Tag Archives: Photography

観光, Heda, Japan, Japanese Culture, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Mount Fuji Photographs from Heda in Izu Peninsula (Autumn/Fall)

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With fall/Autumn coming soon we shall be able to admire Mount Fuji from a long distance again as the skies will gradually clear up.
There are many spots where you can enjoy great views of the most famous mountain in Japan, but I have a special weakness for one very precise spot!

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Heda, now merged with Numazu City, is a harbor tucked away inside an almost closed cove, the epitome of what Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture has best to offer to any tourist, be he/she Japanese or from more distant shores!
-A resort off the beaten tracks.
-A spa renowned for its thermal hot springs.
-A major fishing harbor part of Numazu City, one of the main providers of seafood to Tokyo.
-Arguably one of the best spots to admire Mount Fuji in the whole of Japan!
-A gastronomic venture with its deep-sea fish and marine life including the largest crab in the world, Takaashigani/高足蟹/Japanese Spider Crab!
-History: It was visited in 1854 by the Russian frigate Diana of the Imperial Russian Navy, the flagship of the Russian explorer Yevfimy Putyatin when it was damaged in a tsunami, following the powerful Ansei-Tōkai earthquake of 23 December 1854. The Diana sank while sailing from Shimoda to Heda for repairs!

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First of all, Heda is a paradise for photographers, amateur and professional alike, who can take innumerable shots of Mount Fuji from various view spots all year round as the sacred mountain is changing its robes daily!
In Autumn, one may sight Mount Fuji as a dark and mysterious figure shrouded in mists looming beyond the sea.

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Sometimes it does look as surging out blue expanses!

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At dusk it will be blurred out of the sky by magnificent sunsets irreverently crossed by returning squid fishing boats!

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This last picture was taken from the beach!
Look foward to more pictures this year. Winter promises some beauties!

Do visit the following for mre fantastic view pictuers and precise access!
HEDA TOURISM ASSOCIATION & BUREAU
410-3402 Shizuoka Prefecture, Numazu City, Heda, 289-12
Tel.: 0558-94-3115
HOMEPAGE (English)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 農業, France, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan

French Gastronomy: Cooking with Bros in Chalon Sur Saone, Bourgogne, Part 1

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Bro’s Carbonara Tagliatelle!

During my (very short) holiday back home in Chalon Sur Saone, Bourgogne, neither the Missus or I had to worry about cooking!
We enjoyed our meals either at hotels, restaurants or in one of my two brothers’ homes!
My first brother is actually a professional chef whereas my second brother is a chef as a hobby (he goes as far as attending cooking school in spite of his vast experience!).

On the last day of our stay he cooked a “simple dinner” for the four of us, while we were enjoying (a) drink(s).
It was a pretty typical affair with many culinary influences.

Bro had an excellent idea for appetizers/tidbits to go with aperitifs and drinks while waiting for dinner to start.
Small round tomatoes first dipped in caramel sauce (just sugar, water and lemon brought to a boil and to a thin brown color before switching off the fire) and then coated with golden sesame seeds!
Interestingly enough they don’t seem to have black roasted sesame seeds in France…

The French, especially in Burgundy and Bresse, cannot spend a day without eating a big lettuce and vegetable salad every day!

So Bro served us an appetizer consisting of fresh local lettuce seasoned with his own dressing (had no time to check the recipe) and a “small” (we were taking the plane the following morning!) portion of his pork and pistacchio terrine out of a dish holding at leat 2 kg of it!

Bro loves his pasta and the Missus who is a pastaholic was certainly happy to learn that he makes all his own pasta!

He certainly has all the gear needed!
The pasta is first kneaded and left in the refrigerator for at least 3~4 hours before being prepared!

He used the kitchen table on which we ate later as a work table (after cleaning it, wiping it and sprinkled it with flour!)!

The streched pasta ready to be cut into smaller pieces and then passed through the machine to make tagliatelle!

Work made so easy!

The fresh tagliatelle ready to be boiled! Only 4 minutes!

The Tagliatelle Carbonara!
The sauce had been made the night before as it is easy to preserve and saved a lot of time!
Sorry, no recipe made available!

