Japan

Serene Japan

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Japan is a rich and complicated country. On my first visit, I discovered it has two faces. 

It’s a dynamic, advanced, crowded urban society which functions at dizzying speed. But it’s also a serene nation deeply rooted in spirituality and belief. Japanese people cherish spaces to gather their thoughts.

Big cities including Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagano are bristling with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, venerated sanctuaries from the stress of modern life.

Some revered spots, including the Instagrammable red torii gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha, have become incredibly popular with tourists which means you may have to look harder to find your inner peace.

Nature and the countryside are also rooted in the Japanese psyche, although I’ll have to visit again to see more of the country’s wild spaces. But I still found a sprinkling of Zen and captured these meditative moments from Japan…

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High-octane Japan

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I finally made the long journey to Japan, going on a whirlwind tour of eight cities, travelling between them by high-speed bullet train.

Japan is a country that’s made an impression on all of us, and I found that it has two distinct faces.

There’s the nation that is highly urbanised, crowded, innovative, organised, and speeds along at a breathtaking pace.

This set of photographs are all about that Japan – its neon lights, modern architecture and urban dwellers. Read more below

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While high-octane Japan can be a dizzying experience, it can still be intensely personal. Yes, the old adage is true – Japanese people are very polite and even a visit to the corner shop will be met with deference, thanks and appreciation.

I was always worried about getting horribly confused and lost on Japan’s busy streets, but could find my way around alone. And it was easy enough to order food and make ordinary transactions – the country is now used to tourists.

Some city public transport can be tricky to the uninitiated, so plan ahead and go well-armed with maps.

Hotel rooms are small (I fell over myself a few times) but well-equipped and efficient including the famous multi-functional toilets. 

My advice is to immerse yourself in the Japanese urban experience, which is multi-faceted and rich. But there’s another side to this country, which I’ll bring you soon…

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2019 in 12 photographs

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Another year is drawing to a close, and there’s just enough time to glance back at 2019.

The year until October was dominated by travel, experiencing new places and creating new memories. The latter segment of 2019 has been about reconnecting with my neighbourhood and city of Manchester.

These photographs – just one for each month – distill the essence of each location and take me right back to that place, whether it’s on top of a Namibian sand dune, experiencing a magic Icelandic snowfall in May, or right here in Manchester.

It’s time to herald 2020 and wish you all a very healthy and Happy New Year.

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A year of travel

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It was a big decision taking a year out to spend travelling. Those 12 months passed very quickly and I’ve had time to take stock of places visited, people met and what’s next.

I came back with a lot of photographs and set myself the task of choosing one image to sum up every trip and country. They’re images I’m proud to have captured, but also are the most evocative of each place. It’s sometimes a strong personal memory, other times a striking impression.

The journey hasn’t finished for me. Travelling has sparked a desire to see more of the world and change my life.

Please share your memories of travel, particularly the ones that have stayed with you forever.

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