Welcome to Utah. Where spring will start in January but then you have a blizzard in the middle of April. Great for some interesting snow covered blossoms. Probably not so great for the actual trees themselves.
Brief couple of hours in Chattanooga, Tennessee to visit the local aquarium.
One of my favorite shots from Japan is of this book I carried throughout all of Japan. Goshiunchou is a book containing stamps that you can pick up at Shrines throughout all of the island. This is one thing that kept me going and helped push me to numerous areas I would have never seen. Marked by a unique stamp and caligraphy naming the shrine and date, it's a unique way I chronicled my journey that I can someday put out for people to look at.
There were many things which I will treasure from my time in Japan. One such thing includes the two below. A year ago to date I was spending a wonderful two days experiencing some of the local area and festivities with them. So glad I was able to, they're the best!
This will be the last one taking up a Monday slot. I'll fit in the last and largest group around the time I would have returned a year ago. Enjoy your week!
While visiting Castle Rock in Idaho I had a brief glimpse of the nearby City of Rocks. Though I did not have the time then to explore it much. I knew I wanted to go back and do so. With an overnight camping trip I was able to explore some more of it the following day. It's a really fun spot and I feel like there is still more for me to find and capture there. Though it's unlikely I'll be there a month later like this time.
A beautiful day in a beautiful spot.
To give some perspective on scale of the rocks. You'll be able to find a man in the image below.
More shots from Japan will be up next week!
One year ago at this time I was in Japan. I went with little more than a backpack, my passport, a train ticket, and my camera. For 38 days I had only a few things planned and very few hotels booked in advance. Oh, I'd done my research to have an idea of where I'd go and what I'd like to do. A bit nervous about putting it all together as everything was reliant on me and no one else. And it all did.
As far as life events go my time there was significantly huge. Japan has been something I've always thought about. Ten years ago when I first interviewed for my job and was asked where I saw myself in the future. I remembering sharing that I'd love to live in Japan. Maybe not the best of things to say when interviewing... But it might give you an idea of what Japan meant to me. It felt so right wandering around following whatever elements pushed me around the country. And I made friends who I will keep for life.
While I was there I kept a blog that I updated daily with photos I'd taken. Because I was consistently out all day and tried travel light. I didn't really have a good way to look at what I was sharing each day or edit them to bring out a little pow. So to commemorate one year since I arrived in Japan. I have gone through and will be sharing some from that time. Some which have likely not been seen. Sorry to those who have seen some from my travel blog already. I hope you'll enjoy.
This will likely be a 3 part series that will have another an update this week and next Monday before returning to our regular schedule.
Spring is still making it's way into Utah. Not much snow left in the mountains - we'll have to see if we get some more!
The full moon rising as the spotlight throws shadows across grain towers.
