あけおめ!!1.1.11

Yay! here we go... another year to love, laugh and live...to make and break resolutions, and have a kick-arse time!

Speaking of resolutions, I have somewhat of a project planned that I will try to follow through...and that too on a daily basis. (no promises!)

Having acquired more of a resident status after living here for more than 2 years, I have become less of a tourist. Which is both good and bad, well more good than bad.
But the bad means that I have stopped taking photos. I still carry my camera along when there's a super special event, but i've stopped capturing everyday stuff, things around my neighbourhood, stuff I marvel at randomly around Tokyo.

Its been good in a way because I can admire things without looking at them through lenses, but now that I have all of 9 months left in this country, I've decided to start snapping again. It'll be nice to have some pics to browse through years down the line when the memories begin to fade.

So here I go... a photo-a-day.

Today's was a slightly lazy attempt, I was biking home after a NY's eve party, quite hungover.
Crossing the street would have taken too much effort.

This one is of the Torii (entrance gate) of a Shinto shrine called Anahachiman Jingu (Shrine) which is located right next to my university and 5 minutes from my flat.

akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! 

I pass it on a daily basis and drop by randomly. Once I followed music that was floating out from the temple grounds, and ended up witnessing my first Japanese Summer festival, with singing, dancing, food and stalls. It was quite a treat.

Today the crowds were going in for the traditional 'first visit to the shrine in the New Year' called Hatsumode.

Love, peace and happiness

Happy 2011!