Twenty six and a bit miles of pavement pounding! Hoards of entrants of all sizes, sex and shapes. What an exhausting event! We were totally worn out by the end of the day even though we only walked 11 kilometers. What a sensible decision not to do the marathon we would have still been crawling to the finish at midnight! Still it's the thought that counts - or so we're told ...
The exhibition of Kuniyoshi prints at the RAA was exceptional. The detail he and his associates achieved is astounding. Some of the editions sold in the thousands which is even more impressive if you consider this was before 1860.
A show of the Society of Women Artists at the Mall Galleries was quite remarkable in it's size and content with some really fine pieces.
St Martin's in the Fields has been completely restored so that the building looks fantastic both inside and outside.
Walking the streets and trying to avoid the tens of thousands of marathon spectators showed us some splendid modern and old buildings - including the zucchini, St Paul's, Lloyds and Leadenham Hall Markets.
Thanks to the tube we eventually got back to the hotel, exhausted but still able to climb the stairs.
It's better to travel than arrive ... then again ...
Apr 26, 2009
Apr 25, 2009
Oysters Save Your Feet from Fraying
If you can work this out you are definitely a Times crossword fan. Moving along ...
A visited to Westminster Cathedral - no, not the Abbey - proved to be a bit disappointing. The building is superb but the interior is not really that interesting. Buildings around the cathedral reflect the banded design so that the immediate area is impressive.
The walk from the cathedral to Buck House takes you past some remarkable 'modern' buildings around Victoria Street. There were masses of tourists waiting for the Changing of The Guard - as always. It was very pleasant walking though St Jame's Park to Parliament Square which was complete with a political rally, massed tourists and half the Met on overtime.
Cleaning of the High Court has made the building look fantastic which has really added to the overall impressiveness of the square. We walked the Dean's Square and into the cloister which looked a bit tired and worn but well worth a visit. The Abbey was closed to the public - there was an Anzac Day Service.
On to the New Tate.
Some of the exhibitions seemed dull both in terms of content and lighting levels. God preserve us from curators! It does make you think that post-modern and contemporary artists have little to say other than, "it's big so it must be good". Maybe we were just knackered and lacked the sensitivity to interpret the exhibitions in an intellectually appropriate way. Sorry folks, some were simply boring examples of self indulgence and the inability of the Art Establishment to say so.
The metro saved our sanity when we eventually gave up, took our ball and went 'home'.
A visited to Westminster Cathedral - no, not the Abbey - proved to be a bit disappointing. The building is superb but the interior is not really that interesting. Buildings around the cathedral reflect the banded design so that the immediate area is impressive.
The walk from the cathedral to Buck House takes you past some remarkable 'modern' buildings around Victoria Street. There were masses of tourists waiting for the Changing of The Guard - as always. It was very pleasant walking though St Jame's Park to Parliament Square which was complete with a political rally, massed tourists and half the Met on overtime.
Cleaning of the High Court has made the building look fantastic which has really added to the overall impressiveness of the square. We walked the Dean's Square and into the cloister which looked a bit tired and worn but well worth a visit. The Abbey was closed to the public - there was an Anzac Day Service.
On to the New Tate.
Some of the exhibitions seemed dull both in terms of content and lighting levels. God preserve us from curators! It does make you think that post-modern and contemporary artists have little to say other than, "it's big so it must be good". Maybe we were just knackered and lacked the sensitivity to interpret the exhibitions in an intellectually appropriate way. Sorry folks, some were simply boring examples of self indulgence and the inability of the Art Establishment to say so.
The metro saved our sanity when we eventually gave up, took our ball and went 'home'.
Apr 24, 2009
London - Sorry but I'm Exhausted
After an great flight - JAL - we arrived at Heathrow and passed through with minimum of effort. The train to Paddington is worth every penny - don't every bother with the tube (metro). The hotel is basic, clean and fine - in Bayswater.
We "collapsed" at 8pm local time!
That was Thursday.
Today we spent the morning doing some "essential" business - all to the good. after lunch it was time to visit some of our favorite exhibits at the British Museum. You'll either understand why or think we're mad - your problem and I'll not even try to explain why.
Back to the hotel via the supermarket and collapse for another "lime zone adjustment".
We "collapsed" at 8pm local time!
That was Thursday.
Today we spent the morning doing some "essential" business - all to the good. after lunch it was time to visit some of our favorite exhibits at the British Museum. You'll either understand why or think we're mad - your problem and I'll not even try to explain why.
Back to the hotel via the supermarket and collapse for another "lime zone adjustment".
Apr 22, 2009
Fabric Art, Gardens and Ikebukuro Plus Shinjuku Madness
If you mix up the Tokyo Metro with the JR network it get's very confusing! We did and got "lost" in the labyrinth. Fortunately two delightful JR 'girls' sorted things out and in a circus of hand and arm gestures plus a well worn network map we eventually got the idea.
