Saturday, March 31, 2007

Episode 96 - The Snow Bridge

Another wonderful morning at Prague.

The previous day was a perfect sunny day. But when I woke up in the morning, I found that the city had turned into white overnight. I was delighted and rushed out of the hotel to enjoy another wonderful day.

This photo was taken at the Charles Bridge. It is a 13th Century bridge, linking the old town to the castle on the other side of the Vltava river. There are 30 baroque-styled statues erected along the bridge. Can you can see a crucifix statue on the left side of the bridge tower?

I visited the bridge in the late afternoon on the previous day. At that time the bridge was packed with people. Apart from visitors and souvenir sellers, there were a number of portrait drawers and street musicians - a big contrast to the quiet snow bridge.

I walked on the white carpet, following my footprints of the previous day to the Prague Castle again.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Episode 95 - The Journey Continued

This picture was taken by me from within a ferris wheel cabin.

After departing from Niseko, we drove to Rusutsu. It was raining when we arrived at the amusement park at Rusutsu. Next to the amusement park is a hotel in which the Hong Kong tourist groups like to stay.

The amusement park entrance fee was not economic for a walk-in tourist.

I was with Gogo at the top of the ferris wheel when I took this photo. Looking out of the window of the cabin, we saw the roller coaster which Gogo wished to play earlier.

To Gogo's great disappointment, he was not permitted to board the roller coaster train as he was then 1 cm short in height to reach the minimum requirement for admission to play the game!

We had an enjoyable (perhaps not so for Gogo) afternoon at the amusement park. We then continued our journey to Lake Touya.

Episode 94 - Country House

Do you know what this house is?

I took this picture at a public car park near the Niseko Bridge, just before we left Niseko for Rusutsu.

This is in fact a washroom. Apart from its artistic outlook, the washroom is clean and automated.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Episode 93 - Shyly Grass


Chiu Yin and I visited the flower market yesterday.

Chiu Yin noticed that one of the flower shops was selling "Shyly Grasses". He just learned something about it in the school so he wished to keep one. I had no objection to this and Chiu Yin selected the tallest one (see photos above) among the grasses. It only costs $5. We tidied up the plant at home and put it in a beautiful pot.

The official name of the plant is mimosa pudica. In Hong Kong, we used to called it "Shyly Grass". It is so called because its leaves will fold up and its stems will drop down if we touch them (as in the 2nd photo) - it looks like a shyly child. The leaves and the stems will revive back to the original position in one or two minutes' time.

Some 30 years ago, the "Shyly Grass" was a kind of weeds which we could easily find in Hong Kong. However, with the development of the city, the plant can now only be located in the countryside or flower shops.

Chiu Yin has agreed to take up the responsibility to water the plant. I hope Chiu Yin can learn how to take care of a plant life himself.

Chiu Yin said he will draw a picture of the Shyly Grass later on. If so, I will post it in Chiu Yin's Gallery.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Episode 92 - Clivia: more flowers

Photo updated on 30/3

This is the new flowering position of the clivia.

As the plant is mature, the flowers are larger and more colourful than those of last year.

I believe that flower lovers will agree that the happiness you get from seeing your own plant blossoming is really invaluable.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Episode 91 - A Wonderful Morning at Prague

I visited Prague in December 1998.

I started my journey by train from Vienna and arrived at Prague in the late afternoon.

The weather was extremely bad on that day. It was dark, cold, wet and foggy. As I did not know the local language, it took me quite some time to arrive at the hotel. I felt annoyed and went to sleep early.

I woke up early in the next morning. I took a quick breakfast at the hotel and went outside to have a walk. To my surprise, the weather was completely different from that of the earlier day. The sky was a perfect blue without a cloud in sight.

My heart was filled with joy. I walked across the beautiful old city centre and reached the river bank. Looking across the Vltava river, I found that the Prague Castle on the other side had turned into gold under the morning sun.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Episode 90 - Clivia: flowering

I took this picture of my clivia this morning.

As you can see from the photo, a red flower is growing out from the leaves margin. There are a number of flower buds in the same shoot. I will post another photo a few days later.

