I got this picture from Paris one day in August. My friend, who knows how crazy I am about great photo spots, visited a friend, who lives in an apartment with such a stunning view.Window view as a souvenir?
Just perfect!
Sep 19, 2010
Souvenir from Paris
I got this picture from Paris one day in August. My friend, who knows how crazy I am about great photo spots, visited a friend, who lives in an apartment with such a stunning view.Window view as a souvenir?
Just perfect!
Aug 29, 2010
MIM - shut up and listen!
The MIM, Musical Instruments Museum of Brussels is my personal no. 1 among the museums I've been to so far! I'll try to explain why is it so...
First of all, I might be asked: what if somebody doesn't feel like entering the museum?
Well, I have great news! The museum's building, located on the Mont des Arts, is worth admiring even just from the outside. This XIXth century former department store is a magnificent example of the art nouveau style. Its neoclassical surrounding makes it look even more outstanding. But that's not enough! What would you say about getting into the building, picking up a free access ticket to the restaurant and having a coffee on the 5th - roof floor? Just imagine that view over the city.
In case somebody actually decides to check out the MIM's exhibition, just after paying the 5 euro admission fee (students - 4 euro, on Wednesdays free!) is given a pair of huge headphones, which dependently on the instrument, that the particular person is looking at, play the right piece of music. For example, in the picture below, Daniel is standing in front of the window that presents a couple of traditional Mexican instruments, on the spot which enables him to hear the Mexican music. By the way, this part was our favourite.
In comparison with the Traditional Musical Instruments Museum in Szydłowiec (Poland), I really appreciate this great collection of musical instruments from all around the world and the way how interactively presented they are. I believe that it would be even better if the visitors were given a chance to play the instruments, as they do in its Japanese equivalent in Hamamatsu. Anyway, if they get really inspired, they might get their own instruments in the museum's shop full of various musical stuff.
First of all, I might be asked: what if somebody doesn't feel like entering the museum?
Well, I have great news! The museum's building, located on the Mont des Arts, is worth admiring even just from the outside. This XIXth century former department store is a magnificent example of the art nouveau style. Its neoclassical surrounding makes it look even more outstanding. But that's not enough! What would you say about getting into the building, picking up a free access ticket to the restaurant and having a coffee on the 5th - roof floor? Just imagine that view over the city.
In case somebody actually decides to check out the MIM's exhibition, just after paying the 5 euro admission fee (students - 4 euro, on Wednesdays free!) is given a pair of huge headphones, which dependently on the instrument, that the particular person is looking at, play the right piece of music. For example, in the picture below, Daniel is standing in front of the window that presents a couple of traditional Mexican instruments, on the spot which enables him to hear the Mexican music. By the way, this part was our favourite.
In comparison with the Traditional Musical Instruments Museum in Szydłowiec (Poland), I really appreciate this great collection of musical instruments from all around the world and the way how interactively presented they are. I believe that it would be even better if the visitors were given a chance to play the instruments, as they do in its Japanese equivalent in Hamamatsu. Anyway, if they get really inspired, they might get their own instruments in the museum's shop full of various musical stuff.
Aug 5, 2010
Bruges sweet Bruges
A couple of years ago, somebody told me that his favourite place among all places he visited is Belgian Bruges. It kept me very curious for a while until now. On the first Monday of July, I had a chance to see it by myself and indeed, Bruges is simply gorgeous!
As all gorgeous places it has all the necessary cheesy things such as: beautiful old houses with their windows ornamented from the outside and decorated from the inside, a church with a tower, little bridges above narrow canals, candy stores and boats! All this stuff makes the stay in Bruges very fairytalish.
I was a bit disappointed that even though it was Monday, there was quite a lot of tourists. However, in every crowded place there is always a hidden courtyard that gives a feeling of being in a secret garden and we managed to find it there as well!
Bruges is too good to be true... that's why God created tourists!
As all gorgeous places it has all the necessary cheesy things such as: beautiful old houses with their windows ornamented from the outside and decorated from the inside, a church with a tower, little bridges above narrow canals, candy stores and boats! All this stuff makes the stay in Bruges very fairytalish.
