4/30/16

"Golden Week" in Japan. Avoid to visit or not?

ゴールデンウィークはお勧めか?お勧めじゃないか?

Golden week
Days from the end of April to the first week of May is called "Golden Week" in Japanese.The reason we call it "golden" is because it is the longest vacation period of the year for most Japanese employees. Many Japanese companies get about a week off because there are four national holidays within these weeks.

Green Day みどりの日 ゴールデンウィーク GoldenWeek Japan
fresh green leaves are fasinating in this season.
During this week, numerous Japanese make trips. So.... if you are thinking of visiting Japan, I suggest you to avoid this season to come over.Travel expenses like hotel room charge and flight ticket price get so high during this season. Before that, you may find so hard to book hotels and transportation. Additionally you will see the huge crowd everywhere.


4/28/16

No Way! Nepalese Government

だめだめな ネパール政府

100,000 victims remain homeless.
Nepal marked the first anniversary of its tragic disaster on April 25th.There are about 100,000 victims left homeless.
With such difficulties, Kathmandu held some events for the quake. People prayed for Kumamoto, even.
I believe what delays recovery from the quake in Nepal is government.
ネパール 地震 Nepal earthquake event

4/25/16

When to visit Nepal?

ネパール旅行は、いつがよい?

Nepal Trek ネパール トレッキング
Nepal = Himalaya
the Rainy season in Nepal
We have the rainy season in June and July in Japan. The rain is not heavy usually in the rainy season but it rains just often and generally drizzle. In Nepal they also have the rainy season. It last from June to September usually.

4/23/16

No doctors in Nepali villages

お医者のいないネパールの村

April 25th will mark one-year-anniversary of Nepal

Today I attended the event held by NGO Japan Platform. That about the Nepal earthquake.
A professor of Sophia univ. made a keynote speech on Nepali situation after the quake.
She has been studied about Nepal.... kind of subculture... Her HP is here. Actually where I know about is just Kathmandu and Pokhara. Even I stayed in local houses with local people, my knowledge of Nepal is just about two cities. I don't know about villages.

Health Posts in village

Most of today's stories were new to me. Specially about the medical situation in villages was like in a fairy tale...

When villagers are sick, first they go to a shaman in their village. Of course, nothing recovers....
Then they walk to the health post where medically trained staff are assigned there. That may be like a nurse office in school?

4/22/16

Worshipping dogs in Nepal

ネパール 犬を祭ります

Tihar
As I wrote, Nepal is a country of dogs kind of. Even they have the festival for dogs. That is Tihar which is one the most celebrated festival in Nepal. It is a five-day-Hindu festival in November.

Tihar nepal festival

Cats and Dogs

犬と猫

Cats in Japan
I don't know whether taking this word to express the phenomenon is right or not but I will say...

Now keeping cats is a record-breaking hit ever in Japan. As you know, cats are living creatures so I don't like to treat them as objects and say "booming".

But the surveys show number of pet cats has been increasing in the past years.
That was not our reason but we owns two cats.
Dogs in Nepal
On the other hand, Nepal is a country of dogs.
dogs in temples Nepal
sleeping dogs in a temple

4/20/16

Japanese regional mascot characters

ご当地キャラ

mascot characters
As you already know, Japan is a country of 'anime' and 'manga(cartoon)' . I don't know whether it affects this phenomenon or not, but recently Japanese regional mascot characters, called "Gotochi Kyara" are growing so popular.

くまもん kumamon ご当地キャラ mascot characters japan
Kumamoto 's character, Kumamon

They are commonly playing an important roll to attract customers in the regional communities and even out of them. I am live in Tokyo and often see these characters, who are not Tokyo's one, appear live at special events. "live" means someone wearing full-size character costumes to animate them.
They are created to vitalize their own regions and they are going above and beyond. There are various products to sale, decorated by them and contests to decide which character is the most popular.
http://kumamon-official.jp/blog
Kumamon refrains
The reason I am writing about "Gotochi Kyara"(regional mascot character) today is that I saw a news article about Kumamon. Kumamon is the Kumamoto prefecture's mascot character. It says that Kumamon is refraining from twittering because his priority currently should be supporting evacuated Kumamoto residences because of the quake.

