Aged like Kyoto

- Never Stop Dreaming -

I happened to realise that age have crept slowly into my body to deteriote it silently. Before I depart for the Kansai region for my Spring Break, snowboarding had left me nothing short of a damaged shoulder and MCL. Still occasionally limping on my knee and unable to fully rotate my shoulder, once again I sucumbed to yet another lousy injury. This time round I sprained my ankle so bad over a half inch unleveled ground in Kyoto, my ankle is all bruised up, swollen like a bun and pretty messed up. All these injuries are hinting a sign of coincidence or pointing me to decipher the meaning of an omen? Might it be some a**h*** cursing me behind my back?

Brats, that aside I have to say travelling down Southern Japan wasn't really all spills and no thrills. The journey from Nagano on the morning of 27 March was snowy and really beautiful. Then in Osaka, I was rewarded with spontaneous and interesting people, cheap capsule hotels (￥2,000) and cute kitty maids. Oh not to mention a sweet young ramen store staff who told me I was very cool and wanted to be my friend...done! Yep I was staying in downtown Namba in a cheap capsule hotel with a locker that can only fit a briefcase so in the end I had to unload the contents of my pack to puzzle them into the tiny crammed locker. The little capsule cubicle mouse hole was not too bad because it was clean and comfortable. Didn't see any females there (think is an only male capsule) and the shower was the typical Japanese onsen style ones. Walking around the streets, I travelled in the day to Den Den Town scouting for toys and old camera gears. Well since it was the second time I have been there, the streets were all so familiar. In the end the toys were a bit to bulky for me to lug around since I had a backpack loaded with at least 15kg of camera lens, flash, batts, cards, tripods, etc. so I had to sulk and leave. Didn't buy any camera gear as well because the old Nikon SBs were either dirty, certain functions not working or a sqeaky batt cover. But I did capture some decent frames, walked thru hordes of weird OTAKUs reading uncensored porn manga and whisked myself a decent set of vixen's ears and a tail (Yeah COSPLAY). With still time on my schedule, I tried out Street Fighter IV at the arcades and got my sorry ass kicked badly...man this game is HARD. And finally before leaving, I made friend with a sweet ramen staff by the name of Yuki who told me I was very cool (can I even deny that?!)

Then arriving in Kyoto, I had an excellent photojournalistic journey with my cousin Terry and his gf. Of couse I couldn't miss out my wonderful local guide, Mai who was also my friend and a really gorgeous model. Partnering with Terry, we simply paraded around armed with Canon cameras, devilish red "L" lens and 580EX2 flashguns. Though the main purpose for me in this trip was to catch the cherry blossoms, sadly the weird weather only prompted some pockets of them. Nonetheless, the rustic but photogenic setting, the warm setting sun and the beautiful people and colors made it all possible to capture some rather amazing frames for an amateur like meself. Mai was really photogenic and enthusiastic with no qualms about posing for me each time I ask for a shot. Not to mention all those button mashing FEC times so in the end, yep I have to agree that some of the shots did turn out pretty good. Now it's just post processing them. Terry my wonderful cousin was another great photographer...together we tend to see the same perspective time to time and he was never tired of trying insane shots or to slave his 580EX2 for me. Kirsten was equally amazing as well be it posing for a shot or busy framing Terry.

The locations were at Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace grounds, and various other famous locations in Kyoto which I have forgotten the names altogether. But I do remember the night illumination at Kiyomizu Dera where my tripod did worked for me to get the night shots. This otherwise sturdy tripod also allowed me to HDR(ed) the gates at Fushimi Inari. Not sure how they will looked until I return home today. While in Kyoto, my humble lodging was provided by Utano Youth Hostel which I would really RECOMMEND. Fantastic resort style lodging that was recently refurnished so everything is brand new, cosy and clean. Staffs spoke excellent English so you don't have to slog thru your Japanese textbooks. Lockers in the 4 man double deck dorm was huge to fit my backpack and the dorm had a sofa, tables and chairs. The rates were ￥3,300 for a single night which you can opt for breakfast (made by Maruzen Bakery) for an additional ￥600. In front of the hostel stood a willowing, amazingly beautiful cherry clossom tree which is perfect for shutter chance if the blue sky permits. To sum it up the entire Kyoto experience was simply too heavenly because I had my cousin Terry to go on a photographic spree and my good friend Mai to drive us around, be my model and to take us to lavish authentic Kyoto style restaurant by the river side (aka Clark Quay) to savor some of the best local Kyoto only limited fare and sake. I had skipped the restaurant pictures because I was busying sipping sake.

Was rudely interupted yesterday while I was still strolling the streets in Kyoto by a phonecall to tell me that I had to go to work today because the new staffs were to be properly introduced and a ￥5,000 dinner was inevitable. There I spend my last few hours in Kyoto on 31st with Mai and Azu, sampling the famous sakura ice cream and the soy bean "extra strong" ice cream before heading back to Nagano. Tired, bruised and limping, I hauled my oversized backpack onto the bus by 1600 hours only to reach Saku by 2320 hours. Was greeted by my silver Accord which brought me home by 2350 hours where I unloaded and fell into bed like a log.

Now in the midst of the all Japanese meeting, I can trying to squeeze the memories outta my head before they clot like my ankle...Pictures did I hear you screaming? Yes yes I will try to process them and post them up.

God Bless because I can feel that I am fallin apart.