juillet 23, 2007
juillet 02, 2007
alpine love
cool...under the snow mountains
juin 19, 2007
make a wish....
the first ray shortly after dawn in an alpine morning
septembre 30, 2006
european air
On a Wednesday, Cheshire, the English Blythe in the family, decided to take the helicopter across the water (attention! she is prompt to seasick), to a day’s excursion to the heritage Largo de Santo Agostiho, Macao, to breathe some European air…
The cobblestone pavement, emblematic of streetscape in the area, unifies the group of warm and sunny architectures that form part of the world heritage centre in this once Portguuese enclave.
Cheshire’s intended destination was however the Theatro Dom Pedro V.
The green stucco façade, portico of the neo-classical styled theatre.
Beside the tattered Theatro, now undergoing restoration work, a side door led her to the club restaurant, Leon Restaurante Tennis Civil.
The fully opened green shutters allow some natural light into the hall and treated her with a view of the narrow streetscape and full-of-details residences in the neighbourhood.
There was something, that of the taste of fallen nobility, as people said, under the crystal lamp of the quite out of dimension Restaurante, with its colourful paved walls, polished wooden floor and scattered tables.
Practising ballet in the colossal hall
Indulgence in a Macanese ovened brioche… .
Simple, unpretentious choice of 3 menu. Cheshire asked immediately for the a la carte and was told there was none... It turned out that the Spaghetti Bolognese was amazingly well done au four. The chocolate mousse was amazing, too...
And aftermath...
septembre 27, 2006
Béatrice d'Este Sforza and her favourite chair
Beatrice in a lazy afternoon
hanging out in the piazza
blythe is but a shadow?
enjoying the gplden warmth
repose at sunset
la dolce vita of Béatrice on her favourite chaise longue
zooming into the overlooking the birds' haven in the lake
septembre 02, 2006
the silk road rainbow - xi'an travel journal finale
The second encounter of Peony in Xi'an was the Tang Dynasty (618 AD to 907 AD) glory, probably heightened at the last night in xi'an, attending the Tang Dynasty Theatre
The celestial woman dancer, clothed in feathers and rosy clouds dancing in the sky, fanned off her rainbow costume ( 霓裳羽衣) before losing in view. Bringing the awakened Tang Emperor back from dream, but to recollections... (Rainbow Costume Dance, Tang Dynasty Theatre, Xi'an)
The stories of the Tang Emperor and his concubine Yang Gui-fei in landmarks and places everywhere...
The Huaqing Hot Springs, the spa palace of the Concubine to cool off in summer, with handful of lychees brought by horsemen from South China.
Peony's retreat in the rain to a Pavillon of the Concubine's bath. Lishan greenery in the backdrop
THe Hot Spring is located at the foot of the mountain, Lishan, of lovely scenery and endowed with pomegranates. (rehearsal of the Tang Emperor and concubine's retreat at foot of Lishan, Tang Dynasty Theatre)
Unfortunately when we visited Lishan, it was raining hard and we only felt like in the clouds
Glory revisited - Peony lamenting at the relic site of the Da Ming Palace, the Tang court, the largsest in scale, highest in elevation and most magnificient in architecture, which agrees with the prosperity of the era.
It was said that the Hanyuan Hall of the Palace (relic site behind Peony), viewed from the foot of the tableland where it was built, towered majestically in the sky as if it were a fairy palace in the heaven.
Finale of the journey to the city of Xi'an, the Silk Road gem...
During Tang Dynasty, Chang'an (now xi'an) had been the treasured destination of traders across the Eurasian continents. Foreign merchants exchanged goods in Chang'an markets, loaded new goods on camels' backs, went out of the Kaiyuan Gate and took the Silk Road back to their homelands.
septembre 01, 2006
spices from the Silk Road traders- xi'an travel journal part 7
Beside the Mirror Rose petals custard mentioned in part 1, a fresh fruit platter was Peony's daily treat... to accompany her discovery of so many culinary delights in xi'an
The dumpling connoisseur (the century old Dafacheng, Drum tower square)- some of the flavours, shapes and colours of the impressive dumpling feast we took, with an elegant name and story attached to each variety.
(Below Four Happiness vegetable dumplings, Peony's beloved dimsum in the China Club Hong Kong menu; further below Goldfish Couple)
The zen of the recipes prepared according to the 24 solar terms of the year. This is a souped dumpling dish. The number of tiny dumplings one incidentally taken in a spoonful would tell the aupice of the day...
