTpuGRPHe-P3YHN1BcuJCu-r0waj3kLZqxWjPgzU14g-TeS4e0IIs-hP7M4YqGn6UzbQRwUKVkh3PLDlMatCOHAb4AXWX3/s640/DSC_0566.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> The bright vermillion of the <a href="http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/world-heritage/kumano-hayatama-taisha/" target="_blank">Shingu Hayatama Taisha</a> was a stark contrast to the austere design and colours of the Hongu that I'd visited the day before, it's mythical story told in a large illustration just before the main shrine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp590FWnlO7PQMIlJeLaGjZnGqRWpSrBpzlOCybNFoQna5I1LjB5Uw6XRWc2e-yP11mqcF2SNjgNCpHHPgfvvKkfZ9sZJYtYcQmSSCC_GGFfQ-ACG5PMHiEtBS2TzFi07_R9ofm-8GtQf/s1600/DSC_0553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp590FWnlO7PQMIlJeLaGjZnGqRWpSrBpzlOCybNFoQna5I1LjB5Uw6XRWc2e-yP11mqcF2SNjgNCpHHPgfvvKkfZ9sZJYtYcQmSSCC_GGFfQ-ACG5PMHiEtBS2TzFi07_R9ofm-8GtQf/s1600/DSC_0553.jpg" /></a></div> The snake curling around the rock reminded me of a sculpture I'd seen at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neelkanth_Mahadev_Temple" target="_blank">Neelkanth Mahadev temple</a> in Northern India a few years ago. The same temple's legend shares a lot of similarities with the Japanese creation myth in which Izanagi and Izanami stir the ocean with a sacred spear in order to create the island of Onogoroshima.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTu8C2a8W1xHRxcrXVzhbHznjRKAzxzDCvFbS57Box7m5FO1lunH3PNkso4Ct169OZe7O6vimXQYSnbgK_yE2b61r0_fyrQzlurp5n5xR1Q_-Y0zlj2WqYc8F6u17TOTfxcjUTeE3N-iZ/s1600/DSC_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTu8C2a8W1xHRxcrXVzhbHznjRKAzxzDCvFbS57Box7m5FO1lunH3PNkso4Ct169OZe7O6vimXQYSnbgK_yE2b61r0_fyrQzlurp5n5xR1Q_-Y0zlj2WqYc8F6u17TOTfxcjUTeE3N-iZ/s640/DSC_0562.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2csLnbhyphenhyphenNPAC1y0wo1p6Ktfx_0JkgkszJ1MBvSKaUZuuiAl0fU_5_S47TJ9IyvUL6B8SdtEtwlM5uuXhk4GCxDUw3aZF4KGy8eNzU5zlu1uYA5d3gSv8A2nzFmUEOlKwNdsSezZjJRRE/s1600/DSC_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2csLnbhyphenhyphenNPAC1y0wo1p6Ktfx_0JkgkszJ1MBvSKaUZuuiAl0fU_5_S47TJ9IyvUL6B8SdtEtwlM5uuXhk4GCxDUw3aZF4KGy8eNzU5zlu1uYA5d3gSv8A2nzFmUEOlKwNdsSezZjJRRE/s1600/DSC_0559.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu6zD1Q_iW62QkMXDfjtL1oOjgwDdrdd9_kq-27uzuvAkjon3IOiwTaevqEkPKWMSzlrDuxL1uwN0ueGBvR_NN4K0cNz67RkrYQxwhEJ7KJD13Bbg5XDgA49rnkC4iwtE_M9eZBj3UjhB/s1600/DSC_0560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu6zD1Q_iW62QkMXDfjtL1oOjgwDdrdd9_kq-27uzuvAkjon3IOiwTaevqEkPKWMSzlrDuxL1uwN0ueGBvR_NN4K0cNz67RkrYQxwhEJ7KJD13Bbg5XDgA49rnkC4iwtE_M9eZBj3UjhB/s640/DSC_0560.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_o0o_j7T0yw9kmTlgoVfIv3M-QqNMbDRTlbNdEjmui0IEbOz-2yDp1CTXI14-PXyQ3grrQjFBZbTAhk0fKTUn8doR3cEWJlcIeRAxVXbrmV_zHq6mUm7iqm-uVOa6aFYEAVGrvcmdDq1/s1600/DSC_0558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_o0o_j7T0yw9kmTlgoVfIv3M-QqNMbDRTlbNdEjmui0IEbOz-2yDp1CTXI14-PXyQ3grrQjFBZbTAhk0fKTUn8doR3cEWJlcIeRAxVXbrmV_zHq6mUm7iqm-uVOa6aFYEAVGrvcmdDq1/s640/DSC_0558.jpg" width="418" /></a></div> After paying respects and again, picking up a souvenir hand-printed talisman as I'd done at Hongu, I left the precincts and turned into a nearby backstreet to look for the Hayatama dojo, which I found nearby. I'd read a lot about this place before coming and was looking forward to chatting and maybe sampling some techniques from whoever might be there, but unfortunately the place was closed and it didn't seem as if anyone was about.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFEDkPXYibqjrdv43Gx7Gord3LAHoiX94M8B_0CUb2MdRhF4B4TApv_2sMtD-Cyz2CbH-T7I4dt3nwSSEE14W5XhaoDjAI7dxOauO6Af71CNaFYQTInBa97Dn3BSDCmwvuY7owRm10tuW/s1600/DSC_0567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFEDkPXYibqjrdv43Gx7Gord3LAHoiX94M8B_0CUb2MdRhF4B4TApv_2sMtD-Cyz2CbH-T7I4dt3nwSSEE14W5XhaoDjAI7dxOauO6Af71CNaFYQTInBa97Dn3BSDCmwvuY7owRm10tuW/s640/DSC_0567.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> I headed towards the station through the towns main shopping street, which was still mostly shuttered apart from one small party ballon store, outside of which a young woman was loading what looked like an order of helium filled tropical fish into a small silver minivan.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPJTe_uNZGADyM_Ex8MLw6md8oOQzlQ8ol1NLr-bPX_OAbFNtN5s6iL1LqdPCr2KACiunOT7lRmhi_m-ZBVRdHkggBymSZ7Y5k1zt0DgQwI-O2oI5Q0lv5zEfkRiRgyRI3NhRf7VbRcDQ/s1600/DSC_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPJTe_uNZGADyM_Ex8MLw6md8oOQzlQ8ol1NLr-bPX_OAbFNtN5s6iL1LqdPCr2KACiunOT7lRmhi_m-ZBVRdHkggBymSZ7Y5k1zt0DgQwI-O2oI5Q0lv5zEfkRiRgyRI3NhRf7VbRcDQ/s1600/DSC_0568.JPG" /></a></div> As luck would have it, the next train to Nachi was due to leave ten minutes after I arrived at the station. I dropped my bag on a seat and then bought a few stamps, another snickers bar and a small souvenir bottle of Junmai Ginjo saké called "Nachi no Taki". The train now followed the Pacific coast South-West towards my next stop from where a short bus ride would take me to the site of Japan's highest waterfall and the last of the shrines on the Sanzan kora.<br />
Upon arriving at a deserted Nachi station I found the bus stop and saw that I had about three quarters of an hour before the next ride. I hadn't eaten at the guest house earlier in the morning, and the chocolate bar that I'd recently scarfed down hadn't satisfied my appetite, so after taking the underpass over to the beach I proceeded to boil some water and chow on the Ippeichan instant yaki-soba that I'd had with me since Hongu, two days prior.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU5qxKRuDssm1v73g8P4LuSyrnpe8rCKCiFQodt06uIScQua_eSJFzi28CwPYW-EwrYrzAcZqL8R4BwcCxzYDcyOiXQkYJaIoPNMBE-XpWdgfd9eH-zS6gGUAqdko9qycHYPx0p6wfc8V/s1600/DSC_0569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU5qxKRuDssm1v73g8P4LuSyrnpe8rCKCiFQodt06uIScQua_eSJFzi28CwPYW-EwrYrzAcZqL8R4BwcCxzYDcyOiXQkYJaIoPNMBE-XpWdgfd9eH-zS6gGUAqdko9qycHYPx0p6wfc8V/s640/DSC_0569.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast by the Pacific</td></tr></tbody></table> Fed and watered, the shuttle bus soon whisked myself and a few other japanese tourists up the windy road to the steps of the <a href="http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/world-heritage/kumano-nachi-taisha/" target="_blank">Nachi Taisha</a>, another example of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples harmoniously existing side by side in and area of extreme natural beauty.<br />
<div> These would be the very last part of my Kumano kodÅ and Sanzan pilgrimage and despite the accumulated fatigue of the trek and the 14kg on my back, I found myself gliding up the steps, energized, while everyone around me, both young and old seemed to be panting and red-faced after the first few meters.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtm1lzPI4reHWTnDKhUMMN7gCKTPf4lSFlUrUFnsQP9IN8UAcTs5BgUwYgzm5OV4LTiFfiv6ZsNNAMDvxJmP7-ja6esaxtbaPHh83lh1g_2BhhZH39z9mEkKeEG6HEejtap9Fy1sR7fVtf/s1600/DSC_0571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtm1lzPI4reHWTnDKhUMMN7gCKTPf4lSFlUrUFnsQP9IN8UAcTs5BgUwYgzm5OV4LTiFfiv6ZsNNAMDvxJmP7-ja6esaxtbaPHh83lh1g_2BhhZH39z9mEkKeEG6HEejtap9Fy1sR7fVtf/s640/DSC_0571.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3GUg8DxVnhzcPxQbvppo5liIAkaBjMbjIB9zutlVQ5HdX4TwOkU8swygDhQkiKUYbKIYbtNL5xg-hJAdkYGPGwv_aqvsmNUYUnOnqwAnQWFZrvrglQOWCtvAl1CrwSEhP9rndHNpMqfa/s1600/DSC_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3GUg8DxVnhzcPxQbvppo5liIAkaBjMbjIB9zutlVQ5HdX4TwOkU8swygDhQkiKUYbKIYbtNL5xg-hJAdkYGPGwv_aqvsmNUYUnOnqwAnQWFZrvrglQOWCtvAl1CrwSEhP9rndHNpMqfa/s1600/DSC_0573.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnwJjySOi3W1yiXnS0ypj16ZK7cSL8JCPIEK7M8xlaRrowBLarVxC7LrMr452UCstXSLAKaAJ9qVE0cGBODhKzUducCgiJ7gLN6ZJNw-Z98uTHV0PcjRL5dtXG0g8W-6kEkqZIw7CGerS/s1600/DSC_0580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnwJjySOi3W1yiXnS0ypj16ZK7cSL8JCPIEK7M8xlaRrowBLarVxC7LrMr452UCstXSLAKaAJ9qVE0cGBODhKzUducCgiJ7gLN6ZJNw-Z98uTHV0PcjRL5dtXG0g8W-6kEkqZIw7CGerS/s640/DSC_0580.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzfcSNJB9QlpyH3jQM3dU9xIuqlF4NHZvWLJrdYsLl3dUcWkhtkO72DZtAcw64QNOxEgiIl977fqJusORZnu8VkEmEpbk7w_fD_Lx54aigZ7KYm2-JJRM8CJtYDGG2R3SRnE3pyjSZi8u/s1600/DSC_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzfcSNJB9QlpyH3jQM3dU9xIuqlF4NHZvWLJrdYsLl3dUcWkhtkO72DZtAcw64QNOxEgiIl977fqJusORZnu8VkEmEpbk7w_fD_Lx54aigZ7KYm2-JJRM8CJtYDGG2R3SRnE3pyjSZi8u/s1600/DSC_0572.JPG" /></a></div><br />
A family were undergoing<i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harae" target="_blank">Harai</a> (</i>a type of Shinto blessing and purification comparable to a christening) for their newborn baby in the shrine<i>,</i> while at the same time outside the adjacent Tendai temple the faithful were purifying themselves with smoke from a giant incense burner before entering to pray before Kannon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOyMTK2YpK5sAv4rV4btHfGbXPgMxSyiy0JJojkUPFdlM_E0z9xowGrTaOSkRuoT72PItsyVWTbDICtL__72ywf-Phm4azz7Fmc-H6lsXYgQNm6aRGVAjmhBhzir1uUVJ6E8FkQD6pCpu/s1600/DSC_0582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOyMTK2YpK5sAv4rV4btHfGbXPgMxSyiy0JJojkUPFdlM_E0z9xowGrTaOSkRuoT72PItsyVWTbDICtL__72ywf-Phm4azz7Fmc-H6lsXYgQNm6aRGVAjmhBhzir1uUVJ6E8FkQD6pCpu/s640/DSC_0582.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcGWCgiscH9bfhi0d7Dxqk6EWOTrOkiRHUsnIgOmBdMbjAUP7gPhQ2Qox-TWt-YpfSphiBtmx5Jt3yAedK4rWxXDWAHlMM92nSqPE2J5p4bUsF9suPX9jfFjNf948y_AHZhp0Ni1G3qXx/s1600/DSC_0581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcGWCgiscH9bfhi0d7Dxqk6EWOTrOkiRHUsnIgOmBdMbjAUP7gPhQ2Qox-TWt-YpfSphiBtmx5Jt3yAedK4rWxXDWAHlMM92nSqPE2J5p4bUsF9suPX9jfFjNf948y_AHZhp0Ni1G3qXx/s640/DSC_0581.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBUNrDC5M-pYsvvR7kMlFB3oJMtdjK7UFesCN0siL7khsRTnqNKBrm8Dl-KefGMbC8EO4nNN7tola79f0bq0FQiZWhUzkmLmvPwpxvWA4z-TwJ1hvOMMC107DeNwz2TG84GMKvKXiCD8h/s1600/DSC_0584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBUNrDC5M-pYsvvR7kMlFB3oJMtdjK7UFesCN0siL7khsRTnqNKBrm8Dl-KefGMbC8EO4nNN7tola79f0bq0FQiZWhUzkmLmvPwpxvWA4z-TwJ1hvOMMC107DeNwz2TG84GMKvKXiCD8h/s640/DSC_0584.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> I proceeded to do the same, a gesture of realization on my part, before handing over another ¥1000 for the last of my three paper talismans, one from each grand shrine of the Sanzan. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwFWfhKJwECadJPbNq-34FEYwQARrOe-kGn6lbAafi-a1jJsvipN8nPyoVecYqw8a4rbbWCjOFQhbBDwqywxdiSWzwMc6N2Fsh_aZ8RxrtKq5X6tB8d9AVPNJohx_5fIWiSrtmI7z9R-B/s1600/DSC_0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwFWfhKJwECadJPbNq-34FEYwQARrOe-kGn6lbAafi-a1jJsvipN8nPyoVecYqw8a4rbbWCjOFQhbBDwqywxdiSWzwMc6N2Fsh_aZ8RxrtKq5X6tB8d9AVPNJohx_5fIWiSrtmI7z9R-B/s640/DSC_0649.JPG" width="354" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gotta catch them all, Talismon!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatwubjBGbSJYNU-mEuaqkbXPqPNCHzPTL4bCdC4iwuy-1KF6hFV3pVw519Skt-LL5vDuSBJUaGiL5SIna-GXs1gekvdaYxGm-JcI6zyL_M0FiEHnyJ0HQp2yXcgfW45YaUW9QdwoCb4nb/s1600/DSC_0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatwubjBGbSJYNU-mEuaqkbXPqPNCHzPTL4bCdC4iwuy-1KF6hFV3pVw519Skt-LL5vDuSBJUaGiL5SIna-GXs1gekvdaYxGm-JcI6zyL_M0FiEHnyJ0HQp2yXcgfW45YaUW9QdwoCb4nb/s640/DSC_0590.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying good bye to the KodÅ</td></tr></tbody></table> The waterfall was situated beyond the temple/shrine complex, past the picturesque three tier Seigantiji pagoda. The path descended through another forest of towering cypress trees before finishing at a viewing platform right beneath the 128 meter cascade.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2CQ0t4hhD8dUZY6vIK21dqdoNEpiNI-1UVdC-cMMSTaXMpxjoEgXvdiSpDjhQQb8Tke5eCEhGKWu0Shr2EDcZrKZDpgAYGnmjlEpiOfDViwrlZuImhqzYFfH6WT0ZOJZGK4PaB91jvvo/s1600/DSC_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2CQ0t4hhD8dUZY6vIK21dqdoNEpiNI-1UVdC-cMMSTaXMpxjoEgXvdiSpDjhQQb8Tke5eCEhGKWu0Shr2EDcZrKZDpgAYGnmjlEpiOfDViwrlZuImhqzYFfH6WT0ZOJZGK4PaB91jvvo/s1600/DSC_0592.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYel7Pw2YKtKoHGFPFQ6WrSrH1iAy7yHCjkIPrTZ8iiKRaj7u4mx04gUtLhFmTy1aKZNArhLUKnitrr5yJ4q32_mMxMZaTK7pr6IhY-_5PLc9g6wyy91wM_439r_lfeRt9vSLcETktgWVt/s1600/IMG_5561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYel7Pw2YKtKoHGFPFQ6WrSrH1iAy7yHCjkIPrTZ8iiKRaj7u4mx04gUtLhFmTy1aKZNArhLUKnitrr5yJ4q32_mMxMZaTK7pr6IhY-_5PLc9g6wyy91wM_439r_lfeRt9vSLcETktgWVt/s400/IMG_5561.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the pagoda</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStnNOurkK-Q_I0TRmha_BhWk3UjkyFGZP_2DxbiJBlxwQ-VRGrWZjaaRMF3Asmj-HgdD5iGszF46DdXxtO873Ouc83o3RAiVUhCsse9MYzFfucwco7p-OCiPvK-n0he-rLEpEFyn9uye_/s1600/DSC_0597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStnNOurkK-Q_I0TRmha_BhWk3UjkyFGZP_2DxbiJBlxwQ-VRGrWZjaaRMF3Asmj-HgdD5iGszF46DdXxtO873Ouc83o3RAiVUhCsse9MYzFfucwco7p-OCiPvK-n0he-rLEpEFyn9uye_/s640/DSC_0597.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from the top of the pagoda</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtXyzKC9AQpH8ifWCErewt87vaKdVfsP4WZEFPPw4OHffok5UMapXyU0Zob9COO1fyF5PSyjsBEKAnj6k-71eiO6Gw3SMlZlW_RNzf3hZBYB5Yz10z68BMviWTWgvv4kRGYeNSpgXbkdR/s1600/DSC_0607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtXyzKC9AQpH8ifWCErewt87vaKdVfsP4WZEFPPw4OHffok5UMapXyU0Zob9COO1fyF5PSyjsBEKAnj6k-71eiO6Gw3SMlZlW_RNzf3hZBYB5Yz10z68BMviWTWgvv4kRGYeNSpgXbkdR/s640/DSC_0607.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5TAvXKyn0xtDzUg9kar_SxU1OOcgK2aw4n3BMopDxE45s10GzaV9HJ_6mEHEGIJlgBq9FZDB93AoLXt7WlATJH6QEfsyLGS8KmlqwTU68wKhvXzdDCRrOmPZh_DOtcYLKl3dbPCmNw9K/s1600/DSC_0605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5TAvXKyn0xtDzUg9kar_SxU1OOcgK2aw4n3BMopDxE45s10GzaV9HJ_6mEHEGIJlgBq9FZDB93AoLXt7WlATJH6QEfsyLGS8KmlqwTU68wKhvXzdDCRrOmPZh_DOtcYLKl3dbPCmNw9K/s640/DSC_0605.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwCSBXjVsymzOIZJAdOKAOZ26IWApGbYam4LDi_Q2EU-zkzu01Ds5gSS6DdOzFxIHGYuZqFAwo4kLi2d-v7fYfa-gZvKPHa2xRTLVz57U_dl_kkCgK02rLS5IDFUtQsiiFbvU1Bc_w4DG/s1600/DSC_0602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwCSBXjVsymzOIZJAdOKAOZ26IWApGbYam4LDi_Q2EU-zkzu01Ds5gSS6DdOzFxIHGYuZqFAwo4kLi2d-v7fYfa-gZvKPHa2xRTLVz57U_dl_kkCgK02rLS5IDFUtQsiiFbvU1Bc_w4DG/s640/DSC_0602.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJAIxnPIiOdbrXM6dzh1xK6c-wuSggT6QdO3ckQqJ6kfUpX8UIUt8qt5rnHOn5PiGjOLY8N8ZF3AYjURILrEsmPFxLoHu6iG46feTpRUaZCHE2yJHn91kKvvHwzTt0z03qxsqlgCXHMz7/s1600/DSC_0613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJAIxnPIiOdbrXM6dzh1xK6c-wuSggT6QdO3ckQqJ6kfUpX8UIUt8qt5rnHOn5PiGjOLY8N8ZF3AYjURILrEsmPFxLoHu6iG46feTpRUaZCHE2yJHn91kKvvHwzTt0z03qxsqlgCXHMz7/s640/DSC_0613.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For ten minutes or so there was nobody else but myself standing before the beautiful flowing water, so I took the opportunity to perform some incredibly energizing Qi-gong. The negative ions permeated deep into my lungs and the powerful yang energy of the waterfall surged through me. I spent another half hour just leaning back on my rucksack taking it all in and remeniscing on the journey that had brought me to this spectacular place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrcs31W6VPpTPHKhQS6hvrP-qansxcUjQ4AjrExjpueXo6iqXdSUlJMTt2Z_7B8T0TCl6dz3c5PqpCAALRwwL9k7Tow2kDZt7taacHHBud4czsyPPbOfQTiL6-cNQQvV1g3QIQ2eFujwx/s1600/DSC_0610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrcs31W6VPpTPHKhQS6hvrP-qansxcUjQ4AjrExjpueXo6iqXdSUlJMTt2Z_7B8T0TCl6dz3c5PqpCAALRwwL9k7Tow2kDZt7taacHHBud4czsyPPbOfQTiL6-cNQQvV1g3QIQ2eFujwx/s640/DSC_0610.jpg" width="378" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2IYFYQeldv9on6OvSGM9BMAUeyxA1Ll6AlvE6Y9mxi6VxpBSi1XTgSdkgJoa5usrDbCsa3Kq4d-F94ovcJh1GjzcMGxbm4MqWmiFAbkqfVsd3eRKrxz4jXCE_n-vVjZWhrKMGu_SL11l/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2IYFYQeldv9on6OvSGM9BMAUeyxA1Ll6AlvE6Y9mxi6VxpBSi1XTgSdkgJoa5usrDbCsa3Kq4d-F94ovcJh1GjzcMGxbm4MqWmiFAbkqfVsd3eRKrxz4jXCE_n-vVjZWhrKMGu_SL11l/s640/IMG_5568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure which, but it was either the dynamic feng-shui forces or the ice-cold Kumano KodÅ beer that I'd bought earlier at one of the many souvenir shops that caused me to jog back up the 200 or so stone steps to the bus stop.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"> The same route took me back down to the station, and then a slow local train saw me reaching the town of Tanabe, and hour and a half South of Osaka, where I would realize a long held wish the next morning.</span><br />
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</div></div></div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-19098721388885239052013-03-27T02:03:00.000-07:002013-04-07T03:23:54.425-07:00Day 5 of the Kumano kodÅ trek / Hongu to Yunomine onsen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The air was chill and silent, and the sun still far from rising when I awoke. The sky above was crystal clear but upon getting out of the hammock and strolling down to the viewpoint, a sea of cloud ,punctured in the distance by far off mountains, spread out below me. The great gate that had been visible the previous evening now lay covered by the gently undulating mists, revealing then shrouding once again the small peak that stood just ahead. To the East, the same scene played out, with the sky growing golden as the sunrise approached. Two small crows were hoping from branch to branch in a tree beside me, a pair of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-legged_crow" target="_blank">yatagarasu</a> </i>perhaps, harbingers of birth and rejuvenation come to welcome me to this mythical landscape? Time for another Qi-gong sesh...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRMKgs3KMaxjX8JiiRdaZZwj2SoFGYY05yEDWFfVYzaoMoR3P4wldUxB9fQGyt6czXRQFC-_eCB45g_x2pvnWV7lAZoTR_KqIOc1P23Iaj0_Rmmg59w0xQ3ieS5OJptUV_wgFVKX1ogWV/s1600/DSC_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRMKgs3KMaxjX8JiiRdaZZwj2SoFGYY05yEDWFfVYzaoMoR3P4wldUxB9fQGyt6czXRQFC-_eCB45g_x2pvnWV7lAZoTR_KqIOc1P23Iaj0_Rmmg59w0xQ3ieS5OJptUV_wgFVKX1ogWV/s640/DSC_0465.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>A deep sea of cloud.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>In a tree above Hongu</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Yatagarasu.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAKdv_x1Et9hgyINz9vbGI0SLzlbbTJaK_DrEbnqf52b1YGSyXDmEwAdJVRLb9S2tnLbYZtvTqd3DXma1OddhjEgWL-ycz0ItnPCm1Y-bOVoOKQ4jB6_0E_UNUoAAKh5xGvkzE-ITXcMq/s1600/DSC_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAKdv_x1Et9hgyINz9vbGI0SLzlbbTJaK_DrEbnqf52b1YGSyXDmEwAdJVRLb9S2tnLbYZtvTqd3DXma1OddhjEgWL-ycz0ItnPCm1Y-bOVoOKQ4jB6_0E_UNUoAAKh5xGvkzE-ITXcMq/s640/DSC_0476.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After packing my gear away and eating the last of my raisin-bread rolls, I hit the very last few steps of the Kohechi, the path that had brought me here from KÅya-san over 70kms away to the North. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWOS6vwKBXIsxJLJE-p_GCYWdZJIyn3h6V5Nlrbp0tMExoKu3DQKhmWAYF6agblpR3wPkySnzcz1e8jJ-Yfl8mMJnFzXAo1_0gR9h6qoznrjcXyU3zCKqHIcNMIZiBvekZU_EZD6I2bsD/s1600/DSC_0479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWOS6vwKBXIsxJLJE-p_GCYWdZJIyn3h6V5Nlrbp0tMExoKu3DQKhmWAYF6agblpR3wPkySnzcz1e8jJ-Yfl8mMJnFzXAo1_0gR9h6qoznrjcXyU3zCKqHIcNMIZiBvekZU_EZD6I2bsD/s640/DSC_0479.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<i>Bright morning sunlight</i></div>
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<i>Burning through the forest mist</i></div>
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<i>Uguisu sing.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh7JQmGdLsGUvzVzCtpKfgTzTFgshhc7dOTi9Az-aePHGc2IHedjJ6aKEMWXMlGiL8uSj66vMiFrceQz7Vm6dlWbhABafRd1vXrCF0BExmGQlCb1YZ1N_26loYtwAcFmTVGGZ21YUFFLH/s1600/DSC_0480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh7JQmGdLsGUvzVzCtpKfgTzTFgshhc7dOTi9Az-aePHGc2IHedjJ6aKEMWXMlGiL8uSj66vMiFrceQz7Vm6dlWbhABafRd1vXrCF0BExmGQlCb1YZ1N_26loYtwAcFmTVGGZ21YUFFLH/s640/DSC_0480.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>
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The last step brought up some very strong emotions, chiefly a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation of the mountain and the gifts it had shared with me along the way. I turned to the path, bowed deeply, and then continued on towards the <a href="http://www.hongu.jp/en/kumano-kodo/hongutaisya/" target="_blank">Grand shrine of Hongu</a>.</div>
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After paying respects to the Kami and buying a few souvenirs, I crossed the street to the information center and booked a room at a nearby hot spring minshuku where I'd spend the night and recuperate from the trek.</div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">After that, I headed out into the paddy fields opposite the shrine to see the Daimon (great gate) and visit the original site of the Hongu, a small island in the middle of the Kumano river surrounded by mountains known as Åyunohara. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ggNbqZN1aJDXY36JPx6FwG3k096rcLuR0psBCDRbDEPBhoWZLKbweNCSb9zcovecfJtGM2Ze91XX4h5WC3sQHYh9UzV1-d9xyw71hCcWlpZk5ReboQ1DCu4S43_Zsger05BiM31_1_3j/s1600/DSC_0494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ggNbqZN1aJDXY36JPx6FwG3k096rcLuR0psBCDRbDEPBhoWZLKbweNCSb9zcovecfJtGM2Ze91XX4h5WC3sQHYh9UzV1-d9xyw71hCcWlpZk5ReboQ1DCu4S43_Zsger05BiM31_1_3j/s640/DSC_0494.jpg" width="428" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBMJw-W5c978n6SZjH9IMVgVNYvidzHU-6JqxvXEnYYp84NkqM5HvzSPovfdNIS_slpWb9lGEwFdRKXc4V-k89Ufr0y7yvCg0-sjXp7b0TJ-0MicPO4tl_RubqqmdMCkl0CVh0jJcR2JV/s1600/DSC_0496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBMJw-W5c978n6SZjH9IMVgVNYvidzHU-6JqxvXEnYYp84NkqM5HvzSPovfdNIS_slpWb9lGEwFdRKXc4V-k89Ufr0y7yvCg0-sjXp7b0TJ-0MicPO4tl_RubqqmdMCkl0CVh0jJcR2JV/s640/DSC_0496.jpg" width="446" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_XGijmalF6mY9T72m8YEN8t-IvuOfmL0VP3tvvq-mN9EzDCI5SMEpUModDJ38pIyYQkHsufbjSg8nyUhjJSK9bIedyTMUH8GPi_7FZYqCMmQG_6aV63NC-YSYNx5Ls5hUHHro8UGhfCY/s1600/DSC_0504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_XGijmalF6mY9T72m8YEN8t-IvuOfmL0VP3tvvq-mN9EzDCI5SMEpUModDJ38pIyYQkHsufbjSg8nyUhjJSK9bIedyTMUH8GPi_7FZYqCMmQG_6aV63NC-YSYNx5Ls5hUHHro8UGhfCY/s640/DSC_0504.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i>Sitting in the shade</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i>Of the great gate of Hongu</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i>Cherry trees blossom. </i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wVfaHUQYXAxMheEX6XKAqvA5xF9oZPxPNod451ml-enS1WxTdPs_BXSFxh_r5CctCvdAvtRBAKBPxiJMUNdmkZ2RdrNyUYjvoLH5F6dL6urugRL9KsJK8kp86X5BHTVl8Eixf81LW4h5/s1600/DSC_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wVfaHUQYXAxMheEX6XKAqvA5xF9oZPxPNod451ml-enS1WxTdPs_BXSFxh_r5CctCvdAvtRBAKBPxiJMUNdmkZ2RdrNyUYjvoLH5F6dL6urugRL9KsJK8kp86X5BHTVl8Eixf81LW4h5/s640/DSC_0512.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh-80R_mKMREnr_nb-l-vhKmCAlyJL6Jw-RgRNLWCwGfM2kKdPg5Fs7xu-kztInxOgrWJU-2lpH1r2YwIeoiD4gnFU2ym8zMV5O9QcNP1scv9FJ7CE-EGKarB_dVCYoId-AEVUBFQqE5r/s1600/DSC_0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh-80R_mKMREnr_nb-l-vhKmCAlyJL6Jw-RgRNLWCwGfM2kKdPg5Fs7xu-kztInxOgrWJU-2lpH1r2YwIeoiD4gnFU2ym8zMV5O9QcNP1scv9FJ7CE-EGKarB_dVCYoId-AEVUBFQqE5r/s640/DSC_0516.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">A final visit to a nearby shrine to pray for the health, safety and happiness of all the women of the world...</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CKJOdiCXFZndKVV0K3-ktMYLXzzpVFMdoffSC2unA_tYvfgvK4oRDvzyqjrldDssUSM9nTfwTWT8gOrvQ8Omp-4oaorSX5daoTKoReiu06Vhrnr-gbBr1E7S6tgmnt00t_n10Ql1hyphenhyphenn_/s1600/DSC_0521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CKJOdiCXFZndKVV0K3-ktMYLXzzpVFMdoffSC2unA_tYvfgvK4oRDvzyqjrldDssUSM9nTfwTWT8gOrvQ8Omp-4oaorSX5daoTKoReiu06Vhrnr-gbBr1E7S6tgmnt00t_n10Ql1hyphenhyphenn_/s640/DSC_0521.jpg" width="428" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VgmbZEsgLkp0tgpnFjPAHceaTGQikmt1middfHcMaDWX982VI2ZaBsjccOi4Onm4x0Fn-SZln5bEnyJTXoSLaT9a9R19kYs-mZbPGG059reVoRXTqd_G-pkcVc7tVvhmhVTtM6zyqQW2/s1600/DSC_0519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VgmbZEsgLkp0tgpnFjPAHceaTGQikmt1middfHcMaDWX982VI2ZaBsjccOi4Onm4x0Fn-SZln5bEnyJTXoSLaT9a9R19kYs-mZbPGG059reVoRXTqd_G-pkcVc7tVvhmhVTtM6zyqQW2/s640/DSC_0519.jpg" width="440" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> ... and then it was time for a short bus ride to Yunomine onsen for some much needed r+r.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWGuLxEyS28efBAgmdlIvLKy6S3tMCqOaYAmMR9zXSb543WHk-6laCifam-ZOwmZtIKF9PcTBh-FBQTBJwpIjbarW7HFld6k2FbZteP-XG2KKr7XvYPMWkjnMbz5R8fz6dF3pq_QNGS3K/s1600/DSC_0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWGuLxEyS28efBAgmdlIvLKy6S3tMCqOaYAmMR9zXSb543WHk-6laCifam-ZOwmZtIKF9PcTBh-FBQTBJwpIjbarW7HFld6k2FbZteP-XG2KKr7XvYPMWkjnMbz5R8fz6dF3pq_QNGS3K/s640/DSC_0537.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">This small little group of Ryokan and Minshuku guesthouses are all crowded around the worlds only UNESCO registered hot-spring, the tiny Tsubo-yu, a natural spring who's use dates back over 1800 years. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpMvi4x54x2vIludsr90m3nnWBK8JqM5zx1laJfi1k8LwP204H2jOknWRbmHsxs4garH6_cQ2BBRfmuB-Edz1chQxVcNAryfF82wKr-S_p8vjtWzs6kRtP0roy9MGGoJ2VqPlFlJ_-UdO/s1600/DSC_0534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpMvi4x54x2vIludsr90m3nnWBK8JqM5zx1laJfi1k8LwP204H2jOknWRbmHsxs4garH6_cQ2BBRfmuB-Edz1chQxVcNAryfF82wKr-S_p8vjtWzs6kRtP0roy9MGGoJ2VqPlFlJ_-UdO/s640/DSC_0534.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup_DdxrZoNKy-pclWKHwqt-Wz5FuVYc_ox6mSCWFVRJI7cSlBy7ra5Rdc0W3YTmK3HdtWpgXqx7_mJvrqS1mfC71xZOqS-7jyD6zCfKENTR2jk3jLRUsBaac7Q6vG6Y8qKjGWoQ821C3b/s1600/DSC_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup_DdxrZoNKy-pclWKHwqt-Wz5FuVYc_ox6mSCWFVRJI7cSlBy7ra5Rdc0W3YTmK3HdtWpgXqx7_mJvrqS1mfC71xZOqS-7jyD6zCfKENTR2jk3jLRUsBaac7Q6vG6Y8qKjGWoQ821C3b/s640/DSC_0532.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">After paying my ¥720, I was entitled to use the heated pool for 30 minutes. I have to say that it was the most appreciated and pleasurable bath I have ever taken, and I savored every second.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LhtgE_Z2nLg0YLQ9xAHNhu_WYRn3pRI76hgKq8yGpB-Vr7kTBFoBaS97kUnhl4OksgNWo-QT6RA4UISqkd87Cb3JLFvPwJ4EwC-qFPFoo4jy9jj6SJfyl_XL7l6u5h5FhFbR_V1qloJ9/s1600/DSC_0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LhtgE_Z2nLg0YLQ9xAHNhu_WYRn3pRI76hgKq8yGpB-Vr7kTBFoBaS97kUnhl4OksgNWo-QT6RA4UISqkd87Cb3JLFvPwJ4EwC-qFPFoo4jy9jj6SJfyl_XL7l6u5h5FhFbR_V1qloJ9/s640/DSC_0530.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeMvtM56_1gE_4svCzlSsWoJGEX5mBNDA900yHBRjIpgXTvft0xmG7mUjtdc4eGNj2UGHto6JN7sowvy5u0hJkcovyajQWDJ6qdCKdriJvXb6elgMByK_tlzsgsFej0qKkY4YEOATLPe9/s1600/DSC_0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeMvtM56_1gE_4svCzlSsWoJGEX5mBNDA900yHBRjIpgXTvft0xmG7mUjtdc4eGNj2UGHto6JN7sowvy5u0hJkcovyajQWDJ6qdCKdriJvXb6elgMByK_tlzsgsFej0qKkY4YEOATLPe9/s640/DSC_0525.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 minutes wasted taking photos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwueaVSevKYxUIiNOG0ib73M-lj8zRX7QKypnpZFiErWc1q0-lcIQA-f67_smE_F9cWQ4QkjZj-E1tO-goyvrfApr8QWRFrkabuwMjQh0AR84cCamm5ctihTBzOmwmYDr5xf1-AJi3FkS1/s1600/DSC_0524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwueaVSevKYxUIiNOG0ib73M-lj8zRX7QKypnpZFiErWc1q0-lcIQA-f67_smE_F9cWQ4QkjZj-E1tO-goyvrfApr8QWRFrkabuwMjQh0AR84cCamm5ctihTBzOmwmYDr5xf1-AJi3FkS1/s640/DSC_0524.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1800 years old, the stone worn down by countless pilgrims on the KodÅ route </td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Since check in at my minshuku wasn't for an hour or so I spent some time eating a couple of onsen-tamago, eggs boiled in the super heated water and eaten with a pinch of salt. Delicious with a cold beer.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debate raged about the perfect cooking time. Was it 11 or 12 minutes?</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jWU8QQV0uK4zl_LfhhNehRpjW4gs3zYTmALdq0REok1x9GrkavucFPPDPhgysjhcCeheA1pfK93H0se6pJdurxF0Yh6r1qPMI4MfsajuRf8fIDLXRR7NtoXFkbsRDkY9IGkqYdFkiO2/s1600/DSC_0544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jWU8QQV0uK4zl_LfhhNehRpjW4gs3zYTmALdq0REok1x9GrkavucFPPDPhgysjhcCeheA1pfK93H0se6pJdurxF0Yh6r1qPMI4MfsajuRf8fIDLXRR7NtoXFkbsRDkY9IGkqYdFkiO2/s640/DSC_0544.jpg" width="506" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The rest of the time was spent mooching around enjoying the beautifully warm spring afternoon, before heading to my lodgings for the night, <a href="http://www.zc.ztv.ne.jp/kuraya-yunomine/" target="_blank">ããã</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">After more baths, a delicious dinner of mountain delicacies, a few beers and a little reading, I got into the soft warm futon that the hostess had laid out, and fell into a very deep sleep. The next morning would see me catching a bus to Shingu and the on to Nachi to complete the <a href="http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/world-heritage/kumano_sanzan/" target="_blank">Kumano sanzan</a> Kora. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrb_Y9ir4B54CCDll8S2yGsP9nCSpqfZqfCImzlTzZ59Mp0JSp65k-qSJqWEOqbY96E1Awj99uTjXMvmWoaWO5dBwSvKXcPH3t7E-rXjDnfvi6WiGoeSsbXdTb8HX01XhkB9owM266tvA/s1600/DSC_0490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-80898944022093529042013-03-26T23:58:00.001-07:002013-03-29T21:32:52.704-07:00kumano kodÅ trek day 4 / Nishinaka to Hongu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> The last stretch of the Kohechi trail to Hongu took me on the 3rd day from the just outside the small riverside hamlet of Nishinaka to a viewpoint a few kilometers above the Hongu grand shrine, and included a 5km wrong turn at one point resulting in me covering a total of at least 26km over a period of eleven hours.<br />
