Sun over Lake Ashi

Sun Over Lake Ashi

Every morning I step up to my extensive cache of photos and wonder where we’ll visit next. There’s no apparent rhyme or reason, I just go where the spirit moves.

Today I’m guided to Lake Ashi in Hakone, Japan, which we visted in October 2010.

I took this photo from a similar replica “man-o-war” pirate ship that ferries tourists across Lake Ashi for views of Mount Fuji. It’s part of a three-hour circuit by mountain train, funicular cable car, ropeway (above The Great Boiling Valley), pirate ship and bus. It’s quite the journey and on a clear day the views are spectacular.

But I had to face a couple of fears that day. The ropeway, for instance, challenged my fear of being in a confined space hundreds of feet above the ground. (Distraction: Queue music – the fabulous Canadian singer/songwriter Jacob Moon). I had my reasons. I don’t want to sound like a wimp, but I’d been experiencing anxiety attacks in strange places in the weeks prior to our trip, and the thought of having one in a 12-seater compartment dangling from a rope way up high was not at all appealing.

However, my choice was to face this fear and go with my friends on this exciting excursion, or sit by myself in the Fujiya Hotel and twiddle my thumbs. I’m so glad I took up the challenge (Rescue Remedy in hand, mind you.)

We were rewarded with clear skies, smooth sailing and glorious vistas of Fujisan in all her late-season glory (photo to follow at a later date.)

Taking lots of photographs was a distraction from my anxiety. I like to experiment and have a habit of taking photos into the sun as I love the effect of dazzling light bouncing off silhouette. I’m really happy with the way this one turned out. It reminds me of a beautiful sunny afternoon in Hakone when I stepped out of the darkness of my fears and saw the sun.