This kind of boiling "Homestyled soups" outside the restaurant is popular in Southern China. Quite healthy for Xi'aners who eat far too spicy (a restaurant in the Goose Pagada district)
The fabulous Jia Brothers' Guantang Baozi (dumpling stuffed with piping hot soup) Restaurant, run by a team of Hui youth, carrying the hot Baozi up to the 3-storey jammed clients, shouting in team spirit, each round when announcing the type of flavour of the round, applauded by some hundred responses from the customers...
A Hui young chap eagerly following up Peony's order (while there is no taking order system in the resto) of her vegetairan baozi...
Qishan Shaozi Mian, a pliable and thin noodle with sour soup and savory minced meat (Left below and further below, with and without chili) - Peony preferred the tomato and egg Shaozi Noodle (Below right)
Happy kitchen of some Hui vending barbecued skews and "Qian town translucent cold noodles"
Kebabs wtih grilled pork
The Pastry Helmet - a dearest culinary souvenir, our guide to Qian LIng Mausoleum, a young chap from the satellite city Xianyang, insisted to drive to buy us their local pastry 'Helmet' in Qianyuan, Xianyang.
Dafacheng has been Peony preferred canteen at breakfast. No scrambled egg nor croissant nor milk. Buns and dumplings and millet congee were a change of taste
Another century old restaurant, the Old Suen Family, is fine dining of Xi'an food
Peculiar district of pubs, cafes and tea houses, Fan Lane off South Main Street, viewed under my umbrella
août 31, 2006
the memory of antiquities - xi'an travel journal part 6
Peony inside the Forest of Stone Steles Museum Xi'an,
housed in former Confucius Temple
Inspecting an inscribed stele
stylish stone horse, ancient jaguar
Amidst a lost in use wind musical instrument's replicas
The Bei Yuan Men (ancient district of colleges) colours and odours of the arts and literature of the seemingly familiar but exotic Culture (Peony is a Hong Konger...)
(Beiyuanmun Ancient Culture Street and the Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Xi'an)
août 30, 2006
winter chimera - xi'an travel journal part 5
Peony was lured to trail round Xi'an, as she was attracted by the fading colours prevailing in the city, that of the 2 sized Goose Pagodas, all the more handsome being covered by patches of snow. So she brought along this furry cape qipao, even in midst of summer...
Personal carriage in Tang Dynasty style
alighting before the Big Goose Pagoda Temple
a melange of the 2 pagodas in myriad impressions, frequented by furry Peony in fleeting emotions
(Tang Dynasty Lotus Park, Xi'an Big and Small Goose Pagodas)
août 29, 2006
Peasant Pleasant - xi'an travel journal part 4
The Fall of my Peony at Xi'an City Wall
A stroll up the tower of the city wall, ideally covering once the 4 cardinal points, looking down to the city, would tell the life and story of the xi'an residents in the 4 districts. Xi'aners in the North Gate would greet each other by asking: "Just fought?"; the Westerners:" Eaten?"; the Easterners:" Got caught?"; and at the South Gate; "Got into the university?" (information from China National Geographic Shaanxi special issue)
the well preserved moated South Gate against the demolished North Gate now accommodating the railway station
xi'an city wall details.
Peasant pleasant.
A farmer's painting in an once barrack guardroom stood out Peony's indigo blue tie-dyed cheongsam in delightful dragonflies motif - Against the Shaanxi sexy undergarment, Todou
août 28, 2006
dawn and dusk - xi'an travel journal part 3
Peony imagined herself walking in the old city of Perpetual Peace (Chang'an) .. The drum sounded dusk... and the bell sounded dawn. Standing on either the Drum or Bell Tower, Peony was amazed to catch a glimpse readily, whether in view or in reflection, of the other.
STRIKING DUSK...(The Drum Tower, Xi'an)
24 drums, each sounded at the corresponding solar term. Peony had affinity that day with the immiment autumnal equinox
an ancient drum inside Drum Tower served Peony pillow for a nap
viewing the Bell Tower in distance, in the rain
STRIKING DAWN... (the Bell Tower, Xi'an)
Peony against the beautiful facade of Bell Tower's first storey
Drum Tower reflected on a Bell Tower top storey window pane
Colossal bell, then striked 21 times to tell dawn, now whenever a visitor sounded in the hope of echoing back some luck
In the night
Peony, beside my handmade blue cheongsam, dorned on the Dollsville "Pretty in Pink" babydoll samfoo, worn as a dress with azone mary-jane
août 27, 2006
Peony Qin - xi'an travel journal part 2
My Goldie, Peony got the surname of the First Emperor of China, Qin Dynasty (221 B.C. - 206 B.C.) ... She rediscovered its etymology at the Shuyuanmen Ancient Culture Street
The (imaginary?) palace, never erected and inhabited by the Emperor Qin (The Epang Palace 阿房宮)
the Qin encounter
the petite Peony shunned by Emperor Qin!
