Iceland〜アイスランド〜Vol.2

I was really impressed by Iceland although weather was not good during my trip.

I booked the bus going to the Golden Circle Tour.

On the morning, I was waiting on front of the hotel,but no bus stopped.

I called the agency, and they said "Your name is not on the list".

I said I booked on the website, then they asked to go the tour tomorrow.

On the next morning, They forgot to pick me up :P!!!!

I went to the tour on the last day of my trip after all.

We went through a small village where Vegetables are grown in vinyl houses.

These are mysterious and have cool sharp.

This is view from Pingvellr National Park.

The continental drift between North American and Eurasian plates can be clearly seen in the chasm. It is called Gja, crack of the earth.

Geologically, Iceland is on North American plate.

There are thousands of wild horses in Iceland.

Once we came out of bus, they were coming forward us.

They knew human gave them foods!!

Blue Lagoon is the biggest open-air bath in the world.

The temperature was quite low for Japanese who have many hot springs.

The color is mix of blue and milk.

When the sun was shining between clouds, there looked like HEAVEN!!

I enjoyed swimming and Blue Lagoon facial pack with above sands.

After I was surprised at The Great Geysir, I visited a massive waterfall.

Some stones were piled on other stones nearby waterfall.

Someone did it?, or.....

This building originally constructed as a prison is now Prime minister's office.

A charity box can be seen on the wall of Reykjavik Photograph Museum.

Surprisingly all book stores in Reykjavik have cafe rooms.

Customers can read any books, use wifi and even charge buttery.

I know only two this kind of book stores in metropolis, Tokyo.

Numerous birds were on the frozen lake.

A man was giving them small pieces of a bread.

Bonus, Icelandic supermarket chain, uses cute plastic bag.

You have to pay money to get it which is strong enough to use many times in the future.

I learnt a lot of ideas in Iceland.

I went to a wonderful boutique, Mundi for 4 times.

Unique clothes, nice music and a kind staff make a lovely space.

I bought a Lung Knit.

There are many Tax Free shops in Reykjavik, and if you receive a tax free paper, you can get money back in the air port.

Iceland〜アイスランド〜Vol.1

I visited Iceland, the country of fire and ice, at 21st to 25th Feb. There were many eccentric things for me in Iceland. Someone said that the country was named "Iceland" because in old days citizens didn't want immigrants to come the island to prevent to be crowded. I now can understand the feeling of them and even would like to live in Iceland.

Please read this article with Icelandic music, Mum.

There are some basic information about Iceland.

(1)The capital, Reykjavik, is the cleanest city in the world

(2)They generate all electricity by hydraulic and geothermal powers, and there are no unclear power plant.

(3)Icelander read the largest amount of books in a year.

On the way from Keflavik airport I saw thousand s of streetlamp both sides of the road. Those lamps make a wonderful night view which is completely different form Tokyo's one. The lights are tender and look a huge snake in the dark.

After I checked in Hotel Cabin, cheapest and nice!!, I bought some local foods. Skyr is very yummy and, the taste is more creamy than yogurt. Try it with a bread!

The color bar of Iceland was so COOL! and it was MOVING!!

Japanese one is boring and too simple underneath.

I have heard from my friends that Chinese use the same one. How about other countries?

The houses are small and colorful. This was my first time I saw cars run on the right side.

U.K is left side as well as Japan.

FREE public toilets are equipped around the city.

This has an automatic washing and door system!

The Hallgrimskirkja church, which was designed by an Icelandic architect, is a symbol of Reykjavik.

The inside of the church is full with sanctity and beauty.

Luckily for me, I could listen the sound of the massive pipe organ.

The strong and divine sound echoed in the church.

The view from the top was magnificent.

This city is so small and cute, and each house looks a toy.

It is easy to guess that a visitor may die when he open this door from inside.

Decorations of shining pieces are on the wall around the city.

When wind blows, it starts to shine.
I found at least 3 this sort of decorations in Reykjavik.
Green polka dots are on the road.

