The Road Less Traveled

Since my visit to Japan back in Feb. 2011, when what is now being called the Arab Spring began, it seems that each week or two a new natural or human-made disaster has occurred.  Even as I write this, the Mississippi is wreaking its slow havoc on the American heartland.

Even the strongest among us needs support. The graceful trees of Kenrokuen Gardens in Kanazawa are supported from all directions.

I was hit particularly hard by the triple tragedy that occurred in Japan on March 11th, having recently returned from such a powerful and positive experience there.  So, when I heard that the organizers of the Flight of Friendship to NYC after 9-11, to New Orleans after Katrina, and to Thailand after the tsunami, were planning a similar trip to Japan, I had to join in.  Though this trip has many goals, I am going in the hopes that it provides a morale boost for those who survived the tragedy.  We’ll be visiting Sendai for a few days, to lend a hand, and let them know they have not been forgotten by the world, even if they’re not on the front pages anymore.  Stay tuned for posts from the trip.

Words can’t express the sadness I share with the world for the people of Japan as they struggle to comprehend and respond to the series of disasters of the past few days.  A tragedy like this reminds us all we are of one family.

A prayer candle I lit in remembrance of the rather tragic family story retold at the Karukayadô hall in Koyasan. Let this candle now serve double duty, for that family, and today for those lost in the recent tragedy, their families and friends.

Now for something totally different.   Some time ago, a friend shared some of his snaps of a series of manhole covers/utility vault lids that he saw while traveling.   They were totally fun, and made me take note of something I often completely ignore.

As I’ve been poking around Japan, I’ve been paying more some attention to various features in the public space, that I thought would be fun to share.  (This post’s for you, Joe.)

This utility vault cover was in color. How cool is that? The design is featuring one of the elements in Kanazawa's historic garden, considered one of the top three gardens in the country. Understandably something to be proud of, so no surprise it "made the cover" so to speak...

More after the jump… (more…)

I suppose it’s one of those things you learn in kindergarten – that life’s full of choices.  But choices are funny things, at least for me.  Some take up major amounts of my thoughts, even simple choices.  I can angst over whether to buy a can of smoked oysters or not, for much longer than is reasonable to admit.  (It’s best not to go shopping with me, if you’re in a hurry.)  And others, are rather simple.  Like my choice to focus my time and money on my vacation ethic, rather than fixing up things in the house or the like.

I’ve made what I think is a wise choice to not name this post Lens Envy, though this photo gives a sense of what I’m talking about.

Lens envy!

As I was thinking about this – my next blog post from what has been a magical and meaningful trip for me this past few weeks – that title popped into my head.  Consider the scene – late afternoon out the back of this lovely cafe at Tsurumidai, a part of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, a vast wetland famous for the amazing Red Crowned Cranes.

The Tancho, or Japanese Red-Crowned Crane. A quite lovely bird, and loud too. (At least during mating season, which is winter.)

Continued after the jump… (more…)