"Truly Madly Deeply"

"Truly Madly Deeply" - A famous single pop of Savage Garden in the 90s brings me back to that careless free teenagehood. The same melody, lyrics, singers and that warm golden-colored video. But when I checked up the it again, I suddenly realised it was shot in Paris. Every location seems so clear and familiar to me now, since I've been living here for years. It feels like time has been crossed up with life experience. The music brings me back, and the video brings me to reality. Anyway, Paris has always been so beautiful!!

So let's enjoy the song.

"I'll be your dream I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy. 
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need. 
I'll love you more with every breath truly madly deeply do... "

Mid-autumn Day

The Mid-Autumn Day is on the lunar calendar Aug 15th each year, which is the holiday for some eastern countries. 

In China, it is the day for family gathering, to apperciate the moon (the brightest and the roundest of the year), the flowers and to have the moon cake. It would be a little sad if you are alone and far away from your family. However, the moon connects gets you closer with them.

Through out the history of Chinese literature, many poets had wrote about the day and the moon. 

Some famous lines are as follows:

“但愿人长久，长里共婵娟。”  - 苏轼 《水调歌头》

“海上生明月，天涯共此时。” - 张九龄《望月怀远》 

...

Here I took a photo of the "roundest" moon from Paris, and made a painting of flowers to wish all my family and friends a happy Mid-Autumn day. Miss you all.

The pleasure to make coffee

This is the national machine of Italy, which could be found in every Italian family with a full collection of different sizes. 

And the nation is really "addicted" to coffee and makes one of the best coffee in the world. 

Without coffee the day won't start; 

without coffee the meal won't end;

without coffee the stress won't pass; 

without coffee we won't be friends... 

Coming from another oriental tea culture, I am so fascinated by this coffee machine - the cutest smallest version and ready to discover more about coffee. Finally I owned one like this.

What should I say..it is really a pleasure and my day starts with a good coffee!

P.s: I also drew it to challenge my drawing skill, as it has so many surfaces with straight and curled lines and the metal gives special reflection of light. I am quite content with the result. 

Most Beautiful Sea Ever - Cefalù, Sicily

One hour by train from Palermo Sicilia,  Cefalù is a beautiful town on the sea. The town is built between the sea and the Rock, from where you could get beautiful views.

Monkey or Human?

Here is my key chain Monchhichi, which is a humanized "monkey" with hair covers all over its body. Do you see its tail hiding behind? See how cute its eyes and nose are!

Just by a flash of mind, I started to draw this monkey. Thought that this furry toy would be difficult to be present by pencils, but the result turned out to be good enough.

While drawing, there was a question wandering around my mind: how does one define himself as a human? 

-not hairy?

-civilized?

-have languages? (I do believe animals also have their only "languages", just we couldn't understand them)

...

Here I attach a video of "Ze Frank: Are you human?"  for those who have doubts.

Milan, Beautiful in its Own Way

Milan, another fashion and commercial center in Europe, is well-known for its commerical aspects. Comparing with other touristic cities in Italy, Milan looks a little modest, but extremely exquisite down to details.

Here is the famous Cathedrale of Milan situated in the city center. It really has a take-the-breath-away look. The big square in front of it allows us get perfect views from different angles.  How splendid and exquisite it is!!!!  The whole cathedrale is made of marbles. The facade is of cream color marbles with their natural texture, which changes color according to the sunshine. Under the sun it is shining like the shell. Aside from beautiful decorations inside, the colorful marble floor really attracts my eyes. How those beautiful flower-shaped marbles were well- cutted, matched and paved!!!

But this is not just the end. Don't forget to get onto the top terrain of the Cathedrale, this is an interesting part which couldn't be missed in Milan. It will get you so close to it and estonished by the architectures and the view.

There are also other places to visit in Milan: Museum Pinacoteca di Brera, Church Santa Maria delle Grazie, Castello Sforzesco, The Opera - la Scala, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, etc.  

Artists could be seen everywhere in the city center. a good performance will easily get crowds. So just slow down, enjoy the music of Milan.

When is the Best Season to visit Parc de Sceaux?

Living in Paris, you will always have chance to experience the beauty of French styled Parks or rather we could call them gardens. It is always go with a castle and a big garden in front of it. Famous ones as : Tuileries in front of Museum Louvre, Versailles garden at the back of castle Versailles. Here is another example Parc de Screaux.