I suppose it might cause traffic accidents because it's too lovely.

Pop!Pop!Pop!

What's that?? I have no idea. They were in a small nearby the church.

What's that?? I have no idea. It seemed to a mix of Icecream and Natto, fermented soybeans.

To be continued......

The Edge of Japanese Music

I like to find miner songs.

The good songs are not equal to the songs sold a lot.

Popular music is just dull.

As you can see how many the songs were played, These songs are not popular at all.

Yet they are terrific and repeat again and again in my head.

"Good Music" is something you can sleep with.

It can be intermittent sounds of clock, classic and even punk.

BOY LONDON

７０年代後半、ロンドンのパンクスがたまり場にしていた３つの店がある。

ヴィヴィアンとマルコムがやっていた『SEX』、『ローバックパブ』、そしてセックスピスト

ルズ結成前のシドヴィシャスとジョンライドンが常連だった『アクメアトラクションズ』。

その後、出資者のジョンクライビンが『アクメアトラクションズ』を閉店し、新しくオープンさせたのが『BOY』。

８０年代には世界中のミュージックカルチャーシーンに多大な影響を与えた。

ダサイと決めつけていた半年前。今では完璧に魅了されている。

そんな不思議なブランド『BOY LONDON』

Katie Eary

この肉感と金属感がたまらない。

且つ、エレガントでさえもある不思議なブランド Katie Eary

デザイナーのケイティーはロシアの文豪Mikhail Bulgakov, Irvine Welsh, William Burroughsなどの現代文学から影響を受けたという。

Sushi in the U.K

数ある日本食の中でも圧倒的にイギリス人に支持されている寿司。そんな寿司がこちらイギリスで独自の進化発展を見せている。

さかのぼること一ヶ月、、、、

青年Hは日本に帰るべくロンドンのヒースロー空港に来ていた。初めてである一人空港の不安を味わうまでもなく出国手続もあっさり終わり、空いた時間で空港内を散策しはじめた。

Gucci、Burberry、FENDI、

『免税店ってこんなに安いのか。』

Boots、Starbucks、McDonalds、

『なんでもあるな。』

Pub&Kitchen、Bagel Street、ソワ！、

『、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、ソワ？』

もしかして「ソク！」？いや、もうそんなことはどうでもいい。なんなんだ、このフューチャリステックな光景は。そして看板にある挑発的な『more than sushi』の文字。日本のそれよりも機械的に流れてくる寿司、半透明のカプセルに映る蛍光灯の反射光、ファッションショーか昔S.F映画で観たロボットみたいに止めどなく回転する皿。

青年Hはしばらくその珍しい光景を見ていた。「時計じかけのオレンジ」を初めて見た時くらい興味津々に見ていた。そして顔を上げもう一度、看板の文字を見た。

『more than sushi、寿司以上』

『ある意味、負けた。』

青年Hはそう、思った。

とこんな事がありました。

イギリス人は寿司の上に載せるネタと笑いのネタを勘違いしたのか？

否、

これは全く新しいSUSHIだ。日本人がカレーを日本仕様にしたようにイギリス人も寿司を彼らなりに解釈してアレンジしたらこうなったのだ。こんな奇抜にアレンジできてしまうイギリスに惚れぼれ。PUNK等の音楽ムーブメント、奇抜ファッションデザイナーが生まれる国らしい。

昨日はロンドンからの帰りに駅で買ったSushiを食べた。

左；サーモン　２貫で１ポンド

中；ネギトロ　２貫で１.５ポンド

右；ウナギ（怪しい）　２貫で１.５ポンド

計４ポンド（６００円くらい）。このSushi&Bentoの「Wasabi」はイギリスでチェーン展開していて結構どこでもある。一個いっこラッピングされているのに、２／３が魚の油でベタついていたが残念。ラッピングと回転寿司のカプセルをみると、イギリス人が生魚衛生面を気にしているのが分かる。味は普通においしい。醤油もらうの忘れて、つけなかったけどおいしかったくらい美味しかった。