I hiked 富士山 (Mount Fuji, Japan) for the second time on 05-06 August 2007 with fourteen friends to see the sunrise from the top, which was a success thanks to a wonderful weather. Like the previous time (see Post 02 July 2006), we climbed from 五合目 (the fifth station) until we reached a shelter, where we dined. Most of us slept but I remained awake and could thus talk with hikers in the main room, watch thunder in the clouds outside, and later have a look at the stars, red moon, and city lights around the lakes. Leaving at midnight, we reached the top of the mountain just before sunrise, which was beautiful. After a two-hours stop in a frosty wind at the top, we slowly descended then headed for ゆらり温泉 (Yurari spa), which we all enjoyed much.
06 August 2007
Hike at 富士山 (Mount Fuji, Japan) on 05-06 August 2007
Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2007-08_jp-fuji.htm
I hiked 富士山 (Mount Fuji, Japan) for the second time on 05-06 August 2007 with fourteen friends to see the sunrise from the top, which was a success thanks to a wonderful weather. Like the previous time (see Post 02 July 2006), we climbed from 五合目 (the fifth station) until we reached a shelter, where we dined. Most of us slept but I remained awake and could thus talk with hikers in the main room, watch thunder in the clouds outside, and later have a look at the stars, red moon, and city lights around the lakes. Leaving at midnight, we reached the top of the mountain just before sunrise, which was beautiful. After a two-hours stop in a frosty wind at the top, we slowly descended then headed for ゆらり温泉 (Yurari spa), which we all enjoyed much.
I hiked 富士山 (Mount Fuji, Japan) for the second time on 05-06 August 2007 with fourteen friends to see the sunrise from the top, which was a success thanks to a wonderful weather. Like the previous time (see Post 02 July 2006), we climbed from 五合目 (the fifth station) until we reached a shelter, where we dined. Most of us slept but I remained awake and could thus talk with hikers in the main room, watch thunder in the clouds outside, and later have a look at the stars, red moon, and city lights around the lakes. Leaving at midnight, we reached the top of the mountain just before sunrise, which was beautiful. After a two-hours stop in a frosty wind at the top, we slowly descended then headed for ゆらり温泉 (Yurari spa), which we all enjoyed much.
28 July 2007
Trip to 北京 (Beijing, China) on 22-28 July 2007
Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2007-07_cn-beijing.htm
I travelled to 北京 (Beijing, China) for the first time on 22-28 July 2007 to give two talks at the 12th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (aka HCII2007). During my stay, I visited the famous 天安门广场 (Tiananmen Square), 紫禁城 (Forbidden City), 天坛 (Temple of Heaven), and 北海公园 (Beihai Park). 超 (Chao), a Chinese classmate from 総合研究大学院大学 (Sokendai, Japan), took me in charge the first evening, and showed me 天安门广场 (Tiananmen Square) before telling me how to deal with the city and inviting me for a gorgeous dinner.
The city was extremely polluted, with grey fog on daytime and halos on street lamps at night, especially at 天安门广场 (Tiananmen Square), which is surrounded by incredible streets. The only patch of blue sky I noticed was above 天坛公园 (Temple of Heaven park), where lies 天坛 (Temple of Heaven), a UNESCO world heritage site that features 祈年殿 (Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) and 圜丘坛 (Circular Mound Altar).
I quickly toured 紫禁城 (Forbidden City), another UNESCO world heritage site, with conference fellows but should return for the inside of the buildings. However, I fully enjoyed alone 雍和宮 (Lama Temple), the gigantic 北海公园 (Beihai Park) with its beautiful 九龙壁 (Nine-Dragon Screen) and 白塔 (White Dagoba), the historical 明城墙遗址公园 (Ming City Wall Ruins Park), and the exotic 王府井大街 (Wangfujing street), where I pondered whether to eat scorpions or not...
