mikiy travel

Markets are fun: Tuba guy at Colombia Flower Market

2012-02-01T19:16:00.000Z

Fire Tuba?? What's that?

コロンビアフラワーマーケットでちょっと変わった大道芸人を発見。ただのチューバ吹きじゃないんです。

When I was in Colombia Flower Market I saw this innovative performer. Touch of fire makes an ordinary tuba player quite special.

Don't know how it's done. Anyway the tuba is the most suitable music instrument for a fire blowing from a bell part of it. Trumpet would be wrong with angle, trombone too long, horn you'd burn your hand.

秋冬にかけてぴったりの炎のチューバ。ちょっと日が暮れてくると一層効果的かも知れませんね。白い手袋と腰掛けに使っているラジオがいい感じです。

Markets are fun: Stroud Food Market in Cotswolds

2012-01-20T15:21:00.003Z

Cotswolds. I'd adapt more easily in Southern part of Cotswolds than Northern. It has hills and ups and downs which makes me feel at home. I find flat land uninviting. Perhaps because I am from a mountainous country?

The market is full of fresh supply of vegs. You get greeted by those perky looking colourful ones at the entrance of the market. It will wake you up in all senses.

日本でも英国らしい景観で知られているコッツウォルズ地方。ロンドンから南西に向かって、車で2、3時間くらいです。毎週土曜にやっているフードマーケットに行きました。

野菜が新鮮なのが写真からお分かりでしょう。皮がパリッと弾けそうです。私の好きなチーズ類も、牧畜地方ですので農場から運びたてのものが手に入ります。気取ったチーズではなく、ハードタイプで持ち運びもしやすい、質実剛健なもの。

And prices tagged are reasonable. Not at all posh, which you would expect in such area.

この子はなにを食べていたのでしょうか。甘いものかな？いや、ホットドッグかも。

私は、英国名物のスコッチエッグ。握りこぶしほどあるので、これだけでお腹いっぱいになりますよ。下は、レインボーチャード。ほうれん草のようですが、筋張っていて鉄分も多く、万人に受け入れられる味わいではありません。名前の通り、白、黄色、ピンクや赤の茎が目をみはる鮮やかさです。

Ohh, Rainbow Chard. I grew them last year in my garden for merely adding colour in otherwise green dominated space. Their taste is really, really wild spinach. I can't decide if I like the taste but can't help being drowned to this magical colour.

Markets are fun: Spitalfields Antique Market in London

2011-12-06T11:59:00.004Z

スピタルフィールズマーケットは東ロンドンの有名なインドアマーケットで、毎週木曜はアンティーク市。ロンドン価格なのでは、という先入観がありましたが、意外と買いやすい値段のものばかりであります。この日は日本の旅行雑誌の取材。

In Spitalfields Market. A guy in charge of a furniture stall gets relaxed on his horse.

気持ち悪いボトルストッパーが沢山。もしこんなの貰ったらいやだなあ。

This screams PRETTY. If my kitchen got a clean slate, I'd start right from here.

店のおじさんに許可を貰い、人形を配置してみましたが、場違いなニワトリが気に入っています。

Pretty much all of them had contents untouched. Nasty and vile? Or sweetened with age?

数年前に再開発されたマーケット。西側は金融系のビルが間際までそびえ立ち、東側はパキスタン・インドのレストランにロンドンの若者が集まるショップやカフェが混沌と存在。こぎれいになったけど中身はぐちゃぐちゃなこのマーケットは、その両者をかける橋のようなもの。

A street snap

2011-11-16T11:42:00.000Z

The coolest of this summer.

Bekonscot Model Village

2011-11-10T16:26:00.003Z

ベコンスコット・モデル・ビレッジは、ベコンスフィールドという街にあるミニチュアランドです。ロンドンから車で40分くらいの所にあります。1929年に開園し、1930年代の街を模型で再現。とても細かい作りで、寄ってみたり引いてみたり、撮影に夢中になります。

ただ今、冬のメンテナンス時期に入っており、来年の2月に再オープン。オーバーオールを着た初老のおじさまたちが、一冬かけて丁寧に修理に当たっている、と想像するのも楽しいものです。

There are more than 200 buildings ( one of them is on permanent fire with smoke coming out from the top of the building), 3000 inhabitants, 1000 animals in those 6 model villages. Not only structurally speaking, a good old 30's feeling is in full swing in the air - we are looking at the "model" culture where communities function well. We should probably study it closely.