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The day begin waking up beside a turquoise river with my sleeping bag and hammock's bug sheet covered in the frozen condensation of the cold valley air. This was due to me having been too tired to put up the fly sheet, and also because I'd wanted to enjoy the beautiful moon and the cloudless, star-filled sky as I drifted off the night before.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwva6oiBQyz4jS8Jju3JIr85T_YyYe_l_qpfrYKaohsgQ1WuRsmBNNCsU2bOvxlrSCNsmB2Z5DTtXiomik3WJszYddUDZ0m0O6_p-9bJ1Ntzm2LjNZBTmvLF4VStgEWaf9O2ZuNsRjLdp/s1600/DSC_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwva6oiBQyz4jS8Jju3JIr85T_YyYe_l_qpfrYKaohsgQ1WuRsmBNNCsU2bOvxlrSCNsmB2Z5DTtXiomik3WJszYddUDZ0m0O6_p-9bJ1Ntzm2LjNZBTmvLF4VStgEWaf9O2ZuNsRjLdp/s640/DSC_0331.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tight as you like. My first bamboo hang was bliss, but rather chilly</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjAoxunswvDEkM5HXMw75VwgOGTxdRgcaPYoQ_GvymL4ph7UrFG27-pQpMvLfM_yGvqlXxjU1WXN9EhcwqMFCUq6by6yzYSPgVws2Hrhr5wZGgnWjSIK1rZp94kII2xiyNUznslLJ2jt_/s1600/DSC_0332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjAoxunswvDEkM5HXMw75VwgOGTxdRgcaPYoQ_GvymL4ph7UrFG27-pQpMvLfM_yGvqlXxjU1WXN9EhcwqMFCUq6by6yzYSPgVws2Hrhr5wZGgnWjSIK1rZp94kII2xiyNUznslLJ2jt_/s640/DSC_0332.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First of the valley cherry blossoms bursting forth</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a hot coffee, more peanut butter rolls and an invigorating wash in the river, a short hike along a road following the water course led back to the forest trail. I felt a strange sense of relief to be back among the trees and off of the asphalt, and the path began with a steep ascent up over an attractive, but steep, cobbled section of the kodÅ.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj764NXcuvvgZIqR8NlCcPY0ZioYyNFQED6bwf5np17A_A6NlZjjgUGQEOd7wIF0YkxZfUWu5v_Rf7dIkAmA94gh0NUSg61gtKUGurydOlsm5xju95ye5AhThlqwhGiPtCZovg2rterdqGe/s640/DSC_0333.jpg" width="428" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Kyr-Imckqu-BzCZFnmxYKrBviYGUelva4Kqgz1UVtE2_M28Qsc4D4O3Xv6fTNt5BOZX9tbsAhZY5-k3MIaoNWqgyQzKBQqLHZ4OT0PzcYO5iHdDYpDEtFCoLSKx7zwrx2ifjubMXAa6Y/s1600/DSC_0334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Kyr-Imckqu-BzCZFnmxYKrBviYGUelva4Kqgz1UVtE2_M28Qsc4D4O3Xv6fTNt5BOZX9tbsAhZY5-k3MIaoNWqgyQzKBQqLHZ4OT0PzcYO5iHdDYpDEtFCoLSKx7zwrx2ifjubMXAa6Y/s640/DSC_0334.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfaoCjNzMZ3k4g5tPAInaB-Jsel9Lpol5AS7yKPfXSmZYxybQDNexhhddzp2ayZaroBsoxyJtjZ1i4R70hhyvrR7o22yCvo5O4cFco2QCxzxbogGdu5UbZU7UJ1G7W6r6ZpbiWRqYT8vx/s1600/DSC_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfaoCjNzMZ3k4g5tPAInaB-Jsel9Lpol5AS7yKPfXSmZYxybQDNexhhddzp2ayZaroBsoxyJtjZ1i4R70hhyvrR7o22yCvo5O4cFco2QCxzxbogGdu5UbZU7UJ1G7W6r6ZpbiWRqYT8vx/s640/DSC_0336.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGWGCd8J1xPbwuBA_41Cqebj1wbOVz6UmejE-KDZ8gcg9pWNW_UuoFTHDazCLz0ZWPsrbEs1L2TXtc4xerYzv1vCxIXe4NFBEPuMR213QR9cDk7pnYFxbXQnxcSChLEnxnbAMIdIzvMMi/s1600/DSC_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGWGCd8J1xPbwuBA_41Cqebj1wbOVz6UmejE-KDZ8gcg9pWNW_UuoFTHDazCLz0ZWPsrbEs1L2TXtc4xerYzv1vCxIXe4NFBEPuMR213QR9cDk7pnYFxbXQnxcSChLEnxnbAMIdIzvMMi/s640/DSC_0339.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gzSGb4eKQ2Xj8wsKbS6hOwPmBPEfUA2jc-Uo-T4FuVQLs5g8cPXNvvAeiRKJ3hNHhlqTHaH7y4qUfG-33aQqJTjODI_Tg-2JRyEA3Vmb4lmoMmE6r5cwlnYqo6tYLg8zY05UfJbu-CQp/s1600/DSC_0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gzSGb4eKQ2Xj8wsKbS6hOwPmBPEfUA2jc-Uo-T4FuVQLs5g8cPXNvvAeiRKJ3hNHhlqTHaH7y4qUfG-33aQqJTjODI_Tg-2JRyEA3Vmb4lmoMmE6r5cwlnYqo6tYLg8zY05UfJbu-CQp/s640/DSC_0340.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt-DqQSuzP1rj8lLFP4VIaSykif-rxo6AcLCSmELCBe_XFRsT1ZSGZFRGrd3-bU2n852gclKBX73RiGMPf9doRef30DdMv9SctnTPBib0VeBEjstIk5e53L4L8swps0GthwP5KozCe9QI/s1600/DSC_0341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt-DqQSuzP1rj8lLFP4VIaSykif-rxo6AcLCSmELCBe_XFRsT1ZSGZFRGrd3-bU2n852gclKBX73RiGMPf9doRef30DdMv9SctnTPBib0VeBEjstIk5e53L4L8swps0GthwP5KozCe9QI/s640/DSC_0341.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWS-i578E9uEogYHgxhJ8eGMOWnHPnlf63ybvbMxSCnWsmmSP26pQjfA8_uIHf-107RScR-Fvex6ZMLavm7T9ZKRQpD6w6RnIPF3RmkuVfq7lO1TSqmqYGky_ShXfgAGFNcgnJ4pH5rKs/s1600/DSC_0342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWS-i578E9uEogYHgxhJ8eGMOWnHPnlf63ybvbMxSCnWsmmSP26pQjfA8_uIHf-107RScR-Fvex6ZMLavm7T9ZKRQpD6w6RnIPF3RmkuVfq7lO1TSqmqYGky_ShXfgAGFNcgnJ4pH5rKs/s640/DSC_0342.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the path continued to climb, the Kumano river came into view through the trees. This 183km long river has it's sources high in the Kii mountain range and eventually empties into the Pacific ocean at Shingu, where I'd find myself two days later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSIKdg7HnW0QpbloEWsJnXI9nT61LfbKUHlEYvghbo-McztIXSt_Ye-xQ3Dj-Es1Dj534OIAFDUJeqoVnnBxENOFHw_goGAV4qKXopJCtv8BGKn44j57o6PIi6Xf_n5ELZCXC_R6npGmb/s1600/DSC_0343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSIKdg7HnW0QpbloEWsJnXI9nT61LfbKUHlEYvghbo-McztIXSt_Ye-xQ3Dj-Es1Dj534OIAFDUJeqoVnnBxENOFHw_goGAV4qKXopJCtv8BGKn44j57o6PIi6Xf_n5ELZCXC_R6npGmb/s640/DSC_0343.jpg" width="392" /></a></div> Arriving in another small hamlet consisting of about 3 or 4 small single storey houses, I met the first person I'd spoken to since leaving KÅya-san three days earlier. This tiny old lady, her kind face wrinkled and weathered but glowing with kindness, welcomed me and offered me some water from her spring. She shared her remote home with four large Koi living in a small pond fed by the same crystal clear water with which I filled my thermos.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8uS5F0yO5Eqzqt5Juo6oODmf_voQkW9bqYG-QHC6k0iAHVdJJSy9lalmNDTtM4BbI_hYXTgSjrh5iTc4FF7akMVtiG0_KuDmv-lpWPhEjj3_EgEaNKJIJQKADV7P1gk1YDsk8Wr_5p6S/s1600/DSC_0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8uS5F0yO5Eqzqt5Juo6oODmf_voQkW9bqYG-QHC6k0iAHVdJJSy9lalmNDTtM4BbI_hYXTgSjrh5iTc4FF7akMVtiG0_KuDmv-lpWPhEjj3_EgEaNKJIJQKADV7P1gk1YDsk8Wr_5p6S/s640/DSC_0345.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RoUwL5PsE9aVkU-1kKj04n3UygO6NYeTu3wW2imdDEYakzL3udc21RQpVMNEyKRR5bGPzcIXKyovSL7LYwNYFfInVJSV-T1FcOmILTs_mrqlbvD66P9Jui3ArYyWZo7CaS0ymVyZznLz/s1600/DSC_0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RoUwL5PsE9aVkU-1kKj04n3UygO6NYeTu3wW2imdDEYakzL3udc21RQpVMNEyKRR5bGPzcIXKyovSL7LYwNYFfInVJSV-T1FcOmILTs_mrqlbvD66P9Jui3ArYyWZo7CaS0ymVyZznLz/s640/DSC_0346.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC9mnsgGUChy75EYzri6oqFkZ7vpTEssdOaZKEDZq8fO0rx9pX9pvX_Un0IWVnLfYAxkp_AyRVCOj_ocHXEYyTWYqWR2usBakb_W9dZLG0QAiBU7sSCz81MLKxuWUmV8G3bc6GaUjaaD_/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC9mnsgGUChy75EYzri6oqFkZ7vpTEssdOaZKEDZq8fO0rx9pX9pvX_Un0IWVnLfYAxkp_AyRVCOj_ocHXEYyTWYqWR2usBakb_W9dZLG0QAiBU7sSCz81MLKxuWUmV8G3bc6GaUjaaD_/s640/DSC_0351.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgF4kXz9GJow23jBITKjwDVV8kueiiNm33ayHCZp6mIxUjrEdjhApYRto1_1T35MRbynKviz5g3e-k4lCrCOVqH02hr9gTfotVKk6lCDlmiCsO8nQICSxGZX7qcypCyk5yAH2Qo37EbNH/s1600/DSC_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgF4kXz9GJow23jBITKjwDVV8kueiiNm33ayHCZp6mIxUjrEdjhApYRto1_1T35MRbynKviz5g3e-k4lCrCOVqH02hr9gTfotVKk6lCDlmiCsO8nQICSxGZX7qcypCyk5yAH2Qo37EbNH/s640/DSC_0348.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gifts of the mountain</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWex90rh69MCT1aaTUFwo_feaJ_EVrFjPNrumV0DyBt9Vvko5xp3hDwpdoqmDJz8Z7QWOoBYEyMY07dKibGztpsScIk3eTApMIlBFIZ9Q6U0hzYndlktSXdgSG_mEOwWW2djE1OHJyXOt8/s1600/DSC_0352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWex90rh69MCT1aaTUFwo_feaJ_EVrFjPNrumV0DyBt9Vvko5xp3hDwpdoqmDJz8Z7QWOoBYEyMY07dKibGztpsScIk3eTApMIlBFIZ9Q6U0hzYndlktSXdgSG_mEOwWW2djE1OHJyXOt8/s640/DSC_0352.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6w6TdnPO-eUU5JHwo7jm1BQtBLlQLH5-FbXqLTj_d7jTx3wN82FP185AXg2iwwZE6WYEyet7lBbrmIgQ0pz3oig60IEi6IUcV6VMY1sSB1n_CPAEeCzpXLEKgaXZSmpC13OVlFJMYnTG/s1600/DSC_0355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6w6TdnPO-eUU5JHwo7jm1BQtBLlQLH5-FbXqLTj_d7jTx3wN82FP185AXg2iwwZE6WYEyet7lBbrmIgQ0pz3oig60IEi6IUcV6VMY1sSB1n_CPAEeCzpXLEKgaXZSmpC13OVlFJMYnTG/s640/DSC_0355.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>Leaving the hamlet and heading up once more, the path passed through a few bare fields and past blossoming plum trees and daffodils in full bloom. Just before the trail entered the forest, I passed by this huge stone proclaiming the route's World heritage status and a topographical map explaining the history of the Kohechi<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzIHHvqKuXajxMAcH6JIsDpC1M8BPK2RBLCmX4_hKDJSNWt1my1rBZs14aI4VIOCel6i-VbQl8JTszie7RjXLGzTXCCorSY6Oi-BcTgTwQBKJXTE-J-nwYczMqVMMalWKbd_EbEG1JKGO/s1600/DSC_0356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzIHHvqKuXajxMAcH6JIsDpC1M8BPK2RBLCmX4_hKDJSNWt1my1rBZs14aI4VIOCel6i-VbQl8JTszie7RjXLGzTXCCorSY6Oi-BcTgTwQBKJXTE-J-nwYczMqVMMalWKbd_EbEG1JKGO/s640/DSC_0356.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX18WXQQMnSHXQfTRSQ8zYXxVaAdqKRjrQhQnzMU08F58xti5on8yPeS6SR4VJ4gUQqHKObbp1vuJfIjwYYpWjSr38380Vv1cuAPhIBVF6cJJhfB53mYg9g-vwbTwGKs7ytpkkjwZm4lr/s1600/DSC_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX18WXQQMnSHXQfTRSQ8zYXxVaAdqKRjrQhQnzMU08F58xti5on8yPeS6SR4VJ4gUQqHKObbp1vuJfIjwYYpWjSr38380Vv1cuAPhIBVF6cJJhfB53mYg9g-vwbTwGKs7ytpkkjwZm4lr/s640/DSC_0359.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 days eh?</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvCCJehCsm0-xdwjtBnv_Q2e5X-WI4TDogMw1GCdkJcFVRThKwgHW8ivJm3kq8qOLMMMgjLWai23MZLRK8C8OtwcRrCjZikkaYM-nDKq8SULzG44CAdlspMSQDxL4FGEvAXShHZ22WMEA/s1600/DSC_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvCCJehCsm0-xdwjtBnv_Q2e5X-WI4TDogMw1GCdkJcFVRThKwgHW8ivJm3kq8qOLMMMgjLWai23MZLRK8C8OtwcRrCjZikkaYM-nDKq8SULzG44CAdlspMSQDxL4FGEvAXShHZ22WMEA/s640/DSC_0360.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up and down like a whore's drawers</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xCB-w0vUHRscgtk7MKZ21uD5u7NZQPYO00OuksiNyJ2BO6auyeOJRh0kBZylpoWXeBtw4uJ3UeDpSsr8LFJo4FuUd6P_wqSlWtQj9LCw372xcl1vgI4eYSrod53NMpYHFFD6WkYjTr24/s1600/DSC_0358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xCB-w0vUHRscgtk7MKZ21uD5u7NZQPYO00OuksiNyJ2BO6auyeOJRh0kBZylpoWXeBtw4uJ3UeDpSsr8LFJo4FuUd6P_wqSlWtQj9LCw372xcl1vgI4eYSrod53NMpYHFFD6WkYjTr24/s640/DSC_0358.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzGENChccu5J8YVrKr0mUo18OgfaOVuDttw7pGTsVmzQSKL_pGhjY9_AtF5aEceDVi8KzPJrUzKrsxbGadF0GV2Ms3VMCcfzSdn9uO4AjbqjZXfBt2zEDNrP0c3YHrWkPLCdWjFn8Gko_/s1600/DSC_0447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzGENChccu5J8YVrKr0mUo18OgfaOVuDttw7pGTsVmzQSKL_pGhjY9_AtF5aEceDVi8KzPJrUzKrsxbGadF0GV2Ms3VMCcfzSdn9uO4AjbqjZXfBt2zEDNrP0c3YHrWkPLCdWjFn8Gko_/s640/DSC_0447.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> This particular route is also known for the 33 statues of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanyin" target="_blank">Avalokitasvara</a>, </i>the<i> </i>Boddhisatva of compassion in her various forms, which both kept me company and encouraged to keep going me along the last long section of this remote route. I did my best to stop and offer a moments <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%B1jali_Mudr%C4%81" target="_blank">Pranamasana </a>to each one, taking a photo as I did so, however the first three and the last one were off of my path so I only managed to see 29. Still, I felt that I was truly undertaking a pilgrimage with these compassionate faces guiding me on my way.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lonely mountain paths</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My body aching badly</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Kannon's smiling face</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-Vtw67dyEuQRc7623dxcDnEQqMOKibbrfECS4Iel7Z0LIba8E7IFVnLLkhksumnvx-n_RntbDE3FEb1rEDsmdEsicur_g4QCgITf5qRMv3toxjZmfPInWfdT6_jJq7K_HzHC1uLlg8GT/s1600/kannon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-Vtw67dyEuQRc7623dxcDnEQqMOKibbrfECS4Iel7Z0LIba8E7IFVnLLkhksumnvx-n_RntbDE3FEb1rEDsmdEsicur_g4QCgITf5qRMv3toxjZmfPInWfdT6_jJq7K_HzHC1uLlg8GT/s640/kannon+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhxNI4Fo35ED_ccBUnFAO1FgjHxduR466w7y2PEuf9LOLGcpT2XPM2trLz9090ewMxCzYg5gp5hr4YOBkhyphenhyphenyi4UVeqb0acuckYBzrpBp9Cvy3cWYkpkCGgeTJRwd5Fdfbg5tTHUfA162m/s1600/kannon+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhxNI4Fo35ED_ccBUnFAO1FgjHxduR466w7y2PEuf9LOLGcpT2XPM2trLz9090ewMxCzYg5gp5hr4YOBkhyphenhyphenyi4UVeqb0acuckYBzrpBp9Cvy3cWYkpkCGgeTJRwd5Fdfbg5tTHUfA162m/s640/kannon+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGm0ppUQqSfoanX6JbPxdqesHfh3MqYqPEg5Z2uFoXu5nx_vNuVIRjwlaMVs-xWiORG89m4g-kGhcEDKjrBOcUnWuxHnDZeNttzzbat_IABXZftrARJrDSZNZSR2MlpJ1FYb1kIPB-KtnM/s1600/Kannon+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGm0ppUQqSfoanX6JbPxdqesHfh3MqYqPEg5Z2uFoXu5nx_vNuVIRjwlaMVs-xWiORG89m4g-kGhcEDKjrBOcUnWuxHnDZeNttzzbat_IABXZftrARJrDSZNZSR2MlpJ1FYb1kIPB-KtnM/s640/Kannon+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span id="goog_70663036"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNyWtSj4N9rOLNRv84pTw0qtZVOvS7MbCR_qZp82QwMV9rAzM0TysDa0gqUvNfznjhdMaU2xjtsww52dhreXyzQZ2NvzqwK3ueMJ1ikJM4CUTJoIlgRUPcHGqsrUNavnuS5VFTUjdiVoh/s1600/DSC_0362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNyWtSj4N9rOLNRv84pTw0qtZVOvS7MbCR_qZp82QwMV9rAzM0TysDa0gqUvNfznjhdMaU2xjtsww52dhreXyzQZ2NvzqwK3ueMJ1ikJM4CUTJoIlgRUPcHGqsrUNavnuS5VFTUjdiVoh/s640/DSC_0362.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq3oUvuhxAsahyphenhyphen1_UZ-QEjf_XwP0kN61F_d77NQeeCPCI5yX4ZBHUmind6Vw_UA0xrmXfu79zTGNWBv0tErT7yEosD09YxbWOjLaoQ96sX8-TjNLhbd_hxhy5bs8uymuRhuxxzd2EBWft/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq3oUvuhxAsahyphenhyphen1_UZ-QEjf_XwP0kN61F_d77NQeeCPCI5yX4ZBHUmind6Vw_UA0xrmXfu79zTGNWBv0tErT7yEosD09YxbWOjLaoQ96sX8-TjNLhbd_hxhy5bs8uymuRhuxxzd2EBWft/s640/DSC_0367.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66JWbmGwUWUB2CDYpBjCxtJI5g_wWr3S8e-ajGqPcQ2dhsGon0sKJ0c-koMpzwukavNPTpZBMfWEBYnCe5QwtOcpIX8IYWz4r0bZ5kifnHOWyY5C388t_0OgXlfSzkXUdTyvQ7rFrnEji/s1600/DSC_0366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66JWbmGwUWUB2CDYpBjCxtJI5g_wWr3S8e-ajGqPcQ2dhsGon0sKJ0c-koMpzwukavNPTpZBMfWEBYnCe5QwtOcpIX8IYWz4r0bZ5kifnHOWyY5C388t_0OgXlfSzkXUdTyvQ7rFrnEji/s640/DSC_0366.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil2WlkPEgNSJhl5SI3MX40cz2UPLfzmh3QR9RLPZudF0ZN9sNw0n4cnwcAOf6_7g5kPDDdwvy26leL007k2PQzDzNnpayxwGLnQd3o-5TbHEpSpCdHvFpAYals2rAdhJj1N7GXPJdOvlc/s1600/DSC_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil2WlkPEgNSJhl5SI3MX40cz2UPLfzmh3QR9RLPZudF0ZN9sNw0n4cnwcAOf6_7g5kPDDdwvy26leL007k2PQzDzNnpayxwGLnQd3o-5TbHEpSpCdHvFpAYals2rAdhJj1N7GXPJdOvlc/s640/DSC_0370.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fQLnrjvb-iLIwzzwIwLYoTkKT8lDgdRxYMqpEoZtxB2w3CxTsY4dHw9uhW4eFuaKmVauJKU7BYnVUPJIaEhE6Yw5fERBnMP1-fKSU-p9UbkyfIK8KtBBO0gOrUNetj53c2OCUiJ3EeeP/s1600/DSC_0379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fQLnrjvb-iLIwzzwIwLYoTkKT8lDgdRxYMqpEoZtxB2w3CxTsY4dHw9uhW4eFuaKmVauJKU7BYnVUPJIaEhE6Yw5fERBnMP1-fKSU-p9UbkyfIK8KtBBO0gOrUNetj53c2OCUiJ3EeeP/s640/DSC_0379.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1-XqP2hR5N3DpJk1WTaKLgex2vRZHQNGpb2ElQaPsD0aK7qDfcdHFxcbi_2aNAQ8eVPZ3-WGGWxKaZ4EfifmrB-eReyi2dpAma3p3TEPz95HkASEAFiymYdc68k7khBoA0rFhho2tLP2/s1600/DSC_0380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1-XqP2hR5N3DpJk1WTaKLgex2vRZHQNGpb2ElQaPsD0aK7qDfcdHFxcbi_2aNAQ8eVPZ3-WGGWxKaZ4EfifmrB-eReyi2dpAma3p3TEPz95HkASEAFiymYdc68k7khBoA0rFhho2tLP2/s640/DSC_0380.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> A few hours after leaving the hamlet, the path snaked around this small shrine housing a trinity of Buddhist deities including Fudo-myÅ-Å, the guardian of the Dharma and protector of Mountain ascetics. Offering a candle and incense, I performed puja before taking a short break to refill my thermos. The silence of my surroundings broken only by the sound of my friend the wind and the singing of the birds in the trees.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSV-xGX4wIw9wGNj9r_GTCb3eP3rBfi9STU9hjGYkF6NC2pulr5WH5GbFoUXR05A6BKnbrK_JIkihyIwP7B4ZAt3Z9GXQHRwSh6QAOoIDsDCuhYXML-6qqWCRA0jEUul4NgtthAhR9qJN/s1600/DSC_0387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSV-xGX4wIw9wGNj9r_GTCb3eP3rBfi9STU9hjGYkF6NC2pulr5WH5GbFoUXR05A6BKnbrK_JIkihyIwP7B4ZAt3Z9GXQHRwSh6QAOoIDsDCuhYXML-6qqWCRA0jEUul4NgtthAhR9qJN/s640/DSC_0387.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1TR3qmbsC8xu_68QnJKTyWaifl61Pdv7V2X5S2jSJTlZW3oJ5w4BkJwPjGxpiX1LV4r2ItIBHdjKdtux6ptYj92aS9x5efJ3R7hB7irxFOgIWOmqABdIMYieWikzD3pKdhVOgyDxfhdJ/s1600/DSC_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1TR3qmbsC8xu_68QnJKTyWaifl61Pdv7V2X5S2jSJTlZW3oJ5w4BkJwPjGxpiX1LV4r2ItIBHdjKdtux6ptYj92aS9x5efJ3R7hB7irxFOgIWOmqABdIMYieWikzD3pKdhVOgyDxfhdJ/s640/DSC_0386.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Of course, we would meet once more in such a place, wouldn't we Sifu?" </i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoj_jHPyAKC7ZfQ9sG7059LkTmFX7lVB6aUSLD70eBhJ-BLODeRAbvXwA1DtAeNL0TnPXhwrvTRPeLsICg5A9HHZAMNUX7BgKnoGhsCD2pcX7mg1FM2uDtPG3qc5sjKTs5iqF-_CXtgMU/s1600/DSC_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoj_jHPyAKC7ZfQ9sG7059LkTmFX7lVB6aUSLD70eBhJ-BLODeRAbvXwA1DtAeNL0TnPXhwrvTRPeLsICg5A9HHZAMNUX7BgKnoGhsCD2pcX7mg1FM2uDtPG3qc5sjKTs5iqF-_CXtgMU/s640/DSC_0377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8NpWD-6labd_U_Zmh1PRnxXA-oT7g50K11yVIGBmzsdaQucBvwC4hevAVvjmE_HhjwnAm2uwC9P-27JoFFSiIP5NLehAr4siaVg8o3yn4aYlKJOCRaS719Zu4jESEdlbxS9zlKz7qZqj/s1600/DSC_0396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8NpWD-6labd_U_Zmh1PRnxXA-oT7g50K11yVIGBmzsdaQucBvwC4hevAVvjmE_HhjwnAm2uwC9P-27JoFFSiIP5NLehAr4siaVg8o3yn4aYlKJOCRaS719Zu4jESEdlbxS9zlKz7qZqj/s640/DSC_0396.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bodhidharma in his forest cave, sitting, in the deep still silence of the mountain</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvgaGXZmnIEav0JiWv9f8UwFv2LckS7oNzQFDk2zdzzPOzhuIteVfJub8Libdjjv2aj_hHDBTOc3TXSx98O9ZrpbullDJ4Vf5iGRcgA2gmkvHrKNSjkZXuXg8rF4n-_swnmosgKVI4NsU/s1600/DSC_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvgaGXZmnIEav0JiWv9f8UwFv2LckS7oNzQFDk2zdzzPOzhuIteVfJub8Libdjjv2aj_hHDBTOc3TXSx98O9ZrpbullDJ4Vf5iGRcgA2gmkvHrKNSjkZXuXg8rF4n-_swnmosgKVI4NsU/s640/DSC_0394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3jU3r18z68M90nXNJdoAjBrlaBT1wRCrROD_-rzsxhlo8OryooiZdIXI2uuYeSMSJdAFpJXzlcKXzolGUpOyGV7ZFOmf0yw-YuylPqVdEUtbrSG4HqiCXdi7NPB4o3El-Rv4NGdEQjEc/s1600/DSC_0397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3jU3r18z68M90nXNJdoAjBrlaBT1wRCrROD_-rzsxhlo8OryooiZdIXI2uuYeSMSJdAFpJXzlcKXzolGUpOyGV7ZFOmf0yw-YuylPqVdEUtbrSG4HqiCXdi7NPB4o3El-Rv4NGdEQjEc/s640/DSC_0397.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> The final pass, the Hatenashi-toge (endless pass), comes into view after a long climb up from 200m .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VcvsZR8a7Z6dzea191vJVF6D6XbsGmJ28OhMjSYZeXfQ85DYxH2wZ9lj24oanhbsN7GdQn7eelCSUXCff3yXupgUmjPPXBW6y62zwWVFCLpXx4iwJpNsslW7OYubN8S-ZVks2sYpZ7WF/s1600/DSC_0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VcvsZR8a7Z6dzea191vJVF6D6XbsGmJ28OhMjSYZeXfQ85DYxH2wZ9lj24oanhbsN7GdQn7eelCSUXCff3yXupgUmjPPXBW6y62zwWVFCLpXx4iwJpNsslW7OYubN8S-ZVks2sYpZ7WF/s640/DSC_0398.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpElRgUv1RqXK885-_Hc4Kt1_W15jOmypz7pGdwk1naCeQD49BC0M3kbCaSHCZgdgEqY-2AFzL9jJWEIvj2tbJatmpbwFVESI5qv1ALARFky0J1kjvYIqr_lSRVx5sf_LRVoxFtHpaGw_n/s1600/DSC_0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpElRgUv1RqXK885-_Hc4Kt1_W15jOmypz7pGdwk1naCeQD49BC0M3kbCaSHCZgdgEqY-2AFzL9jJWEIvj2tbJatmpbwFVESI5qv1ALARFky0J1kjvYIqr_lSRVx5sf_LRVoxFtHpaGw_n/s640/DSC_0399.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20LoM-ooA6LvQjp4dnDNwCssBkN4lKwuQ39VKTIDoWVnXJwv4NxcviV3nSBuRnPwX6QEoFzp2Y_ARCkWAHX41xjmRwResE5VdroexmhgcS4-OB9rhz5VK6GWZISx53sIKRzlUuKZ19SaL/s1600/DSC_0404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20LoM-ooA6LvQjp4dnDNwCssBkN4lKwuQ39VKTIDoWVnXJwv4NxcviV3nSBuRnPwX6QEoFzp2Y_ARCkWAHX41xjmRwResE5VdroexmhgcS4-OB9rhz5VK6GWZISx53sIKRzlUuKZ19SaL/s640/DSC_0404.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a quick chilli tomato and peanut butter cup noodle and a drink I lay down on the pine needles and began to drift away with the sound of the wind blowing through the branches above. Hearing voices I once again thought that I might be hallucinating due to fatigue and prolonged isolation, but as they grew nearer I realized that I wasn't alone as two old chaps on their way back down the path I'd come up stopped to say hello. It turned out that they'd been on a day hike up to the peak, Buna-no-taira, about 10 minutes further up the track in the opposite direction and were now heading back down and home. When I told them what I was up to they looked quite surprised and admitted that they'd hadn't walked the route themselves, and that hardly anyone does outside of the "Japanese hiking season". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> My first conversation in 3 days ended with a slight degree of pleasure at having the mountain to myself again, and after another short rest I laced up my boots for the final push to Hongu.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlqeh-bwnHAu6Jl-W6Ldpm8ezwVUgKFppQOkBIxWMHeqfSjkjDCGjm9A0OfgHCKP7UwNqNVe-2cKWR8HUN5G0Bu1nUnKTEcSb7TYzEMTng10nN10f0E7IkxwnM16RYTQp3kNU25aBzEWJ/s1600/DSC_0401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlqeh-bwnHAu6Jl-W6Ldpm8ezwVUgKFppQOkBIxWMHeqfSjkjDCGjm9A0OfgHCKP7UwNqNVe-2cKWR8HUN5G0Bu1nUnKTEcSb7TYzEMTng10nN10f0E7IkxwnM16RYTQp3kNU25aBzEWJ/s640/DSC_0401.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilli tomato cup noodle x Skippy = TanTanMen </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioclDTus7o6aCpQRee8blFRwiXcf7WVnF5DD0AP7DxwR39yGok-Y1anxqegDGoYZPwnz_xNvJI6pU0_JdczHx9X9UQziFdEcZytYTEa0Mub2VSzdcfUrh_OUwN8ljv-ljJkumb8EBQWl6N/s1600/DSC_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioclDTus7o6aCpQRee8blFRwiXcf7WVnF5DD0AP7DxwR39yGok-Y1anxqegDGoYZPwnz_xNvJI6pU0_JdczHx9X9UQziFdEcZytYTEa0Mub2VSzdcfUrh_OUwN8ljv-ljJkumb8EBQWl6N/s640/DSC_0425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEF78-HQigrrUaw6OYICMUXvaQfMUIS0P8Y2vh-O-yeBfSLFepURgkb8MLOOT1Bgg_dsWVLHZkvvD53mKak5NWbHowbc7tEU8VsoIdaXKAm_6_orgVVe5-Q5jxCkyQHmun08fPCTgj7toe/s1600/DSC_0424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEF78-HQigrrUaw6OYICMUXvaQfMUIS0P8Y2vh-O-yeBfSLFepURgkb8MLOOT1Bgg_dsWVLHZkvvD53mKak5NWbHowbc7tEU8VsoIdaXKAm_6_orgVVe5-Q5jxCkyQHmun08fPCTgj7toe/s640/DSC_0424.jpg" width="409" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8GG65oWC1qulOUuButcPwT9q-oQSrG_WpRiCwXKrZLvIvBKKB_7hAPNRy-R3HhVnVwo4dOi8gqCeqz4pu4FzbyBuHvgDpudvwGHkg7woz8JkybQOFSzAsoaZp9yqb-5QxkJDr-AIxXNi/s1600/DSC_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8GG65oWC1qulOUuButcPwT9q-oQSrG_WpRiCwXKrZLvIvBKKB_7hAPNRy-R3HhVnVwo4dOi8gqCeqz4pu4FzbyBuHvgDpudvwGHkg7woz8JkybQOFSzAsoaZp9yqb-5QxkJDr-AIxXNi/s640/DSC_0420.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-glexnfaWbUU5awHhK4siNQvG8atwmDIOflgkAz7E449IFnDFdrjG4GCMgMqArmHNBtjehnTYUYt0W732gs6UgRKbu_I2kkUF-Txd9EwE8vnLKe_Ip4zkWkFwXV7vmmHiViZGczUJdnf/s1600/DSC_0436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-glexnfaWbUU5awHhK4siNQvG8atwmDIOflgkAz7E449IFnDFdrjG4GCMgMqArmHNBtjehnTYUYt0W732gs6UgRKbu_I2kkUF-Txd9EwE8vnLKe_Ip4zkWkFwXV7vmmHiViZGczUJdnf/s640/DSC_0436.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJv5hJ40GKtA6NbUt-FlBSNs2eBwZ2Eu8aejZsG7AQ6AdveyIpDptbUz7QydgepQ6igRmLBGFOqTxRlGZRsw2HJ0H2KYBNwA-Ki8BpSvNgP8wdUV1P034_kDCPC_DqDdANkJ9pEv6dImk/s1600/DSC_0441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJv5hJ40GKtA6NbUt-FlBSNs2eBwZ2Eu8aejZsG7AQ6AdveyIpDptbUz7QydgepQ6igRmLBGFOqTxRlGZRsw2HJ0H2KYBNwA-Ki8BpSvNgP8wdUV1P034_kDCPC_DqDdANkJ9pEv6dImk/s640/DSC_0441.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was beginning to understand why this was called "the endless pass" when, after two hours of descent following the mountain ridge and steep switchbacks, the valley bellow showed no sign of getting any closer. The serene, smiling face of Kannon however, kept any frustrated emotions at bay and eventually at around 5pm I made it down to the Yakio bridge and the Kumano river, placid at this time of the year but showing signs of it's alternate incarnation in the plastic bags and other detritus that strew the riverside trees 5~8 meters above its current level. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_r_W8ur6BEw8FirCJLnGySEEbAKZjWrGFzaLXcbeyLLH-fDyn-Hx5Kvilg33zWL0d9N9nNv-4Ddymlbklo3NgSLgRVpUyu0e227ezOgIDMqHLzxPj-XAGr0VQmlkQ5U8VMY0DIpDqAOl/s1600/DSC_0438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_r_W8ur6BEw8FirCJLnGySEEbAKZjWrGFzaLXcbeyLLH-fDyn-Hx5Kvilg33zWL0d9N9nNv-4Ddymlbklo3NgSLgRVpUyu0e227ezOgIDMqHLzxPj-XAGr0VQmlkQ5U8VMY0DIpDqAOl/s640/DSC_0438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpwZzqsH67EshDNBrOFIY9WwrI0FCpatKEI2PwNiBe5RozPlYCcNTm1DTHDTSnTUa8ZjLG2GRANHC6OuFzwyMVVrF919_IAS8r_uKgEmD4_gK1NAh_jmj9kfbCFKj0zYQKtySy36ZWWjo/s1600/DSC_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpwZzqsH67EshDNBrOFIY9WwrI0FCpatKEI2PwNiBe5RozPlYCcNTm1DTHDTSnTUa8ZjLG2GRANHC6OuFzwyMVVrF919_IAS8r_uKgEmD4_gK1NAh_jmj9kfbCFKj0zYQKtySy36ZWWjo/s640/DSC_0446.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3txj6csv3KynRTvFOj_rxmpeEo8k8ukp5sQ8cljdR_9D599jd9Ezh53-kK_xpjwMwgb2DYceDlw-3T_vfOH4houxINijgxRJ_2VSiRzH5wYJMIlc5TiOaDvztbGlPIcPyhu3pbB0GOPE4/s1600/DSC_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3txj6csv3KynRTvFOj_rxmpeEo8k8ukp5sQ8cljdR_9D599jd9Ezh53-kK_xpjwMwgb2DYceDlw-3T_vfOH4houxINijgxRJ_2VSiRzH5wYJMIlc5TiOaDvztbGlPIcPyhu3pbB0GOPE4/s640/DSC_0451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyASpwrEkzciUynA-hW7GvAOcSAJpycbFwwHC8kpHKFSXxxUO0wP5pAz6ciQhxvZU-9HlrWcvrLoby_A5Mlu6O3tWkBugU5HejZojXtS8Ih4YT0dokwSbaWScd5MKuTipV__i-vGq3zSh/s1600/DSC_0445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyASpwrEkzciUynA-hW7GvAOcSAJpycbFwwHC8kpHKFSXxxUO0wP5pAz6ciQhxvZU-9HlrWcvrLoby_A5Mlu6O3tWkBugU5HejZojXtS8Ih4YT0dokwSbaWScd5MKuTipV__i-vGq3zSh/s640/DSC_0445.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOBKbwtHn48GrfWbHuwfkrGiTtLzSSalOzd5t2IKd2mTsFmkNTxLMGwFtq_PaR22mIGJJyG-omy0ztLhokVkQaXYuA_Oh9VgBmjOIkgENkQw_X3Y5-hRTu_jmOYTOQFgH9JsPwvxhaV3z/s1600/DSC_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOBKbwtHn48GrfWbHuwfkrGiTtLzSSalOzd5t2IKd2mTsFmkNTxLMGwFtq_PaR22mIGJJyG-omy0ztLhokVkQaXYuA_Oh9VgBmjOIkgENkQw_X3Y5-hRTu_jmOYTOQFgH9JsPwvxhaV3z/s640/DSC_0450.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQPJTNUyQHy0iWP1ufMos2AmkvE_mKfM5lzhqfWKW1OdFDELg1jqYgQgJGWcqGAj9Jv5RVuDowVpb_aZhadTTmH6Y9wxy0AsVuJcEFMY-Fzz2AFXxQMBEO-PhZPJKIffTOXOCA5a8juBP/s1600/DSC_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQPJTNUyQHy0iWP1ufMos2AmkvE_mKfM5lzhqfWKW1OdFDELg1jqYgQgJGWcqGAj9Jv5RVuDowVpb_aZhadTTmH6Y9wxy0AsVuJcEFMY-Fzz2AFXxQMBEO-PhZPJKIffTOXOCA5a8juBP/s640/DSC_0452.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a few more kilometers of asphalt and a visit to the first shop I'd seen since KÅya, the last 5km stretch of the Kohechi lay ahead. It was around 6pm by now and I wanted to reach a viewpoint a few clicks above Hongu that I'd seen in the guide books, which affords a view over the Great gate and on towards the distant mountains. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkSdF_l1uT_AtKnXGOWK27Pc5o7Ub_atEzhguPol9DxnHDMn8xCPoGz5YZXlY4KdczgmGLaNqrqQA_wMpi0T7PloDc2Zh3kp7_K82qmjQ2GuzzPitq6M2sEt9kk0zdwWbVsK21m_f9E8m/s1600/DSC_0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkSdF_l1uT_AtKnXGOWK27Pc5o7Ub_atEzhguPol9DxnHDMn8xCPoGz5YZXlY4KdczgmGLaNqrqQA_wMpi0T7PloDc2Zh3kp7_K82qmjQ2GuzzPitq6M2sEt9kk0zdwWbVsK21m_f9E8m/s640/DSC_0456.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was completely exhausted, but upon reaching the spot and seeing the view first-hand all sense of the accumulated fatigue dissipated and my breath was taken away by the incredible vista. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DiemgnW1yDjlcslXZYyhOUzAzC88Glau69ACPr5LRBGt3av_HyMFSXwh-IKkudhcw2MqHJ0-Lzo3-i6Wwc8roDx7QTJX9DXP8RZi_3alQ_AQvUzvGovmIUeL4wFvzfV5pBLSlRQZnJgV/s1600/DSC_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DiemgnW1yDjlcslXZYyhOUzAzC88Glau69ACPr5LRBGt3av_HyMFSXwh-IKkudhcw2MqHJ0-Lzo3-i6Wwc8roDx7QTJX9DXP8RZi_3alQ_AQvUzvGovmIUeL4wFvzfV5pBLSlRQZnJgV/s640/DSC_0457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> I couldn't have wished for a better hang either, between two beautiful flowering camelias and beneath a couple of pine trees, I could enjoy both the subtle fragrance and the gentle sound of the wind blowing through the needles during the night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowU2Wq8_VSd8Dl4elGdsCrXDJ8gVijPYHX-Z5y7aCyunXm0Vr_8LZaIog41U-TSHfjXFlhuC9uisKDYhRUJNY0J11I9NEpSzRH9WzglcRqy2QCq5YKUzZdK1ZtXBwFnYgstVlJD-YBpN4/s1600/DSC_0464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowU2Wq8_VSd8Dl4elGdsCrXDJ8gVijPYHX-Z5y7aCyunXm0Vr_8LZaIog41U-TSHfjXFlhuC9uisKDYhRUJNY0J11I9NEpSzRH9WzglcRqy2QCq5YKUzZdK1ZtXBwFnYgstVlJD-YBpN4/s640/DSC_0464.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the sun setting behind an overcast sky and the darkness drawing near, I washed with a packet of wet-tissues and changed into some warm, clean clothes before slipping into my cradle and spending an hour or so reading and penning a few more verses. Inspiration abound that evening and the hardships of the previous few days soon seemed like distant memories. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Sleep came quickly as I turned off my headlamp and closed my eyes. A few light drops of rain gently strummed the hammock's flysheet accompanied by the singing of frogs somewhere far below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Light spring rain falling</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Between two Camelias</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Below, the frogs call.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-65895613144292109292013-03-26T19:30:00.002-07:002013-03-29T21:32:40.979-07:00Kumano kodÅ trek day 3 / Kaya-goyo ato to Nishinaka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The long slog.<br />
<br />
After a great night's rest in the Hermitage I awoke to more pleasant, but chillier, conditions than the previous evening had brought. The sun was still far from rising, but that magical pre-dawn indigo glow was visible through the trees to the East.<br />
<br />
Rising slowly as the light grew stronger, I checked my phone to see that it was still only 5:30am. The fire had died down during the night but was soon rekindled and began heating the hut and the kettle while I ventured outside for a bracing wash in the cold, clear mountain air. My thirst was quenched by the same sweet water that I'd washed with, gulping down about a liter and awakening me completely on the inside.<br />
<br />
The cedars surrounding the small clearing around the hut were shrouded with mist, and a light breeze invigorated my skin and filled my lungs. I spent about twenty minutes performing some static Qi-gong in these perfect conditions.<br />
<br />
<i>Two hands hold up the heavens, draw back the bow to shoot the hawk, separate Heaven and Earth...</i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOx20wWTfDuoifpNYBR5NzsDEsYW1yupS4SBBn7jLA56OrdJNpSHxFnuxw_9d6VIszbFjK-vaBRct3US0ISGnoioG2oKWEi5UykIrUyzroLzbmF-Bo12yYpegf56H95PEKlAWPkYYLG-9/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOx20wWTfDuoifpNYBR5NzsDEsYW1yupS4SBBn7jLA56OrdJNpSHxFnuxw_9d6VIszbFjK-vaBRct3US0ISGnoioG2oKWEi5UykIrUyzroLzbmF-Bo12yYpegf56H95PEKlAWPkYYLG-9/s640/DSC_0239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the rain, blue skies...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp3ZRswyLmJPE6kQQVY7g08uKZ211xOMWIKVPFxllCxDrkgyWk-eZN-pInB-FG4ghC3m05K36ndtQ1KYknqDsGQCwEWt2AW3Po3skLQt52f0ypEta69WeXv-CF7aEyzDCzPTL3BJiAYAC/s1600/DSC_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp3ZRswyLmJPE6kQQVY7g08uKZ211xOMWIKVPFxllCxDrkgyWk-eZN-pInB-FG4ghC3m05K36ndtQ1KYknqDsGQCwEWt2AW3Po3skLQt52f0ypEta69WeXv-CF7aEyzDCzPTL3BJiAYAC/s640/DSC_0237.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the Bruce-Lee on and warming up before hitting the trail</td></tr></tbody></table> After a piping-hot cup of tea, another Snickers and a couple of sweet-bread rolls with lashings of peanut butter I set about packing and tidied the hut while the last of the embers died down. With the hearth emptied and the guest-book entry filled in, I laced up and headed out and into the forest where the path led steeply again, up to the first of 3 passes I was to traverse that day.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJkJoHv0NZiM6spHszAcizTUIsJQH18ZEJGzfztSgCOrauXmAJHIZA3FOCJXJY5cuYrWCHOwawRJA_SpE9EW0XHEto89WoOVGjP8aARgVskr76wgGeqk4A7rTgN-mhBEX3IaP5YN_GSNo/s1600/DSC_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJkJoHv0NZiM6spHszAcizTUIsJQH18ZEJGzfztSgCOrauXmAJHIZA3FOCJXJY5cuYrWCHOwawRJA_SpE9EW0XHEto89WoOVGjP8aARgVskr76wgGeqk4A7rTgN-mhBEX3IaP5YN_GSNo/s640/DSC_0238.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying a reluctant farewell to this amazing spot. Thank you and goodbye.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Bm8i_Y5yMpIKe5oJL5He9IOEcvQJzrnUobnkkA0E8fSBUkZ7OP0k1goPGjIg39-ntK_qsCa8hkS_8OO30i_Jy7l-1PeVTt1u6RHfd8Xn0U22o_-nACAC3f3iriTUu-3LoAYa1zF-bV7_/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Bm8i_Y5yMpIKe5oJL5He9IOEcvQJzrnUobnkkA0E8fSBUkZ7OP0k1goPGjIg39-ntK_qsCa8hkS_8OO30i_Jy7l-1PeVTt1u6RHfd8Xn0U22o_-nACAC3f3iriTUu-3LoAYa1zF-bV7_/s640/DSC_0241.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These ice formations had formed after the rain had abated, the saturated ground extruding the frozen water up into the freezing air where it curled into these strange, hair-like protrusions. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EuD6_6esFj-iFW39yXlPhGWEJymGp1lnxWpxZxL8qORoDDAXVX1yGDSOvFS0qIer-tpe1lLnymgeMDCnHJ0wQMpf-9a8T7JUcuQ7Qjki94W8S4vtW_DwOdXo5D6nbDy2HqUc8M77F7tO/s1600/DSC_0242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EuD6_6esFj-iFW39yXlPhGWEJymGp1lnxWpxZxL8qORoDDAXVX1yGDSOvFS0qIer-tpe1lLnymgeMDCnHJ0wQMpf-9a8T7JUcuQ7Qjki94W8S4vtW_DwOdXo5D6nbDy2HqUc8M77F7tO/s640/DSC_0242.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring seemed still very far away up here </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hnySWq_6MBCOUptY5gqXGyP86zmGMbvQZ9OiWWxoDHbD9P-62_KIL_PFSoZJQaS3ol4Xs_Wy9gDlIv0JD7RercRs-JwXHI5QYFd00Bhg-0nq0PEBTpk64cQik6XT1EAYiC8yxigpo3cL/s1600/DSC_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hnySWq_6MBCOUptY5gqXGyP86zmGMbvQZ9OiWWxoDHbD9P-62_KIL_PFSoZJQaS3ol4Xs_Wy9gDlIv0JD7RercRs-JwXHI5QYFd00Bhg-0nq0PEBTpk64cQik6XT1EAYiC8yxigpo3cL/s640/DSC_0245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeqxP9u-fIOq_uEdDnTK2rjz3fAmqJ-y62hpuW0Thhthx6yWHbA_1qTXCas4Vmkdzvrapyw_4IGTU1caCAPnjvjNbRPLgrkMHSfdO36i2N62l0LsQ0bo9tWbM8vlsJNHiunnnAXHiux5G/s1600/DSC_0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeqxP9u-fIOq_uEdDnTK2rjz3fAmqJ-y62hpuW0Thhthx6yWHbA_1qTXCas4Vmkdzvrapyw_4IGTU1caCAPnjvjNbRPLgrkMHSfdO36i2N62l0LsQ0bo9tWbM8vlsJNHiunnnAXHiux5G/s640/DSC_0246.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLImnS5Wymlth6EXubvt4q_prp6MjeIPs4KhAmM-B-QRtCJoZjqE1TFpXbdlSxCCFJfez0fkSQdajoUUiUOISNY8plvBo4ck7R_2kEzg_rQ0HEWOnnufzTrB-TzeQcJNkuZNykJs_cHB4/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLImnS5Wymlth6EXubvt4q_prp6MjeIPs4KhAmM-B-QRtCJoZjqE1TFpXbdlSxCCFJfez0fkSQdajoUUiUOISNY8plvBo4ck7R_2kEzg_rQ0HEWOnnufzTrB-TzeQcJNkuZNykJs_cHB4/s640/DSC_0249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ichi-go, ichi-e. Gifts of the mountain that no one but myself would ever see. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyExNWQ3dCrD4qJWzfXC1IYA724P1uz7qXt6GlD0WZV1inItUPsGfN_hyFnsrT6QMc7qc3sXCzccCEXD2lZ1kTOV5x7Cl_tMRE9u3x6iVoDX715C6M5FtHJM3tA6izROL7TwTDVK5N4hr/s1600/DSC_0251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyExNWQ3dCrD4qJWzfXC1IYA724P1uz7qXt6GlD0WZV1inItUPsGfN_hyFnsrT6QMc7qc3sXCzccCEXD2lZ1kTOV5x7Cl_tMRE9u3x6iVoDX715C6M5FtHJM3tA6izROL7TwTDVK5N4hr/s640/DSC_0251.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="p1">Instead of following the route that skirted around the peak of Obako-dake, I headed straight up to the top on an alternative path that became less and less distinguishable from the forest floor around it. The freezing wind whistled through the forest, and as my hands and nose grew numb from the chill a strange glistening in the trees began to appear before me. </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBDBa2t7x4fAlOAg6bkbPGomY4oo7CQ2KIuX2lkciHRFuatmwGJ4B4-3jR4G_6Dxx29lwKjS_8JKNi92c0JQuamJC-jz3IFezDVLYt4XoKeqIL6ypC3j5amFvNTysQ3G9EUqYLIkgcU7v/s1600/DSC_0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBDBa2t7x4fAlOAg6bkbPGomY4oo7CQ2KIuX2lkciHRFuatmwGJ4B4-3jR4G_6Dxx29lwKjS_8JKNi92c0JQuamJC-jz3IFezDVLYt4XoKeqIL6ypC3j5amFvNTysQ3G9EUqYLIkgcU7v/s640/DSC_0250.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The path less travelled</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehBOSMWZAWKzwxkxthB7RQA86y7zDaczHPoPi7O9PJqH11KTjYiq0dOhYhNmtVXDtDwJRoA_52IWppwak6pPcco8L2Q1qdzQBOVlV6vpDLXPv6w8N_BZUWqFMkbSOsOoUhkIPrQ8vrHeV/s1600/DSC_0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehBOSMWZAWKzwxkxthB7RQA86y7zDaczHPoPi7O9PJqH11KTjYiq0dOhYhNmtVXDtDwJRoA_52IWppwak6pPcco8L2Q1qdzQBOVlV6vpDLXPv6w8N_BZUWqFMkbSOsOoUhkIPrQ8vrHeV/s640/DSC_0254.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strange blossoms appear in the frozen forest. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBmlk6vNlzuZ-zN3slgtNc1iZZTZcYUGBomPnA0YMZFGZg6IdU7dBrvrtGeqTK-Tn006fG5HFyMhZa1RfiPjdnNKUDlnRW8kd0u3k9QQ_BV4O5FCN2lAgIRsjsi3bYOEe9Ul4nsYrPJC3/s1600/DSC_0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBmlk6vNlzuZ-zN3slgtNc1iZZTZcYUGBomPnA0YMZFGZg6IdU7dBrvrtGeqTK-Tn006fG5HFyMhZa1RfiPjdnNKUDlnRW8kd0u3k9QQ_BV4O5FCN2lAgIRsjsi3bYOEe9Ul4nsYrPJC3/s640/DSC_0258.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_j2m802YWD5YQ-oZbwWdImiyVGKxX1nPgqdxQ1LIhx0dilW-B28R34vqBwkemdFZiZ2DrWwVMjeD7nSE5OgkTINLY-ETWaKfojPn2iP989r0173nPCmjNvFRce-i08ENEjZ-3W6TyT6KR/s1600/DSC_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_j2m802YWD5YQ-oZbwWdImiyVGKxX1nPgqdxQ1LIhx0dilW-B28R34vqBwkemdFZiZ2DrWwVMjeD7nSE5OgkTINLY-ETWaKfojPn2iP989r0173nPCmjNvFRce-i08ENEjZ-3W6TyT6KR/s640/DSC_0257.