Narita-san Temple

Wow, so the first post of 2007, huh? I suppose it's a bit cheap that it's gonna be primarily a photo entry, but as previously mentioned I'm heading off to Paris this Thursday - Thursday people - and I've not done any packing yet. In fact, I should probably try and figure out where all my underwear seem to have disappeared off to over the past two weeks. I'll need them for my trip and I don't have time for the crazed antics of thieving Underwear Gnomes.

I'll be in Europe until the 15th, at which point I'll attempt the impossible and try to land in Narita in the morning and make it to work the afternoon of the same day so as to avoid using any unnecessary vacation days. I have a strong suspicion the day will end with me passed out face first at my desk, drooling all over that stupid clear plastic protector mat that keeps my schedule and stuff firmly affixed to the table top, staring up at me as if to remind me how banal and eyeball melting life in a Japanese office can be. Oh panda, why can't you stay in the land of bread, cheese and wine forever?

Ahh, because you don't speak French. And also, they hate Americans. And quite possibly Pandas.

*ahem* Pardon my little soliloquy. I've been trying to save money - plus everything is shut down until the 3rd for the New Year holiday - so I haven't left my apartment in three days. I think I'm starting to lose my already-frail grasp on reality (for example, I used to half-jest that I was part panda, now I actually believe it).

Before I started my period of involuntary hermitage, I did manage to find my way out to Narita-san Shinshoji Temple over in Chiba Prefecture, one of the most famous temples in the Kanto region for a little late night photography session. Originally my plan was to go there during the beautiful sunny day last Saturday, but I ended up going to photograph the Emperor's Birthday instead. Then I thought it would be great to go during the Hatsumode celebrations for the New Year but given that temples are unbelievably crowded during this time and Narita-san is second only to Meiji Jingu in downtown Tokyo in terms of crowd size, I decided that probably wouldn't be the best idea.

So instead, I went the night before all the festivities took off, when the temple was unbelievably silent and deserted, and took some shots at night with the lens wide open and the shutter set to double digit exposure times. I'm still getting used to my camera as you can tell, but I thought it turned out pretty good given my ham handed approach to photography (Step 1: Point in general vicinity of target. Step 2: Push shutter button. Step 3: Remove lens cap. Step 4. Repeat Step #2.)

Click on the "Continue Reading" link for more...

If you want to see more shots, in their original uncropped aspect ratios, you can check out the narita-san photo gallery!

Well that's it for now. I hope you enjoyed the photos! As mentioned, I will be in France until the 14th, but I will try to update at least once during that time period. But don't hold me to that. I may very well be passed out drunk on wine and stuffed on cheesah bread in some corner of Paris somewhere, being silently mocked by a vicious mime pretending to be sweeping around me.

God I hope I can see a real mime in a black & white stripey shirt!