BI HONG PHOTOGRAPHY

Dancing in the Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 09:13:00 +0000

A sudden down pour has ruined a lot of festival events around Tokyo area yesterday.

The thunder and rain can wash away the crowds in seconds, can wasted the effort of school's children who practiced hard for the dance; but the rain can't wash away the spirit of the people.

The scene of crowds rushing for a shelter is noting pretty. Not for this 2 girls. They were dancing in the rain - enjoying themselves.

When we were caught in an inevitable situation, instead of complaining, why not embrace yourself into it?

Life will not be interesting without bumps, right?

Have a nice weekends!

Catching Up: The Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 12:34:00 +0000

Japan is a country with various kind of festival all year long. Most festival is organized by a local Japanese shrine, but a lot of the participants are not attending for any religious purpose. Most of them are locals who treat the festival as local community events, tourist, foreigners, photogs, and also some "Festival Otaku" who will track down every single festival around the country.

みたままつり(Mitama-matsuri)
This is one of the biggest obon festival in Tokyo. And the venue is the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine which paying tribute to WWII war criminals, is the pain in the ass for regional politics. Japanese politician need it to gain support of nationalist and show how they won't compromise on foreign's political pressure from China or Korea.

But who cares about these argument anyway? Personally I think we should move forwards, unloading the historical burden. And anyone who still playing the WWII cards is a lunatic playing fires who put personal political gain above all.

And I guess 99% of them who flock the shire during the 4 days festival, don't care at all. They went there for street food, for summer, for fun and for entertainment. Of course you still can spot some lantern with controversial images and phares but let's ignore them. The world will be a better place without noticing them :)

If you are reading this post now, the festival last till 16th July! You no need to wait for another year to visit it!

Up next 下町七夕まつり(Shitamachi-Tanabata-Matsuri)
7th of July, a religious celebration in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan. Origin from China with a folklore love story of the weaver girl and the cowherd. The story was localized with a Japanese version with a main characters named Tanabata. I won't try to retold the story here, but in modern days, the Japanese custom was to write wishes on a paper strips and tight them on the bamboo.

かなまら祭り(Kanamara-Matsuri)
The most odd and strange festival I found in Japan, which worship manhood - the Penis. And this is a major tourist attraction now a days with thousands of foreigners including local of course, flock into this small town parading along with 3 Penises around the neighborhood. The most jaw dropping one's is the Big Pink Penis carried by Okama dressed in pinky dress. And, you are right!! This one draws the crowds most! Anyway, I won't post too much photos of the festival here, one is that I din't get many good shots..you know sometimes photographers failed too. Another is that to keep the blog clean :) Just google "kanamara matsuri" and you will get what you hoping for for this festival.

I like this last photo so much. The reaction of the girl facing a half naked man. You guess which way her eye goes to. :)

Catching Up: The Hike

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 07:12:00 +0000

Been lazy lately, I mean getting my ass down and putting a few words in this blog. I guess writing is kinda difficult to keep as a habit especially the mind is constantly occupied by works, daily routine, and all the minor details that we need to keep track on. Even if I have free time, I will choose to let the mind went totally blank, mindlessly focusing my eyes on the rectangular screen searching for visual entertainment.

All is bad excuses.

So here I am. Hide in my air-con room, hand on the laptop trying to stitch a few words up about recent happening. Knowing that I'm a terrible writer, I will keep this short and let the photos do all the talking.

I have been to a few hiking trip lately, some with a Meet-up group I found out on the internet and some with my colleagues and friends. I called all this trip my running away from Tokyo. Nothing wrong about Tokyo - a big city with lots of happening, but imagine you being trapped in this concrete jungle, and facing a computer screen almost constantly in the office, nature is what you crave for.

First Stop: 那須塩原 (Nasushiobara)
Starting from the visitor center of the national park, there are a few trekking route to follow on. You will be surprise to find open-air baths in the wild and people are actually using them, but of course only guys...it takes too much courage for girls to bath openly. So we can only let our imagination run wild :p

Second Hike: 御岳山(Mitake-san)
This was an easy run away, just an hour plus train ride from Tokyo. Take the cable car and the mid way is the best starting point for the hike. Depends on your stamina, there also a few trekking course to chose to.