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigz3tM2cHvFJTRir4ka1eyiJr8-0qmFfLjXxUi3YIqP-Hdz87ndyjlZrK2sffqHV9LqaiU_6uSTloYcHK3Zu_bdRAxEAJOWgzLapzZTb0Si36Eff-rNTA-sSOl1SEuutDXis5eW-x_Jd4/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigz3tM2cHvFJTRir4ka1eyiJr8-0qmFfLjXxUi3YIqP-Hdz87ndyjlZrK2sffqHV9LqaiU_6uSTloYcHK3Zu_bdRAxEAJOWgzLapzZTb0Si36Eff-rNTA-sSOl1SEuutDXis5eW-x_Jd4/s640/DSC_0256.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Inspired by my surroundings, I penned a quick Haiku;<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>White flowers blossom</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>High upon this mountain pass</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Winter's last cold breath</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Up on the summit at about 1260m the wind was bitingly cold, but the view in all directions was one of mountains and clear, azure skies. There wasn't a single sign of man's presence anywhere apart from the small path and the sign beside me. No people, roads, electricity pylons, radio masts, nothing but mountains, sky and the wind. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkq8uJntm1ftupqRMdOnsW4V3U6bz1ySv1tDyLXv3JWkc3pl7f5zF8UGYkCRw020ByMKusOozJMlvW6QB_Zw9YJXAgQJXciQeJsqwIIVVYLwgV-flx3AFSmmzCHkbSh2R8ENHTz96wp05/s1600/DSC_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkq8uJntm1ftupqRMdOnsW4V3U6bz1ySv1tDyLXv3JWkc3pl7f5zF8UGYkCRw020ByMKusOozJMlvW6QB_Zw9YJXAgQJXciQeJsqwIIVVYLwgV-flx3AFSmmzCHkbSh2R8ENHTz96wp05/s640/DSC_0260.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMbwWUkw2iXtx0alGcUJEK_QqpTy2alu3CcsXS4KHi07LXg8hbJqChn_3zWlz6_IFW3YrTYzfonHVtWJMV94WkK5Xjwi_oHrp0OKpzeef9slYERwLeQErWGRfFViGgYRu3hNdem1drOL1/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMbwWUkw2iXtx0alGcUJEK_QqpTy2alu3CcsXS4KHi07LXg8hbJqChn_3zWlz6_IFW3YrTYzfonHVtWJMV94WkK5Xjwi_oHrp0OKpzeef9slYERwLeQErWGRfFViGgYRu3hNdem1drOL1/s640/DSC_0261.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oHPSWvIOBTCSlJU_wjsxWwje9YyOu62NPcxj_VCPv_CSChAENwMpsVEVo5pZ-z0OhUrrkAHXMZeA-XXYsjYEeHsyb6qkM0Od57soIYyuW2_OO6RNc0GvrAiXPZsLM1aA060u58daaIzY/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oHPSWvIOBTCSlJU_wjsxWwje9YyOu62NPcxj_VCPv_CSChAENwMpsVEVo5pZ-z0OhUrrkAHXMZeA-XXYsjYEeHsyb6qkM0Od57soIYyuW2_OO6RNc0GvrAiXPZsLM1aA060u58daaIzY/s640/DSC_0267.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF_DriIiS5PMgjC_uBmlmPxWHN3VByxfwKLuMBjjXz9AkjO_ODUXUKLZRxsczKrg3aO4BiUaVnvKfMxbiUHmj83kxrhX021u0rRTVGfoa07pTrnJwKCu8t53uBTwYpiaZUKCNjg69snQb/s1600/DSC_0268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF_DriIiS5PMgjC_uBmlmPxWHN3VByxfwKLuMBjjXz9AkjO_ODUXUKLZRxsczKrg3aO4BiUaVnvKfMxbiUHmj83kxrhX021u0rRTVGfoa07pTrnJwKCu8t53uBTwYpiaZUKCNjg69snQb/s640/DSC_0268.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> The path led back down to the Kohechi route where beside the pass-proper, a small mountain hut lent itself to a ten minute pit stop. From here the path would descend 12km before the next climb began.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcziKDlPQLRxWk0uC26SGINknIBwP8lDII-eS4IubEaeEMowTdCarqtyEF8KuV4lDrekd1V2b9-nvmvBHK9KjFESj8I6wZoyfrS6bHk1IjeLR_xEXtSMsjkzP74uRZwU3503Jao0LQOw3N/s1600/DSC_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcziKDlPQLRxWk0uC26SGINknIBwP8lDII-eS4IubEaeEMowTdCarqtyEF8KuV4lDrekd1V2b9-nvmvBHK9KjFESj8I6wZoyfrS6bHk1IjeLR_xEXtSMsjkzP74uRZwU3503Jao0LQOw3N/s640/DSC_0269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj0e9k0AVibV-6UAZQF5250QWt2XJINQxnXl586iOgIph7H2U61WbBr-NgZDoD84PGSvosJj4De2sMUjdH_tYbSrl6XxwxIqHorgXrvkCFWOUy_mcwhQiYQxN2iW65HX4raJVxHPvM1kQ/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj0e9k0AVibV-6UAZQF5250QWt2XJINQxnXl586iOgIph7H2U61WbBr-NgZDoD84PGSvosJj4De2sMUjdH_tYbSrl6XxwxIqHorgXrvkCFWOUy_mcwhQiYQxN2iW65HX4raJVxHPvM1kQ/s640/DSC_0273.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvsP1p9vdVoxXMrooe8x9RSkbzxpCnL2O8sBJAa2dLDL72utrn2PliDr45m1m2AsnvXp7jomo3TS_MBq7AbgJJ0gLlG-n_DnT-IBeF7InBzw8WnckDRz6WRtmhvcgJn4tEXL0CebZCGu2/s1600/DSC_0277.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvsP1p9vdVoxXMrooe8x9RSkbzxpCnL2O8sBJAa2dLDL72utrn2PliDr45m1m2AsnvXp7jomo3TS_MBq7AbgJJ0gLlG-n_DnT-IBeF7InBzw8WnckDRz6WRtmhvcgJn4tEXL0CebZCGu2/s640/DSC_0277.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">About 5 minutes later I can across this large area of very recently dug-up soil where either a big boar or a bear had been rooting around looking for bulbs or some other morsel. For the the next few hours I had the distinct impression I was being watched and made a great effort to be as noisy as I could while at the same time carrying a very big stick dubbed <i>"Bear Cleaver".</i> If I did have an encounter I'd at least have a fighting chance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStH33j1ASNyqWBbAivzs-wuDAuAn6PEpa_nYac3ZcMSh2Itw6a4Bh0mqQa20ByTRnwLQimLovHcvCdNQ9qkDEz0Yu7zcWMqxu7zfIRaEJSTplaheZzqujvbl4ZkOrdiW9_xMVMX1gCwQ8/s1600/DSC_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStH33j1ASNyqWBbAivzs-wuDAuAn6PEpa_nYac3ZcMSh2Itw6a4Bh0mqQa20ByTRnwLQimLovHcvCdNQ9qkDEz0Yu7zcWMqxu7zfIRaEJSTplaheZzqujvbl4ZkOrdiW9_xMVMX1gCwQ8/s640/DSC_0278.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9CyjlYuLADApOpEqVR38s8-Bplun6nvJGptnBTe_QE4WVhxUj6LapS_-e466ZIZoQyWWBvxPn5275h_ZN3lZbKi9cjtM4D1x6IgUo1vg4QZYtg_K6MLQxZ13Ehyixhw8a7dwNXNdP6Cu/s1600/DSC_0279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9CyjlYuLADApOpEqVR38s8-Bplun6nvJGptnBTe_QE4WVhxUj6LapS_-e466ZIZoQyWWBvxPn5275h_ZN3lZbKi9cjtM4D1x6IgUo1vg4QZYtg_K6MLQxZ13Ehyixhw8a7dwNXNdP6Cu/s640/DSC_0279.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgfsFMH-YnvYqIsaLOcfO9COzwt5MlR6RbCTiuONWQBZ76vdtJSj3BEvXlg084uTEiUPgIPZaY4bwrzwKgDFi4e__3NYEyXY_IyEZPs8G8QLGv2T-kn6lWvsa2HoEP6TGnZcX-FM6vQIo/s1600/DSC_0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgfsFMH-YnvYqIsaLOcfO9COzwt5MlR6RbCTiuONWQBZ76vdtJSj3BEvXlg084uTEiUPgIPZaY4bwrzwKgDFi4e__3NYEyXY_IyEZPs8G8QLGv2T-kn6lWvsa2HoEP6TGnZcX-FM6vQIo/s640/DSC_0283.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> Now and then the Kohechi trail would pass through long forgotten rest stops, where hundreds of years ago the numerous pilgrims taking this route would be able to rest and refuel in one of the so called <i>chaya,</i> or tea-houses. The only signs remaining that any such structure existed are the stone foundations and walls, and the occasional row of huge trees planted in unnaturally straight lines to act as wind breaks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQnwGXA-1W_Ns72WNei0r7T8pH92GKxrYFucwHCUhAFHoQ9oJGHte0JGtRPirW3r3G7nVSm1KVcwISBEt29jTUaalyNVuJT_oeNq2XVD9BrBLjbLJaBDCJuIBKLY-x189HdDxbznqg9by/s1600/DSC_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQnwGXA-1W_Ns72WNei0r7T8pH92GKxrYFucwHCUhAFHoQ9oJGHte0JGtRPirW3r3G7nVSm1KVcwISBEt29jTUaalyNVuJT_oeNq2XVD9BrBLjbLJaBDCJuIBKLY-x189HdDxbznqg9by/s640/DSC_0289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSmjsoIrd3Vxslgnhhk9TxTVFEvqV2-4ZB-MltlCZMWk7Qt4B_v9tp3kR71y8TwDyQb-zf8j1nE00rVNEEGAbfPlikVsDWVQ62LjIbW8UWmZDxHRSW62g4XyfkiUgV8nwZBc4jb0eN6o7/s1600/DSC_0285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSmjsoIrd3Vxslgnhhk9TxTVFEvqV2-4ZB-MltlCZMWk7Qt4B_v9tp3kR71y8TwDyQb-zf8j1nE00rVNEEGAbfPlikVsDWVQ62LjIbW8UWmZDxHRSW62g4XyfkiUgV8nwZBc4jb0eN6o7/s640/DSC_0285.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought i was hallucinating when I saw this through the trees. A Kami manifest perhaps?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dl7MDRQz3Kpn7snXC-L106K-F9eXTP4NxevV8s9YSK5kY6hjoodxIphnP_wrprYJzLC2kFxjKYmRQPG6FK71szM-kN-K5C_HQgcEwongKsmlk-GYSVPwwNOK1jt3UR58kEdQQCYGeFOy/s1600/DSC_0291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dl7MDRQz3Kpn7snXC-L106K-F9eXTP4NxevV8s9YSK5kY6hjoodxIphnP_wrprYJzLC2kFxjKYmRQPG6FK71szM-kN-K5C_HQgcEwongKsmlk-GYSVPwwNOK1jt3UR58kEdQQCYGeFOy/s640/DSC_0291.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
The old Kohechi route now followed long stretches of paved forest paths. Down from the more sparsly deciduous forests of the higher slopes, it now wound gently down through dense cedar and pine groves.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsy3lXjZRzbquYsnIfl330X_0Wlmrv20jVUF_OOHhpPujs80Jc_f8qYj3XquaHphhSapVWlfGXU-ZlveL27op1QmJKsxcvqnTLyGEvBjVQDNLk0gGxX7JbCLebzmXdBrzJtaBQO9mV5sw/s1600/DSC_0294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsy3lXjZRzbquYsnIfl330X_0Wlmrv20jVUF_OOHhpPujs80Jc_f8qYj3XquaHphhSapVWlfGXU-ZlveL27op1QmJKsxcvqnTLyGEvBjVQDNLk0gGxX7JbCLebzmXdBrzJtaBQO9mV5sw/s640/DSC_0294.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtLzIZsAmmhvM4Fv7efMczw5Kgr81NVzP6iyVDVKWKxvN-QLO8LJNXsafjeMqbohXNydmBWd__Tg7TY11YfJ9ABpCjt7MXwZZDXcOyojA1_DVcEm1-3-QvxMny3-KVTU1hW-ChzyajIt8/s1600/DSC_0292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtLzIZsAmmhvM4Fv7efMczw5Kgr81NVzP6iyVDVKWKxvN-QLO8LJNXsafjeMqbohXNydmBWd__Tg7TY11YfJ9ABpCjt7MXwZZDXcOyojA1_DVcEm1-3-QvxMny3-KVTU1hW-ChzyajIt8/s640/DSC_0292.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> The abundance of <i>Aka-matsu </i>indicated that at the right time of year this would be a prime <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsutake" target="_blank">Matsutake</a> hunting ground. I'd read somewhere that locals often close off stretches of the route in order to prevent anyone else from enjoying the mycological bounty. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBS0wvaNTosOOgZ6UmYnpv3SPZH2rGDDL-tQVxTbePaCfT3hBLrEILwOq05Zf54BB_WWHYXcpl3sPr2E9cp2pjjCxg-66z7SO-sRonJZ-Nlgbf9SKBImHLR7g7t9HDiYdqXiqmWhKgHWV/s1600/DSC_0296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBS0wvaNTosOOgZ6UmYnpv3SPZH2rGDDL-tQVxTbePaCfT3hBLrEILwOq05Zf54BB_WWHYXcpl3sPr2E9cp2pjjCxg-66z7SO-sRonJZ-Nlgbf9SKBImHLR7g7t9HDiYdqXiqmWhKgHWV/s640/DSC_0296.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBShP4nUHAp-CZ5BtgAtCRFiqecLvy5hNUHIoOQL3CBz3dkIf92w9qMD6PBmXKv4puPQlMW4GXDykMUtwRt1RAPW8Zg21K0nNaBEBREyrCDF5Qt2QVhbg811fca6egURHQQ8ebHmNRNaq/s1600/DSC_0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBShP4nUHAp-CZ5BtgAtCRFiqecLvy5hNUHIoOQL3CBz3dkIf92w9qMD6PBmXKv4puPQlMW4GXDykMUtwRt1RAPW8Zg21K0nNaBEBREyrCDF5Qt2QVhbg811fca6egURHQQ8ebHmNRNaq/s640/DSC_0297.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down on the valley floor the Kannogawa river runs muddy brown due to the previous night's heavy rains</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyUhV8mlJ-XrSSfuOWabP4v1ucyNnNn8QTrtqjUPv3NWP96tZoMBJwh1UxshH75bU-9Dkssu0U-yMSX8H8FeP7clUI_4bTIvYjwVjp1g-U44QNf_Dtw3767b-fAcXzcBo9sqh6DlzNhGF/s1600/DSC_0298.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyUhV8mlJ-XrSSfuOWabP4v1ucyNnNn8QTrtqjUPv3NWP96tZoMBJwh1UxshH75bU-9Dkssu0U-yMSX8H8FeP7clUI_4bTIvYjwVjp1g-U44QNf_Dtw3767b-fAcXzcBo9sqh6DlzNhGF/s640/DSC_0298.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbgr5xWXBrTSX7f8RYOkT4ed0DUMfYAo7guDpiilbk4hAdcmIdlFGwO6S_bYodEtBYTSu4xIkzTSbI58Vt9nhiipqebwtN-bf3Khyphenhyphenjg0bs6kGAC7kunAh5B_suNivZ9Br5bbD8vlCFAat/s1600/DSC_0300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbgr5xWXBrTSX7f8RYOkT4ed0DUMfYAo7guDpiilbk4hAdcmIdlFGwO6S_bYodEtBYTSu4xIkzTSbI58Vt9nhiipqebwtN-bf3Khyphenhyphenjg0bs6kGAC7kunAh5B_suNivZ9Br5bbD8vlCFAat/s640/DSC_0300.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Funa-watashi suspension bridge before the next steep climb begins towards the Miura pass </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1-_GRwG_m7sNYIMuRS_ZJDrDkW_OcnpwUxd71utwTl8-8Lvo_KAj3FSeb0i5ddosUVMlsSMOzKEM8Ek-DGlS6q5YJnMJezR_FRdRRnoJpTbzPOR6rLXcDdfQqwxXubh1OqC0R4dq07bd/s1600/DSC_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1-_GRwG_m7sNYIMuRS_ZJDrDkW_OcnpwUxd71utwTl8-8Lvo_KAj3FSeb0i5ddosUVMlsSMOzKEM8Ek-DGlS6q5YJnMJezR_FRdRRnoJpTbzPOR6rLXcDdfQqwxXubh1OqC0R4dq07bd/s640/DSC_0301.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another 3 hour climb to the pass, up steep cobbles and rough tracks</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfSHi_FomKGORh7Xws8ww8W_R-ZIq2p1vbYz1g-wE-K34kO_Th9NqUwRfj46828okaq0yhurhbPxRAd5jwE3vlQC8wNvDKAH8wMbO2EGFcEmfruO0-ML_6sHSN8CbbGwjyJYD0v9a1UIX/s1600/DSC_0302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfSHi_FomKGORh7Xws8ww8W_R-ZIq2p1vbYz1g-wE-K34kO_Th9NqUwRfj46828okaq0yhurhbPxRAd5jwE3vlQC8wNvDKAH8wMbO2EGFcEmfruO0-ML_6sHSN8CbbGwjyJYD0v9a1UIX/s640/DSC_0302.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi73FsmOWz5fK7FKzm7S7gvTZ8Rp8aufaVw9Z6I7L8i0_qdMCoWE1sP_ICjjfEVDfTN2bTXA2tTU-9heKgy5trNQGBWzhUUjYs-vB1ro9zU_aYn0CTer18zWJq2s1TRzJ22ZGGPykbKB4E/s1600/DSC_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi73FsmOWz5fK7FKzm7S7gvTZ8Rp8aufaVw9Z6I7L8i0_qdMCoWE1sP_ICjjfEVDfTN2bTXA2tTU-9heKgy5trNQGBWzhUUjYs-vB1ro9zU_aYn0CTer18zWJq2s1TRzJ22ZGGPykbKB4E/s640/DSC_0303.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gable of an abandoned house. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPbygQ6_UQvLApjQoMajt2cVYoqHpXSgaafoHT8JqDKCGqtczoV0q7mmOsv0TkieQ3g2CMz6MQPyDGeb3yyqgxPTrRvcWy5aQ0O3K4JuQR6IoVuI0RwYbRCby9jCSjmwTO8PdQ2tOL1dx/s1600/DSC_0307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPbygQ6_UQvLApjQoMajt2cVYoqHpXSgaafoHT8JqDKCGqtczoV0q7mmOsv0TkieQ3g2CMz6MQPyDGeb3yyqgxPTrRvcWy5aQ0O3K4JuQR6IoVuI0RwYbRCby9jCSjmwTO8PdQ2tOL1dx/s640/DSC_0307.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More gifts of the mountain to delight the senses and lift the spirits</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZCclW1gIzOfovLKiFGj8m4t3R7RX5SZXBnzg9JbV8OPcA69h0vI-nc9u4YLQjbc4Zbek61juXzDAgrDjB3KvguoUwADrvQOWIM8SkDrwkSkSy8WS7QfZIItDM0n4_F2w6x8tpI8-XnCO/s1600/DSC_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZCclW1gIzOfovLKiFGj8m4t3R7RX5SZXBnzg9JbV8OPcA69h0vI-nc9u4YLQjbc4Zbek61juXzDAgrDjB3KvguoUwADrvQOWIM8SkDrwkSkSy8WS7QfZIItDM0n4_F2w6x8tpI8-XnCO/s640/DSC_0311.jpg" width="412" /></a></div> According to my guide notes, these 500 year old cedars are known as the "Wind-breaking trees of Yoshimura house". I detected no flatulent tendencies, but did spend a good quarter of an hour resting and meditating among their huge, knarled trunks, the warm sun rays shining down through the forest canopy and casting strange shadows all around.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ck2M_YeEgX4HY27bhfcsRV4sAY6dNum0j-UkvxQFG35-hzj5nrSKA22aeUHRkLJMXNx4twQRe4ytk2mYVbh1gvCQLwoJbLbh85i158q0yvCG3Rnil-vAARYAKwHVUwT8vwXOLAfaf4hT/s1600/DSC_0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ck2M_YeEgX4HY27bhfcsRV4sAY6dNum0j-UkvxQFG35-hzj5nrSKA22aeUHRkLJMXNx4twQRe4ytk2mYVbh1gvCQLwoJbLbh85i158q0yvCG3Rnil-vAARYAKwHVUwT8vwXOLAfaf4hT/s640/DSC_0315.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river traversed an hour or so previously</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z-mgqytiqkPcsXBxjUBAFj_HOk-qnWxlkpi5qxEpNKJ1lppnZJLD1u9yMIjpVNe5lwm0C7e7cvGG8P7UprfClswT4P6HmtxwMldVu4W56llchpZsEViQfULSzfCnK1DPne9aCmR1_VO2/s1600/DSC_0313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z-mgqytiqkPcsXBxjUBAFj_HOk-qnWxlkpi5qxEpNKJ1lppnZJLD1u9yMIjpVNe5lwm0C7e7cvGG8P7UprfClswT4P6HmtxwMldVu4W56llchpZsEViQfULSzfCnK1DPne9aCmR1_VO2/s640/DSC_0313.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WO0FwHH4gZ-wpY88zaPJUFhZBaeP6PiTwN0KUgxq35PQOZ-7tLUkJkp9pe4y0B-AKTdHWZP45Uj3XJvxPiHneSn9YKbmPFGEUlQTRmSt5d72IPp7h8X3v3JpSEOODxcfkv2ZwMy0brhb/s1600/DSC_0316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WO0FwHH4gZ-wpY88zaPJUFhZBaeP6PiTwN0KUgxq35PQOZ-7tLUkJkp9pe4y0B-AKTdHWZP45Uj3XJvxPiHneSn9YKbmPFGEUlQTRmSt5d72IPp7h8X3v3JpSEOODxcfkv2ZwMy0brhb/s640/DSC_0316.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another gift of the Mountain, delicious, cold, clear spring water. As you imbibe it's air and drink it's life force in, it really does feel like you and the mountain are one. This one marks the "San-ju cho" stage of the route (1 chÅ = 109m), although from or to what I wasn't sure.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WW_p4H05ST6VrDOjSt2Qe4NFx7nulzqx0-6yd2gFQJPcNsUmQUmGvQZ4dQMAr0bsOyD3bMAPH-2FggxrsvMP-4uuOWMC1q5TSCMr2YnJ0CJOG027erlOHsRPJikX-4d9cB52cnHf_cdg/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WW_p4H05ST6VrDOjSt2Qe4NFx7nulzqx0-6yd2gFQJPcNsUmQUmGvQZ4dQMAr0bsOyD3bMAPH-2FggxrsvMP-4uuOWMC1q5TSCMr2YnJ0CJOG027erlOHsRPJikX-4d9cB52cnHf_cdg/s640/DSC_0319.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reaching the top of the mountain and the Miura pass (1080m) comes into sight. By this point I was in need of a rest and found the perfect spot to hang in my hammock while I got some water boiled and a cheeky dombei on the go. I'd been walking for about 10 hours straight and covered about 20km.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB4jjjChUNVpB0xSbjTLW7sqijoCsVUFsGyGVPQdObjW5WAq5X-CQRd-j9tAsyXJEBsMyfRxgVTFdru3eAfZrkykDqQ65j80et3hy8NnNNBHLf-ZLm6bC4CypD2JfYJ2VBC7J_TNjJzf7/s1600/DSC_0320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB4jjjChUNVpB0xSbjTLW7sqijoCsVUFsGyGVPQdObjW5WAq5X-CQRd-j9tAsyXJEBsMyfRxgVTFdru3eAfZrkykDqQ65j80et3hy8NnNNBHLf-ZLm6bC4CypD2JfYJ2VBC7J_TNjJzf7/s640/DSC_0320.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8jLhGEnban5OwjazUoTB_Aa5Q3Bjsark-T3SMWUe9grzwvgX5dbw783qs_xo21Uemu4f1HSkSDuTamwc7OE6eUW82AponFsKdvrEytZgQ8C6mkrG6dwboyYryd3OXdiTbsAY7D6xCoTp/s1600/DSC_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8jLhGEnban5OwjazUoTB_Aa5Q3Bjsark-T3SMWUe9grzwvgX5dbw783qs_xo21Uemu4f1HSkSDuTamwc7OE6eUW82AponFsKdvrEytZgQ8C6mkrG6dwboyYryd3OXdiTbsAY7D6xCoTp/s640/DSC_0323.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxS-glErMqb4cjzofAyAHP6KDuajguLBrHWQ-c-2abEzI8gzjKoXBdB_COPfWFWtVGYLexod8nBi1WEZFf_9U1YRIzjGpaHg4dBGp_VxaCxXMo9DNMnXLsOUJ5e8cA_dIVdeXJ8nxD_iL/s1600/DSC_0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxS-glErMqb4cjzofAyAHP6KDuajguLBrHWQ-c-2abEzI8gzjKoXBdB_COPfWFWtVGYLexod8nBi1WEZFf_9U1YRIzjGpaHg4dBGp_VxaCxXMo9DNMnXLsOUJ5e8cA_dIVdeXJ8nxD_iL/s640/DSC_0324.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CVWA_XJzyLo/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CVWA_XJzyLo?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CVWA_XJzyLo?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7YKeujnty_pT7jdDmj0d5eaES0awveQttzAt8-DUFIVlrwXBsHy6Nj6HX3Wgqw41WVDzDMHAJEZBwzjT-wxu0uCGNgf_ix3cA8U9DiTvtjC03pA6Bg7c211f_Wr1S4M_s9cWUw96oVJ0/s1600/DSC_0325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7YKeujnty_pT7jdDmj0d5eaES0awveQttzAt8-DUFIVlrwXBsHy6Nj6HX3Wgqw41WVDzDMHAJEZBwzjT-wxu0uCGNgf_ix3cA8U9DiTvtjC03pA6Bg7c211f_Wr1S4M_s9cWUw96oVJ0/s640/DSC_0325.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking North toward the saddle shaped peak of Obako-dake about 15km away which I'd been over earlier that day, as well as the ridge leading down to the valley that I'd followed. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />
The sun was sinking slowly towards the horizon and although the spot was sweet now, it's exposed position didn't make it a great place to spend the night. The winds were getting blustery so I decided to push on and see if a better camp-site could be found before darkness set in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjdQC8cEccN59j4SHYhXN-uVBS4lg77SdWcbraR9ar-aX4mjcbsk_0H4G559_ioh7HzJ3EVvuQtSUlwFTZ3YhlL_iUHG-fzGLhyphenhyphenPE5-M39vYg42wk1bRgSb_nv8FQJ2uyHKFbifx91aYr/s1600/DSC_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjdQC8cEccN59j4SHYhXN-uVBS4lg77SdWcbraR9ar-aX4mjcbsk_0H4G559_ioh7HzJ3EVvuQtSUlwFTZ3YhlL_iUHG-fzGLhyphenhyphenPE5-M39vYg42wk1bRgSb_nv8FQJ2uyHKFbifx91aYr/s640/DSC_0326.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This area had a sheltered viewing point but the sign nearby, again warning of the presence of bears, in addition to the wind put me right off. Instead, after looking at the map, I decided to head down the now quickly darkening SE face to try and reach the river in the next valley before nightfall.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvg4nH7CGF7ikWCA_-NToWtyIUAjEzlRk3nvwToDaH-jY8qel1ZdSKXJ8cSN5Cq_aOsq7w76-svB9Ao8KYql_cfND9c9tZqyv-OmBc9sCQRkJHdKYNBJj3K4Qv-2q37mXen5rZ1aDgQlo/s1600/DSC_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvg4nH7CGF7ikWCA_-NToWtyIUAjEzlRk3nvwToDaH-jY8qel1ZdSKXJ8cSN5Cq_aOsq7w76-svB9Ao8KYql_cfND9c9tZqyv-OmBc9sCQRkJHdKYNBJj3K4Qv-2q37mXen5rZ1aDgQlo/s640/DSC_0327.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little guy had a malicious look about him, brandishing his dagger and scowling slightly. I took it as a sign to be very careful on this section.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0kuA-pjJub2W0Dh_0XoebsGbRD11NzqCNzUI2l19wa51w6F3EQ730I0tpEIhfzuVKIKv8041TxK9LaDc7H27Uh_h3PdNEw1JMIbbvsdLiiBo656DRGjqA6YTkejth5cr7zugAAVvL0lO/s1600/DSC_0329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0kuA-pjJub2W0Dh_0XoebsGbRD11NzqCNzUI2l19wa51w6F3EQ730I0tpEIhfzuVKIKv8041TxK9LaDc7H27Uh_h3PdNEw1JMIbbvsdLiiBo656DRGjqA6YTkejth5cr7zugAAVvL0lO/s640/DSC_0329.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
Inspiration and desperation combined about now and my thoughts turned to my beloved wife and the warm bed that we share, which I'd left to pursue this seemingly foolish endeavor;<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i> All alone I walk</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Along lonely mountain paths</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> My heart longs for home</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the last shot I took that day, still a few hours away from the riverside spot where I spent the night. The forest felt quite claustrophobic and a slight paranoia of coming across a hungry bear in the darkness pushed me to hurry down the steep paths, stopping as darkness set in to get out my headlamp, which soon required a change of batteries in the by now pitch black darkness. The last hour of descent saw pairs of glowing eyes peering out from the inky depths of the trees and a face gouging from a low hanging bramble of some sort. By the time I reached the small single-track road that ran paralel to the river I had no idea where I really was, but after another couple of ks walking, I found a bamboo grove, set up the hammock, bundled myself up under the star-filled, moon-lit sky, and fell into a deep slumber. A long day indeed, with about 27 km on the clock.</div></div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-77727807287645479942013-03-26T03:58:00.001-07:002013-04-03T04:28:56.613-07:00Kumano kodÅ trek day 2. Koya-san to Kaya-goya-ato ruins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Even the blossoming flowers</i></div>
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<i> Will eventually scatter.</i></div>
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<i> Who in our world</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Is unchanging?</i></div>
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<i> The deep mountains of vanity,</i></div>
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<i> We cross them today.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> And we shall not see superficial dreams</i></div>
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<i> Nor be deluded... </i></div>
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</i></div>
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<i> Iroha.</i></div>
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The day started at 5am with an early wake up to see the ceremony in the Torodo of the Oku-no-in complex, where every morning the monks offer breakfast and chant sutras to the mummy of Kobo-Daishi, who they believe is in eternal meditation concentrating on the liberation of all beings.<br />
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A cold, clear night had given way to overcast skies, and as the dawn slowly grew nearer I found myself walking through the darkness towards the mausoleum where the rites take place beginning at six.<br />
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Ancient ceder trees which line the paths through the cemetery loomed over head and the scent of incense pervaded the chill air, while thousands of moss covered tombs and statues began appearing from the darkness.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Upon reaching the lantern hall, shoes were removed and incense offered before the chanting and prayers began. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The across which no yukata must pass</td></tr>
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By the time the service had finished forty-five minutes later the sun had risen and was illuminating the outside world with a sombre, diffused light. Since KÅ«kai had had his breakfast I thought I should do the same and so returned to the guesthouse for toast, ham, fried eggs and a perfect cup of coffee prepared by the lovely Yuri-san. </div>
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After packing and saying goodbye to my wonderful hosts, it was time to set off via the cemetery and hit the trail. </div>
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After contemplating the brevity of my existence and the magnificence of the the ancient forest for long enough, and having stocked up on enough Snickers bars, peanut butter and sweet-bread rolls to keep me going for 3~4 days, in addition to the four cup-noodles I'd brought with me, I was ready to go.<br />
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First view of the mountains ahead. This was at about 1000m and from here the path descended for 2~3 hours to the bottom of the valley before heading steeply up again. </div>
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Nothing but the wind, birds and Buddhas for company...</div>
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There was a small settlement a few hundred meters up from the valley floor where I took the opportunity to mail a few postcards. An inquisitive old chap popped out of one of the little one storey houses to enquire about my destination and why I found the post box to be a worthy subject for photographing. When I offered to take his instead he politely declined, told me to take care and then shuffled off back inside.<br />
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A few hours later and still on the incline with no suggestion to the contrary, the path followed a wide main road, although not a single car was to be seen or heard for the half hour of so I was forced to walk along it. By now the rain dropps that had started to fall earlier in the day had turned to a steady drizzle. With the clouds descending and the winds beginning to pick up my mind began turning to where I'd sleep that night. I had my hammock and sleeping bag, but with the rain getting heavier it wasn't going to be much fun getting it set up. Maybe there'll be a picnic shelter somewhere soon...? </div>
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I was beginning to feel the spirit of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash%C5%8D" target="_blank">BashÅ</a> around about here, inspiring the first of many scribblings and attempts at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku" target="_blank">haiku</a> composition over the next few days;<br />
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<i>Spring rain soon passes</i></div>
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<i>Distant mountains beckon me </i></div>
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<i>Onward to Hongu</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brief flirtation with Nara prefecture, which ended just up the road at the second post where I passed back into Wakayama.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obstacles or portals? </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy8s8UXlyWsTkJQwDyx4mrrXU_lCHmi3in3kM3LDwzmF3_PHmRcY0yEy0BRaTMYPLgIn_JYr-0ff8AuNs2Zl5ZYnmuzmTPLBtk2V8iCvsZ2_XwGiU0jvimmMQr5P7AVXSvw_xpdoa4NQX/s1600/DSC_0199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy8s8UXlyWsTkJQwDyx4mrrXU_lCHmi3in3kM3LDwzmF3_PHmRcY0yEy0BRaTMYPLgIn_JYr-0ff8AuNs2Zl5ZYnmuzmTPLBtk2V8iCvsZ2_XwGiU0jvimmMQr5P7AVXSvw_xpdoa4NQX/s640/DSC_0199.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views get more impressive as the trail climbs...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaj4yqzB3oTNUhVljKR-TxyvK_uh8Qa-L8TfMQ3jT1RVV6Fq-lD-jGggU1H2Uig-0vqJv3uC9xOM3QLPYGNRl3cDdcrLn-R2Wlizkb0-p9XktJV08sgvw6cGLHhbN2VPo3H1SKvrXyUnRF/s1600/DSC_0208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaj4yqzB3oTNUhVljKR-TxyvK_uh8Qa-L8TfMQ3jT1RVV6Fq-lD-jGggU1H2Uig-0vqJv3uC9xOM3QLPYGNRl3cDdcrLn-R2Wlizkb0-p9XktJV08sgvw6cGLHhbN2VPo3H1SKvrXyUnRF/s640/DSC_0208.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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Ok. For those of you who don't read Japanese, this sign says "Beware of bears". This freaked me out a little when I started to contemplate where I was and the time of year that I'd chosen to take this route. Any bear I did meet was going to be hungry after waking up from hibernation, and as everyone knows, a hungry bear is a cranky bear. The thought of camping suddenly didn't hold the same appeal it had a few days prior, so what were the options? Go back? Not my style. The only thing to do was carry on in the vain hope that I'd either find a safe-ish hang spot or make it to the first pass where it would be cold but the chances of meeting Padington would be less likely.</div>
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The rain had let off a little and coming across these little stone Kannon markers every now and then was in a strange way reassuring...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQSsXVS6mgDY1XtUHdvC8RcqV6W4t-Mt1mOICK6QfZWCQkzKswScg8mgfk6n1bk_WFyKNCgsbAqohuXOpd6uKbyBu5URn1wMdovbZHEyRM0qThvyflusaCHIFWtzD4XLpz1itnDEYDeSb/s1600/DSC_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQSsXVS6mgDY1XtUHdvC8RcqV6W4t-Mt1mOICK6QfZWCQkzKswScg8mgfk6n1bk_WFyKNCgsbAqohuXOpd6uKbyBu5URn1wMdovbZHEyRM0qThvyflusaCHIFWtzD4XLpz1itnDEYDeSb/s640/DSC_0212.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg-QkbvnetZ1RdjkPu2z1CwPWascGu9iPL_mHLi-pUlBnJaMS9RcSv3kS47TshocSpDE-p2axcSTYaLQfiXbk5UGEaR08CpBfp2_j3kbMdnvgyMt26yN8vNgpuvbhBlVbBm4jUOaNj1M-/s1600/DSC_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg-QkbvnetZ1RdjkPu2z1CwPWascGu9iPL_mHLi-pUlBnJaMS9RcSv3kS47TshocSpDE-p2axcSTYaLQfiXbk5UGEaR08CpBfp2_j3kbMdnvgyMt26yN8vNgpuvbhBlVbBm4jUOaNj1M-/s640/DSC_0215.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The rain begins to fall once again, with increasing vigour. And then...</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat83YAy_OuS8ppowL7RO2kp9ix7XHtH1YmXPiiWm-PKQ7CejhknSFiM8_lOJKCrzsedJZBbk1ZJy_X_M4z0stsvo77iTUv46r7l43Fq6BvOBILexPFG09RpVneHW6B4Q3Ioqz6PnM89KW/s1600/DSC_0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat83YAy_OuS8ppowL7RO2kp9ix7XHtH1YmXPiiWm-PKQ7CejhknSFiM8_lOJKCrzsedJZBbk1ZJy_X_M4z0stsvo77iTUv46r7l43Fq6BvOBILexPFG09RpVneHW6B4Q3Ioqz6PnM89KW/s640/DSC_0217.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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Salvation! </div>
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As I was coming around yet another steep switchback, with no sign of anywhere decent to camp, this perfect little log cabin, complete with wood burner and a generous stock of dried logs, loomed out of the mist with the promise of a dry, warm night's sleep. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFepD5k1FVX4Reo8oPmIZlLvVRbtNFiBOEzuzDZ3KU4PGTKEidijhgdXBITxda_m13xAitYG3AxghTUozFQ2kMI7TDrc1QjMy3FCBS55pXz3HXqZgOgOVh4xjEn7TEO8BbjbJ0Cf-d8DeZ/s1600/DSC_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFepD5k1FVX4Reo8oPmIZlLvVRbtNFiBOEzuzDZ3KU4PGTKEidijhgdXBITxda_m13xAitYG3AxghTUozFQ2kMI7TDrc1QjMy3FCBS55pXz3HXqZgOgOVh4xjEn7TEO8BbjbJ0Cf-d8DeZ/s640/DSC_0224.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view outside as I reached the cabin</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsPBmKU00qKOrrBNDiFWadunTojuIKXa1v01_2ooe92GF-gQD1cDKmzemKa05COommQLaMmJEXtSk1C91x82CbUS-wcEpq1CaFTUPSnPxYXYJ43WBjjIIoqRYB5ylkFodSayEKxe9JdSJ/s1600/DSC_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsPBmKU00qKOrrBNDiFWadunTojuIKXa1v01_2ooe92GF-gQD1cDKmzemKa05COommQLaMmJEXtSk1C91x82CbUS-wcEpq1CaFTUPSnPxYXYJ43WBjjIIoqRYB5ylkFodSayEKxe9JdSJ/s640/DSC_0218.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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Once the fire was going and the kettle was on the go it was time for a butt-naked scrub outside in the rain. With the aid of a little water from the mountain-fed fresh water reservoir (with resident frog), I was clean and reinvigorated, changed into clean dry clothes and ready for dinner and an early night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the menu tonight; Peanut butter rolls, coffee tomato-chilli cup noodle and a Snickers for desert. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseu3AqRg3_DD7s4-xtfZI0DqpQ8abc_1dpV8TgXXtsK5_vd73fHNuuLLJuHK_CUgry_mpTcYlpgKKSN0cKCxx_OK3ebIwDUv_UeA1ETSVglu1vBN_g8SeVTz4QBVrU2VK4l-W7dwZQ2Sr/s1600/DSC_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseu3AqRg3_DD7s4-xtfZI0DqpQ8abc_1dpV8TgXXtsK5_vd73fHNuuLLJuHK_CUgry_mpTcYlpgKKSN0cKCxx_OK3ebIwDUv_UeA1ETSVglu1vBN_g8SeVTz4QBVrU2VK4l-W7dwZQ2Sr/s640/DSC_0233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I called this place "The Hermitage", and I could very well spend a long time up there, preferably with my wife and a large pile of books to keep me company and pass the time.<br />
As the sky grew darker the wind outside became stronger and stronger and the rain, now very heavy, was beating down on the copper tiled roof of the hut. At around 7pm, a Tannoy announcement in a far off village announced that a high wind warning was in place. No kidding. It was almost typhoon like by 8pm, by which time I was drifting off, warm and very cozily, to the land of nod.<br />
After hiking over 20km through the mountains, and with the fire crackling away beside me, warm, dry, clean and fed, I felt a deep feeling of contentment and appreciation for these most basic and essential of comforts.<br />