It sounds like a high profile celebrityIt sounds like a high profile celebrity....

mascot characters
よく知られているように、日本はアニメや漫画大国です。この現象にそれが影響してるのかどうかわかりませんが、最近日本の地方のマスコットキャラクター(ご当地キャラ)がすごい人気になっています。
ご当地キャラは地域内または地域の外からの集客に重要な役割を担っています。東京在住のわたしも、他県のキャラクターの着ぐるみをよく見かけます。その地域の活性化のために創られるのですが、それ以上の働きをしてます。キャラクターのついた さまざまなグッツもあり、全国のキャラクターのうち、日本一を決める大会もあります。
http://kumamon-official.jp/blog
Kumamon refrains
今日、ご当地キャラクターについて書こうと思ったのは、くまモンについての記事を見かけたからです。くまモンは熊本県のマスコットです。記事によれば、くまモンは、地震で避難している方たちなどのサポートを最優先とし、ツイットを控えているそうです。

まるで芸能人みたいな・・。

4/19/16

Pigeons in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square

ダルバール広場の鳩

Kathmandu
I want to write about Kathmandu’s Durbar Square today. And before it, first I should learn about Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is located in the northwestern part of the Kathmandu Valley whose size is almost same as the Kofu valley in Japan. Five mountains surround this valley and the average elevation is 1,400 meters above sea level. The valley is bounded by Patan, Lalitpur & Bhaktapur. Patan is a beautiful city which deserve to visit!

The quake in Kumamoto

熊本の地震で

Fore-shock
The strong earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture on April 14. When I learned it, it was just after 20 mins of the first quake. We thought it was the first quake but it turned be a fore-shock. Next morning the main shock whose magnitude was 7.3 occurred.
The aftershocks have been occurring more than 550 times. Nearly 100,000 residents have been evacuated.
Stolen
People say that Japanese are very well-disciplined but cruel thief stealings have been happening in vacant destroyed houses. It is quite a sad thing.
Food supply
Food and water, toilet paper shortage at shelters grew worse. Even the government carried to Kumamoto, landslides cut off traffic routes and Emergency supplies haven't reached people. I don't know this kind problem always happens in such situations...

4/18/16

Nepali women outfits

ネパール女子のお洋服

Girls' cloths
I asked my Nepali girl friend Pun is a professional dress maker. Thease are her works.

Nepali girls outfits
Pun's works... beautiful
Accutally I had no idea about women's dresses in Nepal before I visited Nepal for the first time. Now after I have been there twice, what I think about Nepali young gilrs' wearing style is that there are not big differences between each other.



When I met my Nepali friend's mum, she was wearing a traditional dress. it have may be a sarry. She told me that she had joined a wedding party before we met so that may be a formal dress.




Stomach
One thing I noticed was... her stomach was out.
Since commonly we Japanese elder women don't wear skimpy dresses, I was surprised to see it a bit. But it was nice and I liked it. It looked beautiful on her.
Kurta Suruwal
Normal outfits of adult women wear are called Kurta Suruwal above. It is composed by a shirt and pants, the Nepali equivalent of the salweer kameez). Putting a scarf on neck is common.
I have never tried them but I want...! Next time I visit Nepal, defnately I will ask Pun to make Kurta Suruwals for me! My legs easily feel cold even summer so this is my style.


All of them are Pun's works. Awsome!


You can have a kuruta suruwal made to order. It takes only three days. Pun's shop is located in thamel, Kathmandu. If you like, let me know and let me connect you and her!

Kurta Suruwal
Pun's catalog of Kurta Suruwal. There are many bright colored dresses!

glittering!

