Some shots from Japan

[pdk42]

Really love the pictures of your trip! Keep them coming please!

Thank you.

In 2023 I was late getting entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, Peruvian government has put a quota on how many visitors are allowed daily. So they sell tickets online in advance, and beside those they have a few thousand available every morning, regulated by crooked police, who decide.

If you know your way, you know how to use the crooked system, by paying a fee to get in the right lane… anyway we made it to Machu Picchu, but was shocked to see thousands of visitors lining up in lines to get a possibility to buy entrance tickets a 4:30am. Because we payed the crooked police via our local guide, we were like the 10th person out of thousands to be able to buy them. 5hrs later the main square was still completely full of tourists waiting for a possibility to buy them as we left with our mandatory guide.

One of the (many) nice things about Japan is that corruption and crooked practices, at least for the general public, are very rare.

 

[RuleOfThirds]

Thank you.

One of the (many) nice things about Japan is that corruption and crooked practices, at least for the general public, are very rare.

If you go more or less guided with a touroperator, Peru is easy and safe, no hassle at all. But my wife is from there and we have family, so we don’t take the normal tourists ways. Because we had to extent my wife’s Peruvian ID, it was impossible to predict which day we could be there. Bureaucracy of the local government system made that impossible. As soon as you go by your own, of the beaten track, you get in bribe territory very fast.

Really would love to visit Japan!!

 

[The Rigger]

14) The Golden Temple
Well, it had to be done. Hordes of tourists of course.

Of course. But the temple grounds were splendid, perhaps?

 

[pdk42]

Of course. But the temple grounds were splendid, perhaps?

Yes, they were splendid - just packed with tourists.

 

[pdk42]

16) Fushimi Inari - Thousand Tori Gates

We went to see the Fushimi Inari "thousand Tori gates" today. I absolutely hated it; packed tight with tourists and just a chore to have to walk up with people pushing and shoving you all the time. And I cringed at the behaviour of so many of the people - crass "look at me !" selfies and noisy behaviour. I didn't even get the camera out to take a photo of the gates or the walkway since it really wasn't worth the trouble. You can find thousands of pics on line when the place is empty!

But I did take two shots - this one of a Kyoto panorama from one of the viewpoints on the way up:

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• LUMIX S 24-105/F4
• 71.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/320 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• -0.7
• ISO 100

...and this one of a few gates that led away from the main path towards a little suburb called Tofuku-ji. Almost immediately we were on our own and it was a real relief!

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• LUMIX S 24-105/F4
• 105.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/400 sec
• Pattern
• Auto bracket
• -3
• ISO 100

 

[pdk42]

17) Tōfuku-ji Temple and the Tsutenkyo Bridge

Having escaped from the tourist chaos of Fushimi Inari and descended into Tofuku-ji, we stumbled across a Buddhist Temple there - and what an absolute eye-opener this place was!!

It was almost deserted of people but it was spectacularly beautiful with the most wonderful garden and an absolutely stunning wooden bridge that spanned a deep ravine. I've got more photos to process, but here are a couple to give you a taste:


Tofuku-ji Temple by Paul Kaye, sur Flickr




Tsutenkyo Bridge II by Paul Kaye, sur Flickr

 

[pdk42]

17a) Tōfuku-ji Temple and the Tsutenkyo Bridge Continued
A few more...



Dazzling Autumn Colour in the Tofuku-ji Temple by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

 

[RuleOfThirds]

I’m enjoying your thread thoroughly Paul. Thank you! How long do you stay?

 

[pdk42]

I’m enjoying your thread thoroughly Paul. Thank you! How long do you stay?

We're here until Jan 7th.

 

[pdk42]

18) Kyoto Botanical Garden

Having had our fingers burnt with the Fushimi Inari and other tourist traps, today we went to the Kyoto Botanical Gardens for some peace and quiet. And what a wonderful place it is. Very calm and quiet and with some spectacular garden scenery.


The Delights of a Japanese Garden by Paul Kaye, on Flickr



Magnificant Acer Tree in Full Autumn Glory by Paul Kaye, on Flickr




Trees and their Reflections by Paul Kaye, on Flickr




Path over the Pond by Paul Kaye, on Flickr




Lakeside Pagoda by Paul Kaye, on Flickr