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-44736024213413869162013-03-26T01:12:00.001-07:002013-04-01T17:56:16.284-07:00Kii hanto pilgrimage / KÅya-san, the Kumano kodÅ and Kumano san-zan.Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another whim similar to that which took me to <a href="http://chickenbento.blogspot.jp/2012/06/into-wild.html" target="_blank">Switzerland last year</a> saw me last Tuesday boarding the 9:03am flight from Nagasaki to Kansai airport, destination, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kii_Peninsula" target="_blank">Kii peninsular</a> in order to walk one of Japan's most ancient pilgrimage routes and to visit part of the country that I've always been fascinated by.<br />
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As well as the passing through KÅya-san, which is home to the head temples of the Shingon sect of Japanese buddhism and its founder's mausoleum, my route would take me along mountain ridges and over four passes, each higher than a thousand meters, before a kora of the three sacred shrines called the Kumano san-zan would begin. This would include the grand shrines of Hongu, Shingu and Nachi, which is also home to Japan's highest waterfall. The final part of the trip would be to Kii-Tanabe city to pay respects at the grave of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of AikidÅ.<br />
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After a 50 minute flight, a short express train journey during which I was surrounded by 3 huge, but very nice smelling young sumo wrestlers, another local train and finally, an 800m cable-car ascent, I finally arrived in the high valley surrounded by eight low peaks known as Koya-san. Although the suffix<i>-san </i>usually means <i>mountain </i>when referring to a place in Japanese, the term is used here as a collective noun that denotes the whole area which includes the head temple of the Koyasan school of Japanese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingon_Buddhism" target="_blank">Shingon</a> buddhism, as well as the mausoleum of it's founder, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%ABkai" target="_blank">Kukai</a>, which is at the end of an ancient, sprawling cemetery, supposedly the largest in Japan. It is also home to a large number of national treasures, stupas<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT9baoO2MDj2SiG68qV5IR7plCLB5vmpk_vYlSGMyFlZvT-Xp_uqCMGGNZGB5XOctf1-k2ZCtbwX6xe_HIS1vXs3cjN6O2tF2i6H0Cnszo3KPryv_kZkBPJMZEh05oxQYdBhLVb3KXYXv/s1600/DSC_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT9baoO2MDj2SiG68qV5IR7plCLB5vmpk_vYlSGMyFlZvT-Xp_uqCMGGNZGB5XOctf1-k2ZCtbwX6xe_HIS1vXs3cjN6O2tF2i6H0Cnszo3KPryv_kZkBPJMZEh05oxQYdBhLVb3KXYXv/s640/DSC_0062.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation to a higher plane, literally and figuratively.</td></tr>
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Once off the cable-car another short bus trip whisked myself and a few others to the centre of town which, as well as the temples, includes a number of grocery and souvenir stores, a hospital, information center, bank, post office, a large Buddhist university, and surprisingly-but-not-so, a disproportionate number of liquor stores. It would seem the monks here, like their<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trappist_beer" target="_blank"> trappist</a> cousins in Europe, do enjoy a tipple.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5ztI2TaDSjvoOgTnObk1c_qJCAdhxXtNIYa50uDyJG0OsLjk5NB2459UwSJum-gKte3eCELOulHGFKsj8-vcNDzrIX3pf2I4UD0dTKVXT_Lhw4WtpZnWplkBH54JqeME0coUTeZFexRo/s1600/DSC_0112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5ztI2TaDSjvoOgTnObk1c_qJCAdhxXtNIYa50uDyJG0OsLjk5NB2459UwSJum-gKte3eCELOulHGFKsj8-vcNDzrIX3pf2I4UD0dTKVXT_Lhw4WtpZnWplkBH54JqeME0coUTeZFexRo/s640/DSC_0112.jpg" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongobuji" target="_blank">Kongobuji</a> approach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQ8GDJ1xGeXjXsqPRLavRXKIBOxZLunwZR9qMWluuknYFW0xWD2cmn-gVhZsbyorT09rqsGpO8SdSfx2nuoqjhX_YCSfSYiTYzu-hTDWBq7JzvFtIcCOxh2vEM2qZ6yfQRqOFtNy86V9b/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQ8GDJ1xGeXjXsqPRLavRXKIBOxZLunwZR9qMWluuknYFW0xWD2cmn-gVhZsbyorT09rqsGpO8SdSfx2nuoqjhX_YCSfSYiTYzu-hTDWBq7JzvFtIcCOxh2vEM2qZ6yfQRqOFtNy86V9b/s640/DSC_0073.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Danjo-garan complex</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiB-wwUSEItB1fiBH8483izf2JKGbvoDYWIOEhPF2geGHsjCx2ssJE0LF_abos5RIg5MqCU7p1_YHwCARvmAHDC6w8U-YCTEdlLwQSBkQnGxE6CLtjerufG6RNFdo1fHzfndy073TvyYCu/s1600/DSC_0078.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiB-wwUSEItB1fiBH8483izf2JKGbvoDYWIOEhPF2geGHsjCx2ssJE0LF_abos5RIg5MqCU7p1_YHwCARvmAHDC6w8U-YCTEdlLwQSBkQnGxE6CLtjerufG6RNFdo1fHzfndy073TvyYCu/s640/DSC_0078.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh2L08oZD3hXYivwWSq5Rvhbizc-3FrNJhDplpvHjcUYHC_AuO-sA0DyBGBOgj5JlCAXmDbe72ZNOnXUdLdYBVoncvQV4jF44cpy5zJ8napsudCREw_0zHmlQ-Yj3hRtHkXqEPkoV7i2z/s1600/DSC_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh2L08oZD3hXYivwWSq5Rvhbizc-3FrNJhDplpvHjcUYHC_AuO-sA0DyBGBOgj5JlCAXmDbe72ZNOnXUdLdYBVoncvQV4jF44cpy5zJ8napsudCREw_0zHmlQ-Yj3hRtHkXqEPkoV7i2z/s640/DSC_0091.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Konpon-Daito, the central pagoda and centre of a huge mandala that radiates out from here and encompasses<br />
the whole of Japan. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDmk45HFzQf5x5DwAe-AZEmJg0Zamt547Acr23MhoRyQ9vHS_pbvVvB2S8VQO79u6X7Qdd1WBvflJWGkxB8h3CTQ7wOsgW4Qfic4uLn1ZvzsQTsy0bjhzdi-oEQfZC7xNxErIOwA9h2UJ/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDmk45HFzQf5x5DwAe-AZEmJg0Zamt547Acr23MhoRyQ9vHS_pbvVvB2S8VQO79u6X7Qdd1WBvflJWGkxB8h3CTQ7wOsgW4Qfic4uLn1ZvzsQTsy0bjhzdi-oEQfZC7xNxErIOwA9h2UJ/s640/DSC_0090.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtSghiFNAyKTi1HphJGXYzf6bqRbOjDR_f3d3nw26E19bv95HaUH2liYCUmLnHpha359nQrmDvkhyeR-K-QGEgoir_GJ6nyxreHa5XQ07FbavH07Wp47OedR7jExmRl7CfoxTOPa6aw4F/s1600/DSC_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtSghiFNAyKTi1HphJGXYzf6bqRbOjDR_f3d3nw26E19bv95HaUH2liYCUmLnHpha359nQrmDvkhyeR-K-QGEgoir_GJ6nyxreHa5XQ07FbavH07Wp47OedR7jExmRl7CfoxTOPa6aw4F/s640/DSC_0092.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shinto shrine inside a Buddhist complex, a fine example of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honji_suijaku" target="_blank">honji-suijaku</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlD1Iq2DUCAkSBs2EiY1LFfaZjEnnDCMDGtepkco6T2YQgoSfusciKw5DK46aOyW_YLVXxGY3OyN-5N7osq1mw49JtR3KH4t-7y5firfcbMtP0B8Q80VUsCSWNBRURpSz3T_DevDXauhr/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlD1Iq2DUCAkSBs2EiY1LFfaZjEnnDCMDGtepkco6T2YQgoSfusciKw5DK46aOyW_YLVXxGY3OyN-5N7osq1mw49JtR3KH4t-7y5firfcbMtP0B8Q80VUsCSWNBRURpSz3T_DevDXauhr/s640/DSC_0105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daimon, or Great-gate, at the west end of the complex. This is the traditional entrance for pilgrims coming from Kyoto and the West.</td></tr>
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After a few hours strolling around and with the sun beginning to set, I called the only guest house in town on the off chance that they might have a room available. The only other accommodation was a temple stay, and with prices starting at ¥10,000 and the gates locked at 6pm I wasn't really up for that option. In all honesty, I would have been happy bum-camping under the Daimon, but as fate would have it the wonderful guesthouse <i><a href="http://koyasanguesthouse.com/en/" target="_blank">Kokuu</a> </i>had room for one more.<br />
<br />
After a leisurely 30min stroll eastwards, past temples and the seemingly endless Oku-no-in cemetery, I reached my evening's lodgings where friendly conversation, hot showers, a great thai curry and free wi-fi were all part of the service. Recently opened and run by a lovely young couple, it's the place to stay when in Koya-san. </div>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-54136796015514531482013-03-15T00:06:00.000-07:002013-03-15T19:30:03.199-07:00Vishuddha synchronicity <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Initially the symptoms were fairly mild. A slight tingling at the back of the throat, an occasional dry cough, a runny nose...<br />
<br />
Being the time of year when the <i>Cryptomeria japonica </i>are loaded with pollen and the mongolian desert dust blows in from the West on the dry spring winds, the thought occurred that maybe this was the year that I had finally succumbed to the dreaded <i>è±ç²ç</i>, or pollen allergy as it's referred to in the English speaking world.<br />
<br />
As it turned out, it seems to have just been a cold, and it looks like I've dodged the bullet of developing the dreaded affliction that so many people suffer from here in Japan at this time of year. It must be thanks to my being a hana-ga-takai gaijin (big nosed foreigner) and having such a thick weave of filtering hairs lining my schnozz.<br />
<br />
Anyway, said symptoms were slowly becoming more and more pronounced leading up to last Friday when I had an job interview. The air was extra thick with dust that day and for good measure the high winds made sure my nasal passages were well and truly impregnated with the filth blown over from the middle kingdom. <br />
<br />
As always with such affairs, one must make a great first impression, and the tour guide position that I was hoping to land requires one to be extremely outgoing, talkative and sociable.<br />
<br />
Not such an easy feat when you're on the verge of losing your voice and each attempt at conversation is becoming more and more tortuous. Still, it seems that my confabulatory abilities shone through nonetheless because yesterday afternoon, while sitting in the beautifully sunny 氎蟺ã®æ£®å
Œ here in Nagasaki, I received an e-mail from the company's coordinator asking me if I'd like to observe one of their tours, with the possibility of actually leading one myself before the end of the season, depending on my performance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoKIY06poucLgaue3U14ggkXmCQ5YuuFyPtAHD5JOYx3bA1ZCFXFGL-rgX4xBRvHZLicajkFbMwHZ9aovkVfhYV7y8s8tuf1T0nLDvc7GoBGDfF1DxCmpsOLxTN0kx98TL3L4EDg4xI-W/s1600/IMG_5361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoKIY06poucLgaue3U14ggkXmCQ5YuuFyPtAHD5JOYx3bA1ZCFXFGL-rgX4xBRvHZLicajkFbMwHZ9aovkVfhYV7y8s8tuf1T0nLDvc7GoBGDfF1DxCmpsOLxTN0kx98TL3L4EDg4xI-W/s640/IMG_5361.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The return of Captain Perry's <i>kuro-bune</i> heralds the opening of my sinuses </td></tr>
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The amazing thing was that just as I had sent an e-mail to said coordinator, my phone vibrated signaling that a new message had arrived in my inbox (synchronicity anyone?).<br />
<br />
Certain similar things occurred to me physically and mentally, and to small a degree emotionally, over the past week or so and seem in some ways to have been mysteriously and inextricably linked, part of a karmic catharsis of sorts, a rebalancing and purification of emotional and psychological patterns that has manifested itself physically in the form of a bad cold and a very painful neck.<br />
The reasons and meaning of this became apparent when I studied the physical symptoms relating to the throat chakra;<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>A throaty, dry cough followed by a gradual loss of voice.</li>
<li>A complete and sudden loss of hearing.</li>
<li>A severe pain in the neck, situated between the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebra.</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kJ6-tbkzcHMkZh5K_8xAU4OveBIvsRJlNoUXgH8uRnXA7oMbSJih_Fmmro_71Cxr1R-QGvOxrUrpsxV6yAu9NmhdzpIvb-_aHOSabEORbh-XPWgaQr962TgUy1B4oAy3NXegKtnfL-cS/s1600/Vishuddha_Mandala.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kJ6-tbkzcHMkZh5K_8xAU4OveBIvsRJlNoUXgH8uRnXA7oMbSJih_Fmmro_71Cxr1R-QGvOxrUrpsxV6yAu9NmhdzpIvb-_aHOSabEORbh-XPWgaQr962TgUy1B4oAy3NXegKtnfL-cS/s640/Vishuddha_Mandala.svg.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's seed mantra is "ham"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<i>"</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><i>This chakra is located in the neck and throat. Due to its association with hearing, it is related to the ears, and due to its association with speaking, it is associated with the mouth. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Physically, it governs communication, emotionally it governs independence, mentally it governs fluent thought, and spiritually, it governs a sense of security.</span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Vishuddha may be understood as relating to communication and growth through expression </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">When it is open, negative experiences are transformed into wisdom and learning."</span></span></i><br />
<br />
Ok...<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> So, the symptoms I experienced occurred in the areas described, and according to this diagnosis it would seem that I've been undergoing some sort of spiritual/emotional growth related to communication and security. That seems pretty spot on when I look back at the job interview and the questions that have been occupying my mind recently with regards to the future, and after having had a sense of spiritual stagnation for such a long time maybe these are signs that things are changing for the better? </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> In order to confirm my suspicions and maximize the effect, and having gotten over the worst of the cold, I booked a session with an old student of mine, <a href="http://www1.cncm.ne.jp/~morikan/" target="_blank">Dr. Mori</a>, who happens to be a practitioner of the wonderful <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_745652255"></span>Atlas chiropractic technique <span id="goog_745652256"></span></a>. The treatment was the first I've had for almost a year, and as usual, after receiving it I soon felt physically much better. My shoulders were much more relaxed and supple during Aikido practice last night and my gait feels much more fluid when walking. I also didn't wake up with a stiff neck </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">this morning as I have done ages, but I guess any</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"> improvement on a more subtle mental/emotional level will require more time to really assess. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That said, having seen the my first </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">blossoming <i>Sakura </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">of the year this morning I was once again struck by an intense appreciation of the inevitability of change and the optimism that this wonderful season brings. And hey, it's almost time for a hanami party, which is something that cures all ills.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw97khAHpwR0pETegPgWm-xUMFmZxqZXcXvGBCr6sAeTD0M7bERWA0uBXoxesKM_lgYPsOzMmjkiNfGRboCYJ2NBwlJyvbLxU3zffIsFwCYujc5TBuH9YzPxOqlDMJy0cX8jxxMilUM07p/s1600/IMG_5366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw97khAHpwR0pETegPgWm-xUMFmZxqZXcXvGBCr6sAeTD0M7bERWA0uBXoxesKM_lgYPsOzMmjkiNfGRboCYJ2NBwlJyvbLxU3zffIsFwCYujc5TBuH9YzPxOqlDMJy0cX8jxxMilUM07p/s640/IMG_5366.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First cherry blossoms of the season by the Urakami river in Naagasaki city.</td></tr>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-14206276727209671472013-03-11T06:48:00.001-07:002013-03-13T01:07:51.376-07:00Yufudake (almost) and the bleak path to nowhere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last night at Mario's was one of very little sleep due to a hacking cough and the gale force winds that blew in around 2am, rattling the wooden framed windows of my room and causing me to reconsider the plans I had for the morning.<br />
<br />
The guys were heading down to Oita city and were kind enough to drop me off in Beppu where I could catch a bus to the Yufu-dake trail head. We were up and on the road by 6am, the winds seemingly having died down and the forecast for cloudy, dry weather.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBq52uCiyW32rfX-mPM5sQzM3tM5sq7fCR2DpXeJKyVMHXUAn58sqOOmjpegpJ1NV08cmesK2StK3X8AGTiUc30dNokfDqjTWE01YdGJjQRUTkePYUcx3RWb54536mpwy3TLNpKANATFl/s1600/DSC_1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBq52uCiyW32rfX-mPM5sQzM3tM5sq7fCR2DpXeJKyVMHXUAn58sqOOmjpegpJ1NV08cmesK2StK3X8AGTiUc30dNokfDqjTWE01YdGJjQRUTkePYUcx3RWb54536mpwy3TLNpKANATFl/s640/DSC_1096.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beppu sunrise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After saying <i>au revoir</i> outside Beppu train station and having checked the bus times I decided to get some breakfast from a conbini and head five minutes uphill to the main city park. A dirty <a href="http://www.family.co.jp/goods/recommend/new/130122_1/index.html" target="_blank">gyÅza-man</a> washed down with some <a href="http://www.suntory.co.jp/enjoy/movie/d/158297550002.html" target="_blank">green-dakara </a>did the trick of both satiating my hunger and duping myself into believing that I'd satisfied my fruit and vegetable RDA requirements. While Beppu is often described as<br />
"a concrete monstrosity" in guide books it does have a very redeeming feature in it's park, which features wide grassy lawns, towering bamboo groves and hundreds of mature trees, many of them red pines. Having found a quiet spot under an exceptionally impressive specimen I kicked back on a soft bed of moss and pine needles and watched the clouds fleeting past through the branches above for around half an hour, before wandering back down towards the train station to catch the bus to the trail.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crouching tiger, hidden gyÅza</i><br />
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The bus up from Beppu left at 9:06am and reached the Tozan-guchi stop just before 10am. Portents weren't great as the peak of the mountain was shrouded in cloud and the wind had really picked up again. Making my way up the over the barren plain to the trees I was blown sideways and temporarily blinded by flying grit and pieces of hay-like <i><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Sasa-palmata-winter.JPG/800px-Sasa-palmata-winter.JPG" target="_blank">sasa</a></i><i style="font-style: normal;">,</i> a type of low-lying bamboo that is burnt off annually around the mountain in controlled fires. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distances can be deceiving on the mountain </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yufu-dake route on the far left with approximate hiking times </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese oak forest at first</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4ES_3zqROptgbnJ5bR6zqR9yB3faCEp0lDtl7u6KragrZeIM_p_qcPotUA7xs43xiABBnrszBb6Uvtu-8VnE81QtJ-8CJRgXoHq4uYVOJj4zq9lz7-KpL5J2ThL5rc0SGM7NV8XB_mHT/s1600/DSC_1115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4ES_3zqROptgbnJ5bR6zqR9yB3faCEp0lDtl7u6KragrZeIM_p_qcPotUA7xs43xiABBnrszBb6Uvtu-8VnE81QtJ-8CJRgXoHq4uYVOJj4zq9lz7-KpL5J2ThL5rc0SGM7NV8XB_mHT/s640/DSC_1115.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red pines appear as the path continues up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqJeJ0f_FQhIhcRI-np_l6B5nUc0Dig512Kpcy_CborXkIejIwx2akTfApCb7z_Cm_L3TlZXE8KHgc0bDcbvu1jzOVTvj7ZYqTpooJQ1xo815VPqY1jZkezMmx-jttRtqD4Iop5rT6Iky/s1600/DSC_1116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqJeJ0f_FQhIhcRI-np_l6B5nUc0Dig512Kpcy_CborXkIejIwx2akTfApCb7z_Cm_L3TlZXE8KHgc0bDcbvu1jzOVTvj7ZYqTpooJQ1xo815VPqY1jZkezMmx-jttRtqD4Iop5rT6Iky/s640/DSC_1116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break 1/3 of the way up. I'd come up on the left side of the facing mountain and had decided to descend on the other side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqiA2YX3y8qemaOjplc6mCak025prfC7BtJ3QI8t2rAypzmGMP1noAdIIP_xf3XfXC49Z-qq-yhTOWgwohTHTCOerLZe5fiOc35CrHCqMawJ3SQYQnUT_Iqdf3OhAIKoBdFMU97VPcTtR/s1600/DSC_1118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqiA2YX3y8qemaOjplc6mCak025prfC7BtJ3QI8t2rAypzmGMP1noAdIIP_xf3XfXC49Z-qq-yhTOWgwohTHTCOerLZe5fiOc35CrHCqMawJ3SQYQnUT_Iqdf3OhAIKoBdFMU97VPcTtR/s640/DSC_1118.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">up...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pQzh_6Jc_4yWmJSuEmC8aChJSHyt1lz-0xDgXaiCze3OUvLibY6baG4RPpBqq2zwmcvct9bnbfGOKYwCzG5RnkYb7by1YI-bacLnw1ZNqHJnBdP9vQ8hzLtl9UBU7bOEVeAv9YoDTMJ4/s1600/DSC_1119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pQzh_6Jc_4yWmJSuEmC8aChJSHyt1lz-0xDgXaiCze3OUvLibY6baG4RPpBqq2zwmcvct9bnbfGOKYwCzG5RnkYb7by1YI-bacLnw1ZNqHJnBdP9vQ8hzLtl9UBU7bOEVeAv9YoDTMJ4/s640/DSC_1119.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">up...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfJ1qqliof7EWZHcCNq-RVc7YUWZ1tmiLZogfez6ZKIjfRzMhiKzh1-m-hiPyIF7xejwY_r5IfE7AKfDkLn73xZsbhV2C57HLPTgxcVSpC_j_HS7SegAmea9XdbrpZWeST87NEc77qgCJ/s1600/DSC_1120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfJ1qqliof7EWZHcCNq-RVc7YUWZ1tmiLZogfez6ZKIjfRzMhiKzh1-m-hiPyIF7xejwY_r5IfE7AKfDkLn73xZsbhV2C57HLPTgxcVSpC_j_HS7SegAmea9XdbrpZWeST87NEc77qgCJ/s640/DSC_1120.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">up...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuWIc9sfnxafHrL0b-Dzd12bIBBpoSWVFzwBZ2pfWzLg0wOiU-pMU4oIUdecg2NUCc9mFB8nSAL4bSxZJli_JMa_7E8urDhKv7Q3K2XAKz9Eu6iNqfwNLyBbYzEKlg2LtS2ck2aSmbT0q/s1600/DSC_1121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuWIc9sfnxafHrL0b-Dzd12bIBBpoSWVFzwBZ2pfWzLg0wOiU-pMU4oIUdecg2NUCc9mFB8nSAL4bSxZJli_JMa_7E8urDhKv7Q3K2XAKz9Eu6iNqfwNLyBbYzEKlg2LtS2ck2aSmbT0q/s640/DSC_1121.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trees become shorter and fewer in number </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS3GFAn2J0Va25XsFIiEpzj-9dncBPnqsPHk9MatzgrnRr4IiBTrm6IYmsepcMLETon5flnur2vHhgtm7cDgqmyp7ZZOW16lLwh5JPC3CnVVCHxrmHx8sY3a8c0-EDPL6_rW2JaqkBGyc/s1600/DSC_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS3GFAn2J0Va25XsFIiEpzj-9dncBPnqsPHk9MatzgrnRr4IiBTrm6IYmsepcMLETon5flnur2vHhgtm7cDgqmyp7ZZOW16lLwh5JPC3CnVVCHxrmHx8sY3a8c0-EDPL6_rW2JaqkBGyc/s640/DSC_1125.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This old chap was in his early 70s</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKmrl_-zLXnm_qmAEFwLX0mURaZFBc5cIs9u1wY91mSejR1gnIdd3H6urUCjqqPGK67pZsJdWq-Fzb6ueAaDH3WwsIdMOmGyY5xILM-Hi74-uDiFny7K5aq5GNz4Woh9fpvfjuonYjMAN/s1600/DSC_1126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKmrl_-zLXnm_qmAEFwLX0mURaZFBc5cIs9u1wY91mSejR1gnIdd3H6urUCjqqPGK67pZsJdWq-Fzb6ueAaDH3WwsIdMOmGyY5xILM-Hi74-uDiFny7K5aq5GNz4Woh9fpvfjuonYjMAN/s640/DSC_1126.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> About half way. The bus stop and trail head visible in the middle of the shot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RDLzTWFT8ytFkdFLXfLfLAKzC0EfO_lzaEHKjquXAdn15CQq4dTtBU94ETw42fQxT70B2cgFp7kvSt2yADByrNrsxeR75cMfyb8MITAKa9pFSj7XVsYTDBwsXCZzQLNWBIbPRttOfyl7/s1600/DSC_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RDLzTWFT8ytFkdFLXfLfLAKzC0EfO_lzaEHKjquXAdn15CQq4dTtBU94ETw42fQxT70B2cgFp7kvSt2yADByrNrsxeR75cMfyb8MITAKa9pFSj7XVsYTDBwsXCZzQLNWBIbPRttOfyl7/s640/DSC_1142.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0opuGvDFI88YEurtaD6bleizY_YMlJv2LRiIq5KZT_mkg5kJDftlMuKSeBd9lR50mSMIP5Clo1E-JjoDH1WUv6RxPVqk9JK0k5bx_dPu3iSXtCETSFJgaUNOrCRNVv9rKKMKVIiE5NZY/s1600/DSC_1129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0opuGvDFI88YEurtaD6bleizY_YMlJv2LRiIq5KZT_mkg5kJDftlMuKSeBd9lR50mSMIP5Clo1E-JjoDH1WUv6RxPVqk9JK0k5bx_dPu3iSXtCETSFJgaUNOrCRNVv9rKKMKVIiE5NZY/s640/DSC_1129.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up into the cloud line</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhP2BH_o3typ0XLXwnXaSh8IEZ7iEoSS2zYtK2_OBmMKacs0_DHxiM-p3X7-Vj4Bd4TOX7XbU3p0UACNl5YK6jHubSPN50we979dW1NKlNUrFfcnHZU-_kIh59XG0yDsOUlL2wLCrnk-_/s1600/DSC_1130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhP2BH_o3typ0XLXwnXaSh8IEZ7iEoSS2zYtK2_OBmMKacs0_DHxiM-p3X7-Vj4Bd4TOX7XbU3p0UACNl5YK6jHubSPN50we979dW1NKlNUrFfcnHZU-_kIh59XG0yDsOUlL2wLCrnk-_/s640/DSC_1130.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craggy switchbacks from here on</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGGWB35YV9VNNeKuLNiBejN2eU2lEoH5dMGQNVUWhoLQRwLAGWeLBMS9hUP8UJMGCECDpK8VcP_VNYn2O3X37iFlnXxzZiA27cjkfgtiiY32HCes8DCtRB-YmpuQVFGwLOkWhiZAxdssY/s1600/DSC_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGGWB35YV9VNNeKuLNiBejN2eU2lEoH5dMGQNVUWhoLQRwLAGWeLBMS9hUP8UJMGCECDpK8VcP_VNYn2O3X37iFlnXxzZiA27cjkfgtiiY32HCes8DCtRB-YmpuQVFGwLOkWhiZAxdssY/s640/DSC_1140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC8j6mm6d5xEwWL-ljnSIqxPX_WLPuIh_ylSecEXabSY7bAlFyIHkcJ6DuEXG-U2tInrVcTSuVRi-Ep1ldcKySloOdsOXs2kF4bugDt2DZU1VupZDrM-UVptGeWSI-shGP3SPcL2QDWCT/s1600/DSC_1136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC8j6mm6d5xEwWL-ljnSIqxPX_WLPuIh_ylSecEXabSY7bAlFyIHkcJ6DuEXG-U2tInrVcTSuVRi-Ep1ldcKySloOdsOXs2kF4bugDt2DZU1VupZDrM-UVptGeWSI-shGP3SPcL2QDWCT/s640/DSC_1136.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next time...</td></tr>
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When I reached the valley a hundred meters or so below the peak the rain started hammering down, and combined with the wind, low visibility and falling temperature was enough to call it a day. The rest of the route would be a steep climb which requires chains and I didn't feel like risking it, especially as I was carrying a heavy pack and because there would be no view to compensate for the effort. The final straw was when thunder started rumbling around the mountain, at which point it was down, down, down! There's always next time...<br />
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I headed back down out of the worst of the weather and turned right onto the train that would take me straight into Yufuin town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoVHgfg3ugiVNmGdkAdR9UcLJ8oHiBFprEs6iLwqd5YqKp45KhK6jL2iPFB4tD_icRRLYyDek1xGq9APINlpo0Al9YuZmVY5avYElc-asDewIKo_FPiEBpxvRj0DeuIjV1XqpE5nGovGm/s1600/DSC_1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoVHgfg3ugiVNmGdkAdR9UcLJ8oHiBFprEs6iLwqd5YqKp45KhK6jL2iPFB4tD_icRRLYyDek1xGq9APINlpo0Al9YuZmVY5avYElc-asDewIKo_FPiEBpxvRj0DeuIjV1XqpE5nGovGm/s640/DSC_1147.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like my Swiss trip, only browner</td></tr>
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Visibility was terrible and the wind wasn't letting up, but luckily the route switched off down into a sheltered valley where I found a little respite from the weather.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-iRBQ7blS9S2xZ_hBKM8rPE-Zu69vT9PJTH6Og_5fj_CukPUNLmsj9LfQjkY8OPwZm4KXIalAghpwCE1j952OUAVUbZy-f7lBN5JpOhwmOn-3-9e1NPeQMhO4UAcXgQP5m26-aLhRNzw/s1600/DSC_1151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-iRBQ7blS9S2xZ_hBKM8rPE-Zu69vT9PJTH6Og_5fj_CukPUNLmsj9LfQjkY8OPwZm4KXIalAghpwCE1j952OUAVUbZy-f7lBN5JpOhwmOn-3-9e1NPeQMhO4UAcXgQP5m26-aLhRNzw/s640/DSC_1151.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenery again!!!</td></tr>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVm1mVVCLHZQgu1Ng7yZXIvWaRjqk0RuBn_i9QRrdylYMtlCS92nMNxahLQnl6UyqI5wYXVEFeTWMpZ8UKqdEi0yGB4zi5ihA81yxQK_WEQ_bzcXkVn_2U3ZLuwgnnvPhN10yvdQo_MVem/s640/DSC_1152.jpg" width="428" /></div>
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Even though the eerie trees and the mist reminded me of a scene from<i><a href="http://movister.ru/images/1300146443.651704.jpg" target="_blank">"The exorcism of Emily rose"</a> </i>I found a spot and a fresh spring where I could get some water to brew a hot coffee and heat up a cup-noodle, both greatly needed and very much appreciated.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw29Ob3F0oUeIcflkb4Ang5QVwZGiuvvBiw7Hgz7JdUGYevMy2ULY6RVzxS4PLJjRB4twaNJZhF46e-MuIoSMVz_y3NJdvNdS9p-IRJCzYTrdRN_c27gXXlgU9gbCe8uWXomrfIxGsKG3e/s1600/DSC_1153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw29Ob3F0oUeIcflkb4Ang5QVwZGiuvvBiw7Hgz7JdUGYevMy2ULY6RVzxS4PLJjRB4twaNJZhF46e-MuIoSMVz_y3NJdvNdS9p-IRJCzYTrdRN_c27gXXlgU9gbCe8uWXomrfIxGsKG3e/s640/DSC_1153.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After a refueling and a change into some warmer dry clothes the path led back out onto the barren wind-swept bleakness of the mountains lower slopes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5udtIfWJe9v_uFzcOGvoSP6EszSnmXCcyOg3k3f2Xw0y22prW5n0UGXu-Ytt5IZQuddXJM96rSeBZurLbAfL63pePr4ZuWjNwRHTioVOvuPOShBE-hFLAU03es4Sy4ks-Lnh8oqCQFepk/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5udtIfWJe9v_uFzcOGvoSP6EszSnmXCcyOg3k3f2Xw0y22prW5n0UGXu-Ytt5IZQuddXJM96rSeBZurLbAfL63pePr4ZuWjNwRHTioVOvuPOShBE-hFLAU03es4Sy4ks-Lnh8oqCQFepk/s640/DSC_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLkanGR2p8-eLRnxB3epmlg4RxmhUVu4YCS63xYLSie224H3EVnPHWg6pOe1md026gBzt7m5n-JrSe2IWN1EAuU0MKbShOjojc2H77oXr8UL7tL3hR0P90p7QSpvzMI9WBeeHo1Zr2ohX/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLkanGR2p8-eLRnxB3epmlg4RxmhUVu4YCS63xYLSie224H3EVnPHWg6pOe1md026gBzt7m5n-JrSe2IWN1EAuU0MKbShOjojc2H77oXr8UL7tL3hR0P90p7QSpvzMI9WBeeHo1Zr2ohX/s640/DSC_0007.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variety of verdant moss and lichens amongst the barren wilderness</td></tr>
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Out of the mist appeared a huge outcrop of rock which afforded some good protection against the driving wind that I'd been heading into. I dubbed it <i>Helm's-Deep </i>and settled into a small terrace for more hot coffee.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAoezIfEWdEbNhSJNcwJ3z_Sam7iRdYgEoZS978ee9uYZ8OuAszXwDhAYbJKefeyDBBB_CyEx0yR2QqFqQkEBJ51RAGfDEkzga5TM6v-yYdZsa_H34U6pdIci-DUF7nOcJihob0i8zh2N/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAoezIfEWdEbNhSJNcwJ3z_Sam7iRdYgEoZS978ee9uYZ8OuAszXwDhAYbJKefeyDBBB_CyEx0yR2QqFqQkEBJ51RAGfDEkzga5TM6v-yYdZsa_H34U6pdIci-DUF7nOcJihob0i8zh2N/s640/DSC_0010.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressive battlements and fortifications of my lair</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2_dtT3SwqAeL7xMC3-o9VH_ZFlnec8_FsKHx640-w9GT7Ze-zGVN3GWxbNz_tk9MinsB-lE2f0_HL4PoQ-JdCZzM1FBy1o9kWSv7020BA9uc8akIutm4fTcViGh6HzQIlKb9-_7RAjxo/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2_dtT3SwqAeL7xMC3-o9VH_ZFlnec8_FsKHx640-w9GT7Ze-zGVN3GWxbNz_tk9MinsB-lE2f0_HL4PoQ-JdCZzM1FBy1o9kWSv7020BA9uc8akIutm4fTcViGh6HzQIlKb9-_7RAjxo/s640/DSC_0011.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High above me a mysterious figure loomed...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-f8fYdHxKPGrD9HzIlTC2mNBPWW3NczxvWUVm4xWVDfT3H1FJbRhFqVsOT5MH4cYcpa7OfowOfquhFiCl6VKhjyjbrOkq-nKrWgpJeg6eKcHUDJgzG5MZHqyeWYUROpjkMfJnNrevEb7/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-f8fYdHxKPGrD9HzIlTC2mNBPWW3NczxvWUVm4xWVDfT3H1FJbRhFqVsOT5MH4cYcpa7OfowOfquhFiCl6VKhjyjbrOkq-nKrWgpJeg6eKcHUDJgzG5MZHqyeWYUROpjkMfJnNrevEb7/s640/DSC_0014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Knarr Tree</td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7tgSh88YMlU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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Heading back down the slope and out of the clouds the tree line came back into view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n21Tg5AY5QI-0LJhVZ4d64l7v_WOtuaDqfMuzk4USwILYsiA2SQ2zJBQBTUeC2omj1VxUyHWCjNq1ag9DeRAPviTSV67RB39GNdAjFOnHFafy-IA37pBfZN9_fG6K7UKCebbG84NGWCv/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n21Tg5AY5QI-0LJhVZ4d64l7v_WOtuaDqfMuzk4USwILYsiA2SQ2zJBQBTUeC2omj1VxUyHWCjNq1ag9DeRAPviTSV67RB39GNdAjFOnHFafy-IA37pBfZN9_fG6K7UKCebbG84NGWCv/s640/DSC_0020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up towards <i>Helm's Deep</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqELiVR06nd6Wv7XM9xpx7_r5BbwwulewFtFf62rA1a9xF-tQwNEiImxi1f09RG5I-_zlfrgID48Me-UBm6Qo-QkIKhW0BJnXlCIEpvMRquq2O4pKXr4D1D74Nuaub3o_-BzWcHLdCN47S/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqELiVR06nd6Wv7XM9xpx7_r5BbwwulewFtFf62rA1a9xF-tQwNEiImxi1f09RG5I-_zlfrgID48Me-UBm6Qo-QkIKhW0BJnXlCIEpvMRquq2O4pKXr4D1D74Nuaub3o_-BzWcHLdCN47S/s640/DSC_0019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The trail leveled off for a few hundred meters through a forest of hinoki cypress before beginning<br />
to descend again towards Yufuin town.<br />
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The path seemed pretty unused and was covered in a deep layer of dead leaves and branches blown down recently by the high winds. On the way I heard the alarm calls of dear close by calling to warn of my presence.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yufuin town comes into view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tormented soul frozen into the trunk of a moss covered tree, or just my imagination...?</td></tr>
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The end of the trail and the return to hard asphalt was as always met with a harsh yet in some way relieved feeling. A beautiful carpet of camellias led me to the road from where I would spend a few hours wandering around the little tourist trap of a town. </div>
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What better way to end a good hike on a cold, wet, windy day than with a long soak in one of the town's geothermal hot springs. <br />
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-27987179031779261322013-03-11T00:34:00.002-07:002013-03-18T03:30:05.897-07:00New friends and a taste of country living <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the previous day's ridge hike I returned to the company office to think about what to do that evening.<br />
By chance, another tour guide, Ted, had arrived from Kyoto and it was suggested that I go with him for dinner in a nearby town before heading on to spend the night at a house which is occupied by a guy called Mario, who also happens to be a guide with the company.<br />