Stoke-on-Trent ceramics: Moorland

2011-03-02T16:32:00.001Z

Moorland's design are done by Jonathan Plant, he bought this factory in 1989 with a co-partner. Once this was Susie Cooper's studio, one of the first modern studio potters in 20's.

These are currant ranges with humorous phrases and local colloquialisms. They do Stokie (Stoke-on-Trent), Geordie (Newcastle), Yorkie (Yorkshire), Scouser (Liverpool), Pearly (London east end) and so on. Polly, put the kettle on!

A retired bottle kiln. Soaring figures are seen high up in the sky still now, lots of them, disused. Some provides nest for pigeons. Incidentally, did you know that the officer of command of the RMS Titanic, Captain Edward John Smith, was from Stoke-on-Trent? His father was a potter.

Jonathan, a designer for Moorland ware.

His meticulous design works for mugs.

Tea Moment

2011-02-24T12:52:00.007Z

I've been uploading a series of pottery pictures from Stoke-on-Trent in England and

will continue on it but just wanted to have a tea break. I thought you might like a cup too.

A cup of tea in Parlour at Sketch, Conduit St, London

Bea's of Bloomsbury, Theobalds Road, London

The Duke of Cambridge, St. Peter's St, London

Yumchaa, Soho, London

A small tea party in Cotswolds, England

Stoke-on-Trent ceramics: Portmeirion

2011-02-23T11:33:00.004Z

Portmeirion is well known for Botanic Garden, the most successful tableware series for the company. It's been produced since 70's and still draws buyers. I don't feel the charm of it personally as it's too country. The late Susan William-Ellis, a pottery designer who also founded the company created all and these series above are wondrous. She studied under the sculptor Henry Moore.

Stoke-on-Trent: Oatcake

2011-02-17T15:29:00.011Z

Traditionally, those pancakes (called oatcake locally) were potter's portable lunch to take to work from home. In closed form this can be warmed on a top of kiln or stove without spilling the filling. You can still find small eateries in Stoke-on-Trent town with a sign board "Oatcake". I had a ham and cheese oatcake in a pottery museum. Love the napkin holder.

Stoke-on-Trent ceramics: Emma Bridgewater

2011-02-15T17:53:00.018Z

Emma's husband, an artist ( he has published many watercolor books on architecture) Mathew Rice and their daughter Kitty. She was decorating a pot, a gift for her teacher.

I am a dot person ( not dotty!) than stripe person. Hence the picture contains a lots of dots.

Stamp work is done by nimble fingers in the factory. Some of those motifs have appeared more than often on Emma Bridgewater ceramic ware - if you are a fan you might recognize it..

Nimble fingers with a sharp object and a decisive mind make them all.

Next to the office there was a sort of "drawing room" with archives and frames. I put flowers in a mag among this sepia environment.

Stoke-on-Trent ceramics: Crown Dorset

2011-02-14T17:39:00.010Z

An entrance to the factory. I cannot tell what exactly it is but a door stopper was a lovely feature there.

Alice's tea party stuff. In a mass like this, cute teapots becomes a tad eccentric.

There are some pieces that I really liked in the show room.

But what I fancied most was this old trademark. Crown Dorset is one of the long established ceramic companies in Stoke-on-Trent. This was hung on a wall in the office...it has 60's feeling. Maybe early 70's, would you say?

Crown Dorset. Here again, flower motif is royally reproduced from a fraying old template book.

Stoke-on-Trent ceramics: Burleigh Ware

2011-01-04T22:32:00.024Z

These are pix from a couple years ago taken in Stoke-on-Trent, long established pottery town in Staffordshire, England.

Pattern and logo mark on printing sheet before it's cut and pasted in places.
Pattern from old design books are still used.
Shelves full of company's records in the office. Pattern books, accounts, correspondences.

In a shop. Even light quality is English, softly defused.

The mold storage room. A entire floor is filled with shelves like this. Row after row, century's worth.

Discontinued pudding molds. We don't see such elaborate design pudding molds nowadays. Very Victorian. Puddings made in these molds would adorn the centre of a table decadently.

Ceramic oven. I heard the company was facing a liquidation last year. Hopefully they recovered from it, as it's too sad to see this oven gone cool forever.

Hampstead Snowed

2010-12-20T10:23:00.006Z

Yesterday we had the heaviest snow this year ( so far ). These are taken in Hampstead Heath. Pond is frozen, dog is on the ice and wagging his tail, inviting owner to play with him. He sensibly dared not!

