[sportsbettinge]

My father was stationed in Nara during the Korean war, 1951-1952. Whenever he had a moment off work, he would wander through the nearby countryside with a local Japanese citizen who he worked with at the base hospital. As a child growing I used to page through his photos of the temples around Kyoto, and at least partly due to his pictures I became interested in travel, bonsai and bamboo. Many of your photos from like from Ryoanji, the Buddha's footprints, the dry gravel meditation garden; all are nearly the same views that my father photographed some 58 years ago. Except your photos are in color. I have a fondness for Japan, a place I have yet to visit, but hope to do so someday. Thank you for posting your photos, and reminding me that I need to plan for a trip in the next few years.