Une ancienne photo prise l’année dernière à Marrakech, présenté ici pour illustrer le thème de la semaine sur PhotoFriday.
Catégorie : Travelling Africa
Afrique en photos
26things
I posted my entry on the 26things website: « International Photographic Scavenger Hunt » at the following location: My 26things (Entry 459 – details below). I’m done with the posting of images, maybe not fully done with the design of the pages themselves. I was a bit in a hurry as I wanted to add my page before the end of the hunt, seemingly scheduled End of August. That was an interesting exercise, and a way to post in one page some of the pictures I like the most (mainly from Japan and Morocco).
26things: International Photographic Scavenger Hunt, était un projet proposé par le site sh1ft.org. Il s’agissait de regrouper une série de 26 photos répondant à un thême défini à l’avance par l’organisatrice Tracey, basée en Australie. Un exercice interessant qui m’a donné l’occasion de réunir sur une page les photos que je préfère. Les photos ont été principalement prises au Japon et au Maroc.
01- Animal: Tokyo, Azabu, 2003. Eddie’s cat during her summer holidays at Home. Cats are seemingly spending their time searching for something to attract their eyes.
02- Sunset: Sydney-Tokyo, Plane, 2001. Somewhere on my way back from Sydney to Tokyo.
03- Authority: Hong Kong, Central, 2002. Street sign as seen from my hotel room.
04- Colour: Tokyo, Azabu-Juuban, 2003. A hell-like red light. Emergency exit’s light on a rainy day. One of those days I feel like walking around with my camera.
05- Communication: Tokyo, Azabu, 2002.
06- Construction: Tokyo, Roppongi Hills, 2003. The Building I witnessed growing into a sophisticated monster.
07- Empty: Tokyo, Aoyama Cimetery, 2002.
08- Food: Morocco, Marrakech, 2003. Memorable Tajin.
09- Footwear: Tokyo, Nishi-Azabu, 2001. Red « Pika-pika » Nike Shoes, used mainly while riding a bike (NIKE ZOOM HYPERFLIGHT).
10- Home: Tokyo, Nishi Azabu, 2002. Element of decoration from Malaysia.
11- Light: Morocco, Marrakech, 2003. Feeric light from an Moroccan lamp. Located next to the restaurant room of the Tischka Salam hotel at Gueliz (new city of Marrakech). A summary of the surrounding colors of magic Marrakech.
12- Little things: Tokyo, Azabu, 2003. 2 malicious chouettes. Made in Shizuoka by my fianc馥痴 grand mother. I like their shyness, pretending not to be seen, and wondering why they are seen.
13- Love: Aizu, Wakamatsu, 2002.
14- Money: Tokyo, Azabu, 2003. Some notes kept from previous travels and especially the Hong Kong ones. Lion is my astrological sign, the HK Twenty Dollars is naturally my preferred one.
15- Monument: Morocco, Marrakech, 2003. « Musee de Marrakech ». The inside architecture of the museum is an artwork itself. Unforgettable moments in the central room of the museum, surrounded by a sunny yellow light. I could spend days there if hot mint tea was offered.
16- New: Tokyo, Omotesando, 2003. The brand new Prada shop designed by Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron, Switzerland.
17- Numbers: Great Britain, London, 2002. Street number next to the TATE Museum. Picture was actually taken by Mari Chan on our way to the museum.
18- Scape: Tokyo, Shinjuku, 2002. A shiny day in Shinjuku, next to the Tokyo Ward Office. There is something so fascinating about this building that I’m coming again and again to take pictures of it. Maybe a modern similarity with the Paris’ Notre Dame.
19- Signage: Morocco, Marrakech, 2003. Inside the Marrakech Museum, next to some old Hammam rooms.
20- Sound; Tokyo, Azabu, 2003. Keyboard as seen on TV. Long exposure reveals one of the faces of Run DMC. I’m far from being a fan of this band, but was intrigued by one of its members’ voice during one interview on MTV Japan.
21- Symetry: Tokyo, Yoga, 2003. Soccer ball waiting for an inspired player. I am joining from time to time the South American-japanese Team matador. Level is quite high, and it’s quite rare to find a quiet ball like this one.
22- Time: Tokyo, Azabu, 2003. A clock bought in Daikanyama. Time is running to fast, already more than four years in Japan.
23- Transport: Tokyo, Harajuku, 2003. Meeting of two Japan Airways trains (Yamanote Line).
24- Water: France, Noirmoitier, 2003.
25- Weather: Tokyo, Azabu, 2003. View of my umbrella on a rainy day.
26- You: Me in Marrakech with the camera.
Inch’Allah
Marrakech – Morocco – 2003/06/18 to 2003/06/22: 5 days trip to Marrakech with Mari Chan, first time in Africa for both of us. It was a bit hard to find courage to visit around in the middle of afternoon, under this sun. Afternoon is made for long rest at the Cafe terrace, drinking of course mint tea and eating some fine Morocco cakes.
The stay in a Moroccan Riad is highly recommended. This is a typical house, and the best may to enter and live the atmosphere of Marrakech. Recommended places to visit are of course in The Medina, The old city of Marrakech: the Souks where negotiations are a rule (you’ll get your souvenir gifts for 50% of the price). Spending the day in a Souk is sometimes a bit tiring: the place is full of everything, you can get lost quite often but it’s part of the fun, the sellers are sometime trying hard to sell you something, they improvise themselves as a guide for your trip in the Souks, … But you will find a unique atmosphere that you should remember for long. Lost somewhere north in the Medina are the Medersa Ben Youssef, an old university and the Museum of Marrakech. This one is worth to see for the architecture and especially the inside main room covered with a sun yellow light.
When the night is coming, the best place to be is the Square Djemaa el-Fna where everyday seems to be a festival. Seemingly, all the population of Marrakech is converging to this site. You’ll find some street restaurants, some musicians, folkloric people showing snakes, and drawing Henne on your hands… This square is charming.
The second part of the trip was a bit resort like style, with a swimming pool included in the hotel and a top class Moroccan restaurant: Hotel Tichka Salam is situated in the new city of Marrakech, Gueliz, and called as the little Mamounia (hotel unaffordable where stars and various famous people are usually stopping).
One point as well, the city was not that crowded with tourists. People were seemingly a bit scared by the recent terrorism in Casablanca. Seeing the density of Commercials on Morocco on French television, this may change for July-August.
Places To Stay – Recommended:
Medina: Riad Hotel Gallia – One double room for 34 Euros/Night;
New City: Hotel Tichka Salam – One double room for 120 Euros/Night;
Usefull Sites:
– Information on Morocco, tips, addresses, … (in French). Les Carnets du Maroc
– The Lonely Planet Guide: Morocco
– Le Guide du Routard: Maroc (in french)