The flower shoot of the clivia was held up by the leaves at first (see previous posting). After completion of the remedial work, the flower buds grow out rapidly.

This variety of clivia has short flower shoot. Some varieties have long flower stems and their flowers grow out at the top of the stems.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Episode 89 - Arashiyama in the Rain

I took this photo at the Kameyama Park of Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan in 1993.

You can see a stone monument with a Chinese poem engraved on it. The poem was written by the late Premier Zhou Enlai of China when he visited Japan in 1919. The stone craving is the calligraphy of Liao Chengzhi. The poem is called "Arashiyama in the rain":

【雨中嵐山】  周恩來

雨中二次遊嵐山
兩岸蒼松夾著幾株櫻
到盡處突見一山高
流出泉水綠如許
鏡石照人
瀟瀟雨霧濛濃
一線陽光穿雲出
愈見姣妍
人間的萬像真理
愈求愈糢糊
- 糢糊中偶然見著一點光明
真愈覺姣妍


Arashiyama in the Rain  Zhou Enlai

Visiting Arashiyama for the second time in the rain.
River banks line with pines and patch with blossoming cherries.
End of the road emerges a tall mountain,
with spring water running out so green.
Rocks in the river reflecting visitors' images.
In the foggy rain,
a ray of sunlight shines through a gap in the clouds.
Arashiyama becomes much more beautiful.
Like searching for the absolute truth in human world,
The more effort you put in, the more confused you become.
- once you see a light in such confusion,
You really feel the beauty of it.

[my translation]


I first visited Arashiyama in 1986. I had never heard of this place before when I arrived at Kyoto. I recall that I bought a one-day bus ticket and travelled along the tourist route as suggested by the ticket office. It was already in the late afternoon when the bus stopped at a station near Bridge Togetsu. I was deeply impressed by the beauty of this area and have since revisited it for many times. Apart from the cherry blossoms season (when Premier Zhou visited Arashiyama), I also like the red leaves season and the snow season.


Thursday, March 15, 2007

Episode 88 - Departing from the Deities' Home

This is a road bridge at Niseko. I travelled by car in the surrounding areas in the summer of 2002. At that time, GPS was not a standard equipment for a rented car and I had to rely on a local map and road signs during my journey.

When I took this photo, I and my family were heading to Rusutsu, after 3 days' staying in Niseko. At the far side of the bridge is the road leading to the Panorama Line where you can go to Shinsennuma. Turning to the right side of the photo is the road leading to Rusutsu.

Rusutsu has a big amusement park - where Gogo wished to visit during the journey.

Following the road signs, we passed through the outskirt of the beautiful Mount Youtei and reached the amusement park at noon.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Episode 87 - Clivia in bud

A flower shoot is coming out from the clivia. This is the second time this clivia flowers.

In the past week, the flower shoot was held up by the leaves. In order to release the flower shoot I have added water, tied down the leaves on one side, and cut open a little bit of the base of the leaf next to the flower shoot. The remedial actions appear to be successful as I can see other flower buds coming up from the same position.

You can also see from the photo that the small leaf bud of the clivia has developed into a small plant on the left side. I decide to cut it out and move it to a new pot after the flowering season.

I will post another photo when the clivia blossoms.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Episode 86 - The Art of Throwing


The basics of the art of throwing in Taiji can be illustrated by the ring children.

1. It involves the centre - the eye of the ring.
2. It involves circular movement - the outer ring.
3. It involves balancing - the turning babies.
4. It involves the joints - the folding arms, bodies and legs.
5. It involves the technique of Yin and Yang - the boy and the girl.
6. It should be used on solid ground - where the statue stands.

Comparing taiji with other schools with throwing applications, there is no big difference in the "forms" used. The difference lies in the way as to how an opponent is unbalanced before he is thrown.

Apart from Yin Yang Conversion, one of the techniques used in Taiji is the applying of a slight force on a critical joint of the opponent so that his centre of gravity is altered. The opponent can then be thrown without using strength. Many "beginners" are fascinated by such "magical touch".

