Hmong in St. Paul

Cycled to Lake Phalen where workers were completing this pavilion. It was built in Changsha, China, then shipped to sister city St. Paul. In return, Changsha got Peanuts statues, including Lucy in a Hmong dress. Changsha is the ancestral home of the many Hmong who’ve moved to St. Paul.

Snapshots: 1,000 Miles by Train to Tokyo

September 2018. I had spent the previous week exploring the three national parks in eastern Hokkaido. It was now time to figure out how to chunk a journey to Tokyo over the next 10 days. I had flown to eastern Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. The journey back to Tokyo would be slower. Armed with…… Continue reading Snapshots: 1,000 Miles by Train to Tokyo

Open Books

Slowed down for breakfast at Open Book’s cafe. Hundreds of miniature open books hang from the ceiling.

Mono no aware: the Pathos of Things

Mono no aware, Japanese.Roughly pronounced: moh-noh noh ah-wah-ray.  Roughly translated:  A wistful awareness of the impermanence or transience of things. [Source] Kumamoto, April 2014. Cherry blossoms exemplify the Japanese mono no aware sensibility. The intense beauty lasts just a few days before disappearing. The short time blossoms are in season is a time for celebration. Kyushu, southern…… Continue reading Mono no aware: the Pathos of Things