Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River and Beacon Rock in the distance.

Pony Tail Falls
The precursor to Horsetail Falls, which is taller but not as cool since you can't walk behind.

People
This group kept following me along the trail. It's like they thought they knew me.

There's always another angle
Semi-circumnavigation

Someone was bored
Flashbacks of Japan, where everything in "nature" was arranged just so.

Leaves, Light and Lichen


Moss Spectacular
I love trees and green and twisted things.

Furry Branches


She's a floater
Alissa has skills.

Watch out for that tree!
The bridge over Oneonta Gorge.

Oneonta Gorge


Another waterfall
This one doesn't get a name, but it was big and impressive.

Wall of Light
A very cool drippy bit along the trail.

Triple Falls
It's considered the "jewel of Oneonta Gorge."

Triple Falls
We ate lunch on this bluff overlooking the falls.

The Enchanted Forest
It's enchanted because somehow my jacket magically appeared on Rachel.

Old Growth
Some of these trees could have been around when Lewis and Clark came through.

Wispy Whispers in the Wind
Trees with a fashion sense.

Droopy


Mmmoss
My dad wanted me to take this pic. Can you spot the sporophytes?

The Gorge in May
Where are all the leaves? And the... land?

The Hidden
I've heard that it's a common scam to dress up like a monk and beg for money. Real or not, it makes for a cool pic.

Gateway
The main gate to Kiyomizu, my favorite temple in Kyoto.

Another Angle
The cherry blossoms had just barely started blooming, so we got some nice views without the horrible crowds.

Statue Outside the Gate
A lion-dog guardian.

Gate Detail
Lovely colors and patterns.

Through the Gate
Playing with color features on my camera.

It's Not Easy Being Green
2008-03-26

A Splash of Color
2008-03-26

More Splashes
Can you spot the lion statue?

Tourist
Dolled up for a day on the town.

Maiko
Geisha in training. I wonder what's going through her mind?

Another Annoying Tourist
Taking a break from taking photos.

Jizo Statue
These minor deities escort the souls of the dead to the next world. The bibs are placed by parents of dead children.

Ema
Wishes and prayers written on wooden plaques. The boar and rat represent the Chinese/Japanese zodiac years.

Just a Lantern
2008-03-26

More Cool Lanterns
2008-03-26

Kyoto Rooftops
I liked the textures.

A Little Whimsical
Looking out over the Kiyomizu temple complex, an old pagoda rising above the canopy.

Kiyomizu 'Sacred Water'
People can and do drink from the three streams. The cups are sanitized, but still... I was happy to simply take photos.

Don't Be Greedy
The streams are said to confer wisdom, health and longevity, but visitors should only choose two or face misfortune.

The Silent Watchers
Very worn statues dotting one of the trails within Kiyomizu.

Buddhist Statue
2008-03-26

Another Pagoda
Lovely camellia flowers, known as tsubaki in Japanese.

Jizo Statues
More red bibs for the babes.

Live Long and Prosper
Hopefully a bit of luck rubs off.

Beware the Hop-Ons
You're gonna get hop-ons.

Tranquility
A little pond within Kiyomizu

Yertle
A local temple turtle sporting the latest in petal fashion.

Eau Naturale
With the gardens so carefully crafted, sculpted and maintained, it's nice to encounter a bit of unplanned beauty.

A View
A streetside garden providing views to a nearby restaurant.

Poppins?
Random street shop.

Blossoms in the Sun
Playing with colors again.

Shades of Red
Sakura are quite the attention hogs.

Golden Hues
Watch the blossoms fade to grey.

The Ryozen Kannon War Memorial
This 80 ft tall Goddess of Mercy is a memorial to the 2 million fallen soldiers of World War II.

Peeking
The Ryozen Kannon looming behind.

Blossoms and Bird
Chirp.

Patterns
Nothing significant.

I Spy
The tip of yet another pagoda.

Moss
The temples in Kyoto sport many varieties of moss.

Bilbo?
This reminded me of a hobbit hole.

Kodaiji Temple
The grounds here were quite beautiful, like everything else in Kyoto.

You Shall Not Pass!
This bridge was off-limits.

So Let it Be Written
It's annoying being illiterate. This is probably just a boring record or a really long poem. Or the meaning of life.

Ooooooooooh
A cemetery at Kodaiji Temple. Japanese cemeteries are really beautiful.

God is in the Details
Maybe not, but nonetheless this thatch roof closeup is extremely cool.

Shifting Focus
You can even see a spider's trail.

Blossoms Dotting Bamboo
Entering the bamboo forest on the temple grounds.

An Image Fit for a Tourist
My postcard-worthy shot.

The Movie No One Saw
Crouching Photographer, Hidden Spiders.

I Love Trees
Bamboo is lovely.

A Moment
My dad and uncle.

Faux Naturale
A nice shot, yes? One of many carefully placed flowers.

Perfect Timing
The shot that will never come again. Lovely.

Bums on the Roof?
It's a peach, maybe.

Dizziness
The monks spin these cylinders every so often.

Got Milk?
A sacred ox.

Saintly Street-Side Statue
2008-03-26

Photographer of the Rings
This shot was my uncle's idea, and a very cool one at that.

Shoren-in Temple
Featuring "mysterious camphor trees." They seemed pretty straightforward to me.

You're Entering the Scary Door
The gate at Sanjusangendo Temple.

More Tsubaki
An interesting tidbit, Tsubaki is the name of the shampoo/conditioner I used in Japan. It smelled lovely.

Straight Lines
Vermillion columns at Sanjusangendo Temple.

Across the Way
A building opposite Sanjusangendo.

It's a Bell
2008-03-27

Flower Power
Another roof motif.

The Philosopher's Path
One of many sights along the tree-lined walkway. They were tossing twigs and flowers into the canal below.

The Philosopher's Path
The walk is dotted with quaint shops and cafes.

Shifting Simplicity
A rock garden at Ginkakuji, the Silver Temple that's not actually silver. The temple was under reconstruction so no pics

A Bunch of Squares
More rocks around Ginkakuji.

Everything in Its Place
Removing contaminants, natural though they be, from the gardens.

Close Up
I wonder how often the rock and sand gardens must be reshaped.

Temple Moss
A closer look at the temple grounds.

Silver and... Mold?
Three (hundred) coins in a pond outside Ginkakuji.

Tempozan Harbor Ferris Wheel
Until 1999 this was the world's largest ferris wheel. It's located near the Osaka Aquarium and sports great views.

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A peek into the super secret teacher's lounge at my school. This is me being professional (sans my jacket).

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We had a party at Kathy's apartment, three floors above my own.

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From the left: my manager, Masako and one of Kathy's students.

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Masako's new shirt makes her look twelve.

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Sangria makes me happy.

