Episode 243 - River in Prime Time

These photos were taken by me, alongside the river banks of the Qinhuai River, during a visit to Nanjing in November last year.

This particular section of the river at where I took the photos was situated at the heart of The Confucian Temple Area (named after the Confucian Temple erected nearby).  It was evening time. The temperature was low but the tourist area was packed with people - a must visit place it was!

In addition to the Confucian Temple, another famous spot in the area is the Jiangnan Examination Centre through where the ancient governments picked their civil servants among the outstanding students.   This was therefore an area of importance in ancient China.

Running through the city of Nanjing, the Qinhuai River should have witnessed all the ups and downs in history of China.

Whilst the river was silent, I could tell, from what I saw during the journey, that the up trend is definitely re-surfacing again.

Episode 242 - Advertisements or Fantasies?

The above are some of the many interesting, and beyond imagination, advertising signboards erected on the walls of the buildings, all along the streets in downtown Obihiro, Hokkaido.

It appears to me that the people there are not just advertising their goods and services.  These signboards are their fantasies and imaginations come true.

Episode 241 - Where is the Fairy?

The above is a photo of a michi no eki ("roadside rest area") situated along Japan National Highway No. 39.  This eki is called Meruhen-no Oka Memambetsu, meaning the Hill of Fairy at the Memambetsu (which old town, having merged with Higashimokoto, is now known as the Ōzora-cho).

It would appear that the outlook of the eki does not live up its name.  However, this is a "must visit" eki for many photography lovers.  It is because the eye catching spot "Hill of Fairy" is situated within half a minute's drive from the eki:

It's easy to drive pass this wonderful spot without noticing it if you come from a long distance.  The best way to do is to stop at the eki, take a rest there before start searching for the fairy.  

Episode 240 - Transient Beauty

Ryu Sei No Taki 

 Gin Ga No Taki

 Rope ways to Mount Kurodake

A frozen stream along the rope ways to Mount Kurodake

Landscape at Sounkyo

I took these photos at the Sounkyo and Mount Kurodake scenic areas.

Compare with the Shiretoko Goko Lakes, the landscape in the Sounkyo and Mount Kurodake scenic areas provide an intended visitor with some sort of comfort.  The quality of the landscape here will not be affected much by weather.  Sounkyo and Mount Kurodake could provide a visitor different but all aesthetic atmospheres whether it is a sunny, misty or rainy day - regardless of the weather, all is and will be well.  But a misty / rainy day would definitely diminish the enjoyment of a round trip at the Shiretoko Lakes - bad weather, bad luck - because the mysterious lakes' beauty will only be transiently presented under the sun.

My family spent an enjoyable day in the Sounkyo and Mount Kurodake scenic areas. The weather was not stable - occasional sunshine with mist and patches of rain - but that did not affect our journey.

Standing in front of the Ryu Sei and the Gin Ga Waterfalls, and watching the water lines crawling down the rocks like silver strings amid the golden sunlight, my joyfulness could not be expressed in words;  Sitting on the lift chair bound for the Seventh Level of Mount Kurodake amid the misty clouds, I felt like I was entering a land of deities. Such a touch of heart experience is incommunicable and could not be captured by photos.  Were they not also variants of transient beauty?

Episode 239 - The String that Drew us Back (Part 2)

Our 2003 Hokkaido trip, from which we brought back so many lovely memories, was the motivating force behind our decision to start the recent journey.  

Revisiting a place is like taking certain "emotional risks".  Any change in circumstances, whether in weather, traffic, food or personnel involved, might upset a re-visitor's established image of his "holy-land".

We took that risk nevertheless. 

The above are photos of those places where we put our steps on once again. They are Lake Mashū, Sulphur Hill and the Lake Ashoro Roadside Rest Area.  They were even more attractive than we were there in 2003.

The cakes of the confectionery shops at Obihiro, which I do not have a photo here, were still yummy!