Sakura 2007

***It's already April! And sakuras are blooming in Japan! It's a pity I am unable to catch it this year, so let me share some of my hanami experiences in the past few years instead. Starting with 2007, my very first hanami ;)*** (1/4/2011)

11/4/2007

春だ！ It's Spring!
After a long period of cold and gloominess, the weather is finally warming up with the approaching of spring! And yes, in Japan, spring means SAKURA 桜! This year, I had my first ever chance of going to hanami 花見, which means the practice of enjoying cherry blossoms in the park over some food and wine. It was so so so beautiful!!!



花見 1
1st April 2007
彦根城 in 滋賀県

With the late ending of the weird winter this year, cherry blossom also occurred later than usual. Hence, this day was still too early for 花見. I went to Hikone Castle 彦根城 in Shiga 滋賀 prefecture with my boss, colleague and a taxi-driver student. This castle is one of the few castles which still preserves its original structure instead of undergoing reconstruction. And it just so happens that this year, it is celebrating its 400th anniversary! However, as it was too early, the sakura were still in the budding stage and we only saw a few fully-bloomed cherry trees.


mi with the onli tree tt was in full bloom. so PINK!


a cherry tree with drooping branches


close-up of the sakura

花見 2
5th April 2007
会下山公園 near my apartment

It was a nice Thursday at noon and I decided to have a quick lunch (sandwich from Lawson's) at this Egayama Park 会下山公園 near my apartment before going to work.


most of the cherry trees were already in full bloom


sunny day, beautiful sakura


self-taken shot cos i was alone =P

花見 3
8th April 2007
大阪城公園 in 大阪府

Although my former housemate, E, has already left for Australia, she had introduced some of her friends to us before and they kindly invited us and our new housemate (who is also E's friend) to join them for Hanami Party in Osaka. They are a group of very fun-loving people, made up of numerous foreigners (mainly Canadians) as well as some Japanese. I had joined them for BBQ twice and KTV once but this time, the turnout was the biggest! (About 20?) Many had called their own friends along so there were lotsa new faces (mostly foreigners). However, I didn't really get to mix with them. After eating my bento and enjoying a walk around the super crowded Sunday park, I had a nice time chatting with the people I already knew from the previous outings (mainly Japanese =P). The flowers were in full bloom but unfortunately it was a cloudy day and quite chilly so we left early.


J and mi enjoying our drinks at the pinic ground


lotsa sakura and lotsa ppl!


more sakura, more ppl, and a cute train tt takes ppl ard the park


mi under the cherry blossoms


this is onli abt half of everyone in our group

花見 4
10th April 2007
妙法寺 in 神戸

Just this morning, my boss brought me and J to this park, which is only a 10-minute drive away from our school, for hanami and lunch before the day's work. It was a very good day and the park with filled with countless cherry trees. I felt like I was walking within many pink clouds!


nice blue sky and nice pink sakura


mi and my boss


walking through the lane of pink clouds


enjoying bento under the cherry blossoms


pinky mi and pinky flowers!

It's no wonder why Japan is famous for its sakura. They are really beautiful! However, they also have a very short lifespan of only 1 week or so. In fact, we already saw new leaves growing out of some cherry trees today. By the next rainy day, all the petals will be washed away. Oh well... Good things never last, do they?

I must enjoy the nice spring weather while I still can. =)