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Allow myself to introduce... myself, as I poke my eye. I'm Rilakuma, Japan's coolest and most adorable character.

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Ah, Japanese boys. And SpongeBob.

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I call this picture: Work Sucks.

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I LOVE this blanket. So soft. After this party I stole it from Kathy's apartment and kept it for the weekend.

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At our favorite karaoke joint, after a fantastic dinner at Akita's best (and probably only) authentic Indian restaurant.

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Kathy and I after eating vegetable/shrimp nabe, yams, fried eggs with mayo/fish eggs, and cow intestines. Yu--er... um?

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Me and Yoriko, one of my former students. She owns this restaurant.

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Ah, cell phones. I don't think they're texting each other, but it looks that way.

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I LOVE karaoke. And my jacket. And my hair. Me me MEEEEEE!

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I also love apples.

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What's going on here?

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I'll definitely miss this when I leave.

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Waiting at the Akita "International" Airport. And we're off! We're--what? We're taking a picture?

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That's better. SpongeBob and Ninja Turtles are cool.

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From one airport to the next. Now we're in Seoul.

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That's one big pile of chicken. South Koreans think "hof" is the German word for hops.

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Now THIS is a proper Korean meal.

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It was delicious.

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We could see Seoul Tower from our hotel balcony.

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They had English television! Duuuuuuuur. Kathy's sitting in my suitcase.

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Looking down at Seoul after riding a cable car to the top of Namsan (literally South Mountain).

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The perfect time of year to see the fall colors.

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Seoul Tower sits atop Namsan. The top is 1574 ft above sea level. It made me all nostalgic for Seattle.

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This colorful man had hulas that never stopped! You couldn't watch him and not smile.

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The sentries(?) of the Namsan smoke signal station. The station was in operation until 1895. Made me think of LOTR.

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Little kids play the drums at the signal station.

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Kathy eats the... torch? What if they need to light the fire?

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Light and shadow inside the Tower observation deck.

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Looking up. No wait, looking down? I'm dizzy.

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Looking out at Seoul from the Tower.

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Kind of like a giant sundial.

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We ate a type of chicken soup at a small Korean restaurant. A whole chicken stuffed with rice in hot chicken water. Mmm?

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Preparing for a Korean body scrub. Uh pass. Kathy and I explored Namdaemun Market instead, overrun with fake brand goods

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After two days in South Korea, we're on the shuttle heading for the airport around 5 AM. Yawn.

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Masako's sleepy.

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So is Kathy, even though she claims not to be.

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Not Meg! She's full of pep and ready for the day.

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The benefits of stealing the back of the bus.

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After a long drive from Tokyo, we arrive at Fujinomiya 5th Station. Myself, my manager, and coworker/climbing partner.

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Plants were rare. We climbed without lights, the moon and stars lighting the path. The occasional white arrow helped too

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It was dark so we couldn't really enjoy the mountain's natural colors. (The flash helps shed some, well, light.)

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Passing under the torii, Shinto gate, at one of the ascending stations. Looks a bit weathered.

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There were a few huts where you could sleep (for a price). This is the roof of one. All ready to brave the harsh winter.

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We almost missed this moment, having just arrived at the summit perhaps five minutes before, after a seven hour climb.

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2007-09-03

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2007-09-03

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2007-09-03

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2007-09-03

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Sitting on top of the world! Or Japan at least.

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Such a cool pic! I don't care that you're not supposed to say that about pictures you're in. We're on top of a mountain!

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Looking down down down and definitely NOT looking forward to the descent.

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Fuji-san has a few rocks to spare. Some MAY have accidentally slipped into my backpack by mistake.

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Colorful strata around the crater.

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Looking into the volcano's crater.

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I wasn't expecting bubbling lava, but... well, I was expecting something a 'little' more exciting.

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...Shutterfly forced cropping! Ah well. Another torii marking the Gotemba trail, our chosen trail of descent.

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I didn't mind not having a "view" of the surrounding region. This was a spectacular view itself.

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The Gotemba trail. Miles of loose pebbly black volcanic rock. It's famous because you can "run" down. If you're insane!

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Looking back at the summit. We walked that??

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Fuji hides itself.

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The looooooong trail to the fifth station. Hopping down the soft trail felt a bit like (how I imagine) moonwalking.

We're off!
On the early morning Komachi Super Express (bullet train) headed to Tokyo. Don't want to miss our plane!

Let them eat Starbucks...
Turns out we didn't need to worry. Our plane was delayed five hours. Airport Starbucks!

Sigh
With Starbucks long digested, the mood turns sour.

You're entering...the scary door
Our plane arrives! What pleasures await us aboard China Air? FYI: NONE! It's the airline from hell. Never. Ever. Again.

Duck's blood soup?
Our Beijing hotel was in the restaurant district. Unfortunately they only served food I had assumed were stereotypes.

I SEE you
Our hotel bathroom freaked me out. Bottom: glass. Middle: 'frosted' glass (pfft). Top: mirror.

Fish blood soup? No, just deco
Just outside our room. Those fish must get so bored.

Morning life
The busy restaurant district was dead in the morning. No breakfast.

C'est Paris
Ah, the view from our Paris hostel.

C'est Paris... encore
Warning: many more pictures of the Eiffel Tower soon to come.

That's right, I work out
It's not as heavy as it looks.

Someone peeps
Getting ready for a night out in Paris.

It looms
I told you. More to come.

This is August weather?
I looked happy, but I didn't know that in a few hours I'd be freezing on top of the Tower. Jacket? It was August!

Illuminated
Parisians may hate it, but it was so much more impressive than I had assumed.

L'amore
Kathy loves Paris.

I tripped
Approaching...

Witty title lost
A closer look.

Resistance is futile
Looking up from below. Am I the only one who's reminded of a borg ship? Man I'm a nerd! Thanks a lot Dad.

You light up my senses
Every hour it would sparkle. A totally unexpected surprise.

We've reached the top! Almost.
When you're at the top, the sparkling lights make your eyes bug out a little. But still, cool.

Illuuuminations, Michael
Paris night view.

You lookin at moi?
After a few hours sleep, we board the Thalys bullet train and head for Amsterdam. Jet lag? HA! I'm on vacation.

6 AM, or thereabouts
Sleepy French countryside.

Silent treatment
Kathy said I was being antisocial, but I wanted to put the little details on paper before they were lost... in a blur!

Vue double
Two pictures in one! Looks like I'm still writing.

Arriving in Brussels
Viewing Brussels from the train.

Oooh, shiny
Seems nice. Very modern.

Oooh, medieval
But also historical in that way only Europe can be.

Oooh, claustrophobic
A tight squeeze.

You call this art?
Japan has no graffiti. But it's everywhere in Europe! A little disappointing, but sometimes cool.