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One of the things I've enjoyed since I quit my full-time job last year is the ability to pretty much say "yes" to any opportunity that presents itself without having to automatically consider any time constraints. The answer to any question regarding my plans was that I don't really have any. I had my hammock and sleeping bag, food and money, so really all options were open. I have to say that I consciously savored the act of repeating those words and the feeling of contentment with each moment that I was experiencing that afternoon.<br />
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Another lift into town and I settled down to a delicious dinner of sashimi, tempura and grilled bits-and-pieces with Ted, an american guide/writer/yoga instructor among many other things, and all round lovely chap. I had a strong feeling of synchronicity and shared ideas were expressed between us from very early on. I truly felt, after only having spent a few days together, that I had made a very good new friend who i look forward to meeting again in the not too distant future.<br />
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The bill paid for, we hopped into a taxi, which after careful consideration and a bit of google-map checking dropped us off in the darkness outside our host Mario's house. We arrived at the end of a community get-together where the topics of discussion were politics, nuclear energy and the trans-pacific trade pact, all of which are issues on the minds of any engaged and discerning japanese citizen right now. I felt moved and very privileged to witness such a meeting as it's not something I've ever had the chance to experience first-hand, even after ten years in the country. Once the proceedings were over and after a chat with a few of it's attendees we were shown to our rooms, both Ted and I eager to hit the sack after a long day.<br />
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Having arrived after dark the previous night I hadn't had the chance to see the splendor of the house or it's surroundings, and so upon waking up I was met with an amazing array of sights and sounds, as well as a twinge of envy. Such a beautiful house, the type of which one rarely has the chance to stay in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6xgnWjv40WgH8QzHC-irNkVzpsXe-5hb7p61nd_sDWivgsNFpP9uvLGSvgfUrtBRTZE6fwKFuNxZxg-QL2AYzWW9eDVS79fpJ2vsl2KglIxl0tkQBagotWo5cuYmh9ILzUNWkbVrmoQc/s1600/DSC_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6xgnWjv40WgH8QzHC-irNkVzpsXe-5hb7p61nd_sDWivgsNFpP9uvLGSvgfUrtBRTZE6fwKFuNxZxg-QL2AYzWW9eDVS79fpJ2vsl2KglIxl0tkQBagotWo5cuYmh9ILzUNWkbVrmoQc/s640/DSC_1023.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starlight, traditional japanese architecture, birdsong. Three very nice things to go to sleep and wake up to.</td></tr>
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Listening to the dawn chorus as it gradually became lighter I realized that it was still only 6am. Ted was already up and had gone to get his morning can of joe from a nearby vending machine. Another of the simple joys of Japan, even in a place as rural as this you're never more than fifty feet from a jihanki<i>.</i> I pumped in 120Â¥ for a can of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kwSlKUvJbKI" target="_blank">hot milk tea</a> and then had a stroll down the road to enjoy the early morning sun.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice spot for an early morning cuppa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE2Ujm_1XEXqteX7mHAlDz6fHlAXZlT3hUkomCWBKRqxc0IqTagiT1Vueq-2ImOJF626L8y4VYozXWR2wGrjDCaR1CxqLuQDfEfcIIBi9i0uNZmLpTuLecXk4SMxwo_IoAHyFE5UM8vly/s1600/DSC_1040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE2Ujm_1XEXqteX7mHAlDz6fHlAXZlT3hUkomCWBKRqxc0IqTagiT1Vueq-2ImOJF626L8y4VYozXWR2wGrjDCaR1CxqLuQDfEfcIIBi9i0uNZmLpTuLecXk4SMxwo_IoAHyFE5UM8vly/s640/DSC_1040.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking down river</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RjZaRaQy2oQ6qofDHnuiLcsqdWaX9Dv3gMjLgmMymSOKbzmSlD9sPtFxevrNUhxjQ4JWTwZ9_FA76gU6G8qsU6t6Ho0T46LLHsu4Wb9lBC4k6JqLYh3vWtAt0ShuZcQqjphnUMG8ggcl/s1600/DSC_1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RjZaRaQy2oQ6qofDHnuiLcsqdWaX9Dv3gMjLgmMymSOKbzmSlD9sPtFxevrNUhxjQ4JWTwZ9_FA76gU6G8qsU6t6Ho0T46LLHsu4Wb9lBC4k6JqLYh3vWtAt0ShuZcQqjphnUMG8ggcl/s640/DSC_1037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario's front gate. The house he lives in used to belong to the priest who tended the Hachiman shrine at the top of the hill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plum tree in full blossom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Showa style</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO4wZkJbGp-M38Ix2dqGFQCpB8JXS9aefmiJYuJZgkLZBncdeRwigL70_dI3XdMeChMqWu5LtzdbAm9Nn5dNgtyHSwMzGwei5nNq_BJFS-KWW9IKQ3DbvAksY-STMmASq0nEGd51P1AOT/s1600/DSC_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO4wZkJbGp-M38Ix2dqGFQCpB8JXS9aefmiJYuJZgkLZBncdeRwigL70_dI3XdMeChMqWu5LtzdbAm9Nn5dNgtyHSwMzGwei5nNq_BJFS-KWW9IKQ3DbvAksY-STMmASq0nEGd51P1AOT/s640/DSC_1043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFrNhedcStcRL73OBeP7wY0vRYITqrV2K50SuRvGKflat96ucGrr-rKKSBYYME3nR5ukTeoDG8FVHkq6sTqC6kgE9VG4xpx24-QW-EHxZRQhVtETgP-p5RdEz2YrvwQNWnrNJ8aUcUnEC/s1600/DSC_1046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFrNhedcStcRL73OBeP7wY0vRYITqrV2K50SuRvGKflat96ucGrr-rKKSBYYME3nR5ukTeoDG8FVHkq6sTqC6kgE9VG4xpx24-QW-EHxZRQhVtETgP-p5RdEz2YrvwQNWnrNJ8aUcUnEC/s640/DSC_1046.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our host, Mario, tending last night's fire</td></tr>
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Mario had until recently been running a small cafe and now occasionally puts up friends and travelers in the superfluous space of this amazing house. He was telling me about his vision of creating a community space that can be used as a venue for talks, music and workshops, while he's there or working/traveling away. An extremely mellow, Intelligent, friendly man who's engaged and participates socially and politically on a local level and who, like Ted, is open and completely without pretense. Another inspirational new friend with whom good conversation and comfortable silences alike were much enjoyed and who's hospitality was greatly appreciated.<br />
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Our host was kind enough to let me take some shots of the interior of his home, which in my eyes is absolutely beautiful...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showa-style glass in the sliding front door</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx91gHdrcmg6O59O0f8v8omCJvSzk3KWX2Fjn9rUOlR4hq5ivDyNzhnaUzwVjNpfTbadtsdZi5kiFaD0wGM2fl7ztAjnPR6oybAiuVngYCDghlayYFNBnIjCd5ycbVyaCAPwn7rS6ZNkxo/s1600/DSC_1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx91gHdrcmg6O59O0f8v8omCJvSzk3KWX2Fjn9rUOlR4hq5ivDyNzhnaUzwVjNpfTbadtsdZi5kiFaD0wGM2fl7ztAjnPR6oybAiuVngYCDghlayYFNBnIjCd5ycbVyaCAPwn7rS6ZNkxo/s640/DSC_1047.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside/outside dichotomy becomes blurred in the entry-way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaheHojc_sMrP6nEQFWxzJyILVcd1vyMx2CO2qP0X0JRd2OSnKANJB2Y51orr8HVZDqgx572hnc7XqHknqhaQOro9YAMCLnBfWpEzdZhdbVnEJqG-WkB3MMrBxRk5FITuM7Prvb6F_Sch9/s1600/DSC_1069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaheHojc_sMrP6nEQFWxzJyILVcd1vyMx2CO2qP0X0JRd2OSnKANJB2Y51orr8HVZDqgx572hnc7XqHknqhaQOro9YAMCLnBfWpEzdZhdbVnEJqG-WkB3MMrBxRk5FITuM7Prvb6F_Sch9/s640/DSC_1069.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo room dividers break up space and again bring nature into the house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxSpyR6khtyeigsPx_jIPPwhxPfiBkgjgeea30GCIvB1nTVmjsy5em6MNkQp7m3kEIO14RP5QAqs6BAA-PAvaWNv9RKhEzxLupMLXLYopxJca-e_DQt93NEaZieYC7red0ItYnl1PDx2b/s1600/DSC_1060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxSpyR6khtyeigsPx_jIPPwhxPfiBkgjgeea30GCIvB1nTVmjsy5em6MNkQp7m3kEIO14RP5QAqs6BAA-PAvaWNv9RKhEzxLupMLXLYopxJca-e_DQt93NEaZieYC7red0ItYnl1PDx2b/s640/DSC_1060.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air drying some home grown Shiitake </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EuPTu84CfOJjoWGxSuICTUxAUWip8cGkSoRt7BFKlRaysn7UKdyskueK3F7hIFIcagM1_hRT2e0UYNLvvRpDWR9E9pvPX0WfIuxYdF-T9mVPZ9wXe6Li7p3-_F40IpyfvwylSqy1T5_p/s1600/DSC_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EuPTu84CfOJjoWGxSuICTUxAUWip8cGkSoRt7BFKlRaysn7UKdyskueK3F7hIFIcagM1_hRT2e0UYNLvvRpDWR9E9pvPX0WfIuxYdF-T9mVPZ9wXe6Li7p3-_F40IpyfvwylSqy1T5_p/s640/DSC_1059.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step down into the kitchen with it's communal table, which also functions as a work surface</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzOvT_2AeYZtKGIceGBY_zMasktSW4s45fPeh31gT2BGL3jzXGm7MVYCrdBZ0Aw76JSi38YdewR3X3lWPkDdoZIe3jjM_iiVCOtyF03XVLNQSc0-hx_K5meS_-d5ds4S1SIJ8B5iO8F0-/s1600/DSC_1049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzOvT_2AeYZtKGIceGBY_zMasktSW4s45fPeh31gT2BGL3jzXGm7MVYCrdBZ0Aw76JSi38YdewR3X3lWPkDdoZIe3jjM_iiVCOtyF03XVLNQSc0-hx_K5meS_-d5ds4S1SIJ8B5iO8F0-/s640/DSC_1049.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple, functional, natural</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8-DpWfSsKHh_HiZFda3lxcGZN_xOOuGy1yUM5WCTE9T6ZuuwJxz2M0ZgE4pgdY8VzB9SGC3gqik8vZkYt9ARyIwc8ie4T1K_u2iql_0Rgab2-1awocnv1tR7zjA6qRf6byYRw5PRttU7/s1600/DSC_1056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8-DpWfSsKHh_HiZFda3lxcGZN_xOOuGy1yUM5WCTE9T6ZuuwJxz2M0ZgE4pgdY8VzB9SGC3gqik8vZkYt9ARyIwc8ie4T1K_u2iql_0Rgab2-1awocnv1tR7zjA6qRf6byYRw5PRttU7/s640/DSC_1056.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slippers optional</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8eEoFoD3quRqL8lVvvF4NiyepUqj05xEySjBH1Z_hvnG16DHwviVDXX-88wWUITJsu6JXdFlwGtJf256mDoXbv5Sda_qWeD9fPzulZW6stJLBDZrtWJHH-nKItH2nG6tbCYM6fakj1_J/s1600/DSC_1053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8eEoFoD3quRqL8lVvvF4NiyepUqj05xEySjBH1Z_hvnG16DHwviVDXX-88wWUITJsu6JXdFlwGtJf256mDoXbv5Sda_qWeD9fPzulZW6stJLBDZrtWJHH-nKItH2nG6tbCYM6fakj1_J/s640/DSC_1053.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who needs electric IH ranges, you can't beat gas for cooking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4KPOh-I4MzeR0HHGGhgXu12OB-o6DbRY3fD1i42quet5yFsADQsCewQ8rpUcpegr-YPj20S7CAmfmKDNfdVeF913SNxKhqN9Ay9n9WFsfuJqdADCqSyH9jYOG2n8do9f5V7vUZw0AG-V/s1600/DSC_1057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4KPOh-I4MzeR0HHGGhgXu12OB-o6DbRY3fD1i42quet5yFsADQsCewQ8rpUcpegr-YPj20S7CAmfmKDNfdVeF913SNxKhqN9Ay9n9WFsfuJqdADCqSyH9jYOG2n8do9f5V7vUZw0AG-V/s640/DSC_1057.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the kitchen, everything has it's place and nothing is superfluous to need.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamgnwiYhUHIhFXZZdRPlrYTVjbLSkYxElKKwBpTwLa8KaOBn-ugi4BaOORlBiaBL8hBIdWeGW3RAvUfKaMFh8yn6glU7XJRJUUJ6QOB-t6DzIsQRTsS-d894IklV3t7LDwssPyOwDKNnM/s1600/DSC_1058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamgnwiYhUHIhFXZZdRPlrYTVjbLSkYxElKKwBpTwLa8KaOBn-ugi4BaOORlBiaBL8hBIdWeGW3RAvUfKaMFh8yn6glU7XJRJUUJ6QOB-t6DzIsQRTsS-d894IklV3t7LDwssPyOwDKNnM/s640/DSC_1058.jpg" width="423" /></a></div>
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After a breakfast of salad and toasted home-made bread, Mario showed us around the land up behind the house that he's been gradually restoring and where he has started growing vegetables.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofLPzIqWvj3b-4VfsKMmrkK8Ulnz_3FqbdcscUjcJJnT4A71JijZgLn_DxeYScps4_NuwooW7PWP_Ziszc_dKjmhR4OXXAdLHXy2y0KKk6HuduruNhEfukMDZvxMFE8wXedefprLMIcLN/s1600/DSC_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofLPzIqWvj3b-4VfsKMmrkK8Ulnz_3FqbdcscUjcJJnT4A71JijZgLn_DxeYScps4_NuwooW7PWP_Ziszc_dKjmhR4OXXAdLHXy2y0KKk6HuduruNhEfukMDZvxMFE8wXedefprLMIcLN/s640/DSC_1066.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut and plum orchard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJL7uWrdj0UT8DlnJwzvSnqo98S3FA1-0uPZP-jOFjcn7S3Y3PTd0m6VEV046qLpxWLg9BCv126D0Sd1ATdBgE2eVlGOtvmx03mBzy3DF27F_JUT4bXBULAHaxhrIxQbbgDTrsxTvwGGX/s1600/DSC_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJL7uWrdj0UT8DlnJwzvSnqo98S3FA1-0uPZP-jOFjcn7S3Y3PTd0m6VEV046qLpxWLg9BCv126D0Sd1ATdBgE2eVlGOtvmx03mBzy3DF27F_JUT4bXBULAHaxhrIxQbbgDTrsxTvwGGX/s640/DSC_1063.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushrooms growing on an old plum tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihi7dQLWVaxZBB55eZIyZb8pME9DTPdFmiSjQgnMUNkpn807b9KPKaHtZhpedFLc_5Z2XBo8HT7zESQCcnHY4MtTLoXkghls9gzH-uU_vWzWcjXAKG0osY-jcv-VxvFVsV1SwI925g2cE7/s1600/DSC_1067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihi7dQLWVaxZBB55eZIyZb8pME9DTPdFmiSjQgnMUNkpn807b9KPKaHtZhpedFLc_5Z2XBo8HT7zESQCcnHY4MtTLoXkghls9gzH-uU_vWzWcjXAKG0osY-jcv-VxvFVsV1SwI925g2cE7/s640/DSC_1067.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half of the vegetable plot weeded<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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As a sign of gratitude and in order to enjoy the surroundings I spent a couple of hours weeding the veggie plots above while the guys got down to some work on their laptops. Not much considering the hospitality afforded to me, but I guess every little helps. There is a lot to do still in the garden and Mario has been clearing the scrub and thinning out the bamboo groves, trying to burn it off before spring really kicks in and it becomes over-grown again. An endless task suited to a man of such patience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIE32pk3QGk4WFPyTsfiDniUvTt8vwR75nK9oPkjR3P4ASSSxnIQH1b9YR9Sd9CMyHgxufEhl01aaN8Xh9BOrHY4cZ5u5QRcGuDDeACbZvmoAJnEYVee74LOb2g4h0P1JD3ABSP9hLT-q/s1600/DSC_1068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIE32pk3QGk4WFPyTsfiDniUvTt8vwR75nK9oPkjR3P4ASSSxnIQH1b9YR9Sd9CMyHgxufEhl01aaN8Xh9BOrHY4cZ5u5QRcGuDDeACbZvmoAJnEYVee74LOb2g4h0P1JD3ABSP9hLT-q/s640/DSC_1068.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted doing his thing. These guys have their work/life balance sussed.</td></tr>
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After my short stint of gardening I decided to go and check out the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachiman" target="_blank">Hachiman</a> shrine and it's beautiful old trees up on the hill behind the house.<br />
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Following a delicious lunch of home-made japanese style curry and rice we headed out into the Kunisaki countryside to look at some houses for Ted, who's intending to move down sometime in the near future with his wife and little girl. The Oita country side has a lot of differences in architecture and topography compared to where I live in Nagasaki, and being with a guide such as Mario who was born in Japan and who's been living in the area for over seven years meant we were able to see some really off the beaten track places such as the "Eco model house" below built by local artisans in the local style from sustainable local materials.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTvehyUoIXXQqY009fxpDBNkg4Ka0TnlzDVGPXCq_7v6wuA35VTJPqW8Pq6PY5Jl1vnV1h0wh-ZjE7ytmWel5jReFVPwwrVJiQs3OVTNdPJl2R9ch5ke2XUU2Rny6bVT7fafO59CW6PvJ/s1600/DSC_1079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTvehyUoIXXQqY009fxpDBNkg4Ka0TnlzDVGPXCq_7v6wuA35VTJPqW8Pq6PY5Jl1vnV1h0wh-ZjE7ytmWel5jReFVPwwrVJiQs3OVTNdPJl2R9ch5ke2XUU2Rny6bVT7fafO59CW6PvJ/s640/DSC_1079.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sticks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"To let. Must be 65 or over and financially well to do" </i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7_yk5Ff99tziCqGL5eRDC0m1ZTofcMkf1fExeZNj180IG8e2F9p7smGXWcU_xYMlMg711oR-B81mzO7HSevZdZ0DndNZMjYiFuYS0dIwvB6DB-PSRsiWWwWtI4aM4qH60B-h_x2jLXPD/s1600/DSC_1084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7_yk5Ff99tziCqGL5eRDC0m1ZTofcMkf1fExeZNj180IG8e2F9p7smGXWcU_xYMlMg711oR-B81mzO7HSevZdZ0DndNZMjYiFuYS0dIwvB6DB-PSRsiWWwWtI4aM4qH60B-h_x2jLXPD/s640/DSC_1084.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>
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The rest of the afternoon and early evening were spent doing the same thing and Ted seemed pretty keen on one of the houses he saw, to rent for an amazingly low sum of only 20,000ï¿¥per month. The last place we stopped at was on the North coast of the peninsular, coincidentally was called Nagasaki, where we were able to witness a glorious sunset, made even more spectacular by the refraction of high amounts of "red sand" in the atmosphere. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Ode to Hiroshige"</i></td></tr>
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On the way back to Mario's we dropped in to a local eatery for an amazing set meal of chicken tempura, an Oita speciality, followed by a scrub and a soak in a nearby onsen, the perfect end to another superb day. </div>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-81103975216490345922013-03-10T21:30:00.002-07:002013-03-11T22:25:24.732-07:00Walking a fine line in Kunisaki<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've just returned from a three day trip to Oita prefecture here in Kyushu, the purpose of which was to meet the director and staff of a <a href="http://www.walkjapan.com/" target="_blank">British owned walking-tour company</a> for which I may have the chance to do some work with in the near future.<br />
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The company's Japan office is situated in the rather remote area of the <a href="http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/oita/kunisakihanto.html" target="_blank">Kunisaki peninsular </a>, a part of Oita prefecture which I had yet to discover. Once done with the formalities, I thought it would be great to take the opportunity to do some hiking and camping in the area in so I took along enough gear to see me through 3~4 days and all eventualities.<br />
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The day began with a four hour train journey to Kitsuki on express trains, changing once in Hakata.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtfloN6ReKM1D09nli9BNsu5Ow5OAUqRdmpDtFxxif7kBzk7nOHu5b6USlKpiEPprmfiP5GvH6LfY_sBLmaRYQKmn5YyCqD4oMzN2gcGKzV48wBcnONS1sewlcQyP7SVYLTnwSXhTJET4/s1600/DSC_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtfloN6ReKM1D09nli9BNsu5Ow5OAUqRdmpDtFxxif7kBzk7nOHu5b6USlKpiEPprmfiP5GvH6LfY_sBLmaRYQKmn5YyCqD4oMzN2gcGKzV48wBcnONS1sewlcQyP7SVYLTnwSXhTJET4/s640/DSC_0929.JPG" width="513" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the 6:03 from Urakami</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_XI9yyr2X2ToUtFqfakjzTN1m-Tpi8Gqj6qa4bWd9X4Czm7xMZGKdLyFQG036tSYu93NCvkQMX4Mk4lSwRJfJLqh_Tqqwx9aOrMmvJtRnPFVqf7qotxaFSZNKyZyShP8Aw2KwFmQlbxi/s1600/DSC_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_XI9yyr2X2ToUtFqfakjzTN1m-Tpi8Gqj6qa4bWd9X4Czm7xMZGKdLyFQG036tSYu93NCvkQMX4Mk4lSwRJfJLqh_Tqqwx9aOrMmvJtRnPFVqf7qotxaFSZNKyZyShP8Aw2KwFmQlbxi/s640/DSC_0931.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After getting off the train I had to cross the station's overpass to get to the exit. This beautiful red admiral butterfly was there catching the warm rays of sun. The first one I've seen this year and an auspicious start to the trip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2hzigtASCg6exV5GCOg3ioQOt6jekJSLHEgYA4aHdKIjDO-24cfj1f8cZXwzRipoqU09AESHPm0TPcd6x-D63Q3nEvITDEi5JUv3AHWRPlMqjOqeFO9gBvVrvTkMOE9vJJeowwZFMqPr/s1600/DSC_0932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2hzigtASCg6exV5GCOg3ioQOt6jekJSLHEgYA4aHdKIjDO-24cfj1f8cZXwzRipoqU09AESHPm0TPcd6x-D63Q3nEvITDEi5JUv3AHWRPlMqjOqeFO9gBvVrvTkMOE9vJJeowwZFMqPr/s640/DSC_0932.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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Upon reaching my destination I was met by Naomi, a guide and coordinator at the tour company and all-round lovely lady whom I'd previously spoken to via Skype and who had come to pick me up in a little two-seater<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seeKDW0l1j8" target="_blank"> kei-tora</a>.<br />
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After driving through the countryside in beautiful warm spring sunshine we arrived at the company's office, a completely renovated and converted minka surrounded by plum trees, rice paddies and mountains where an hour or so was spent meeting the staff and discussing the ins and outs of the job.<br />
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Naomi suggested that I check a circuit route nearby consisting of a climb, a ridge-walk and large Buddhist images carved into a cliff before returning to the office and thinking about the evenings plans.<br />
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She kindly gave me a lift to the trail head, and after deciding what time she'd pick me up I changed into my hiking boots and headed up into the forest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J-C2mHY1xxM-EmQ30NuExUfv83b-Ynz_EBqaGcKreU6aPOj1zNbtrQl6-kxloPX4nAUwIaGZluJiKhIrWtnydW0tCiOri2b_aYl9aJoHxP8P3nuLnZkgr0S6gjXc-QoxPpFfqBj5jDXO/s1600/DSC_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J-C2mHY1xxM-EmQ30NuExUfv83b-Ynz_EBqaGcKreU6aPOj1zNbtrQl6-kxloPX4nAUwIaGZluJiKhIrWtnydW0tCiOri2b_aYl9aJoHxP8P3nuLnZkgr0S6gjXc-QoxPpFfqBj5jDXO/s640/DSC_0934.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the car park (P), up to the ridge and then left, across and down to the temple marked with the swastika on the far left took about 3 hours.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An initially leisurely mooch up through cryptomeria stands</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6qkvwAuRPYeZsdqN0NsV2XNiYQhE_Tjal2tRsI6EATkHB5L09x88fIxnX7JlAgl4Qp2e9Wnuid-QV8VCN6suUM3VIE2FwQMBDKtOdi_gpXYyf2NZpQwbkejBzxAEg8eR1cPKb-9KhpWK/s1600/DSC_0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6qkvwAuRPYeZsdqN0NsV2XNiYQhE_Tjal2tRsI6EATkHB5L09x88fIxnX7JlAgl4Qp2e9Wnuid-QV8VCN6suUM3VIE2FwQMBDKtOdi_gpXYyf2NZpQwbkejBzxAEg8eR1cPKb-9KhpWK/s640/DSC_0943.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBkKqCTgWkIvvaksU9TpYagK5eA1854uJN4jIE3ouEkxEnTA-WIIODHk962d1i8OWn47hN94j4e8ttpQPtFyE-BBEdnbY0zZMJO5Pfm-zcCxDdzPT754ehJ-_hVgItNeysiUhNo2b8577/s1600/DSC_0945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBkKqCTgWkIvvaksU9TpYagK5eA1854uJN4jIE3ouEkxEnTA-WIIODHk962d1i8OWn47hN94j4e8ttpQPtFyE-BBEdnbY0zZMJO5Pfm-zcCxDdzPT754ehJ-_hVgItNeysiUhNo2b8577/s640/DSC_0945.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree tops were creaking and swaying wildly in the unusually strong winds that had started picking up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGnxMxDocf_RNOyUH8WwfTwLvhfoKcPf9KesUaPTLRfw_9zBHc7O42_O0kCp847Szj-Q_8W59WFov2GPgRZyBYzBPt_C4EqcN-QspZ9xGcwa3b0lUl9n56ZPpWvwmvbpWePykZ-wd7wkm/s1600/DSC_0946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGnxMxDocf_RNOyUH8WwfTwLvhfoKcPf9KesUaPTLRfw_9zBHc7O42_O0kCp847Szj-Q_8W59WFov2GPgRZyBYzBPt_C4EqcN-QspZ9xGcwa3b0lUl9n56ZPpWvwmvbpWePykZ-wd7wkm/s640/DSC_0946.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What happens when the stress gets too much.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSV6REIXUsw2lIaYbKK3re9wze2Cui-RDklTzLQ0NTYawqDs2DY6qoiwmh8nUV9SdvoRDBd9ef6jkg8EWDTZ2oAkPK8d-0F62eU6u4DMBMzrF3V6h7EBFdY-bPLT9IGcU3DGWk3ou3NYs/s1600/DSC_0948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSV6REIXUsw2lIaYbKK3re9wze2Cui-RDklTzLQ0NTYawqDs2DY6qoiwmh8nUV9SdvoRDBd9ef6jkg8EWDTZ2oAkPK8d-0F62eU6u4DMBMzrF3V6h7EBFdY-bPLT9IGcU3DGWk3ou3NYs/s640/DSC_0948.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up out of the forest and round onto the ridge. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhZCs-Ycfr9aa1ssWFi9tEQwTY2UqvfTRXTe3nuLu0TbHaqSY1DFmgo9Uv_ocBEB0BYOcgth1lXJSzDy7jzw6hS5p4oEJG75hgQLJU5YoW0BC5lRaZ8XErS7Dg8D3NIXvASl5Mi8EP5Tf/s1600/DSC_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhZCs-Ycfr9aa1ssWFi9tEQwTY2UqvfTRXTe3nuLu0TbHaqSY1DFmgo9Uv_ocBEB0BYOcgth1lXJSzDy7jzw6hS5p4oEJG75hgQLJU5YoW0BC5lRaZ8XErS7Dg8D3NIXvASl5Mi8EP5Tf/s640/DSC_0951.JPG" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ã§ããIncase you had any doubts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbSbshQUrSUeffTCwH0BY8qaongMLOboE7nO_tDVtnGBMUvIJ5sltcVNkX8PxIF38NYaUi21ymOuIPy1PjhR05-AOhWSSaTR-TIQjOdvep1Q1SVtNvWqC5T1jcyBScNnYRJgOMG8cdkbV/s1600/DSC_0953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbSbshQUrSUeffTCwH0BY8qaongMLOboE7nO_tDVtnGBMUvIJ5sltcVNkX8PxIF38NYaUi21ymOuIPy1PjhR05-AOhWSSaTR-TIQjOdvep1Q1SVtNvWqC5T1jcyBScNnYRJgOMG8cdkbV/s640/DSC_0953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low visibility caused by a bad combination of dry, warm air, pollen and sand dust mixed with record breaking levels of pollution from our Chinese neighbors. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The ridge walk began from this point. Naomi had told me that this route was a 4 on the company's scale of difficulty, with 6 being the most physically and technically challenging. My hike was made a little more interesting by the strong gusts of wind and the big pack I was carrying.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAFq_wKH4aZKouIdFqSw16Ozf204PLJ2g95_xczH4Pu6pFOl2YPFMzvouKVlDydppOnhpizyd-FJ3YGG9_ocgRepz-_luHGJ9inJQuUTE_Z22F6QkbWrClm8lo8gIRkoZ6WN2MI8wsqml/s1600/DSC_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAFq_wKH4aZKouIdFqSw16Ozf204PLJ2g95_xczH4Pu6pFOl2YPFMzvouKVlDydppOnhpizyd-FJ3YGG9_ocgRepz-_luHGJ9inJQuUTE_Z22F6QkbWrClm8lo8gIRkoZ6WN2MI8wsqml/s640/DSC_0955.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the ridge trail on the right </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh9R68XGRbmQ3DosV5yND7ljsQbxFoLfVvantT4UAAHm1Ws71rHAWRXMCoEWVI3-CAVuYxIYk9Cz3zaILZn5DE_qsWnP_fhloM7gGqWlUQL2T9bn-txl1pT8HZVraXPBVa6YkTgxFUPUj/s1600/DSC_0957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh9R68XGRbmQ3DosV5yND7ljsQbxFoLfVvantT4UAAHm1Ws71rHAWRXMCoEWVI3-CAVuYxIYk9Cz3zaILZn5DE_qsWnP_fhloM7gGqWlUQL2T9bn-txl1pT8HZVraXPBVa6YkTgxFUPUj/s640/DSC_0957.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiFiDpfqfrJJFWJY-s07f5fG_QfHKY0Lu2t1Gb7OXqYaMweBmWrmPCZouUpg7V4yFq7ezyVzbqe5p7SpJgfQ-G5YM_H1Hql4RZaTkcDb_TH8aThTHkCMYEs-4yZcDAKurdOUubou0lZCS/s1600/DSC_0959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiFiDpfqfrJJFWJY-s07f5fG_QfHKY0Lu2t1Gb7OXqYaMweBmWrmPCZouUpg7V4yFq7ezyVzbqe5p7SpJgfQ-G5YM_H1Hql4RZaTkcDb_TH8aThTHkCMYEs-4yZcDAKurdOUubou0lZCS/s640/DSC_0959.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyHZZs1jNkwzccxkNBVi0EvamANaVxxPgw9IkmxFVp6m72_L1gIUMIYfhcUFZBJ6bXJMm5BgEQRUdEQq9Qa5LNgWcC82r1SzHy8ji2cz_hC0ovrV8dvjRq0zsuCGx87P8AmfVOnvU6UH_/s1600/DSC_0964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyHZZs1jNkwzccxkNBVi0EvamANaVxxPgw9IkmxFVp6m72_L1gIUMIYfhcUFZBJ6bXJMm5BgEQRUdEQq9Qa5LNgWcC82r1SzHy8ji2cz_hC0ovrV8dvjRq0zsuCGx87P8AmfVOnvU6UH_/s640/DSC_0964.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KKa3Mw6wi8RZtWrch_yESV9013iwBQdwfDGo65XwIGpgDB-5BoPOB8lWpGlqDtZKISx_qcY6srGDZot42qgB4wKC6JSGk4LU-VAE0ydTPcwURIL7v9p5-F3yK_ypnT4C4t-LEXB4ww1Q/s1600/DSC_0965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KKa3Mw6wi8RZtWrch_yESV9013iwBQdwfDGo65XwIGpgDB-5BoPOB8lWpGlqDtZKISx_qcY6srGDZot42qgB4wKC6JSGk4LU-VAE0ydTPcwURIL7v9p5-F3yK_ypnT4C4t-LEXB4ww1Q/s640/DSC_0965.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIs5DrFfo2BC9iVm1GHeMwEAsJmqkG3KHkc8k9KSLNrq8tDxz-3MJFVgaKmQmiT4-fTcX9yB28p8WtVRdlsZyzrss3Og8Lglw-ifvzjRSQmvuC0W_DmgcRilcc8a5yuRJNJn4u0GK-RuQB/s1600/DSC_0966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIs5DrFfo2BC9iVm1GHeMwEAsJmqkG3KHkc8k9KSLNrq8tDxz-3MJFVgaKmQmiT4-fTcX9yB28p8WtVRdlsZyzrss3Og8Lglw-ifvzjRSQmvuC0W_DmgcRilcc8a5yuRJNJn4u0GK-RuQB/s640/DSC_0966.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-HigahQ077e4YfEbSSyUEbuIPosUicopDClQmL2NuUPxWf8fODr9kHXdwPxAONjvb5RG6mTJWimJsDXZ3SQyjG_Fv57v_Jf7IrH6-rRIQZ11-MVr4yz7fykeOi2XvAhCifzuFB1wCfGA/s1600/DSC_0968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-HigahQ077e4YfEbSSyUEbuIPosUicopDClQmL2NuUPxWf8fODr9kHXdwPxAONjvb5RG6mTJWimJsDXZ3SQyjG_Fv57v_Jf7IrH6-rRIQZ11-MVr4yz7fykeOi2XvAhCifzuFB1wCfGA/s640/DSC_0968.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left, Right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiEBrCWyGjoLIkcYK_gEmnKdT4u0z3VAVTsHttZER-wdlKzRIkwf6vTrZO8dg3pT0FIMO2yQtTnIO_zVKgKQM9zPIYgs_nB3I5rbtX2rIxbV1jvANMkEWhC_Xj5kaBWmCxE1rX7chRq8L/s1600/DSC_0973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiEBrCWyGjoLIkcYK_gEmnKdT4u0z3VAVTsHttZER-wdlKzRIkwf6vTrZO8dg3pT0FIMO2yQtTnIO_zVKgKQM9zPIYgs_nB3I5rbtX2rIxbV1jvANMkEWhC_Xj5kaBWmCxE1rX7chRq8L/s640/DSC_0973.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqIZWCdF2yJwEDjaa8kkn-qycJ2CzYOT4NqLku2FKCKCxj4cByxVcRShl2KJJ7xc2CzkNjztSuFN4xhcgRF7E-Gznt9y4OzbgzFeWgor5kawNorLln2kRwN5PW4Z0qb7C5UZkBFS1SUar/s1600/DSC_0972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqIZWCdF2yJwEDjaa8kkn-qycJ2CzYOT4NqLku2FKCKCxj4cByxVcRShl2KJJ7xc2CzkNjztSuFN4xhcgRF7E-Gznt9y4OzbgzFeWgor5kawNorLln2kRwN5PW4Z0qb7C5UZkBFS1SUar/s640/DSC_0972.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cryptomeria loaded with pollen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjl85XLBxKuX5FyTwJV8SxysEXvbHhx0NpoElReofuRMYWQgK-fZjC3hZGNnmQROCkQ9Jvztk905YYHqk8G9V2i0WIWELuWzM_Fzpro-z32NXxttlSDxhn7_ZLXsCkXtA6qSkzSdOPiHR/s1600/DSC_0976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjl85XLBxKuX5FyTwJV8SxysEXvbHhx0NpoElReofuRMYWQgK-fZjC3hZGNnmQROCkQ9Jvztk905YYHqk8G9V2i0WIWELuWzM_Fzpro-z32NXxttlSDxhn7_ZLXsCkXtA6qSkzSdOPiHR/s640/DSC_0976.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlUY5Atg4uZVSEjGrD9nScBZJpmi-G4-pXqRCSbqM0EN7C_y2eAhIvOVYGTIKwrVPPb71W_uVvNfRcKfnkqeUJvSqCtCtm2nIgsg1fJtDK80nkTUARFmwR9TJnrQY3sl8Kfj2h4R44j55/s1600/DSC_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlUY5Atg4uZVSEjGrD9nScBZJpmi-G4-pXqRCSbqM0EN7C_y2eAhIvOVYGTIKwrVPPb71W_uVvNfRcKfnkqeUJvSqCtCtm2nIgsg1fJtDK80nkTUARFmwR9TJnrQY3sl8Kfj2h4R44j55/s640/DSC_0979.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIP4vpElBVy39Yv2fUlyV4DfmhEcQLd0OtHjudNrOgPA3jwHpmmXw7JCsr2jvP8iaRM_5JdMrvL1ETGJF4ibB5tQjzdmQtYkVUoO3wU4PFwunAqyo5RiGLx2sHZUnyvp4D1GaubtHhPtIF/s1600/DSC_0980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIP4vpElBVy39Yv2fUlyV4DfmhEcQLd0OtHjudNrOgPA3jwHpmmXw7JCsr2jvP8iaRM_5JdMrvL1ETGJF4ibB5tQjzdmQtYkVUoO3wU4PFwunAqyo5RiGLx2sHZUnyvp4D1GaubtHhPtIF/s640/DSC_0980.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfwuQftDJZbP1x1xq0_SLasQKCQia_LLcKytzPWQa70yu2W0SQUk8DfCcgYewiXv7ZxwoSVike1nVcyGJ6GW0ajyJOON8IpZXiTi4ngLSAdP7Nvd2yLQZsVlXDrgWWVdllRE2sk7hQ5rA/s1600/DSC_0985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfwuQftDJZbP1x1xq0_SLasQKCQia_LLcKytzPWQa70yu2W0SQUk8DfCcgYewiXv7ZxwoSVike1nVcyGJ6GW0ajyJOON8IpZXiTi4ngLSAdP7Nvd2yLQZsVlXDrgWWVdllRE2sk7hQ5rA/s640/DSC_0985.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF4ms4oXyCIjM6tQYR3q3_eKP6jUMA9kuFYnPHV4iwbpFEWaqtJV8AgQif6DSLileOyXJHC6x4_EONlcIN_lG1ad99L7KuqrFhozAW43gthi2IUklwvjb25AZuDAquPk1JlMC-ogaZx-F/s1600/DSC_0986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF4ms4oXyCIjM6tQYR3q3_eKP6jUMA9kuFYnPHV4iwbpFEWaqtJV8AgQif6DSLileOyXJHC6x4_EONlcIN_lG1ad99L7KuqrFhozAW43gthi2IUklwvjb25AZuDAquPk1JlMC-ogaZx-F/s640/DSC_0986.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The valley I'd hiked up through to get to the ridge path</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QXXWjtapTe51Ffd_KXVaufmIaP7_nkgZa3UkDcVvsPdln2_i84TP2k1_A4NAx9QZL0jiOJynuiU4s6Mma_w4gJjBNApvFjgTgr2BZg0QDs8VwysXLzGmhB_m3Jt06BMwRnSl3j6mNiUz/s1600/DSC_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QXXWjtapTe51Ffd_KXVaufmIaP7_nkgZa3UkDcVvsPdln2_i84TP2k1_A4NAx9QZL0jiOJynuiU4s6Mma_w4gJjBNApvFjgTgr2BZg0QDs8VwysXLzGmhB_m3Jt06BMwRnSl3j6mNiUz/s640/DSC_0993.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back across the ridge line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU6jdk9wwD3SvT8l-pWEa_1BCzLeEzydHN2pL5PrKc8z6S5m2PiXysoJIBtSxP-BYFBz7HUrqORJSO4noGA5BYpFUOnA8idUVm7ywlQQNN91tQOh0g6fpgGGYo8JfQhQvaOkV4seYDRNZ/s1600/DSC_0995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU6jdk9wwD3SvT8l-pWEa_1BCzLeEzydHN2pL5PrKc8z6S5m2PiXysoJIBtSxP-BYFBz7HUrqORJSO4noGA5BYpFUOnA8idUVm7ywlQQNN91tQOh0g6fpgGGYo8JfQhQvaOkV4seYDRNZ/s640/DSC_0995.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending towards the temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeedcYGOHdCZxxX46GEjOmhv6pXHKqZx2_RIxO7pmI-l8NUPPlB9rX1Xl0bG2TLX5fGINrKHkh8rRxBmUJfTkyoQS1PydkN2K9ONMSToAkmprxcvK5x6eP8V8MEOvNrG0r7WAtFJ9yL8P/s1600/DSC_0998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeedcYGOHdCZxxX46GEjOmhv6pXHKqZx2_RIxO7pmI-l8NUPPlB9rX1Xl0bG2TLX5fGINrKHkh8rRxBmUJfTkyoQS1PydkN2K9ONMSToAkmprxcvK5x6eP8V8MEOvNrG0r7WAtFJ9yL8P/s640/DSC_0998.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More deciduous trees on this side if the ridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After descending through the forest I was suddenly met with the image below. Just as the sun was about to pass below the tree line the rock face was bathed in golden evening light. The wind that had been so strong up above fell silent and I was able to sit in silence contemplating my literal and figurative impressions of the hike. To me, the trail was analogous to our lives, a miniature <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kora_(pilgrimage)" target="_blank">kora</a> of sorts.<br />
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These high relief representations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dainichi_Nyorai" target="_blank">Vairocana </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acala" target="_blank">Acala</a> (Dainichi-Nyorai and Fudo-myo-o in Japanese) carved into on of the cliffs situated at the bottom of the ridge trail are apparently the largest examples of their kind in Japan.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vairocana and corresponding Komyo-Shingon mantra of light</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acala and Fudo-Myo-O mantra</td></tr>
