Visiting the statue of Sakamoto Ryoma at the memorial museum on the island of Shikoku, Japan, in April.
Ryoma is likely one of the most popular figures in Japanese history, with many a TV drama and movie about his life. Wikipedia.
Shikoku Turtle Museum
We visited this research center and museum on the island of Shikoku in Japan in April. Loggerhead turtles use the nearby beach for nesting, but unfortunately records of nests have dropped precipitously 
.
Asamushi Aquarium in Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Way back in early April we visited the Asamushi Aquarium during our trip to Japan.
How to Distract Samurai Guarding a Castle
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.
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.