Post-Brussels ride
Belgian countryside. Or perhaps Dutch. I don't know when exactly we crossed the border.

Corn?
Nice farms.

Cerulean blue
Big sky.

Kathy's bored on the train
And jet lag finally sets in, along with a terrible cold, probably from not wearing a jacket (in AUGUST) the night before

SpongeBob stays enthusiastic
Jet lag isn't content with just one in its clutches.

It's only natural
HaHA! Kathy says all her pictures of me from this trip are of me sleeping. Well I woke long enough to snap this shot.

Daywalker? Walking dead?
Still sleepy, but in Amsterdam! I fit a week's worth of clothes in that tiny Ninja Turtle suitcase. I was very proud.

Dude
Hey wow, check out that totally cool pink bicycle! Oh yeah, I hate pink.

Canals
It may seem like there are a lot of bikes, but after Beijing it's nothing.

Boats in a line
The canals were very cool.

Red light canals
A PERFECT day in Amsterdam. Blue sky, warm weather and great scenery.

Tallness
Not to mention cool buildings.

A tight squeeze
How cool would it be to live in one of these flats? (Are they called flats in the Netherlands?)

Rad Razor... and random titles
Lovely window gardens.

Big buns
The Red Light district wasn't SO sleazy during the day, although there were a few hefty ladies in some of the windows.

Staring Down the Abyss
Candid shot in the Sex Museum. This was the tame area.

Do I make you horny?
For sexy times.

Let there be red light!
This church was directly across from Sexy Land, in the middle of the Red Light district. So how's business these days?

Share the load
Atlas carries the weight of the world on his shoulders over the Royal Palace.

Pointy
The Magna Plaza Shopping Mall, just behind the Royal Palace.

Strange juxtaposition
Where else can you find Anne Frank graffiti?

Red red...
Getting sunburned outside Anne Frank's house. The wait to get in was over an hour.

Outside looking in
You can't see the house from outside, only the outer shell of the museum.

Stepping into history
One of those weird moments when you feel intimately connected to history. The street outside Anne Frank's house.

Wake up you fool!
We took a canal cruise. However, you'll see no pictures because, well. I was sick ok! I really regret missing it though.

Heaven compared to China Air
We spent the night at the airport. While waiting to board the plane to London, a girl next to us threw up. Lovely.

Anticipation
Over the English Channel. I love clouds (from above) but was worried I wouldn't be able to see England.

Satisfaction
I needn't have worried. English countryside! Words can't convey how thrilled I was at the time these photos were taken.

Release the hounds!
Mist on the moors!! (Not really moorland, but that's a mere technicality.)

Nice
So beautiful. How much history has taken place here?

More niceness
These images may seem redundant, but they're for my dad, as well as myself.

You can't hide
A castle hiding in the mist? Some celebrity hideaway? Who knows.

Hungry?
Nice tasty crisps. I love this picture, but it's not mine. Credit goes to Masako. We have a similar photographic eye.

Big
Buckingham Palace.

Not so flashy
It's big, but kind of...blocky. We just missed the changing of the guard. Oh well, next time.

Hooray for symbols
Royal crest.

Mixing with the commonfolk
Just outside the gate.

Chains are all the rage
The lion symbolizes England, the unicorn Scotland. Legend says free unicorns are dangerous so this one's chained.

FREEDO-- oh wait, no.
I don't see why the UNICORN must remain chained when it seems like free LIONS are more dangerous. And territorial.

Here's not looking at you
Reach for the sky.

Beware athlete's foot
Masako plays footsy with the Angel of Justice.

Know your place
The Queen Victoria Memorial, just outside Buckingham Palace. Built in 1911.

I spy with my wrinkley eye
The sculptor left little to the imagination... How would you like all YOUR wrinkles engraved in marble forever?

Pride
Gryffindor.

You shall not pass!
The outer statues were a gift from New Zealand.

Didn't wanna go in anyway...
A portion of St. James's Palace, a stone's throw (if thrown by an Olympian) from Buckingham Palace. Closed to the public

You shall not pass! Part deux
A bobby! Outside St. James's.

Blind leading the blind
Onward! I lead the way.

Arches
Admiralty Arch. On the other side is Trafalgar Square, but we didn't go through. Instead, we got sidetracked.

Maps misread
I thought THIS was Trafalgar Sq. and was severely disappointed until a quick map check fixed everything. It's Admiralty.

Horsing around
We were able to watch the changing of the sleepy horse guards.

Nice... sword
There were many signs warning that the horses bite, but I'm sure it's a lie. Look at them, they're beautiful!

Look Ma!
These guys must hate tourists. But hey, I'm sure this is all in the job description. Deal with it.

It's a shoe shine-off
"MOVE AWAY FROM THE ARCH!" This guy was very picky about where people stood. A little scary. Our shoes are equally shiny

Looking a little down
A sleepy pigeon and cool textures.

London landmarks
Spare some change?

Even more well-known landmark
Big Ben looms. It doesn't really seem all that big but the minute hands are 14 ft long. Peter Pan has to stand somewhere

No time to smell the flowers
After backtracking we're back on track and on our way to the real Trafalgar Square. Nelson's Column looms ahead.

Familiar sights
Admiralty Arch from the other side.

"I hate pigeons."
Lord Nelson stands atop his column.

Who is Edwin Landseer?
Panels displaying the Battle of Cape St Vincent (east) and the Death of Nelson (north), along with Edwin Landseer's lion

"He's always looking down on me"
Ride!

Pay no attention to the... thing
That statue creeped me out. What are you!? A man, a woman, or a deformed baby?? Make up your mind!

Where it's at
Trafalgar Square and the National Art Gallery.

Must've eaten some bad shellfish
Vomiting merchildren aren't the most appealing image.

Chim chim cher-ee
Looking out across London from the Square.

Sans pigeons
THIS is how I imagined Trafalgar Square.

Sneaking
Inside the National Art Gallery. We didn't have time to look around, only to use the loo.

Breaking the rules
The arch from inside. I got in trouble for taking this pic, and promptly put my camera away.

Gloomy shades
The Tower of London. We didn't go inside (I was outvoted). But it was still cool to see from beyond the moat.

Now's your chance!
I didn't see anyone making a run for it.

It's quite cheery
The flowers placate the tortured souls still wandering the grounds.

Think of the children!
Even prisoners deserve a break (that doesn't involve bones) every now and then.

Towers over Thames
The Tower Bridge, not the London Bridge, because some might make that mistake. Not me of course.

A little dim
The grey sky didn't dampen my spirit. In fact, this is how I picture London. The streetlight is missing something though

Zoom
More details

Splash
Feeling a bit blue...

On the bridge
Should I be standing here?

The dark tower
Tower Bridge is falling down... No, just doesn't have the same ring.

