Continuing my exploration these hills, i found another trailhead. This time in Simi Valley and despite a understated entrance, we found some exciting features. Including this wash under the 118! Respite from the sun and incredible acoustics. There was a cave that none of the trails we found seemed to head towards. We met another hiker who gave us an idea of how to find it. Next time.
The weather was amazing and my work was canceled so i went on an adventure! i’ve been to Stony Point and Vasquez Rocks dozens of times, but i’d never been on this trail. From clouds to the flowers, it was a glorious hike.
Enjoy these images. I shot so many panoramas, it was hard selecting these.
My first No Kings protest downtown and it was exciting. Live performance, crazy characters, great signs and lots of camaraderie. i gave out stickers and made friends as we idled and marched. Unlike the first and second march, this time i traveled to downtown los angeles to participate in a much larger gathering. i couldn’t get pictures of all the incredible costumes. Everyone was so friendly and curious. i lost count of how many times i bumped into or stepped on the foot of a fellow protestor.
I returned to Disneyland with some first timers. It hasn’t been very long, but there have been a lot of changes. Fast Pass is now a paid upgrade. Storybook rides now feature video projection. Splash Mountain is now Bayou Country despite keeping the big splash. The Haunted Mansion is in Nightmare before Christmas mode with even more fun changes. The original Club 33 door is now stroller parking! The Electric Light Parade has returned completely refreshed and a new Fantasyland Castle projection show provided exciting new entertainment.
i had a blast at hershey park. I even snacked on the candy coated staff. how many people do you think have tasted this guy’s head?
Originally built in 766 Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji Temple was rebuilt a few times since then, most notably by Kocho Nishimura, a statue sculptor and restorer who himself became a Buddhist monk. Over 10 years stating in 1981 reconstruction was in full swing. The main project was the construction of the 1200 carved statues that now cover the hillsides. These are rakan, the followers of Buddha, created individually by everyday followers who made the pilgrimage to learn carving from Kocho Nishimura. you can see the individuality and even elements of personality in each carving.
There are many bamboo forests in Japan, many of the most famous are in the outskirts of Kyoto. This was one of the less popular ones, but none the less beautiful or majestic.
In the mountains above the outskirts of Kyoto rests the Monkey Park where i met some enchanting new friends. I got some incredible pictures and videos of some very food motivated primates. They had a great system where all the feeding happens though the bars and outside the feeding room, the monkeys were happy to walk among the visitors. I learned much about these the monkeys and met an adorable mother and child.