I was a bit disappointed that even though it was Monday, there was quite a lot of tourists. However, in every crowded place there is always a hidden courtyard that gives a feeling of being in a secret garden and we managed to find it there as well!
Bruges is too good to be true... that's why God created tourists!
Jul 30, 2010
Fushimi Inari - among red gates
Some people say that you haven't been to Japan if you didn't see Kyoto and that's what makes almost every tourist go there. Unfortunately, I don't completely agree with this statement, because among all the people who visit Kyoto, most of them misses the best part, which in my opinion is Fushimi Inari Shrine.
It was previously mentioned in my former posts about differences between shrines and temples, as well as in the one about places, which appeared in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha". However, I like it so much that I decided to create additional post.
The main reason for skipping this amazing place by many tourists is probably its odd location in the southern part of Kyoto. In reality, the whole complex is located just next to the Inari train station (5 minutes away from Kyoto), what makes it really easy to find the Shrine's main gate in a minute just after leaving the train.
Another reason why tourists may decide to skip it is the fact, that the entrance is free. I guess a lot of people may think, after reading such thing in their guide books, that if they don't need to pay for something, then it's not worth much. And in this case they are absolutely wrong!
There is a couple of quite impressive buildings behind the entrance gates of the shrine but the place is famous for something else.
It is famous for its numerous torii - red gates with enscripted names of people, who donated them after acheiving a business success. Yes, indeed, finding out about this disappointed me as well. These mysterious Japanese letters are nothing else but names of people, their companies and such things.
It was previously mentioned in my former posts about differences between shrines and temples, as well as in the one about places, which appeared in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha". However, I like it so much that I decided to create additional post.
The main reason for skipping this amazing place by many tourists is probably its odd location in the southern part of Kyoto. In reality, the whole complex is located just next to the Inari train station (5 minutes away from Kyoto), what makes it really easy to find the Shrine's main gate in a minute just after leaving the train.Another reason why tourists may decide to skip it is the fact, that the entrance is free. I guess a lot of people may think, after reading such thing in their guide books, that if they don't need to pay for something, then it's not worth much. And in this case they are absolutely wrong!
There is a couple of quite impressive buildings behind the entrance gates of the shrine but the place is famous for something else.It is famous for its numerous torii - red gates with enscripted names of people, who donated them after acheiving a business success. Yes, indeed, finding out about this disappointed me as well. These mysterious Japanese letters are nothing else but names of people, their companies and such things.
Anyway, the amount of torii corridors and rows surrounding the Inari mountain is unbelievable! Right after passing through the first torii tunnel there are even more of them and so on, enough for a 2 hour long walk.
The spaces between torii tunnels are filled with various kinds of places for giving prayers. One of them might be lighting a candle, a common thing among the worlds biggest religions.
Another way of praying in Shinto religion's shrine is writing it down on a special piece of wood called ema. Each person cam write their own prayer and hang up among the rest of them. In Fushimi Inari Shrine, those wooden plaques resemble foxes, which are the symbols of Inari's spirit.
And then there is another torii tunnel...
And plenty of little shrines...
And another shrine with foxes inside...
And so on.
One of the attractions of the walk among the Inari shrines is a lovely lake with beautiful cherry and plum trees around it, which bloomed when I was there.
In the middle of the pathway, even though the whole mountain belongs to the shrine, people may stop in an old restaurant run by the same family owners for for over a century. On the opposite side of the path there is a house were the last four generations of that family used to live. It is said in the guidebooks that the restaurants near the trail serve a unique dish - Kitsune Udon (Fox Udon), which is a noodle soup with pieces of fried tofu in it.
A big advantage of the place's size is that the crowds of visitors are not really visible. What is more, the amount of shrines in the area of Inari mountain is so huge, that I don't think anybody can get bored there. After taking each step there is always something new to look at.
The way back depends on the next place to go. If you choose the platform in the picture, it will take you back to Kyoto. If you choose the one from which I took the picture, then you'll get to Nara in one hour or so, just like we did.
Kyoto and Nara - analog pictures
KYOTO
Fushimi Inari Shrine - tunnels of red torii, beautiful nature of the Inari mountain and one of the few houses on the pathway.
NARA...and its deers
Jul 20, 2010
Jun 16, 2010
Memoirs of a Geisha
As a teenage girl, I have borrowed one book from my classmate and never gave it back.
There are books which we start reading before even owning them, books which we start reading a couple of hours or days after buying them and books which are constantly waiting on our bookshelves to be read.
The book which I borrowed in high school used to be one of them.
Last summer, while packing for my trip to Japan, I remembered that book and thought that it was high time to find out what is hidden on the pages of "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. It turned out to be a perfect idea! During the long hours spent in the trains, my thoughts weren't really there but long before I was even born, many many years ago in Kyoto. Not only, the book was interesting and pleasant to read but also, resolved my numerous doubts concerning Geisha's life.
After coming back to Poland I wanted to watch the movie based on the book as soon as possible. When I finally did, it didn't disappoint me. The movie was mysterious and filled with all kinds of Japanese beauty just like the book. I was glad to recognize some places which I have been to, while the other ones were making me wonder if it really was Kyoto. I decided to check where some of the places were the movie was shot were located and I've made a small research. I found out that, unfortunately, most of the scenes weren't shot in Japan but in various places in California, USA. They are well described here (scroll down to the middle of the page):
http://www.helloziyi.us/Movies/memoirs-gallery.htm
However, there are still some significant sights of Kyoto, which appeared in the movie and couldn't be replaced by any of the great American inventions.
Here they come!
I'm a bit suspicious about its presence in the movie and believe that the creators took just one photo of the view and changed the colors of the sky and the background by the use of their great American inventions, while preparing the final version of the film.
Anyway, it was a good idea to use it so many times. I love this view!
Last spring, Daniel and I went there on a daily trip and both agreed that it's one of the best sights of Kyoto. Not only the shrine itself is a bit different from all the rest, but it is also a kind of a hiking trail in natural surrounding.
I'm almost sure that Chio picked the right tunnel! And so did I!
To learn more about Fushimi Inari Shrine check out my post:
http://duasjanelas.blogspot.com/2010/07/fushimi-inari-among-red-gates.html
There are books which we start reading before even owning them, books which we start reading a couple of hours or days after buying them and books which are constantly waiting on our bookshelves to be read.
The book which I borrowed in high school used to be one of them.Last summer, while packing for my trip to Japan, I remembered that book and thought that it was high time to find out what is hidden on the pages of "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. It turned out to be a perfect idea! During the long hours spent in the trains, my thoughts weren't really there but long before I was even born, many many years ago in Kyoto. Not only, the book was interesting and pleasant to read but also, resolved my numerous doubts concerning Geisha's life.
After coming back to Poland I wanted to watch the movie based on the book as soon as possible. When I finally did, it didn't disappoint me. The movie was mysterious and filled with all kinds of Japanese beauty just like the book. I was glad to recognize some places which I have been to, while the other ones were making me wonder if it really was Kyoto. I decided to check where some of the places were the movie was shot were located and I've made a small research. I found out that, unfortunately, most of the scenes weren't shot in Japan but in various places in California, USA. They are well described here (scroll down to the middle of the page):
http://www.helloziyi.us/Movies/memoirs-gallery.htm
However, there are still some significant sights of Kyoto, which appeared in the movie and couldn't be replaced by any of the great American inventions.Here they come!
The view of Kiyomizudera's pagoda (Pure Water Temple) appears in "Memoirs of a Geisha" many times, mainly to announce changes of the seasons but at the beginning of the movie as well.
I'm a bit suspicious about its presence in the movie and believe that the creators took just one photo of the view and changed the colors of the sky and the background by the use of their great American inventions, while preparing the final version of the film.Anyway, it was a good idea to use it so many times. I love this view!
I might be wrong but in my opinion, the scene when little Chio is running happily among the countless torii (red gates) is one of the most characteristic and unforgettable scenes of the movie.
Last spring, Daniel and I went there on a daily trip and both agreed that it's one of the best sights of Kyoto. Not only the shrine itself is a bit different from all the rest, but it is also a kind of a hiking trail in natural surrounding.
I'm almost sure that Chio picked the right tunnel! And so did I!
To learn more about Fushimi Inari Shrine check out my post: http://duasjanelas.blogspot.com/2010/07/fushimi-inari-among-red-gates.html
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