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Archive for April, 2006

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Bugaku festival at Shitenno-ji

Saturday, April 22nd, 2006

I am a bit late for the prime cherry blossom viewing season, but there are still a few about. The weather was warmer today – a nice spring day for the Bugaku festival that I went to this afternoon.

I don’t really know what Bugaku is, although it seems to be a ceremonial dance. I overheard one gentleman explaining to another Gaijin (Japanese word for foreigner) that the costumes are Korean in origin but that’s going back some.

There were masked solos and group dances, monks and priests on procession and dragons too. The pace was pretty slow but so much to look at making it enjoyable to watch. The accompanying music made it quite haunting. The stage it was all performed on was a bridge over a piece of water that contained hundreds of terrapins who surfaced to join the crowd and observe the ongoings. The performance was set in the Shitenno-ji Temple complex. There was also a flea market going on all around selling everything from carving knives to wooden shoes, sqid balls to kimonos and everything in between.

 Stage and surroundingsOpening prayer [read on]

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Saturday, April 22nd, 2006

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Open Air Museam of Old Japanese Farmhouses

Friday, April 21st, 2006
Went to this outside museum today of Farmhouses that have been taken from different sites all over Japan and rebuilt in one place, Osaka's Ryokuchi-koen park. The park is great. Such a large area filled with everthing from baseball, basket ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Suzhouhao Odyssey

Friday, April 21st, 2006

On the night before I left Shanghai I went to the Bund, towards the east of Shanghai on the riverfront. On the other side is Pudong where Shanghai used to grow all its veg. Now though, the greens are grown ... [Continue reading this entry]

Shang-shabang-hai

Monday, April 17th, 2006
Today is my last day in the Shanghai after spending about 5 or days here. I leave for Japan tomorrow! Banzai! Shanghai is a big-time party, eating and drinking city. Speaking of eating, I just came back from lunch in a little ... [Continue reading this entry]

Hong Kung phooey

Monday, April 17th, 2006

I found about a Tai chi class given by the Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) 3 or 4 times a week which was free to tourists. So of course I went along.
The class was given on the Avenue of ... [Continue reading this entry]

Kung fu brothers 2

Monday, April 10th, 2006
Hi everyone, This photo-shoot day was a good opportunity to take lots of photos of everyone. So here are some more profiles... Roomie Stephen Trendy Trousers Stephen[Continue reading this entry]

Shaolin

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

Two weeks before I left school I went for a Sunday day-trip to Shaolin where it all began with Jon and Laurient.

It was a mission to get there. We got a taxi to the city and then a bus from ... [Continue reading this entry]

Quick trip to Dengfeng

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

The week before I left I went to Dengfeng near Shaolin on my own, on the sly to buy a couple of weapons and clothes. Dengfeng is full of Kung fu schools. Some pics below.

P2280592.JPG[Continue reading this entry]

Hongkers Kongkers Round 2

Friday, April 7th, 2006

SkylineBright lightsBird in tree

Well, the 2nd time today? I must be in the ... [Continue reading this entry]