Cat The Tea Lover

2010-12-14T14:10:00.004Z

Like a dormouse in The Mad Hatter's Tea Party - but this one seems voluntarily action.

If you go out in the woods today

2010-12-13T17:27:00.004Z

You're sure of a big surprise.

Pekin Bantam girls, Queeny, Harriet and Bronco

2010-09-03T10:40:00.003Z

Three Pekin Bantam girls joined us in the garden from 17th Aug. They are 3 month and half old, for 4-5 years life span I imagine they are still preteens? Really sweet. They happily peck and flap about in the garden always stick to each other. If one of them get apart accidentally the rest rushes to reunite hastily. Remind me of Dæmons in His Dark Material. Or one for all, all for one...

Fluffy bum

2010-09-03T10:35:00.001Z

Meet the chooks

2010-09-03T10:29:00.002Z

the 2010 Chap Olympiad

2010-07-25T12:17:00.005Z

Picnickers at the 2010 Chap Olympiad

Under The Butler’s impassive gaze, a contestant in the Bounders event at the 2010 Chap Olympiad offers remarks caddish enough to provoke a slap

A spectator at the 2010 Chap Olympiad stiffens his drink

Chap Olympiad

2010-07-25T12:09:00.003Z

Contestants in the 2010 Chap Olympiad assemble on the podium for the Lighting of the Olympic Pipe

Protected from the sun by his topee, a contestant at the 2010 Chap Olympiad takes a musical break with his ’cello

Umbrella Jousting contestants in the 2010 Chap Olympiad make successful attacks on each other’s wheels

Chap Olympiad: Behold the Pipe

2010-07-25T12:06:00.001Z

The Butler holds aloft the Olympic Pipe at the 2010 Chap Olympiad

Up close..

2010-06-12T10:20:00.006Z

Now,up closer. Do you see a seagull perching on the edge of the balcony? Compare to the one on the roof, it's more like an albatross. Quite tricky treat to one's eye, it's in fact a cut-out. A piece of flat bird drawing on a wooden board. Looking at it myself now, I feel dubious though. Is it a board? Is it a bird?

A derelict building at seaside

2010-06-12T09:37:00.003Z

This is a derelict building near Poole, where a picture of the previous post had taken.A seaside town with a slightly decayed feeling, once thrived as a popular resort (and still clings to it), is my kinda town to stroll in. Because I grew up in it, I dive in a great deal of nostalgia.

A cliff hanger

2010-06-01T18:04:00.003Z

The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, Dorset.

The London Elephant Parade

2010-05-26T13:59:00.002Z

The elephants are on the streets of London from May until July.
It celebrates the beauty of the magnificent Asian elephant. This is one of 258 painted elephants in locations across central London.

Holy Island

2010-05-24T18:27:00.002Z

It's mysterious. First impression of those two tiny pointed towers look like an ancient object which has lost its meaning to the modern age, I wondered for a while if these once concern a moon truck for a ceremonial purpose. In fact these are for navigation for ships.

Like birds, people enjoy sun perching on the bank edge.

2010-05-09T15:42:00.004Z

A calf at Helsett farm

2010-05-07T10:32:00.003Z

I visited a farm in Cornwall for famous Cornish clotted cream. A milky calf like her is a great potential star!

2005-06-03T18:59:00.001Z

Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK
Fenland is very flat. It's got almost Dutch-like feeling to it, being there makes one wonder where are those windmills are.

2005-06-03T18:55:00.000Z

Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK

2005-06-03T18:54:00.000Z

Sky country, Wisbech, UK

2005-06-03T18:52:00.000Z

Clydesdales, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK

2005-05-21T17:30:00.000Z

Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England

Richmond Park

2005-05-14T14:21:00.001Z

Woburn, UK
Layer of deer, layer of trees. And leaves.

2005-05-06T07:59:00.000Z

New Covent Garden Market, London, UK

2005-05-06T07:51:00.000Z

Caffee in New Covent Garden Market, London

2005-04-29T19:29:00.000Z

Rules', London, England

2005-04-22T17:49:00.000Z

Dinner getting ready, Hampstead

Marine's ice cream

2005-04-21T14:31:00.001Z

Camden, London, England

2005-04-16T16:43:00.000Z

In my garden, Hampstead, England

2005-04-13T15:13:00.000Z

In my garden, Hampstead, London

2005-04-07T22:44:00.000Z

Kings Cross, London, England

2005-04-07T17:46:00.000Z

Waterloo, London, England

Let me in it's snowing, London

2005-04-05T12:24:00.002Z

Let me in it's snowing, London
Originally uploaded by mikiy.