For dessert a fine apple tart made with thin pastry sheets, fresh apples and a minimum of sugar and spices!

To be continued…

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bourgogne, Burgundy, Chalon Sur Saone, 美食, 観光, France, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Photography, Tourism

Tourism Off the Beaten Tracks in France: Chalon Sur Saone (June 2012) Part 1

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Ancient houses, bars and cafes around Saint Vincent Square in front of Saint Vicent Cathedral.

In spite of being the second town in Bourgogne/Burgundy, France, Chalon sur Saone does not receive the acclaim it deserves. It is by far the oldest city of importance in Bourgogne as its river harbor and markets date back centuries before the Rommans invaded Gaul.
Did you know that it is also the birthplace of photography where Nicephore Niepce invented the first camera and took the first picture ever?
It is also the best protected gastronomic treasure of France. Just visit the Rue de Strasbourg with its 30+ restaurants in the Saint Laurent island surrounded by the Saone River and taste the great wines of the Cote Chalonnaise!
It being a very compact city it is so easy to discover at a leisurely pace.
Here are some photos taken during my trip back home (this is my hometown!)!

The gothic Saint Vincent Cathedral.

There are many ways and routes to visit the city.
But I always start with the old town located very near the Saone River and just wander round and round often retracing my steps back as many more opportunities for photography offer themselves!

Some of the well-preserved facades are over 600 hundred years old!

You will discover the latest fashions inside cute boutiques under the same facades!

No need to go and spend millions in Paris!
There you will find and buy what French ladies (and gentlemen!) really wear and at more attractive prices!
Chalon sur Saone and its suburbs house more than 100,000 souls and some major industries such as Areva and so on, meaning it is a major stop along the paris-Lyon-Marseille route where many businessmen form all over the world have to meet!

A old Burgundian roof out of nowhere…

A back street in the early afternoon…

Another back street…

A “trompe l’oeil” facade…

The oldest standing fully preserved building in town, a tower dating back to the early Middle Ages (over 1.000 years old)…

Oe can explore the back streets reserved for pedestrians for hidden shops and boutiques…

One can easily get a sore neck with all the photography subjects…

So many angles to shoot from…

Searching for gargoyles…

Such facades in “colombage” are all registered cultural assets and impossible to reproduce…

Come and sit at one of the cafe terraces around the Saint Vincent Square on a bright day…

People have been living there for the last 6 centuries…

There is still a Roman wall over 2,000 years old standing!

There are Irish Pubs for the thirsty!

if you want a quickand delicious fix you must try this baker!

Did you know that frog legs is a gastronomic specialty of the region?
But that’s for the next report!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

笑い, 観光, Humor, Shizuoka, Tourism

Weird japan (10): Airy Blossom?

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Found this today in Cenova Department Store in Shizuoka!

The Japanese reads:
“Like a flower, let’s change our clothes to light Spring garments”

Any comments?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

笑い, Humor, Japan, Shizuoka, Tourism

Weird Japan (9): Crow or Kappa?

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Found this strange statue near a home entrance in Takajo, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City.
It is perched on a volcanic basalt rock.
The more I looked at it the more it lokked like a kappa than a crow!

His talons are more reptilian than aviary and why does it wear a cape?

Now, its eyes are definitely those of a kappa!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Tourism

Weird Japan (8): 25,000,000 Yen “Monument”

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Slowly filling with water…

Suudenly tipping over…

Pouring its contents out…

This “little monument” had been ordered by a former Mayor of Shizuoka City during the Bubble Era from a French (my own country &%%$##$%&%)…
While it is fun to watch, it cost no less than 25,000,000 yen (250,000 Euros, 350,000 US$) to the city tax payers!

Mind you, I must be weird because I had to take the last picture no less than five times in sub zero temperature!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

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“Faces” of Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula

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An avatar from Star Wars?

When you travel, be it in Japan or abroad, there are plenty of unusual sights to take in photo in posterity!
I found quite a few the other day in Shuzenji in the heart of Izu Penisula in Shizuoka Prefecture!

It’ s only a question to be lucky and attentive to details!LOL

A grinning lion?

A ravenous dragon?

One of the Seven Deities…

A hand-waving goblin?

Looking for more!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

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