溫泉之旅 Autumn in Tokyo 2. Onsen Escape

前篇雖然有段磅礡的開場白, 偽社會學家寫著寫著, 後繼無力… 此篇讓圖片細訴LK先生與我相知十年紀念的溫泉之旅吧!

The highlight of the trip was the onsen escape to Hakone away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
ㄧ早往小田急百貨採買零食, 搭上往箱根的浪漫特快號.

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華麗年代 Autumn in Tokyo 1. of Decay and Decadence

人類文明的衍進如Sisyphus的滾石, 誕之初的蒼茫, 奮力推向豐華的頂端, 盛極必衰的墜落, 世紀末必有ㄧ番頹靡來得繁花似錦… 自工業革命揭開資本主義的簾幕, 奢華的定義離不開金錢, 種種慾望於基本需求被滿足後, 熱烈的席捲音樂人文藝術, 然媒體的無遠弗界和市場行銷全球化, 小資產已為新共產主義所取代… 奢華反趨抽象禪意, 該是ㄧ種生活態度, 懂得過日子, ㄧ分錢使得三分的功效, 雅趣俯拾皆是, 單憑原慾駕馭的盲目追求, 無底洞只會泥足深陷.

Our recent trip to Tokyo was taken over by nostalgic charms from the beginning to the end. While my favorite wagashi maker Toraya celebrated its 30th anniversary of its Parisian establishment, French connection of all kinds from haute couture to haute cuisine was everywhere in Tokyo. Tokyo and Paris are the joie de vivre twins separated at birth. The first fine dining of the trip was lunch at the Ukai-tei located in the landmark Gyre building of Omotesando. Its Art Nouveau decor, A la Minute cooking, impeccable presentation of food and pampering service transported us to an era of leisure.
Tea time at its salon after lunch.

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東京百寶箱 Tokyo Treasure Hunt

東京百去不厭, 每次都有些驚喜, 大抵和式料理注重食材原味, 與我偏好的清淡口感相合, 其次工藝美學深植常民生活, 處處皆視覺饗宴! 十月初正值涼爽的早秋, 走走停停吃吃看看, 平時努力工作不就是為著幾日豐足的心靈假期? 此趟遊記食記還待慢慢寫來, 戀物狂卻等不及獻寶:

As long as one cares about material of any kind, he or she will never return from Tokyo empty handed. There is something for everyone despite the soaring Japanese Yen. I promise I will use and reuse, inspire and re-imagine… these objects that make me happy.

While a gentleman might prefer blonde, I love petites.

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月滿西樓 Once in a Blue Moon

新加坡民眾似乎很懷舊, 無論多現代感的shopping mall, 逢年過節必播放不知哪個年代的國語歌曲… 於強烈冷氣的催送下, 甚有些時空錯亂超現實鬼片的氛圍… 我等著你回來, 我等著你回來, 你為什麼不回來…
中秋剛過, 遙思李清照擬個懷舊的題目, 賞月時想看到夜涼如水的冷月, 熱帶悶熟的天空卻是掛著薰黃的大月亮, 像極廣式月餅包的鹹鴨蛋… 每年中秋忙著享口福, 月餅滿櫥滿腹方是月滿西樓的正解.

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雨天和暮光 Rambling on Rain&Dusk

天天攜摺傘出門期盼下雨, 今天早晨總算讓我等來ㄧ場甘霖… 我喜歡浪漫深秋初冬, 新加坡卻乏寒季, 唯有下雨時天空灰銀, 待在冷氣颼颼的房裏往外張看, 水晶絲線墜地鏗然, 方有那麼ㄧ點味道. 我也喜歡似暗非明的蒼茫暮色, 結束忙碌ㄧ天將要歸家之際的小小me-time… 雨天屬於聽覺觸覺嗅覺, 暮色則偏視覺, 老舊照片般的惹人遐想. 不經photoshop加工, 實實在在的黑白相片攝影難度高… 要曖曖含光, 如精雕的銀器流麗展現眼前… sepia更考功夫, 墨水暈染深淺, 是不是photographer's eye當下見真章. LK級數尚低, 只好拿自己數位圖檔和photoshop練習.

蒼茫暮色帶來朦朧的幸福感易碎… 我最後ㄧ次的強烈感受於2008年的舊金山初冬, 某個下了班的傍晚衝到Tartine Bakery買蛋糕, 人生變數重重, 之後的兩個星期間老貓Sapphire病逝, 我的心破了個難補的大洞… 這張是牠生前舊照, Sapphire總是躺在夕照窗前等我回家, 開車的我打老遠望見牠慵懶身影, 總是會心微笑… 此情此景恍如隔世.
I am onto some sepia photoshop fun in the rainy morning of Singapore. This is an old photo of my beloved Himalayan waiting for me to come home after work in San Francisco.

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