Before covid-19 hit the brakes hard globally on health and our social lives, the last social meal I had with several people was the last day in February. At lunch, I hung out over sizzling stone bowls of bimbap with egg, at a popular Korean restaurant with 3 other employees from another department. In fact,…
Category: Culture
Cherry Blossom Bouquets, Sharing Obsession
Cherry blossom bouquets Bounce-sway in warm breeze, Spring pink petals fall. Writing a blog post with photos about cherry blossom season, is an act of memory and hope for me. Every time. A thrust forward into the near future with happy expectations of pink bursting-birth all over Vancouver. And Nature delivers every spring. You’re never…
Bowing Wild Deer, Warrior with a Writing Brush
Since Japan was my first step into Asia, here’s a salutary bag of traveller stories and pithy impressions. After we happily munched on just warm pounded, luscious matcha mochi from a downtown Nara shop, we strolled over to Nara Park, a heritage park steeped in Japanese Buddhism, some temples …and its wild deer. Bowing, Hungry…
Touch My Seoul and its Strength
Oddly, the official tourism sites for Seoul seem to be tepid and lack lots of dynamic photos for this great vibrant and historic city in South Korea. It’s only 20 km. away from DMZ, or demilitarized zone by North Korea. Seoul and South Korea – Not Same Romanticization as Japan Maybe Seoul or indeed South…
Deep Temple Bell, Celestial Female Musicians
Jack and I were wandering in central Kyoto city, somewhere not far from Nishiki Market and the Kamogawa river. During our trip in Kyoto, for several days we would wander into neighbourhood Shinto shrines or come upon a Buddhist huge bronze temple bell either a small one or at large Zen Buddhist temple complexes. Needless…
For Fun, Attention or Quiet Self-Identity : National Heritage Dress
One thing for certain, travelling in big cities of Japan and South Korea, you can rent a national dress and parade around in it for a few hours. It’s around 30 – 45 Canadian dollars. We never saw this money-making practice when we were in Germany, France, Denmark, Czech Republic nor Barcelona, Spain. Maybe there’s…
Food Art, Tofu Doughnuts and Octopus Kimchi Pancake: Japan and Seoul, South Korea
Before we flew off to Japan and Seoul, South Korea, I only had one Japanese cookbook which I haven’t even cooked anything from it. My tasting experience has been based on eating in restaurants in Canada –primarily Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. And I don’t even eat out as often as others, for dinner. After Internet…
Hike Up at Fushimi-Inari
Carve peace in the heart, Throbbing crowds trudge up mountain Red tori gates rise. My little haiku to set your heart and mind in calmness, at Japan’s famous Shinto shrine and pilgrimage gentle hike along Mount Inari. 10,000 Tori Gates Through Old Mountain Forest You might need to cultivate that precious corner of peace. We…
Escape to Arashiyama, Part I: Many Faces of Buddhism, Nuances in Zen Moss Garden
While travelling in Japan, I often felt I had not done enough research to swallow the meaning of sights and details unfurling before me. That feeling lingered when we wandered around in Arashiyama-Sagano. Arashiyama lies on the western fringe of Kyoto — an hour train ride away. We had initially just planned to see…
Much Matcha Green Tea Desserts: Japan and Seoul, South Korea
Maybe we were a tad crazy during our two week trip, in Japan and Seoul: it was almost a matcha tea dessert every day. Yea –in addition to sipping sometimes a lovely cup of medium to high grade matcha or at least green tea. There is a sublime difference. Birthplace and Hub of Japan’s Centuries…
Different Flavours for Different Farmers’ Markets: Canada and Abroad
It’s de rigour for us to check out the local farmers’ market whenever we travel and visit a town, city or country. Squeezing in Happy Time– Local and Abroad In past blog posts, I’ve enjoyed showcasing a few in Toronto, Vancouver, Freiburg (Germany) and Hilo (Hawai’i) –wonderful local foods, sometimes crafts and ambience which puts…
Reverence, Respect, Omission or Violence – Paintings on Women Over Centuries