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After some time and with the sun gradually sinking lower and lower in the sky it was time to head down to the temple car park to catch my ride. The last part of route was down these stone steps which were allegedly built by an ogre with a penchant for human flesh. Their uneven construction forces you to contemplate each step right down to the gate at the bottom, which is itself a Shinto torii. Another example of the symbiotic relation of these two belief systems. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up</td></tr>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-57399257977335688492013-02-27T01:51:00.001-08:002013-03-11T21:59:05.442-07:00Perseverance and the sound of silence <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently I've been in a very introspective mood, and having unchained myself from the shackles of full-time wage-slavery, I've been able to devote a lot of my time to my efforts at getting an audible, and hopefully pleasant, sound out of the unique instrument that is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakuhachi" target="_blank">shakuhachi</a>.<br />
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I've been receiving instruction and guidance once or twice a week here in Nagasaki since last November from an extraordinary teacher, Mr Otsubo, however until very recently I've been unable to progress beyond a mediocrely sustained <i>"Ro" </i>note.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dojo</td></tr>
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The first couple of months resulted in a fair amount of frustration. I would put the instrument down after a few moments of fruitless, unfocussed, forced attempts after which I would tell myself <i>"it's too hard, you don't have the right shaped mouth to make the correct embouchure blah blah blah..." </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My constant companion of late</td></tr>
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<i> </i>Fortunately though, I've been able to reflect back on the first few months of my Aikido training 10 years ago when I would finish each training session with seemingly nothing to show for my efforts but bleeding knees and a very sore neck. Instead of giving up though, I kept trying, and found myself repeating the following equation;<br />
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<i>Effort + Perseverance = Result </i><br />
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So, after 3 months, the seed has finally born fruit (albeit an extremely unripe one)...<br />
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<i> </i>What has always attracted me to the shakuhachi, apart from it's sound, is the fact that you can take it pretty much anywhere you go. It's a means of improving your posture, breathing and concentration. The latter is, I've found, more important physically, but the opposite seems to be true when it comes to mental focus. The more natural, long, clear tones tend to occur when one "un-focusses" and lets the breath flow without any sort of conscious impediment, like an untamed river, as it were.<br />
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Last Sunday my wife and I decided to make the most of a beautiful, sunny afternoon and headed to a trail about an hour North of Nagasaki city that we hadn't hiked before. I thought it would be great to take the flute along and practice some long tones as we walked through the trees. After a beautiful hike up the valley following the streams and waterfalls we relaxed and refueled by an old temple before heading back down. We paused from time to time, as the sun sank slowly over the mountains and the shadows in the valley grew longer, to take in the views and listen to the silence.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rest and refueling before heading back down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUfL_q4a_DME3T4sUurlwI9EoaO1bX8AUpu_ZdxkHvpL5APWFXvkg9CT56pskjRBDRy0Ok4w06Ky90famp28xVLSFr0I4iqgYEo7sEUm0FCGpv8elpjqdrs9H8Oy71jvr7P0QuFUgK4pG/s1600/DSC_0914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUfL_q4a_DME3T4sUurlwI9EoaO1bX8AUpu_ZdxkHvpL5APWFXvkg9CT56pskjRBDRy0Ok4w06Ky90famp28xVLSFr0I4iqgYEo7sEUm0FCGpv8elpjqdrs9H8Oy71jvr7P0QuFUgK4pG/s640/DSC_0914.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serenading the valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24zK3V67LZt6bpvf01ZYZ1fAmF6IozcT1oOFaLsS8qp371x43XK94Bq8kQ0U1XtTBnxw-I0YrJC4gmmwlZotp4WSL9qW6uOoWiZIl-KB5buJyyCOP6k40cqaJQEWI7dXY8cP28T9S9VCQ/s1600/DSC_0918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24zK3V67LZt6bpvf01ZYZ1fAmF6IozcT1oOFaLsS8qp371x43XK94Bq8kQ0U1XtTBnxw-I0YrJC4gmmwlZotp4WSL9qW6uOoWiZIl-KB5buJyyCOP6k40cqaJQEWI7dXY8cP28T9S9VCQ/s640/DSC_0918.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serenading the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFCXkJ9b7OKl1L_bbpkO69TL0TtBst7nAq9CUAxs6JYxKROJq0FikcMZy0Cigt4XgDmWaj2QVHuONwGFGTv5SqxfOcpQoqaXfTcSDVSn-ba2k9bgEUDIpt995_lVYAa_Flqu2m3yn9W7B/s1600/DSC_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFCXkJ9b7OKl1L_bbpkO69TL0TtBst7nAq9CUAxs6JYxKROJq0FikcMZy0Cigt4XgDmWaj2QVHuONwGFGTv5SqxfOcpQoqaXfTcSDVSn-ba2k9bgEUDIpt995_lVYAa_Flqu2m3yn9W7B/s640/DSC_0920.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serenading the path</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0-1zwJy5Kc6wNwJbMbeWjAbRDu7CisTbzco5w8uDIDWckCo0f7X5raaaSjSwfNF5oQUkQA7kjQPIVWZA1gYNutrE8bq9LMLUr9T22pqM8HrP5Bmx2_F-aypwyZazYifla-S8Qa1e8hFl/s1600/DSC_0922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0-1zwJy5Kc6wNwJbMbeWjAbRDu7CisTbzco5w8uDIDWckCo0f7X5raaaSjSwfNF5oQUkQA7kjQPIVWZA1gYNutrE8bq9LMLUr9T22pqM8HrP5Bmx2_F-aypwyZazYifla-S8Qa1e8hFl/s640/DSC_0922.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serenading the river</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolGty71CSnsIqmzqzArDA-R-GtG_VC509Z_FVW4uSJyjkhudhf1bfhZLnBwR7Xh9ymbHl4LXFjihjL2sXP3ZqKcunNV0-HbeBoMOceQ8O1U6ZWrgOktMBScpctCF3AblacfOksmd605Um/s1600/DSC_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolGty71CSnsIqmzqzArDA-R-GtG_VC509Z_FVW4uSJyjkhudhf1bfhZLnBwR7Xh9ymbHl4LXFjihjL2sXP3ZqKcunNV0-HbeBoMOceQ8O1U6ZWrgOktMBScpctCF3AblacfOksmd605Um/s640/DSC_0925.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serenading the mountain</td></tr>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-89538630449551488382013-02-26T22:14:00.000-08:002013-03-11T21:54:45.155-07:00KyÅto revisited<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spring is almost here so maybe this isn't the most appropriate selection of photos to be sharing, but since I'm un-cluttering my mac and transferring most of my images onto an external HD I thought I'd take the opportunity to do so while I'm at it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>These shots were taken late last November during a 4 day trip to the capital of heavenly peace.</span><br />
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The peak viewing time of the autumnal foliage had already passed, especially outside of the main city in the mountains around Ohara, however there was still plenty of colour to be found in NijÅ and the imperial palace grounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Please enjoy, if you will, the lovely sound of Fariborz Lachini's <i>"Autumn was lost in the leaves" </i>as you peruse these shots... </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Kiyomizu-dera</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgehTPxhiuyYvPZFbueFZZAQtnvN9Zl5Lz7lvTg-NqzWEpSNRWElEv_5JzIUN21S-qhbDBu-lfrth1yMB_PVmnSknXoTg79QhPjauZhIpsRKlDme2aQUmKHe-BrAtLdNpgxDWTNEt6feK/s1600/DSC_0699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgehTPxhiuyYvPZFbueFZZAQtnvN9Zl5Lz7lvTg-NqzWEpSNRWElEv_5JzIUN21S-qhbDBu-lfrth1yMB_PVmnSknXoTg79QhPjauZhIpsRKlDme2aQUmKHe-BrAtLdNpgxDWTNEt6feK/s640/DSC_0699.jpg" width="421" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yasaka-no-tÅ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhEQJWC__4yTKTpJ5KsWwPHCxD7CYFoHWH4kKcBpN6nGquhQb7vK7NBv5Wku9xvaxC4r_ZpDaIT3eZNGjlVtw8HPDU_ZD6Zfa-7vfcSCtOGTrEZjNQce6qv9Dqn3od6fJfTRDevEIQghD/s1600/DSC_0708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhEQJWC__4yTKTpJ5KsWwPHCxD7CYFoHWH4kKcBpN6nGquhQb7vK7NBv5Wku9xvaxC4r_ZpDaIT3eZNGjlVtw8HPDU_ZD6Zfa-7vfcSCtOGTrEZjNQce6qv9Dqn3od6fJfTRDevEIQghD/s640/DSC_0708.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heian-jingu torii</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSS1H4t_69WyirznR-Zl6SC989Km8K-_3UJ-rl_AxnIwff2nPcLJ8tDhyphenhyphenfa5k7EA8fhXnc5FhyphenhyphenoR6IkG_0tKsKt1y8xIxL-KGDFZFDquOtkah06BvVQcfg_C4FggNcpnUcuxE866k6hr2/s1600/DSC_0712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSS1H4t_69WyirznR-Zl6SC989Km8K-_3UJ-rl_AxnIwff2nPcLJ8tDhyphenhyphenfa5k7EA8fhXnc5FhyphenhyphenoR6IkG_0tKsKt1y8xIxL-KGDFZFDquOtkah06BvVQcfg_C4FggNcpnUcuxE866k6hr2/s640/DSC_0712.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heian moon-rise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMrotRgpntLzOZr6-X8cnLj50P04L58YdMPfXES5bVp76OcltXjwF1nZX2_YIH5eUBXNNiz1kFoWoDEapzjtj56BuHaU9uy4nFqqzOExcj7gVj9W0OB8AZ1_spKKGphmtHYyYKGkjztrs/s1600/DSC_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMrotRgpntLzOZr6-X8cnLj50P04L58YdMPfXES5bVp76OcltXjwF1nZX2_YIH5eUBXNNiz1kFoWoDEapzjtj56BuHaU9uy4nFqqzOExcj7gVj9W0OB8AZ1_spKKGphmtHYyYKGkjztrs/s640/DSC_0743.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full moon over Chion-in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX4dCJC1BbDSadSb4Lnmc9PXFd2A6Ko8bGDzt0m-oFYSLNdSF6aO3IbG_2f86VXXEKwNJEzy5xM8FdljhP5h72FHZd0l9xtopoocFzzgYILSgcKod34r5I-wAQJWmwWR508XBDgJrjA1p/s1600/DSC_0748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX4dCJC1BbDSadSb4Lnmc9PXFd2A6Ko8bGDzt0m-oFYSLNdSF6aO3IbG_2f86VXXEKwNJEzy5xM8FdljhP5h72FHZd0l9xtopoocFzzgYILSgcKod34r5I-wAQJWmwWR508XBDgJrjA1p/s640/DSC_0748.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TÅji pagoda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdEsPobpN214Foz_20DgM29Q4cMsBekXb0ZuAw9QiXMqWKhquFp3QcnX13NVGaClPGU4CQG9jjpFNSzcZdviGEjpLnzzXmlenL4PzMG9m1TMdnP14apyMSZeo1bHLcDIvzgdv6AZzCGnG/s1600/DSC_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdEsPobpN214Foz_20DgM29Q4cMsBekXb0ZuAw9QiXMqWKhquFp3QcnX13NVGaClPGU4CQG9jjpFNSzcZdviGEjpLnzzXmlenL4PzMG9m1TMdnP14apyMSZeo1bHLcDIvzgdv6AZzCGnG/s640/DSC_0761.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nijo-jÅ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4OszykOZf1nCJgT-4V9560lrkMOaL7Q0sIu3W3QnrbbzQCfFf2JQp_kDdmqaprrYzzVfKxocLQ6p2b-Eh47i_k9TOGZQjv3uahgFldbPkXMaq6s0kdifiihrRN9xOnrNIB1xMNo6ZruR/s1600/DSC_0795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4OszykOZf1nCJgT-4V9560lrkMOaL7Q0sIu3W3QnrbbzQCfFf2JQp_kDdmqaprrYzzVfKxocLQ6p2b-Eh47i_k9TOGZQjv3uahgFldbPkXMaq6s0kdifiihrRN9xOnrNIB1xMNo6ZruR/s640/DSC_0795.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wife in the Imperial palace grounds after a formal tea-ceremony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1Vr6_UwpC7O4QbPtIUoKDxPTmFW6X4Xp0ykWQVvY2GdWWZgjcEqLu90247mlA5ty_UckEBXIFzv236iyOo3uDvFajUkixx0NFk7PGs2MeuXymcE01dnWA5iMzkGtthTH2G9tZaGLRlwf/s1600/DSC_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1Vr6_UwpC7O4QbPtIUoKDxPTmFW6X4Xp0ykWQVvY2GdWWZgjcEqLu90247mlA5ty_UckEBXIFzv236iyOo3uDvFajUkixx0NFk7PGs2MeuXymcE01dnWA5iMzkGtthTH2G9tZaGLRlwf/s640/DSC_0804.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperial palace sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLlNjIkeMrxka6g3EoioCaeeZsrZlWFaEouwhAEkQfgbKsNHAdtA2QUbzVYugGJ8UDrpBb-q3JN2yufoB4rCsQVv0q8l0_DIuSEJcY1jU1lu_UP0fmzyrXLOwuwhm8TukFya4KI8FPxI7/s1600/DSC_0819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLlNjIkeMrxka6g3EoioCaeeZsrZlWFaEouwhAEkQfgbKsNHAdtA2QUbzVYugGJ8UDrpBb-q3JN2yufoB4rCsQVv0q8l0_DIuSEJcY1jU1lu_UP0fmzyrXLOwuwhm8TukFya4KI8FPxI7/s640/DSC_0819.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sazen-nin temple grounds in Ohara</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J_9MlS5fT3O1kEUzD1C7pu72ur2PK48fPicdY_KrhU_KyJLEqGdV8J7SaH2WoGq-y0wMszqc_FI9sEc-6twQuTUGqYquLNTa6u5Embz9yTl9tOVTtMhc5JqHCQxVkpBJrWRjWxBJG4un/s1600/DSC_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J_9MlS5fT3O1kEUzD1C7pu72ur2PK48fPicdY_KrhU_KyJLEqGdV8J7SaH2WoGq-y0wMszqc_FI9sEc-6twQuTUGqYquLNTa6u5Embz9yTl9tOVTtMhc5JqHCQxVkpBJrWRjWxBJG4un/s640/DSC_0825.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koke-jizÅ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG8636EYX5_z9c325azOmLVnaveM0BPAKQrdAs5ji0TMSio1m4m8SW4m0E-NAzGu25Lkb3T5xGnjh_MXiAGuLAnGqrJTXOqKd7LdEPVdsc7qNiBwgR_zI-7kGrs-fAyzc9DbM6y7HZti2/s1600/DSC_0836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG8636EYX5_z9c325azOmLVnaveM0BPAKQrdAs5ji0TMSio1m4m8SW4m0E-NAzGu25Lkb3T5xGnjh_MXiAGuLAnGqrJTXOqKd7LdEPVdsc7qNiBwgR_zI-7kGrs-fAyzc9DbM6y7HZti2/s640/DSC_0836.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Leaf that's green in summer,<br />shall die and fall to ground.<br />The fresh bouquet of yesterday,<br />today is ugly brown."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9MWUjsodh1zuxPRsyxB-2FmdY5HHUYtVC03-BlftuPU8XBkbz6TaZWYBSYEBC5Y_uhxMo3088nPJbSfbOF8szmx7ykC2Ldkz1C074vIQHO1RN0mqO_jsOWRiiwrU6dV5uUJMsdU7vKBk/s1600/DSC_0839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9MWUjsodh1zuxPRsyxB-2FmdY5HHUYtVC03-BlftuPU8XBkbz6TaZWYBSYEBC5Y_uhxMo3088nPJbSfbOF8szmx7ykC2Ldkz1C074vIQHO1RN0mqO_jsOWRiiwrU6dV5uUJMsdU7vKBk/s640/DSC_0839.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hosen-in macha and 700 year old pine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hosen-in garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hosen-in <i>kare-san-sui</i> garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohara storehouse</td></tr>
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-58246912702445399982012-10-10T01:46:00.001-07:002012-10-10T01:58:42.542-07:00Nagasaki Kunchi 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Each year around the beginning of October the wonderful cosmopolitan history of Nagasaki city is revealed through displays of alternating neighborhood floats and traditional dances reflecting their individual native and foreign influences.<br />
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For the first time in eight years, and thanks to my current employment status, my wife and I were able to attend a few of the events that make up the festival known locally as "O-Kunchi"; an intriguing mix of historical trade, religion and political influences.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki_Kunchi" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki_Kunchi</a><br />
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The Niwa-mise event does seem to have become rather more sobre compared to the first one I experienced, having to do I was informed, with the police crackdown on the free and liberal sake consumption and consequent drunk-driving incidents that arose as a result, however, the event is still a wonderful opportunity to see some amazing displays of antique costumes, related memorabilia and various gifts and offerings consisting of things such as sake, fresh fish and seasonal produce similar to what you might see at a harvest festival in Britain.<br />
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<i>Niwa-mise images from éã®çº (fishmongers' neighborhood)</i><br />
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The next day, after watching the éã®çº troupe in their neighborhood, we were able to catch one of my favorite å·è¹, or "river ships" being paraded and gyrated around the local park in Edo-machi, close to the old Dutch trading island of Dejima from which the influence is obvious both in the ship's design, costumes and music that accompanies the display.<br />
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<i>Images from the éã®çº display</i><br />
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<i>Images from the æ±æžçº display</i><br />
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Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-3512413916064860852012-10-02T22:44:00.001-07:002012-10-09T09:02:35.099-07:00Ichion jyÅbutsu / Empty breath and new beginnings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
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After years of procrastination I finally held and blew into a Shakuhachi flute for the first time yesterday evening.<br />
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It's something that I've wanted to take up for quite a while now, and thanks to an introduction from one of my fellow Aikidokas, the kindly Mr. Nasukawa-san, I yesterday found myself in a small 8-mat tatami room with 3 elderly men and surrounded by shakuhachi flutes, books, sheet music and various other paraphernalia related to this wonderful instrument.<br />
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Sitting in Seiza for two hours straight is not something that anyone enjoys, but while the elderly students took their turns sitting face to face with the sensei, taking turns reciting and demonstrating, I found myself engrossed by the sights and sounds unfolding before me. <br />
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After the students had finished and excused themselves from the dojo, I was invited to sit before the teacher and, after having written down my personal details and contact information, handed a flute to try out.<br />
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A short explanation of the basic posture and grip, as well as the correct breathing method preceded my first attempt to produce a tone.<br />
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Back straight, shoulders relaxed, deep breath and... nothing.<br />
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"Just keep trying and I'll see you again on Friday" is what I was told before the teacher handed me a small book of basic notes and finger placements, the flute that I'd just practiced with, and a carrying bag and cover to protect the instrument.<br />
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Mr. Nasukawa later revealed to me as we walked back towards the train station that it had taken him months to get a sound out of his flute, which I suspected was an expression of his japanese tendency to play down any skills or achievements one may have, but to be honest, after my first effort and subsequent 2 hours of trying again once home I started to believe his statement. <br />
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</a>...</span><span style="color: white;">..</span></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dfo64zjBwR8D9tg5lHjZsd3bsSzvFC5cf8CAJDHOqOYnZqH1WS6L331PX-VHrz-LRION0m1av57KutB18viTFDm7vRHowe9x6YEuKxKjooReHEnkrwUwcecipggZt1l8hoiHVnfdsCn7/s640/blogger-image--796824724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dfo64zjBwR8D9tg5lHjZsd3bsSzvFC5cf8CAJDHOqOYnZqH1WS6L331PX-VHrz-LRION0m1av57KutB18viTFDm7vRHowe9x6YEuKxKjooReHEnkrwUwcecipggZt1l8hoiHVnfdsCn7/s640/blogger-image--796824724.jpg" /></a></div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-87183513534534697252012-09-28T01:24:00.004-07:002012-09-28T19:11:04.288-07:00Marshmallows and mushrooms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Late September and October is my favorite time of the year for camping here in Western Japan, especially since the hot, humid days of summer have passed and the evenings are getting cooler and cooler.<br />
As such, last weekend offered me the opportunity to enjoy four things I truly love; camping, seasonal <a href="http://tkss.jp/pjn/media/img_20081015T193109428.jpg" target="_blank">sake</a>, photography, and last but not least, mycology.<br />
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I've been a closet mycophile for as long as I can remember, having been drawn initially to images of fungi in story books, and later, to their more psychoactive characteristics during my late teens (indeed, I owe part of my English language A level grade to the wonderful<i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_semilanceata" target="_blank">Psilocybe semilanceata</a>). </i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7OZ_rXWPduaYuDC7fWp5mtFdXT-al5uIgUFv6oRcRj-5wNRWFxfiMgG6DCZ9q31DblWYIQqNlDEV-_9aLMicDwMeVHOZWopG3X0a9tdlFyVneGbt8SGlIbE-DYpbed5q2ywP__43JU1M/s1600/imgres-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7OZ_rXWPduaYuDC7fWp5mtFdXT-al5uIgUFv6oRcRj-5wNRWFxfiMgG6DCZ9q31DblWYIQqNlDEV-_9aLMicDwMeVHOZWopG3X0a9tdlFyVneGbt8SGlIbE-DYpbed5q2ywP__43JU1M/s1600/imgres-3.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From "Children of the forest"</i></td></tr></tbody></table><i> <br />
</i><i> </i> In order to make the most of the season's weather, last Saturday and Sunday were spent in the great outdoors along with my wife and in-laws at a campsite situated around the çœé²ã®æ± (white cloud lake) in Unzen, one of my favorite spots in Nagasaki prefecture due to its beautiful deciduous forests, relatively high altitude, pleasant hiking trails, and its proximity to the hot springs that the town is famous for.<br />
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(Here are a couple of videos from previous trips to the area...)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Vwxeli4fF8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/EBmwtjp3Ay8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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The weather was perfect for mushrooms. After an afternoon and evening of constant precipitation there were fungi of all descriptions everywhere you looked.<br />
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My in-laws thought I was joking at first when I suggested walking around the woods in the rain to look for fungi, but once they saw the Kyushu mushroom field guides and the poncho they realized I was serious. <br />
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After an hour's foraging and having found 20+ varieties, interest in and enthusiasm for all things fungiform had been well and truly kindled.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOCTauIlfSaNQPpdN86-nVrx61OjhI6x4AWliX_3S6caI3XR3odb7hOnfWR4pUspU4lvthJqIhaZQkB0aQ6lcwVvP6c2uMRICMtvWtJqdO9Z_Wafk9UmByKuHHDcb9cuXR75lWbxPC3sQ/s1600/DSCN2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOCTauIlfSaNQPpdN86-nVrx61OjhI6x4AWliX_3S6caI3XR3odb7hOnfWR4pUspU4lvthJqIhaZQkB0aQ6lcwVvP6c2uMRICMtvWtJqdO9Z_Wafk9UmByKuHHDcb9cuXR75lWbxPC3sQ/s640/DSCN2429.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Follow me!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOnahnV5UHfp2p6utNSYEb7yf7llV1GYqOZuEJ0qsY8PBtBcm3TpYqrGy3lTlH1U1Lk0c8VH1UNVu4uTfahNnvyULy6CIr5PSDY858bDh0Ly7LhrZ9q4N6iYNVoGfbHPAtJsYJFW6yieq/s1600/DSCN2430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOnahnV5UHfp2p6utNSYEb7yf7llV1GYqOZuEJ0qsY8PBtBcm3TpYqrGy3lTlH1U1Lk0c8VH1UNVu4uTfahNnvyULy6CIr5PSDY858bDh0Ly7LhrZ9q4N6iYNVoGfbHPAtJsYJFW6yieq/s640/DSCN2430.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father-in-law still not sure about the undertaking, or his daughter's choice of husband...</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja594P9EVqe0IhuJm-kNQdGdBt46ManpwlOjydnbYy6q0VoweYKGDtFzxFojqEcMjeYMTqYCaHZGr3dBqMEh9IIpfFrpxdic0-SFIav6u81nHDv-17xnv3ZVHuV0A-mCZ2C2hlT7luThga/s1600/DSCN2432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja594P9EVqe0IhuJm-kNQdGdBt46ManpwlOjydnbYy6q0VoweYKGDtFzxFojqEcMjeYMTqYCaHZGr3dBqMEh9IIpfFrpxdic0-SFIav6u81nHDv-17xnv3ZVHuV0A-mCZ2C2hlT7luThga/s640/DSCN2432.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"The reds are ¥400, the whites ¥250, and the yellows are ¥500"</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIh6HgtajhPRzxaLUQiQJ7BsvEJAXprhPliOefZaNUzo25Rdi0whYP1mdAOmwmT_SYAgy5IhdiYp4wnIB3XejWrk92_DRfyUkg-6DrVikNfQfeFDf5Gak1apMn_uzpoW0gv138NEhlBlc/s1600/DSCN2434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIh6HgtajhPRzxaLUQiQJ7BsvEJAXprhPliOefZaNUzo25Rdi0whYP1mdAOmwmT_SYAgy5IhdiYp4wnIB3XejWrk92_DRfyUkg-6DrVikNfQfeFDf5Gak1apMn_uzpoW0gv138NEhlBlc/s640/DSCN2434.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"This is the biz if you really want to fly!"</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BAHkFVZfYZsAvAebl868HIzTUaD4n8cqmiL6utmyHlNyxRiDb7liMiemFS_qekfUYvDPnmT8aoaEiC2I61zXNAKocAit9QobgWp7hNQX6z2LhgCaA0tz7GaE4yE-PToGwngQSAHgrHUs/s1600/DSC_0567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BAHkFVZfYZsAvAebl868HIzTUaD4n8cqmiL6utmyHlNyxRiDb7liMiemFS_qekfUYvDPnmT8aoaEiC2I61zXNAKocAit9QobgWp7hNQX6z2LhgCaA0tz7GaE4yE-PToGwngQSAHgrHUs/s640/DSC_0567.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The haul.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKEIIVWF5FLQCpGV49umOynTCeM1tnNBWqoNcXRTR0LqFaDhJSYSWxQn98DpASwCJf5PtoWAqmae3Q5ahCndFYT6s3mqG7U7fVIbsuEUY_IKmVg7PQM9uzx_t8nYtcJyttbho3P85-rzv/s1600/DSCN2426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKEIIVWF5FLQCpGV49umOynTCeM1tnNBWqoNcXRTR0LqFaDhJSYSWxQn98DpASwCJf5PtoWAqmae3Q5ahCndFYT6s3mqG7U7fVIbsuEUY_IKmVg7PQM9uzx_t8nYtcJyttbho3P85-rzv/s640/DSCN2426.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interest and incredulity both shown in equal amounts</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OmnVIOFX8K8cOXXLrwRFDSJq57W3pkUiJugOtgYjoBBlmHPZzDub4tm-oAyNydW8IRQcFsiGN5sHP5wklymaPefHWA73TH7iwgeq8bXU85DVl525sbrjJRhQfMu9SJdzv4OrTG3VL5Xf/s1600/DSCN2428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OmnVIOFX8K8cOXXLrwRFDSJq57W3pkUiJugOtgYjoBBlmHPZzDub4tm-oAyNydW8IRQcFsiGN5sHP5wklymaPefHWA73TH7iwgeq8bXU85DVl525sbrjJRhQfMu9SJdzv4OrTG3VL5Xf/s640/DSCN2428.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"You've gotta get right in and sniff 'em!"</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C8M9MmsM1yErJm9MAFHZP-EO1rbU_OFVTKbe4E_3p4jRVI8e08Y0Cof2ntR8aImS7LObjJEPVO_7UQODjffTOcjZ21FLw_R7ZimYM6kRWcOud_DIVaJtNhGtClOwoOWGHy14DT2QnhjB/s1600/DSCN2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C8M9MmsM1yErJm9MAFHZP-EO1rbU_OFVTKbe4E_3p4jRVI8e08Y0Cof2ntR8aImS7LObjJEPVO_7UQODjffTOcjZ21FLw_R7ZimYM6kRWcOud_DIVaJtNhGtClOwoOWGHy14DT2QnhjB/s640/DSCN2443.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The ID process begins.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeVeZeNQQJsTnEk1oCeFiLWRk90yfAJln_XU4KTaucD8esOKU_RJ-R6gv3i01AGXr1QY2OEaS0PPXxUMm57DveXLE_wRvUOD2_HMfIRq7-zN3g-0xASJxj1M3Rhu-9LDIETu-tfCvExjM/s1600/DSCN2446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeVeZeNQQJsTnEk1oCeFiLWRk90yfAJln_XU4KTaucD8esOKU_RJ-R6gv3i01AGXr1QY2OEaS0PPXxUMm57DveXLE_wRvUOD2_HMfIRq7-zN3g-0xASJxj1M3Rhu-9LDIETu-tfCvExjM/s640/DSCN2446.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> As always in Japan, consensus must be reached before a decision is made. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPnSAx-hGl3QBbfNtctI5SpKw8yqE9xl0zDy7D0osw5DjSZreMg2Nz_N-GrvWDrsWExzqixZkX7xmwEmCmzIETW-NLdP2cU6vMez-HADHaOflmxtx5n1zPsmINvs-95gj7Py6dkS15O91/s1600/DSCN2447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPnSAx-hGl3QBbfNtctI5SpKw8yqE9xl0zDy7D0osw5DjSZreMg2Nz_N-GrvWDrsWExzqixZkX7xmwEmCmzIETW-NLdP2cU6vMez-HADHaOflmxtx5n1zPsmINvs-95gj7Py6dkS15O91/s640/DSCN2447.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yeah... that's right. Work it.</i></td></tr></tbody></table> <br />
Here are a few choice fungus shots and some mushroom melodies for you to enjoy...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9oyB6R8VUZoqwCY1hix78HxFNnCoK9m12TdfFtrCBTtWiKk2ZIeo__Z_aubGEsmGetjGLRKq2PKt1xmTStUcoozUFmberqY9YKP0uS1p2GQlcY0eGKdqPtoCrCM0oCqScrey3CNCowoD/s1600/DSC_0571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9oyB6R8VUZoqwCY1hix78HxFNnCoK9m12TdfFtrCBTtWiKk2ZIeo__Z_aubGEsmGetjGLRKq2PKt1xmTStUcoozUFmberqY9YKP0uS1p2GQlcY0eGKdqPtoCrCM0oCqScrey3CNCowoD/s640/DSC_0571.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pQ7pYfELOeY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Can "Mushroom"<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAUSy2LoHSEgn4R8wCxxOCrK0LOVUcU7Lr7wkCbIJWui634-AsTDxI5dvhD3ao7CiLKuTQEUf6_ZwAyjnHv8MryYGnGpE_jhQs7pGBB1eJLRhJJzn16zOhmrVWKwvAYW1FVj68MAW1W92/s640/DSC_0570.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="427" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAUSy2LoHSEgn4R8wCxxOCrK0LOVUcU7Lr7wkCbIJWui634-AsTDxI5dvhD3ao7CiLKuTQEUf6_ZwAyjnHv8MryYGnGpE_jhQs7pGBB1eJLRhJJzn16zOhmrVWKwvAYW1FVj68MAW1W92/s1600/DSC_0570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> <span style="text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yq2DMhLXwH8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;">Gilberto Gil "Three mushrooms"</span><br />
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</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_MgRvQi0xpxt9k3fZJzMhZC5av1sApT8hZ4kKFil0Lwolc-hbj10OXleYugbEHMYPXV4jlKwNELFuN7r6-54LaOqRxJlKT2ljYI0Hw2psDSxU1JdaTqkThNp9xPNbDv6cj0B3oAksExe/s1600/DSC_0572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_MgRvQi0xpxt9k3fZJzMhZC5av1sApT8hZ4kKFil0Lwolc-hbj10OXleYugbEHMYPXV4jlKwNELFuN7r6-54LaOqRxJlKT2ljYI0Hw2psDSxU1JdaTqkThNp9xPNbDv6cj0B3oAksExe/s640/DSC_0572.jpg" width="419" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGL6LG3N3BE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <br />
Susumu Yokota "<i>Kinoko"</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUb3SHqDGmDfdCy2Y6-wiB7qhYLW_zUA3_KU4OGAkL2EavQd6Y5_0zVtoELEbGo2AVNIad1_0uzSrqWP6oN0DQFCBDs7jWaJMNizoBx2JPCoiHRe6Hs44LtzMZg96aJCikpxzZqa_hudS/s1600/DSC_0573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUb3SHqDGmDfdCy2Y6-wiB7qhYLW_zUA3_KU4OGAkL2EavQd6Y5_0zVtoELEbGo2AVNIad1_0uzSrqWP6oN0DQFCBDs7jWaJMNizoBx2JPCoiHRe6Hs44LtzMZg96aJCikpxzZqa_hudS/s640/DSC_0573.jpg" width="481" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nfKfYKRuUQc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eat Static "<i>Forgotten rites</i>"</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGg4L1v8swnztlH06KYdgZIduL98w6GM8EGIvbea9G3HDe5lpO_0xNo9ZLOPeR3kXWbdY-uMkuMW0Zvptuwr64z4NkScu2uYTLGR50nohyB6gbgFXDFHHTNOaSBDI5zDTS5ZsWHAdzsZH/s1600/DSC_0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGg4L1v8swnztlH06KYdgZIduL98w6GM8EGIvbea9G3HDe5lpO_0xNo9ZLOPeR3kXWbdY-uMkuMW0Zvptuwr64z4NkScu2uYTLGR50nohyB6gbgFXDFHHTNOaSBDI5zDTS5ZsWHAdzsZH/s640/DSC_0574.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Russula aurea</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pw8ZESzpL3M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gong "<i>How to stay alive"</i></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGaAamVovnUrrNYZpaMn1BseqR-RhsAYH_D_hhmIDcHcdLoxYN-Mr9OZZqKSjlriLzE6C6fIm5GfHPUpuKvHDuRCrTA9yc618yizOj43a0tAGRRGPwd60nPWQbdNZWNaBH7HV0CqL0yri/s1600/DSC_0576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGaAamVovnUrrNYZpaMn1BseqR-RhsAYH_D_hhmIDcHcdLoxYN-Mr9OZZqKSjlriLzE6C6fIm5GfHPUpuKvHDuRCrTA9yc618yizOj43a0tAGRRGPwd60nPWQbdNZWNaBH7HV0CqL0yri/s640/DSC_0576.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Russula japonica (?)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSlTqZQU7EnwxCszmgulHYWxdPETAQ3hccLozW1ikW8qkttV7Wnd7we6_UM41X9N0i_jjcy45yhe8JH2JjwU4s0dzWD25NCUC-gUxlv_X2HIAHZJcbZMLpZ-86UUGPFTFLyQ3JPmcKh3U/s1600/DSC_0577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSlTqZQU7EnwxCszmgulHYWxdPETAQ3hccLozW1ikW8qkttV7Wnd7we6_UM41X9N0i_jjcy45yhe8JH2JjwU4s0dzWD25NCUC-gUxlv_X2HIAHZJcbZMLpZ-86UUGPFTFLyQ3JPmcKh3U/s640/DSC_0577.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ramaria botrytis</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0qkzKXzlEy3wVB0_puAXmgkm35tIKXcuoRiwHAk-6fQAz_hHTnjRPAPA5kFzYxZU5eEgMTQiYB6AA-0o6VwvI4gyE4hK5FE9xv5pludcITBhVHPPMFeLL_3xnwx3z6j80RgKMhJLKS72/s1600/DSC_0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0qkzKXzlEy3wVB0_puAXmgkm35tIKXcuoRiwHAk-6fQAz_hHTnjRPAPA5kFzYxZU5eEgMTQiYB6AA-0o6VwvI4gyE4hK5FE9xv5pludcITBhVHPPMFeLL_3xnwx3z6j80RgKMhJLKS72/s640/DSC_0578.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gyrodon merulioides (?)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZunBHqB3H8w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Shonen knife's "Brown Mushroom" came to mind while trying to identify the above.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiGREueusixTFdePkD3odqPyONCg_f-Psud-FDXf-1v9HfqH2G9df1OvIfLm6h6TKULwyEGrnUYrFsHKSmuwSyZ8WPjqQ7vDXB4efViM_b5KqXYelTh4v_dq-nE6_hyphenhyphenIUiqNtZe6gQp0v/s1600/DSC_0581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiGREueusixTFdePkD3odqPyONCg_f-Psud-FDXf-1v9HfqH2G9df1OvIfLm6h6TKULwyEGrnUYrFsHKSmuwSyZ8WPjqQ7vDXB4efViM_b5KqXYelTh4v_dq-nE6_hyphenhyphenIUiqNtZe6gQp0v/s640/DSC_0581.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Laccaria bicolor (?)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uTLGKQAGyef6KKe9KXSGzK8g06cehqcTEQR0a1iu3b4VsdFWUQFw2vpMxjHqaxU53UHfuwseoPlwVL_Vbr62y5Yi4Yaykk3XqEMe00hChubpuS6TV90AZqMBb5afpPYAWP8j6TQSXOdz/s1600/DSC_0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uTLGKQAGyef6KKe9KXSGzK8g06cehqcTEQR0a1iu3b4VsdFWUQFw2vpMxjHqaxU53UHfuwseoPlwVL_Vbr62y5Yi4Yaykk3XqEMe00hChubpuS6TV90AZqMBb5afpPYAWP8j6TQSXOdz/s640/DSC_0582.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pleurocybella porrigens (?)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
After doing our best to identify all the specimens it was getting late, so we headed to the nearest onsen for a scrub-up and then back to the campsite, and with the rain still pouring lit a fire in the sheltered kitchen area ready for dinner.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9ipN3aY6VwiJ4RCtjkjjDFulrHThWJR51H0EMhh_AvwoAcOV3KmjYivQxFfW9cuhwyQODpBFhlwl_1OBEyCols5-TgjPF3OnsHQfKMVWpExdy4jubkjUd-ebl4SRqBtRVVhIMRSV7DJH/s1600/DSC_0584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9ipN3aY6VwiJ4RCtjkjjDFulrHThWJR51H0EMhh_AvwoAcOV3KmjYivQxFfW9cuhwyQODpBFhlwl_1OBEyCols5-TgjPF3OnsHQfKMVWpExdy4jubkjUd-ebl4SRqBtRVVhIMRSV7DJH/s640/DSC_0584.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
On the menu; <br />
Grilled beef, clams and king prawns + an assortment of grilled veg.<br />
<br />
Tandoori barbecued chicken skewers + lemon and raisin couscous<br />
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Roasted marsmallows<br />
