Some Spring shots

“And oh, deciding to soul-search while the sakura (cherry blossom) is in full bloom really helps. More later.”

—Back and Kicking, 2 April ‘08 post

So here’s to the “more later”:

Spring in Japan begins with the plum blossoms. Somebody once told me they’re the sakura’s little sister. Saying that while the sakura seems to be a proud “bloomer”, her little sister’s quite timid. It’s still pretty though.

Shot of one of the plum trees in front my school’s College of Liberal Arts building.

A park 20 minutes from my place has this really nice lake, and guess what, you can go boating! Yes, boating in a lake, with cherry blossoms on both sides of the bank.

I actually didn’t boat, but just being there and seeing dads and moms and kids enjoying the boatride was more than enough fun. Not to mention the many couples who were on the swan boats.

Saw this man giving his painting some finishing touches while riding on my bike, Ms. Jitensha. The road, with cherry blossoms on both sides is ICU’s “Sakura Tunnel”.

I needed to get my camera from the dorm and hurry back to take this shot. I just could not NOT let you see this one—even if I got it without his permission and my presence for him was just signaled by the flash of my camera. But I think he wasn’t irritated at all. The artist in him knew how an aspiring one feels humbled by such an unassuming beauty.

Hanami-ing with friends is fun, but when cherry blossoms really do start falling, it makes the experience a treasure.

Took this shot with Miggy, Kat, Trish and ate Nor while looking for the perfect spot for lunch. Cherry blossoms falling like snow, painting the ground pink. Perhaps my most memorable Hanami.

__________

from all these trees

in salads, soups, everywhere—

cherry blossoms fall.

—Basho, translated from the Japanese