This blog post can not adequately cover how women are depicted over centuries in art masterpieces. After all, PhD dissertations and books have been churned out on narrow topics for just one artist and their paintings or just one country’s century- long treatment of women in art. I’m just going to take a stroll with…
Awestruck on La Rambla and Beyond: Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Spain is like Vancouver, British Columbia –millions of tourists pour into each city every year. After four days, we still had not exhausted its rich treasure chest of sights and experiences. Inevitably visitors end up crossing or on its main pedestrian street, La Rambla. It was my first time in Spain whereas for Jack,…
5 Kids in One-Bedroom Apartment- Unearthing Space and Its Impact
There’s a Vancouver divorced dad-blogger who blogs about life in downtown Vancouver with his 5 children in a 1,000 sq. ft. rental condo. In fact, he probably lives just few blocks from us. Well, it’s admirable he has some of his growing children in bunk beds. And the kids are only with him for 2…
Humanities and Arts: Talent and Creativity Redefines Logic
Whenever there are cutbacks to classroom time, courses or extracurricular school activities for: the arts, theatre, music, creative writing, I’m concerned. Arts, Humanities Touches Daily Life: Highest and Mundane Details Those snickers about people who major in philosophy, history, literature –university / college programs which don’t provide a clear-cut path to an immediate job, I wonder: …
Warming Up to Bison Art and Branding
A sign of an entrenched native prairie animal icon, is a hulking, ugly bison stamped into Alberta handmade soap. Not that I’ve seen a salmon icon on Pacific coast local soap –yet. Pacific coastal soapmakers might find dolphins and whales more romantic iconography for beauty soap products. Not Exactly Cuddly While the bison isn’t cuddly nor evokes…
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Tracing German Medieval, Reformation Restraint and Northern Renaissance
We’re not purists when we travel overseas to see “perfectly”, preserved towns. Others may scoff for being too touristy. To me, it’s all part of the same culture –the well-kept heritage, the tourist-kitschy and ordinary messiness. Rothenburg ob der Tauber was a charming, historic town of 11,000 that ostensibly relied on its tourist economy. No problem. …
Reject Not at First Glance : Stained Glass Church Art
Two decades ago, I tossed out my 30-lb. stained glass artwork into the garbage a few years after I finished two stained glass art courses. I dubbed the art piece, “Spring Thaw”. “Spring Thaw” was hoisted out into the garbage room, because I thought it was unworthy of transporting 4,000 km. in moving to Vancouver from Toronto. Yes, it was…
Small and Suave: Dijon Lures with Charm and Wonder
If North American urbanites could have cosy, yet sophisticated and relaxed cities like Dijon, France, we would all be happier and healthier. Timeless, Relaxed Elegance Dijon is like a timeless elegant lady, yet sitting relaxed in a polished, antique chair. She wears a silk blouse with a pair of worn jeans and stylish deep red…
Teenager Helps Father Sponsor Relatives to Immigrate to Canada
That Ontario teenager was myself. I don’t have a photo like what you see in some recent newspapers: Smiling Canadians posing in photos with Syrian refugees as they arrive at our major city airports. My experience is not about helping refugees. Humdrum Insider View: Helping Others Immigrate Let me give you our family’s insider view. …
Easy-Peasy or Daunting: Getting to Local Art and Attractions by Bike, Foot, Transit
A long while ago, I was volunteer blogger for Tourism Vancouver’s blog, Inside Vancouver. My special self-chosen niche, was flogging outdoor Vancouver attractions, reachable by bike, foot or transit. So I zoomed into fabulous outdoor art, parks and scenic vistas. Metro Vancouver is abundant with an array of jaw-dropping scenery, galleries and historic sites clustered…
This Traveller Loves to Come Home Too
That’s me –after several weeks abroad and enjoying every day, immersed in a foreign country and language environment, I love to come home too. To my own bed, quiet at home and diverse choice of food. Not Get Too Lost I’m not exactly your tourist, clutching tightly onto my pillow from home or I’m peering…