Not relying on brutish force, such application technique should be supported by the body condition acquired through the basic trainings. Without the support of a natural body, this technique is only workable in demonstrations (for art appreciation) and not in a contest.

Applying a slight force on a critical joint of your opponent is the final touch before a throw. Prior to this, you have to slip (not break, hence, not brutish pushes or pulls) into the defensive ring of the opponent, attach to him, cross the bridge, take over the centre, and convert the Yin and Yang. These should be done in one go. In fact, once you convert the Yin and Yang, you can almost do anything on your opponent. The importance of the joint movement should not be over-emphasised.

In a real deal, no one will let you do the final touch freely on him as you can do so in a demonstration where your partner "cooperates" with you. Without the flexibility, sensitivity and power of a natural body, it is difficult to unbalance an opponent, in accordance with the taiji principles, in a real deal. It is therefore essential that a practitioner gets the basics correct from the very beginning of his training.

Not knowing the importance of and the rationales behind the basic trainings, many "beginners" (in the sense of knowledge, not seniority) find it difficult, if not impossible, to throw an opponent without using brutish force in a confronted situation. They end up doing weight lifting at the gym, condemning the Taiji Classic as a piece of nonsense.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Episode 85 - Crossing the moon

This photo was taken at Arashiyama, Kyoto.

Arashiyama is at the outskirt of Kyoto and is accessible by trains or by buses. The photo shows the landmarks of this area: Mount Arashi, Katsura River and the Togetsu Bridge.

Apart from the river side as shown in the photo, other points of interests around the area include Tenryuji, a famous Zen temple, and the Bamboo Groves. To enjoy the beauty of the Hozu River at the upper stream and the surrounding valleys, you can take the Sagano Romantic Train from Arasiyama to Kameoka and return by a boat trip down the Hozu River and back to the Katsura River.

The Togetsu Bridge is a long semi-wooden bridge crosses the Katsura River. The beautiful Mount Arashi forms a dramatic backdrop to the bridge. It is an excellent place to view cherry blossoms.

Literally, Togetsu means "crossing the moon" - it is where you can appreciate the beauty of "Mirror Flower, Water Moon".

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Episode 84 - Ginger Milk Pudding (III)

I took this photo just before the pudding is consumed.

I used fresh milk and old ginger to make this pudding - a combination that guarantees success.

Old ginger is still available in the market in this season. Its juice is hot but a small amount of it is sufficient to make a nice bowl of pudding.

I have tested different types of milk. Fresh milk (high calcium low fat) appears to be the best choice. Preserved milk is not recommended.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Episode 83 - White Cattleya: Blossoms

I took this photo of the White Cattleya this morning.

The petals of the flowers are still extending and the flowers will become larger in the next few days. The flowers have started emitting fragrance. The smell is similar to that of the narcissus. However, the cattleya fragrance is not so strong and appears to be fresher.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Episode 82 - Somewhere in time



This is the Bikan Area at Kurashiki.

The Japanese word "Bikan" means "beautiful". Walking into this area, visitors soon find themselves surrounded by a large number of traditional Japanese houses. These are 17th century merchant quarters and warehouses built for the storage of rice harvested in the surrounding localities.

Running through the area is a canal lined with willows. One feels like travelling back to the Edo period whilst walking across the stone bridge over the canal.

I first visited Kurashiki in 1986 on the recommendation of my Japanese friend and have revisited it twice thereafter.

Apart from the traditional houses, the Ivy Square and the Ohara Western Art Museum nearby are also spectacular.

Kurashiki is on the west of Okayama City and is easily accessible by train. The Bikan Area is 15 minutes' walk from the Kurashiki Station. Walking maps are available at The Tourists Information Centre.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Episode 81 - White Cattleya: Flowering














The White Cattleya started flowering earlier today.

Here are some of the photos. The petals of the first flower have not yet extended. The diameter of this flower may probably be over 16 cm. It will take more than one week's time for the flower to reach its full size. It's breath taking to watch the blooming process of the orchid.

I just note that a flower shoot is growing out from my Clivia. I shall post some photos of it shortly.