Day in Charlottesville

So about two weeks ago or so I went to my friends place in Charlottesville. We pretty much just hung out and walked around town a bit. It is a nice city/town and the campus is pretty beautiful as well. He takes photographs as well. Anyways, here are some pictures that I took. 

Orange Tori Gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine - Kyoto, Japan

Fushimi Inari Shrine is in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto which is south east from central Kyoto. This sites at the base of a mountain named Inari and the mountain has tons of paths and trails with more smaller shines. Now Inari is a fox which is the god of rice. Each of the torii gates that you see lined along the trail is donated by a Japanese business since Inari is seen as a patron of wealth.
Some of the earliest structures built were in 711 on the Inariyama hill before relocated per request from a Monk. That was in 816 and the main structures were built in 1499, at the bottom of the hill there is the main gate or "Romon, Tower Gate" and the main shrine called "go-honden". Up the mountain further half way you have the central shrine, "okumiya", and up to the top the the mountain lots of private mounds.
Also the fox is a sign of the messenger and that is why he is seen all over the shrine area hold a key to his mouth to the rice granary.
This was awesome place to visit and I would love to come back and hike to the top! I only went a ways up with a friend and looped back down. Anyways, enjoy!

I love the orange torii's and I saw  them in so many pictures that I had to go!

Jones Run & Doyles River Hike

Hey everyone! So I hiked along a circuit hike that runs along the Jones Run and Doyles River in Shenandoah National Park. You can check out the map and loop at this link here. I went with two others and it was long but really nice to hike along. 

It wasn't to hot or windy and was really nice to hike!

SMC Takumar 55mm 1:2 Screw Mount Lens

So I have been wanting a Prime lens for a while again. I bought one when I went to Japan the Canon 50mm 1.8 lens but sold it on my return since I found I was not using it much anymore. Now I want a fast prime lens once again. I, for the fun of it, placed a bid and won for a few dollars this lens, the SMC Takumar 55mm f2 lens. I was hoping for a 50mm and perhaps smaller aperture but I don't mind this since I spent so little for it. The optics are great and it is fun working with a manual lens again. The build of it feels solid since it is all metal and it is a lot smaller then my other lenses that I have. I also have a m42 to EF lens mount that I got for a buck that makes it usable on my T3i. Anyways I took a few pictures of the lens and then some more pictures of me using/testing it out. I think I still would love the Canon 50mm 1.4 Ultrasonic lens. Still would like a fast auto focus lens haha. Take a look!

Kongoji Temple - Kyoto, Japan

Kongoji Temple is a small temple in Kyoto that is part of the Jodu-shu sect of Buddhism. I tried to look up some information on the temple but it is so small and there are other temples that are called Kongoji in Japan that I got none. I took a picture of the sign that gave information and you will find that below the first one! Anyways, I more or less stumbled upon this temple when walking the streets :) Also, for some reason my camera was in black and white mode when I took the pictures so sorry for the switch between!

 

Random Mushrooms of the woods

Few weeks ago from all the rain we had fungi popping up all over the place in the woods. There were a lot of different kinds, but all interesting!

These little guys are cute!

Shimogamo Shrine - Kyoto, Japan

This is the Shimogamo Shrine, which is located along the Kamo River. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site is believed to be older then Kamigamo Shrine by 100 years  dating farther back before Kyoto became the capital. It is a lovely Shrine and more orange!!!

This is the Romon of the Shrine, is a tower gate or two story gate.

 

Flowers around this Fall

So there was quite a few flowers that were still hanging around the yard and woods even though it was fall. Summer was warm and the fall started off that way as well! The bugs seemed to be happy about it as they hugged them!

Lovely little guy that was hanging around...

 

Kamigamo Shrine - Kyoto, Japan

Kamigamo Shrine is one of the top places to check out in Kyoto. It is on the banks of the Kamo River in northern Kyoto. Was founded in 678, and is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and is the UNESCO as a world Heritage Site. It is also dedicated to Kami of Thunder. There is a sister like Shrine called the Shimogamo which is coming up soon! Enjoy the structures, I did go on a rainy day and it was one of my last to visit before I went to Tokyo.