Title missing
I have no idea what this structure is but that naked guy is most likely Poseidon.

A wideangle would've been nice
Saint Paul's Cathedral, completed in 1708.

Feeling cut off
A wide-angle lens would have been handy.

A bit of blue and a lot of grey
The clock tower.

Nosey
Kathy searches for answers, lending a sense of scale to the big picture.

Feed the birds
Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's, the little old bird woman comes... "Come, buy my bags full of crumbs."

An Inconvenient Square!
The sign says "Paternoster Square Management apologise for any inconvenience caused." Yeah they should be sorry.

A happy happenstance
Masako and I were both waiting for this shot for a while. That plane isn't just happenstance you know.

Light and shadow
It wasn't until perusing each other's pics that Masako and I noticed we had this same shot. We share a photographic eye.

Stylish on the streets of London
Posers.

Keep it up
Some renovation of Westminster Abbey.

Got the time?
Big Ben and the Eye behind it. I think Ben's a bit confused...

A rather nice shot
The Houses of Parliament.

The winners write history
Cromwell, Lord Protector, held in high esteem here. But I cringed when I saw this. His invasion of Ireland was horrific.

Cool architecture
Stained glass above the north entrance of Westminster Abbey.

Worn
So much history in this building.

Weary
How many centuries has this little guy had to share the load?

Downtrod
Same goes for this one, but he's in a bit better shape.

Anyone home?
I knocked and knocked but there was no answer. Guess the answer's only ever in your head.

It's charades! Oooh, guess who!
Kathy wanted to get us chased off the Westminster grounds with torches and pitchforks.

Nice contrast
I'm against the institution but I love the structure. Westminster Abbey from yet another angle (HA, I typed angel).

Shadowy figure
Not sure who you are, but this guy was looking down on everyone around Westminster.

Enjoying the evening sun
We were feeling a bit bleh from the fish 'n chips we'd eaten earlier. Nonetheless, amazing, watching the Thames go by.

Annoying construction
Westminster Bridge, with Parliament in the background.

"Move along. Move along."
Outside the London Aquarium. There are least likelier places to find these guys, but still, it was unexpected.

L'Elephant Giraffe
Also outside the aquarium, Dali designs. I have a print with these critters back home. Love them!

Watch where you're stepping
Stand by me...

Got the time? No, I guess not.
His famous melting clocks.

Good evening sir!
Look who we ran into while buying our tickets for the Eye! What a gentleman.

And a fine hello to you too!
Scandalous!

Almost there
Damn you shutterfly, ruining my carefully framed photos. Well, just imagine it's not cut off.

Ascending as the night descends
Starting the twilight ascent.

Looking west-ish
Night falls over London.

Nice glass
Cool modern building. I believe it's Charing Cross Station.

The details are blurry
This statue was on the other side of the river. Not sure why I was fixated with it at the time, but I HAD to get a pic.

Happiness
A stylish lass enjoying the city of her dreams.

In the city of my dreams
Big Ben, and even bigger Jen. However there will be NO Bennifer here.

Coming round
Another look at Westminster Bridge and Parliament.

London landmarks
That's Buckingham Palace in the back, St. James's Park Lake, and what might be the Ministry of Defense.

Almost full circle
The London Aquarium. You can see the Stormtroopers again, the Dali sculptures and a cool trampoline.

Love it all
I love my camera's zoom. This was taken from the Eye on our descent.

Cut off
Imagine this framed perfectly and you'll have my original image. ...Stupid Shutterfly.

Dance dance
Look Ma! I caught me a pod! ...I wish it were an iPod. *sigh*

Hold on
Spin spin spin...

Be glad there's no audio to this
Being dorks on the underground. We were also practicing the Japanese alphabet. A I U E O. Ka Ki Ku Ke Ko... and so on.

Pay up biatch
Kathy has a thing for all the British Monopoly landmarks (crazy Australian!). Piccadilly Circus and Waterloo were others

A little freaky
The Underground. This tunnel freaked Masako out. Even this photo brings back bad memories. I'll admit it is a bit creepy

Who are you?
Oh my god, I'm wearing PINK! Actually, that top belongs to Kathy. But still... *shudder*

Gaudy
It's called the Prince Albert... Memorial. Located in Kensington Gardens.

Divine details
A closer look at the Albert Memorial.

So long, farewell. Sayonara.
This is the last photo I took before leaving my camera behind. Were the dark clouds an omen? This statue represents Asia

Not my photo
The following pics are from Kathy and Masako. Our Parisian hotel, located in the Latin quarter. It took us ages to find.

Ditto on the previous title
Another look at the little side-street.

My favorite moment.
We ate baguettes and crepes and sat along the River Seine watching boys fish and listening to distant music. Summertime.

Girls Behaving Badly
A game called 'Toss the Mattress on Jen with Masako Wrapped Inside.' Isn't this what normal girls do in hotel rooms?

Not pictured
We met up with Karita and Dave, who just happened to be in Paris at the same time...only you wouldn't know from this pic

Old with the new
Saint Michael and the Metro along the Boulevard Saint-Michel. Mixing yesterday's long past with today.

Let the light shine on
Masako took this great pic of Notre Dame.

God help the outcasts
Notre Dame's famous rose stained glass window.

Perky
A nice photo courtesy Masako.

Some street
Another nice picture from Masako-sensei.

What's up now!
A little sense of scale. You can see just how massive the Eiffel Tower really is.

Sans purse, camera, wallet, keys
The roofs of Paris behind me. Notice how I have no purse? That's because it's also behind me... in London.

Sacred Heart
The Sacre Coeur. I don't know why but whenever I see this pic I think it's a painting.

Cafe des Deux Moulins
This is the cafe where the movie Amelie was filmed.

Boo!
Inside the cafe. HORRIBLE service and coffee, not to mention it's all overpriced. I wish Amelie really did work there.

One day I'll fly away...
The Moulin Rouge. I like the movie version better.

The Arc de Triomphe
As with the Eiffel Tower, I was blown away by just how big it really is, the 2nd largest arch in the world. N.Korea wins

Don't follow the light!
Walking through to the Louvre courtyard.

Frozen in time
There was a special display from... Greece? This was all we saw, since we didn't have time to actually go inside.

.............................Wow
Once AGAIN I was in shock and awe at the size of a landmark. Not the pyramid, the museum itself! Unbelievably enormous.

The Arc's little hermano
This is the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, to the Louvre's west. It's perfectly aligned with the other Arc de Triomphe.

Sayonara!
On our way back to Tokyo, dreading the China Air flight, but all smiles nonetheless. What an amazing trip.

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The pavilion, built in 1435, marking the end of the Sacred Way, part of the Ming Tombs complex.

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Closer look at the details. This structure didn't seem as "modernly historic" as others. It actually looked old.