Nowadays, Parc de screaux, designed by Andre le Notre, is a big public park located in the south outskirt of Paris and the main building ( Chateau de Screaux) is now the museum which holds the local history of IDF.

The best season to visit Parc de Screaux is no wonder the Spring time around April or May, when cherry flowers bloom, sky turns so blue and the trees turn green. You could also take this occasion to make picnic under cherry flowers to experience the Japanese culture with Japanese community in Paris.

In the end, Thanks to the designer of the garden, Andre le Notre, his style of Symmetry makes the park looks magnificent and royal. I just couldn't stop my camera...

 

How to get to Parc de Screaux:

 

By RER B from Paris center, direction to the South part, get off at stop La Croix de Berny.

Meeting Vincent van Gogh at Auners sur Oise

Auners sur Oise, which locates 30km to the north of Paris, is the great artist Vincent van Gogh's last stop. Many of his famous paintings are about this little village - the church, the wheat field, the flowers, the houses, the city town hall, the garden, etc.

Walking through this little town, you will surprisingly find the images of Vincent van Gogh's paintings placing in front of the places where he painted. It seems that time has passed by but the town stays the same.

Eglise Notre Dame

Town hall of Aubers sur Oise

Dr. Cachet

Masion de Van Goah

Vincent van Goah spent rest of his life in Anvers sur Oise. He lives in the room No.5 in Auberge Ravoux (Maison de Van Gogh), which is also a restaurant on its ground floor. They said that Van Goah went out early to paint, came back during lunch time, but only to order a little things to eat. He never ordered a main course. Then he went back to his room to paint again.In the late afternoon he went out again to find the new scene to paint.

Here is the tomb of Vincent van Goah and his brother in the north-east of the town near the church. They buried together with the ivy growing around, which was taken from Vincent's Doctor Dr. Cachet's garden.

Van Goah's Park

Charles François Daubigny

Auvers sur oise is also famous for another painter Mr Daubigny. The office de Tourisme of Auvers is also a museum by his name. There is also Maison atelier de Daubigny in Auvers. 

Here is a little drawing map of Auvers sur Oise. You could also get more information from the Office de Tourisme, which locates not far from The House of Van Gogh.

Castle of Aunvers

This french styled castle is another place to visit in Auvers sur oise. The tour of castle would take you at least 2 hours.

After all, the best season to visit Auvers sur Osie is in Spring from Apr, when all the flowers are open and almost all the museums are open to public. From Paris to get here, you simply need to take a little train from Gare du Nord or take RER C from Paris.

Dinan, Medieval town on Hill

Dinan is a little medieval town on hill in Bretagne region of France over looking the river Rance. The high walls of the town are well reserved, some parts of it could be walked on. Inside the walls buildings are kept medieval styles, some could be dated back to 13th century.

Amazing bridge and amazing view. Here is the high bridge, standing on the river Rance, for entering Dinan.  What a splendid view from the Ancient city wall! You could see lower part of the town and the River Rance floating down there.

Rue du Jerzual, Dinan

Rue du Jerzual, Dinan

Enjoy your walking here. Here is the most lovely street in Dinan. It connects lower and upper parts of the town.  While walking on this old stone road and watching these nice houses, don't forget to slow down and visit these art boutiques and arteliers at two sides of the street. 

Near Rue du Jerzual, Dinan

river Rance, Dinan

Finally, after you pass a little port of the old city wall,  the street will lead you to the river Rance. 

Montepulciano, Isn't you get Breathless by these Beautiful Views?

Isn't that you get breathless by these beautiful views of Montepulciano in Toscana? The sun, the green fields, the fresh air, the wine, the calm... set aside all your stress from the busy city life.

Sanctuary of San Biagio, Montepulciano

Montepulciano is a little town in Toscana. When entering the ancient wall of the old town at the foot of the hill, a road wandering around leads to the center on the top. However, On the way, amazingly beautiful views distract you much and slow you down.

Town hall, Montepulciano

La Cattedrale di Santa Maria,Piazza Grande, Montepulciano

Palazzo Tarugi, Piazza Grande, Montepulciano

After visiting several medieval towns in Tuscany, it is easy identify the center, which usually with a cathedral, a town hall, palaces standing at four sides of the square on the top point of town.

Montepulciano is also famous for its food, especially the world-famous wine made from the grapes local, the pork, the pasta "pici" and etc.

You may also visit other Tuscan cities nearby, such as Pienza, Montalcino Siena and etc.