The most recent run-away: 奥日光(Oku-Nikko)
600 meters height form the city center of Nikko. Oku-Nikko is famous for its chilly weather during summer days. Very well maintenance trek which is very easy to walk on...and to be accurate I can't call it a trekking course, a walking route should be a better term. :p

Zushi beach fireworks 2013 (逗子海岸花火大会)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 16:01:00 +0000

Never come across my mind to have a fireworks festival in early June. Fireworks festival in Japan is the main attractions in summer usually around July and August. The consequences? Mismatched of clothing. Had to bear with the cold sea breeze with a polo shirt...

Other than that, everything was great! Big crowd, but the beach is wide enough to hold all the visitors. Manage to get a great spot, spotted some new fireworks patterns, and as always, a few snap of photos.

Hope you like it! Good night and have a great sunday ahead.

夜・夜・叶・叶

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 May 2013 14:29:00 +0000

最近怎么都对工作提不起劲。。。

一整天都被初夏的闷气搞得心烦意乱，昏昏欲睡。

迷糊。郁闷。

如何才能找回那股原动力？谁来给小弟指点迷津？

聆听着《夜夜夜夜》

---
想问天你在哪里
我想问问我自己
一开始我聪明
结束我聪明
聪明的几乎都毁掉了我自己
想问天问大地
或者是迷信问问宿命
放弃所有
抛下所有
让我飘流在安静的夜夜空里
你也不必牵强再说爱我
反正我的灵魂已片片凋落
慢慢的拼凑慢慢的拼凑
拼凑成一个完全不属于真正的我
我不愿再放纵
我不愿每天每夜每秒飘流
也不愿再多问再多说再多求
我的梦

Running Away from the City: Hachijō-jima

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:10:00 +0000

Getting bored sitting in the office, facing the rectangular screen. And my mind still hang in the southern island.

That's my yearly run away. Run away from the concrete city. Run away from work. Run away from the realities.

My second camping trip with Tokyo Gaijin, to Hachijō-jima, a volcanic island, located at the southernmost of the Izu Seven Islands. 12 hours ride on the ferry and what welcome us was the spectacular sun rise in the middle of the sea.

The island is famous for diving. Me, not even a good swimmer, had to cross that out from the to-do list shamefully only hoping that some day in the future, I can get pass my phobia with the sea and dive into the mysterious world... crossed out the sea, concurring the volcanic peak of Hachijō-fuji was the best experience I had on the island.

There is another peak Mt. Mihara on the island, but it was a disappointment especially when the expectation was lifted with the Hachijō-fuji. The route to waterfalls seem abandoned and the hike end with a long hours of walks.

It was children's day and there was the festival, with a routine fire-stunt shows. Tried out some long exposure shot hand holding the camera. Most of them craps but got a couple that maybe some will called art?

And my trip end with a terrible news from Malaysia. Death of Democracy. We failed to throw out the rotten government that had stayed on power for too long. With dirty tactics, apparently they managed to hold on their breath for another five years. The sun rising in front of me was a big gap of what I felt about the future of my country in the hand of a group of racist morons...

As for today, racist issues is again played, student activist was detained. The road to true democracy seem far and unattainable...sometimes I can't help but questioning myself, why hide in Japan and complain? Why not try to change something? Why not go back and fight along with the fellow Malaysian..........

Happy Face.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:25:00 +0000

Can't fall asleep.

Flipping through my camera, reviewing photos I took in a local festival yesterday, and this one caught my eyes.

This Ojiisan had my attention on for the whole parade, but every time when I tried to put my eye on the finder, I was blocked by the crowds. So I follow along, waiting patiently for the moment, the moment to fire the shutter. Then, I spot an empty space in the parade, without even thinking, I jumped in, zoomed and pressed, and pulled myself out again. Everything happened so fast, but my instinct told me, that I nailed it, I had the shot.

It may appeared to be just another random portrait, but I find that the Ojiisan's smile and his high spirit had brought the photo to life. Hopefully the photo will put a smile on your face as well!

Ok, time to try to put myself to bed again. Good night!

