Name:
anais
Profile:
Beauty & fashion writer and consultant. Studied in Paris, worked in New York, now doing both in Tokyo. So many things to do, so many places to see, so much to learn, so little time. www.anaislombard.com
travel Archives
If like me you're obsessed with saving everything and anything, from the Blue Iguana in the Cayman Islands to the Nubian Dragon Tree of Somalia, and even the San Acitos Dirt Shrew (Weeds, Season 3 anyone?), and you happen to be in Tokyo this upcoming Thursday you might want to swing by the Graham London - Aqua Love charity gala. The Anglo-Swiss watch company has teamed up with the WWF's Shiharo Coral Reef Conservation Center in Okinawa to help protect the coral reef and promote responsible diving off the island of Ishigaki. For the occasion Graham has created a unique watch, the "Chronofighter Oversize Diver Blue Seal" that will be raffled off that night. 100% of the proceeds will go to WWF.
Yes, this 1,000,000 yen watch will sure look good on my delicate wrist when I win that raffle.
And why should you care about saving the coral? Because otherwise the world will come to an end! Just kidding, but it' won't be pretty. To make it simple: The coral forms an essential habitat for a lot of species and provide places for breeding, feeding, and hiding from predators. When coral is destroyed, the species that it shelters also disappear. That would mean no more perch, golden king crab, shrimp, sea stars, sponges, or anemones. Right now corals are also being tested to produce antibiotics, painkillers and medications for cancer, AIDS, asthma, and heart disease*. So not to sound corny or anything, but by saving corals you might just be saving yourself!!
*source: www.savecorals.com
Yes, this 1,000,000 yen watch will sure look good on my delicate wrist when I win that raffle.
And why should you care about saving the coral? Because otherwise the world will come to an end! Just kidding, but it' won't be pretty. To make it simple: The coral forms an essential habitat for a lot of species and provide places for breeding, feeding, and hiding from predators. When coral is destroyed, the species that it shelters also disappear. That would mean no more perch, golden king crab, shrimp, sea stars, sponges, or anemones. Right now corals are also being tested to produce antibiotics, painkillers and medications for cancer, AIDS, asthma, and heart disease*. So not to sound corny or anything, but by saving corals you might just be saving yourself!!
*source: www.savecorals.com
The other weekend I went to Naoshima, an island in the Seto Inland Sea
of Japan. Naoshima is home to the Benesse House Museum and the Chichu
Art Museum, both designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando (Morimoto in
New York, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas, and about a
billion things in Japan).
You can sleep in the Benesse House museum itself (yes they have rooms, you don't sleep on a rest bench) and have breakfast across Andy Warhol Flower Prints and a view of the sea. It doesn't really get better then that in terms of fancy tea sipping and croissant munching (oui, they have croissants).
The Chichu Art Museum features only 3 artists (4 if you count the museum itself) and is completely underground. Inside you'll find 4 paintings by Monet (the water-lily, the water-lilies and more water-lilies), Walter De Maria, and an amazing work of light by James Turrell - you literally walk towards the light, it was by far my favorite thing.
Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside either museum. But I guess that's sort of ok since there's plenty to play with outside. Sculptures by Nikki de Saint Phalle, Yayoi Kusama (you got to love that pumpkin) and a bunch of others that my uncultivated self didn't know (George Rickey, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Shinro Ohtake...).
I also have to give a special props to one of their restaurants, The Terrace. The food was simply delicious, although the lighting at night was a little obnoxious, so knowing how to say "please turn down the light" in Japanese may come in handy.
Yayoi Kasuma's pumpkin. I just wanted to take it home (got a mini one instead, way less expensive).
Walter de Maria "See /Unseen Known/Unknown.
Unfortunately, the jacuzzi was closed so no splish splash.
The Oval, where the coolest hotel rooms are.
More of the Pumpkin, just because.
Japanese girls playing with the Pumpkin at night (yes, I spent the entire day taking pictures of it, what can I say...). I was behind them for a good 20 minutes before they noticed that I was there. When they finally saw me they started screaming, they totally thought I was a psychopath.
You can sleep in the Benesse House museum itself (yes they have rooms, you don't sleep on a rest bench) and have breakfast across Andy Warhol Flower Prints and a view of the sea. It doesn't really get better then that in terms of fancy tea sipping and croissant munching (oui, they have croissants).
The Chichu Art Museum features only 3 artists (4 if you count the museum itself) and is completely underground. Inside you'll find 4 paintings by Monet (the water-lily, the water-lilies and more water-lilies), Walter De Maria, and an amazing work of light by James Turrell - you literally walk towards the light, it was by far my favorite thing.
Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside either museum. But I guess that's sort of ok since there's plenty to play with outside. Sculptures by Nikki de Saint Phalle, Yayoi Kusama (you got to love that pumpkin) and a bunch of others that my uncultivated self didn't know (George Rickey, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Shinro Ohtake...).
I also have to give a special props to one of their restaurants, The Terrace. The food was simply delicious, although the lighting at night was a little obnoxious, so knowing how to say "please turn down the light" in Japanese may come in handy.
Yayoi Kasuma's pumpkin. I just wanted to take it home (got a mini one instead, way less expensive).
Walter de Maria "See /Unseen Known/Unknown.
Unfortunately, the jacuzzi was closed so no splish splash.
The Oval, where the coolest hotel rooms are.
Reading the paper with Nikki de Saint Phalle ("Le Banc")
More of the Pumpkin, just because.
Japanese girls playing with the Pumpkin at night (yes, I spent the entire day taking pictures of it, what can I say...). I was behind them for a good 20 minutes before they noticed that I was there. When they finally saw me they started screaming, they totally thought I was a psychopath.
Then we headed to Nyanpan the Hanpanda's funeral (seriously). But don't be sad guys, she had a long beautiful life (she was 84 years old). It was a lovely farewell, all her family and friends were there to say goodbye one last time. Sayonara Nypan!
Nyanpan the Hanpanda
The family.
Friends and family.
So much emotion.
Au revoir Nyanpan.
Just want to share some Monday morning cuteness with you (that is, only
if you like cats). I've recently covered a cat cafe in Tokyo for Weekender.
Yep, it's a cafe, with a lot of cats hanging out. And no, it doesn't
smell or anything. This is Japan - everything is spotless (they clean
subway stations with toothbrushes). The concept is simple: you go
there, have coffee, and play with the cats. There are about 20 of them,
different breeds and ages. You can pet them, feed them, take pictures,
and if you're anything like me, you'll try to put kittens in your bag
and run away (good thing fashion is all about giant totes, you can stack quite a few
kittens in them) .If you're in Tokyo and want to check it out, email me I'll give you directions.
Website here.
Copyright © 2008 LipstickTracez and anais
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Email anais