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A common roofing motif. Can you spot the little bird?

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Stone tablet on the back of a 50 ton marble tortoise. The tablet lists various achievements, merits and even poetry.

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18 pairs of statues line the Sacred Way. Each was carved from a whole stone.

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The mythological Qilin (in Japanese, Kirin - also a famous beer brand), second in power only to the Dragon.

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The elephant, symbolizing dependability. Its legs are bent incorrectly because its sculptors had never actually seen one

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A court official. Or perhaps soldier. Or both?

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The Dragon and Phoenix Gate. Dragons symbolize the Emperor, while the phoenix was the symbol of the Empress.

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Jade tigers guarding the entrance to a jade factory we toured.

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The following were taken from the bus as we made our way to the Great Wall. This is the China not shown by the media.

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A lucky homeowner - no broken windows.

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Countless shanty towns shadowed by the Great Wall in the distance.

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A nicer abode. But the roof was still only metal sheets held down with bricks.

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Looks fun, but deserted.

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06-04-2007

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Rush hour on main street.

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This was a Monday, yet almost all the shops we passed were empty.

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Building materials littered the streets.

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Beside one of the shanties was this beautiful park.

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We passed many military vehicles. I felt a little nervous taking this photo, even though I'm in no way a photojournalist

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Not on the Great Wall yet, just the sickeningly twisty road winding up to it. Beautiful views though.

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Finally, a glimpse of history!

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In the tram. It says "President William J. Clinton took this car down the Great Wall on June 28th, 1998." How cool!

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"Once intended to ward off enemy attacks today it brings together the peoples of the world. The Great Wall."

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So beautiful!

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Here it is. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, about two hours out of Beijing. Less crowded than the touristy Badaling portion.

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Cozying up to the Wall.

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Outside one of the 22 beacon towers on the 20 km section of the Wall.

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What ho! A foe!? No, just trees.

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This is what happens when you forget your keys.

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Heading towards the light!

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Emerging from below. "You call these stairs??"

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Perched atop the beacon tower. It's a long way down.

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Sure, the Great Wall covers an enormous distance, but the claim it can be seen from space is a lie.

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A small watchtower.

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This is my favorite image.

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I'm sure the Wall was useful, but what kind of army would actually attack in such a mountainous, forested region?

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The Mutianyu section of the Wall is 7-8 meters high and 4-5 meters wide.

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Look at these ancient guardian statues, cleverly placed so as to charm any potential invaders. So well preserved!

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Although portions of Mutianyu were restored in 1988, this section of the Wall is well preserved.

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Original granite. If I were to steal a little piece, this is the spot I would have taken it from. But I didn't.

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Looking back. Or is it forward?

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Snaking away toward infinity. It's amazing what man can accomplish. I wonder how many were buried in the stones below...

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The Bird's Nest. You'll be seeing this on TV during the '08 Olympics. Our guide stopped and told us to take pictures. :\

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A tranquil Chinese tea garden with overpriced (but delicious!) Chinese tea.

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I apologize for the poor quality, but this was the only snapshot I had of this traditional Chinese instrument.

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The stage at a touristy kung fu show our guide took Kathy and I to (after kicking the American guy off the tour early!).

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After the show.

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The next stop after kung fu - Tienanmen Square. I was too scared to ask our guide for a 'history' of the Square.

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A pillar in Tienanmen Square. Don't know what it says. Maybe "On this spot in 1989, nothing happened" (from Simpsons)

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A familiar face? There's no escaping it.

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Back again the following morning. There are gardens beyond this building and then the Forbidden City.

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The front gate leading into the square. Those black dots above are birds. I was the lucky waste recipient of one of them

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A closer look at the vibrant colors

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Our guide told us this is China's congressional building. China has a congress??

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A sculpture outside Mao's mausoleum. Onward Communist Soldiers!

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Panorama. Tienanmen Square is the world's largest open-air square. It can hold 90 American football fields.

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Lurking in the gardens outside the walled (and moated) Forbidden City.

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Nothing special, just a window I liked.

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Through the portal to tomorrow.

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Outside looking in on the Forbidden City. It's only forbidden if you lack the 60 RMB required to enter.

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Following the train of parasols.

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Many of the buildings in the forbidden city featured historic artifacts - weapons, saddles, mirrors - mostly replicas.

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Only imperial dragons have five 'toes.' I learned this in sixth grade and FINALLY that knowledge came in 'handy.' Ar ar.

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06-05-2007

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06-05-2007

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I was going for the decapitated look, but the harsh sun was making me cry and ruining my photo.

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There we go! Bodies are overrated.

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I wasn't sure if climbing on the structures was allowed, but no one was around.

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06-05-2007

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I was pretending to photograph the gate, but my focus was what I thought was a traditional monk. He was only a tourist.

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One of a plethora of gates within the Forbidden City.

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An empress's room. Very nice!

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Ancient Chinese technology was extremely advanced, as you can see.

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I love this doorway.

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One of many enormous copper (?) basins placed around the city. I liked the colors and textures.

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There are many similar rocks around the city.

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I wonder how many hundreds of years this rock has sat in the Imperial Garden.

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The tree of life? It's so... twisted.

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Trumpet flowers.

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Imperial Garden walkway - detail.

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Inside one of the garden's gazebo structures.

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I LOVE this color combination. I had to wait forever to get this photo as people kept walking through the gateway.

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The circle never ends.

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Jingshan Park just beyond the Forbidden City. Built in 1179, it's the highest point in Beijing. We trekked up to the top

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I wonder how old this miniature tree is.

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Bamboo is overrated. Not sure what the pandas find so great about it.

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Jingshan Park peak. There was an enormous Buddha inside this building but photography was prohibited. So here you go.

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Looking down on the Forbidden City.

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Ah, there's nothing like a little Chinese pollution to get your day started.

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Looking out at Beijing.

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Looking out at Beijing.

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The long hike around the Forbidden City back to our hotel to catch the airport taxi.

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Kakunodate, known for its preserved samurai houses and cherry blossoms. During Golden Week it's packed, as you can see.

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Unique 'weeping' cherry trees sent from Kyoto when a princess, forced to reside in Kakunodate, crying, felt homesick.

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Gate leading to an old samurai dwelling.

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Inside the samurai home.

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Reflecting on the sights.

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Looking backwards... in a way.

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A traditional dance.

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2007-04-29

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Drinking matcha within the sanctuary of an old tea garden. Kathy, myself and the student who drove us to Kakunodate.

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Lost amongst the blossoms.

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Pretty.

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Also pretty.

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Random sculpture.

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Quaint streetlight.

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Someone's little window garden.

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Overwhelmed by blossoms.

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Kakunodate's famous view - rows of cherry trees lining the riverside.

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2007-04-29

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We weren't the only ones thinking a riverside picnic was a good idea.

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Picnicking in style. (No shoes on the mat.)

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Surprise surprise. Guess who didn't think to wear sunscreen. My first sunburn in Japan!

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2007-04-29

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These are everywhere.

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Lake Tazawa, the deepest in Japan. The color isn't natural. Alkylating agents were added to reduce the natural acidity.

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Oh where oh where has my dear snow gone? Barren snowboarding slopes are a sad sight indeed.

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This princess wanted to remain beautiful forever, so a god transformed her into a dragon. Now she resides in the lake.

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For some reason, this scene reminds me of Lake Taupo in New Zealand.

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2007-04-29

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Moving ahead two days, this is Hirosaki in Aomori prefecture, about 3 hours out of Akita by train.

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A gate leading to the castle grounds.

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Hirosaki Castle.

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This guy was rocking out. Not really, but it looks like it here.

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A grey day, but that didn't dampen the brightness.

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ONE man asked to take our picture. Suddenly we were surrounded by a swarm of clicking cameras. Got one for us as well.

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This was the one day I laxed my anti-pink rule.

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At least there's no fluffy kitty in the shot.

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No, my skin isn't reflecting the rosy hue. I was still sunburned from the previous day's picnic.

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My sis made my bracelet. It says Carpe Diem.

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What a poser.

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The lanterns around the grounds featured various images. Aomori prefecture is well-known for its apples.

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Not sure what this is.

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Ah, good ole cup noodles.

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Streamside trees. Not quite as stunning as at Kakunodate.

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Well, this WOULD have been a beautiful shot, had the weather been more cooperative. I think this is Mt. Iwate. Not sure.

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I love the shape of this tree.

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Reach for the sky.

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Quaint.

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The sun starts to peek out.

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Tranquil reflections.

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A tree off the main path framed this shot nicely. Looking back at the bridge.

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Always a perfect little angel.

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Even angels get hungry.

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Natural highlights.

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This is Akita, viewed from Omori Zoo. My apartment is down and to the left of the little white box sticking up far right

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Hey lion.

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Kathy wanted to snuggle up beside this guy.

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Hi. (Pun intended.)

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Stripes! Nature's design. Patterns in time.

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Twisted.

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I love the textures in this pic. Wish my lashes looked like that.

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This was the saddest meercat I've ever seen. It was all by itself in a tiny pen.

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Not a friend in the world.

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This little guy reminded me of some of my kids at the school.

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Very touching.

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Smart mama. I loved watching this 'feeding.' Sure I watch Animal Planet, but I've never seen chimps use tools in person.

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Success! So true to human life. Mum does all the work, but guess who reaps the reward without so much as a thank you...

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Aw.

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This little guy was training for his day in the bird show spotlight.

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This guy was on a mission. Secretly digging his way out behind a rock in the corner. Good luck!

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This Japanese macaque was sitting in the pond. He looks a bit cold.I don't think it was heated like the ones in Hokkaido

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The capibara, or "water pig." It's the world's largest rodent. Don't you just want to give it a squeeze? No?

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An albino peacock!? It wouldn't come out, but still. Very cool!

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Showing off for the peahens.

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Breathtaking colors.

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Due to Shutterfly's annoying automatic cropping, this guy looks like he's trying to break out of the picture frame.

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Relax.

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They had rides at the zoo. Not exactly thrilling, but still... fun.

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My manager and the student who organized our zoo trip. As Kathy says, "scheduled fun."

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I took this picture for my sis. Love and pig. In high heels? With UFOs??

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A segue to my next album featuring the cherry trees in full bloom. They were just peeking out at this point.

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At the Gao Aquarium. Kathy wouldn't let us in. I like this pic because of the reflection. Can you see us?

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The giant octopus attacks!

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Amazing colors for a creature that tries to stay hidden.

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Cool textures.

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2007-04-08

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A nice arrangement. Can you spot the salamander?

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Resting.

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Kathy ponders by the jellyfish.

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Boring, maybe. But to me it looked like a miniature underwater city.

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Gao Aquarium may be small, but it has cool escalators with flashing lights.

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Gao's star.

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Aren't polar bears supposed to be white?

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He looked sad.

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This guy kept circling the polar bear. Looking for a snack maybe?

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My manager Naomi and I. We scratched our names into the wall. You can't see it though.

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Oga beaches are all rocks. My favorite!

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Kathy got left behind.

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I pushed forward toward the sea, leaving everyone behind. Doesn't it look like I'm wandering through Mordor?

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The difficult climb was worth it.

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I've missed watching sunsets over the ocean.

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Taken as I tumbled into the sea. ...Not really.

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Farewell.

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The things we foreigners put up with. They made us dress up as Santa for our work Christmas party.

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Guess I lost my hat as the night progressed.

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At an izakaya, a popular type of restaurant featuring cheap food and drinks. Everyone splits the bill evenly so drink up

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The following are random pictures. Enjoy!

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Students

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Students

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Students

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Students

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Students

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This is a "kamakura" - a popular type of Japanese igloo - located outside the Tazawa train station.

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Inside the kamakura.

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A peep-hole looking out.

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Shifting focus.

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The bus to Mt. Tazawa passed Tazawa lake. There was snow on the shore. Beautiful, but difficult to snap a good shot.

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A glimpse of the lake.

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Snowy shore glare.

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On our way to Tazawa-ko for a day of snowboarding. A gorgeous day.

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2007-02-25

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2007-02-25

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I liked the contrast in this image. It was taken from the bus. Sorry for the blur.

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The sun was too bright to see the image in the viewfinder. I THOUGHT it was the mountain, but apparently was a bit off.

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My coworker Masako and a cute guy from the rental shop.

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A closer look at the ski slopes.

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Sugichi (sugi means cedar) - Akita City's mascot. Looks like he's a little scared.

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The view from the top. Isn't sepia nice? That's lake Tazawa.

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Charlie's Angels? Masako, Kathy and I.

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More slopes. A beautiful beautiful day, but the snow was too icy. Lots of very painful falls. At least the view was nice

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Look at that cool snowboarder.

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Too cool for school?

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Ew, who poohed on the mountain?

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There was a snow festival at the base of the slopes. Lots of amazing sculptures.

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2007-02-25

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2007-02-25

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2007-02-25

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If you've seen the anime Spirited Away, you'll recognize this character. Yubaba.

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2007-02-25

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More Spirited Away characters.

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At first I thought it was just a cool dragon. But then I recognized it as the cool dragon Haku from Spirited Away.

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Haku.

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A candy fair held in Odate, a small city about 2 hours from Akita by train. It attracts roughly 200,000 people each year

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Thousands of candies are tied to trees along the main street. Hundreds of stalls line Amekko market.

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You're not supposed to pick the candy off the trees. But you can buy your own branch at any one of the stalls.

