nezumiiro.mausgrau

♫

2012-02-29T09:55:00.000+01:00

I like this song and i like the video.

And this is great. (Seen it also here before.)

down by earth

2012-02-22T09:14:00.001+01:00

return of colours

2012-02-20T22:52:00.003+01:00

The first real flowers in our house this year. Seeing them like this in full bloom, somehow i have to think of carnival, which takes place right now. Not that i am very much a carnival person... But maybe i shall buy a couple of doughnuts this week and sparkling wine?

Many thoughts in my head, but it's hard to catch one to write about, in English anyway.

How are you doing?
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Winterwärme

2012-02-14T10:40:00.001+01:00

Kuzu.

mehr Eis

2012-02-11T22:31:00.000+01:00

a scent of bleakness

2012-02-08T20:01:00.000+01:00

First snow and sobaboro.

Gestern: Kino

2012-02-03T09:25:00.003+01:00

Eisblumen

2012-01-30T20:41:00.001+01:00

I guess we have some trouble with our old window. Well, at least the sill it isn't so wet anymore. (The truth is, that i love it, the fern frost. I only hope that we won't get bad bad mould this winter.)

two sides of...

2012-01-23T21:04:00.000+01:00

A pretty picture of the ~~bad~~ so-so angle (IKEA fragmets, too many, and a rug from the fleamarket)...

...and a so-so picture of the good part of the room.

We're working on it, or rather still thinking on it. Argh.

dreamlike

2012-01-20T15:44:00.001+01:00

D brought the DVD home from the library yesterday. We watched #3 at night. I haven't seen the Cremaster Cycle for some time. It's still fascinating.

But honestly, i still don't get it entirely. However, instead of dabbling on some serious analysis, i prefer pondering on that incredible couple: Matthew Barney and Björk.
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2012-01-15T16:32:00.000+01:00

lucky... and 2 new cups

2012-01-11T16:55:00.001+01:00

BerlinDesignBlog run a raffle and lucky me won tickets for the Zeughausmesse, a decorative arts fair! It was very interesting and the standards were obviously higher than usual. With one artist i fell in love immediately, and, of course, it was a potter, a Chinese ceramics artist. Normally it takes me a lot of time to decide to buy or not to buy a thing. Often i don't buy it. But in this case i was sure: I need one of her works. She was showing some very very thin and refined pieces and above all the paintings envinced her great talent. There was a cherry blossom themed tea bowl for example, which was simply amazing. "It's like sipping from a leave," she explained. Well, it must be like that. These works are indeed fairylike, too fairylike for me, though. So i went for a pair of rustic bowls for everyday use. They're quite solid and very handy. Combined with other dishes they show their entire beauty. The artist herself was astonishing, too, by the way. Interesting, inspiring. --- I'm craving for more.
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tamago chiffon keeki

2012-01-11T10:22:00.000+01:00

This story begins here, in a cute Western style tea house in a also very cute little city in South Japan. It was the first time that i ordered and ate a thing called 'tamago chiffon keeki'. Tamago --- that, at least, i knew --- means egg and in this day i felt like to eat something with this distinct light flavour of egg, no chocolate no cream... Germany is cake paradise. Not that you find overwhelming cakes in every ordinary bakery, but if you know the right places or still have a talented grandma, you surely know what good cakes are. Something like this, though, i haven't had before: A cake which is so so fine and yummy... and you don't feel stuffed after eating it! I began searching for a recipe. And finally, after three or four mediocre trials, i found that one, i'm still sticking on. Since we moved i don't have scales, only a Japanese measuring cup (200 ml). But i'm going fine with it. I use...

* 3 eggs
* half a cup of white sugar
* half a cup of oil-milk mixture (2:3)
* 2/3 cup of flour (*) with a pinch of baking powder

I beat the egg whites with half of the sugar until very stiff and whisk the yolks with the rest of the sugar until they're pale and creamy. Then i stir the liquids and the flour/baking powder into the yolk mixture. I combine a part of the batter with the whipped egg whites and put this all back into the "oily" batter, gently folding it in. I'm baking it by 170-180° C for 20-30 minutes. The cake-pan shouldn't be covered with grease before. After baking i let cool the cake in its pan upside down.

(* Decide on cake flour which is especially low in protein. If not available, at least substitute a part of the all-purpose flour with potato starch.)

ciao 2011, hallo 2012

2012-01-01T14:18:00.001+01:00

What an eventful year. One should think that the biggest changes of the past 12 months would concern my private life: graduated from university (finally) with something like a Master's Degree (--- my second vocational training, and still without an adequate, serious job ;-)... and above all, the happy end of a long distance relationship, the move to the capital... But i don't feel that these things matter much facing our earth these days. The maybe most important, shocking, challenging incident 2011 for me is "Fukushima". Beside that there happened several things which make me mind my attitude towards life and society as never before.

As you can see above, New Year's Eve was a feast. We were only the two of us this time, but there was a lot of cooking and eating: some quick fun sushi, the traditional Japanese soup with soba and a chiffon cake, that seems to be one of the remainig achievements of 2011. Today we ate some osechi-like treats for breakfast, kuromame, kurikinton, roe, kohaku namasu and ozoni.

Only using the third picture i could write two or three blog posts. Time flies and i couldn't spare time for nezumiiro very often, i've never neglected the idea which let to this weblog, though. I hope so to be able to clear my mind this year, mature and end this "between-time" of my life.

Happy New Year!

Alles Gute für 2012!

明けましておめでとうございます。

2011-12-26T22:27:00.000+01:00

Happy Holidays

liked & linked

2011-12-18T14:01:00.000+01:00

eunice kim: Tessellation Series

Rüdiger Nehmzow: Clouds (via)

Humanoid: Scarf

tofu の misozuke

2011-12-14T09:10:00.000+01:00

After two weeks the miso pickled tofu (recipe here) is quite good now and entirely creamy.

tofu no misozuke

2011-12-07T21:02:00.001+01:00

A side-dish with the hearty flavor of... no, actually not cheese, but something like that, salty and smelly... hence really good.

*a block of (semi-firm) tofu
*miso
*osake

In advance i wrapped the tofu block in two or three layers of kitchen paper, put a small cutting board on it and on the cutting board some weights (i.e. two small tins) and this construct into the fridge, to squeeze out some of the water. The day after I heated the miso paste over medium-low heat while adding sake to get it more creamy. Then i let the mixture cool to room temperature with the lid closed. I unwrapped the tofu and covered the whole piece with the miso. (You can wrap the tofu first with gauze and after that with miso, too.) I put it in a airtight container and back into the refrigerator - for a week. To eat scrape off the miso (or remove the miso covered gauze).

