Japan: Kamakura

Kamakura is a small coastal city in Kanagawa Prefecture, about an hour and a half from Tokyo by train.

Kamakura’s Daibatsu or great buddha is among this ancient capital’s main tourist attractions

The serenity of the sitting bronze buddha has mesmerized thousands, including the so-called Lady of Nijo, and English poet Sir Rudyard Kipling.


One of Japan’s favorite hiking spots, Kamakura is small and may be covered by foot in less than a day. In the olden days, however, it served as the de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate (Bakufu). I think this was during the reign of Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192. In fact, by 1250 AD, Kamakura became the 4th largest city in the world, a thriving community of 200,000 people.

Dining places near the pier

Kamakura is often referred to as the Kyoto of eastern Japan because of its well-preserved shrines, temples and monuments. It has also become a favorite surfing site among Tokyo residents.

Kamakura’s dark sands and wavy shores for some reasons are becoming a come-on for Tokyo’s surfing enthusiasts

More of those quaint dining places near the pier

Looking down, it is as if this red torii was built to invoke the gods’ protection from giant waves. The temple where the daibatsu was said to be housed originally was purportedly swept away by a tsunami. With the temple this close from the shore, there is practically no need for explanation.

More Cebu Photos

Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro is probably the Philippines' oldest and smallest fort. Named after one of Miguel Legazpi's ships (San Pedro) it was purportedly built to repel attacks from natives yet to be subjugated, Muslim pirates and other hostile elements. As the Spaniards consolidated their territorial presence in Cebu, the fort assumed various uses other than being a stronghold. It even served as a prison camp for Filipino insurgents waging a revolt against Spain. Of course, the fort had long been decommissioned for military purposes and has now become one of Cebu's popular historical landmarks.

More photos of Cebu Beach Club

Baguio

A beautiful cathedral at the heart of the city of pines whose name now eludes me (is it St. Mary's?)









Baguio is known as the Philippines' summer capital because its geographic altitude gives the city a cool almost springlike feel all year round. It is important to remember, however, that pollution, waste management problems and a giant mall at the heart of the city has altered its atmosphere somehow--in both literary and literal sense. Here are a few pictures of Baguio I took before my poor Olympus' battery ran out.

If you're planning to visit the city, do check out these gastronomic samplers from Zola (open 24 hours).

Samurai crepe (left); Mango crepe (right)



Sweet and sour pork (top); Beef and mushroom (bottom)

Study on fruits

Fruits make for a perfect study in digital photography. Bananas, which are widely available anywhere in the Philippines, combine perfectly with other seasonal fruits to create vibrant colors in photos.

I bet you know now where the idea for the banner came from.

Study on cats

Common domestic felines, your typical house cats, make for an excellent study in basic photography. Meet Kiko (the masked one) and Budoy (the striped "ipis" predator).

You won’t believe what a low-tech camera can do

The most advanced digital camera soon to come out in the market, according to one popular gadget magazine, will have 13 megapixels of solid high definition, image recording capability. Of course, with such capability, no doubt it will not come out cheap. If it is any consolation, however, manufacturers are trying their best to make these high performance products more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

I do not believe though that people should go about buying these high tech tools just because they have become more affordable. Price should not be the only consideration, lest one ends up not being able to maximize the capability of the gadget. It is interesting to note, for example, how high tech phones have become a fad in the Philippines even though its most common usage has not really gone beyond texting and picture taking. Seriously, how many can actually program their symbian phones to work like a pocket computer?

This is going back to basics, so to speak. I bet you won’t believe what small wonders a low-tech 1.3-megapixel camera can do.

By the way, these photos are for viewing, not for borrowing. If you must borrow them, at least give credit where credit is due.