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Good luck tags are tied beside the candies.

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Eating candy on this day will bring you good health for the year... so they say.

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Imagine my surprise to see Gandalf at the festival! Actually, it's Shirahige O-kami, a god that lives on Mt. Tashirodake

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Kathy and I having some fun.

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SO cute! Odate is known for raising very expensive Akita purebreds. I miss my little Yorkie.

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At first, I thought this Xmas tree was a bit out of place. But it's Sugichi, Akita's mascot! 'Sugi' means cedar wood.

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The view from Odate while walking back to the train station. You can see swans on all the lakes and rivers.

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I don't know if they flock to Akita every year or if it's because of our mild winter this season.

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After the candy festival we took a 3-hour train ride to Oga for the Namahage festival.

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The festival is held at the Namahage Museum. This was my second time there, though it was MUCH more crowded this time.

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I found out these folded white papers you see at every shrine and temple are meant to calm the spirits.

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Guarding the entrance...

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Run kids, it's the namahage! Is there anything more relaxing than cries of terror filling the chill night air?

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I think it's got something in its nose....

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A band of namahage playing the drums while colors flash red and blue and sparks and snowflakes swirl around you. Cool.

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Osaka Castle. I only saw it at night, but this picture would have been better with daylight.

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Osaka-jo reflected. I took this picture because it looked like a demented face - a gargoyle (or Shrek) wearing a tophat.

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Be prepared. I took a lot of Osaka-jo pictures.

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Playing with colors. Black and white accented by the teal roof.

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More color manipulation. Is anybody home?

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2007-01-14

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2007-01-14

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The castle was built on a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from sword assaults.

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Feeling up for a climb?

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Last one, I swear.

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A small shrine on the castle grounds. Those colorful papers are tiny origami cranes - hundreds of them.

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The view atop the Umeda Sky Building, the 7th tallest (but absolute coolest) building in Osaka.

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Okay, I lied. This is the last picture of Osaka Castle. It glows like a beacon even from miles away.

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Just a boring decoration in the Sky Building, but I like it. I've said before, I like trees, even fake ones.

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A 2 sec. exposure - without a tripod! These are the escalators that connect the two 40-story towers of the Sky Building.

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My Aussie co-worker descending the escalator. The composition of this shot was accidental. I tripped while snapping it.

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Outside Universal Studios Japan.

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My all-time FAVORITE ride. A quasi roller-coaster with 3D glasses, crazy villains and the greatest superhero ever.

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We went on a Monday so it wasn't very crowded. The wait for Spiderman averaged 5-10 minutes.

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It took several rides before we figured out where the camera was. This is the 6th spidey picture we appeared in that day

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The Back to the Future ride. Also very cool, but the Doc just isn't the same dubbed in Japanese.

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Pretty birdy.

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Cue the Jurassic Park theme music.

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The Jurassic Park ride was down the day we went! We were *extremely* disappointed. Pfft, maintenance my foot.

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Uh... someone lose a tooth?

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Peeping Tom.

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Me, um, *trying* to pull off a sexy pose.

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Oh no! So THIS is what happens when they shut down the ride!

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Save me Jebus! A staff member hurried over, pointing to the rope barrier. But not before I got my photo, mwa ha ha.

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We did not waste our time on the lame Jaws ride.

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It's Bert!

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Searching for cookies...

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The Japanese LOVE Snoopy. He got his own 'land' in the park. Kiddy rides, but the little roller coaster was still fun.

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Personally, Woodstock is my favorite.

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So cute...

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The land of Oz.

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Nice and colorful...

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Following the yellow brick road.

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A special presentation of Wicked, the Broadway musical. *sigh* It was all Japanese, except Elphaba, who sang in English.

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For some reason the TinMan would turn and walk away whenever we'd try to get a photo with him! It took ages to get this!

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The Wicked set. That dragon came to life during the show. Pretty cool.

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Taken at the Ocean Expo Park in Okinawa. As a Cancer myself, this guy was my favorite.

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Apparently floral sculptures are quite popular around the island.

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There's certainly no shortage of flowers.

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A strange variety of coconut?

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Several dolphins kept jumping at that exact spot. Maybe they were looking at the dolphins in the other (top right) tank?

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You can't look at a grin like that and not smile back.

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A slightly different view. Ever seen inside a dolphin's mouth? Me neither.

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So cute.

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Fuji had fluke necrosis and lost her tail fin. The aquarium designed a special prosthetic to help her swim normally.

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Unlike humans, dolphins can see well both in and out of water. It's a strange feeling, being eyed by a dolphin.

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Baby sea turtles! Not sure why this one had a algae coat.

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I thought the turtle on the left was dead, but then another turtle came over and started nudging it until it responded.

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This is one of my favorite photos.

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Bros in da hood.

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I didn't see the sun at all in Okinawa, but the ocean was beautiful nonetheless.

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A false killer whale, I believe. Sadly, it's more common to see this species on the supermarket shelf than in this state

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Round and round...

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How cool it must feel to fly, even for a few seconds.

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Whale acrobatics.

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Sorry about the poor quality. It's a manatee (or a shark, according to my parents ;)

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Beautiful Okinawan beaches I didn't actually walk on.

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For the record I did not pull the palm frond to frame this photo. It was a very windy day.

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An extremely cool tree.

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A closer look. What can you see in its twisted trunk?

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Not the best shot, but I like the unintentional mise en abyme quality (A phrase from a postmodernism class. Look it up).

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This guy probably got picked on in school.

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Reminds me of the Great Barrier Reef.

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Some sort of ornamental fish found around China. It was really fast and a pain to photograph.

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It's Dory!

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Ooooh, jelly.

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The COOLEST aquarium I've ever seen! It was enormous, and contained at least three whale sharks, plus much more!

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Check out my blog for a video.

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Bow before the mighty whale shark.

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So many beautiful flowers in Okinawa - hibiscus, and even wild poinsettias.

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More flowers...

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Gyokusendo Cave, the 2nd longest in Japan. This Shisa greeted those entering. Or perhaps it was meant to scare them out?

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At 25 degrees C and 90% humidity, I had to keep de-fogging my camera lens.

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Mutant tubers?

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Wish I knew what this said.

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A detailed look at the Golden Cup.

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Golden Cup. A nearby sign says "This limestone stalagmite is 2.5m high and 31m in girth," the largest in Japan.

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Wish I knew what this said...

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According to the visitor's guide, Gyokusendo has 1,000,000 stalactites. Such an even number!

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I'd never been in a cave quite like this before...

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Puts you in the holiday spirit, I guess.

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Welcome to the bat cave! I did see a couple bats, or rather, two things flying really quickly (bats outta hell?).

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Ah, enjoy the natural sights...

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The Thousand Monks.

