Philosopher's path in the Autumn

My first trip to Japan one of my favorite days was when I walked along the Philosophers path going to Ginkakuji and Nanzenji and other smaller temples. Was amazing and if was quite beautiful in the fall time as well. I visited all those temples that day too! Here was the original post that has some background information of this amazing path. 

Lots of color but there was still some trees that were holding out!

Nishiki Market - Kitchen of Kyoto

I already made a post on Nishiki Market but I found out that I took more pictures here than I though. It is also known as the Kitchen of Kyoto. Enjoy!

Richmond's Cherry Blossom's 2014

 

I enjoy Cherry Blossom season as most plants are starting to bloom and there is such a great fragrance in the air. Threes are white or other colors before they are all green and adds a different view for everyone to enjoy. The peak bloom only last about a few days or so as long as there isn't any strong storms that destroy the blooms. I love heading up to Washington D.C. for the festival but I missed out on that this year because it was the same day as my move out/in day and that took priority. 

Jackson Ward in Richmond

Few weeks ago I went to a Meetup for the Photography Group and we walked around Jackson Ward in downtown Richmond Virginia. Jackson Ward has a lot of history behind it as a historic African-
American neighborhood. It is called Jackson Ward because it was named that at the time when there were certain wards in the city and it stayed. Jackson is a registered National Historic Landmark as of 1976.

It was the center of Black Commerce in the community and it was called "Harlem of the South" for its commerce and entertainment in the ward. If fell is disrepair for awhile with the growth of Richmond like 95 and oddly enough the growth of the Civil Rights movement. It wasn't till the mid 1900's that investors came to fix up homes and restore the area. There is a lot of neat architecture in the area and lots of iron work. 

There are alos a lot of colors that can bee seen with the artwork on the side of buildings there now...

Chion-in Temple's Sanmon in the morning

One day I was walking a far distance and I started at 6 am. I past many temples to where I was headed and past Chion-in on purpose to get a glimpse of it. It is a large Sanmon that the main road goes right up to. Those stairs are still a little tiring but worth the climb. I have a post about this temple from my previous travels here.

Kamogamo near Shijo

I was walking around Shijo one early evening before I took this shot. Not many people walking along the river as it was a little chilly but plenty of people on Shijo street. On the opposite side of the river is the restaurants of Pontocho. 

Biwa Canal Autumn 2014

There was a day where I walked all the way from Shijo to the Philosophers path and I followed the canal to the east to reach Nanzen-ji. The colors were pretty, wish it wasn't overcast but the colors in Kyoto are lovley to see.

JP Postal box on the Street

I can not tell if that is graffiti or if it means something that is in permanent marker. These boxes are here and there on the side of the streets. Great if you just need to drop in some post cards. They are a bright orange and can be spotted easily. Sometimes they are in interesting places and have a nice backdrop. 

Nishiki Market - Kyoto, Japan

Nishiki Market is an open air market where there is a lot of hustle and bustle. It is loaded with foods!It is a narrow five block long "road" with over a hundred restaurant/shops. It also is know as "Kyoto's kitchen". They have a lot of sea food and you can even find some produce that is local. You can find some samples and they even sell food on sticks ready to eat. I got like 5 different things and they were delicious tasting. My girlfriend would have loved it!

It has a colored window lining the entire length above much like Terimachi street that is a covered mall. 

Yasaka Shrine in the Evening

So I stopped by Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto while walking around the downtown area of Shijo. There was a lot of activity, plenty of travelers and people that I helped out. I also  tried some street food that was delicious. It is a busy time of the year but lot of life going on more so then when I went a year previously, you can check out that post here. It is open all the time which is great too!

The Summer of 2013 has past

Hey everyone!
So it has been awhile, a little more then a month since I last posted! that has been awhile. I haven't gone out to take a lot of pictures nor have I editing pictures in a while. My photo editing software has been freezing my computer and had to try a few different things to get it working. Hope it will now as I will be having a lot of photos to get through next month. Next month I will be spending two weeks in Kyoto! I can not wait!
I can't believe already that the summer has come and past! I love the autumn though and intend on going to the mountains a lot for hiking. Problem is that Shenandoah National Park is closed from the Government Shutdown which is really bothering me.
Well I have a few pictures from the summer from when I went to Bell Island and Maymont Park to lighten the mood up!

The city of Richmond

 

Mirrors in Japan

There are plentiful amounts of the mirrors all over the place in Japan because off  all the narrow alley ways and paths that are hard to look around when you are on the move. Japan being a safe country that it is has these on corners that you can use. they are also great if you want to look behind you or take a picture!

 

Sights at Imamiya Shrine

Imamiya Shrine is located in Kita-ku District up in Northern Kyoto. I have a formal post here if you care to read. It is also located to the large temple complex of Daitoku-ji. I stopped by here really early in the morning when there wasn't anyone to be seen.

This guy was here taking some photographs with his Canon, had a nice backpack to boot. 

 

Streets of Kyoto

Hey everyone!

So I decided to post some more random pictures of Kyoto when I traveled the streets. It is a very interesting city and worth just to take a stroll in any part of it. Most of these were taken for no reason at all other then to have some extra pictures haha

Here is a taxi that was heading over a bridge over the Kamigamo River near Higashiyama...

Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival 2013

Hey everyone! So a few weeks ago Ashley and I went up to Washington D.C. for a day for the Cherry Blossoms! The Street festival was a week after but this was ton of fun but super crowded. If it is Cherry Blossom blossoming time there, advice I can give is get there mega early on the weekends or go in the week because there is just a TON of people. We did had a blast though and unfortunately it was still maybe 2 days before max bloom. Some trees had buds, some had blossoms and very very few had all blossoms. Anyways, enjoy the Festival in it's 101 Anniversary! 

So I have never walked over to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial on the other side of the Tidal Basin but it is so nice looking!

Blossoming at Maymont take One

So Richmond Cherry Blossoms bloomed a few weeks back and so did a few other flowering trees. My girlfriend and I went to Maymont on a weekend before we went to Washington D.C. It was a lovely day, but anyways enjoy the photographs. I am sorry that I haven't put up new photos recently but I am finding a little more time to get through them and putting up these posts!

Yokohama China Town

My travels in Japan lead me to a day trip from Tokyo to Yokohama where you can find Japan's largest china Town and also the largest China town in Asia (which I didn't know). It has a history of 150 years and there still lives Chinese there. It still has 250 stores at least and is really interesting place to go to. 

This is the goodwill gate that was built and established here for people to come and go.

Williamsburg 2012 Christmas Season

On New Years Eve my girlfriend and I decided to go walk around Williamsburg for enjoyment! She hasn't walked around the open air museum of Williamsburg so I acted as a tour guide. It was a somewhat nice day but the breeze made it chilly! Anyways enjoy the few pictures that I did take.

We were not the only people that thought it be a great day to come and walk here on the last day of 2012.

 

Richmond's Illumination 2012

So this is a little late as when I went it was December 23rd maybe. Anyways, my family and I went downtown on a semi-rainy night to enjoy the lights like we usually do. they are nice to see if you have not seen them before. I actually didn't take as many pictures as I normally do but I grabbed a few for my family and with my in them to (after getting dad to understand what was the shutter button). Any who... check out the pictures if you like and hope you had a great season.

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.