This foto i've taken today, after a week. The tofu no misozuke tastes fine, especially in its outer parts, rich and creamy, a bit - or quite - salty. Nonetheless i guess it will be even better after some further days. Let's wait!?

PS I quickly decided to go for the pure version. If you like a more well-rounded taste, mix also a bit of *honey, mirin or sugar into your miso marinade.

Japanisch essen in Berlin

2011-11-24T11:18:00.000+01:00

Cocolo is Japanese at heart (the atmosphere no less than the food). KUCHI's style is nice, while the dishes are more modern than original. The crêpestation is a perfect place for girl(-)friends and sunny Sunday afternoons. Sasaya is unremarkable but a insiders' tip.

More Berlin restaurants at which we've been.

FÜR AUSFÜHRLICHES HIER ↓ KLICKEN!

Cocolo
Gipsstraße 3, (Mitte)

Nach Makoto nun also das zweite Ramen-Restaurant in Mitte, das unserem Geschmackstest unterzogen wurde. Auf den ersten Blick, und noch weit vor dem ich den Löffel in die Brühe tauchen konnte, fand ich die rote ラーメン-Laterne, die am Eingang hängt, einnehmend. Solche findet man in Japan häufig an Imbissständen. Und damit wird dann auch schon klar, wo die Ursprünge der Cocolo Ramenbar liegen. Aber das schaut euch selbst an. Das, was sich bereits an der Fassade andeutet, setzt sich im Inneren fort: Endlich liegt Japan in der Luft und lässt sich nicht nur, wie andernorts, in den nicht enden wollenden Sushi-Variationen der Speisekarte erahnen!! Die Räume finde ich mehr als gelungen. Mit der Einrichtung hat man sowohl den Nerv des Landes, als auch den der Zeit, sprich der eines jungen, doch ein wenig qualitäts- und stilbewussten Publikums, getroffen. Im Cocolo findet man weder Buddha-Figuren, noch Abbildungen von im Wasser watenden Reihern, auch keine Kalligraphien auf blendend weißem Papier oder rot lackierte Kästchen für Essstäbchen; auch keine Tische, Stühle, Tresen aus der Serie „Asia” des nächsten Gastronomie-Fachbetriebs. Es ist vielmehr die Mischung aus schönen, simplen Bänken aus Massivholz, offenliegenden Rohren und einer unaufdringlichen, aber smarten Kreativität, die hier zu Tage tritt. Entsprechend war ist die Musikauswahl. Die relative Enge der Ramenbar mit ihrem Eingang, wo ein Noren hängt, macht eine wunderbar intime Atmosphäre und die Leuchten, Marke Eigenbau, verströmen gleichmäßig warmes Licht. Für Sonnenstunden gibt es einen Hof zum Draußensitzen. Aber eigentlich wollte ich ja über Nudelsuppe schreiben. Hiervon gibt es eine Handvoll verschiedener. Dieses überschaubare Angebot finde ich sehr sympathisch und im Grunde ist es auch so bereits vielfältiger, als in den meisten originalen Ramenküchen. Geschmacklich war das Bestellte einwandfrei. Nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Das Servicepersonal erschien ebenso authentisch, wie alles andere, auch wenn es etwas von dem „WirwissendasswirdiebesteRamenbarsind-Geruch” an sich hatte. Aber das mag unser persönliches Empfinden sein. Was den Preis angeht ist es auch hier wieder so, dass acht, neun Euro, exklusive Getränk, für ein so einfaches Gericht eigentlich recht viel sind. Aber warum nicht, wenn die Suppe gut ist und die Umgebung erfrischend? Wie oft hat man für das Geld schon schlechter gegessen? Daumen hoch also fürs Cocolo.

8/10

KUCHI
Kantstraße 30, (Charlottenburg)

Ins KUCHI sind wir wieder eher zufällig gekommen. Ich kannte den Namen, weil es davon mehrere Restaurants in Berlin gibt und es außerdem mit dem Cocolo verbandelt ist. KUCHI ist stylish und bietet japanische Küche, wie sie der großstädtische, mondäne Westler denn wohl gern hat: Sushi und Wok-Gerichte, Yaki-Allesmögliche, japanisch-asiatische Suppen und Salate,... Wir wählten Thunfisch- und Lachsdonburi von der Mittagskarte, die sich im Rahmen von 6 Euro 50 für eine vegetarische Nudelsuppe und 11, 12 Euro für eine Sushiplatte oder Sashimi bewegt. (Die regulären Gerichte scheinen auch nicht viel teurer, beziehungsweise das Mittagsangebot nicht auffallend günster zu sein.) Schön ist auch hier, dass Tee und Speisen nicht auf glattem, weißem Porzellan serviert werden, sondern schwere Keramiktassen- und Schüsseln ein wenig originales Flair zaubern. Unsere sicherlich nicht zu kleinen Stücke Fisch wurden gebraten serviert, was in Japan ungewöhnlich wäre. --- Keine böse Überraschung, da es auf der Karte angekündigt wird. Rohen Fisch hätten wir aber allemal bevorzugt. Nicht aus irgendeiner dekadenten Neigung heraus, sondern weil geschmacklich Welten dazwischen liegen. Überzogen war er mit einer ~~süßen Soße~~ Teriyaki-Soße und ansprechend mit Sesam und Rettichsprossen besprenkelt. Es war ein anständiges, halbwegs gesundes Essen, ohne jedoch auf irgendeine Weise hervorragend oder besonders japanisch zu sein. Reis mit Fisch und Soße eben. Genauso war unser grüner Tee... ein grüner Tee. Wer hip und doch angenehm essen gehen möchte und internationale, moderne Gerichte mit der rechten Dosis an Exotischem mag, dem möchte ich das KUCHI empfehlen. Jene, die Japan gegenüber wie auch immer geartete sentimentale Gefühle hegen, werden wahrscheinlich auch nach ihrem Besuch dort weitersuchen nach dem japanischen Restaurant.