Food Dairy: Teochew Braised Duck 【食记：潮州卤鸭】

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:06:00 +0000

卤鸭，潮州人过年少不了的年菜。我妈祖籍潮州，过节，祭祖，少不了自家卤的鸭。印象中，也只尝过我妈和她妹的手艺，想找家餐厅点道潮州卤鸭恐怕也没那么容易。

卤，是中餐的烹饪技巧之一。把原料放入卤汁中慢火烧煮成熟，让卤汁渗入，晾凉后便可食用。卤蛋，卤肉较为普遍，不过卤味当中，卤鸭可是极品。就算是北京烤鸭也要让它三分。
卤菜做的好不好，考的就是卤汁调制的功夫。所谓的＂色香味＂俱全，菜未入口前，要看得上眼，要挑得起食欲，所以说＂色＂排在头位也不无道理。那卤味的调色、要拿捏的好。太淡了，激不起食欲，太浓了就有煮老了，煮焦了的嫌疑。当然，最简单的就是加大量的老抽，靠老抽的浓色酱汁给原料上色。不过总觉得，老抽的色泽太过浓烈，会把整道菜给弄的黑漆漆的。所以，家里老妈子的食谱会以熬焦糖开始。

细白砂糖熬煮到呈棕红色，开始闻到焦糖味时熄火，迅速浇入热开水，焦糖液既成。然后加入卤汁不可缺的香料 - 丁香，八角，桂皮，陈皮，草果，南姜。潮式的卤味，南姜是关键，绝不可缺。卤汁中要有南姜，鸭肚子里也要塞入姜块，卤熟后才取掉。最后依口味加入适量的盐，以及老抽。鸭子入锅，慢火卤煮时，要不停地给鸭翻身，除了要让鸭身均匀上色之外，也要避免鸭皮沾上锅子。

卤熟的鸭子，晾凉之后便可斩切上盘。不须任何酱料，味浓香软的卤鸭肉，不油腻，非常的开胃。吃卤鸭肉，不象吃鸡，不挑腿肉，只选胸肉，背肉，尤其是沾骨的部分。南姜的幽香，肉片还未入口，已想要喊加饭！

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
后记：
在一位中国朋友的推荐下一口气把七集的「舌尖上的中国」给看完。就在观后的感动及冲动下，自己也想动笔把自己的舌尖上的故事给纪录下来。这个系列可维持多久没敢保证。就希望这第一篇不会是最后一篇。

要用英语写吃的，除了"delicious", "taste good"之外，就没本事写出好东西，却又不想让这原是英语的部落格变了调，只好硬着头皮也写一小段。不能字译，只能意译，见谅见谅。
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When talking about duck in Chinese cuisine, Peking Duck or Cantonese Roast Duck will be the first one to come to mind. But there is one dish - Teochew style braised duck that worth mentioning. Braised duck is a Teochew delicacy that won't be missed on our dining table during traditional celebration. As much as I love the dish, it won't be easily found in a local restaurant, the memory of my taste bud is deep rooted with my mum's recipe.

The balance between color, flavor and taste is important while braising the whole bird. You can depends solely on dark soy source for the coloring but to get the perfect dark golden brown colors, start from melting caramel coloring is a no-brainer.

After diluting the burned sugar with hot water, add in the following spice - cloves, star anise, cinnamon, orange peel, black cardamom, galangal, salt and soy source. Here, galangal is the secret ingredient in this cuisine. Galangal not only used in the cooking liquid, it is stuffed inside the cavity to add extra flavor to the meat. While braising the whole duck, turn the bird often to color it evenly.

The fully cooked duck is then cool down before cutting into serving pieces. While drumstick is always the part of choice for chicken, I prefer to go for breast meat for this particular dish. The long hours of braising added enough flavor to the duck. The juicy and succulent meat goes best without any extra sauces.

While I try to divert my diet towards vegetarian, cutting down meat consumption in recent years, I can't really resist the temptation once I'm back into my mum's kitchen. As a meat lover, saying no is near impossible. I guess I can only be a vegetarian in my own kitchen after all :P

New born: Color or B&W?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:01:00 +0000

Another new member in the family!

Color

or B&W ?

What do you think?

The Lunar New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:33:00 +0000

"What do you do during new year?" A Japanese colleague asked when I told him that I'm taking a week off back to my hometown.

While I dug deep into my memories, finding words to explain a foreign culture in a short few sentences, I found that I'm short of words. Not that I've forget how we celebrating new year, but new year means a lot different to me ever since I left home 9 years ago.

When I was a child. New year means school holidays, lots of snacks, soft drinks, fireworks, late night movies. Those were childhood/teenage memories.

Now, new year for me is all about reunion. That's always reunion element in it, but when everyone stay under the same roof, the meaning of it never seem significant. The perspective changed when you are aboard. The time to go back to the family, relatives and friends is what I'm looking forward to.

