Haha - I saw the John Butler Trio play at The Tide in Mallacoota before they became famous. I think they came because of Bomba. Bomba played consistently at the Mallacoota Festivals until the end..
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
John Butler Trio
Haha - I saw the John Butler Trio play at The Tide in Mallacoota before they became famous. I think they came because of Bomba. Bomba played consistently at the Mallacoota Festivals until the end..
Thursday, 10 November 2011
In awe of Japan
Often I see images from Japan and get awestruck at the beauty and the origins of such things. The general planning and the look in major cities leaves one wondering why people talk about beautiful japanese architecture. The cities are not planned like Australian cities is the beauty of their surroundings is important. The great architecture is there - sometimes you have to look for it.
This is the just the public toilets of the Shiroyama sky dome in Kumamoto. Designed by Hiroshi+Akiko Takahashi.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Places to visit Japan
1. Miura Cost
Japan’s traditional rural lifestyle at this beautiful open-air museum of thatched-roof houses that’s an easy half-day trip from Tokyo.
2. Nenba
Population 7 Billion
Here is a comment to the photos on this topic
It is very easy to shout population control! But once you realise that if you walk into a African country (say), and tell a man/woman that they should hav only 1 / 2 children, that you will be viewed as a Western Cultural Imperialist, you realise that the problem is actually a little more complicated. There are cultural and economical, but above all, psychological questions to be answered, and issues to be addressed.
The best thing to be done is a multi-pronged approach:
1. Why has population growth flattened out in many countries (like Western Europe and Japan?): Economic prosperity.
2. How to bring economic prosperity to people without massively depelting earth's resources? Research, research, research.
3. How to supply energy and raw materials to all? Promote efficiency and durability - get us off products with "planned obsolesence", and maximise the impact of other resources - how? Research, research, research.
Basically, we need an approcah where economic investment an massive sci-tech research investment goes hand-in-hand. On all levels. Because chaning man's psychology is nigh-impossible. Changing conditions whereby we achieve the desired psychological outcome (want less children, more responsible, better stewardship) is bound to be more successful.
It is very easy to shout population control! But once you realise that if you walk into a African country (say), and tell a man/woman that they should hav only 1 / 2 children, that you will be viewed as a Western Cultural Imperialist, you realise that the problem is actually a little more complicated. There are cultural and economical, but above all, psychological questions to be answered, and issues to be addressed.
The best thing to be done is a multi-pronged approach:
1. Why has population growth flattened out in many countries (like Western Europe and Japan?): Economic prosperity.
2. How to bring economic prosperity to people without massively depelting earth's resources? Research, research, research.
3. How to supply energy and raw materials to all? Promote efficiency and durability - get us off products with "planned obsolesence", and maximise the impact of other resources - how? Research, research, research.
Basically, we need an approcah where economic investment an massive sci-tech research investment goes hand-in-hand. On all levels. Because chaning man's psychology is nigh-impossible. Changing conditions whereby we achieve the desired psychological outcome (want less children, more responsible, better stewardship) is bound to be more successful.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Hakone Open Air Museum
Hakone always seemed like a big tourist spot to me. Tourists to Japan visit Tokyo and then go on an excursion tour to Hakone. That often is the extent of their Japanese/Tokyo experience. There is a special train from Shinjuku which takes you directly to Hakone. It is located on the foothills of Mt Fuji and the attractions found there has Mt Fuji as its backdrop. There are Amusement parks, the Fuji's Safari Park, Ski Parks, Onsen parks - the Onsen park has different baths from red wine bath, macha bath, to different onsen settings Museums, Lake Ashinoko and the Pirate ship. Too touristy for me. Then a friend went here - and showed off photos of the place. It is wonderful. I would love to take the children here:
Chichu Art Museum
In our age and with our experience it is very difficult for a building
to astonish us but this building did that to me. Twice I was stopped
dead in my tracks – I just couldn't believe what I was seeing.
I am posting only the pictures from the brochure (you are not allowed in the building with a camera) but really this building is un-photograph-able. It is for this reason that I think it still relatively unknown. In our time architecture has become recognisable by the photograph, a single visual soundbite, but this building doesn't work like that at all.
Instead it is an experience though not a cheap experience, you don't feel like it's a game, or that you are being tricked, it really feels like a profound difficult statement. I am sure it represents the pinnacle of architectural achievement (is there a "gushing" smilie on ppb2?) and everyone should go and see it.
The only building which has come close to this for me was Corbousier's Notre Dame du haut (Ronchamp) but Ando's building is better.
Chichu Art Museum
Naoshima Fukutake Art Museum Foundation
3449-1 Naoshima, Kagawa 761-3110 Japan
Tel: +81-(0)87-892-3755
Fax: +81-(0)87-840-8285
I am posting only the pictures from the brochure (you are not allowed in the building with a camera) but really this building is un-photograph-able. It is for this reason that I think it still relatively unknown. In our time architecture has become recognisable by the photograph, a single visual soundbite, but this building doesn't work like that at all.
Instead it is an experience though not a cheap experience, you don't feel like it's a game, or that you are being tricked, it really feels like a profound difficult statement. I am sure it represents the pinnacle of architectural achievement (is there a "gushing" smilie on ppb2?) and everyone should go and see it.
The only building which has come close to this for me was Corbousier's Notre Dame du haut (Ronchamp) but Ando's building is better.
Chichu Art Museum
Naoshima Fukutake Art Museum Foundation
3449-1 Naoshima, Kagawa 761-3110 Japan
Tel: +81-(0)87-892-3755
Fax: +81-(0)87-840-8285
Labels:
architecture,
museums,
only in japan
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