A few more photos...

I was able to take a few more shots before I left for work yesterday. It's too bad that it's pouring with rain today, the snow has all melted or washed away so it's just miserable looking. I liked the way the snow looked. I'm sure it will be back as the temperature gets colder though.



Anyway, these photos were taken just up at the local shrine near my apartment. I thought the place looked pretty cool and don't really think my photos did it any justice but here they are regardless.

I should mention that I also picked up a video camera last week. It's pretty nice and records in Hi-Definition so the footage is really clear. I've been running around getting strange looks while I filmed the most seemingly mundane things. So expect my first attempt at a video to be posted soon.



I also fully intend on (even though I sometimes am now with my SLR) becoming that annoying guy whose always in every one's face when they're out somewhere.

Hey I'm going to see a lot in three years and meet many people, I think I should be allowed to share that with you all.

Two Seasons in 24 Hours

I took my camera out to Iwate Park yesterday before my day in the office to see if I
could take some photos of the infamous Autumn leaves before they all fell to the ground and were crushed. I hazard a guess that I got to them on the last day possible because the park looked like it had been gripped by winter.



I was woken up this morning around 9 by a phone call. At first I suspected it was dad calling again and picked it up with out looking at the name. It was my next door neighbor Megan, asking if I had looked out the window today.



No I thought to myself, the last thing I remember seeing was a dream that involved myself chasing after a monkey who for some reason had stolen my box of cornflakes from my pantry. I bet it was that arsehole Coco Pops Monkey.



So I took her advice and pulled back my curtain only to be amazed. Yesterday in Morioka had seen the some of the first snow fall in Iwate. It was cool, but I wasn't really impressed. It was hard and stung my face alot. This morning however everything as far as the eye can see is covered in white powder. It's awesome.




I went straight outside still wearing my Pajamas and began taking photos of the surrounding area. Some of them didn't turn out to well because I haven't figured out how to adjust my camera for the snow yet, but the ones that did will explain how cool the place looks.



I'm heading out again soon so I might get some more photos up before I head to work this after noon. As it is at the moment the snow hasn't stopped falling so maybe by time I get a few more from around town they will be more impressive.



Now I just have to work out how to ride my bike around with out killing myself... A tough one.

It's arrived...

Lately it has been gradually getting colder and colder. People have been walking around for weeks on end sniffling and coughing, myself included. With out a doubt Winter is around the corner.

Some of you are probably saying "Well no shit! You had Spring, you had Summer, you're in Autumn. What would you expect to come next?!" And to that I say "Back off!" and give you the bird because I'm trying to tell a story and you're judging me.. Anyway.

Today for the first time since traveling to Iwate in April I saw snow atop the mountains as I took the train to work. To me it was extraordinary. The same mountains I looked at for 21 years never had white powder on top of them. When I mentioned this at work I was told that it wasn't all that much snow, and it had only just started to fall. I was even informed that snow isn't soft, fluffy and white like in cartoons.

So here is my point. Japan's 'summer' consisted of a weeks of extreme humidity, where it rained a torrential down pour every second day, followed by a week, maybe two weeks at most of some nice weather... And then cold. I have been freezing my nads off for more then 3 months now, and Winter hasn't even arrived. When that snow hits the ground and Winter does rear its ugly face I'm not going to die. Oh no no, I've thought this through. More then likely I'm going to be frozen on my way to work one day. Preserved for thousands of years and when I do finally get thawed out the first thing the future will here from me is this:

Japan stole my summer and I want it back!