茶道 – Japanese Tea Ceremony
This last Sunday I once again had an opportunity to partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. The first time was about seven years ago when I attended Japanese language classes at the Czech-Japanese Association in Prague. That was my first taster session as well as a taste of Matcha tea.
In my final year in high school, about 5 years ago, my classmate asked me whether I want to join her for a Japanese Tea Ceremony presentation. This time is was more of a stage “performance” by a professional, accompanied by different explanations. We were then given a taster of some matcha tea and very colourful Wagashi.
This year, the Czech-Japanese Association, together with the tea school Urasenke sent me an e-mail, informing me of a special tea ceremony taking place on the 15th of January to welcome the new lunar year of the Dragon. Several sessions took place over the course of the day. About 10 people attended.
Firstly we were invited to enjoy a small cup of warm tea. Sitting in a circle we were each individually served a small cup of what I assume was yuzu tea. As we were presented our cup we bowed. The most interesting about he cup was the smiling face at the bottom of it. This was then followed by moving to the main tea room, were we were asked (if our knees would allow) to kneel, bow and observe the room before moving into in by basically shuffling in with our hands. The whole process was very relaxing accompanied by an explanation of the symbolism of the script on the wall, the willow and other features of the set up of the tea ceremony. We were served mochi filled with white bean paste and gobo (edible burdock) – or at least I think it was if I’m correct. This was followed by matcha tea, which somebody said is a bit like a cappuccino (since it is a bit frothy, so somebody referred to this similarity).
I also spend some time admiring the kimonos that the women wore. I particularly admired the green kimono with leave images and golden obi (the belt holding the kimono together).
The whole experience was really relaxing and I left feeling really calm and content. In this beautiful mindset I was then able to admire the blue skies above and just generally feel happy.
Does anybody have any experience with the Japanese Tea Ceremony or knowledge? Feel free to share.
OWL
New Year & thankfully Tuesday
Hi guys, hope the new year is treating you well!
the Lunar new year is here — wish you all best of luck, health and prosperity!
To me, the Lunar new year (to be politically correct) is properly the new year for me. Back home there would be lots and lots of food and non-stop eating for at least the first 3 days. Many superstitious practices for a good year ahead, and meeting up with family and friends. 3 days of happy atmosphere everywhere!
Hope everyone is doing well with their new year’s resolutions/goals! I think I’ve done alright so far, maybe it’s ’cause it’s something I have to practice everyday — becomes a habit.
This week, I am thankful for:
1) spending time with family friends and more friends near the CNY
2) having new guinea pigs models to photograph
3) meeting new people and having new opportunities
4) the beautiful, but chilly days
5) the amazing skies I’ve seen lately
Happy CNY everyone 
CAT
My Beauty Diary Masks (Part 2)
A post that has been extremely delayed. Apologies.
Yes, I’m back with the (short) reviews of the individual MBD (My Beauty Diary) sheet masks. I’ve used a couple more and ordered a couple more of my favourite ones (like the sake and mixed berries that I reviewed last time). This time I’ll be reviewing a few extra ones. So here they go:
Pearl Powder:
This one didn’t amaze me so much. According to the description it should be brightening and whitening, rejuvenating and moisturising and is for all skin types, especially dull/sallow skin.
However upon opening the small packet and smelling the mask I was reminded of some kind of powder-like smell or soap like smell. Not exactly the nicest smell. However it somewhat did its job of hydrating my skin, but whether it contributed to its youthfulness, I’m not really sure. No special microscope to examine my skin structure or possibility of strictly controlled longitudinal study here. Don’t think I’d repurchase this one.
Japanese Cherry Blossom:
I felt like I should be using this mask during the cherry blossom season, while observing the petals falls and eating dango and drinking green tea. But besides that, this mask is for all skin types, especially dull/sallow skin and is brightening, moisturising and firming.
This one had a mild flowery smell and hydrated my skin.
Royal Jelly:
Now this one promises to be brightening, nourishing and moisturising (www.koreabb.com.sg) and is for all skin types. Compared to the others, it seemed to have a richer consistency. There was no overpowering smell just a hint of sweetness. Something that somewhat resembled a smell that could possibly remind you of honey and bees.
Not really sure, but it felt like this one was more hydrating compared to the other sheet masks that I’ve tried. Could have been because of the ingredients or simply because the serum that the sheet mask was soaked in was thicker/richer.
And finally….
Chocolate Truffle:
Now honestly I expected more from this sheet mask. Some of the reasons I use sheet masks, because I find them a relaxing way to hydrate my skin, without having to was of a mess of my face and also enjoy the aromatherapeutic effects. However the smell wasn’t exactly the chocolatey smell I expected. Guess my assumptions/expectations kinda ruined it for me.
On the other hand, it did its job, hydrated my skin … so I can’t really complain. This one is for all skin types, especially uneven/lack lustre/dry/ rough skin and is softening and moisturising.
Generally can’t complain about any of the sheet masks.
So this is all for now. Please feel free to ask questions, share your thoughts and comment.
Among the next masks reviewed will be black pearl, red wine….
OWL
Thankfully Tuesday
a) the really good days, despite short amount of sunlight
b) the rare sunrises that I see (due to being unable to get up most of the time -_-)
c) really nice neighbours who push my rubbish bin back!
d) the small clean freak in me that pushed me to clean my kitchen
e) gloves, because man the weather is too cold!