Then, there are other part of new year, the cultural part that we tried to perserve. The Lunar New Year span across 15 days, with various rituals, dos and don'ts. I can't image anyone still follow all of them, even in my family, we chose to simplify thing, picking up parts that make sense to us.

Ancestral veneration or ancestor worship is one of the main rituals during new year's eve. Sacrifices are made to altars as food, in the form of sumptuous feasts for the deceased. Burning offering is performed as well.

The table of offering will be our reunion feast as well. We help along with the preparation, but my mum is the main chef behind all the dishes you saw in the photos. Talking about foods, there are a lot to write about. So, let's save them for another post in the future.

Before counting down to the new year, we will perform another ritual, which is more difficult to explain in plain word and make sense of, but let's make it simple as a ritual to pray for a prosperous year ahead. The offering in this round of prayer is limited to fruits and vege, which we will dress them up using red papers, the auspicious color for Chinese.

Explosion noise of firecrackers marks the arrival of the new year. A rituals once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits. Although firecrackers is banned in Malaysia, people still can get them purchased easily in the market, and new year is a great excuse to break the laws. :p

======

That's basically what we do in the new year eve. Different families have different rituals. Some stayed up all nights, some went to the temple. You can called some of the rituals superstitious, but I think most of us carry out those ritual with one intention, hoping for a great year ahead. So, whoever come across this blog entry, I wish the best for you as well! Happy New Year!

Snowy day...sort of

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:57:00 +0000

We all were expecting another big snow storm to hit Tokyo today, last one before we can say goodbye to the cold winter. But it turned out that the weather forecast has missed this one. It did snow, sort of, mixing with rain, in the end, no white Tokyo today...

Although we all need to admit that how inconvenient and troublesome a snow day will be, somewhere deep down inside my heart there's still a slice of disappointment. Maybe, for us who growth up from the tropical country, snow is like a dream, a miracle.

So before I head to my warm futon, expecting a snowy dream, here's 2 photos from a trip last month from Hida Takayama (飛騨高山). Good Night! Sweet Dream.

I wish to be a child again

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:30:00 +0000

Looking at these photos, I really wish to be a child again. Throwing oneself into the snow and playing a full out of it. Life can be so simple and so much fun.

Looks at the girl, the smile, it was so pure and genuine.

I still remember when I was still a toddler, how much I wanted to be a grown up, to be strong and to be independent. And I have to admit how naive I was, not to see the "dark side" as an adult.

"When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... To be alive is to be vulnerable." - Madeleine L'Engle -

Although the quote sounds sad, but it perfectly sum up the differences in a few sentences.

Life can be tough, road can be bumpy, grown-up can be vulnerable, but don't forget that we used to be children and they always live within us. Let's always keep the little child inside us alive and be happy :)

Tokyo Fire Department New Year Review (東京消防庁出初式)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:26:00 +0000

Seem like visiting Fire Department new year kickoff review, (Dezome-shiki 出初式) is a famous To-do in town during new year. This is an annual ritual dating back over 3 centuries when it first held in 1659. The Wikipedia entry only written in Japanese, but you can read more about it on this tourism page.

I wasn't expecting a big crowd, but apparently this event manage to draws lots of attention, and I hardly found a spot to stand. If you plan to visit it next year, my advice is wake up earlier!

So let's the photos tell the stories.

This is team is called Hyper Rescue Team (ハイパーレスキュー隊), set up since 95's Kobe earthquake.

"Hyper Rescue"...sound strange, but typical Japanese English , I guessed...

Besides parade with fire trucks and choppers, the event features a Hollywood style firefighting drills with explosive, and a ladder stunts performance by firefighters in Edo-era which always impressed me how well the Japanese preserved their culture.

I'm not sure how this stunts on the ladder helps firefighting during Edo-era, but you get the idea that you need lots of people to held the bamboo ladder straight!

Reporters at the sidelines.

The best shot of the day, likes the blue sky, the lens flare and the silhouette of scaling ladders

Beautiful Girl in the Shrine

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 15:14:00 +0000

Visited a Japanese Shinto Shrine on 1st January, and there was a girl that really caught my eyes.
She was on the stage, playing a traditional Shinto religious music called Gagaku (雅楽).

With a camera in hand, I just can't resist pressing the shutter. Can't get her to look into the camera, but still, she looks gorgeous!

