Postcard from Japan - Mt Fuji

Mt Fuji has attracted millions of tourists, climbers, artists and poets. How could I capture such an iconic symbol of Japan in a new and interesting way?

For this image I waited for the canoes to move across the lake

I walked a little off to one side, away from the main tourist path. I liked seeing Mt Fuji with the almost bare trees and the city laid out beneath.

A visit to the UNESCO heritage listed village of Oshino. Mt Fuji in the distance, bare branches, reflections of visitors.

Sun setting over Oshino

My favourite image of Mt Fuji sitting at the end of a busy street

Postcard from Australia - Three Capes Walk Tasmania - Day Three

Day three, Three Capes Walk, Tasmania, April 2023. Today is the longest walk, 19km, however for three quarters of the walk we only have to carry our day packs. It is a relief to leave our big packs behind, except when we have to pick up the 15kg pack for the last 5km. The guide says today is all about drama and adrenalin. The walk out to The Blade and Cape Pillar is spectacular and there is plenty of drama as you look across to Tasman Island and watch the rain sweep across the bay.

Postcard from the Hunza Valley

Beautiful blossoms and snow capped mountains will be my lasting impression of the Hunza Valley

The Hunza valley is in the northern part of Gilgit-Baltistan at an elevation of 2,438 meters.  Afghanistan is to the north and China is to the northeast.  The Hunza River runs through the valley and you can still see remains of the Old Silk Road.  

We visited during spring and the apricot blossom trees were in full bloom.  The air was fresh, villages clean and terraces beautifully ordered.  It was wonderful to walk along nearly deserted paths and hear nothing but the buzz of bees and the occasional motorbike.

In 1933 a novel by James Hilton was released called ‘Lost Horizon’.  In 1937 it was made into a film by Frank Capra.  The book and film are set in Shangri-La, a ‘mystical and harmonious’ valley in Tibet that is isolated and where people live for hundreds of years.  It is thought that Hilton based his novel on the location and people of the Hunza Valley. 

The Hunzakut were rumoured to live exceptionally long lives, to be very fit, to be vegetarian and never get ill.  Unfortunately, this has turned out not to be true.  The Hunzakut are very fit as most must walk to work in the fields, at altitude.  During the summer they do follow a mostly vegetarian diet as the growing season for fresh fruit and vegetables is very short.  Animals are kept for meat for during the long winter months.  As Hunza is very difficult to reach a lot of diseases did not arrive until roads opened up the valley.   As to living very long lives this depends on how you measure age.  Apparently the Hunzakut do not measure age solely by years but also by wisdom.  

If you are ‘wise beyond your years’ you will visit Hunza as it is a beautiful place filled with stunning landscapes and hospitable people.  

Hunza Valley from Altit Fort

Hunza Valley panorama taken from Altit Fort. Hard to give you a sense of being surrounded by mountains

Hunza Valley from Baltit Fort

Snow gives way to barren mountain sides. Those squiggly lines in the middle are roads going up high into the mountains.

The Hunza River runs through the centre of the valley

Blossoms above and below

Poplar trees and patchwork terraces

A man rests and checks his phone

Pink blossoms against a blue sky and white snow capped mountains

Clouds lift and we can see the mountains from our hotel

Delicate apricot blossoms

The day ends, the sun sets, we watch the changing light on the mountains.