Ura-Bandai Highland

I liked my previous background but the overlapping of text/photos over its design was dulling the photographs. Thus, it has been changed. I was scratching my head not liking the backgrounds I was looking at until Masa came up behind me and says "how about that one- you call it "cafe" Yamashita and you have stockings like those so I tried it and liked it. I have to say I was impressed with how his management skills are developing as opposed to my continuing indecisiveness.

So this is another post with a gajillion images. I won't make excuses this time because last week we were searching for a bit of info and I turned to my blog. It was such a joy to go back and be reminded of events and places. I have mentioned that this blog is a journal I want to give my boys someday but due to the large amount of photos it is my photo album too. I really am glad for the times I do manage to record a bit of my life through a post.

We are back from a much needed mini vacation to the Urabandai Highlands. We went for the incredible beauty that can be taken in by easy hikes i.e popular Mount Bandai, the 30+ lakes that form Goshikinuma, a walk around a caldera. The peaceful atmosphere was formed by a violent explosion in 1888 that blew the peak off a mountain and killed 500 people. It was my first time to walk around a volcano's crater which is strange considering Masa is a Geologist who's masters degree was in volcano's. That hike was done today (a Monday) so it was particularly quiet, and atmospheric with the steaming sulphur and overcast sky.

Goshikinuma is known for its many coloured lakes- due to moss on the bottom of some, red iron oxisid in some and the cobalt blue colour due to a reason that is explainable but too complicated for me to exert any energy to trying to understand.

We stayed at a pension owned by a professional photographer. Him and his wife were lovely. She took care of Sora during meals so I could eat and relax. Her daughter took requests for childrens songs and played it on the piano for the boys. He (the photographer) treated us to a private slide show of his work and when I asked him if I could possibly purchase a piece that I found stunning in image and idea he actually gave it to me, plus another piece. I didn't feel right just accepting his work so I purchased a few copies of his book that was published and he kindly signed each copy for me with the name of the individuals I thought would appreciate the beautiful photography. Tomo and Reo felt at home and was treated like family there. The small pension seems like a haven for photographers as there were 2 groups- one from Aichi, another from I don't know where that were photography clubs. The owner offers courses, actively publishes and exhibits his work- very inspiring.

It was refreshing to spend so much time surrounded by nature and inundated in the colours of autumn. It was refreshing to kick back and go through the pensions photography magazines and think a bit about art. It was refreshing to not have to cook and clean for 3 days :)