Sakura in Morioka castle

Spring has come to Morioka

Since Morioka is a cold place, all the flowers suddenly start to bloom 

as if they were longing for spring

It is quite strange for me that plum, daffodils, kobushi and sakura bloom together

But now Morioka is filled with flowers 

There was a castle in Morioka long before

It was built in 16c and used to be a main castle to protect this region

Now, there is no castle but many cherry trees in the castle ruin amuse our eyes

I imagine many samurai and horses were using this road 

Wall of castle
It is amazing that people could carry and build such a wall without enzine 

Shidare sakura
This is a sakura that willows down

Hinamatsuri

Hinamatsuri is a festival that wish a good year for girls 

Usually it is taken on March 3rd but people in Morioka follow moon calender and celebrate

A woman asking for direction
Many people were wearing kimono and celebrating the coming of spring

Daffodils

ふきのとう　（Fukinotou）
They are butterbur sprout
We mix them with miso and eat with rice

Hanami (celebration of cherry blossom, sakura)

When I came back from India, Japan was the middle of cherry blossom (sakura) season

Everyday, I made a lunch box and ate under cherry blossoms with my mom and sister

Blossoms were beautiful and made me happy

My dog was tired going out, since I asked him to go and see sakura many times 

Eating under sakura trees at thumb became my family habit
It seems weird but there were few people and anyway sakura was beautiful


When I came back from lndia, I was surprised to hear that
 my sister and mom had been eating chapati and curry for several days
What happen to them?!

Our dog Baron

Just before thunderstorm
Sakura bore from rain and wind and lasted for quite long time
Usually sakura only lasts for one week
Since it blooms and fall in short time, sakura is used to refer to transitoriness life

Sakura road near my house

Hurry up!
Just before storming 





Walking with Baron
Walking with Baron is much happier than walking alone
He has to suffer from lots of camera shot but I think he doesn't hate it

Sakura petal on his nose

Syakunage

I don't know the name of this flower sorry
I enjoyed spring a lot

India travel

I traveled North India for three weeks in this spring

I started my trip from Jaipur to Agra, Delhi and finished in Shimla

I met lots of nice people 

I ate lots of good food and saw many beautiful things

I met a new culture and some of them were really impressive

Agra

Taj mahal and sunset from Yamuna river (near East gate)
Taj mahal was huge and beautiful
I felt great power and big love to his wife
But if my husband says he would spend such amount of money for me,
I would say  "use the money for people who are alive and needing the money, not only  for me "

A woman feeding crows in the evening
at shore of  Yamuna river
Many people came to feed dogs, doves and crows

Visitors on line
There were many visitors from all over the world in Taj mahal

.

There was a celebration going on in the morning

There were many people, camels and horses

A goat taking a nap

Water buffalo were going back to their house in the evening
Their body were angulated
They were strictly following their rule

Wall
Nothing special but I like this rough but sophisticated design
Sometimes Indians are bit rough for me, but I like their nature

Jaipur

I put some of the picture in previous page

Following pictures were taken from slightly different angle than previous page

 because this time, I was not traveling alone

.

Ghevar
It is a traditional sweet in Rajasthan
It is mainly made from flour, ghee and pandanus syrup and fried in ring shape
It was big but there was something that couldn't stop me eating it
Sweets in Jaipur were tasted great 

Dry cleaning of sari

A peaceful monkey family at Galtaji

Relation between monkey and dog is refer to as "犬猿の仲" in Japanese
It means their relation is really bad
In Galtaji, monkeys were fighting not only with dogs but also with other monkeys

Butter chicken and chicken tandoori in the evening
Muslims make great non-veg food

Sand bathing beside a busy road 

Delhi

I could not take much photos in Delhi because I was suffering from Delhi belly

It was a busy people with many many people

 I was treated by local India doctor

Even he gave me bitter medicines, I respect him a lot

Milk boy
Even Delhi is a busy city, morning starts from pretty late

Spice shop at Chandeni chowk
Inside the area, people were coughing with spice powder
The spices that lightened up looked really fresh
I am pretty sure I can make great curry with these spices 

Coriander









Shimla
Shimla was used as a summer capital in British India era
and still many people visit this city to enjoy its weather and view
The city was British style with castle and theater
It was a really interesting city

I forgot my camera at Delhi so all of the pictures were taken by my phone

Shimla
I was amazed by these crowded houses
Bit worried for natural disaster 

 .

Even a school was built on a slope
I felt that people were wearing more colorful clothes than other places

Jubbar, a small village, about 25 km away from Shimla
There were many mustard and wheat field
Most of the families were keeping 2 to four cows in their house
First floor was for cows and second flour was for family
It was calm and beautiful village

My neighborhood friend
She and family were very kind to us
Thanks to them I made great memories
One night, she invited me to dinner
She served me a bowl of sugar, gee and rice
They melted in my mouth.. it was delicious. I cannot forget the taste

Goats
There were many goats that travelling from Shimla to North
Goats smell was really strong and I felt like I was wrapped
 by soft silky goat cheese

Holi

Holi is celebration of Spring in North India (places that many Hindu live)

I celebrated Holi in Jaipur

It is taken on full moon of Spring, 

this year was 17 and 18th of March

Holi morning 

Holi color seller

I visited India and wondered what those people sell usually,
when it is not Holi









 Day before Holi
17th March 2014







Elephant color
Elephants were also dressed up with color in Holi
I helped coloring four elephants
Skin of elephant was hard and it was difficult until I got used to it
 I enjoyed a lot

One man drew a draft with white color
and other people followed him

It was difficult to color ears and nose
since elephant moved the parts a lot

Drinking water after dressed up 

Elephants got ready for Holi
They were fed sugar cane

This is a Krishna temple

Many people got together, dance, sing and pray 

People say happy Holi and put color on my face
Also they threw color power and splash color water  in the air 

Dancing 

With the color powder, air in the temple got dusty 

In the evening, towers of cow dung, kites and plants were made in front of each temple
I heard the story behind but I don't remember as much as can write here

Burned

Happy Holi!!! 

18th March 2014

News reporter

Children were making color water balloons

Competition 












Holi was great fun but I got really tired at the end
I was snatched lots of colors again and again
color was everywhere on the body
It was a great experience