Nonconformity...

Back in 2001 I travelled to Himeji to visit the famous Himeji-jou (Castle). It's billed as the most beautiful surviving (i.e. non-concrete) castle in Japan and is also called Shirasagi - the White Egret. After spending a few hours wandering around the spectacular castle grounds I decided to visit the temple complex on Shosha-zan (Mt Shosha). I took a 25 minute trip on the number 6 bus from Himeji station to the Shosha bus stop and then caught the cable car to the top of the 371m mountain hill. It's a famous pilgrimage spot and has been around for about 1000 years. I was one of only a few people wandering around the grounds; it was incredibly peaceful.

(Lanterns - April 2001)

Since then, Shosha-zan Engyou-ji Temple has become famous as one of the locations used in the shooting of "The Last Samurai". Several of the temple buildings and Buddha images have been designated important cultural properties. The shot of the lanterns above is one of my favourite photos of my time here in Japan as the solitary gold lantern among the green ones reminds me of the Japanese proverb deru kugi wa utareru - the nail which sticks out will get hammered. This seemingly simple proverb neatly encapsulates the overwhelming pressure for all members of Japanese society to reside together in harmony and to conform to the expected patterns of group behaviour. It's also a reminder that no matter how culturally attuned I am, like this lantern, I will always stick out in Japan.

"Wat a mouthful"

Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram or the Marble Temple is in Central Bangkok. The Carrara marble was imported from Italy by His Majesty King Rama V in order to become a suitable memorial for his reign and to keep his remains beneath the Chinnarat Buddha image (one of the most revered in Thailand).

I arrived here by tuk-tuk in the middle of the day and it was a welcome relief to sit under the trees and feel the cool breeze and smell the incense wafting through the air.

Yakuoin Temple...

Takao yama...

I snapped this picture on Mt Takao - about an hour west of Tokyo - in early summer this year. Mt Takao is a sacred mountain representing the Tama area. This was one of the buildings attached to the Yakuoin Temple which is located halfway up the mountain. It was built under the orders of Emperor Shomu in 744. Apparently over 3 million people visit this temple every year!

A local rumour is that couples who climb the mountain together will separate shortly after. Luckily we'll avoid that scenario as we used the cable car to get up the mountain instead!