A few weeks ago, Yumi demonstrated how to distract the samurai at a castle wall in Japan while the ninja climb over. . . 
Yumi is an amazingly good sport. Not to mention an amazingly good travel organizer.
All posts by Paul Cipywnyk
My Favorite Shot From April Japan Trip
One of my fave photos from Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu. It was almost like they set up the shot for me .
A newly married couple posing for photos, and tourists in a poled boat passing in front.
I saw the composition shaping up from a distance, and took off running toward them to get the angle. Crazy foreigners :-).
Lovely Town of Uchiko on Shikoku Island, Japan
We had the historic town of Uchiko on Shikoku Island in Japan nearly to ourselves in mid-April — love traveling in low season!
There is also a lovely restored kabuki theater in this town, but that’ll wait for another post.
Now that’s a lovely mail box
Takamatsu Castle Ruins, Shikoku, Japan
A few photos from the Takamatsu Castle ruins a few weeks ago during our Japan travels.
The Ghost of Marugame Castle
Yumi playing the role of The Ghost of Marugame Castle, on Shikoku Island, Japan, a few weeks ago.
I’ve never heard of a Ghost of Marugame, but Yumi makes a pretty good one. . .
I am aware that some castle construction sites in Japan do have ghosts in the form of labourers who were tossed down into pits or well shafts as sacrifices, hundreds of years ago . . .
Dang, I thought I left the keys to the castle in here somewhere. . .
Lots of Fry, Caddisfly Larvae in Byrne Creek
On our morning walk today we spotted salmonid fry of at least two species/sizes, and Yumi also came across a bunch of caddisly larvae.
A mess of caddisfly larvae. Cool!
I love how they build homes for themselves out of bits of woody debris and tiny stones.
Yumi also spotted this dead raptor. Unfortunately it was across a deep pool from us so we couldn’t reach it for closer inspection. It’s not too often that you come across sights like this, for nature’s cleanup crews are fast and efficient.
SFU Ecopsychology Workshop at Lynn Canyon
Had a great day in and around the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre. I participated in a Simon Fraser University workshop on Ecopsychology — Experiential, Nature and Place-Based Learning.
Thanks to instructor Daniella Roze for her thoughtful, grounded training, and great techniques for reconnecting people, and particularly kids, to nature.
While she was not able to arrange for someone from local First Nations to welcome us, we acknowledged traditional lands and the impacts of colonialism.
We had a chance to try basket-weaving and braiding using local plants.
This is the magnificent tree I chose for my individual meditation period. I lay on my back with the tree’s roots cradling my head, and contemplated the crown gently swaying in the breeze.
My thoughts were that viewed horizontally at human level, the tree looked so deeply rooted, mature, strong and still, and yet looking up with my body stretched on the earth, I could see the trunk bending with the wind and the crown dancing youthfully in the breeze.
It was diminishing yet uplifting to think this tree had been here long before I was born, and with good fortune, will be here much longer after I am gone.
Blossoms in Burnaby, BC
Cherishing the blossoms in our townhouse complex in SE Burnaby, BC, for they will soon be gone for another year. . .
Blossoms within blossoms. . .
Koi at Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, Japan
Attempting the zoom-during-exposure technique despite the bright sunshine 🙂 Couldn’t quite stop down/slow down enough even at the lowest ISO, but still fun.
Birds and Beasts Photographed in Japan
A collection of photos of birds and beasts from our trip to Japan a few weeks ago.
Yes, we’re the sort of folks who can walk along the moat by the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and go “wow, look a soft-shelled turtle!”
There were lots of these raptors all over the island of Shikoku
Imperial Palace moat
Imperial Palace moat
When I look at this cat I see Toshiro Mifune from the Kurosawa classic film The Seven Samurai.
“Feed me and you won’t feel the edge of my blade!”
Cormorant at Inokashira Park in western Tokyo.
Jungle crows are impressive!
A, er, cocky little owl 🙂