Sue spotted a fabric art exhibition and we had a great time talking to one of the makers - she had impeccable English. This was complete with green tea and sweet cakes. Hey, it's called culture. You know that funny old time stuff that the "New Nations" find such a chore.
A visit to Rikugien Gardens showed how loads of cash and the intention of leaving something worth preserving for the plebs has great social worth. The cherry blossoms have finished but the azaleas are beginning to bloom .
Luch time saw us heading to Ikebukuro and the Sun City complex. It took some time to decide what to eat when we walked the third floor - all restaurants. Didn't bother with the shops - too many and, well a shop is a shop even if it is the biggest department store in Tokyo.
On to Shinjuku where I hope to visit an art store which extended over 5 floors. Er, no. Not possible because I lost the directions!
Home again via the supermarket. Time to pack for tomorrow it's off to the UK.
Sue spotted a fabric art exhibition and we had a great time talking to one of the makers - she had impeccable English. This was complete with green tea and sweet cakes. Hey, it's called culture. You know that funny old time stuff that the "New Nations" find such a chore.
A visit to Rikugien Gardens showed how loads of cash and the intention of leaving something worth preserving for the plebs has great social worth. The cherry blossoms have finished but the azaleas are beginning to bloom .
Luch time saw us heading to Ikebukuro and the Sun City complex. It took some time to decide what to eat when we walked the third floor - all restaurants. Didn't bother with the shops - too many and, well a shop is a shop even if it is the biggest department store in Tokyo.
On to Shinjuku where I hope to visit an art store which extended over 5 floors. Er, no. Not possible because I lost the directions!
Home again via the supermarket. Time to pack for tomorrow it's off to the UK.
Apr 21, 2009
Shinagawa - Ancient and Ultra Modern
Another expedition temple hunting sort of went backwards. Emerging from the Shinagawa station - 190 yen on the Yamanote line - we were confonted by the most mind blowing modern complex of sky scrapers you could hope to see. Complete with a sort of park-cum-pedestrian plaza between the glass and steel canyons.
But, we were hard on the trail for some temples - that's when our feet started to complain. We sort of got lost until a very kind postman came to the rescue by pointing out that we were at least 1 km away from where we thought we were. I have no idea how far we walked through Minami Shinagawa districts. Yes, we did see the old Edo era post town styled streets but the temples we found were sad looking.
The Ebarajinja Shrine was worth the effort of climbing the two flights of steps.
The Shinagawa station eventually loomed on the horizon and we returned to it's resurant fill bosom. Ah, the welcome taste of noodles, soup and whatever-it-was!
Suitably refreshed we returned to the Yamanote line payed our 190 yen and made for home.
But, we were hard on the trail for some temples - that's when our feet started to complain. We sort of got lost until a very kind postman came to the rescue by pointing out that we were at least 1 km away from where we thought we were. I have no idea how far we walked through Minami Shinagawa districts. Yes, we did see the old Edo era post town styled streets but the temples we found were sad looking.
The Ebarajinja Shrine was worth the effort of climbing the two flights of steps.
The Shinagawa station eventually loomed on the horizon and we returned to it's resurant fill bosom. Ah, the welcome taste of noodles, soup and whatever-it-was!
Suitably refreshed we returned to the Yamanote line payed our 190 yen and made for home.
There's Temples in Them There Suburbs
Using satellite technology and my bloodhound nose - actually reading the excellent free tourist association map - we spent an exhausting, walking-wise, afternoon trawling the Yanaka districts and found (not that they were lost) 16 temples. Narrow streets and alleys with typical homes along the way made such a change from the sky-towers we saw of yesterday.
The morning was no less tiring wandering the Yushima district looking for gardens and shrines. Found one and gave up on two.
The afternoon was followed by a 47th floor view of the city from Dentsu building in the Shimbashi district.
Don't you love a well run public transport system - one hour you're in one part of the city and next, you're in another. I wonder if the idea will ever catch on in Sydney? Nah, it takes both the will to do it and the cultural ability. Oops! Is that a sedition? Moving along (quietly) ....
The day ended with, yes you guessed it, a supermarket raid!
The morning was no less tiring wandering the Yushima district looking for gardens and shrines. Found one and gave up on two.
The afternoon was followed by a 47th floor view of the city from Dentsu building in the Shimbashi district.Don't you love a well run public transport system - one hour you're in one part of the city and next, you're in another. I wonder if the idea will ever catch on in Sydney? Nah, it takes both the will to do it and the cultural ability. Oops! Is that a sedition? Moving along (quietly) ....
The day ended with, yes you guessed it, a supermarket raid!
