Kagura and all that jazz

I went for a bike ride tonight to seek out the source of the kagura flute music that was drifting in my ranch-slider. It was the first time this year I have ventured out without a coat of any kind. The air is getting warmer and tonight it smelt like the dandelions. Actually it kinda smelt like the bitter white stuff inside dandelion stalks, but it was pleasant and spring-like nonetheless. The kagura that I found was really cool. It was at this tiny shrine two streets away from my house and I think it was telling the story of the origins of Japan. Or maybe just of Shimane. Anyway there were dragons and goddesses and a landmass was fished out of the sea with much banging of drums and trilling on the kagura flute. I had my camera handy but it was such an intimate wee performance with lots of wee kids running around and old people parked on chairs at random intervals that I didn't want to touristise the experience. I left when a bunch of high school boys turned up and started with the "Oh! Hello!" "Yes! hello!". Now that I am home I sense the story on stage has taken a dramatic turn. I can hear the drums getting illustrative over the whine of mosquitoes trying to circumvent my fly screen.
I wrote that last Tuesday and for some reason never put it up. It is nice to spend the evenings with the windows open again, rather too nice to spend them sitting at my computer it seems.
I shall briefly catch y'all up on the events of the past few month.
I went to Taiwan.
Taiwan was lovely. We didn't see or do very much, it rained all the time and we were only there for 5 days and one of those days we didn't go out in daylight hours, but it was such a buzz to be in a city, hanging out with a group of friends and going out and meeting people. I love this sleepy wee town but I just don't think I am the fishing village kinda girl. Enlightening times.
There were pretty flowers.
Japan is always gorgeous in the spring and this year was no exception. Much earlier than last year. And there is a bonus photo of the butterfly who took up residence in my light shade.
I played rugby.
I kid you not. I went down to shikoku and played a weekend of touch rugby. I got a nasty cold and hurt for a long time after. It was nice to see my countryfolk out in force. Felt right a home I did.