Tag Archives: Japan

(Thirty-)Six Views of Bass Rock

Posted on November 12, 2018 by

‘It is just the one crag of rock, as everybody knows, but great enough to carve a city from.’ Robert Louis Stevenson Catriona Japan’s Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano that looks just like a volcano should. An almost perfectly … Continue reading →

Posted in Islands, Scotland, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Under the Greenwood Tree – Forest Bathing in the Deep, Deep Woods of Coed Felinrhyd

Posted on September 5, 2017 by

The Japanese have an expression – shirin-yoku (‘forest bathing’) — which refers to time spent in a wood or forest for purposes of health and relaxation. Scientific field studies have demonstrated that spending even a short time among trees promotes … Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore, Travel, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Kumano Kodō, Japan

Posted on March 9, 2016 by

My feature on walking part of the Kumano Kodō pilgrimage trail in Japan will be published in a few days time in Elsewhere journal. Elsewhere is a Berlin-based print journal, published twice a year, dedicated to writing and visual art that explores the idea of … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Travel, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hanami

Posted on April 16, 2015 by

The Japanese have a word for it – hanami. The full meaning of hanami is difficult to translate accurately but in literal terms it means ‘flower viewing’ and normally refers to sakura, the blossom of cherry trees in spring.  Incorporated … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Cities, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Rainy Day Kyoto

Posted on April 6, 2015 by

A  rainy morning in Kyoto. The immediate reaction is one of disappointment – a damper on photographic aspirations for the day. But umbrellas have their own aesthetic charm, as do rain-washed streets and silvery skies. The kimono-clad young women who … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Cities, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments