Exploring the unlikely intersections of walking, photography and making
October 10, 2015. This would be our last day on our Shikoku pilgrimage. A week earlier my mum, Anna Firman, suffered a stroke in Winnipeg. Her condition worsening, it was imperative that we make our way back home to be with her. Three days after our return, mum gently passed away with me, my brother,... Continue Reading →
Today our world turned vertical. The climb from Temple 11 to 12 is a continuous upward slog. A 1,250 meter ascent to be exact. It is a day of pain. Proving that you are a worthy pilgrim. I suspect most people do complete the climb. It is part of the religious ritual that suffering will... Continue Reading →
Our second day as Henro pilgrims sees us visit four more temples. By now the ritual is established. The temples start to have a certain similarity. Main shrine directly in line with the entrance gateway. Kōbō Daishi shrine off to one side. Stamp office somewhere nearby.In between the temples sites, we meander through busy streets,... Continue Reading →
The train trip from Tokyo to Tokushima City, on the island of Shikoku, is a trip back in time.Starting with the ultra-fast Nozomi bullet train (Shinkansen), we are transported at dizzying speed from Tokyo to Ayagawa. There, we hop onto the slower but still comfortable Marine Liner train to Takamatsu, on Shikoku. The next train... Continue Reading →
For two people about to embark on a Buddhist pilgrimage, Tokyo is the least likely starting point. It is the quintessential crazy cosmopolitan centre. The place you go to gasp at the outrageousness of urban life, where the rules of a country so tied to traditions explode in all sorts of non-traditional directions.We had one... Continue Reading →
It's a warm afternoon in Winnipeg. I take a break from packing and the endless details that need to be accomplished. Styxx and I are on our last walk before Gail and I depart on our next adventure, early next morning. We wander through the tall grass preserve sandwiched between a car dealership, hotel... Continue Reading →