(no subject)
Springtime is coming, though it isn't such an obvious change in Melbourne as it was in Yokohama, where it snowed for one full day! Going to work was a bitch for a week. Generally I know it's springtime in Melbourne when the cherry blossoms start showing.
In Japan, there's a cherry blossom tree just about everywhere. And they're all the same species and bloom at the same time. The news has a cherry blossom forecast after the weather forecast, showing when the blossoms will bloom, so people can plan for hanami, a cherry blossom viewing party.
Here, we have all types of cherry blossoms, in fact so many, that some are in fact plum blossoms. I have taken the liberty of pointing out the difference:
Actually, I think I found some traditional Japanese cherry blossoms:
The trick is that they're palest pink to the point of white with darker pink in the centres. You can see that this tree isn't at it's peak bloom yet. Give it....ooooh, 6 days with sunny weather, 8 without.
Now, to get to the point:
I want to have a hanami party. I want to look at sakura trees and get drunk underneath them, playing my Japanese CDs and working myself up into a state of utter misery and homesickness for Yokohama.
People are invited to join me. We need a place where there are at least three trees together with a picnicky place to sit underneath them. Perhaps the Botanic Gardens? Somewhere in Brighton? Does anyone know a candidate for the venue?
I will supply sake and awamori (Okinawan firewater) if I can get my hands on some. We'll raid the Japanese groceries in Glen Eira district and go enjoy the sun and the blossoms. Even if they aren't cherry blossoms. Because this also looks pretty damn beautiful:
Comment with thought and suggestions, people!
In other news, this is Kicia in Driveway Whore mode:
In Japan, there's a cherry blossom tree just about everywhere. And they're all the same species and bloom at the same time. The news has a cherry blossom forecast after the weather forecast, showing when the blossoms will bloom, so people can plan for hanami, a cherry blossom viewing party.
Here, we have all types of cherry blossoms, in fact so many, that some are in fact plum blossoms. I have taken the liberty of pointing out the difference:
Actually, I think I found some traditional Japanese cherry blossoms:
The trick is that they're palest pink to the point of white with darker pink in the centres. You can see that this tree isn't at it's peak bloom yet. Give it....ooooh, 6 days with sunny weather, 8 without.
Now, to get to the point:
I want to have a hanami party. I want to look at sakura trees and get drunk underneath them, playing my Japanese CDs and working myself up into a state of utter misery and homesickness for Yokohama.
People are invited to join me. We need a place where there are at least three trees together with a picnicky place to sit underneath them. Perhaps the Botanic Gardens? Somewhere in Brighton? Does anyone know a candidate for the venue?
I will supply sake and awamori (Okinawan firewater) if I can get my hands on some. We'll raid the Japanese groceries in Glen Eira district and go enjoy the sun and the blossoms. Even if they aren't cherry blossoms. Because this also looks pretty damn beautiful:
Comment with thought and suggestions, people!
In other news, this is Kicia in Driveway Whore mode: