KazumiKrafts

Panfilov Park on Sunday

On sunday, many people go to Panfilov Park, central Almaty. Zenkov Cathedral is in the park. It was my first time to go to the Russian Orthodox Church, so I was surprised that there were so many shiny icons inside the church.

I saw a lot of couples who hold wedding party in the park. It was a fine day, and they seemed very happy.

At some asian countries outside of Japan, I often saw taking wedding photos outside. In S.Korea, Taiwan, HongKong, Shanghai, I found some wedding couples like them. There is no custom of taking wedding photos outside like the park in Japan. I like it.  It would be nice if the custom spreads across Japan.

This is in the instruments museum. The museum is also in the park. The interior is islamic style. I heard 60 percent of Kazakhstan people are Muslim from an interpriter. (and rest of the people are mainly Christian)

カザフスタン、アルマティ旅行記続きます。日曜日のパンフィロフ公園は人でいっぱいでした。ロシア正教のゼンコフ教会は、金貼りのイコンが内部一面にかけられており、その豪華さにくらっときました。公園内で結婚パーティを開く何組ものカップル、楽しそうです。公園で結婚写真を撮る姿は、日本以外のアジアの国では良く見かけますね。日本でも流行らないかな。（下の写真）さすがコスモポリタン、教会とイスラム建築が並んでいます。楽器博物館にて。

Dombra music of Kazakhstan

She was playing the Dombra, traditional Kazakh musical instrument, at a museum in Almaty. She also played some other instruments including the Jew's Harp. The audience was only two of us!!
The model of new bunner is her.

カザフスタン、アルマティの楽器博物館にて伝統楽器「ドンブラ」の演奏。彼女は他にも5種類くらいの伝統楽器の演奏を聞かせてくれました。なんと観客は私たち２名のみ！贅沢なコンサートでした。このブログの新しいバナーの絵は彼女がモデルです！

just came back from Almaty, Kazakhstan

I just came back from Almaty, Kazakhstan. My hasband has worked there for a month and I went to see him and his works. Almaty is located in the south-eastern part of Kazakhstan and is very close to a branch of the Ten Shan mountain range. You can see the mountain range everywhere at Almaty.

There are a lot of high buildings than I expected. And also many complex housings built during the Soviet era are in Almaty.

At the central bazaar. The bazaar is huge, and you can get everything here.

From a cafeteria at the bazaar.  We ordered borschts, breads, and two cups of tea. They were tasty and inexpensive. I found tea is called chai in Russian language, same as in India.

The fruits were very sweet in Almaty. I ate apples everyday. I wish I could eat them here in Tokyo!!

カザフスタンのアルマティに行ってきました。入国のための手続きが複雑でどうなることかと思いましたが、着いてみると人々は非常に穏やかで、街のどこからでも山が見え、果物と野菜が非常に美味しく、いいところでした。"OK"が理解されないほど英語が通じず驚き、世界の広さを感じました。とりあえず覚えたロシア語の挨拶となんとなく成田空港で買ったロシア語会話帳がかなり役立ちました！
今回はかなりギリギリで渡航が決まり、無理をいっておやすみをいただきました。職場のみなさまありがとうございます！！ここでお礼を。

Photos of Kamakura

Zuisenji temple, Kamakura




I completely forgot to develop this film. About a year ago I stayed at Kamakura for two days with my SLR camera within a reversal film. My aunt likes taking a picture very much and she told me about the reversal films. The photos have beautiful colors with the films.

about Kamakura....
Kamakura is a city located 50 km south-south-west of Tokyo. It is considered a former capital of Japan during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Now it is a populer tourist destination.

昨年夏に海に行ったときのフィルムかと思い、現像に出してみると、海ではなく昨年２月の鎌倉が写っていました。一眼レフ＋リバーサルフィルムですが、フイルムスキャナーが壊れてしまい、フィルムを電球に透かしてデジカメで撮るといった高度な技（？）を使っています。 年齢を重ねると鎌倉など古い都市の良さをじわじわ感じますね〜。

A Happy New Year 2009!!

We wish you a Happy New Year!!
My family and I stayed traditional Japanese hotel at Atami onsen, hot spling, in the new year. We walked into Kiunkaku Villa on the way to the hotel. This photo was taken in the villa. The villa was used as a traditional hotel, and was loved by men of literature such as Junichiro Tanizaki and Osamu Dazai.


It is said the building was built in 1919 and reconstructed here. This is a historical and cultural heritage.

あけましておめでとうございます！お正月に熱海に行ってきました。谷崎潤一郎や太宰治が愛した旅館「起雲閣」、素晴らしかったです。

sunrise (back to Tokyo)

We could see the sunrise three hours after we boarded the plane at midnight because of the international time differences.

Hanoi again

We went back to Hanoi from Halong city on the tour bus. Hanoi Old Quarter is vibrant. Autumn is coming here. It is a bit cool at night.


This is the gate of the "café Pho Co". If you go through it and go up stairs......


The café has a fabulous view of the Hoan Kiem Lake!


Hanoi Old Quarter is wholesale district. There were some craft shops in old quarter. The shop sells colorful yarn.


I don't know what they are for, but they're interesting.


We took some coffee at the "Hilands Coffee" near Hoan Kiem Lake. I love the view from there.

Ha Long Bay cruise

We planned on going into the serene place, Ha Long Bay, and is one of UNESCO's world heritage sites. We ride on a traditional Chinese ship.

We changed to another little ship and saw amazing natural caves.

These're shrimp and crab ponds. I heard a friend of mine came here and took good shrimps some years ago. But the shrimp dishes cost additional money in this time...

Ha Long City

While planning the Vietnam trip one of the things I wanted to take was the Halong bay cruise. Three years ago when we went to Vietnam we tried to take the tour but we didn't get there on time.
We got on a local bus this time. It took us four hours to get to Halong city from Hanoi.

It has easygoing atmosphere.

What's more Vietnam than Pho?

And the spring rolls!! Those're very good!!

Vietnam Trip

We landed in Hanoi Noi Bai Airport a little before midnight and got on a airport minibus to central Hanoi. I made a reservation a room near Hanoi Church. The hotel was convinient and had a view, but it was a bit noisy.

Temple of Literature has a history of more than 1000 years. We take a walk around the garden in the temple and enjoyed seeing some lotus flowers floating the pond.

I love the chicken rice at the restaurant in old quarter. Sticky rice suits the chicken. I recomended it to some Japanese travelers at Hanoi! The restrant is full of local people and no travelers because it  has no sign.

a basket seller (!!)