between two worlds

floating torii gate
guiding shinto pilgrims
and tourists also

This Torii gate is the entrance to Itsukushima Shrine, a 16th century Shinto shrine built over the water from the shore of Miyajima Island just across from Hiroshima on Honshu in Japan. This great Torii is the boundary between the spirit and human worlds and with the shrine has long been one of the most significant Shinto Pilgrimage sites in Japan. The entire shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. To stay at least 1 night on Miyajima Island and wander around the Shrine at night is one of the most peaceful experiences one can have. I have visited Japan four times and always planned a night on Miyajima.

fuji san

glimpse of white

shedding winter snow

fuji san

                                                                                                                                                  Mount Fuji seen from across Lake Hakone. At the top of that wooded mountain in the middle foreground one looks down across a valley to the city of Gotemba nestled at the base of Fuji and then your eyes are drawn upwards to the majesty of that Japanese icon. More images of that view at sunset will come.

crowded pond

food frenzy

pampered sacred carp

eat float swim

At shrines and historic places in Japan a strategically placed pond of carp are often a a highlight for visitors.

Coloured Carp have a cultural significance, especially golden ones, signifying regal importance as seen in

the first image, and white with large  red dots signifying the national flag. This pond of feeding carp was at

the Glover Museum in Nagasaki that we visited in 1990. I have been scanning my way through our slide

collection and will share more Haibun across the year.

stay away

a nest to be saved

standing firm in defence

spring hovers nearby

We were walking along the coastal pathway at Ricketts Point recently. This blue male Superb Fairy Wren and his brown female partner were aggressively warning all living things to stay away from the nest they had built somewhere in the bushes nearby. For small birds they are very courageous.