48 waterfalls and a skylark

Well, the last week has been pretty hectic, with work, some photography, the CT challenge and an overnight work trip to Akame falls in Mie prefecture, about 2 hours drive north east of Osaka. The bonus of the week was having a public holiday yesterday which was nice. I bought myself a nice new monopod/head set up for the camera, trying to minimize the shake at long focal lengths and hoping to maintain the object in sharp focus. It worked well, the Siberian Rubythroat photograph (below) testament to that fact...a nice little fella that popped out in front of me while taking a leisurely stroll through Osaka-jo park last weekend. The rest of the week was humdrum but the work trip away had its pluses, as well as its minuses. An incredibly beautiful setting in the hills, the temperature somewhat chilly and the autumn colors just about begining to peak through now.


Although the area is called Akame 48 waterfalls, there is actually only 24 waterfalls but there is only one path winding through the valley. So, when one walks the entire length of the path one sees 24 waterfalls, however, one also has to walk back through the same path, thereby seeing the 24 waterfalls again...which in Japanese speak means that you have seen 48 waterfalls. Logical really. The purpose of the work gathering was to talk together and have a rest. Talking together we did for the first 2 hours after we arrived, the gaijin staff having a separate meeting to the Japanese staff. Then, a 2 hour period of personal time, with only 1 hour of light left, was spent walking along the path of the 48 waterfalls. It is truly spectacular. The dense forest, the heady smell of vegetation and the sound of bird calls sometimes overcoming the noise and rush of the fast flowing river and the crashing sounds of the waterfalls. This is also a protected area for the endagered Fire Salamander and other species of salamander that live here. Unfortunately we didn't see any in the river but a couple of 1 metre long speciemens were on display in a small exhibit situated at the begining of the trail. Incredible creatures.

That night, a traditional Japanese dinner, some of it great, some of it terrible. A lot of free beer and a lot of speech making. It was my responsibility to take the photos so I spent most of dinner and speech time doing just that. I prattled on about our expedition to Mt. Fuji, entertaining as you can imagine. Then, another hour or so of personal time so we just got some beer and drank outside in the chilly mountain air. Nice. I really wanted to go to the onsen but with the tattoos I have, it was better that I didn't. If the boss saw them there could be a chance I would get fired. I kid you not. Furthermore, most onsens have a blanket ban on tattoos but I have never been asked to leave one before. It's very taboo in Japan these days as most of the people who have tattoos are members of the yakuza, the Japanese mafia. Then, a meeting with the boss that lasted until 5am from what I heard. We lasted until 3am and had to sit through an uncomfortable experience of watching one of the senior staff members being publicly humiliated, with some of the female staff members crying silent tears at the horror unfolding before them. It was horrendous. Totally out of order. Thankfully it was all in Japanese but the faces of the JP staff told the story without the need for a translator. I left at 3am and went to bed. While having my last ciggie of the day, standing on the balcony overlooking the river and forest, an Oriental Scops Owl was singing away to its hearts content and bats were hunting under the street lamp...magical.

The next day, we awoke to a beautiful morning. With Jays flying back and forth across the tree-covered mountains, Ashy Minivets calling from the dense forest, and the hammering of trees by woodpeckers, it was the one relaxed moment I had in the 24 hours previous to that. After a group photograph, it was back to Osaka (above) by 11am and to work for an hour of so to check that there were no emergency matters needing attention from that morning's incoming correspondance. Then, as we thanked the boss for the fabulous evening, he asked us did we get a good rest. It took me a few seconds to realize he was being serious. What the fcuk? Of course I wasn't rested. I got 4 hours bloody sleep and had to listen to BS all night. I just smiled and answered in the affirmative and went home. I spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out.

Last night I went for beers with the boys and few of the girls, which was a great laugh. Today, I woke and arose at 9am, tidying the apartment, cooking some food, reading a book. I received a fantastic parcel from JW and the Blanan inhabitants during the week, filled with books, S&V Tayto, a DVD, a t-shirt and a signed copies of the rare Forbidden Son's first album and of the Whales and Dolphin Guide that JW wrote and illustrated. I have enough books now to last me at least 6 months! I was over the moon. So, I started The Master by Colm Toibin this morning. So far, so good...

So, you may be wondering why I have the word "skylark" in the title of this post?? Well, I decided to take a wander on the local train and got off at Hoshida station where there are nice fields of farmed land, mainly rice paddies, although these are very dry now. However, I wanted to get some photos of the local birds (feathered kind boys, the ones that fly...) and build up my portfolio of images. I spent a very relaxed and frustrating afternoon chasing skylarks. In the end, I still didn't manage to get one decent shot. However, I did manage to see another lifer...Chestnut-eared Bunting!! I was totally surprised and quite delighted. A cast of Siberian Stonechat, Olive-backed pipit, Black-faced bunting, Daurian Redstart, Bull-headed shrike and Fan-tailed warbler,plus a flock of at least 700 Tree Sparrows made for a very entertaining afternoon.

And now, maybe I will finally get to catch up on all the emails I need to reply to, I just haven't had the energy lately and the emails are mounting! Therefore, I shall leave you to do whatever it is you are doing and I am off to write some emails...

Carmo's Diet: This week, I have mostly been eating tofu and seaweed

Carmo's Birds: CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING*; Siberian Rubythroat; Ashy Minivet; ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL (calling only); Mandarin Duck; Daurian Redstart; Black-faced Bunting; Jay;

Carmo's Birds for Byrdy:Missy Peregrym