6/10

crêpestation
Pappelallee 58, (Prenzlauer Berg)

Die crêpestation ist ein netter und mit seinem Angebot auch irgendwie besonderer Laden. Wir saßen draußen, weshalb ich von der Einrichtung nicht viel zu berichten weiß. Sie hat keinen Eindruck hinterlassen, weder positiv noch negativ. Beim Crêpe selbst liegt es mir allerdings noch auf der Zunge zu sagen „der war gut”. Schön dünn war er und von einer „soft-bissigen” Konsistenz, wie man sich einen japanischen Crêpe so vorstellt. Die Füllung war, nachdem die erste Enttäuschung überwunden war, dass natürlich nur schnöde Kirschen aus dem Glas verwendet wurden, und nicht, wie auf der Abbildung diese frischen, prallen, saftigen, süßen, wegen denen ich den Kirsch-Crêpe überhaupt erst gewählt hatte... na gut, es wäre nicht schwer zu erahnen gewesen... die Füllung war jedenfalls auch lecker. Die Crêpes, von denen es eine gefällig große Auswahl an süß belegten Exemplaren und mehreren deftigen Versionen gibt, werden gewickelt in einer fast-foodmäßigen Papptüte serviert, weshalb es ein bisschen eine Sauerei ist sie zu essen. Das birgt aber auch einen gewissen Spaßfaktor in sich. Als Getränk konnte ich mir den Matcha-Latte nicht verkneifen, auch wenn ich jede Verunreinigung von Matcha-Pulver mit irgendetwas anderem als Wasser als Verschwendung empfinde. Aber Matcha ist letztendlich Matcha und man sollte zugreifen, egal in welcher Form, wenn sich einem schon mal die Gelegenheit bietet. Ich hätte mir einen etwas intensiveren Grünteegeschmack gewünscht. Sehr erfreulich war aber, dass das Getränk, wiederum ganz japanisch, nicht allzu süß war. Die Preise, denke ich, sind ziemlich in Ordnung und auch die Bedienung ließ nichts zu wünschen übrig.

8/10

Sasaya
Lychener Straße 50, (Prenzlauer Berg)

Das Sasaya umwolkt ein wenig die Aura des Exklusiven. Entsprechend ist es sicherlich auch nicht verkehrt, vorher anzurufen um sich Plätze reservieren zu lassen. Diese werden Paaren oder Einzelnen gewöhnlich am Tresen oder an einem Tisch zusammen mit anderen Paaren und Einzelnen zugeteilt. Alle Anstrengung scheint man hier aufs Essen zu verwenden, weniger auf die Räumlichkeiten. Die sind zurückhaltend und nicht übel, aber doch eher zweckdienlich. Wobei es aber recht nett sein muss im Sommer bei geöffneten Scheiben auf den Tatami zu sitzen. Aber das haben wir nicht ausprobiert. Den Besuch im Sasaya hatten wir ziemlich hinausgezögert, genauso wie sich manche die schöneste Praline bis zuletzt oder den besonderen Jahrgang beim Wein bis zu einem bestimmten Anlass am Sankt Nimmerleinstag aufheben. Entsprechend groß war dann natürlich die Erwartung. Was dem Restaurant gegenüber etwas ungerecht ist, weil es die zu erfüllen dann kaum mehr in der Lage war. Ungeachtet dessen hatten wir aber einen wirklich schönen Abend dort und das beste Sushi, das wir vielleicht je in Deutschland gegessen haben. (Wobei wir, zugegeben, noch nie in einem der wirklich teuren Restaurants waren.) Wenn ich eingangs etwas von Exklusivität schrieb, dann betraf das auch nicht die Preise, denn die halten sich vergleichsweise im Rahmen. Vor allem Sushi gibt es hier, einige Donburi und Suppen und etliche japanische Kleinigkeiten, die man anderswo eher schlecht bekommt. Dagegen keine Backbananen, Kokossuppen, kein Yaki-Krokodil oder sonstige "exotische" Sachen. Die Speisekarte listet also weitgehend ursprüngliche Gerichte auf; von hier etwas von da etwas. Den Ton an- und Beispiel gebend für den ganzen Abend mag das nimono gewesen sein, ein Schälchen gekochtes Gemüse, das uns als Amuse-bouche serviert wurde. Beim ersten Bissen kam schon der Aha-Effekt: „Ahh, das schmeckt ja mal wirklich nach Japan!!”. Nicht unbedingt ganz so raffiniert und ausbalanciert, wie oft (jedoch auch nicht immer) dort, aber doch eben original!! Lassen wir das als Fazit stehen und ich die Soba-Suppe mit Pilzen, die wir noch bestellt hatten, unter den Tisch fallen. Die war nicht gut. Was gibt es sonst noch zu sagen? Ach ja, die Sushi werden hinter der Theke zubereitet - ich hatte das Vergnügen den Abend über ein Bündel benoppte Krakenbeine als Tischnachbarn zu haben - und der Sushi-Meister scheint in seinem Element, dem macht es Freude zuzusehen. Redseelig ist er auch, jedenfalls auf Japanisch.

9/10

Mamecha
9/10

Am Rande bemerkt kann ich das internet-seits sehr gelobte Ishin (Mittelstraße) nicht unbedingt empfehlen. Einiges mag ganz passabel sein und die abgepackten japanischen Süßigkeiten und der Nachfülltee nette Features, als wir jedoch dort waren, war die Hälfte der Gerichte nicht bestellbar, weil der Thunfisch aus war, und das Tagesgericht, ein paniert-frittierter Lachsklops, schmeckte so, wie Katzenfutter riecht, so dass wir uns ernsthaft Sorgen machten den folgenden Tag irgendwie gesundheitlich eingeschränkt verbringen zu müssen. Resteverwertung, und das nicht sehr geschickt.

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parcels and the invisible

2011-11-23T09:16:00.001+01:00

There came a parcel from Japan. I so so love those! Especially if there's food inside.

Until this year i felt only joy. And now i can't avoid thinking at least once: „Where has this parcel and the things inside been during their journey?" While (although knowing it better) my idea of Japan has always been a picture of something like green woods behind Kyoto and a deep feeling of 'all is calm and alright', now there's also unease, anxiety of something invisible. I feel ashamed: There are hundreds and thousands of people living their everyday lifes there, every day. Still i can immagine to live in Japan, too, and i still like this thought. But, honestly, it isn't as easy as it was before. Japan, in the consciousness of this world, isn't paradise anymore. Now maybe it needs real love to stick with this injured country.

morning encounters

2011-11-21T09:01:00.001+01:00

One morning i was surprised to find a ~~mushroom cloud~~ diamond in my coffee cup. Then he showed me his: What a face!!:-)

Herbstspaziergang

2011-11-08T08:52:00.001+01:00

The smell of winter.

♪

2011-10-31T19:11:00.000+01:00

Oyatsu.

Nest

2011-10-29T11:40:00.001+02:00

Another thing i love about our flat is that we virtually live in a tree. It's like a bird's nest. Now the maple in front (or actually in the patio) of our building is changing colours for the first time. Unfortunately you can't see it well, but the October page of Flora Douville's calendar echoes exactly what we see out of our bedroom window these days. How wonderful!