Hope you like it too ~~

Happy New Year 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:41:00 +0000

Happy New Year to whoever bump into the blog!

I know, today already the 3rd, but late better than none ~

2013 will be another year of self-searching. I set a 3 years time limit when I decided to stay back at Japan for job after graduated. This will be the final year for me to once again rethink what I want to do with my life, should I keep the same career path, should I go back home for good or should I... ya. A lot to think about.

I usually set a lot of target in new year and regret at the year end realizing how little I had done. So this year I will keep the target simple.

1. Read more books
2. Do more exercise (Jogging & Hiking)
3. Be more socialize
4. Letting Go

And the most important ~BE HAPPY~

Wish all of you have an awesome year ahead!

Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine＠Kamakura (鶴岡八幡宮＠鎌倉)

Even the 3rd of January, there still a long line of people waiting to have their first prayer in the Japanese shrine, a tradition called Hatsumode (初詣)

An autumn Hike: Kitayatsugatake 北八ヶ岳

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:42:00 +0000

It was a beautiful autumn day. I had a lot going in my head, a relationship that ended in surprise, a job that I'm not sure where it's going to lead me to...so I decide to have a day break in the woods.

A 4 hours + bus drive, and a rope way. I was up there, 北八ヶ岳 (Kitayatsugatake). Planning to catch a local train back to Tokyo at the same day, I've only 4 hours for a rush trekking. But I glad I did make the decision to get my foot here. Spent 4 hours alone in the woods really clear my mind ups and helps me throw away the burden that I'd hang upon myself.

The view are really stunning and I hope you enjoy them too :)

28

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:27:00 +0000

"When we were children, we used to think that when we grew up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability, to be alive is to be vulnerable." - Madeleine L'Engle

"Tomorrow, you promise yourself, will be different, yet, tomorrow is too often a repetition of today." - James T. McKay

28...

6 Months Journey.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:31:00 +0000

6 months ago, the engineering team and I were on a mission - to build our first mobile client, an search application for iPhone. We dream big. We don't want to rush something out, or settle only for something good enough. We want to build something matter, something we ourselves do want to use.

Every day was a baby step for us, engineers getting their hand wet with the programming language, guided by a newly hired iOS programmer. Me, myself start to explore the task of a project planner and product/UX designer.

Brain storming, planning, benchmarking industry leaders, stealing ideas, saying yes and no to a long list of features, sketching wireframes and mockups, building prototypes, toss them off to the trash and start from scratch again. The cycle repeats till we had a solid vision of the final product.

Moving things forward, and connecting the dots was the most challenging part of the project. To share the thought and describing the aesthetics goal with visual designers. To explain each screen transition, animation and UI decision with the engineers. To listen to their feedback, to admit that my idea sucks, and also to insist on what needed to be done.

The journey was bumpy, internal security team caught some critical bugs, the first application to the app store was rejected by Apple and many minor episodes. But luckily at the end of the day, we managed to pull the project off and had it on store in time for the holiday season.

The feeling was great, and we really think that we had something solid. And personally one of the best from Rakuten. Although the search engine is target on Japanese market, we did make the app international with English support. You can get the apps on the App Store worldwide. Please check it out here, or visit our website (only in Japanese)

**I was pretty helpless when getting the apps programed except being a cheerleader to the engineers. Oh, ya! I did have a chance to code some CSS and they did shipped in the final products. At least some minor contribution. :)

And sorry readers if you are looking up for a photography post, NEXT post will come with pretty photos. Finger crossed!!

In the Playground

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:04:00 +0000

A random shot while visiting my friends and hanging out with his daughter in the playground.

Not a perfect picture, too much noise using high ISO; the aperture was off, focusing only on the cute girl, but the photo won't be interesting without the father in the frame, without interaction between them.

Screw the technical part. Sometimes we trapped ourselves in a mindset that everything need to be perfect, and forget what is the most important thing we care when we pick up the camera and when we pressed the shutter - The story, the moment.

You can tell the story by just looking at this one particular photo, this one particular frame.

One photos is more than thousands of words.

The story? Just let your imagination go wild :)

Oeshiki お会式

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:09:00 +0000

When I moved to Tokyo last year, I rent a small one room apartment near my office, not knowing that this street is part of the historical path called 東海道品川宿 (Tokaido-Shinagawa-Jyuku). And once in a while I will bump into festival parade on my way back from the office.

