O-Torii – A Boundary Between the Spirits and the Human Worlds

As I mentioned from my previous post entitled “Miyajima Island – Island of Gods” that introduced a bit of Miyajima Island, on the way to the island while we were in the ferry, I had a chance to see O-Torii during high tide. And I was amazed of what I witnessed because the sceneries were all picturesque for me.

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O-Torii while in the JR Ferry

From the local restaurant that we had lunch we walked along the pathway near the shore where some local stores are available on the left side and on the right side the O-Torii was already visible from a far.

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O-Torii (Grand Gate) is a symbol of Miyajima Island and the belief that surrounds it is that Great Torii is the boundary between the spirits and human worlds (reference: visit-miyajima-japan.com). Learning that facts is one of the interesting  information I got for the said island and it was a way to understand a bit why the island seems to be sacred to Japanese.

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O-Torii

When we were closer with O-Torii, the water subsided a bit compared to the high tide that I saw while in the ferry. Seeing such structure on the inland of the sea was pretty amazing but to learn more that it stands on its weight was more mind-blowing. Because of that fact, natural calamities that passed by in Japan did not affect the Grand Gate and as we can see, it still magnificently stands to where it is.

After few hours in Mount Misen, we descended the mountain the same way we reached the summit which includes trekking, riding a cable car and taking a bus.

When we reached the ground, we explored the Itsukushima Shrine.

O-Torii and the surrounding area (water subsided)

After the exploration to the sacred shrine of Itsukushima, my sister and I walked down to the O-Torii since the land was dry from sea water due to low tide. We had a chance to approach the Grand Gate and we had lots of photos of it.

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Up close and personal with O-Torii

Life Of Others : Howqua Valley – Easy Going Gelding

Life Of Others (Post#4) : Howqua Valley – Easy Going Gelding

I am featuring in this photo theme the horse that with me in my horse back riding adventure in Howqua Valley Victoria Australia, he was assigned to me considering it was my first time riding experience. His name is Woodman and he was with me for the two 2 days adventure in one of the beautiful high country places in Australia. The experience was amazing and he was kind to me as he follow my instructions to him. I was thankful to Woodman as he take care of me during the unforgettable adventure. Photo captured last August 2013.

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Transportation : Japan – Bullet Train

Transportation (Post#3) : Japan – Bullet Train

One of the things that made us happy and we will never forget an experience was, when we had a chance to travel in Japan through bullet train. Bullet train in Japan are one of the fastest train available in Earth. And this kind of transportation seems to be just another common transportation mode that being look as moving people in a fast way. What I like the most about this bullet train, the ambiance inside of it is similar to an airplane. The travel was so smooth and you will just surprise in just few hours, you were already in your destination. Snapshot captured during Japan adventure last September 2015.

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Name Of The Place : Blackcomb

Name Of The Place (Post#23) : Blackcomb

Snapshot above was captured last June 2008, when I got a chance to visit Whistler in British Columbia. The Blackcomb Mountain is a ski resort mountain beside Whistler Mountain. This is one of the best places that I ever been because this mountain, on its peak, gave me a chance to see the alpine mountains that surrounds Whistler. I felt I was in heaven when I reach the summit of this mountain through gondola.

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Home : Mount Banahaw and Lucena Port

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Home (Post#23) : Mount Banahaw and Lucena Port

Mount Banahaw is currently in restoration period since 2004 that’s why it is prohibited for any climbing related activities though there are still few breaks it. When I saw it while at the summit of Mount Banahaw it become notable for me, I fell in love with it further every time I pass Maharlika Highway (Pan-Philippine Highway) and when I visited my home in Visayas through Lucena Port in Quezon province, I witnessed how it was majestic from a far. Photo captured last March 2015.

Still Expression : Puffing Billy Railway – Queuing and Waiting

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Still Expression (Post#3) : Puffing Billy Railway – Queuing and Waiting

Snapshot above portrays people on queuing and waiting mode. These two combined activities honestly frustrates me in real life but at the same time it test my patients longevity. It frustrates because it is time-consuming and exhausting specifically if the line is indescribable. I capture this moment last June 2013 during our family oriented adventure in Puffing Billy.

Twilight : Sydney CBD From Sydney Cove

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Twilight (Post#1) : Sydney CBD From Sydney Cove

Taking photographs at night is more challenging than taking it at day time. Because, I need to tweak something in my camera just to be able to capture it clearly. Since I am still a newbie in terms of customizing the settings of my camera, I was glad that I was able to capture this very simple night shot of Sydney CBD while returning from Manly Beach through ferry. Photo captured last April 2014.

Blissful Second : Puffing Billy Steam Train Ride Moment

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Blissful Second (Post#2) : Puffing Billy Steam Train Ride Moment

The photo above shows the moment of steam train ride adventure which I captured while we were on our way to Gembrook. It was a joy ride as we took Puffing Billy which is classic and a century old steam train railway located in Dandenong Ranges which not far from Melbourne. It is said that Puffing Billy is the finest reserved in the world and it is Australia’s Premier Reserved Steam Railway. Photo captured last June 2013.

Chromatic Outlook : Vancouver Downtown And Vancouver Harbour

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Chromatic Outlook (Post#21) : Vancouver Downtown And Vancouver Harbour

During my short visit in Vancouver, one of the public transportation that I had a chance to experience was sea bus. After my half day tour in North Vancouver, I took sea bus so I can immediately cross the harbour to reach Vancouver Downtown straight to Vancouver International Airport located at Richmond. Photo captured last June 2008.