女子の洋服
友達のプンはお針子です。これ彼女の作品(上記のものも全部)



ネパールを訪問するまで、ネパールの女性の洋服のイメージって全然ありませんでした。 2回ネパールを訪れて、若い女性の服装について思うところは、あまり大きな違いはないということです。

ネパール人の友達のお母さんにお会いした時、お母さんはこんな感じの伝統的な洋服を着ていました。結婚パーティに行ってきたのだと言ってましたので、正装ですね。
おなか
ひとつ気になったのは、おなかが出ていたことです。
日本の年輩の方が露出の高い服を着ることはあまりないですから、ちょっとびっくりしました。でもとてもきれいで、すてきでした。お母さんにもよく似合っていました。
クルタスルワール
女性のふだん着は、クルタスルワールと呼ばれます。シャツとズボン、ズボンとシャツの組み合わせを呼ぶネパールのsalweer kameezと同じ組み合わせです。ショールも掛けます。
まだ試したことないんですが、次回訪問した時は絶対作ってもらおう!足が冷え性なので、わたしにぴったり!すてき!


3日くらいで作ってくれるそうです。あ、オーダーメードですね。カトマンズのタメル地区のはずれにお店があります。 興味のある方はお声がけください!つなぎますよ。

4/17/16

KathmanduTown in Tokyo

リトルカトマンズ

From Korea to Nepal
A few months ago I watched a TV program about Nepal in Tokyo. The show is Tamori Club. Tamori who is a toastmaster of this show visits Okubo area. Okubo area is a famous with its Korean town is located.

Almost ten years ago, Korean drama shows made a blockbuster hit in Japan and triggered the Korean entertainment industry to takeover Japanese one and Okubo area transformed an old unsafe area in Tokyo to a entertaining Korean town where Japanese girls and ladies flooded out of shops selling Korean stars items.

And now " KathmanduTown" has joined there. Tamori mentioned that there are more than 2,000 Nepali people are living in Okubo. Totally more than 36,000 Nepali live in Japan according to a survey last year.

I visited Okubo to check it. When I went out of Shin-Okubo station, I didn't see anything more likely Nepal. After I walk a few minutes, I found a drugstore that was supposed to be located near so called "Islam Street" .

FOOD and SPICE CENTER BARAHI
When I watched the TV show, I got so excited and decided to visit there immediately. I expected quite a lot of Nepali things.

4/14/16

Strong earthquake hit Kumamoto in Kyushu of Japan

Just 40 mins ago, the strong quake hit Kumamoto prefecture. The magnitude was 6.5. Now again an alert of another strong shake has been just given.

More than ten houses were allegedly collapsed so far and rockfalls occurred. Fires are breaking out too.
A TV breaking news has been reporting about many times aftershocks afterward.

The focal depth is 10 km and it is sallow which is almost same as Hanshin-Awaji-earthquake in 1995.One of my friend who used to be there told me a piano in her room almost flew to the corner of her room at that time. It is horrible...

How to carry in Kathmandu

運び方

Before I mentioned Nepalease hard-workers carrying something put on their heads.

Hard workers in Nepal Other time, I saw people carrying something their own uniq ways in Kathmandu.
on the bus
First on the top of bus.
Hmmmmm a goat?? A guy is trying to carry a goat put on the top of bus.
Be careful please !

4/13/16

After Sakura parties in Japan

桜宴のあとの日本

Cherry blossom please eyes even after full bloom
As I mentioned it yesterday, the Sakura season is over now.Even after the full bloom season, cherry blossom trees pleases our eyes with their falling petals and their another appearance.
Falling petals are like falling snow, maybe more beautiful. Because the color is not white but slight pink. After they fall down, we can enjoy them laying down on the ground. It is "petal sea".
I don't know why but cherry blossoms don't die and they fall down as they are in full bloom.

petals

4/11/16

Nepal warm and adorable felt and woolen products

ネパールのあったかくてカワイイ ニットやフェルトたち

Sakura season is over
This morning I realized that Spring really has arrived, seeing Sakura paddles were falling down and greens of trees are getting bright. The color of greens are transitioning from light yellow green to bright green.
Yes, Sakura season is over. Now most cherry blosom trees are covered by more green color than light pink color. I don't need to wear thick socks in my room because my feet don't feel cold even in the evening any more. Normal socks are enough to keep me warm.


