nature

100 Strangers

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Slack Lining (despite how this picture looks, he was not falling but actually bouncing on the line)

Slack Lining (despite how this picture looks, he was not falling but actually bouncing on the line)

Slack lining is one of those modern sporty pastimes I have seen being performed in parks a lot recently. It's curious and obviously must be good for exercise, balance and body conditioning but I have never understood how you actually do it. Let alone, what happens if you fall off when the elastic rope is just tight enough to rob your of any offspring should you land the wrong way. Chatting to Nico was enlightening and watching him bouncing up and down, turning around and maintaining his balance was really impressive for somebody who has only been doing it as a hobby. I can't say I would feel comfortable giving it a go yet but at least I have a greater appreciation of the skill. Maybe I can get my son to try it out...

Day 251

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back to nature

back to nature

After weeks of not knowing where my time was going to, we finally got it into the country away from it all. It's amazing how refreshing it is to be in the mountains with not even a street light to pollute your view. The air smells better, food tastes better and time goes slower for the short fraction of time you can get far from the city!

Day 223

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Last of the cranes

Last of the cranes

Every year thousands of cranes make a massive journey from the cold northern lands of Siberia and Canada to Izumi, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan to stay for the  winter before heading back again in spring. There were about 30 birds that have stayed behind this year. Cranes are said to mate with one partner for life so I wonder if any of them were there just to be with an injured loved one.

Bamboo Shoot

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 They are bigger than they look!

 They are bigger than they look!

Dug up a bamboo shoot for the first time ever! There was only 2 or 3cm of the top poking out of the soil but somehow a kind man had found it and let me dig it up. They have seriously strong roots and took me about 15 minutes to dig down and under it before prising it out of the ground! We dug up for in total and put two on a fire to roast in tin foil and kept this one for dinner. They look and taste nothing like the bamboo shoots you might get in sweet and sour dishes in the supermarket back home.

Day 175

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Ume

Ume

I twisted my back the other day and have been completely out of action for almost a week now. The first few days I could barely crawl around to get to the bathroom but I'm slowly getting back on my feet and getting tired of starting at the ceiling.

I had been waiting for these flowers to blossom in a vase at home for ages and almost forgot to get a photo of them before they had withered. Luckily having a tripod meant I didn't have to hold the camera for long to get a nice photo.