I am an observer. I observe the thoughts that course through my mind. And in their midst I exist.
Aphorism 48: On Survival.
The human must eat, drink, breath and create. Neglect any one of these and it will die.
Musing 16: On Death.
One day I will die. Will I be no more than some words, a photo or a memory?
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Afternoon of Day 3 (Saturday 28 September), Hongu Taisha to Koguchi.
(Hongu Taisha to Koguchi - Distance: 13kms. Walking time 4hrs 25mins to 5hrs 35mins. Elevation 55m to 450m to 50m.) Previous Post - Walking the Kumano Kodo: Morning of Day 3 (Saturday 28 September), Hongu Taisha to Koguchi. It began to drizzle a little as we descended from the Sakura-toge Pass and reached the... Continue Reading →
Musing 15: On the Human Condition.
He spent the first half of his life trying to escape from his human condition, and the second half of his life trying to recapture it.
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Morning of Day 3 (Saturday 28 September), Hongu Taisha to Koguchi.
(Hongu Taisha to Koguchi- Distance: 13kms. Walking time 4hrs 25mins to 5hrs 35mins. Elevation 55m to 450m to 50m) Previous post - Walking the Kumano Kodo: Afternoon of Day 2 (Friday 27 September), Tsugizakura-oji to Hongu Taisha. I woke to a symphony of birds greeting the new day. The sound of so many birds chirping... Continue Reading →
Aphorism 47: On Judgement.
We are judged by what we create.
Musing 14: On loss.
I miss a world I never belonged to.
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Afternoon of Day 2 (Friday 27 September), Tsugizakura-oji to Hongu Taisha.
(Tsugizakura-oji to Hongu Taisha - Distance: 22.1 kms. Walking time 6hrs 50mins to 8hrs 50mins. Elevation 374m to 646m to 93m) Previous Post - Walking the Kumano Kodo: Morning of Day 2 (Friday 27 September), Tsugizakura-oji to Hongu Taisha. Mik, Patrick and I reached Hongu by 3.30pm. After strolling around Hongu Taishi, we descended a... Continue Reading →
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Morning of Day 2 (Friday 27 September), Tsugizakura-oji to Hongu Taisha.
(Tsugizakura-oji to Hongu Taisha - Distance: 22.1 kms. Walking time 6hrs 50mins to 8hrs 50mins. Elevation 374m to 646m to 93m) Previous Post - Walking the Kumano Kodo: Afternoon of Day 1 (Thursday 26 September), Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji. I woke at 6.00am on the morning of Friday 27th September. The shoji screen separating my room... Continue Reading →
Musing 13: On the Sound of Creation.
The sensation in my skull is both a tingling feeling and a sound, which buzzes and rings. It is constantly present and has always existed in the background of my awareness, although I only became fully aware of it a couple of decades ago. I sense it when I want and ignore it when I... Continue Reading →
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Afternoon of Day 1 (Thursday 26 September), Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji.
(Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji - Distance: 18.2kms. Walking time 6hrs 25mins to 9hrs 40mins. Elevation 82m to 688m to 374m) Previous Post - Walking the Kumano Kodo: Midday of Day 1 (Thursday 26 September), Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji. The Kumano Kodo trail followed the road behind Chikatsuyu-oji and past a primary school. On the school grounds was... Continue Reading →
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Midday of Day 1 (Thursday 26 September), Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji.
(Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji - Distance: 18.2kms. Walking time 6hrs 25mins to 9hrs 40mins. Elevation 82m to 688m to 374m) Previous Post - Walking the Kumano Kodo: Morning of Day 1 (Thursday 26 September), Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji. The Kumano Kodo trail continued behind Takahara. Leaving the village, Mik, Patrick and I climbed steeply for another two... Continue Reading →
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Morning of Day 1 (Thursday 26 September), Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji.
(Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji - Distance: 18.2kms. Walking time 6hrs 25mins to 9hrs 40mins. Elevation 82m to 688m to 374m) Previous post - Walking the Kumano Kodo: Planning and Preparation. My two mates, Mik and Patrick, and I stayed at Kodo-no-Mori Minshuku the night before we began our walk. This minshuku is located beside Takijiri-oji, the... Continue Reading →
Walking the Kumano Kodo: Planning and Preparation.
I recently walked the Kumano Kodo. Although challenging in parts, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The following is an account of my four-day trek. I hope this description of the sights, sounds and tastes of the Kumano Kodo will be useful to other hikers who are thinking about undertaking this famous, and increasingly popular, pilgrimage... Continue Reading →