Daisy the cat is our neighbor's but as cats usually do, she frequents people in a hundred tail radius. We haven't got a cat flap so she has to have her doorman open the door to let herself in.

2005-03-26T14:41:00.000Z

Guildford, England

One of really hot day

2005-03-19T00:48:00.001Z

Hyde Park, London, England
Taken from a bridge when I was walking towards Knightsbridge.

2005-03-18T11:15:00.000Z

Apsley House, London, England

2005-02-08T18:57:00.000Z

Café above a station, Riga, Latvia

2005-02-08T18:41:00.000Z

Arms in a bar, Riga, Latvia

2005-02-07T15:39:00.000Z

Butcher in a market, Riga, Latvia

2005-02-07T14:56:00.000Z

Furs, Riga, Latvia

2005-02-06T15:32:00.000Z

Republic of Uzupis, Vilnius, Lithuania

2005-02-05T22:57:00.000Z

Snowy&sunny, Vilnius, Lithuania

2005-02-05T13:47:00.000Z

Marmaid, Vilnius, Lithuania

2005-02-04T11:56:00.000Z

Vilnius,Lithuania

2005-02-03T12:37:00.000Z

On bridge, Riga, Latvia

2005-02-03T11:39:00.000Z

Advert in Riga, Latvia

2005-01-31T12:04:00.000Z

Post office in Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-30T16:48:00.000Z

Ice sclupture, Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-27T12:51:00.000Z

Cathedral, Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-26T10:15:00.000Z

Ferry to Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-25T16:04:00.000Z

No.10, Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-24T20:44:00.000Z

At crossing in Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-24T19:14:00.000Z

Night in Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-23T21:21:00.000Z

Café at night in Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-22T22:26:00.000Z

Snow crystal, Helsinki, Finland

2005-01-21T14:09:00.000Z

Drawing on ice, Helsinki, Finland

2004-12-29T14:58:00.000Z

Game players, London, England

2004-12-20T13:50:00.000Z

In Tate Modern

2004-11-30T15:24:00.000Z

Frost on Heath, London, England

2004-11-14T12:33:00.000Z

A room in Woodside, NY, United States

2004-11-13T17:36:00.000Z

Hotel Steamy, NY, United States

2004-11-12T13:38:00.000Z

One of carriages, NY, United States

2004-11-12T09:13:00.000Z

From platform, NY, United States

2004-11-11T14:14:00.000Z

Graffiti, NY, United States

2004-11-11T13:16:00.000Z

Layered, NY, United States

2004-11-10T10:41:00.000Z

Silvercut, NY, United States

2004-11-09T11:59:00.000Z

In gallery, NY, United States

2004-11-07T16:10:00.000Z

Central Park, NY, United States

2004-11-07T15:56:00.000Z

Central Park, NY, United States

2004-11-07T13:26:00.000Z

Museum, NY, United States

2004-11-06T13:58:00.000Z

Trump tower, NY, United States

2004-11-05T17:22:00.000Z

Back to Manhattan, NY, United States

2004-11-05T17:03:00.000Z

Manhattan Island in a fox light, NY, United States

2004-09-20T13:49:00.000Z

Rose, England

2004-07-28T21:02:00.000Z

Red district, Amsterdam, Holland

A hotel room in Amsterdam, Holand

2004-07-27T14:56:00.000Z

A hotel room in Amsterdam,Holland

2004-07-27T13:48:00.000Z

Her camera, Amsterdam, Holland

2004-07-26T11:30:00.000Z

Amsterdam, Holland

2004-07-25T17:03:00.000Z

Riverside, Dusseldolf, Germany

2004-07-24T16:53:00.000Z

Railway station, Dusseldolf, Germany

2004-07-23T14:10:00.000Z

A platform, Dusseldolf, Germany

2003-08-23T17:03:00.000Z

Notting Hill carnival, London, England

2003-08-23T17:02:00.000Z

Notting Hill carnival, London, England

2003-08-23T15:58:00.000Z

Notting Hill carnival, London, England

2003-06-20T17:42:00.000Z

Walking in country, England

2003-05-26T15:50:00.000Z

Peralta, Toscany, England

2003-05-24T17:47:00.000Z

Peralta, Toscany, Italy

2003-05-23T09:21:00.000Z

Peralta, Toscany, Italy

2002-09-19T17:19:00.000Z

Ashby-de-la-Zouche Canal, England