the relic
Escorted by the terracotta warriors replicas in a street of xi'an
Bear witness to the terracotta army (pit no 1, Museum of Qin Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses)
Peony was wearing (1)nini skirted cheongsam made from blue tie-dyed fabric from Yunnan in dragonfly motif, decorated with lace lined with turquoise, designed and handmade by me!!! (2) the 'red bean girl' babydoll outfit by blythehautecouture and (3) dollville's summer samfoo; white platform maryjane from azone
août 26, 2006
sweetness in a mirror - xi'an travel journal part 1
Curiosity becomes my Goldie, Peony. She shyly takes a peek of the Tang dynasty's Great Mosque located at the Hui quarter (a muslim community in Xi'an)
Just round the corner of the Drum Tower, a zigzagging lane of souvenir stalls and shops leads us to this Mosque
Dressed in her lounging lovely ensemble and wearing her Dollsville clogs in bamboo motif
appreciating the architecture of the Phoenix Pavillon and the hovering home heading swallows
A chinese allegory of timelessness, like the fleeting life of a blooming flower - Peony behind a crystal blind of a room at No. 144 Bei Yuan Men, in her cherry blossom sugarmag one piece
The nightly return to the Hui hawkers at the Bei Yuan Men street market to buy her favourite dessert, the 'Mirror rose custard' (玫瑰鏡花糕) remains her chimera of this kind of 'lounging lovely' life of a vagabonde during her 8-day stay in Xi'an...
We are glad to have chosen our hotel at the bustling and charming Drum and Bell Tower district.
mai 04, 2006
much ado about nothing
Came across a current tv drama series set in the troglodyte dwellings of barren mountaineous Northern China, Chamomile was much intrigued when visiting these cave dwellings in Northern Shaanxi, by their earthen colour and hardiness in life, as if achieving zen with their yellow earth
brick typed cave dwellings ("Yaodong") in an estate of some past wealthy clans, as those featured in the drama (though the lousy casts in the drama have done them injustice to their beauty)
Chamomile experienced this kind of dwelling in a cave hotel... all the blythe vanity are but much ado about nothing
falling into the exotic, romantic night
avril 25, 2006
sakura kaleidoscope
the childhood emmanuelle does hanami... in sendai, japan
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To learn about Japanese cherry trees varieties - it delights the eyes... and the mind!
petite kimono from sugarmag
avril 24, 2006
stress...
seagulls and onsen cleansed away the 'dusts' of everyday life
petite caprice at kinugawa hot spring, sendai
petite purely mauve outfit from sugarmag
avril 21, 2006
the wall
avril 20, 2006
archeologist
chamomile the archeologist...
terrain of the lost empire of west xia, ningxia, backdrop holan mountain
avril 19, 2006
troubled waters
avril 18, 2006
stone forest
avril 07, 2006
desert
avril 06, 2006
tournesol
sunflowers through the grey eyes... le 6 avril
Chamomile was wearing an outdoor outfit, one of my old collection sugarmag
on a steep slope, Loess Plateau, northern Shaanxi
avril 01, 2006
van gogh
chamomile in van gogh style...and mood, only thanks to a sunny moment...
Upon looking at van gogh's sunflowers, one begins to notice aspects that seem to flow from one piece to another. The colors are vibrant and express emotions typically associated with the life of sunflowers: bright yellows of the full bloom to arid browns of wilting and death; all of the stages woven through these polar opposites are presented. Perhaps this very technique is what draws one into the painting; the fulfillment of seeing all angels of the spectrum of life and in turn reaching a deeper understanding of how all living things are tied together.
