Waterside and reflections

I like to be at waterside, whether the sea, a lake, a pond, a stream, or a puddle.

I like to watch the ever changing water-surface

with different shades and intonations of colors caused by light and wind.

There's something beautiful and enchanting.

On a sunny day of late April, I was at one of the ponds of the Isui-en Garden.

I lost myself to the yellow Koi, or Carp, swimming with ripples in the reflection water.

Guess what are the pink flowers at the pond of Chogaku-ji Temple.

Azaleas!

During my trip to Tottori Prefecture at the end of May, I stopped at a little pond.

It was nameless but not unremembered .....

for the fascination of yellow Irises and the reflections.

Here is another untamed, nameless pond edged by White Clovers.

At the water-lilies pond of Gansen-ji Temple in mid-June.

The first image is focused on the aqua plants on the pond;

the second on the little purple flowers at the edge of the pond.

The following two photos are not at waterside or from the archive of this year.

They are from March of 2012 when my daughter had a wedding.

Thinking of reflection photos, I suddenly remembered these ones.

These are the two of the most memorable reflection photos.

The former half of the year 2019 fleeted away

and summer holiday is coming soon.

I'll have a blog break till the end of summer when my grandchildren

return to their school or kindergarten.

Wish you a terrific summer, winter, or any other season

from the center of a little world of Furin, or a Japanese wind-chime.

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My favorite Ajisai lane and rite of passage

Late June is usually in the middle of a rainy season 
which lasts about one and a half months till mid-to-late July
but not yet in some regions including Nara this year.
The floral symbol of Japan's rainy season, Ajisai (Hydrangeas),
have looked tired in the sunshine and are withering relatively sooner.

There is a lovely Ajisai lane connecting the residential area of Mayumi and the Tomio River.

It is so narrow that only a compact car can barely pass through. 
Nice and quiet place to stroll around.

The forest of Ajisai runs along the south side of Chokyu-ji Temple.
  The temple was founded in 1276 by the Buddhihst high priest Gyoki 

 to commemorate and pray for Ono Mayumi Takeyumi 
who was killed by a stray arrow shot by his son.

From that incident, the temple was named 長弓寺 “Chokyu-ji”
meaning “長 long and 弓 arrow”.

It is close to the border of Ikoma and Nara Cities.

The spacious precinct is almost always calm.

Back to the path leaving the temple,

shall we continue to walk in the dappled shadow?

iPhone photo by my daughter

I guess the sight of a little child would be like this while walking through the path.

By the way, Koki of my brother-in-law was celebrated in the Ajisai season.

My sister and I have celebrated each other’s rite of passage including our spouses.

古希 Koki (70th birthday) is the second celebration for longevity 

following 還暦 Kanreki (60th birthday.)

The name derives from a verse by the Chinese poet 杜甫 Du Fu,

人生七十古来稀

It means that the age of 70 was a rare occurrence.

Incidentally, the average life expectancy for Japanese men was 81.09 in 2018.

Creative Italian Cuisine of the Ristorante L'Olchestrata at the Nara New Public Hall
Here

Wish you all healthy long life,

embracing Each Season of Life.

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Therapeutic time at the mountain stream of Oku-Daisen

This post is about a part of my recent trip to Tottori Prefecture.

I set out with my husband at the end of May 

when most of Japan experienced summer-like high temperatures.

One of the destinations was Kitanizawa mountain stream
which flows from the beech forests of the south slope of Mt. Daisen.

The area is popular for the clean, delicious mineral water.

With the ideal that beautiful forests nurture delicious natural water,

SUNTORY has taken care of the beech forests.
Here is how;

SUNTORY Natural Water Sanctuary (3m7s)

It is known that there are negative ions in the air 
when people feel amazingly relaxed near a waterfall.

At the places where water splashes, water droplets collide with each other
or with a wet solid to generate negatively charged electricity, a group of negative ions.

Water and leaves sparkle in the sunlight.

The sounds of waterfall and stream, the voices of chirping birds,

the view of the crisp green and clear stream that flows through moss-covered rocks,

 are sure to wash away daily stresses and strains.

It's so therapeutic.

Mt. Daisen, the highest peak (1729 meters) in the Chugoku region, is a beautiful mountain
 with the virgin forests of beech trees and Mongolian oak trees (Quercus mongolia).

 It is compared to Mt. Fuji in the east aka Hoki Fuji
for its imposing symmetrical form and beauties all the year round.

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