2011-10-28T08:43:00.001+02:00

liked & linked

2011-10-24T09:30:00.000+02:00

Koji Yano: Kyusu and teacup

Kitka @ Tomiyama Koichi Exhibition...

... and a film tip at hahanomori.

just to say hello

2011-10-19T11:04:00.002+02:00

painting a life

2011-10-14T09:56:00.000+02:00

Fabienne Verdier

Started reading her book. Can't stop.

I used to dream a bit about doing something extraordinary once, something beyond waking up, going to work, which doesn't intrigue me very much, counting the days to the upcoming holidays, watching serials in the evenings... But time is passing by. Time in which i'm realizing how much toughness it actually takes to leave the common ways. And the worst: Not being able to find one's own path while still having doubts about following the herd means not going anywhere!

Wait, now it started sounding gloomily here. That wasn't my intension. What we need to do is going on. This in mind: Have a good day!

... Oh, how tough she must be, Fabienne Verdier. Just look at this face... or read her book...
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light & shadow

2011-10-09T19:13:00.000+02:00

What i'm loving about our flat.
And what makes a sunny day still brighter.
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sea

2011-10-06T21:25:00.000+02:00

Hello, my dear readers! I'm a bad blogger lately. Sorry. Obviously i'm still not used to working in shifts. And my (not existing) new daily routine still isn't providing me any time to surf the internet or to occupy myself with things... with which i love to occupy myself.

The 3rd October was a national holiday and we had a day off. D an i went to the sea by train. I hadn't seen the ocean for years (Well, saw! it for some seconds during the trips to Japan, but not got my feet into it.) and after that not very summery summer really craving for it. One second after having pulled up my pants i hit my big toe badly and bloodily... but that shouldn't be the matter here. Btw. it's me in the last picture. I'm ~~a hero~~ really really wanted to dabble in the sea.

Oh, and we ate fish and seafood all the day long! It started with salmon and rice balls in the morning --- byproducts of making the salmon onigiri which we took on the trip and ate with "ebi furai" later. Followed by a shrimp soup, mussels, and fried European plaice... with shrimp sauce.

...

2011-09-27T08:37:00.001+02:00

:-)

2011-09-25T17:27:00.000+02:00

modern times

2011-09-23T21:37:00.001+02:00

Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin.

The current exhibition is called Moderne Zeiten, modern times, and showing paintings, mainly from Germany and of the years between 1900 and 1945. All in all a bit heavy... I'd have loved to see also some newer art works of the collection, which still will be shown later this fall.

But above that, going to the museum was a pilgrimage to the temple of one of the gods of architecture: Mies. Maybe it's not his most shining building, but i like artists' late works. There's a whole life in them, i guess.
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freitags +1

2011-09-18T12:01:00.002+02:00

~~Last friday~~ the friday last week i've written that i'm wondering if one should work for free. I'm still wondering and upset with a great part of our 'representatives' of art and culture. But instead of worring i began a not very well-paid, but at least paid! job now --- outside of that barren field of aesthetics... or, well, at its edge. So recently i came home at half past nine or so in the evening and also skipped my friday links. But two i have nonetheless this week:

You may like to admire these potted gardens, which Ebony from Hello Sandwich took and which always look a bit messy but so lovely?

And then i found this house which isn't bad, too.

From the bottom of my heart: Have a wonderful Sunday!

●
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Erinnerungen an den Sommer

2011-09-14T08:43:00.000+02:00

mOon

2011-09-13T11:44:00.000+02:00

There was Otsukimi moon yesterday night.
The shadow play on our curtain was amazing.
Unfortunately the camera didn't catch this moving tree pattern.
But i was watching it quite some time and enjoyed it very much.
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freitags

2011-09-09T09:23:00.001+02:00

● S H O U L D I W O R K F O R F R E E ? • ●

Actually, this i'm asking myself. I'm upset about the
habits of many "employers".

If i earned well, i'd buy a dyed rug from miinu immediately.
As well i'd love to have a tick table by Jakob Schenk.

Have a happy weekend, eh!
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Hokusai

2011-09-07T09:33:00.000+02:00

葛飾北斎

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

On Saturday we went to see Hokusai at the Martin Gropius Bau, a large exhibition with over 400 prints and paintings from his beginnings as an artist through to his last works. A lot to see, but (except for the masses of visitors) it wasn't tiring at all. Impressive and somehow inspiring. And again the question: What is art and what is craftsmanship?
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architectural afternoon

2011-09-03T20:30:00.000+02:00

Oscar Niemeyer

Walter Gropius

F. Jaenecke/S. Samuelson

Arne Jacobsen

Alvar Aalto

Hansaviertel, Berlin. Buildings of the Interbau 1957.

Berlin isn't Bilbao. Yet you can do a fine walk and at the same time go and see some architectural goodies. We did and enjoyed.

Although listing the names of the architects who contributed to the Hansaviertel would be some kind of name dropping, the impression one gets today maybe won't be immediately breathtaking. Things become really interesting if you see them in front their historical background, though. Modern but modest, free and democratic. What was the idea of "die stadt von morgen", "the city of tomorrow"? In Germany, in the 1950s. Did it work, didn't it? Why?

freitags

2011-09-02T10:12:00.000+02:00

.
Still, we need a rug or two.
In front of the kitchen/bathroom?
Living room?
Loom. Gorgeous.

Wickelfisch.
Swimming in along rivers.
Seen this at Basel some years ago
and loved it.

But instead of swimming in rivers,
yesterday i got a bit nostalgic about Japan
while taking a shower that did't get warm.
Mhh~

Do you have any projects for your weekend?

. . . ... .

. ... . . ..

.. . . . .

. .

2011-08-31T07:58:00.002+02:00

happiness

2011-08-28T15:38:00.002+02:00

> cooking

> vegetables in

> my

> sunlit

kitchen, while drinking

> milk coffee out of a

> pretty ceramic cup.

For a long time i was a little ashamed of my "hobbies", or at least i avoided explicitly calling them my interests. Nothing special about them, yet a bit weird, neither stunning nor ladylike. Now i've discovered that things feel so much better saying - yes, i enjoy cooking, i do adore crafted tableware, anyway, i LOVE all about... food.

Mr nezumiiro, who is Japanese and should actually be used to people taking pictures of their dishes, ever since is rolling his eyes confronted with the tons of my food pictures that are swamping our harddrives. The change came when i took a picture once again and he, a bit kidding me, noticed that my face while doing this always looks far more serious as usual. In this moment i realized: I am serious! I'm seriously enjoying this. And, why not? :-D

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hydrangea summer

2011-08-28T10:26:00.000+02:00

This summer hadn't been very summery. However the weather was great to make grow the hydrangeas. So so beautiful!

