What is in your cup?

[Stitchawl]

Two more... just cuz I like 'em!


Stitchawl

[red_phoenix]

Your pictures are wonderful Stitchawl. Thank you for sharing them.

Water in my cup.

[Stitchawl]

... and guys... if you think it takes YOUR wife hours to do her hair and put on make-up, you ain't seen nothin'!

Keep in mind that these women are all 'students.' They will serve an apprenticeship that can last 20 years before they are given their first 'rank.' Yeah... even Geisha get 'Black Belts' (or the Geisha equivalent. 1st degree, 2nd degree... right on up. But they might be 50 years old before they reach 2nd or 3rd degree...) The girl who is smiling at the camera (left side in the last set of photos) isn't going to make it... Not enough humility. Compare her with the very first one.


Stitchawl

[ProfCrash]

Nice pictures.



One of my favorites from today

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Attachment 91467

One of my favorites from today

Now THAT is a cute kid! Take a million photos now... He won't sit still for them in another 15 years.



Stitchawl

[VydorScope]

What is Geisha?

[dreams]

Interesting snapshots, Stitchawl, thanks. I searched about the apprenticeship and then got involved in the descriptions of the various Obi. I never knew it was so elaborate for everything. And congratulations on the weight loss! You are almost there. I am really looking forward to seeing some great aerial photographs when you get back. What is it called that you will be doing?

ProfCrash - What a happy little guy! Is he always so full of smiles?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

What is Geisha?

I'm going to drink a mug of Ahmad's "English Breakfast" tea, even though is almost 4 in the afternoon, and tell you...

Geisha is the Japanese name for a corps of extremely well trained entertainers and hostesses. When I say 'extremely' I really mean 'extremely.' It may take anywhere from 10-20 years of training to be awarded the higest rank of Geisha, although in today's jet-set world, a woman can work as a Geisha after just a few years but not command the salary or respect that a full Geisha would earn. Think Hollywood bit-player actress compared to Julie Andrews...

Geisha are hired to entertain at Japanese functions, where they will dance, sing, play musical instruments, tell stories, see that the sake cups are always filled, make sure that everyone is having a perfect evening, no one feeling left out or bored, etc. Unfortunately, you really have to be Japanese to appreciate the skills of the Geisha. If you heard one singing and playing the shamisen, you'd think a cat was being strangled. Have you ever heard Flamenco singing? Now imagine it being worse...

In the beginning, Geisha were high-class courtesans, but by the late 1700's their sexual roles were removed, and that side of their art given over to another group of women, equally trained but in different skills.

Today, the highest priced Geisha tend to be in their late 40's and 50's, while the apprentice 'Maiko' in the late teens, 20's and 30's.


Stitchawl

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by dreams

Interesting snapshots, Stitchawl, thanks. I searched about the apprenticeship and then got involved in the descriptions of the various Obi. I never knew it was so elaborate for everything.

Elaborate for every aspect of their life, from how to walk, how to do their nails, how even to hold their hand when walking down the street!

And congratulations on the weight loss! You are almost there. I am really looking forward to seeing some great aerial photographs when you get back. What is it called that you will be doing?

It's called "ParaGliding." Basically, it's jumping off a cliff with a parachute, finding a space where there are warm air currents rising, maneuvering into the rising air so you gain altitude rather than just float down, and can stay aloft for hours at a time or travel long distances. The instructor that I will study with holds the Japanese distance record, traveling over 700 kilometers! I'll be satisfied if I can stay aloft for 10 minutes and cover one kilometer!


Stitchawl

[orlok]

Great pictures Stitchawl. You have increased my determination to one day get back to Japan and travel further than Tokyo.

Regarding the paragliding - how do you get back to base if you drift off for a few kilometers? Sounds like a combination hobby of gliding and hill walking .

@ProfCrash - that's one healthy looking boy. "Bonny", as our northern neighbours would say.

Tick Tock Rooibos in my cup.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by dreams

Welcome back, orlok. Did you get any other photos as gorgeous as the one of Castell Coch you shared?

Thanks. We took very few pictures this holiday, and those we did are now stuck in the camera until I can get my card reader back from eldest daughter... If there is anything worth posting, I'll do so soon. Most of them are boring location shots of an area in the Usk Valley where a pivotal scene in my novel is set - I just wanted to see the place for myself and ensure I got the topography and facts correct.

Black coffee next.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by orlok

Great pictures Stitchawl. You have increased my determination to one day get back to Japan and travel further than Tokyo.

98% of large Japanese cities look exactly the same. I mean EXACTLY the same. You can't tell where you are by the architecture the way you can in New York or Chicago, LA or Miami. But....
Kyoto... Nara... Kobe... Kamakura.... These cities were never bombed during the war, and retain huge sections that date back hundreds of years... This is where you see 'the Old Japan.' The stuff you see when you look at guidebooks that talk about the Culture of Japan... I live exactly mid-way between Osaka and Kyoto. 16 miles from either, in a 'bedroom' city for both. In fact, the dividing line is the street in front of my house. But the difference between the two is so dramatic as to keep me spending my time in Kyoto rather than Osaka. Osaka looks like Tokyo looks like Hiroshima looks like Fukuoka looks like Yokohama looks like looks like looks like! Kyoto only looks like Kyoto. Nara only looks like Nara. And both look like Japan is supposed to look!

Regarding the paragliding - how do you get back to base if you drift off for a few kilometers?

This is why God invented cell phones. But if you do need to walk a bit, (no more than a meadow or two,) the kit is no larger than a large rucksack and lighter than if it were filled with camping gear. I could carry it on my motorcycle, fit it into the front trunk of a VW beetle, or wheel it on a supermarket trolly.


Stitchawl

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Nice pictures.

Attachment 91467

One of my favorites from today

Oh my goodness, look at that smiley boy! And I would swear I see a twinkle of mischief in his eyes...

[Billi]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Nice pictures.

Attachment 91467

One of my favorites from today

Looks pleased and happy, this young man! What do all the aunts and neighbours say - is he "just the mama" or "just like papa"?

[Billi]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I spent my walking time yesterday shooting scenes around the Gion District in Kytoto. My goal was really to just 'walk' (that's my exercise) and the camera is just a prop to get me to do it, so really, these are just 'snapshots,' not really good photos. Below are some of the things I saw...

What do the women wear on their backs? Are these pillows?