So I put these Nepali bright socks in my closet saying "thank you for keeping me warm". Is this great, isn't it? It looks like Missoni which is one of the high brand from Italy!!


4/10/16

Huge crowd in the festival "`Pahachare"

Pahachareのすんごい人

jai bhadra kali maa
If you visited Kathmandu, you were stuck in this crowd. People are celebrating the Pahachare festival.
This worships godess, Jai Bhadra Kali Maa. This is three-day-festival of the Newar community.
People invite their married daughters and sisters an friends home for a grand feast on the second and third days. The festival begins every year on the Chaitra Krishna Pakcha Chaturdashi which is second half of a lunar month. Chaitra Krishna Pakcha Chaturdash seems to be in Hindi Calendar.

Pahachare

4/7/16

On the top of buses

バスの上で

Indian blockade
Since India blockaded the boarder with Nepal in last September, Nepal have been facing shortage of fuel and medical supplies. Even after India stopped it and opened the trade routes, Nepali people have been suffering from shortage of fuel.

Nepalese constitutional changes which were done in last September triggered it.

Actually Indian government denied the fact. But I saw many many many motorbike's and taxis' lining up to gas. And my Nepali friends told me that they were complaining about the raising price of gas. Since Nepal doesn't have any oceans surrounding it, most supplies are from India. Most of snacks and foods I introduced in this blog are actually Indian products.
Isn't it Violation??
This picture shows they don't have enough buses bringing people. Passengers are sitting on the top of bus...
I don't know their long histories but don't figure out why India thinks that they are allowed to do it. Because they are two different sovereign countries. Each could never be violated. Even it was an unofficial blockade, it is never allowed, I think.
インドによる封鎖
去年の9月にネパールに接した国境をインドが封鎖して以来、ネパールは燃料や医療用品の不足に対峙しています。。インドが封鎖をやめて物資ルートを開放したあとでも、ネパールの人たちはまだ燃料不足に苦しんでいるんです。

9月のネパールの改憲が引き金でした。
インド政府はその事実を否定しました。でも、わたしは大変な数のバイクやタクシーがガスを求めて列をなしているのを見ました。ネパールの友達も、ガス料金の値上がりをぼやいていました。ネパールは海を持っていないので、多くの生活品はインドから来ます。わたしがこのブログで紹介した食べ物なども、ほとんどインド産です。
侵害では?
この写真では、十分なバスが走っていないことがわかります。バスの屋根に座っています。
両国の長い歴史は正直わかりませんが、インドがこのようなこをして許されると思っていることが解せないです。だって両国とも主権国家なわけですから。それぞれ侵害できないはず。正式な封鎖じゃないにしても、そんなこと許されない、と思う。

4/6/16

Nepali "Oyatsu"(snack) foods

ネパールのおやつフード

Nepali local snacks are yummy and healthy.
Since Nepal is a multiracial and multicultural country and additionally has three neighboring-countries, it represents the broader diversity of food too.But you can find common ingredients in Nepalese foods like lentils and potatoes, cumin, coriander, chilies, peppers, garlic
You can enjoy foods influenced by Tibet and India, Newal and others even you are just in Nepal.I make a list of foods I have tried here.
Ah Curries and Momo are absolute foods. You can see them here. 

