John Martyn dies aged 60, though he surprised many by making it this far after some hard living, interspersed musically with some beautiful songs, an album of searing emotional honesty and a willingness to experiment.

Yakushima is a beautiful island off the southern tip of Japan. Its ancient forest, including many cedars over 1000 years old, inspired Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke. For one photoblogger, a short visit led to a three-day trek over the island's peaks. more inside