More macro shots!

One of my favourites, it is now the wallpaper of my desktop. I have a few more pictures of flowers to post, and then I will go back to Fiji. You see, I have to spread my pictures out because I don't have that many more pictures to post. Come summer, I will be busy, so I doubt I'll have the time to take more pictures. But who knows? Since my sister asked for more pictures, I am happy to oblige.



A close up of the poppy anemone flower. Very radiant colours and I think they are quite easy to grow. Lots of houses have these flowers growing in their little flower pots. Brightens up the house, especially when they are grown in groups of different colours.



Another poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria). I thought this pictures gives the impression of a red eye. Anemone means wind in greek and this flower is also known as Windflower. When I first saw the name Poppy anemone, I really thought this was the opium poppy! Silly me and kinda embarrassing too. Then I found out it was named Poppy because of the flower's resemblance to the poppy flower. Different family and genus but in the same order though.



Finally, the full view of the flowers. In Malaysia, more often that not, we see more *greens* than colours. Don't get me wrong, I love the greenery in Malaysia and I really do miss it here. But in the springtime, all the flowers here come to life and everywhere you see: Colours, bright and bold. So it really does lift the spirits up.

I stand out!

Was walking along Maruyama koen and spotted this plant. It is a small to medium size shrub with white flowers as seen in the picture.

And these two pictures below are for TJ: Macro shots of the sakura.

Beauty in black and white

I know you are all sick of the sakura postings....too many sakura pictures! So, here are some B&W to cleanse the eyes. The original pictures are all in colour; I will post them another time and you can compare to see if you like the B&W or the colour version better.



I have not perfected my B&W technique yet. That is a whole different ball game. And I have not had the time to really learn it. So I had to take the back way out and convert the coloured pictures to black and white and adjust the contrast for better effect.



I like this one. They are the leaves of irises. Taken at Maruyama koen. I love B&W pictures....they always give me a nostalgic feel.

Kyoto Botanical Gardens 2006

Yeah, I went back there again this spring. The red tulips were calling out to me! Hahaha



It was raining when we started out in the morning. The weather forecast that I read said it would be sunny! Hah! But the rain stopped when we reached the botanical gardens but it was still cloudy.



The sakuras were blooming beautifully there but the tulips showed signs of suffering from the eratic weather in the past weeks. The last time I went there I did not remember the weeping sakuras, probably because when we went there, we were too late for them. This time we were right on time as that section of the park was in all shades of pink because of the flowers. Gorgeous!



Here is another picture of the weeping sakuras. People were hanami-ing happily underneath the trees. Everywhere you turn - WHAM! Pink sakuras.



And this is the part where you can find the more common white cherry blossom trees.



I name this statue Pensive.



And this statue Coy.

Chion-ji

This is a little known temple except on the 15th of every month when there is a flea market on their grounds. People of all walks of life gather here to sell their goods - antiques, handicrafts, bakery goods etc - to the throng of people who are more than willing to part with their money. Though some of the things here are expensive (in my opinion), but if you have the time to look more closely, you can find good bargains.


The view from the gates

However, on most days, this temple is deserted as you can see in the picture (and this was during the height of the sakura season). Most people bypass it to go to the more famous Ginkakuji temple. It is their loss because on a sunny spring day, it is just damn beautiful and peaceful. The silence is a welcome relief from the scores of people that crowd the famous places.



A cliche shot but I had to take it. There were many sakura trees here on the grounds, though it is not apparent when you first see it from the gates (which is why most people skipped it I think). You have to walk into the grounds before you can see the trees. But the tall pine trees that line the walkway to the temple building is quite a sight.



So it was a sunny day and it was not that cold. We had a nice time walking around and enjoying the sun and the blossoms. Just relaxing before heading back to the lab. This place gives you the peace you would imagine having, sitting underneath a fully blossomed sakura tree. Bliss!



Another interesting thing I found is this pair of footprints, lined with pines and filled with water (I don't think it was intentionally filled with water because it was raining the past few days but I could be wrong). Looked very artistic.



