七夕祭 (Tanabata matsuri) in 平塚 (Hiratsuka, Japan) on 08 July 2012

Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2012-07-08_jp-hiratsuka_tanabata.htm

[EN] Festival on 08 July 2012 ・ [FR] Festival le 08 juillet 2012 ・ PHOTOS ・ SUGGESTIONS

[EN] 08 July 2012: 七夕祭 (Tanabata festival) in 平塚 (Hiratsuka, Japan)

I discovered 平塚 (Hiratsuka, Japan) on 08 July 2012, third/last day of its 62^nd 七夕祭 (Tanabata festival) honouring two heavenly lovers, then relaxed at a nearby beach.

Joyful Japanese people crowded streets vividly decorated from the station to a distant plaza, buying food, drinks, toys and souvenirs to friendly shopkeepers. Some children, young ladies and even dogs wore 浴衣 (yukata, summer kimono)! At the plaza, skilled groups including children with funky hairstyles performed modern dances, cheerleading or traditional dances under giant flags. In a peripheral alley, a professional DJ in kimono gave a cyberpunk touch to the event :)

This great cut from my heavy workdays motivates me to return or attend 仙台 (Sendai)'s even more famous celebration in 2013.

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[FR] 08 juillet 2012: 七夕祭 (festival Tanabata) à 平塚 (Hiratsuka, Japon)

J'ai découvert 平塚 (Hiratsuka, Japon) le 08 juillet 2012, troisième/dernier jour de son 62^ème 七夕祭 (festival Tanabata) honorant deux amoureux célestes, puis me suis détendu à une plage proche.

Des japonais heureux emplissaient les rues décorées de couleurs vives de la gare à une place distante, achetant nourriture, boissons, jouets et souvenirs à d'amicaux commerçants. Des enfants, de jeunes femmes et même des chiens portaient des 浴衣 (yukata, kimono d'été) ! A la place, des groupes doués incluant des enfants aux coiffures funky exécutèrent des danses modernes, spectacles de pom-pom girls ou danses traditionnelles sous des drapeaux géants. Dans une allée périphérique, une DJ professionnelle en kimono apportait sa touche cyberpunk :)

Cette remarquable coupure d'un quotidien lourd en travail me motive à revenir ou à assister au festival encore plus réputé de 仙台 (Sendai) en 2013.

⟹ EN SAVOIR PLUS (20 PHOTOS, 2 SUGGESTIONS)...

Annular solar eclipse in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan) on 21 May 2012

Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2012-05-21_jp-tokyo_eclipse.htm

[EN] Eclipse today ・ [FR] Eclipse aujourd'hui

[EN] Annular solar eclipse in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan) on 21 May 2012

Despite clouds over 東京 (Tokyo, Japan), I saw the most beautiful scene in my life around 07:30 today: an annular solar eclipse. The sky darkened, the temperature dropped, the dogs went silent... The moon only let a thin sunny ring illuminate the sky and earth. I was deeply moved!


[FR] Eclipse solaire annulaire à 東京 (Tokyo, Japon) le 21 mai 2012

Malgré des nuages sur 東京 (Tokyo, Japon), j'ai vu la plus belle scène de ma vie vers 07:30 aujourd'hui: une éclipse solaire annulaire. Le ciel s'est assombri, la température a chuté, les chiens se sont tus... La lune n'a laissé qu'un fin anneau de soleil illuminer le ciel et la terre, ce qui m'a profondément ému !

Trip to 수원 (Suwon, South Korea) on 18 July 2009

Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2009-07-18_kr-suwon.htm

I walked through 수원 (Suwon, South Korea) on 18 July 2009 to see 화성 (Hwaseong fortress) in company of François, who had come for the week-end. Although clouds threatened to waste our visit, the conditions were pleasant, and the rain fell only on our way back to the subway station.

After eating tasty 냉면 (cold noodles) at the station, we walked through the city then strolled three hours along the fortress wall, starting at 팔달문 (Paldalmun i.e. South gate) and finishing at an outdoor market, with a tea break on the way. I was surprised by the views, which exposed Korean-looking buildings, churches, and tall and low modern buildings, including apartments decorated with harmonized scenes such as riders jumping from a building to another. The fortress is well-maintained, the explanations are clear, and the path is long but easy. This UNESCO world heritage site must be really exciting with a clear sky.

I enjoyed the refreshing atmosphere, and the tiring walk offered a perfect pretext for relaxing chats while drinking tea or chocolate.

Trip to 청주 (Cheongju, South Korea) on 11 July 2009

Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2009-07-11_kr-cheongju_unbo-house.htm

I discovered 청주 (Cheongju, South Korea) on 11 July 2009 thanks to my local colleague 남규 (Namkyoo), who wished to show me the house of 김 기창 (KIM Ki-Chang) aka 운보 (Unbo), a Korean painter notably known for drawing 세종대왕 (Sejong the Great) on ₩10.000 banknotes. A grey sky accompanied heat and humidity, a usual mark of the rainy season in South Korea.