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No idea how this formed, but it's really cool.

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Pineapples! I had no idea they grew in the ground. I'd always just assumed they budded off trees or something.

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A glassblower working on a boar for the upcoming year (Year of the Boar - my year!)

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A small shisa guardian on the roof of a traditional Okinawan house.

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Another floral display - this one a shisa.

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I like trees. The question is: is this tree singular or plural?

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Subtropical paradise.

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A glossy shisa guardian.

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Why is she stepping on the cub? Tough love.

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This little girl was braver than most adults in the snake museum. She couldn't wait to get closer to the python.

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A "battle" between mongoose and snake (a swimming race). The mongoose one, paws down.

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A nearby sign read "ATTENTION. There are snakes living here. Please don't Throw stones or trash at this snakes."

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What's better than snakes on a plane? Snakes in a tree!

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This is my absolute favorite photo from this vacation.

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I guess my mom isn't the only one to dress her three children in matching outfits... I feel for these kids.

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A show featuring traditional Okinawan music and dance.

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2006-12-30

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2006-12-30

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A somewhat frightening Shisa. It actually approached me in the audience and swallowed me where I sat!

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I thought this guy was the cutest...

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2006-12-30

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A shrine of some sort in Naminoue Park in Naha, Okinawa's largest city and capital.

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2006-12-31

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2006-12-31

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A shrine dedicated to Confucius.

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The Naha monorail. Cheap, and fun to ride.

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The wall surrounding Shurijo Castle.

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Think you could climb it?

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A small shrine where the king would pray before setting out on a journey. I used it as shelter from torrential rains.

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Beautiful red tile rooftops.

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The gate leading into one of the outer courtyards of the castle.

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A very ugly woman (it's a man, in case you can't tell). I don't know if this was a New Year's show or something else.

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I know men traditionally performed all roles, but I swear, she really looks like a woman.

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2006-12-31

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Do what mama says!

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These two are definitely men.

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Not sure about them... Beautiful costumes nonetheless.

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I KNOW these are men. They provided the music and sang.

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"What is this, a center for ANTS?" (Zoolander quote.) A model display of Shuri Castle and the main courtyard.

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Shuri Castle - The real thing.

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You can see the Chinese influence in its architecture.

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Lots of dragons...

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More dragons.

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The castle entrance.

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Shisa.

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One of many castle gateways.

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Another castle gate.

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Tranquil castle lake.

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A heron.

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Yes. It's a duck. But aren't the feathers beautiful?

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Geese annoy me. I'm not sure if this is a goose, but it was big and kept following me around, eyeing me suspiciously.

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This haunted looking structure was near a shrine in Kofu, a small city near Mt. Fuji.

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Offerings for the new year?

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Matt and I locked in the ultimate battle. I may be smiling but don't be fooled, it was deadly serious. Really.

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Okay, so the battle ended in a tie. Matt and I on top of Kofu's castle site.

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A quaint little message on the electric tea kettle in my hotel room in Yokohama.

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The entrance to DisneySea (located beside Tokyo DisneyLand). I could see this giant globe while flying into Tokyo.

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Gateway to the park. DisneySea is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

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One of my favorite rides is in that volcano. You rocket out the top after almost getting eaten by a gigantic bug monster

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The American Waterfront section of the park, modeled after New York.

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The Tower of Terror. My first ride at Disneysea. I waited over two hours for this ride! And it wasn't even that great!

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Ah, my FAVORITE ride in the park - Indiana Jones. I rode this one twice.

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Raging Spirits roller coaster. Dueling water and fire dragons. This one was okay.

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2007-01-03

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The Arabian Coast. Didn't actually explore it since the Aladdin and Sinbad rides were down.

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Mermaid Lagoon.

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Experimenting with colors.

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2007-01-03

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2007-01-03

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Mermaid Lagoon is the kiddy area of the park, complete with Dumbo-like rides. It looks cool, though.

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Care to ride a jellyfish?

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Part of the American Waterfront, the S.S. Columbia. I only took this photo because of the name.

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Mount Prometheus looms.

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The fire spirit after the amazing BraviSEAmo spectacular. During the show it had wings and a mane of fire.

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Looking out over Oga

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Looking out over Oga

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Your friendly neighborhood namahage.

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The namahage's lair. We watched a special show in this building. The two namahage tried to drag me away. It was scary!

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A traditional Japanese style home. A bit drafty.

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I liked the roof.

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2006-11-13

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The Namahage museum.

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What pond is complete without at least one colorful fish?

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Many many different namahage styles.

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Would you want to run into them in a dark alleyway? Or even a lit one!?

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The one on the right looks like it's smoking.

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Faces only a mother could love...

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Avert your eyes, it's hideous!

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Guess who....

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Do I strike fear into your very being? I thought so.

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Asakusa Samba festival - an unexpected surprise! (But I guess that's the definition of "surprise" isn't it.)

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A rather frightening monkey.

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Moo.

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Flower children.

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Soothing colors.

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A fiery transvestite.

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The hats are a bit much. These costumes reminded me of giant cinnamon rolls.

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What I love about this pic is the old couple standing in the background.

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A nice couple.

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Beer makes everyone happy.

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I was disappointed with this "ruined" pic at first, but actually, I love the effect. It looks more like a painting.

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Colors and colors.

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Sorry about the blurry faces, but I was more interested in the kimonos.

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An enormous lantern looming over people walking through the gateway to the shopping strip and temple.

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I have to say this is the longest and most crowded shopping strip I've ever been to. Great food and souvenirs for everyo

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The shopping strip led to a temple with a five-storied pagoda.

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In the gardens surrounding the temple.

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In the gardens surrounding the temple.

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Maguro means tuna.

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Near Ueno station on our way back to Omiya.

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Omiya at night. Scary dark alleyways are practically non-existent here. This is an alleyway in the red-light district.

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What trip to Japan would be complete without a visit to a gaming arcade? I was excited to discover Mario Kart here.

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Multnomah Falls: a spectacular 620 foot drop.

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Built in 1914, the Benson Bridge separates the upper and lower falls.

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Where the noiseless, patient spider waits, I don't know, but I found this web while trying to avoid the sun's glare.

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Mt. Hood looming over Lost Lake.

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Kayaking on Lost Lake.

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A picturesque scene... which is why I took the picture.

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Taking a break.

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Dad.

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Sparkly water.

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An odd planter box.

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Nature's cycle.

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An inverted forest.

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Underbelly of an old, uprooted tree.

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Let the ospreys soar.

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Not quite as cute as the Geiko gecko, but a very cute orange-bellied salamander nonetheless.

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A well-known view. Still impressive though.

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Watch the glaciers' disappearing act...

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A sunning flutterby.

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A jolly road-side garden. Can you spot the bee?

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Flowers galore.

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Vivid hues.