I travelled to 北京 (Beijing, China) for the first time on 22-28 July 2007 to give two talks at the 12th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (aka HCII2007). During my stay, I visited the famous 天安门广场 (Tiananmen Square), 紫禁城 (Forbidden City), 天坛 (Temple of Heaven), and 北海公园 (Beihai Park). 超 (Chao), a Chinese classmate from 総合研究大学院大学 (Sokendai, Japan), took me in charge the first evening, and showed me 天安门广场 (Tiananmen Square) before telling me how to deal with the city and inviting me for a gorgeous dinner.The city was extremely polluted, with grey fog on daytime and halos on street lamps at night, especially at 天安门广场 (Tiananmen Square), which is surrounded by incredible streets. The only patch of blue sky I noticed was above 天坛公园 (Temple of Heaven park), where lies 天坛 (Temple of Heaven), a UNESCO world heritage site that features 祈年殿 (Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) and 圜丘坛 (Circular Mound Altar).
I quickly toured 紫禁城 (Forbidden City), another UNESCO world heritage site, with conference fellows but should return for the inside of the buildings. However, I fully enjoyed alone 雍和宮 (Lama Temple), the gigantic 北海公园 (Beihai Park) with its beautiful 九龙壁 (Nine-Dragon Screen) and 白塔 (White Dagoba), the historical 明城墙遗址公园 (Ming City Wall Ruins Park), and the exotic 王府井大街 (Wangfujing street), where I pondered whether to eat scorpions or not...
27 May 2007
Trip to 群馬 (Gunma, Japan) on 27 May 2007
Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2007-05_jp-gunma.htm
I travelled to 群馬県 (province of Gunma, Japan) for the first time on 27 May 2007 with eight friends to see 白根山 (Mount Shirane) and relax in hot springs. We drove a mini-van from 東京 (Tokyo) in four hours but got caught up in traffic jams on the way back. Anyway, the incredible emerald-green crater lake 湯釜 (Yugama) at 白根山 (Mount Shirane) was worth it. We hiked a bit in the area and even spotted snow and ice. Later, we drove to 草津温泉 (Kusatsu hot springs), where we watched the traditional 湯もみと踊り (Yu-momito dance) that was created to cool down the water of the local hot springs. We then bathed lazily at 草津大滝乃湯 (Otaki-no-yu), imagining how hot the pool would naturally be...
I travelled to 群馬県 (province of Gunma, Japan) for the first time on 27 May 2007 with eight friends to see 白根山 (Mount Shirane) and relax in hot springs. We drove a mini-van from 東京 (Tokyo) in four hours but got caught up in traffic jams on the way back. Anyway, the incredible emerald-green crater lake 湯釜 (Yugama) at 白根山 (Mount Shirane) was worth it. We hiked a bit in the area and even spotted snow and ice. Later, we drove to 草津温泉 (Kusatsu hot springs), where we watched the traditional 湯もみと踊り (Yu-momito dance) that was created to cool down the water of the local hot springs. We then bathed lazily at 草津大滝乃湯 (Otaki-no-yu), imagining how hot the pool would naturally be...
17 April 2007
Stroll in Parc oriental de Maulévrier (Oriental park of Maulévrier, France) on 17 April 2007
Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2007-04_fr-maulevrier.htm
I keep being surprised by places friends take me to when I go back "home" to France. I owe my first visit to the Parc oriental de Maulévrier (Oriental park of Maulévrier, France) on 17 April 2007 to François-Xavier, who drove me there. Except for the castle, I would not have guessed I was in France! Although the sky was a bit cloudy, our timing was wonderful: the vegetation was colorful and flowers blooming, which was particularly moving for the Japanese landscapes.
I keep being surprised by places friends take me to when I go back "home" to France. I owe my first visit to the Parc oriental de Maulévrier (Oriental park of Maulévrier, France) on 17 April 2007 to François-Xavier, who drove me there. Except for the castle, I would not have guessed I was in France! Although the sky was a bit cloudy, our timing was wonderful: the vegetation was colorful and flowers blooming, which was particularly moving for the Japanese landscapes.
