On Christmas 2005 I visited Copenhagen for the first time and it opened my eyes to whole new experience; since then I really got to love travels. I chose Denmark just because I had strong interest in Scandinavian design and architectures. I only booked flights and hotel and took off with a guidebook, and it was enough. To me travel means freedom. I know the importance of itinerary to use as much time as possible, but I think once you get to the destination you can count on tourist information or hotel concierge anytime.
So I got to Copenhagen and walked around as I liked. Christmas was almost
there and every cafe, restaurant, streets and store showcase around the corner was decorated beautifully. I had lots of fun time spending walking down these streets whose name I didn't get at all (as they were not written in English but it was okay) and sitting in cozy cafes. The whole travel was like celebration of free time. That was one of the most amazing christmas ever.
One thing I noticed walking in the streets in London was that the way of adopting certain color was striking, especially red. Red, which is sometimes very loud and too much standing out among all, turned to be the clearest and purest color in London. It was not only because the modest color tone of the street, but I felt also the invisible effect of the air that made red appear as bright and cheerful as possible. Red looked happy in London.
So this is famous Palace of Westminster. I'm not sure why we decided to see it in the evening, not in the day sunlight, but it was probably because at first we regarded it as one of the ordinary sightseeing spots and we were seeking for some cool travel experience which might suit cool kids (like us, as we used to think). We didn't much care about famous historical places so we judged that we didn't have to rush for them and possibly could see them in passing. But it was, of course, far much worth than that and fortunately the timing was perfect because the occasional rain had just stopped before we reached the site and we could see the magnificent light reflected on the surface of the River Thames. It was no doubt breathtaking moment.
In the middle of our stay in London, the idea hit us out of whim, to visit Paris from London (just a curiosity and adventurous spirit of youngsters). We went to the tourist info and asked the price of flight or Eurostar train. In fact the ambition was in vain, as the price was far beyond expectation, supposedly due to the fashion season in Paris. So we discussed over coffee again how to put our spirit in more realistic way, then we decided to at least go and see the boarder between UK and France. We headed for Dover.
We admired the famous White Cliffs of Dover and the old castle, but what really excited us was beautiful and pastoral scenery toward Kent and peaceful seashore at Straits of Dover. The water was so calm and there were some local families walking around the coast or listening to the radio. We stared at the ferry which seemed come over from Pas de Calais making quietly its way into the harbor, and finally felt so satisfied.
My impression in London was "sunny" which must be a really odd expression. But as long as it was true, I cannot say it in different way. It was March. Not too cold, we were walking around all day in shirt and leather jackets. During our 4-days stay I'd seen rain only once or twice. And it wasn't uncomfortable at all, as we found why so many people in London didn't open the umbrella; because it wasn't necessary. When you got wet, you'd be just dry soon (although this was probably due to a certain level of dry climate in a certain season, it was surprising and fun to us.)
I liked so much the bank of the River Thames, and this shot was the late afternoon on the day before leaving London. It was sunny and I had mixed sense of warm wind and fresh smell of grass. There's a kind of tenderness around the place as if it congratulated our finest travel experience under the rare good weather.
I visited London in March 1999 as my first trip to abroad. The little adventure totally fascinated me and my friend. We were really just kids who loved Brit rock and got excited about everything. The tube, British Museum, Tower Bridge, Camden Market, Big Ben, Bond Street, Green Park, London Taxis, Sandwiches, Architectures, Canary Wharf, Design Museum, and musics. Even the combination of museum brochures and couple of souvenir postcards stirred me to take photo of them. Though it was a childish excitement I still remember how I felt happy and thrilled by the days full of things to see, draw, listen and experience.
Given the situation I'll soon get involved in a brand-new mission at very new department it seems I cannot take vacation for a while. Almost every year I've spent busy months through summer to autumn and after that I took 1 week off from work to travel. This year I still don't see my schedule at this early November. I miss travelling.
But anyway, I find a way to make up for. I can always take a look at pictures I shot in a city I visited, and remember everything I felt at the moment. Here I think of trying to write a little chronicle of travels in London, Copenhagen, Paris, Helsinki, Zurich, and my own hometown.