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washed down with liberal amounts of beer, red wine and sake.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3gOJ-7nq3YwfYjFKnmUzvHm0jgncFc_hEiBj6MyZAMnIEasRrxcQQ4O2JEd3Lkj_pfdsyLw-BK3LW0hlBm-aX_GZ2dnIO_WuhT7upK7Adj7ta1gthmvxi_yJEKfSrjSPTMmuaAksi88P/s1600/DSCN2464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3gOJ-7nq3YwfYjFKnmUzvHm0jgncFc_hEiBj6MyZAMnIEasRrxcQQ4O2JEd3Lkj_pfdsyLw-BK3LW0hlBm-aX_GZ2dnIO_WuhT7upK7Adj7ta1gthmvxi_yJEKfSrjSPTMmuaAksi88P/s640/DSCN2464.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some intermittent pyrotechnical entertainment...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2SQb1foG3MS4mmI7xjLu37L8Zxhq3lfJcCvO08gVSdlbOUvf4Cy7vD63aykOyGVhfHbHmglAh-0iimpBIBHN-aCIiVNC1_SZJXXMXCEJTAjcJDBmUznM9ecshJXB4fVEMYp8LwkjXe_Q/s1600/DSCN2459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2SQb1foG3MS4mmI7xjLu37L8Zxhq3lfJcCvO08gVSdlbOUvf4Cy7vD63aykOyGVhfHbHmglAh-0iimpBIBHN-aCIiVNC1_SZJXXMXCEJTAjcJDBmUznM9ecshJXB4fVEMYp8LwkjXe_Q/s640/DSCN2459.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEpmzJwOvxOaHFLe56tTMvOCwrTIszGulH-Sfb8gbQrkJosmywWy3iYhuwRt9HFJTrlz4eMwXKKjk79ia3dQh9KVzms3pTcXMkkLOmGKZ8B3ad1G2_vdTVuX_RME-kajA0h3yqjT4e9ON/s1600/DSCN2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEpmzJwOvxOaHFLe56tTMvOCwrTIszGulH-Sfb8gbQrkJosmywWy3iYhuwRt9HFJTrlz4eMwXKKjk79ia3dQh9KVzms3pTcXMkkLOmGKZ8B3ad1G2_vdTVuX_RME-kajA0h3yqjT4e9ON/s640/DSCN2458.JPG" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTwIUl3j4G-gjGUWoJIqbb9VH4Z9a2Ze2ZKvd_Clb0yWiD3417rDjtzqLZ3qUJ3Czgi5x8BqZruAnJsfhkoxx61EpHSkCFySfJP_E7E_3HtPgzrp-DTNxQmpxtGSzqfJ7-3yDhUVsOjgR/s1600/DSCN2449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTwIUl3j4G-gjGUWoJIqbb9VH4Z9a2Ze2ZKvd_Clb0yWiD3417rDjtzqLZ3qUJ3Czgi5x8BqZruAnJsfhkoxx61EpHSkCFySfJP_E7E_3HtPgzrp-DTNxQmpxtGSzqfJ7-3yDhUVsOjgR/s640/DSCN2449.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big sis</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everyone turned in around midnight and I found a hang for the night, by which time the rain had let up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At around 3a.m. the sky was clear and from the comfort of my hammock a bejeweled night sky lay spread out above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next morning it was discovered that a (suspected) crow had raided the camp and scarpered with the bread, which lead to the old man going to fetch a tidy selection of cup-men for brekkie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once appetites had been satiated and the gear packed we headed out for a mooch through the woods and around the small volcanic village of Unzen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHektwZPsW8fvCxgMr63FlcW1HhrL3o_dEbcJJ4Wl8f-52A61Se7IYwJIAQDIKEw3zn-W3mQeYRr_L0x2YPvkHMSvG556DDhsEK4ge4LrVhWovjoiHcMb526hanxM3Y9A-3v26nbEQ0xE/s1600/DSCN2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHektwZPsW8fvCxgMr63FlcW1HhrL3o_dEbcJJ4Wl8f-52A61Se7IYwJIAQDIKEw3zn-W3mQeYRr_L0x2YPvkHMSvG556DDhsEK4ge4LrVhWovjoiHcMb526hanxM3Y9A-3v26nbEQ0xE/s640/DSCN2466.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interest, incredulity and indifference.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoOsF81_g8h9bqC0DWneMGS5ZzcwgoZNIXCD1BRQb-yROKfviA-vuHadcT_337QaPsMLcL6k0CBRDLeVp4bbKctdOb8K37yFiJEGsnB-hbO_7S6-3kO5uFCtG6mqiCuPaqoLFRYVKOVuZ/s1600/DSCN2465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoOsF81_g8h9bqC0DWneMGS5ZzcwgoZNIXCD1BRQb-yROKfviA-vuHadcT_337QaPsMLcL6k0CBRDLeVp4bbKctdOb8K37yFiJEGsnB-hbO_7S6-3kO5uFCtG6mqiCuPaqoLFRYVKOVuZ/s640/DSCN2465.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"What is this sorcery!?"</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPsR8lhMgBUO6Pk1jYpnujMq_54ZfBz42jcHyzK-CL2f8cq7VHMNFSBshpU0-0fBEC8oAFRwbDZYbpvPGJArr7wTsWELnU65f6GnIOnP43a1SckXIvCtZl6SlU4hj7ZtGDTgAoJ6qDquJ/s1600/DSCN2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPsR8lhMgBUO6Pk1jYpnujMq_54ZfBz42jcHyzK-CL2f8cq7VHMNFSBshpU0-0fBEC8oAFRwbDZYbpvPGJArr7wTsWELnU65f6GnIOnP43a1SckXIvCtZl6SlU4hj7ZtGDTgAoJ6qDquJ/s640/DSCN2475.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a family snap...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Thanks to the previous day's meteorological conditions, we hit the god-damned mother lode of fungus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtQGrLYM6IuMPz1Hz0ne4Ln9uL3A8MQAzHvX0I8_z5OMSXzz4WsWG9yhRpWdY6XVY0DtCr1vqwJ4_Awiclrw0sDfTUGKJo-P5Ba0pdwWLY2lrorHM_tZ9TcxFgcm-TKUe11LGwXvRHFww/s1600/IMG_4027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtQGrLYM6IuMPz1Hz0ne4Ln9uL3A8MQAzHvX0I8_z5OMSXzz4WsWG9yhRpWdY6XVY0DtCr1vqwJ4_Awiclrw0sDfTUGKJo-P5Ba0pdwWLY2lrorHM_tZ9TcxFgcm-TKUe11LGwXvRHFww/s640/IMG_4027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEKtZSQ1Tq6yn7wrzMIHUdwXRbQLzUYOxL_hGJVePMzpvAs7CKCvzefnK51CFJEfFCqRUarotuvwUYnSB1Mlz0QMQR8Rx_rl0tGRmZhyphenhyphenauJBryjkrZSXWX0ZOUhSJJxQfPiLQfnZ3pr-Z/s1600/IMG_4026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEKtZSQ1Tq6yn7wrzMIHUdwXRbQLzUYOxL_hGJVePMzpvAs7CKCvzefnK51CFJEfFCqRUarotuvwUYnSB1Mlz0QMQR8Rx_rl0tGRmZhyphenhyphenauJBryjkrZSXWX0ZOUhSJJxQfPiLQfnZ3pr-Z/s640/IMG_4026.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div> And just before leaving we were re-acquainted with an old friend...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Fin.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-53890399367558707632012-07-05T14:55:00.001-07:002012-07-05T15:16:42.714-07:00Day 8 and 9 en Suisse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">After a great night's hang, I went through the morning motions and had a spot of riverside brekkie,</span></div>
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packed up and broke camp. Standard procedure.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">With the bus scheduled in another hour or so I took the time to have a wonder and came accross a</span><br />
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privately owned wood which turned out to be a really magical place, full of beautiful flowers and<br />
<br />
hidden treasures...<br />
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Enchanting...</div>
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Anyway, after that pleasant little trip it was time to get the bus up to the Col des Mosses.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9biVjGbdBZ8EJiyz2G9CPFgeBTsIK92x8JYplUC_l1JqWs27NrBMPHMcDP-F4qvIm3vvgN_B71tIK5GX7JX1S2_yHHfH7_B194aBY7gF5f9L7TwaN-EvhIkGH1jrfLnGrjeCPpkoThV0/s1600/270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9biVjGbdBZ8EJiyz2G9CPFgeBTsIK92x8JYplUC_l1JqWs27NrBMPHMcDP-F4qvIm3vvgN_B71tIK5GX7JX1S2_yHHfH7_B194aBY7gF5f9L7TwaN-EvhIkGH1jrfLnGrjeCPpkoThV0/s640/270.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La journée sera ensoleilée, température environ 28 degrés.<br />
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The Col des Mosses is a little ski station, at this time of year, seemed very quiet indeed.</div>
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There was however a tourist office, souvenir shop and a small supermarket on the main drag that </div>
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were open for buisiness, so after supplementing the supplies with some rather aromatic cheese,</div>
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chocolate, <span style="background-color: white;">something that looked like a pork-pie and a can of beer and getting a sketchy map from</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> the lovely </span><span style="background-color: white;">lady in the office de tourisme, I was ready for the long trek to the last pass of my trip.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3vZZNF6VkYccvw-jZBAs3x-zHPzfb3chIJnfcaTy_u0pHpqcrPk_k1a4qz1578GaGgwZmOwVsatEdAWt6RVr6q_g7W8Bo21ynjVJtR7emWMIX7pJCBB6EgEgzO_vqULCvM5t9PR0b502/s1600/278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3vZZNF6VkYccvw-jZBAs3x-zHPzfb3chIJnfcaTy_u0pHpqcrPk_k1a4qz1578GaGgwZmOwVsatEdAWt6RVr6q_g7W8Bo21ynjVJtR7emWMIX7pJCBB6EgEgzO_vqULCvM5t9PR0b502/s640/278.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a live firing range to walk through, but no picking the mushrooms.</td></tr>
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The initial route consisted of a long descent from the col down to Le lac d'Hongrin.</div>
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On the way I was held up by the Swiss army while they were sharpening their knives, or </div>
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whatever it is they do. After letting me through their road block half an hour later I carried on and </div>
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arrived at the lake around noon. Time for a spot of lunch...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa8tf2zsFR7BgoWn5JMQqw-ipDo_MIOUpcisMruD8Yr7TqqkgIlhBkID4cXV0vnZZ1esAAFeHfGcV-D0-9L74TaUmfQEN7ViOYODpEDd5ZY57_OyC83A85fkUSJ9BzWB8Y9GAKvtV5NG1/s1600/279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa8tf2zsFR7BgoWn5JMQqw-ipDo_MIOUpcisMruD8Yr7TqqkgIlhBkID4cXV0vnZZ1esAAFeHfGcV-D0-9L74TaUmfQEN7ViOYODpEDd5ZY57_OyC83A85fkUSJ9BzWB8Y9GAKvtV5NG1/s640/279.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> After a slap-up barbie and half a bottle of Swiss rouge it was time to get going again. Another hour</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> or so of cruzy downhill before the beginning of the final (or so I thought ) uphill section.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEMKNW_cL_Er7pQ1rMPvLC8EV17X-kXa8qliepHDfcPLlRlDXU0RAql0aNypZfxpuF841_se56fe86wGcISPKqhNO7V4zhVhGT3JcUu0AxwkykvPe2zRHEX7BdCaNPN3vqxMYAFPzBhH-/s1600/283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEMKNW_cL_Er7pQ1rMPvLC8EV17X-kXa8qliepHDfcPLlRlDXU0RAql0aNypZfxpuF841_se56fe86wGcISPKqhNO7V4zhVhGT3JcUu0AxwkykvPe2zRHEX7BdCaNPN3vqxMYAFPzBhH-/s640/283.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only mountain I went under</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsxw6b6UnNwexpFbBQEatVj2DpKoclgUy8vIjTwR87oQ-N-KBUt0YtYW1JhPZ91njsPkR4fFrTNcEs6b_4evQJq6E7NzLzHWOPYKGfXp1lAnBtFYGfHaDcHxoOZhDxNEYVE3TojZX4Rsu/s1600/284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsxw6b6UnNwexpFbBQEatVj2DpKoclgUy8vIjTwR87oQ-N-KBUt0YtYW1JhPZ91njsPkR4fFrTNcEs6b_4evQJq6E7NzLzHWOPYKGfXp1lAnBtFYGfHaDcHxoOZhDxNEYVE3TojZX4Rsu/s640/284.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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No people, cars or houses for hours...</div>
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<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANTZO1WOoSFuKajCqxqMqKsogylS-9gPh6dVP-msin3rGozSYP45OhQNNqDkmKhxfiOHfBk_Gn2VOCRp-md6zEF5shMRtNDRd-3lyUuJqkg2SX-_reWwKk8HNemqRrDLo4HugbRsSEf0x/s1600/286.MOV" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5819b165f6452488%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1344114169%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3166F7F59E8EE90D127D53865F91398D7341BBFC.BDCE3CAC3E0427F0F42B63E2C65120366A3D5059%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5819b165f6452488%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1344114169%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3166F7F59E8EE90D127D53865F91398D7341BBFC.BDCE3CAC3E0427F0F42B63E2C65120366A3D5059%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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This is where the ascent up to the final pass began. The path wound up through flower filled</div>
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pastures and <span style="background-color: white;">forests, past farms and chalets, and would have been a very pleasant day trip if I</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> hadn't already walked the distance I had. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z7rreVjTKCVlRItT5QQxsLkxdnaWvuE0OPYsIfxbot9LucYLNas7EtUwayXbljJQTnK96xGIZDh5NOSvZRpUD3eQ82GJaYr8eIO8PG6kZff2kiKl-NVB4thEcgmuvWllh1T3KE7JcZcP/s1600/288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z7rreVjTKCVlRItT5QQxsLkxdnaWvuE0OPYsIfxbot9LucYLNas7EtUwayXbljJQTnK96xGIZDh5NOSvZRpUD3eQ82GJaYr8eIO8PG6kZff2kiKl-NVB4thEcgmuvWllh1T3KE7JcZcP/s640/288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that the pass!? No, not for a few hours yet boy...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4xb-1fbM0fH-ZxwF5I5LioZXrgMqMtVCVhC9DBEUwSl4p6mOvUs7-f-K8e3lAOkpu9me2UUTsszkCr7kuJjMNWWTERP7FNZOj4_g3fprjxqRvFQZNsxQNSR-EMsguMreh4XBHb2f8S6d/s1600/289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4xb-1fbM0fH-ZxwF5I5LioZXrgMqMtVCVhC9DBEUwSl4p6mOvUs7-f-K8e3lAOkpu9me2UUTsszkCr7kuJjMNWWTERP7FNZOj4_g3fprjxqRvFQZNsxQNSR-EMsguMreh4XBHb2f8S6d/s640/289.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXNN4pM6ws-BUc3cU7RGJsMf6zEOP2cZ6jMUo4zEY0BiRJnVqExWR3zcrSaeVl5hvkerpFb-76JoQMZsjLDUv5qlQjg_Au1hlBMWLHKghds2ckkrbCwOUdaC-uSwkGPlekso7nQ98Ogvw/s1600/290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXNN4pM6ws-BUc3cU7RGJsMf6zEOP2cZ6jMUo4zEY0BiRJnVqExWR3zcrSaeVl5hvkerpFb-76JoQMZsjLDUv5qlQjg_Au1hlBMWLHKghds2ckkrbCwOUdaC-uSwkGPlekso7nQ98Ogvw/s640/290.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a shadow of my former self</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtPnzp47e74Iou-XBtCNXVlsF1xb3-_rxF-FvLWcsJKzZs2WYTHxA2UG4HUGOSsO8gi7slBwQvmYN1xfB9qK7y_bUCGr9Ko1qfoWpsdwHEfEWnNMe8Zz-iULwD2-rkCRjJMVT0vai_ktQ/s1600/291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtPnzp47e74Iou-XBtCNXVlsF1xb3-_rxF-FvLWcsJKzZs2WYTHxA2UG4HUGOSsO8gi7slBwQvmYN1xfB9qK7y_bUCGr9Ko1qfoWpsdwHEfEWnNMe8Zz-iULwD2-rkCRjJMVT0vai_ktQ/s640/291.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Goodbye Switzerland</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlXYfOW3IZ2lJ3P4EmXrQvlT3Beku24E3rwE2ANzJk-rjuy5GZsoTfN1fvFfO5yrBWwGXpeYAVvSHBQ5mHquL8vMfxbY_RwSmiGmXMkZ8TA-Z9fvajnT5ITLBWUE2QquBfsCB7eZf5u8d/s1600/293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlXYfOW3IZ2lJ3P4EmXrQvlT3Beku24E3rwE2ANzJk-rjuy5GZsoTfN1fvFfO5yrBWwGXpeYAVvSHBQ5mHquL8vMfxbY_RwSmiGmXMkZ8TA-Z9fvajnT5ITLBWUE2QquBfsCB7eZf5u8d/s640/293.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK3WSoEwrGsiq3pqCJ8gUotx3keXmwM3vhmYUWh4EXVTVWhENSvclL_b9AI_Ux8Dnzu49mIRwrWJ8KQR8cGtdf31kbLtgn_SB0XXBGrxrW-lv_gQRF8WLp4QpBhW77xRNLgdSGBuHL3vi/s1600/292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK3WSoEwrGsiq3pqCJ8gUotx3keXmwM3vhmYUWh4EXVTVWhENSvclL_b9AI_Ux8Dnzu49mIRwrWJ8KQR8cGtdf31kbLtgn_SB0XXBGrxrW-lv_gQRF8WLp4QpBhW77xRNLgdSGBuHL3vi/s640/292.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonsoir La France</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On_B1bicSu4/T_XoNfnJvfI/AAAAAAAABNo/275-_bvRTRw/s1600/294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On_B1bicSu4/T_XoNfnJvfI/AAAAAAAABNo/275-_bvRTRw/s400/294.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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The End...<br />
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(almost)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m9XAoAsuSiXlg88Ea4-zdmA9Q7l6xUh4IvCAVoorB_T2cDDtxd62X819l9uBM2Lnm58ujrdXfdOijykGQzPaQtAkLP6uUlXEKwfQO4BG3cIxsMtTVlAvpjBftooriNmYP-k0FYR7ZMto/s1600/296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m9XAoAsuSiXlg88Ea4-zdmA9Q7l6xUh4IvCAVoorB_T2cDDtxd62X819l9uBM2Lnm58ujrdXfdOijykGQzPaQtAkLP6uUlXEKwfQO4BG3cIxsMtTVlAvpjBftooriNmYP-k0FYR7ZMto/s640/296.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI2xuPjjho3oP4lAp8jCFgW8AaH6eqQs3AureLjtVi1QBkpziXPLzD1JSiWQHyjAWxieD0FlfCKR0xQ1piVEOGNPgbPpykgPPlGebspEpCr1XKPl7dgmZzTEE8TMQp3AUQwTbQaTykNKq/s1600/297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI2xuPjjho3oP4lAp8jCFgW8AaH6eqQs3AureLjtVi1QBkpziXPLzD1JSiWQHyjAWxieD0FlfCKR0xQ1piVEOGNPgbPpykgPPlGebspEpCr1XKPl7dgmZzTEE8TMQp3AUQwTbQaTykNKq/s640/297.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over lake Geneva</td></tr>
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After relaxing on the hill enjoying the sunset while listening to the sound of jazz piano drifting from</div>
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one of the nearby chalets it was time to find a spot for the final night in Switzerland. </div>
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I didn't really know where I was with regards to the Riviera town of Montreux almost a kilometer</div>
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and a half downhill, and I ended up walking for another hour or so through pitch black forests until</div>
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I eventually came to a small road where I found a bench under a large tree.</div>
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This would have to do as I was by now completely exhausted and couldn't go any further.</div>
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After crawling into my sleeping bag on the bench and wrapping myself in the poncho, I fell asleep </div>
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and had a pretty decent night's sleep.</div>
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The next morning was a nightmare due to my own stupidity and the state of my feet.</div>
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I basically spent about two or three hours going up and down the same valley at a snail's pace</div>
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trying to find the way down to Montreux.</div>
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After being pointed in the direction of a small train station in Les Avants I decided that I'd just head</div>
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for France <span style="background-color: white;">and call it a day in Switzerland. I had planned on spending a few days by the lake and </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> visiting an Aikido dojo in town, but as they say, there's always next time.</span></div>
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Arriving in Montreux, I got on the next train heading West and ended up reaching my brother's </div>
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house <span style="background-color: white;">near Bordeaux at 2am the next morning after an epic 12 hour train journey, with changes in </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Lausanne, Geneva, Lyon </span><span style="background-color: white;">and</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Toulouse. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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And there you have it. An Alpine adventure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtApVBx_QhQ4aOyypaZ6My4OMUJsaa9pT2nxNexh1LKhyphenhyphenNBevfvWDOFIbT3bgDQt7cFXAUeQVz9kmHJd6pGI11qANH_-L2LEqqsH4Dc-wvQjy2IyZ1lHDVyQNy8_GdGm5mFB-rhBtFW2D/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtApVBx_QhQ4aOyypaZ6My4OMUJsaa9pT2nxNexh1LKhyphenhyphenNBevfvWDOFIbT3bgDQt7cFXAUeQVz9kmHJd6pGI11qANH_-L2LEqqsH4Dc-wvQjy2IyZ1lHDVyQNy8_GdGm5mFB-rhBtFW2D/s400/144.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Fin.</div>
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</div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-7506740562702999972012-07-05T10:06:00.000-07:002012-07-05T10:06:18.463-07:00Day 7 in Schweiss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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During the night the mists came down and a steady, light rain fell until early morning.<br />
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The view from the hammock as I awoke was unbelievably magical though, with the clouds hanging<br />
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low over the lake for a few hours before the heat of the sun caused them to evaporate.<br />
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The previous evening, as well as the next morning and early afternoon, were the only times I really</div>
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spent relaxing and enjoying my environs for any amount of time in Switzerland.</div>
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I spent a long time just enjoying the view, swimming in the glacial lake and writing postcards that </div>
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day while my clothes dried and my legs and feet recuperated from the previous week's activity. </div>
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The forest around the lake contained a lot of sculptures hewn from tree stumps and until around</div>
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10am I seemed to be the only person around, apart from a lone fisherman a few hundred meters </div>
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along the shore. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbFdqN3bLk9uCfTO83M3DT2gwFg75pnV3Pq2jZ5ZJF52kX2Pax38njgIx1yBTa6MWG-A3EC-M3IxynRBGTF-Mi0GczUyUuov16LhLqaeuWQm9zIONQrNdE1RNtk6JS_Wnhey-6W1M2y2R/s1600/DSC_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbFdqN3bLk9uCfTO83M3DT2gwFg75pnV3Pq2jZ5ZJF52kX2Pax38njgIx1yBTa6MWG-A3EC-M3IxynRBGTF-Mi0GczUyUuov16LhLqaeuWQm9zIONQrNdE1RNtk6JS_Wnhey-6W1M2y2R/s640/DSC_0347.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lone fisherman<br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_whxsdETppdBqQHKkpvqvHASusy77QeU7Xgtmgh7cYuLwnyPY2O0rAB9ojIqahteAvhTJCtuxTF-pi4QM8ofEeN6nejF21T-QZxUx4sutgQ2lLncWJUnALE_oLxyNlgBZP7QgmgUt_t7/s1600/DSC_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_whxsdETppdBqQHKkpvqvHASusy77QeU7Xgtmgh7cYuLwnyPY2O0rAB9ojIqahteAvhTJCtuxTF-pi4QM8ofEeN6nejF21T-QZxUx4sutgQ2lLncWJUnALE_oLxyNlgBZP7QgmgUt_t7/s640/DSC_0348.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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Sometime in the early afternoon, after considering the options that lay ahead and the physica<span style="background-color: white;">l </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">condition I was in, I decided to take a train from Kanderstag with the intention of reaching the </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Francophone region of Switzerland, hopefully within a day's hike of my final destination,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> Montreux, on the shore of lake Geneva. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">The hike down to the town took a couple of hours along steep but easy going paths. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">After reaching the train station and buying my ticket, I had an hour to burn which was spent</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">recharging my cameras in the blokes toilet. I also had a chance to see my own reflection for the</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">first time in 3 days and check out my high altitude tan.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gbFUspfn7oBfzksp5LQpado6GEtnh10PvAUbp5BT9EaxOuNKgVyu6DEcdxuMBlFYL6t_MwILqWgF9itu2FeOD9e0RHJZOj4FdTj6rZUOvdW9_O-sMig_oLsdpqsXWmmyB_nFODo-STJa/s1600/DSC_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gbFUspfn7oBfzksp5LQpado6GEtnh10PvAUbp5BT9EaxOuNKgVyu6DEcdxuMBlFYL6t_MwILqWgF9itu2FeOD9e0RHJZOj4FdTj6rZUOvdW9_O-sMig_oLsdpqsXWmmyB_nFODo-STJa/s640/DSC_0374.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road to Kanderstag</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQyMPEEG3z0/T_W6mXh2ZvI/AAAAAAAABD0/69tas9lPQAw/s1600/245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQyMPEEG3z0/T_W6mXh2ZvI/AAAAAAAABD0/69tas9lPQAw/s400/245.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I had to change trains once on the way to Chateau d'Oex where I'd get an early morning postal bus </div>
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up to the Col des Mosses the next morning. Apparently, the town's claim to fame is that it was the</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">lift-off site for the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitling_Orbiter" target="_blank"> Breitling Orbiter</a>, the first hot air balloon to successfully circumnavigate the </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">globe.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqh1c7Xeo7ZSzurHrvYIU07vu4AJ1zcp4ldv_umawWKCThzOO04CfddDXNfEzrnezmQ_tMI2xf0TgXW1d4Zs0qMap-ifQoCNZIC3fK_NNRErR8TaIKiJvD8jLx468piOhT8rUfwxGKa2K/s1600/DSC_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqh1c7Xeo7ZSzurHrvYIU07vu4AJ1zcp4ldv_umawWKCThzOO04CfddDXNfEzrnezmQ_tMI2xf0TgXW1d4Zs0qMap-ifQoCNZIC3fK_NNRErR8TaIKiJvD8jLx468piOhT8rUfwxGKa2K/s640/DSC_0377.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere between Kanderstag and Chateau d'Oex?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwXRJRehXueSfw7wkgb8waOQvgkfWCFPhoatBvkGayK7rCWt45qAgTh0Q9FWSnCaIYZx8dugE9z2AHrtMh5cfO6MziQsyCoW3wGQyDY-_t4xt6KQNGEDYGUS2QMugU9DXETmgwUNY8QDQ/s1600/248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwXRJRehXueSfw7wkgb8waOQvgkfWCFPhoatBvkGayK7rCWt45qAgTh0Q9FWSnCaIYZx8dugE9z2AHrtMh5cfO6MziQsyCoW3wGQyDY-_t4xt6KQNGEDYGUS2QMugU9DXETmgwUNY8QDQ/s640/248.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Yeah, just stoppt tierversuche! It's not clever and it impresses nobody.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-N6QaJU5ttqQeJj6EGgum2FsS4w7UsV_koN1J43CoLqlR3yhob_yYR2WeF-aBhQm5e6CV1froZ239oJBHI1R3q7cqv4ASgCAZP8mFn0FgEivxy8E-KLv0RbSAJODcTaOjxXRTUIh1TBq/s1600/250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-N6QaJU5ttqQeJj6EGgum2FsS4w7UsV_koN1J43CoLqlR3yhob_yYR2WeF-aBhQm5e6CV1froZ239oJBHI1R3q7cqv4ASgCAZP8mFn0FgEivxy8E-KLv0RbSAJODcTaOjxXRTUIh1TBq/s640/250.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5nRdxw2fi6f_TjrzrTynDKD9sno7Hwo6HN9bHZynLKUTf0D7OxWgUdyoUvNeahnc3R4LVT1dt5uzc0m4-tIuPRK3J3-arrBjN6WpSwNJjBXX8JtZ-6iQF5xu-D-S_1J70No59xapyAMC/s1600/251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5nRdxw2fi6f_TjrzrTynDKD9sno7Hwo6HN9bHZynLKUTf0D7OxWgUdyoUvNeahnc3R4LVT1dt5uzc0m4-tIuPRK3J3-arrBjN6WpSwNJjBXX8JtZ-6iQF5xu-D-S_1J70No59xapyAMC/s640/251.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately they weren't showing "Prometheus"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cdOlWf7Tp2IJyFncJR8ovkpRDUNzg4tAKz6M1QOfDvmb9Zaj1lZJ9IIUZHPuMKq8COBeoCCYnDyxAfVoovyo8WSRKp5t3vm-Gb6B7m6meQt1g2PjkFxCEAII18E6cZXszdDzH7ddNmyn/s1600/252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cdOlWf7Tp2IJyFncJR8ovkpRDUNzg4tAKz6M1QOfDvmb9Zaj1lZJ9IIUZHPuMKq8COBeoCCYnDyxAfVoovyo8WSRKp5t3vm-Gb6B7m6meQt1g2PjkFxCEAII18E6cZXszdDzH7ddNmyn/s640/252.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Award winning GruyÚre milk producers apparently...</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Being the little sleepy, out of season ski resort that it is, the town didn't really have much</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> to keep me hanging around, and besides, it was getting dark and I needed to find a spot to set up</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> the hammock for the night. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">A few kilometers out of town I found a conveniently situated post-bus stop situated by a small river</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">which was fringed with woods, the perfect spot for a bit of bum-camping.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuhsuA4g2RG-k62jM4IXiG6KmPfNQ_wTIr0VP7J2JPK6Gc6QL2GtqKmIDl2FqJtQtB3aP5zfyfB-PjpV6VJxUWhbWdD0x4t92LIK4Ev_c0sfDunqZooXxmfrdm7lIpD7TOyT-Ed3gZbHT/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuhsuA4g2RG-k62jM4IXiG6KmPfNQ_wTIr0VP7J2JPK6Gc6QL2GtqKmIDl2FqJtQtB3aP5zfyfB-PjpV6VJxUWhbWdD0x4t92LIK4Ev_c0sfDunqZooXxmfrdm7lIpD7TOyT-Ed3gZbHT/s640/DSC_0379.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_1490730720"></span><span id="goog_1490730721"></span></div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-76133648980974443312012-07-04T06:12:00.004-07:002012-07-04T09:19:46.660-07:00Day 6 in Switzerland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the previous day's rainy weather I awoke to clear blue skies and was soon up and packed,<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">ready to hit the trail.</span><br />
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According to my notes this section would include the highest pass of the trip, the Hohturli, and<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">would be comprised of another very long, steep ascent before a "tricky" and equally long descent</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">down to the Oeshenenshee lake.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDqNipiU2fkqh_Xxy6TaC3kOaNdOVxAQhA9Kzchi7m-1H6wB-Ok6bWvWbdYlae-uVJdNV-z5ipSTRNE7yMsLPVPwj2n8jrhtdOAKYKoHLimfcqGGvVp5EOOjUQOtcNUwbQvubBvgaEaeH/s1600/DSC_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDqNipiU2fkqh_Xxy6TaC3kOaNdOVxAQhA9Kzchi7m-1H6wB-Ok6bWvWbdYlae-uVJdNV-z5ipSTRNE7yMsLPVPwj2n8jrhtdOAKYKoHLimfcqGGvVp5EOOjUQOtcNUwbQvubBvgaEaeH/s640/DSC_0307.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> Again, the time estimates were well off par, for me at least! From here it was supposed to be a 3</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> hour climb up towards the left hand side of the pass, behind a huge outcrop and finally up a very</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">long and steep set of stairs and ladders to the pass.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d_hpaP4H3BQYUarEf0Q7xrKwPAady5GGhwo9sHQDeV9Hav75VD_sJT8C_JLwoMh_xU9q4QGFZJryfeaFWsn9OGSf5N28UYp7Zx-zpuw21OYcEsY2JIUk1XQTyfh9_P27FRWflmmKSy0O/s1600/DSC_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d_hpaP4H3BQYUarEf0Q7xrKwPAady5GGhwo9sHQDeV9Hav75VD_sJT8C_JLwoMh_xU9q4QGFZJryfeaFWsn9OGSf5N28UYp7Zx-zpuw21OYcEsY2JIUk1XQTyfh9_P27FRWflmmKSy0O/s640/DSC_0308.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The track wound steadily uphill from the previous night's camp, before the steep uphill hiking to<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">the snowline began, still in the shadow of the mountains and shielded from the high altitude sun.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyfuu0baHHiFXVaA5mFJUEuNSGBvnMAUPAt3M2nfHItY0mfcx9IW7mJf7AqiN5vM-YUKXShVkVJprzMZAAeupJ2NcKqtzK8DgCB9MJnhZrpC8pU1VYmDJ8CsH6CmLBuy8Uae5EP8-6qpW/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyfuu0baHHiFXVaA5mFJUEuNSGBvnMAUPAt3M2nfHItY0mfcx9IW7mJf7AqiN5vM-YUKXShVkVJprzMZAAeupJ2NcKqtzK8DgCB9MJnhZrpC8pU1VYmDJ8CsH6CmLBuy8Uae5EP8-6qpW/s640/DSC_0309.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The path initially passed up and over the crags and up to the centre of this photo before I lost sight<span style="background-color: white;"> of it completely. </span></div>
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It turns out that it actually switched left horizontally to the left all the way to the far left of the shot<span style="background-color: white;"> and then up into that valley, where it then leads eventually to a nice set of steps to the top.</span></div>
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So what did your's truly do? I looked at the two peaks either side of the pass and headed straight</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7G54RuAaCdlm28UGxTSGuKmSwCAtkRb27DldHGg8HChlJ58hMqZ4mOCyDolinW08Z6pvd-NW7y8Cg5W1vEOh_9ljH1adzZ8qCuPpgnqahp7oxjOvBI_4FfkTCRpZ6kfAm_OBSofFGaNT/s1600/DSC_0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7G54RuAaCdlm28UGxTSGuKmSwCAtkRb27DldHGg8HChlJ58hMqZ4mOCyDolinW08Z6pvd-NW7y8Cg5W1vEOh_9ljH1adzZ8qCuPpgnqahp7oxjOvBI_4FfkTCRpZ6kfAm_OBSofFGaNT/s640/DSC_0310.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">The beginning of the snow fields found me severely underestimating the distance and pitch of the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">slope, still, there was no going back, in my mind at least.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ss6MJa2WWLg/T_QyGSZldnI/AAAAAAAAA7w/4ZQNwGK1fV0/s1600/DSC_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ss6MJa2WWLg/T_QyGSZldnI/AAAAAAAAA7w/4ZQNwGK1fV0/s640/DSC_0311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Looking back down, you can see the last of the visable </span><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Via Alpina </i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">markers behind me to the left. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWGUpybU18GoVtr2AMQbFBuTfjcqCOm57Npjx-ikttK3rvFx6gT6O4OG8O67HuukvjawbzHrIW6xQGTDYkW9HrTf4xkTVXDsbne5iaWVn6HtjCq8Ux7bVYlYs9dLclb2QE5-SFJoFu1hJ/s1600/DSC_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWGUpybU18GoVtr2AMQbFBuTfjcqCOm57Npjx-ikttK3rvFx6gT6O4OG8O67HuukvjawbzHrIW6xQGTDYkW9HrTf4xkTVXDsbne5iaWVn6HtjCq8Ux7bVYlYs9dLclb2QE5-SFJoFu1hJ/s640/DSC_0313.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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About an hour after the previous shot, I'd gotten up and over one of the 3 ridges that weren't visible<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">from the bottom.</span><br />
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The snow was melting on the surface and freezing again into a thick icy crust which made kicking<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> in and making footholds a real nightmare.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqiLmbRdLpdLL27Q2EtRxE9zZqbAq8Az5Kj7fOhjQWw2pXhMRic4XH_MihReNi9IyQX1l-pDyBp9s_fIJYYjcTcI3SOsYr7UYQvbGjtOlAHL4y1sHav6eMRsNS3vnXGrtg-eJWA1lPBY-/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqiLmbRdLpdLL27Q2EtRxE9zZqbAq8Az5Kj7fOhjQWw2pXhMRic4XH_MihReNi9IyQX1l-pDyBp9s_fIJYYjcTcI3SOsYr7UYQvbGjtOlAHL4y1sHav6eMRsNS3vnXGrtg-eJWA1lPBY-/s640/DSC_0314.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ridiculous angle of ascent, in these conditions without crampons or ice-picks was starting to<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">give me cause for concern. Add to that the degree of effort that was required to move just a few</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">meters up the slope and you can kind of imagine where I was at, physically and psychologically.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ7Of1ApLs_4_bVqA3w_Uk2pDoNDIKyOAlVqUV1zph-ymzl9fK_rbwSJ5_8-bGoB95eYRGwsvdn4mx6hsYqbtIZD_HdeHeZqL63EIt42MU7YXaoiRjYzqvMjLvD43wthVu6wkB-A9_R2X/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ7Of1ApLs_4_bVqA3w_Uk2pDoNDIKyOAlVqUV1zph-ymzl9fK_rbwSJ5_8-bGoB95eYRGwsvdn4mx6hsYqbtIZD_HdeHeZqL63EIt42MU7YXaoiRjYzqvMjLvD43wthVu6wkB-A9_R2X/s640/DSC_0312.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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This was definately the most memorable part of the morning. I'd been moving up very slowly, 10</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">steps at a time able only to kick my toes into the snow. </span></div>
