As we pass through the streets of Kyoto I stealthily snap away at some of the beautiful, colourful ladies parading in traditional costume. Locals and tourists alike enjoy hiring these elaborate outfits. The women we spot are mainly wearing Yukata. These are inexpensive, informal summer robe for summer that’s popular for cherry blossom viewing parties, festivals andContinue reading “Colourful clothing and consumerism”
Tag Archives: traditional
Captivating Kyoto
Leaving Hiroshima behind the next stop on our tour is the fascinating city of Kyoto. A heady mix of bustling modern city and hauntingly beautiful traditions. Before we even get into the city however I am distracted (it doesn’t take much TBH) with a selection of colourful magazines. Then a cute little shrine, festooned with moreContinue reading “Captivating Kyoto”
Stunning Shirakawa-go
Early in the morning we head out of Takayama by bus for a day trip to the stunning Shirakawa-go area. I’ve been waiting for this ever since I saw photos on the interweb!! Shirakawa-gō is an area that encompasses several small, traditional villages showcasing a traditional building style known as gasshō-zukuri which means ‘praying hands’ toContinue reading “Stunning Shirakawa-go”
Glimpses from the train
Bright and early we’ve hopped on the Shinkansen heading out of Tokyo and towards our next destination – Takayama in the Japanese alps! As we leave the dazzling, frantic cityscape the scenery becomes more and more rural. There’s tumbling rivers, rice fields and verdant forests whizzing past us at a rate of knots. The countrysideContinue reading “Glimpses from the train”
Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks. Close to Shinjuku Station, the park boasts spacious lawns, ambling little walkways and paths and peaceful scenery that provides a welcome green oasis of calm in the heart of the relentless city. The garden has more than 20,000 trees, including approximately 1,500 cherry trees whichContinue reading “Shinjuku Gyoen”
Omoide Yokocho – Memory Lane
Heading on from the dizzying heights of the Government Buildings we head back into the heart of Shinjuku – the neon heartland of Tokyo. The throbbing, heaving neon pulse of Shinjuku offers a multitude of entertainments including bowling and the quintessential Japanese cultural essential – karaoke. In the Shinjuku district there’s a particular place that’sContinue reading “Omoide Yokocho – Memory Lane”
Silk and worms
Just uncovered a disk of extra photos from our 2013 Thai adventure. A trip around a Chiang Mai silk farm as part of a traditional crafts day! Apologies for the grainy pictures, it was quite dim inside for the sake of the moths!! The production of Thai silk begins with the Bombyx mori, a smallContinue reading “Silk and worms”
Image of the day – Bishnoi life
As promised here’s another couple of my favourite images, again from our trip to India back in in 2010 / 11. We spent new year’s day with the Bishnoi tribe in their desert home. These pictures are of the tribal elder whose lined face shows the price that his hard life has taken. The wordContinue reading “Image of the day – Bishnoi life”