Precious Moment In The Mountain : Horse Hill Snow Play Park

IMG_2209 Precious Moment In The Mountain (Post#21) : Horse Hill Snow Play Park

When I got a chance to visit Mount Buller together with friends in Melbourne. One of the areas we did enjoy was Horse Hill Snow Play Park where we had fun of tobogganing activities. At first I was hesitant to try it out but when I saw a lot of people trying and enjoying it, I decided to try it as well. The first time I did it I really nervous because I was thinking what if something happen? And then some of my friends pushed me and there it goes, I passed the first time experience and then I climb back to the top to do it again, I did it many times until we decided to go to Mount Buller which just nearby. Moment captured last August 2013.

View At My Window : Telus World of Science (Vancouver)

Telus World of Science in Vancouver Downtown

View At My Window (Post#17): Telus World of Science (Vancouver)

As I passed this noticeable, shiny, amazing and unique building I was quite surprised to learn that a similar museum that I found in Alberta  does exist in British Columbia with its own identity. Traveling in Canada, I found three buildings that both existing in two provinces. The following buildings such as Royal Museum, Telus world of Science and Provincial Legislature are existing in Alberta and British Columbia. Photo captured last June 2008 while inside the bus.

Name Of The Place : Port of Benoni

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Name Of The Place (Post#17): Port of Benoni

As we were traveling to Camiguin through ferry, I saw this port name before we dock to the island. The port is part of Mahinog Municipality and one of the ports in the island. Photo captured last October 2012.

Precious Moment In The Mountain : Mount Austin (The Peak)

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Precious Moment In The Mountain (Post#17) : Mount Austin (The Peak)

“The Peak” is the other famous name of Mount Austin. And popular to locals and tourist alike. The photo was captured during our second visit as it turned out that our first attempt was too cold for my mom to bear. Yes, this is one of the photo that I captured where I did not climb a mountain nor drive up to the summit, we took the tram to reach the summit. I can say that this is one of the summit that generated a lot of money because it has been developed to be one of the popular tourist spot in the island. Photo captured last January 2012.

Home : Boracay West Cove – A Boxer’s Champion Mansion

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Home (Post#16) :  Boracay West Cove – A Boxer’s Champion Mansion

When we did a beach adventure while in Boracay, I never expected to see this mansion in Boracay West Cove, I heard from friends that this is owned by our famous boxing hero Manny Pacquiao. I did a little bit of searching in the net and it seems what I heard is true. Anyway having this kind of home in prime island in my country such as Boracay shows the wealth of the person. Photo captured last March 2012.

Name Of The Place : Puffing Billy Railway

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Name Of The Place (Post#15) : Puffing Billy Railway

This photo is part of my Puffing Billy collection when I visited together with the family of my friends in Melbourne. The historical and century old steam railway which still running in our time is now called as Australia’s Premier Preserved Steam Railway. Photo captured last June 2013.

Precious Moment In The Mountain : Dandenong Ranges

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Precious Moment In The Mountain (Post#15) : Dandenong Ranges

I had some visits in Australia where it involves families of my friends that I met while staying in Melbourne for more than one and a half-year. And when it involves families sometimes you will feel like you are young or a kid wherein one of the important thing in their life as of the moment is playtime. Well at that time we visited Puffing Billy Steam Train located in Dandenong Ranges. And we actually experience to ride the steam train. And one of the great benefit of that was having a chance to glimpse some views while inside Dandenong Ranges. The photo above was overlooking at Belgrave South while at the steam train captured last June 2013 after leaving Belgrave Station of Puffing Billy Railway.

Chromatic Outlook : Race Rocks Lighthouse

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Chromatic Outlook (Post#14) : Race Rocks Lighthouse

Photo above was the Race Rocks Lighthouse that I saw while I was still in whale watching adventure when I visited Victoria City in British Columbia province of Canada. As per Wikipedia, this lighthouse is just one of the lighthouse that was built on the west coast of Canada between 1859 to 1860 which is quite a historical lighthouse because of its age. Photo captured last June 2008.

This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in the following:
Black and White View – Jul 11, 2016
Black and White Wednesday – Jul 13, 2016
The Weekend in Black and White – Jul 15, 2016

Chromatic Outlook : Puffing Billy Steam Train

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Chromatic Outlook (Post#4) : Puffing Billy Steam Train

Above was a snapshot of a century old steam train in Puffing Billy Steam Railway that still runs on its original track from Belgrave to Gembrook station in Dandenong Ranges located in Victoria Australia. I captured this photo last June 2013 when we visited Puffing Billy with some of my friends and their families at Belgrave Station.

This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in the following:
Black and White View – April 18, 2016
Black and White Wednesday – April 20, 2016
The Weekend in Black and White – April 22, 2016

Precious Moment In The Mountain : Blackcomb Mountain

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Precious Moment In The Mountain (Post#2) : Blackcomb Mountain

The photo above was captured after reaching the summit of the mountain through gondola rides. This was one of the mountain where the Winter Olympics in 2010 was held. The mountain is in Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. I was in Blackcomb mountain last June 2008 when I got a chance to visit the province after almost two months of training and work from Edmonton, Canada before flying back to Manila.

This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in the following:

Blue Monday – Aug 29, 2016
Through My Lens
 – Aug 29, 2016
Our World Tuesday – Aug 30, 2016
Travel Tuesday – Aug 30, 2016
Outdoor Wednesday – Aug 31, 2016
Wednesday Around The World – Aug 31, 2016
Skywatch Friday – Sep 2, 2016
Scenic Weekends – Sep 3, 2016
In Heaven – Sep 3, 2016

Panoramic View : Howqua Valley Trail Rides

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Panoramic View (Post#1) : Howqua Valley Trail Rides

This is just one of the scenic photos I got while I was in my horse back riding adventure in Howqua, Victoria in Australia last August 2013. One of the country places that I had been while staying in Australia for more than one year and half.

This post has been updated to participate for Skywatch Friday – February 5, 2016 and Scenic Weekends – February 7, 2016