All the time it was an up-and-down, but yesterday night the temperature fell about 15° degrees. ... It really seems to be autumn now. Hope a beautiful one! Since it's my favourite season.

☁ ✿

2011-08-26T15:01:00.002+02:00

freitags

2011-08-26T10:02:00.000+02:00

What would you save from your burning house? (via)

And where would you like to wake up tomorrow morning?

Ever asked what other people are doing right in this moment?

Our flat is going to become a little like this... on a lower level.

One of these pots by tw pottery would be pretty, too. (via)

Everyone is loving spoons (!!) lately, don't you think so?

... Although this fish purse is somehow appealing. ;-D

Getting tense only seeing these nano-origami pieces. (via)

Happy weekend everyone!

☀

ceramics: old

2011-08-24T08:47:00.003+02:00

Flea market finds.

It's a beer bottle, apparently used during the process of fermenting.

The two little jars once contained shoe polish, it was said.

Are they nicer without knowing about their original usage?

Nonetheless, it's stunning, the world before the plastics.

.

ceramics: new

2011-08-22T16:22:00.000+02:00

Today it came to my mind that finding good (What's good at all?) ceramics (Well, let's say, pieces i love.) is somehow like finding mushrooms. Generally they don't stand around very obviously...

Yesterday, though, i came about two potters whose works i liked at the first glance. I bought two cups. It's almost time for plates or at least something else than cups.

one boat

2011-08-22T09:41:00.006+02:00

My friends' wedding, a beautiful poem and some thoughts. Click! ↓

A week ago we were invited to my friends' wedding. One friend brought a wedding album and another friend kindly provided some proverbs and poems. Since in such cases my spontaneous creative output not seldom becomes strangely funny, i decided to chose one of his. The poem is by Reiner Kunze, a German writer, and its original title is "Rudern zwei ein Boot". I immediately loved it. And i immediately knew, this, what i'm saying to the bridal couple with these borrowed words, (still) isn't reality for myself, for our couple. We're aware of this fact. Sometimes it seems like a miracle to me that we grew up 10 thousand kilometers far from each other, and yet, in so many cases we behave like twins. Sure, this is part of the attraction and affinity. But it can be equally exhausting, if there's no way to stand on two feet by our own. If our love is so much like ourselves, i think, we must love and care ourselves still more. I tried a translation for you, at least you may understand what the poem is about:

Two rowing a boat

Two rowing a boat,

one knows the stars,

the other knows the storms,

will the one

guide through the stars,

will the other

guide through the storms,

and in the end the very end

the sea in the memory will

be blue

*

freitags

2011-08-20T09:45:00.000+02:00

Did you know that you can display blogger blogs like this!?

What's so difficult about having nice and simple ideas?

Time to waste?
Then you must try How About Orange's Time-Wasters.

Uhh~ we need a carpet, too. It's difficult...

Visual poetry... inspiring! * * * * * *
.

... banana

2011-08-18T09:25:00.000+02:00

Essen in Berlin

2011-08-17T18:08:00.002+02:00

.

An excursion, leading into some of Berlin's (fast food) restaurants: Si An is quite pretty, Dong Xuang Center is exotic, Makoto tries to be original, Yam Yam is yummy and Yarok is finally fine.

AUSFÜHRLICHES NACH DEM KLICK!

Si An
vietnamesisch, Rykestraße 36 (Prenzlauer Berg)

Si An ist der Beweis dafür, dass der gute Geschmack, den man in der Küche sucht, beim Ambiente nicht aufhören muss. Mit dem Si An, merkt man, hat sich jemand Mühe gegeben, jemand, der einen wunderbaren Sinn dafür hat eine ansprechende Atmosphäre zu schaffen. Leider reicht's am Ende nicht um 100-prozentig zu überzeugen und wir sind nur kurz geblieben. Nicht zuletzt lag's am jugendlich-ungehobelten Service, dass keine entsprechende Stimmung aufkam. Schade, wär so schön gewesen! Geboten wird eine einfallsreiche und frische Küche, die trotz allem nicht abgehoben wirkt, die Preise sind dafür angemessen. Wir hatten, was auf den Fotos zu sehen ist. Ach ja, eigentlich wollten wir ins Si An Tra, das Teehaus nebenan. Aber da war aus ungeklärten Gründen kein Betrieb. Die Kuchenkarte wäre verlockend gewesen. --- Idee klasse, Umsetzung nicht ganz so perfekt.
7/10

Dong Xuan Center
überwiegend vietnamesisch, Herzbergstraße 128 (Lichtenberg)

Urlaub ohne wegzufahren!? Drei Hallen voll mit allem Möglichen und Unmöglichen: Polyesterkleider und Plastikblumen, Turnschuhe und Hühnerfüße, Schöpfkellen und Kinderfahrräder, Friseure und Nagelstudios... Am brauchbarsten, um nicht zu sagen, sehr brauchbar, sind die Lebensmittelläden. In etwa wird dort das angeboten, was auch allerorts in kleineren Asiamärkten verkauft wird, die Auswahl ist jedoch zwangsläufig größer und auch ein paar frisch zubereitete Sachen, wie Mondkuchen sind zu finden. Alleine wegen denen würde ich wieder hinfahren. Wir haben das vietnamesische Restaurant am vorderen Eingang der linken Halle "getestet". Girlanden an der Decke und eine asiatische Schlagersängerin flimmerte über den Bildschirm. Die Bedienung zeichnete sich durch etwas ruppigen Charme aus und hatte mein Essen vergessen. Macht nichts. Wir hatten gebratenen Reis, der in seiner Gesamtheit zwar nicht sehr abwechslungsreich schmeckte, aber im Großen und Ganzen gut war und Phở. Das wäre vielleicht noch einen Tick besser gewesen, wenn die deutsche Gästin von den bereitgestellten Chilis und Zitronenstücken genommen hätte. Die waren aber über das von ihr zu verkraftende Ausmaß von Fliegen belagert. Wenigstens haben sie zum exotischen Ambiente beigetragen... Keine Ahnung, ob Fliegen in Vietnam tatsächlich zum Standard gehören. Die Preise entsprechen deutschem Niveau. Was die Qualität der Küche betrifft ist es wahrscheinlich überzeugender, wenn ich schreibe, dass das Restaurant voll war von vietnamesischen Gästen, als selbst ein laienhaftes Urteil abzugeben. Phở im Vietnam Center werde ich mir jedenfalls ein zweites Mal gönnen.
6/10

Makoto
japanisch, Alte Schönhauser Straße 13 (Mitte)