So if you want to escape the crowd during the sakura season and just want to enjoy a spot of bliss, try this place for a change.

Hirano Jinja

This was my first time here. It was highly recommended by my Japanese friends and I thought since it is *free* (yes, I have to be Mr Scrooge this month!), and I had the day pass for the bus, why not visit the place?



This place is famous for the sakura trees. They have a lot of trees growing in their grounds of different species. Most of the trees are tall, so when you look up to the sky, to quote my friend Oyabu-san, it is like seeing 'sakuras in the sky'. Many stalls with sitting platforms were set up underneath the trees so you can sit, eat and enjoy the view.



When we arrived there, there was a classical performance by a group of people, probably students from a university. It was nice to stand there and listen to them. Best of all, it was FREE! Hahaha...



This is probably the most famous weeping sakura tree on the grounds. It was in full bloom and had a lovely shade of pink. I love the way the flowers-laden branches fall gently to the ground.



I like this photo the best of all the ones I took of Hirano Jinja. I had to play with the brightness and contrast button a bit cause the picture came out too bright (and I am still too lazy to read my camera manual). I like the bamboo trees in the background cause they looked like they were painted on.

Next Up: Probably Kyoto Botanical Gardens. TJ, I will try to take marco shots of the flowers. Weather these past few days was awful!

Tetsugaku no michi in the spring of 2006

I had posted about Tetsugaku no michi (Philosopher's Path) last year with photos taken during the sakura season. So I will post different photos of Tetsugaku no michi this time. It really is something to walk underneath those full bloom trees.



And this is the same part of the pathway as the above picture but it's the other side. It had been raining these past few days with howling winds, scattering the cherry blossoms' petals everywhere and I really mean everywhere! Tis a pity though because the trees were just in full bloom over the past weekend.



Fishing buddies. There were a couple of teddy bears placed along the path by the cafes or shops. These two were fishing.



Thought that this gate-wall structure looked nice against the sakura.





Apart from the sakura trees, there were other blooming flowers which brightened up the place.



And finally this is a close-up of the sakura trees at the beginning of the path.

Okazaki Canal in Spring

Okazaki Canal is very beautiful during springtime because of the cherry blossom trees that line both sides of the canal. During this time, the canal is opened to visitors (I did not know that until I went there and saw people walking about inside) and there are boat rides along the canal.


The Grand Shrine Gate of Heian Jingu

It is located nearby the famous Heian Jingu Shrine and Nanzenji. A very pleasant walk along the canal will take you to Kamogawa River. It connects Lake Biwa Canal to the river.



I don't know if you have to pay for the boat tour....



Hah! I took the picture seconds too late, I wanted to have the boat more visible but it is hidden mostly behind the sakura branches.



Yes, yes, I know...enough of the boats already!



I like this part of the canal the best where the water gushes out. And this is also the part where the sakura trees seemed more beautiful, well, at least to me, because of the gushing waters.



This is another view of the canal, nearer to the Heian Jingu area.

Next up: I don't know yet!

Sakura and the moon

I looked up and saw the moon shining between the sakura flowers.

Tetsugaku no michi (Philosopher's Path), Kyoto.

Sakura at night

Taken while I was walking back home at night along the Tetsugaku no michi (Philosopher's Path). It was illuminated by a vending machine.

Where are the sakuras?

Where are the sakuras?

This spring, the weather has been mighty unpredictable. It even snowed last week here in Kyoto. And because of the fluctuation in temperature, the sakuras seem to be hiding, refusing to bloom! Ah, O beautious flower, do not tease me so!

Oh well, the temperature is getting warmer with each passing day and although there are more rainy days to come, the sakuras will bloom by this week (crossing fingers). So for those of you who are coming back to Kyoto this week and the next, no need to fear! The sakuras will be waiting for you!

P/S It has been forecasted that the coming weekend will be rainy! Argh!

P/S/S The above picture was taken in 2004 with my handy camera phone. My first sakura season and this will be my third and I am still not bored of it!