Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Yesterday marked the official first day of spring - Vernal Equinox Day. Sounds evil I know but actually it's very drama. It is a day of the year when the daytime is exactly as long as the nighttime and signals the end of the cold cold winter and the coming of the much more welcomed season of spring. I shall spare you the philosophical bull and comparisons to life shite I managed to come up with because I, too, wouldn't care. However, to honor this day let me show you what to expect to see in the coming days. If you were here in Japan, that is.



Japanese Plum Blossom Festival, held in Yoshino Baigo every 2nd or 3rd week of March, is located at the entrance of Chichibu-tama-kai National Park. To get there, take the train JR Ome Line to Hinatawada Station then walk 15 minutes to the park. 25 if you're in high heels and short skirt. When we were there last year, I found out that if you dig your heels into the soil hard enough, you won't fall on the incline.


But really I have never in my entire life smelled a place as sweet as that. And the sights were Monet paintings come to life. The ramen, eaten on low tables while sitting on the tatami mats by the hills, never tasted so good. It was literally a feast for the senses.


Anyway, March 21 is also a non-working holiday so after a nice picnic, Jon bought me a camera.

Because I'm such a good girl and all.

Posted by chichibu @ 11:31 PM