Das Makoto, von einem "echten" Japaner geführt und mit ebensolchem Service, schien uns als Geheimtipp gehandelt. Nach all den begeisterten Empfehlungen* waren wir leider etwas enttäuscht. Das heißt aber auch, dass es anderen dort wirklich gut schmeckt. Während das hier allgegenwärtige Sushi in seinem Heimatland doch eher etwas Besonders ist, gehören die dort angebotenen Gerichte, in erster Linie Ramen und Donburi, zur Alltagsküche, ja, fast schon zum Fast Food. Wir kennen die Shoyu Ramen und Katsudon. Beides war in jeder Hinsicht okay (Ist ja schon mal was!), wobei die Reisschüssel mit Schnitzel ein wenig zu derb und einfach war im Geschmack, welcher selbst der Nudelsuppe zum Großteil fehlte. Nicht, dass es nicht schmeckte, nur war's keine... nunja, Geschmacksexplosion und, am allerschlimmsten, dieses Satt-und-zufrieden-Gefühl, wie man es in Japan nach dem Genuss solcher Speisen normalerweise hat, stellte sich nicht ein. Allerdings ist es auch wirklich schwierig mit den hießigen Mitteln den japanischen Geschmacksnerv zu treffen (zumal man hier offenbar auch noch den japanischen Nerv Deutscher anzusprechen versucht). Die Küche Nippons verzeiht eben nichts (und viele Deutsche dagegen so einiges). Fazit: In Japan würde Makoto sicherlich nicht besonders von sich reden machen, unter den japanischen Lokalen hier aber fällt es vor allem durch seine (annähernde) Authentizität positiv auf und ist daher durchaus einen Besuch wert. Freundliche Bedienung und preislich gerade noch in Ordnung.
*) Gerade stelle ich fest, dass es in der Gegend noch ein zweites Ramen-Restaurant gibt. Vielleicht gebührt ja diesem ein Teil des Lobs. Wir werden testen müssen.
6/10

Yam Yam
koreanisch, Alte Schönhauser Straße 16 (Mitte)

Was koreanisches Essen anbelangt bin ich vielleicht weniger kritisch als bei japanischem. Schlichtweg auch deshalb, weil mir die nötige Kenntnis fehlt. Im Yam Yam waren wir jetzt zweimal und es war zweimal schön und gut, wobei der hell und einfach eingerichtete Laden, wo am Counter bestellt und bezahlt, danach der Gast mit Vornamen aufgerufen wird, wohl eher etwas für Leute unter, sagen wir mal, 35 Jahren ist, als fürs Geschäftsessen. Die Speisekarte ist unter dem Link oben einsehbar. Bibimbap mit seinen verschiedenen leckeren Zutaten brutzelt appetitanregend, die Nudeln mit dunkler Bohnensauce waren eine gelungene Abwechslung zu Spaghetti und Co. und den Versuch wert. Die vegetarische Reisschüssel war etwas speziell, weil sehr süß, was aber die mit aufgetischen Banzan allemal wett machten. Denn die sind wirklich toll. Auch hier sind die Mitarbeiterinnen nett und die Preise zwar nicht günstig, jedoch bezahlbar.
8/10

Yarok
arabisch, Torstraße 193 (Mitte)

Ins Yarok sind wir eher zufällig beim Spazierengehen gestolpert. Irgendwas hat uns hineingezogen, wenn auch nicht ganz klar ist, was: Es ist etwas psychedelisch im Inneren und retro und das "Restaurant" eigentlich nur ein Falafelimbiss. Die Bedienung war ebenso schnell zur Stelle, wie später das Essen auf dem Tisch und freundlich war sie auch. Wir entschieden uns für das syrische(?!) Tagesgericht, Okra, Gemüse und etwas Fleisch in Tomatensoße mit Reis und für Schawarma in Granatapfelsoße. Ich hatte noch einen "Orient"-Tee mit hübsch darin schwimmendem Allerlei. Beide Gerichte waren sensationell gut im Geschmack, sehr facettenreich, und auch an den übrigen Qualitätsmerkmalen kann man nicht viel mäkeln. Kochkünste, wie man sie in vielen Restaurants nicht findet zu Snack-Preisen.
9/10

Weiter geht's hier: Japanisch essen in Berlin

2011-08-10T12:50:00.000+02:00

Back next week.
Have a good time!

PS

2011-08-08T09:41:00.000+02:00

A 2nd level for the low cost DIY project in our ~~misshaped~~ irregular shaped kitchen. Finally we can eat there. No need anymore to carry all the plates and food into the living room and back everytime.

freitags

2011-08-05T10:39:00.001+02:00

•
.

How i'd love to have this kind of ice (cream),

never tried it,

but weather is still more like that.

Spanish architects are doing a great job lately.

•

work in progress

2011-08-04T10:50:00.000+02:00

Working in the kitchen again.

It would be nice to let things like in the picture above. But what you can't see is the all the stuff behind the camera. :-D

grey

2011-07-31T14:55:00.000+02:00

Rainy Sundays can be soo boring...
... or so exciting and cosy.

"Carpe diem," i'm saying to myself right now.

freitags

2011-07-29T10:10:00.002+02:00

the colour of

a "colour generator" by Fung Kwok Pan (via)

chalk typography by Dana Tanamachi (via)

Sayaka Minemura's breakfast project :-))

in.gredients --- a package free grocery store

.

fly

2011-07-27T11:04:00.000+02:00

We had our dinner (Chinese style fried noodles again...) at the former airfield of Tempelhof airport. An untilled vast hole in the centre of town. It was a balmy evening and a lot of people were enjoying themselves pursuing the very different activities.

delighted

2011-07-26T07:17:00.000+02:00

2011-07-23T08:17:00.000+02:00

freitags

2011-07-22T16:36:00.000+02:00

☀

movie title stills collection (via)

kimono

Architecture can devide outside from inside.
Or can incorporate outside inside.
This is a fundamental issue, i think:

nest & cocage showroom

I wish you a sunny weekend. Enjoy it!
It's July and we've 14°C (57°F) and rain here.
This would be nice and cozy... but next there
will also come autumn, then winter.
I still need some warmth and sunshine!

.

Home is...

2011-07-20T15:40:00.003+02:00

...where the cups are.

- Really?!

- I'm afraid that this is true.

During the last years i obviously cultivated a vast passion for ceramics. I think, i've adored humpy cups and mugs and other pottery stuff all the while, somehow. But taste and knowledge about these things matured a bit, it seems, and i've become a bit (too) picky.