Apr 19, 2009
History of Video Art versus Sky Crystals
A visit to the National Museum of Modern Art gave us an exceptional exhibition of video art from the late 60s to today. The show was, to be fair, very worth the time. Some of the stuff was as you may expect just plain rubbish. Several were not only clever but entertaining. One even reminded me of a grainy abstract series of black and white prints. Some angst and pointless repetion as you would expect. Maybe more interesting than the stuff you see today; pioneer pieces trying to make sense of a new medium.
Compared to the magnificent building around Shimbashi area the video art seems to be sort of self endulgent, self concious and small minded crap. These mindblowing examples of modern architectural art seemd to me like huge crystals growing into the vast, empty sky. The repeated patterns and reflections are abstract representations of the future. 
Back to ground zero ... Supermarket calling earthling ... time to feed the live specimens.
Compared to the magnificent building around Shimbashi area the video art seems to be sort of self endulgent, self concious and small minded crap. These mindblowing examples of modern architectural art seemd to me like huge crystals growing into the vast, empty sky. The repeated patterns and reflections are abstract representations of the future. 
Back to ground zero ... Supermarket calling earthling ... time to feed the live specimens.
Apr 18, 2009
Prints, Sculptue and Food
What a first day of play! Five hours wandering around Uneno Park and the Tokyo Met followed by a leisurely stroll in Asaksa - just a billion people, so not too crowded.Another visit to the supermarket and we're full to bursting.
Looked at two shows at the Tokyo Met:
The 77th Japan Print Assoc showed a few (836 plus!) prints some of which were huge. Most pieces were just amazing, some mind blowing in detail and visual impact.
The 3rd Japan Sculptor's (?) exhibition. This is excellent and ranged over all materials and size. This is the second time I've seen this show and I really enjoyed the work again - no welded cutlery or high school manual arts projects here!
The cherry blossoms seem to have all but gone but the azaleas are just about to burst forth.
Looked at two shows at the Tokyo Met:
The 77th Japan Print Assoc showed a few (836 plus!) prints some of which were huge. Most pieces were just amazing, some mind blowing in detail and visual impact.
The 3rd Japan Sculptor's (?) exhibition. This is excellent and ranged over all materials and size. This is the second time I've seen this show and I really enjoyed the work again - no welded cutlery or high school manual arts projects here!
The cherry blossoms seem to have all but gone but the azaleas are just about to burst forth.
Asaksa and The Supermarket
After a 4.300AM start in Sydney, 9 hour flight, 1 hour train trip and a short walk we're safely settled in the Oak on Asaksa Dory. The next most important thing to do was a pilgrimage to the supermarket - fruit and yummy who-knows-what-it-is are an absolute necessity. Then - what else - dinner and a welcome collape into dream land.Oh yes - go and see the Benjamin Button film it's well worth it.
Apr 16, 2009
Sydney Airport. Is this a hick City or What?
All checked in and it's time for breakfast - er, not really 'cos we're rebuilding the airport! Just be grateful that you can get a cup of coffe at - wash your mouth out - Gloria Jean's! Not to worry, we walked to the arrivals and found the cafe down there was open. Beakfasted and customed we're in departures drinking yet more tea. Duty free? You have to be joking.
Nice to have a quiet sit down waiting to have a sit down for 10 hours - ain't it all a bit odd and it's done for pleasure ...
Nice to have a quiet sit down waiting to have a sit down for 10 hours - ain't it all a bit odd and it's done for pleasure ...
Apr 15, 2009
And They're Off!
Yes folks were're on our way! The netbook works just fine and I have no idea what the wifi link I'm using comes from ... maybe it's magic!
Apr 14, 2009
Departure Eve
Well it's that time. All that's going to be packed is packed. There are a few jobs to do around the old bark hut before leaving tomorrow and then it's up and away! Not quite. 
First there's a 5 hour bus trip to Sydney - good for a nap or two and it beats driving and paying a pirates ransom for parking. Are we excited? Difficult to say - sort of "yes" but then again ... which is always the feeling just before you leave your happy home.
First there's a 5 hour bus trip to Sydney - good for a nap or two and it beats driving and paying a pirates ransom for parking. Are we excited? Difficult to say - sort of "yes" but then again ... which is always the feeling just before you leave your happy home.
Apr 9, 2009
Nearly - Just a few more bits of paper to exchange
Not counting chickens - honest - but we've signed the papers and next comes parting with the folding stuff. OMG it looks as if it's going to happen! Excited? Me? Nah, it's all a sham ...
Apr 6, 2009
Safely Locked Up At Last!
It seems we have found the ideal place to stay in Sheffield - behind locked gates! The natives will be safe from our forays at night! Nothings settled yet so keep fingers and other extremities firmly crossed ...
Apr 3, 2009
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