At last...

The Japanese love their cherry blossoms and they all go just that little bit crazy when they come in bloom- so much so that they have a special word for it, which is hanami, meaninging cherry blossom viewing. The cherry blossoms are stunning, only blooming for two weeks before all the petals fall off and the trees are barren once again. Part of the joy is waiting for them to bloom, and guessing when the big event will happen. News channels dedicate special coverage and hanami predictions for each region, and when they finally come, it would seem like the whole of Japan has come out too to see them.

Parks are filled with families and old couples sitting around gazing at the blossoms. Nightfalls bring raucous groups of twentysomethings having picnics under the blooms and sometimes drunkenly climbing into the trees.

I took a day trip to Kyoto to see the cherry blossoms at the Imperial Palace Gardens, and this is a pciture of my favourite type of blossoms. I call it Pinky.