Finally we could move a greater part of our tableware into the new apartment (beside other things). And i'm happy. Especially happy i'm about the Japanese coffee cups and the Arita café au lait bowls, which i haven't seen for a while, since they remaind in Japan until this year, then in paper boxes waiting for relocation.

2011-07-20T14:10:00.005+02:00

This picture shouldn't show a not very special at all plate with tokusa pattern, but a chausson aux pommes from Lenôtre, or simply Apfeltasche, because it was from the famous 7th floor of the KaDeWe. I also had one brioche and one pâte à choux. While the brioche was a bit dry, the apple turnover was quite fine and the choux pastry was amazing. All things weren't much sweet but had a slight hearty taste. A welcome fact in times where things more often are vice versa, sweet without any other taste. I absolutely must go there again.

pâte à choux => chou à la crème = シュークリーム = shuu kuriimu = "shoe cream" = :-D

chair 2

2011-07-18T22:24:00.000+02:00

This is our second new old chair. D has a passion for Chiavarine and i like them, too. We bought the chair on very good terms (It's a bit raddled.), being sure that it is an imitation. It's beautiful, though, and we're wondering where it comes from... Or is it an original nonetheless?

By the way, Giò Ponti's Superleggera is inspired by a Chiavari Chair.

.

freitags

2011-07-15T08:56:00.000+02:00

an architect's flat

credenzas by BDDW

would so love to make umeshu

sonntags Flohmarkt

2011-07-14T09:51:00.000+02:00

sundays flea market

And it boils down to collecting chairs. It's a bit funny that most people who enjoy design things begin with a chair collection... and not seldom end with one. We too??
.

Cheers!

2011-07-13T10:35:00.003+02:00

Cheers! We're back online!

(This puristic bottle of beer we've found at a little 'Spätverkauf' shop near our flat. Good taste doesn't need a name, is their slogan. Well, the taste isn't bad... but isn't more than the design either. --- Is less design always the best solution? It needs the right amount, i think. Not less. And sure, not more.)
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kitchen

2011-06-23T21:53:00.000+02:00

.

Finally we began cooking properly again... after subsisting on Döner, Falafel and stir-fry noodles for some time. Our one liter soy sauce bottle is still waiting 500 kilometers far from here. And we both are longing for miso soup. No time to complain, though. Time to discover German cuisine! Isn't it? Well...
.

:-)

2011-06-23T21:06:00.001+02:00

.

I didn't think to become friends with IKEA.

.

in delay

2011-06-22T15:23:00.001+02:00

.
My dears, we still don't have web. Maybe next week. Another technician has to come.

I went to an internet point, because i've taken some snap shots of our new place and thought to upload them for you. Unfortunately that doesn't work.

Thank you so much for still dropping by!

Bis hoffentlich bald,
ja mata, ne!

t
.

Next posting...

2011-06-14T14:47:00.001+02:00

... from here.

DMY likes

2011-06-12T22:16:00.000+02:00

Some things i've seen & liked at the design festival. More info soon, hopefully.

Oh, i miss web surfing a little bit, my friday link list and so on. Can't wait for some leisure time to do this. :-) See you!

DMY Impressionen

2011-06-05T12:15:00.000+02:00

•

• •

•

DMY 2011

2011-06-02T22:31:00.001+02:00

The International Design Festival Berlin started yesterday. - While i am in the city! I really hoped that i could enjoy it, instead we're still looking for a new home. I'm passionated about dwellings, but lately i've seen too many of them... the bad ones and the too expensive ones. Until now Saturday is still without an appointment... maybe... time to go to the festival?

2011-05-29T17:09:00.000+02:00

Zwischenmiete II

2011-05-27T13:44:00.001+02:00

Still aliiive~

Searching for a real home, for a real job.

Sometimes i wish my life would be more normal, things more ordinated... It's fate or it's myself who is mixing up my life (almost) more than i can bear?

The house where we're staying now is one of those typical old tenements... and it's so photogenic! Love the floorboards the high rooms and the old white lacquered doors. (Well, the bathrooms aren't that stunning.) Unfortunately it seems that we cannot rent one of these right now. But a huge balcony and a moderate gas bill isn't bad, too... isn't it?

*...

Zwischenmiete

2011-05-19T08:14:00.000+02:00

intermediate rent

Finally we are together. But still we're living like nomads. The pictures are showing the apartment where we stood at the beginning of the year. From tomorrow on we will have another accomodation. Only for tree or four weeks this time, but i think it'll be nice there.

Nonetheless i can't wait until we can have our own place, with our own things...!

Well, it's time to finish packing my bags. See you soon!

.

freitags +1

2011-05-14T20:21:00.000+02:00

.

☐☐☐

Nanako Koyama: Every Morning

/¯¯¯\

Slow Wood

|¯¯¯|

Kraus Schönberg Architects: House W

.

Tacheles

2011-05-12T19:02:00.000+02:00

I've been in this place before. I was a teenager then and excited. This time i'm not even a twen anymore and i felt strange. These people... there... while i recently enjoy to spent my time daydreaming of pretty and tidy things. Graffiti and a not very decent smell of piss everywhere. Their artwork sometimes looks like it was made in high school art class. But finally they DO art. They seem to be strong and to have a strong opinion on what their lives should be... or not to be. I was also surprised that several, well, quite a lot, Japanese artists do have their studios there. Are they outsiders in their country or did i underrate their sense for individuality?

Germany... random thoughts

2011-05-11T10:02:00.001+02:00

This biscuit made me think that Germans probably can produce cute things... maybe they only not want to. It's the back. (With this design on the front side the "Butterkekse" possibly could be sold also in Japan or any other country that loves a more gentle design.) The face, however, shows a coffee cup that resembles pretty much one of those free images that where provided with Windows oder Office Word during the 90s.

O O O O O

Yesterday i've searched for "german" on Pinterest

Results:

* German pancake
This seems to be something specifically American?? An amazing pan-cake baked in the oven. Never seen something like this in Germany.

* German dog breeds

* German cakes and cupcakes
... covered with something that somehow makes me think a of vomit... Is it good? It seems to be popular.

* German pottery
I hadn't been aware of it. But it's nice to see that some taste leaders around the world do like it.

* Graphic design
Yey! Thanks to the 1950s!

I did the same research on flickr: soldiers, dogs, sausages.
A bit more pleasing: ドイツ.
Didn't do it again with google images.

.

freitags

2011-05-06T22:30:00.001+02:00

A new shop in an old house: Kyoto Silk by Keiichi Hayashi

How do you call this? Spanish Modern? However, this style is becoming more and more interesting.

Tapehook by TORAFU ARCHITECTS (via)

Inspired by Giorgio Morandi: tonale tableware series by David Chipperfield Architects for alessi

*

Is it a peanut? Is it a bean?