お会式 (Oeshiki) was one of them, which I bump into again yesterday. It reminded me about the same event that I've some photographs taken but din't have the chance to share. I don't really have any idea about what kind of festival it is, but the costumes and big lanterns - 万灯 (manto) that they carry along the parade is kind of special.

Check out the link (in Japanese) if you want to find out more, if not just enjoy the photos!

iOS 6 Panorama

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:38:00 +0000

Went for hiking last Sunday and I'd a chance to try out the new panorama features on iOS 6.

Although the camera on a 4S is not that good compared to the new and shinny iPhone 5, the new panorama in the camera app is really stunning!

Follow the arrow and voila, the photo just appear like a magic. No more stitching in Photoshop.

Here is the panorama from yesterday hike. I did a little color adjustment and cropping to cut out uneven corner, 90% is straight out from the iPhone. Kudos! Apple!

坪庭

view larger image on flickr

七ツ池

view larger image on flickr

北横岳南峰

view larger image on flickr

北横岳北峰

view larger image on flickr

Have a nice day!!

Lost...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Getting lost in the nature.

Which path should I follow?

Father & Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 01:46:00 +0000

Spring, father & daughter. What a wonderful moment that should make time stayed forever.

Just a quick post to share the joy.

2012 spring @ Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑)

I know that this blog do not have many readers, but if some of you happened to recognize who is the man photographed in this photo, please let him know that I would happily pass the print to him. Let's see how internet can help :)

Wind Chime Maker

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:43:00 +0000

My previous post about Penang last silversmith, reminded me another man that I want to write about. A wind chime maker.

His tiny little wooden shop sit quietly next to the main road leading to Kamakura-Daibutsu (鎌倉大仏殿高徳院), with only a wind chime hung right at the entrance, tinkling with each summer breeze, chiming welcome message to whoever passing by.

Wind chime is one of the most popular souvenir to get when you travel in the ancient part of Japan like Kyoto, Nara in Kansai area or Kamakura in Kanto area. But what you might get is an industrial product with a little sticker - "Made in China". I"ve nothing against products made in China and it's contribution as the wold's factory, but when you consider something as a piece of art or craft, the artisan & stories behind them is what you should seek into, and it worth way more than the souvenir itself.

Mr. Kikuchi (菊地　眞さん), the wind chime maker, is an artist as well as a scientist. Besides the appearance, the colors, he demands a perfect sound. He recorded the wavelengths for each of the wind chimes showcased in his store. "Each chimes have its own unique note, its identity, depends on the pressure applied during the hardening and tempering process, " he said, "And to achieved the desired tone with certain wavelength, repeated tuning is needed."

The chimes is finished with a layer of silver coating and smoked with bamboo fire.

Try look for this shop on your next trip to Kamakura, Mr Kikuchi is kind and speak good English :).

Address: 〒248-0014鎌倉市由比ガ浜1-10-11

Penang Story: Silversmith

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 15:19:00 +0000

There in this town called Balik Pulau, a town on the northwestern coast of the Penang Island, I encountered this little shophouse where a silversmith make his arts and living. His art is not gorgeous painting that you can hang on the wall or precious jewelries that you kept in a treasure box for generation, but he can turn a piece of silver into tiny miniatures - Chinese wok, teapots, old-style-chinese thermos. Mr Fong, or better Sifu Fong is the man behind them.

He is a treasure in Penang an even well know internationally, being pick up by various publications, newspapers, travel magazine, or blogpost. He even got most of them framed and hang in his shop. A man not particularly humble, but proud of himself and kind enough to show me how his craft my name - the last chinese character of my first name: 宏 (read as hong in Mandarin or hiro in Japanese) out of a tiny piece of silver.

Even a man with those pride, still, I can feel a glimpse of sadness and loneliness in his eyes. At the age of 60s, the delicate nature of the works require much more concentration and energy. When asked if he has any apprentice, he complained about how younger generations failed to pursue craftsmanship that requires years of training while he himself spent more than 10 years polished up the skills.

And fewer and fewer people cares and appreciates the arts. Even locals, often tried to bargains down the price while tourists are willing to travels miles, track him down in this little town and pay full for them.

I can't offer him a word but listened and document the man and his story quietly with my camera.

I glance back once crossed the street, the man sat back inside his counter staring at cars and motors passing emotionlessly at his shopfront. Not long, he pick up the tools, head down and went back to his tiny miniature's world.