After eating my best sushis in the country so far, 남규 (Namkyoo) drove me, his wife and daughter to 운보의 집 (Unbo's house). I appreciated the garden, compact but not overloaded, designed with talent and well maintained. I contemplated landscapes weaving nature with man-made artefacts and lotuses floating over miniature ponds carved in rock statues. I was surprised by the presence of numerous bonsais, which I solely associated to Japan, before admiring the artist's paintings at the gallery, enjoying his simple but deep colorful style. A few minutes away, we stopped the car near a long wall painted with scenes of the four seasons then again to face impressive sculptures made of junk, including an easily-recognizable version of the manga robot マジンガーＺ (Mazinger Z). Finally, we visited 청주 고인쇄박물관 (Cheongju early printing museum), which exhibited ancient artefacts and documents and exposed history using automata.

This day in good company was exciting and stimulating, and I only regret that my Korean language abilities were insufficient to chat with my colleague's young daughter.

Trip to 안동 (Andong, South Korea) on 19-22 June 2009

Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2009-06-20_kr-andong.htm

I travelled to 안동 (Andong, South Korea) for the first time on 19 June 2009 to meet my local friend 장우 (Jangwoo), and hike nearby. With the rainy season just starting, the weather was capricious but–as usual–I was lucky for the hike. Nevertheless, the sky broke loose on departure day...

The first evening, we ate Korean food prepared by 장우 (Jangwoo)'s mother, strolled at the local dam, and played a few billiards games. On Saturday, we visited 도산서원 (Dosan Seowon), a famous academy displayed on ₩1.000 banknotes, then dodged rain drops to see the 12m-tall 제비원 (Jebiwon) statue of Buddha. While mom was asleep, I experienced my first Korean nightclub then a karaoke with 장우 (Jangwoo) and one of his friends. The nightclub confused me much as the dance floor was smaller than the space for tables and seats, and as the staff moved customers around, guiding girls to the tables of guys, while the huge stage alternatively featured disc jockeys, female musicians, and a male stripper! Bewildering :) Still energetic on Sunday, 장우 (Jangwoo), one of his cousins, his mom, and I hiked four hours among the trees of 주왕산 국립공원 (Juwangsan national park) under an oppressive sun; the highest peak called us but dark was coming too fast for a full climb.

The stay was pleasant and entertaining; despite our diverse activities, I strangely feel that I fully enjoyed and relaxed everywhere. Maybe there is a lesson for my life in the capital? Anyway, I plan another trip in the region to visit folk villages and attend the famous local mask festival held every year in September-October.

Stroll at 국립서울현충원 (Seoul National Cemetery, South Korea) on 06 June 2009

Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2009-06-06_kr-seoul.htm

I first visited 국립서울현충원 (Seoul National Cemetery), located in 서울 (Seoul, South Korea), with 숙현 (Sook-Hyeon) on 06 June 2009 to observe Korean life on 현충일 (Memorial Day). Numerous civilians and soldiers walked the alleys of this huge cemetery under a bright sky; many paying homage to 육영수 (YUK Young-soo) and her husband, the ex-president 박정희 (PARK Chung-Hee), assassinated in 1974 and 1979. I was flabbergasted to see whole families gaily picnic among the tombs as I cannot imagine French people doing so but was told this is a normal way to commune with one's kin in South Korea. The vegetation and hills contributed to a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere while providing some intimacy.

After seeing atrocities displayed so gloomily (see Post 17 May 2009) at 독립기념관 (Independence Hall of Korea) in 천안 (Cheonan), this uplifting experience made me feel closer to the local population.

Trip to 경주 (Gyeongju, South Korea) on 22-25 May 2009

Source and photos: http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/memories/2009-05-23_kr-gyeongju.htm

I travelled to 경주 (Gyeongju, South Korea) for the second time on 22 May 2009 to visit 불국사 (Bulguksa temple), which is a UNESCO world heritage, and hike at 남산 (Namsan) with Olga and Yerbol, two friends studying in the region. Clouds hovered over the region but the weather remained pleasant.

I appreciated the local historical assets and traditional ambiance but was surprised by the distances: one may see much with a bicycle in two days. However, I was slightly disappointed as I expected older, bigger and more numerous touristic sites because several Japanese friends had compared the city to 京都 (Kyoto, Japan); Koreans indicated that the area would be markedly more attractive had Japan not damaged or destroyed so much during wars and occupations... From another perspective, I also enjoyed unique coffee shops, delicious restaurants and, as we kept on bumping into acquaintances of Olga and Yerbol, a countryside atmosphere in which all people seemed to know each other.

The air, ambiance and smaller crowds agreeably contrasted with my everyday life in 서울 (Seoul, South Korea). For newcomers, two or three full days seem appropriate to discover the historical sites and enjoy the city, with one or two additional days for hikes. I will gladly return there to complete my visit and explore 남산 (Namsan) from another side.