2011-05-02T18:17:00.000+02:00

Many new and unknown things to do lately...
Hoping for more regular postings soon again.

Are you doing fine?

At least one thing finished:
He hand carved a pretty bowl. :-)

.

tampopo

2011-04-26T16:45:00.000+02:00

Jüdisches Museum Berlin

2011-04-24T10:16:00.000+02:00

✡

Daniel Libeskind, 1992--2001

So many ideas hidden in this architecture...

freitags

2011-04-22T19:52:00.000+02:00

Furniture and sculptures by Allan Pearce

and turnings.

Dark Spring --- Christoph Niemann

and a new children's book.

Happy Easter!

Happy Weekend!

Berlin

2011-04-20T15:46:00.000+02:00

Hisashiburi desu!

How are you?

We're back from our trip.

Here are some pics, if you like.

.

freitags

2011-04-15T08:46:00.000+02:00

peep in Handcrafted Modern

porcelain: atelier halo

old & new: Casa Lude by Grupo Aranea

Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum...

...by Kengo Kuma and Associates

dreamy 1: sakura & matcha hot chocolate

dreamy 2: perfect storm print by Tomer Hanuka

❚❚❚❚❚
.

April

2011-04-14T09:48:00.000+02:00

To do, or not to do,...

2011-04-12T09:42:00.003+02:00

In a previous post i mentioned that at a cute little web shop i've seen a towel which resembled very much a project of mine. Of course it was no copy, because i've never shown it to anybody. However at this moment i was encouraged to make things by myself --- but not only for myself.

On the picture you can see a table or rather a work desk that 'Mister nezumiiro' made about three years ago. And this transparent table is designed by nendo. They will present it at Milano Salone 2011. Well, our table is not transparent and won't go to Milan but the idea of irregular floorboards on bock style table legs is pretty the same...

The nendo table is a true design piece. Ours instead still (and probably forever) a no name thing, more for daily use than to engage attention. Nonetheless, this time it really felt like a big hint: Create what you're thinking of and shout it out loudly... okay, a bit more loudly at least!

.

draußen sitzen

2011-04-08T09:12:00.000+02:00

~~This blog soon under www(dot)cake(hyphen)paradise(dot)de!~~

But seriously,

that cake with meringue is possibly the best cake in town.

.

Neuschwanstein

2011-04-06T10:25:00.002+02:00

We went to Schloss Neuschwanstein this weekend. Although it's no three hours drive far from here, i've never been there before. A bit ashamed. But "Kitsch" has never been much my thing.

And many people working more or less scientifically with architecture still get pimple on their faces only thinking of historicism in art.

But the trip was actually interesting. Sure, one can argue that building such a castle is insane and far too much. Nonetheless this project has been zeitgeisty.

I'm not a king or queen. I won't build a great castle and hopfully nothing that will ruin me so obviously. But at least i asked myself during the trip: Why not cherish the idea of creating a place where one can stay peacefully? Why not hold on dreams, even if they seem to be a bit special?

.

freitags

2011-04-01T09:56:00.000+02:00

By Andrew Widdis.
-> !

Uhhh. Naked Girls Tea Set by Esther Hörchner.

Jona --- Rings by Yasushi Jona. (via)

TAKESHI HOSAKA architects & Inside Out

A very nice space... along many nice spaces.

How time flies! Friday again.

Have a good weekend everyone.

.

cake again

2011-03-29T12:40:00.000+02:00

Cakes, tea and coffee from a local coffee rostery at Café Prinzess, Germany's first coffeehouse. The pistachio cake was especially nice and fluffy.

a friendly face

2011-03-27T21:55:00.001+02:00

A smile. Sometimes it's such a basic thing we need most.

What an enormous power.

Pictures by iMorpheus, creative commons, found on flickr.

freitags

2011-03-26T08:41:00.001+01:00

.
.
Small Box House, Sapporo.

Ceramic cups... like birch trunks.

Balancing blocks...

...and a wooden puzzle.

Bittersweet Sayaka: "Pray For Japan".

. . .

joyous

2011-03-23T17:41:00.000+01:00

Not knowing much about Indian culture, every year i get excited seeing pictures of the Holi Festival.

Photos by Michael Foley and onthego tours, creative commons, flickr.

Dächer ^

2011-03-21T09:05:00.000+01:00

Some views around our (temporary) home.

Having a close look at familar things can be amazing sometimes.

freitags +1

2011-03-19T10:18:00.000+01:00

.
Still wishing for a new bicycle. (via)

Storage by moca.

Look at this room here!

If i was in SF i'd like to stop by atelier CRENN.

A lamp by Bec Brittain for Matter.

Things kitka brought back from Hokkaido.

A parallel world.

The smart iPad Smart Cover.

And last but not least a *real* house in Portugal by Manuel Aires Mateus.

Lets have a good day! :-)

'Cause unforeseen things can happen quickly...

がんばって、日本！

die Ruhe im Sturm

2011-03-17T10:20:00.003+01:00

After the first shock we're relatively calm now. It sounds overbearing when i say that one needn't to be a specialist to imagine from the beginnings how a calamity like now in Japan can end. So why are we following the news without taking a break?

We cannot flee from reality by not switching on television anymore. But is it reality what is shown there? No.

I want to express my condolences to all who have lost someone. I can't say honestly that i'm able (or could bear it) to feel compassion with every single one of the thousands. It's still a number, a inconceivable one and a still indefinite one. I'm not even able to imagine how exhausting must be the aftershocks, the blackouts, the uncertainty to all those who hadn't been hit hard until now.

Yesterday in the evening, while talking about how scared the whole Western world is right now in the sight of the collapsing Japanese power plants, we became aware that the room light was shining brightly. Although Germans declaredly aren't great supporters of atom (well, i'm not talking about actual politics), a greater part of our energy, of course, comes from atomic plants. We switched off the lamps except one. Only that switching off the lamps doesn't mean that our life style has changed remarkably. Still we will be members of highly industrialized nations, will inhabit too large houses, drive cars, buy cheap food and exotic fruits. And in two weeks maybe we will have forgotten Japan and be afraid again of H5N1 or terrorism. I really wish that we could find to a more reasonable and natural way of living.

And still these thoughts are luxurious thoughts while bodies are washing up on the beach like fish and people are risking their health in order to help to improve the situation.

And yet in Japan it was officially said that all this is caused by every single one of us, by our greedy life style. It's a bit too tough to come up with such things at this moment. But possibly this statement isn't totally false.

.

photography

2011-03-16T06:43:00.000+01:00

Juliane Eirich

Snownight

Korea Diary