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With still at least 100m to go and by now almost completely exhausted fear began to knock on the</div>
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If I had slipped I don't know what would have happened, but I'm sure the result wouldn't have</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> been pleasant. </span></div>
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Thank Hotoke-sama for my RayBans and the Leki stick!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jblwlG7TK2t9X0j81MCfvzs5RzqWUsk_Eu5BzrXQwCLiOqACmR9CgSF41HD2E3MJTCjs4hVMn3gOsrdZbpF3WcQzPpye8b0RmWeMdaJDfMBs7OJXINEuCwli94PnrmfWTsHl_HvcMkhO/s1600/DSC_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jblwlG7TK2t9X0j81MCfvzs5RzqWUsk_Eu5BzrXQwCLiOqACmR9CgSF41HD2E3MJTCjs4hVMn3gOsrdZbpF3WcQzPpye8b0RmWeMdaJDfMBs7OJXINEuCwli94PnrmfWTsHl_HvcMkhO/s640/DSC_0317.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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Finally the pass was reached, however I now found myself on top of a long ridge with no obvious</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">way down the other side. Still, not a bad view, eh!?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZT-HW9ndtsJPXT3YIHTiL3M2zgdGUzBuBRR4OeaeX0RzXlaLR-upOMd42OpUNtMxPzRvveNvtKhqzc_Wh9LEcYcY3phH1eAgkrfyq9QYZVgbUgsruaWkgTy9Fv18iqRfW8DQGD7vIHy1/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZT-HW9ndtsJPXT3YIHTiL3M2zgdGUzBuBRR4OeaeX0RzXlaLR-upOMd42OpUNtMxPzRvveNvtKhqzc_Wh9LEcYcY3phH1eAgkrfyq9QYZVgbUgsruaWkgTy9Fv18iqRfW8DQGD7vIHy1/s640/DSC_0316.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No way down here, just hundreds of feet of nothing the other side of those rocks</td></tr>
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After a quick reckie along the ridge I decided that the best option was to jump about 3 meters down</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">onto the top of the very steep, wet skree field that covered the South face of the mountain on the </span><span style="background-color: white;">other side.</span></div>
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During this time I felt more focussed than ever before in my entire life. I had become completely </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">and utterly aware of each step, each placement of the pole, of my sense of balance and of my</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">surroundings.</span></div>
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My mind fell silent and the weight of my body and the heavy packs I'd been so concious of </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">disappeared. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnJqhA4Ox0uTEAE1-Q2iJsdfJ8i_CuBGRX9wiplu2QI4d-7gvNZah9IPXWgsP29k56tRvJNnw-5wW_8-bcbj10F8S3K5Q9OIOR-Z7tq8s5UqBExT5BuuxWLKGnxLn5_uXA5CdwT0EToPp/s1600/DSC_0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnJqhA4Ox0uTEAE1-Q2iJsdfJ8i_CuBGRX9wiplu2QI4d-7gvNZah9IPXWgsP29k56tRvJNnw-5wW_8-bcbj10F8S3K5Q9OIOR-Z7tq8s5UqBExT5BuuxWLKGnxLn5_uXA5CdwT0EToPp/s640/DSC_0318.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The path visible on the right. You can see the North facing slopes on the left still covered in snow well below this point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After about half an hour's surfing thorough steep, muddy skree and sliding down more snow fields I</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> rejoined the path and took a breather, elated to be safely down off the ridge and out of the skree. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BiWialdvCDU7SrLOM8MwlwWA4RC2GpR3NuH7MmMor0JNb_OBJKlyDb1wvOYfBSjhJMCt1rXzNCTRDOlQVgH5U3F8T-urJRDHHEZJVFhLEnV3y7YqNU9EyyNzZNcfUvi2X8F1RT4F-5B4/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BiWialdvCDU7SrLOM8MwlwWA4RC2GpR3NuH7MmMor0JNb_OBJKlyDb1wvOYfBSjhJMCt1rXzNCTRDOlQVgH5U3F8T-urJRDHHEZJVFhLEnV3y7YqNU9EyyNzZNcfUvi2X8F1RT4F-5B4/s640/DSC_0319.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive glacier on the opposite side of the valley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PXIrk2OCsw5-JIfBGXUoeNoF_XDBo9RRCG_gTAosd2j3MUpZvat8X7KrhJ0quhEgozAgFmv2hX6kGV9CKar0D1N9NFBa0N0yBc-lXPOD4h4YienZliLSghxFW3I4qItyZfwasfAp9u7X/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PXIrk2OCsw5-JIfBGXUoeNoF_XDBo9RRCG_gTAosd2j3MUpZvat8X7KrhJ0quhEgozAgFmv2hX6kGV9CKar0D1N9NFBa0N0yBc-lXPOD4h4YienZliLSghxFW3I4qItyZfwasfAp9u7X/s640/DSC_0320.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice to see some flowers again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once I started seeing flowers again I came out of the kind of survival mode I'd been in for the past<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">4 hours. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The path led steeply down and a little while later I bumped into a guy from Yorkshire</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">who was hiking up to the snow line. He kindly descibed me as "Fookin' barmy!" after I told where</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I'd been.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP59F0QpyDOc2GgwDWKP5eW00vT9_tA0g-rRqiXRhBRp-j4N_u-Q9ELQwcCofZejFFD1sNtNVMI-fn5PRUqv6sraS2Bakvhsp4s9UbxvrouKBAZw9OTCRprYI4PWJYv41EqPwmPAq17SlL/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP59F0QpyDOc2GgwDWKP5eW00vT9_tA0g-rRqiXRhBRp-j4N_u-Q9ELQwcCofZejFFD1sNtNVMI-fn5PRUqv6sraS2Bakvhsp4s9UbxvrouKBAZw9OTCRprYI4PWJYv41EqPwmPAq17SlL/s640/DSC_0321.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above the Oeschinensee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
Another hour or so of knee-rattling descent later and the amazingly spectacular Oeschinensee came<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> into view, nestled in the valley below the towering snow-capped mountains. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also met a lovely couple from London who obligingly took my photo and with whom I'd later<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">enjoy a lovely chat and a few cold beers with at the berghaus below.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQSj-ZSSZKPs_q5LqlGrl8pkK9ap2MTjG45AIb5-F5yHfq9Kl21fdQTy0mSYUpbpoYzfxaXgquJFavalHcvXgRlFiB84IA1MrI3L2-pNh-IA0FUwSMACS2IPxVfIQfYvj4WxD2xt3gF1t/s1600/DSC_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQSj-ZSSZKPs_q5LqlGrl8pkK9ap2MTjG45AIb5-F5yHfq9Kl21fdQTy0mSYUpbpoYzfxaXgquJFavalHcvXgRlFiB84IA1MrI3L2-pNh-IA0FUwSMACS2IPxVfIQfYvj4WxD2xt3gF1t/s640/DSC_0323.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEXfchMecu5OuhNCdnEPxcYhvjTT0ChcZ_BhD58J7lIDlag92idyKjIeQ3vp9spmDgq07FlIZ6O9olzsh7C3Vs20ClxT2wmbi1590qO53OLMuM6zOxLTnDRyFVA9As2kVO9lHGc1mUKIu/s1600/DSC_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEXfchMecu5OuhNCdnEPxcYhvjTT0ChcZ_BhD58J7lIDlag92idyKjIeQ3vp9spmDgq07FlIZ6O9olzsh7C3Vs20ClxT2wmbi1590qO53OLMuM6zOxLTnDRyFVA9As2kVO9lHGc1mUKIu/s640/DSC_0326.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from a bench under an overhang on the way down.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKcA7S_poYFurnTaLPTly3K7cIybVgIrTOqtTY8QMoLXsECgaiPM3vO2_vCRuC2aGjs7NDqKEAeFPIPW40CmoDIhmGUqefrtkbWap1QF_NSLQ5wCOyzVshbOkYRrAP96YxAOmicU0tCMH/s1600/DSC_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKcA7S_poYFurnTaLPTly3K7cIybVgIrTOqtTY8QMoLXsECgaiPM3vO2_vCRuC2aGjs7NDqKEAeFPIPW40CmoDIhmGUqefrtkbWap1QF_NSLQ5wCOyzVshbOkYRrAP96YxAOmicU0tCMH/s640/DSC_0327.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First hot meal for 3 days, it was absolutely delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<div>
After a lovely chat and a few more beers with the couple from London and a very nice group of<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">self confessed "craaaaaazy" female Belgian tour guides I stocked up on postcards and Mars bars</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">and headed back up into the forest that surrounds the lake to look for a hang site. And boy, did I</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">find one...</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBnxgDigM2DKasc9ebf2G73jLwapFUGBAtCPZvWYQ1c7dk9KkdlvVTl8F-mqMLME86Hf-JtgZT6DwBQMW_nTEbgiBw9YohWWQM5tg97AoSB7LIl3D56Nwoh06KbgLJNuf0GjFaIwo4_R9/s1600/DSC_0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBnxgDigM2DKasc9ebf2G73jLwapFUGBAtCPZvWYQ1c7dk9KkdlvVTl8F-mqMLME86Hf-JtgZT6DwBQMW_nTEbgiBw9YohWWQM5tg97AoSB7LIl3D56Nwoh06KbgLJNuf0GjFaIwo4_R9/s640/DSC_0328.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorx_5vNxfTjuahWq6HCoizZsXLQb-MzwYBq5Pk1gR9sTzTnPIi2WDWXqD5-iF5wLguS5YPyvqwyfeIsIYv7gnEjqWQy9v20KdgvZQONlqEN9kCYdzNFMien_9OTLmjP85whp_DEO1A_F3/s1600/DSC_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorx_5vNxfTjuahWq6HCoizZsXLQb-MzwYBq5Pk1gR9sTzTnPIi2WDWXqD5-iF5wLguS5YPyvqwyfeIsIYv7gnEjqWQy9v20KdgvZQONlqEN9kCYdzNFMien_9OTLmjP85whp_DEO1A_F3/s640/DSC_0329.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The evening was spent relaxing by the lake, washing clothes and finally, by performing puja in the<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">turquoise waters at sunset, which proved to be very invigorating and special experience indeed.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONd-Xwu9X0L9Dp8RDwh6SDgOS3oJuWYRyVZubWyWuAU6ADHP7-1XaSByqcvdh4r6QToUg9Z_aYUit6rrq4fOlInqnnhvoYCewP44hKZ2HtSapF_qUKqQGxB_TYv-OGx4p75lv3Wnhjfl6/s1600/DSC_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONd-Xwu9X0L9Dp8RDwh6SDgOS3oJuWYRyVZubWyWuAU6ADHP7-1XaSByqcvdh4r6QToUg9Z_aYUit6rrq4fOlInqnnhvoYCewP44hKZ2HtSapF_qUKqQGxB_TYv-OGx4p75lv3Wnhjfl6/s640/DSC_0335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing the laundry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmNBEgHTENHLHvznVamROUu1g5Dw-0JoVSIIuyzRmy1ce1m_R9IlygqJYM0J0EISoshKMvfTTVi4FRSpbg_sOoTbYndkVv9dafSWEDAsLVMocRk8-QiJbFv4wO1mnWd8rwHIopHv7TLxu/s1600/DSC_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmNBEgHTENHLHvznVamROUu1g5Dw-0JoVSIIuyzRmy1ce1m_R9IlygqJYM0J0EISoshKMvfTTVi4FRSpbg_sOoTbYndkVv9dafSWEDAsLVMocRk8-QiJbFv4wO1mnWd8rwHIopHv7TLxu/s640/DSC_0331.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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</div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-88229388848804638872012-06-29T02:30:00.000-07:002012-07-05T15:45:16.763-07:00Day 5. The road to Mordor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">My first night's sleep in a bed for 5 days proved to be a very good one and the weather wasn't </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">looking too shabby at around 2000m.</span><br />
<br />
The conditions up around the peaks were a different story altogether though. Thick cloud and fog<br />
<br />
shrouded the mountains a few hundred meters up but I felt pretty sure that It'd burn off as the sun<br />
<br />
rose higher later in the morning, however my meteorological prediction was to prove Michael Fish-<br />
<br />
esque in it's innacuracy...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uEBGwsWs7rSNbA-H6uxr5s8mXq9wy1Pms2zQmNid7tgH2iR9iqL-kWEypJcBXP114PuvpO5EeAeIi6ZFElHwzCV1sO8fONduyPKtp5MYq8L08Lpj9n7nuCGo8AE7iKTlEJSY8i5lYLF6/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uEBGwsWs7rSNbA-H6uxr5s8mXq9wy1Pms2zQmNid7tgH2iR9iqL-kWEypJcBXP114PuvpO5EeAeIi6ZFElHwzCV1sO8fONduyPKtp5MYq8L08Lpj9n7nuCGo8AE7iKTlEJSY8i5lYLF6/s640/198.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">After packing and a quick wash I had a Mars bar and a litre of water for breakfast </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> and then headed </span><span style="background-color: white;">out across the pastures leading up to the snow line.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKW7Z-98YzvZsprLIihVE57ajFVqeyio9nvd6I9SDJU8AUsoQPfZtluQQbjDnfUpe2NZxE3y937pGOPllnsdqa4Yx8I25swl_T5wJZIoyRfMW-VwZQj-tCdNtMtP6Lk09L1P1i9sZqdSEN/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKW7Z-98YzvZsprLIihVE57ajFVqeyio9nvd6I9SDJU8AUsoQPfZtluQQbjDnfUpe2NZxE3y937pGOPllnsdqa4Yx8I25swl_T5wJZIoyRfMW-VwZQj-tCdNtMtP6Lk09L1P1i9sZqdSEN/s640/200.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbmArEsKdwoc2XiZe6q_fc6mf7cNoDEmlKwoezcPVRl-CDTO5y6oEprNritnT_J2Z42POqhiI5yFNb5UVCJ1QdQ8fgiyvjXDRZkJmhzIc0Fwpt2dyTbL7JK11M0n78cvDQ6FQB_F6NkhS/s1600/199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbmArEsKdwoc2XiZe6q_fc6mf7cNoDEmlKwoezcPVRl-CDTO5y6oEprNritnT_J2Z42POqhiI5yFNb5UVCJ1QdQ8fgiyvjXDRZkJmhzIc0Fwpt2dyTbL7JK11M0n78cvDQ6FQB_F6NkhS/s640/199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Misleading skies</td></tr>
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Gateway to the 4th dimension</div>
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On the way up to the snow line I encountered quite a few of these salamanders either fighting or courting, I'm no expert but I reckon the former.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">This is where the going started to get really tough. From here to the the top of the pass the weather terrible, visibility atrocious and the incline steeper and steeper. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaduDI0B-q7_w5m7kvu7YT899txrkrJEqfZVOoS_FzEP1tkwuR-Sd38qCF6bRjHPfnZbvsePAtiMEjXni821fEaqn2t1zOup4vg8HUWoSY36dUI6cZwWi3Qi-CM-VHHWNmDqTBXPWC2qsM/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaduDI0B-q7_w5m7kvu7YT899txrkrJEqfZVOoS_FzEP1tkwuR-Sd38qCF6bRjHPfnZbvsePAtiMEjXni821fEaqn2t1zOup4vg8HUWoSY36dUI6cZwWi3Qi-CM-VHHWNmDqTBXPWC2qsM/s640/210.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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Who needs crampons!? Me as it turned out, and a couple of ice picks would have been handy too.</div>
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From here to the summit took about 3 hours.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGUwfJboGvXEkQcGZNlT43_NS3oIW-aoHVi-3892Aam3VrPjBNiWa8ZjRqeqZ8rAnRJ8BJpyxK3v1URr290hmz8FPw83YCZ3qV6tZ43-FwIs_49jn-PWkCE-ZzM3Mw_r55dXbPAE5ZBVF/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGUwfJboGvXEkQcGZNlT43_NS3oIW-aoHVi-3892Aam3VrPjBNiWa8ZjRqeqZ8rAnRJ8BJpyxK3v1URr290hmz8FPw83YCZ3qV6tZ43-FwIs_49jn-PWkCE-ZzM3Mw_r55dXbPAE5ZBVF/s640/211.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oasis of life in this barren landscape</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrjCI49RfElV1uWmGYjKFdSf8bWSqenucdzH5Zz7o5mYJKnj3EhK-mNwHtTAMtzB1ngZ2jLjxUj_2QQ-G_3GgnIF4B166od8pSY97aewlUdrzJrBC7pdN-LpQFrVP0SoFAWEdKFLqbH-u/s1600/DSC_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrjCI49RfElV1uWmGYjKFdSf8bWSqenucdzH5Zz7o5mYJKnj3EhK-mNwHtTAMtzB1ngZ2jLjxUj_2QQ-G_3GgnIF4B166od8pSY97aewlUdrzJrBC7pdN-LpQFrVP0SoFAWEdKFLqbH-u/s640/DSC_0266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTaY41kkSY8X6O7S46AXV0I9nxk_8C7XdqeEb1Pp8kwSg67I977hXz-ZQo1fcqJbhvsqQSdCagIW4rnsxKpuoSVDmtmFDMunaHRfo_82klacco3jMgdg2zlDIE55wSQylroD0S722nS_W/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTaY41kkSY8X6O7S46AXV0I9nxk_8C7XdqeEb1Pp8kwSg67I977hXz-ZQo1fcqJbhvsqQSdCagIW4rnsxKpuoSVDmtmFDMunaHRfo_82klacco3jMgdg2zlDIE55wSQylroD0S722nS_W/s640/212.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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No path from here on.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFkRkBNJUVtmyfuysEUlbPI3a26akdT-dII9__JyI_UoXicyo5bkg6lxRyccYVzoHPeNXAa2nSSUebhSedWJ8ggJFCbz8z_ZCw_mTFjGRxICFOyvqCKG4vhUQOx4TYjuYI7FOMHR36QXl/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFkRkBNJUVtmyfuysEUlbPI3a26akdT-dII9__JyI_UoXicyo5bkg6lxRyccYVzoHPeNXAa2nSSUebhSedWJ8ggJFCbz8z_ZCw_mTFjGRxICFOyvqCKG4vhUQOx4TYjuYI7FOMHR36QXl/s640/DSC_0264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The path and all sense of direction and visibility disappeared in white out conditions.</div>
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The only way was up!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOgwtgJPNhNeVIlP1a-MY4tkLmyF939XWK9_wJYu04sWB2fjOM6hfjLflIX9x3bhTMu77UYqTFf4lHGSZ9hk0P831-jS11LMrxk7nwJX4oc3i6kyIqck5k9_4-L1d9u4IU-lXHg5KkQBA/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOgwtgJPNhNeVIlP1a-MY4tkLmyF939XWK9_wJYu04sWB2fjOM6hfjLflIX9x3bhTMu77UYqTFf4lHGSZ9hk0P831-jS11LMrxk7nwJX4oc3i6kyIqck5k9_4-L1d9u4IU-lXHg5KkQBA/s640/213.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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You can just make out the pass in the top-center of this shot, but the incline and distance are impossible to understand. That black outcrop on the right was massive and I estimate it took at least an hour to reach the top. </div>
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Most of the time it was just a white out, but occasionaly I'd get a glimpse of the pass and reorientate myself. </div>
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At one point, about 100m below on the steepest section the wind died down and there was absolute silence in the foggy gloom. I heard what I thought was an ibex gallopping towards me from somewhere above, but to my horror, out of nowhere, a flat piece of circular granite came spinning down across the slope towards me. </div>
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Freeze. </div>
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Luckly, it veered a few feet away to the left of me. If it had hit me it would have smashed my legs to pieces for sure.</div>
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My first brush with disaster over the next few days averted, I reached the pass and had a break, took some photos with the SLR and recorded some footage. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3-A45e3PPMXDS_FjTI84pqcQdlWlXM3_-0QvAQRUn_tz1y6lVQOov8FphM7Q0z4MVPhtdshfcXqR-pFCfmRZbnDxo5zitCYeXAnsiTWCyTCACUdAd7bw5eNLiL-fHpBu1GV6NA7aWSt9/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3-A45e3PPMXDS_FjTI84pqcQdlWlXM3_-0QvAQRUn_tz1y6lVQOov8FphM7Q0z4MVPhtdshfcXqR-pFCfmRZbnDxo5zitCYeXAnsiTWCyTCACUdAd7bw5eNLiL-fHpBu1GV6NA7aWSt9/s640/DSC_0273.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVWN0q8Ws1_NGu9WRT4VWd80TI1hQ76QwgnnIq79LCBG8SrWfsH05wZU0EV3PKepUo56zVL5w7S0g-SBEEhTPLyBhTBcoc5mFmIdrqCqIMFKEbo9QCkQFMeb1FRz1yn1loR6m6v9KjIla/s1600/DSC_0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVWN0q8Ws1_NGu9WRT4VWd80TI1hQ76QwgnnIq79LCBG8SrWfsH05wZU0EV3PKepUo56zVL5w7S0g-SBEEhTPLyBhTBcoc5mFmIdrqCqIMFKEbo9QCkQFMeb1FRz1yn1loR6m6v9KjIla/s640/DSC_0274.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking back over the edge of the slope that I'd come up<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHfDJsfO5u0mNzVhj7KJrVZNcDGPcU_x3n5h3CVyGArEh7VX9s1O5Zpwi_GXstypYUBOhFRNvMwNrmunHZs3D5aGH8r84FTVIk6zbfwNTVC7oCCnrVBHZICizmD2DUiT6ejTfxj2WId6H/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHfDJsfO5u0mNzVhj7KJrVZNcDGPcU_x3n5h3CVyGArEh7VX9s1O5Zpwi_GXstypYUBOhFRNvMwNrmunHZs3D5aGH8r84FTVIk6zbfwNTVC7oCCnrVBHZICizmD2DUiT6ejTfxj2WId6H/s640/214.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to break out the Morinaga caramels</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfr_eSS4q5vtnoxlTO4v-rapkqaMsX22iGFqdjYjsTdZH7lr2dNGVFDYqT6sRHAco_cz0KFMlc1UFwsdfqraK02ikfvVUJl0QhvGGeVDA4zmE6_BvpTemJJQWLoLP4dhA0r-wlMAhdKgr/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfr_eSS4q5vtnoxlTO4v-rapkqaMsX22iGFqdjYjsTdZH7lr2dNGVFDYqT6sRHAco_cz0KFMlc1UFwsdfqraK02ikfvVUJl0QhvGGeVDA4zmE6_BvpTemJJQWLoLP4dhA0r-wlMAhdKgr/s640/217.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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These flowers were blooming between the rocks at the very top</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7emr5tZmRElqXcS_ZWG07Q-6i1jyuZU-F85behrb4uikXCjA9urS3LYJWECE0bGU3vzLl_Z2W0xjaRzkDOI8PThnj9SAimLpkS4hIOQMs3ITjPOdCXoPcXOjUSzWSQ5xVP1mftN3s8wp7/s1600/215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7emr5tZmRElqXcS_ZWG07Q-6i1jyuZU-F85behrb4uikXCjA9urS3LYJWECE0bGU3vzLl_Z2W0xjaRzkDOI8PThnj9SAimLpkS4hIOQMs3ITjPOdCXoPcXOjUSzWSQ5xVP1mftN3s8wp7/s640/215.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GWm4FnIXFx0W7Xy4lW4XC0776qGJBj9KlHBNK2O8LtBgrQDMrNLX4zIiwDtb6hnbaI7ldUAKgQd3xqkQtA67C9daZ5-jYJFOBrfoIJ_vrvF0gcYDYRp7mB66aflFlVxA7Pwg9z_SI7eN/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GWm4FnIXFx0W7Xy4lW4XC0776qGJBj9KlHBNK2O8LtBgrQDMrNLX4zIiwDtb6hnbaI7ldUAKgQd3xqkQtA67C9daZ5-jYJFOBrfoIJ_vrvF0gcYDYRp7mB66aflFlVxA7Pwg9z_SI7eN/s640/218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thank you Kami sama and thank you my lovely mother-in-law for this, I felt it's protection and the love of my family very strongly that day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkY2szqtD5FORtABfTl90-XSVIQyJtEykIvjNRezVRlHw9Evwe1R9LN4feq2rR4p8tQw2AHoQJ7MWof-dQk77gJqAknAC7XX3x5jQjtmHkPyFqFEseUu-8Vq6_J_Jrf5lbwRuKvcWnQ6s/s1600/219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkY2szqtD5FORtABfTl90-XSVIQyJtEykIvjNRezVRlHw9Evwe1R9LN4feq2rR4p8tQw2AHoQJ7MWof-dQk77gJqAknAC7XX3x5jQjtmHkPyFqFEseUu-8Vq6_J_Jrf5lbwRuKvcWnQ6s/s640/219.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back over the slope I'd come up and over, I decided to leave my (temporary) mark</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw33BIXB2nnNNGJcf1xUJ4aIZUKO_w2ERCD2YEQUjlcTOD72tGaASDNbxBDYeJXl887WdRTPRru_YcfvDjt37Pe0Fh9RhL5_EBwb-F0qsETSaCb3jsHxK1rC0fJ4Jm4KR9VXh07QFFY19/s1600/DSC_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw33BIXB2nnNNGJcf1xUJ4aIZUKO_w2ERCD2YEQUjlcTOD72tGaASDNbxBDYeJXl887WdRTPRru_YcfvDjt37Pe0Fh9RhL5_EBwb-F0qsETSaCb3jsHxK1rC0fJ4Jm4KR9VXh07QFFY19/s640/DSC_0276.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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These steps descended about 100m down the other side of the pass before the conditions changed <br />
to muddy skree and snow again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kvrVZBWSGUoVKmwbNEy5qMla-ovOpRRD_5kLFqgoq_ALGzFhJPkBoEMY4TedBvkA86bzcrxTOqavVNY6_Cse7exHKtmXKV2qYPMplUlYzkJQ0zF4vGq16-a3oM5FewSLCy_qoqp4WFm9/s1600/DSC_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kvrVZBWSGUoVKmwbNEy5qMla-ovOpRRD_5kLFqgoq_ALGzFhJPkBoEMY4TedBvkA86bzcrxTOqavVNY6_Cse7exHKtmXKV2qYPMplUlYzkJQ0zF4vGq16-a3oM5FewSLCy_qoqp4WFm9/s640/DSC_0278.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Zen dimension<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQosnp4S5rwdpzUQrs0wV_BVUB8Iayf1yI8Y-SSao3zKh_pMfdI0QcQE3jOqODivj3mSLqGEAbzU72kMTkFV-W4gb5ZddJkW6uIWQwB1fL1iJy_cTR5uKyi37AAhWdKR8TrmQXqgCYZjsO/s1600/222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQosnp4S5rwdpzUQrs0wV_BVUB8Iayf1yI8Y-SSao3zKh_pMfdI0QcQE3jOqODivj3mSLqGEAbzU72kMTkFV-W4gb5ZddJkW6uIWQwB1fL1iJy_cTR5uKyi37AAhWdKR8TrmQXqgCYZjsO/s640/222.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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On the way down there was a lot of wet, muddy scree and large patches of snow until the path reappeared.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVJeXaQVPm-y523rMgPanmO6TPuO8SrZFnVpaKDP6pixzginUhOk7AI_9Q4L2oPWMitcRnFtcWo83PZfzNfzOMjSChTq3cj_O5Nv1LjLh4K6r1ffvgGJsKbqHQQgd32NzIoH5GVymw_Gd/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVJeXaQVPm-y523rMgPanmO6TPuO8SrZFnVpaKDP6pixzginUhOk7AI_9Q4L2oPWMitcRnFtcWo83PZfzNfzOMjSChTq3cj_O5Nv1LjLh4K6r1ffvgGJsKbqHQQgd32NzIoH5GVymw_Gd/s640/223.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still lots of snow on the way down</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYqoYTwi14Jc07VuIENORQvDqCvEfwj2YRGRr2ws_bm4cAGCo-36MjGMOh7_StWFb2ARVd4285i1iFY5wVGRrtjRZbC1HIMSI9R_jEc4Eca_mcMK1sCESSZYGTmdDupyLeay0kXIQPcod/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYqoYTwi14Jc07VuIENORQvDqCvEfwj2YRGRr2ws_bm4cAGCo-36MjGMOh7_StWFb2ARVd4285i1iFY5wVGRrtjRZbC1HIMSI9R_jEc4Eca_mcMK1sCESSZYGTmdDupyLeay0kXIQPcod/s640/224.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1o0GEKfoCbNU4T1crp6g268qiz_xvQkygWHANj0mpPCtnzsvVi5k2YD45K7cLmsIShIuenaH_h5vbTVfTuLLwKJ8d9__6HYYyFxlVCHTZUvd2CDKxl2sRUPBfmyzJ-Ox81fbyrEffLBp/s1600/225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1o0GEKfoCbNU4T1crp6g268qiz_xvQkygWHANj0mpPCtnzsvVi5k2YD45K7cLmsIShIuenaH_h5vbTVfTuLLwKJ8d9__6HYYyFxlVCHTZUvd2CDKxl2sRUPBfmyzJ-Ox81fbyrEffLBp/s640/225.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Glad to be back on the path and surrounded by beautiful primulas</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSB6sPs-oHtWYXY14ZJrXkVtufTacejqZBiKGyhYa_JOP2IZWXTbgLRwGt5_oUPlJCdAbwnhnFvZtCimDKLe7ExiOWyD45CALM05lYxMPdJeD8zNoq3oqk8KEzRUpjUU91jNezzZVVlGe/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSB6sPs-oHtWYXY14ZJrXkVtufTacejqZBiKGyhYa_JOP2IZWXTbgLRwGt5_oUPlJCdAbwnhnFvZtCimDKLe7ExiOWyD45CALM05lYxMPdJeD8zNoq3oqk8KEzRUpjUU91jNezzZVVlGe/s640/226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_uiUjJ3iHcc0PHoYcoZKSuKq8D-ZWPt13mO_CUVZtZvzmL0j2L85g-Gb71pJIOS1QA7Z4LpkEfvJNgn777hO8DPBWLlrzcxlvdjzydmO0Wl0NkFdHt2-UKipAwUa4EblrnNui4E6ADiA/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_uiUjJ3iHcc0PHoYcoZKSuKq8D-ZWPt13mO_CUVZtZvzmL0j2L85g-Gb71pJIOS1QA7Z4LpkEfvJNgn777hO8DPBWLlrzcxlvdjzydmO0Wl0NkFdHt2-UKipAwUa4EblrnNui4E6ADiA/s640/227.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unbelievably optimistic time estimates for the routes.</td></tr>
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This is where the heavens opened and the poncho I bought in Amsterdam had it's first propper trial. It stood up perfectly to the heavy rain, wind and sleet for the next couple of hours. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VEpoo3APaGuaTuQm1t6IPlD68I3RPv-YG4ipCSntWw0KnMDYyUW8wYlQEgaAFmWzJST7OrTc-pNnXVsHHKE0BJX5_KCR6UfySzut6IKXdhbpeymGu6Zj5TiXvIq10yvasIhZTNvda06K/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VEpoo3APaGuaTuQm1t6IPlD68I3RPv-YG4ipCSntWw0KnMDYyUW8wYlQEgaAFmWzJST7OrTc-pNnXVsHHKE0BJX5_KCR6UfySzut6IKXdhbpeymGu6Zj5TiXvIq10yvasIhZTNvda06K/s640/228.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nobody home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYktw2YomYscJDNuoizA-fTWFaP-UQsJaA9jIMVpPl9OUsYw-FaJQfaOrDs6f3Nipz9iYT0Ccizn2M0H6fHbL6L9IjbbTMu53PijDMGdL8Hy3qOz9mTxSSIQC83Mx4kG-WIXx6ua5O8TM/s1600/229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYktw2YomYscJDNuoizA-fTWFaP-UQsJaA9jIMVpPl9OUsYw-FaJQfaOrDs6f3Nipz9iYT0Ccizn2M0H6fHbL6L9IjbbTMu53PijDMGdL8Hy3qOz9mTxSSIQC83Mx4kG-WIXx6ua5O8TM/s640/229.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny Rhododendrons in bloom</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdye1gzOTQWtSuwpVyuAIfYd_o2Z2dgYHkyCju1k7KxGgcBMFnlZPI-piAHfEaLUmh7aqwIcQPXop-VIzKqpZWAFME3tQ8HtW0j1vS5JpxOHXDoGEBn6EtppTT_bX8BhOOTV13X1cjqEn/s1600/DSC_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdye1gzOTQWtSuwpVyuAIfYd_o2Z2dgYHkyCju1k7KxGgcBMFnlZPI-piAHfEaLUmh7aqwIcQPXop-VIzKqpZWAFME3tQ8HtW0j1vS5JpxOHXDoGEBn6EtppTT_bX8BhOOTV13X1cjqEn/s640/DSC_0280.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People! Goats! Lightweights all of them.</td></tr>
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This sign freaked me out. What the hell is it!? A warning to foolish young travellers? Are those the graves of people who died on the mountain? WTF!?<br />
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Instead of heading down into the valley from where I'd have to retrace my steps to get to the next pass I decided to set up camp at the end of this cow shed that was still empty. It probably won't be used until the end of July and was the highest in the valley. </div>
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After taking a few shots of the surrounding flora I had a very early night in order to hit the next pass as early as possible the next morning and to reflect on the days events.</div>
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Cream crackered<br />
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Take care of your feet, they carry you through life. Whenever possible embrace and reconnect with the Earth by walking barefoot upon her, cow-pats and all.</div>
<br /></div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703971050137186468.post-35199921608066575292012-06-28T11:35:00.000-07:002012-07-03T08:27:54.905-07:00Day 4 in Schweiss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The heavens cleared and the next day began with beautiful crisp sunshine in the valley.<br />
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With check-out at 11am I had time to take another long hot shower and stock up on supplies in the campsites Co-Op.<br />
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All packed, I made my way into the town about 10 minutes down the road where I sought out a piece of equipment that was, quite literally, to save my bacon in the coming days. Thank you Leki, I am a convert ...<br />
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From Lauterbrunnen I took a cable car up to Murren where the path led gently up hill for a while through more Alpine pastures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">up...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and away!</td></tr>
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Ok, Rockstockhutte, Rockstockhutte... got it! Forward ho!</div>
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I read that the North face trail would be a longer, but more interesting route up to the hut.<br />
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They weren't wrong...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7JV8REezlw3AvBZIoK2qfezdt2pZUlrTryxmalqhTJqhDd65kVxoepHnU8k1tfSCBnw183cHKJcEKiUFZlleppLC9qKmByCBpdESJi-iie2Eug3JrF-KjEY_L3MJs7y3RQtbzQEXPhWc/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7JV8REezlw3AvBZIoK2qfezdt2pZUlrTryxmalqhTJqhDd65kVxoepHnU8k1tfSCBnw183cHKJcEKiUFZlleppLC9qKmByCBpdESJi-iie2Eug3JrF-KjEY_L3MJs7y3RQtbzQEXPhWc/s640/188.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base-camp Rotstock</td></tr>
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This place was a great self contained family-run Mountain hut between Murren and the start of the high trail up to the Sefinenfurgge pass which I'd be hitting early the next morning. No showers and not enough Swiss francs for dinner, I settled for a warm beer, a cold wash and an early night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6iKkdE71RMcDzto7P1GhHRSVZKg4X1V90a5feXXfZHQMzQPtSXkqSE3TKxOE4nvCWvidq0pmMewciSwUWyhTeeeP-W1rPYTd76SEWu6kvZUNRghyphenhyphen5QxRHqPqQSKMToU0vW98mOdR0A1q/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6iKkdE71RMcDzto7P1GhHRSVZKg4X1V90a5feXXfZHQMzQPtSXkqSE3TKxOE4nvCWvidq0pmMewciSwUWyhTeeeP-W1rPYTd76SEWu6kvZUNRghyphenhyphen5QxRHqPqQSKMToU0vW98mOdR0A1q/s640/189.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another tepid old Rugen </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying low high in the alps</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bitte</td></tr>
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A tepid reception from the resident mutt, Panda. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAQFNAK6WOrB0bLM8nQhHi2Om662tSfe8bsFWtsJjiJuNwaK0V5ej2q0H01LjEbIpyxhExcFF2jlYNfJv7Qty3lei4p1dNd5mWN_lP1ypH2DbR-715_E-liKgLXgTom6uCoIW2cUQoRz2/s1600/DSC_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAQFNAK6WOrB0bLM8nQhHi2Om662tSfe8bsFWtsJjiJuNwaK0V5ej2q0H01LjEbIpyxhExcFF2jlYNfJv7Qty3lei4p1dNd5mWN_lP1ypH2DbR-715_E-liKgLXgTom6uCoIW2cUQoRz2/s640/DSC_0251.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ADwz6mwDLDOxf-nz2pB0tA9LyTFTH2ht8NRkDa3nooJ5JR8QFmt_rGyeVK5KL581dPZK_6aDSCbsrcL4JQqrF6IWemMmj3s5c0EjQSJfSaLoIb_6yPascBRQC1sh2OsWgebh-cTOzXW_/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ADwz6mwDLDOxf-nz2pB0tA9LyTFTH2ht8NRkDa3nooJ5JR8QFmt_rGyeVK5KL581dPZK_6aDSCbsrcL4JQqrF6IWemMmj3s5c0EjQSJfSaLoIb_6yPascBRQC1sh2OsWgebh-cTOzXW_/s640/193.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine Succulents</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd6Lt8KNV1Bb3-J6RPodSbQawVHHYhTYn2hMurULnilhd829Rm-MemN1LTO84-nZ3lE-QURtT2_1t7w3QVeqgEREhmQ7BRWmDYHglhsMqGG-mqEEU6WsMtQVpt07j82EuyIYMUxWvbOaB/s1600/195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd6Lt8KNV1Bb3-J6RPodSbQawVHHYhTYn2hMurULnilhd829Rm-MemN1LTO84-nZ3lE-QURtT2_1t7w3QVeqgEREhmQ7BRWmDYHglhsMqGG-mqEEU6WsMtQVpt07j82EuyIYMUxWvbOaB/s640/195.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complimentary Crocs on the granite</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmweIP5hwPxPtUlFZLej8FEEctFYNL7B1lNadUcFstpaCaF5_LgbMY7un2gDZqde_5zvkg_jpgg59tcyvO4FklH2kbi9V-l54MYgXsNhAOHl0RhC93SzLLxuBg9UVEoKo_KRL28cn2f9q5/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmweIP5hwPxPtUlFZLej8FEEctFYNL7B1lNadUcFstpaCaF5_LgbMY7un2gDZqde_5zvkg_jpgg59tcyvO4FklH2kbi9V-l54MYgXsNhAOHl0RhC93SzLLxuBg9UVEoKo_KRL28cn2f9q5/s640/196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYTiVn_UHk7cFSC9vhbCSq0PRAU4mTYY7blyy4iDf7vSnzbfCKKb2MNq0am4ad1o_1OCniRY5amntFn8h5NgTU0wejsFIxowUQ7qL4c9ze2H831vJV1XYYwdrNHVS2b8rcPLqZQH0R9xj/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYTiVn_UHk7cFSC9vhbCSq0PRAU4mTYY7blyy4iDf7vSnzbfCKKb2MNq0am4ad1o_1OCniRY5amntFn8h5NgTU0wejsFIxowUQ7qL4c9ze2H831vJV1XYYwdrNHVS2b8rcPLqZQH0R9xj/s640/197.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cot for the night </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz0YKXLv1Makw4TOSUQOyVGFlDXmHh8TS2rWLkcCWVBucgZU3t8S22EDKyOxH9m5lNRyWE8TfYiXmJkRNNX21tWTfnC1G7rgIgW3Oh_VTiWrvi9FEPf19ncTXMynQaDz9b9l4AQOboKZ5/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz0YKXLv1Makw4TOSUQOyVGFlDXmHh8TS2rWLkcCWVBucgZU3t8S22EDKyOxH9m5lNRyWE8TfYiXmJkRNNX21tWTfnC1G7rgIgW3Oh_VTiWrvi9FEPf19ncTXMynQaDz9b9l4AQOboKZ5/s640/DSC_0248.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Tomorrow's route will take me up that valley.<br />
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Seems like there's quite a bit of white stuff still up there...<br />
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Time for sleep and let's hope for good weather tomorrow!<br />
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<br /></div>Chickenbentohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13867615909271912677noreply@blogger.com0