Agyo

Agyo, a photo by shodoboy on Flickr.

The "Nio" are Hindu Gods incorporated into Buddhism as protectors against evil spirits. If you look at their mouths, you will notice that one has its mouth open and the other has its mouth closed, said to represent life and death, the beginning and the end.The Niō’s fierce and threatening appearance is said to ward off evil spirits and keep the temple grounds free of demons and thieves. In some ac...counts, the Niō were said to have followed and protected the Historical Buddha when he traveled throughout India. They have since been adopted by the Japanese into the Japanese Buddhist pantheon. Each is named after a particular cosmic sound. The open-mouth figure is called “Agyō,” who is uttering the sound “ah,” meaning birth. His close-mouth partner is called “Ungyō,” who sounds “un” or “om,” meaning death.See More

Gakushuin Marc

Gakushuin Marc, a photo by shodoboy on Flickr.

At Gakushuin University Japan

初段,jpg

初段,jpg, a photo by shodoboy on Flickr.

My First Dan in Japanese Calligraphy.

Oh Sister

Books

Books
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Lake District

Lake District
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

This was such a perfect moment. Who could ask for more?

French man and friends

P1011893
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

A great night. I love this picture because everyone looks so happy!!!

Asakusa Geisha

Asakusa Geisha
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Egret

Egret
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Egret on the Nogawa River.

The Flowers

The Flowers
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Inokashira Park, Tokyo

Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Home Edit)

Lay Down Your Weary Tune.

The White Stripes

The White Stripes
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

The Small Faces

The Faces
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake?

Flaming Mara

My Back Pages
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin' high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
"We'll meet on edges, soon," said I
Proud 'neath heated brow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

(B. Dylan)

Jizo

Jizo
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

A day trip to Futakotamagawa.

It's amazing what you can find.

Love Minus Zero/No Limit

One More Cup Of Coffee

成人の日 Waiting for my Man?

成人の日　Waiting for my Man?
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

成人の日！

Marc in the Park before Dark

Marc in the Park before Dark
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Bruv&Sis

Bruv&Sis
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Today in the park. Robin and Amanda. Brother and Sister.

Blue Koen

Blue Koen
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

The park in blue

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Fussa Curry

Fussa Curry
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Flowers

Flowers
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends.

She Bangs The Drums

She Banges The Drums
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

I can feel the earth begin to move
I hear my needle hit the groove
And spiral through another day
I hear my song begin to say
Kiss me where the sun dont shine
The past was yours
But the futures mine
Youre all out of time

Open Arms

Open Arms
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Oh,

What a work of Art,

Is a Man.

The Greatest

The Greatest
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

You are the greatest thing.

I love you and always will.

Kamakura Colours

Kamakura Colours
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

得其所哉

得其所哉
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Getting to a good place......

Untitled

Untitled
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

2 friends in 8 Princes

Rosemary

Nice Spice

行書

Image048
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

This is running style, and has a meaning of knowing of old and new things .

The more we are, the less we know?

友達

My kind of People II
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Friend and phototastic

Tio Pepe Bodegas in Herez

Tio Pepe Bodegas in Herez
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Apparently the Muslims developed Sherry.

This is inside the famous Tio Pepe Bodegas in Sherry (Herez), Spain.

Cherrylicious II

Cherrylicious II
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

A hana for me.

Cherrylicious

Neighbours

Neighbours
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Good neighbours.

At my neighbour's place this Sunday night. The Igarashis. They are awesome people. They have a great place.

True friends.
.

Dinner with friends was really nasu

Nasu
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Had dinner with some good friends this Saturday.

It was really nasu.

Spot the difference?

Me
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

"If my thought dreams could be seen,
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine..."

(Dylan)

"If my thought dreams could be seen,
They'd DEFINITELY put my head in a guillotine..."

(Davies)

Learning to fly

Learning to fly
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

"I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings,
And coming down.......well that's the hardest thing.

I'm learning to fly......around the clouds,
And what goes up.....must come down"

(Tom Petty)

Rescued 12

Rescued 12
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

I can't play. I just use it to try and get the chicks...................

Groove Salad

07-10-21_17-32
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

My good friend Tim on a palate of groove salad.

Avoid watercress and add dressing to taste.

Fleeting World

Moment of enlightenment
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world;
A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream;
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud;
A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.

Tim in Nogawa

Tim in Nogawa
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

Tim and Martin in Nogawa. A great day. Thanks Tim and Nori.

Martin in Nogawa Koen

Martin in Nogawa Koen
Originally uploaded by shodoboy

My Martin OM 21 in Nogawa Koen, Tokyo

Tangled Up in Blue
Rob and I.

Norwegian Wood
A Sunday afternoon with my 12 string.

Maya

Maya
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Maya, A violinist who I met In Grenada.

Tapas, Seville

Tapas, Seville
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was taken inside a famous Tapa bar in Seville. Note the hanging hams. Tapa(s) are snacks, or small dishes. Extremely fun. I think the word may have connectons with the English word 'tap' , meaning to stop , (ie fill up)

Tapas are marked by their simplicity.

"Life is simple. We are complex. Life is simple and the simple thing is always the right thing" (Oscar Wilde)

Aguadiente ("Firewater")

Aguadiente ("Firewater")
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Aguadiente or firewater, A potent digestive. This was a bottle at the famous restaurant, El Duche (The Duke) in Segovia. El Duche is famous for suckling pig. I ordered that, and it was fantastic. The firewater was good too.

Cordoba

Church Door
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

A church door in Cordoba, Spain. I loved the architecture of doors in Spain.

Effigy in the Plaza Mayor, Salamanca

P1010005
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This artwork was on display in the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca. The little girl (Italian) was happy to pose for me.

Gazpacho

Gazpacho
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Gazpacho, or cold tomato soup, has to be one of my favourite things that I ate whilst in Spain. Delicious. Helps to keep you cool in the often blistering eat. This is a picture I took at a restaurant in Avila, of St Teresa fame.

Slumbers in G major

Slumbers in G major
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Tell me not in mournful slumbers
Life is but an empty dream
For the soul is dead that slumbers
And things are not what they seem

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal
Dust thou art
to dust returnest
Was not spoken of the soul

Not enjoyment and not sorrow
Is our destined end or way
But to act that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today

Art is long and Time is fleeting
And our hearts though stout and brave
Still, like muffled drums are beating
Funeral marches to the grave

In the worlds broad field of battle
In the bivouac of life
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no future however pleasant!
Let the dead past bury its dead
Act- act in the living present
Heart within and God overhead

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time

Footprints that perhaps another
Sailing over lifes solemn main
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother
Seeing, shall take heart again

Let us then, be up and doing
With a heart for any fate
Still achieving, still pursuing
Learn to labor and to wait


Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Buena Vista

0038
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was a band that played nightly at an outdoor restaurant in Havana.

Fantastic.

Cao Dai

Cao Dai 2
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was taken at the Cao Daist temple just outside of Ho Chi Minh. The Cao Dai faith worships Victor Hugo.... interesting. These musicians/ Cao Daists were very good....

The Hotel Continental, Saigon

The Hotel Continental, Saigon
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Here is a night shot of the famous Hotel Continental in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). The hotel is immortalised in Graham Greene's short work, The Quiet American (is that an oxymoron?)

Well worth a read and a visit. Mine's a Vermouth Cassis.

Mandolin

Mandolin
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Tuned liked violins (GDAE), the mandolin is an interesting instrument. I have just started learning a few chords. REM make a lot of use of it. I esepcially like 'You are the evrything' written for the mandolin