ネパールは多民族、多文化国家で、3国に囲まれているため、食べ物も多岐にわたります。でも、ネパールの食べ物によくある食材はあって、レンズ豆、ジャガイモ、クミン、コリアンダー、チリ、胡椒、ガーリックです。
ネパールにいるだけでチベットやインド、ネワール族などの影響を受けた食べ物を楽しめます。わたしが食べたことのあるものをリストアップ。
 ちなみにカレーとモモは別格でこちらをどうぞ。
Thukpa
It is like Japanese Ramen containing bits of meat and vegetables. Noodles are thick. This roots in Tibet and influenced by China.
トゥクパ
ラーメンみたいな感じでお肉と野菜が入っています。麺は太麺。チベット料理のひとつで、中国の影響も受けているそう。

4/5/16

The adorable destroyer in Kathmandu Durbar Square

The cute destroyer in the Durbar Square

ダルバール広場のかわいい破壊王

Kala Bhairava
At the first sihgt, I didn't think it is a diety. Because it has somehow a humorous appearance. It has big eyes and big accessories, big stomach.
This is a Hindu deity, Kala Bhairava. Kala Bhairava is a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva. Shiva is the third god in the Hindu triumvirate and the destroyer. The triumvirate consists of three gods(The other two are Brahma and Vishnu) who are responsible for the creation, maintain and destruction of the world. He is standing on the northern corner in the Durbar Square, Kathmandu
Kala Bhairava

4/3/16

Design your own T shrits in Thamel

自分のTシャツ作ってみよう

Custom-made-Embroidered T shirts
When I visited Thamel, I found one great thirsts shop. NEW POTALA
T shirts seems to be popular gifts from Nepal. Even the famous Japanese trip guidebook series "Chikyu no arukikata"(how to travel in the earth) on Nepal is mentioning t shirts as one of Nepali handcraft souvenirs.

In this shop you can order your custom patterned t shirt. This guy is the shop owner!
And I am so impressed with this sawing machine. it seems to be rather than vintage, not old.

This is completely customized-embroidered one. I ask him to use a single pink thread. This is for myself.


Another one went to my close friend Kazuko. I asked him to embroider the small figure of person suggesting her standing on the top of the mountain, and her name and the arrow to ready-made-embroidered one.


Your order will be ready in one day. I recommend you to get your unique souvenirs. Their prices are around 700 NRP just! nice price!

information:
Under the TNT Cargo of Ward No.29. Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
New Potala


オーダーメードの刺繍入りTシャツ

タメルに行ったとき、すごいTシャツ屋さんを発見しました。

ネパールのTシャツは人気みたいです。日本の有名な旅行ガイドブック「地球の歩き方」のネパール版も、ネパールのお土産のひとつにTシャツを上げています。

このお店では、オリジナルTシャツが作れます。この人店主です!このミシンすごいですよね。古いというより、ビンテージみたい。

これは完全なオリジナル刺繍もの。ピンク色の刺繍糸一本で仕立てるようお願いしました。自分用。もう一つのこれは友人のカズコ用。彼女が山の頂上にいるみたく、小さいヒト、彼女の名前の「kazuko」と矢印を、既製の刺繍ものに加えてもらいました。

次の日には出来上がり。オリジナルお土産にいいですよ。700ルピーくらいでできちゃいます。

4/2/16

Prince Harry visited Nepal

ヘンリー王子 ネパールに行く

Prince Harry made his first official visit in Nepal the week before last. That is expected to catch people's attentions to Nepal and promt to rebuild.

He seems to be very friendly.
He joined locals for dinner and dance, Holi(the color festival). Even he stayed over in a local family when he visited Leorani village.
http://gu.com/p/4hyf2/sgp


イギリスのヘンリー王子がネパールを公式訪問しました。先々週。人々の注目を集めて、ネパールの復興に拍車を掛けることを目的としたものです。

ヘンリー王子、非常にフレンドリーな感じ。
地元で夕食やダンス、カラーフェスティバルにまで参加。レオラニという村にいったときは、なんと地元のおうちに一晩止まったらしい。

Khata Tibetan Scarves in Nepal

チベットのスカーフ カタ

a gift for the trip
The day I left Nepal, one of my Nepali friend Ni gave me this scarf.
This is not just a scarf but "Khata" which is one of the ceremonial items. It originated in Tibetan Buddhism.


When Ni gave it to me, she told me that this was for my safe trip and draped around my neck. And this scarf is not for all of my journeys but only for the trip back to Japan. It sounds very spiritual!