CAT
Thankfully Tuesday
The people who remember and are willing to share your birthday with you.
that is all
Thankfully Tuesday
It’s another year
This may sound depressing but I promise it’s a positive post!
It’s always the end of the year that makes people reflect on the year in general.
For me I think we should always reflect every so often.
Every year people make new year resolutions — how many of them remember them, let alone keep them? I’ve given up making resolutions ages ago. Circumstances change and this change can be beyond our control. Sometimes resolutions can bind us so we don’t respond to the situation. That’s why I think more about my lifetime goals and hopefully, every year I’m one step closer.
Look at the situation that I’m in to make the corrective goals to get on the right path again.
So rather than resolutions, I would probably make a list of things that I want to achieve in the coming year, but it’s not entirely important that I achieve them. In a way you may see it as “resolutions” but I see it as “things that I would like to achieve/obtain, and I will achieve them at my own pace according to different situations”. You get the idea.
Make different sized goals throughout the year rather than at the beginning of the year and work at them at your own pace.
Bigger goals might come at the beginning, and medium/small goals come throughout the year. This step-by-step progress may be more likable than the huge resolutions that may cast a huge grey cloud over your head. It’s also a good instrument to manage change and organise things. Like a GANTT chart (on that note, in looking for the wiki link for it, I’ve discovered a website that will help you with making this chart, click here for it — you can use a google account to sign up for it).
Here’s something that I don’t do often — get other people to help you with your “resolution”, or get them involved, especially if you plan a group project or something. Appreciate the people who are willing to actively work on it with you, because afterall, what good is wanting to chase a dream with others when they don’t put their effort in it?
Next, this goes without saying, be realistic about your goals. Why? Because having a “to grow wings” goal is unattainable (no matter how much red bull your drink), at least not in one year. I welcome you to prove me wrong, because to achieve this would mean a great step forward for mankind. It would also ease all the travelling costs.
Chasing unattainable goals will make you sad. And maybe make you procrastinate even more because you will think, “well there’s no way of getting to that” or “wouldn’t make a difference if I started a day later”. It’s part of a perfectionist thinking. Or maybe just a lazy person, who knows.
But anyway, that’s probably enough words coming from me, who is without that much life experience, so I’ll share some of my goals with you, and maybe you can take part in helping me achieve them. These are biiiig goals that are sub-goals to my lifetime goals, more to do with the person I am. Afterall, you can only change who you become, so I guess in the next year I would want to change to I am, even if it’s just a little bit, and work towards my other goals.
2012 is a year for me to do these things:
1. Be less of a perfectionist — because it makes me beat myself up too much and neglect the effort I’ve put into some things
2. Learn to focus — I’ve consciously noticed that with the internet, it’s hard for me to focus on one thing, leading to shortened attention span. Reading books will help with this, I think.
3. Cook with more variety — this goes without saying, it’s a step to being more healthy. We should try to eat more variety so different parts of our body get the needed nutrients, and who knows.
4. Try to read and share one positive quote every day to keep a healthy mindset (if you are interested, you can visit my tumblr page).
That’s about as many as I can come up with now; bound to increase throughout the year, and definitely remembered because it’s something that I have to exercise pretty much everyday.
And for all those who want to “lose weight”? Don’t weigh yourself everyday. Instead, pick out clothes that you want to fit in, or clothes you already have but want to look even better in. This year my weight has been on a see-saw ride, and realised that even though there was a time where I was light, I didn’t like how I looked than when I was heavier (I felt a lot fitter and looked slimmer than when I was lighter). I actually understood that your body shifts gear depending on your health (understood, as opposed to “know”).
Not that I’m imposing the above on you, but it’s food for thought (no calories!).
So anyway, here’s a beautiful sunset that I caught on Christmas Eve. I thought it would be a nice picture to be the last picture on this blog for the year 2011.
(source: flickr)
Wishing everyone all the best,
CAT
Black Forest…
Gateau
Macarons
what kind of dessert holds special meaning to you?
Thankfully Tuesday
1) Black forest desserts
2) Dark chocolate mocha
3) amazing sunsets
4) DSLRs
5) rain
6) chocolate
7) good coffee shops with decent coffee
8 ) good company
9) facebook
10) e-mail
11) home
12) family
13) home food
the little things we take for granted sometimes
Homesick
It’s been too long since I’ve written here. Sloth gets to me quite easily and I lose track of quite a lot of things that I want to do but too lazy to do.
Small rant as to why other zoo members don’t post here.
Small rant/complaint finished.
So I’ve been back home last couple of weeks and now back to the land of the cold.
Living out here, and I mean living as opposed to being in university, really does make a difference to how homesick I get. Maybe it’s because I don’t live in a dynamic city and a place with efficient transport and opening times, and home food. For the past week I’ve been back, all I dreamt about were: family, the city that is home to me, and the food.
The bad thing is? I’m not the one eating the food!
What’s even worse? I woke up thinking that I’m back home and took me a few minutes to realise that I’m not.
This might be one of the more severe times I’ve been homesick, but less childish than before.
Matured homesickness? Is there such thing? Maybe.
Or maybe this is not homesickness, but the emotional urge for me to live my own life than for the city to outlive my life.
What’s home to you?
CAT