13 April 2007
Exhibition at Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum, France) on 13 April 2007
Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2007-04-13_fr-orsay.htm
I enjoyed my favourite French museum, the Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum, France), in Paris on 13 April 2007 in company of François and Valentine, whom I had not met for a long time. A former train station, the building is spacious, beautiful and bright. The art works are mainly masterpieces that tell us stories both individually and in connexion with their surroundings. As always, my admiration goes to the architects and artists, and my congratulations and best wishes to the staff.
I enjoyed my favourite French museum, the Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum, France), in Paris on 13 April 2007 in company of François and Valentine, whom I had not met for a long time. A former train station, the building is spacious, beautiful and bright. The art works are mainly masterpieces that tell us stories both individually and in connexion with their surroundings. As always, my admiration goes to the architects and artists, and my congratulations and best wishes to the staff.
29 March 2007
Trip to 富士五湖 (Fuji five lakes, Japan) on 28-29 March 2007
Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2007-03_jp-fujigoko.htm
I visited 富士五湖 (Fuji five lakes, Japan) for the first time on 28-29 March 2007 to enjoy its great landscapes with 明日香 (Asuka). We first crawled into the icy 鳴沢氷穴 (Narusawa cave) and 富岳風穴 (Fugaku cave) then hiked the warm 青木ヶ原樹海 (Sea of Trees). Surprisingly, we spotted monkeys in mountains near 西湖 (lake Saiko); no photos of them: they stayed away and ran quickly. After a divine dinner at café M, we spent a lovely night at サニーデビレッジ (Sunnide village). In the morning, we walked around 河口湖 (lake Kawaguchi), and after lunch we visited 浅間神社 (Sengen shrine), which used to serve as a starting point for pilgrimages to 富士山 (Mount Fuji). The weather was extraordinary all along and we had great views of the mountain on the way.
I visited 富士五湖 (Fuji five lakes, Japan) for the first time on 28-29 March 2007 to enjoy its great landscapes with 明日香 (Asuka). We first crawled into the icy 鳴沢氷穴 (Narusawa cave) and 富岳風穴 (Fugaku cave) then hiked the warm 青木ヶ原樹海 (Sea of Trees). Surprisingly, we spotted monkeys in mountains near 西湖 (lake Saiko); no photos of them: they stayed away and ran quickly. After a divine dinner at café M, we spent a lovely night at サニーデビレッジ (Sunnide village). In the morning, we walked around 河口湖 (lake Kawaguchi), and after lunch we visited 浅間神社 (Sengen shrine), which used to serve as a starting point for pilgrimages to 富士山 (Mount Fuji). The weather was extraordinary all along and we had great views of the mountain on the way.
18 March 2007
Hike in 鎌倉 (Kamakura, Japan) on 18 March 2007
Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2007-03_jp-kamakura.htm
I hiked 天園ハイキングコース (Ten-en hiking course) in 鎌倉 (Kamakura, Japan) on 18 March 2007 with 明日香 (Asuka) to breath fresh air and admire statues of 天狗 (tengus). The weather was fine for our five kilometers across the forest, with clear views over 横浜 (Yokomaha) in the north-east and the sea in the south. We walked from 鎌倉 (Kamakura) station to 鶴岡八幡宮 (Tsurugaoka-hachimangu shrine) then checked several temples on the way to 瑞泉寺 (Zuisenji temple). There, we started the hike, which took us to 建長寺 (Kenchoji temple); its buildings and statues were great rewards after the physical effort.
I hiked 天園ハイキングコース (Ten-en hiking course) in 鎌倉 (Kamakura, Japan) on 18 March 2007 with 明日香 (Asuka) to breath fresh air and admire statues of 天狗 (tengus). The weather was fine for our five kilometers across the forest, with clear views over 横浜 (Yokomaha) in the north-east and the sea in the south. We walked from 鎌倉 (Kamakura) station to 鶴岡八幡宮 (Tsurugaoka-hachimangu shrine) then checked several temples on the way to 瑞泉寺 (Zuisenji temple). There, we started the hike, which took us to 建長寺 (Kenchoji temple); its buildings and statues were great rewards after the physical effort.
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