(vangoghgallery.com)
The majority of Van Gogh's sunflowers in vases were created in Arles, France during 1888-1889.
chamomile was wearing a grassy green chick motif shirt and pastel green hat (my old collection, sugarmag)
février 01, 2006
spring charm
the third lunar new year day was not a good time for getting together and by tradition one should not be talkative and be mindful of one's words...
stanza enjoying the charm of spring
on stanza, spring cotton padded coat and jeans (sugarmag), brown boots (obitsu)
janvier 31, 2006
second day of lunar new year
on the second day of the lunar new year, stanza made an excursion to guangzhou, south of china, the Shangxiajiu-Dishipu pedestrian area was crowded with tourists and guangzhou residents. the whole area are full of old brand names of shops and restaurants. Enjoying a cup of tea with some good food is part of guangzhou life which is quite the mentality of hong kong people in their leisure...
residents of gz heading the street with colourful wind propellers held high up in the air, hoping to go with the flow of the wind of fortune
almost a cliché of images of contempory china, mcDonald against old brand named guangzhou teahouses and restaurants...
An old teahouse Taotao Ju (at 20#, Dishipu Jie) greeting kung hei fat choy
The teahouse,established in 1880,is one of the teahouses with the most typical Cantonese features.The three Chinese characters ""(Tao Tao Ju,roughly "house of happines s")are in kang Youwei's handwriting :a famous scholar from Guangzhou who attempted to bring about reforms during the late Qing Dynasty
an old cinema in beautiful architecture
renowned Guangzhou Restaurant (2#, South Wenchang Lu) is considered to be the best in town for Cantonese cuisine (all fully booked!!)
the streets composed of blocks of shophouses in old architecture and stain glass windows
Lianxiang Lou (at 67#, Dishipu Jie), the hongkong old restaurant of the same name in western central is probably a branch of this gz old restaurant
the lobby selling new year coconut rice puddings and other pastries
stanza among the egg rolls
folk street hawking of preserved olives 雞公欖
stanza jerked at the loud trumpet
The second new year day is much associated with eating, another family reunion feast to celebrate the commencement of the year (literally 'opening' the curtain of the year)...
on stanza, pink japanese patterned cotton padded coat and jeans (sugarmag)
janvier 30, 2006
manchu princess
yesterday was the lunar new year day. still a daunting task to take a family portrait. léopoldine represents the family to say kung hei fat choy
wishing all peace and happiness
flashing charm
léopoldine, in allure of a manchurian princess. manchu gown in a red silk fabric in phoenix motif embroidery, lined with brown silk fabric in dragon and coloured clouds motif (this was a tailored work commissioned to the palace of blythe last year) and phoenix motif and butterfly hair ornaments in ch'ng dynasty style (bought in street stalls in wanchai toys street).
She was resting on a pearwood ching dynasty imperial day bed.
I put on a wallpaper of the famous folk art new year pictures, wood carved printed new year pictures from yangjia bu, weifang, shandong, also from northwestern china; this page featuring a little girl flying a kite, with auspicious words of "bliss of happiness" on one side vase and "peace" on the other side (a gift, authentic handprinted on suen paper calendar, from zetter, the picture framer at hollywood road)
janvier 22, 2006
silk road colours
chamomile goes tibetian... memoires of silk road colours
alex's photography (1st 2 pix of this view against mine in the 3rd) has a more sombre lighting and naturally coloured approach than mine
most of these places we frequented last autumn are now snowy; some places got blizzard
décembre 29, 2005
boundless and bare
:::::camomile:::::
but at my back I always hear
time's winged chariot hurrying near;
and yonder all before us lie
deserts of vast eternity....
:voyage dans la route de la soie 2005 - the tomb of the lost kingdom of west xia, ningxia:
on chamomile, punk style checker outfit from sugarmag, knit cap from galaxy, extravaganza
décembre 14, 2005
no road
emmanuelle atarts writing her voeux de noël... she suddenly recalls this larkin's verse
a little longer, and time will be the stronger...
...portrait fictif d'emmanuelle et de la cathédrale de saigon
décembre 13, 2005
meditation
chamomile escaped from the material blythe world, for a spiritual retreat… she discovered some exotic places along the silk road (china)…
into the blue, blue (!) romantic chasm of the yellow river (ten thousand buddha caves, near lanzhou, gansu)
a spiritual sanctuary, some hidden grottoes, alienated by the waters in certain periods of the year
light and darkness
meditation with buddha
fleeing the tower - inspired by the tarot's Tower card (chengtian pagoda, yinchuan, ningxia)
...voyage dans la route de la soie septembre 2005
chamomile wore (1) stunning red, peony and phoenix patterned chinese top (juice), jeans & vegetable patterned camisole top (sugarmag), baskets azone (2) punk style tartan set (sugarmag); knit cap (galaxy, extravaganza)