Temple Trek Twenty-Thirteen

Recently I have been gung-ho about visiting the remaining Shikoku 88 temples on my list to acquire the calligraphy and complete my stampbook collection.  Practically every weekend for the past month or so has seen me get behind the wheel of my tiny kei car, armed with a pile of loose change and google maps at the ready.  Can't say I've enjoyed all of the driving (I much prefer being a passenger!) but knocking about 30 temples from the list has been invigorating.  Currently, I've a mere 7 temples to go - three in Tokushima and the final four stretch in Kagawa prefecture - and I can barely wait for a free weekend so I can cross them off.  Anyway, here are some pictures from this last leg of the tour, my "temple trek 2013".

Waterfalling

For a self-confessed city girl like me, living in the inaka (countryside) can have its drawbacks.  It's quiet, too quiet most times and there are bugs, lots of bugs.  But occasionally it proves to have its upsides.  Upsides like crazy local generosity and amazing natural scenery.  On one fine Saturday, some friends and I decided to make the most of nature and head out for a spot of waterfall swimming.

The sun was shining but the temperatures in the shade were a little cooler than you'd want them to be.  This didn't stop us from donning our cossies, packing our cameras, stopping at a supermarket for picnic supplies and setting off on a 45-minute drive into the mountains in search of the stunning rural wilderness.

Our trek took us to Kamikatsu, a town famous for its ageing population and incredible wealth generated by leaf farming.  Yes, you read correctly, leaf farming.  Apparently, decorative leaves are a big business in Japan and the old ladies in this area sure know how to milk the trees for all they're worth.  They pick them and pack them off to places like Kyoto, where prized Kamikatsu leaves are used to decorate the plates of many an expensive meal.  As an aside, Kamikatsu is also home to a fairly small but pretty incredible private little waterfall and it's here that we set-up camp for the day to frolic in the surprisingly freezing waters.  Check out the pictures below!

Walking down the garden path, heading to the hidden little waterfall...

John and Natasha, picnicking on the rocks by the waterfall.

This is me standing on rocks behind the waterfall.

Photo courtesy of Greg P C.

Crossing a tiny, leaf-strewn bridge on the way out of the waterfall cove.