templaux.annual.antique.fair

i got my japan visa today, so tomorrow late afternoon i am leaving for tokyo.  is it for real?  yes, it is set stone now...  i haven't go the excitement yet, i am just too tired to even think of what is ahead of me...
for now, i am going to leave you with another post from my summer 2010.  this is about an annual antique fair in belgium.
~~~

it wasn’t your idea but his of going to the largest annual flea/antique fair in europe. it’s in belgium, a good two hour journey from home but the weather is perfect and tempting to make such a journey. the heat is already soaring up as you approaching waterloo, then you journey into small country road wondering if you are at the right place and you got you confirmation as there is a string of endless car leading into a really small road. you have to park your car more than 2 km away from the town and sweat your way to templaux where the flea market annual antique fair begins.

this is your first ever experience in strolling an antique fair flea market, you have been to a few antique streets before in china, but nothing really compare to this european scale antique fair or flea market (you are confused here).


you take your time to look around, touching little things here and there, you take your time but he is in the hurry. he has no interest in these junks, putting this into his words….
he is right to some extends because you never consider empty perfume bottles, used books, tableware, used toys as antiques.

some are just merely retro but others are more appropriate as thrift/second hand items.

nonetheless there are some highlights, you are intrigue by the antique irons and coffee grinders, wooden bicycle and so forth.

it was a warm afternoon, without a shade it is almost impossible to walk on under the mid noon sun. you resort to ice cream while he nurse his hunger with belgium fries and mayonnaise. you both satisfied your hunger in your own ways…

with him never ending nagging you decided to stop browsing and leave the place, while walking some 2km distance to your car, you look at the surrounding and feel like posing for a photo with the giant toilet paper as he describes it, none other than a roll of pressed grass which usually use as the reserves food for cows in the winter…

with this photo you bid farewell to templaux and head to leuven. there is no special reason to pay leuven a visit other than it is a nearby city next to templaux and he heard from his colleague that leuven has a ‘gezelig’ aka nice atmosphere town.
~~~

strolling.along.kraanlei

you walk along the river bank, now you focus on detail. you observe the color of doors and windows. you wonder who lives behind these windows and what the stories are behind each window . you wonder if these windows have been there since the beginning....

you now pay attention to the lock of the doors. these things just intrigue you now. never mind the peeling paints, never mind the rustic look. you wonder how the interior of these buildings look like. you are tempted to walk in but you not is impossible.

then you spot a nice little tea room. you are not in the mood for sweet tooth at this moment. so you say to yourself tomorrow you will come by for a cup of tea. you spot a gummy cake and cupcakes. you wonder if the gummy cake is delicious but it is definitely interesting. you can't help but walk in just to take some photos

then you come to the end of the cobbled street, you turn left into a main road. you are welcomed by this giant fortress 'gravensteen' or the castle of the counts

you walk into the castle. you feel the past glory of this place. you actually walk into the underground without paying since no one is stopping you. you decide you should not do take the advantage, so you walk up to the reception and walk out...

off.to...

tomorrow is a public holiday (yah!)... queen's eve (tonight) and queen's day (30th april) is usually celebrated in an elaborated way with people dressing in orange color, partying, drinking and be merry...

we are heading to belgium for a short overnight trip, my little white bear has been busy reading up on ....

happy queen's day, viva orange!!

La Source de Spa

We went to Thermes de Spa in the evening, the water in the pool is extracted from the SPA spring sources and it contains high minerals. The water temperature is just about the body temperature, so even if you are not moving/swimming, one can still enjoy the spring water comfortably. I didn't swim much tonight as I am already tired from the two walks. But just soaking in the water itself is already great especially I was sitting on a spot with bubbles.

The main indoor pool, not many people at that hour, which is perfect for us to relax without the crowds...

The red area behind is the solarium... There is also a huge sauna on the first floor which I went briefly and completely

The indoor pool looking out to the outdoor pool but it is already dark at that hour. Having said that I went to the outdoor pool for a short while to recollect the Japanese onsen experience, there is enough steam due to the air temperature and the water temperature differences, there is a superb view of the town of Spa from the top but the water is just not as hot as the hot spring in Japan.

Johannes enjoying his swim....

All in all, an active Saturday, 2 walks and a swim....

Sauveni�re Walk

We attempted another walk in the afternoon, starting from one of the Spa spring water source - Groesbeeck in search for another spring - Source du Tonnelet

Starting from one of the spring source - Groesbeck, the walk is not clearly signed and thus difficult to figure out at first where to start and end...

Later we noticed the path is signed with white paint, and it led us along a very small stream descending to the deep forest woods...

Capturing some shots

Johannes in the middle of the woods

Definitely a walk to remember in October

We didn't make it to Source du Tonnelet as the path suddenly ended up at the normal road and the air suddenly turned damp and becoming cold. We just turned back to the same path and got back to where we started. The return route was quite a challenge for me as it involves quite a ascend...

Still to me, is not about finding another spring source but it is about the walk itself, enjoying the nature, the Autumn scenery, breathing in the fresh air with a crisp of pine, hearing the fallen leaves crush under our feet and observing the leaves falling from the tree when the wind shakes the trees....

.sometimes.

Sometime we have to pamper ourselves....

Last night after the swim, jacuzzi and steam bath, we wind down at the hotel bar...

A chilled beer for Johannes and a glass of house red for me

Yummy olives

Some Ardennen sausage to dip in sweeten mustard sauce. Some cubed cheese (which I don't fancy)

This is what we had for breakfast at the patio of the restaurant this morning, surrounded by the nature...

My breakfast - first round, consists of bacon, 4 mini chicken sausage, a scope of baked bean, 1 soft boiled egg, sauteed mushroom, 2 slices of bread and some sliced cucumber

My second plate - Wasa crackers with chorizo, assorted yummy French cheese... stinky but taste like heaven!!

Johannes 2nd breakfast plate, a confluence of sweet and savory ....

The mid afternoon snack after the walk, the club sandwich is not great but the Belgium fries is soooo go-od!! I am not a fries fan, but this one is crisp but not oily... we both fight for the small portion of fries.

Balmore Walk

The day started with a relatively bright and blue sky...

The morning view of the hotel surrounding...

We decided to check out the woods behind our hotel at Balmore area...

The front view of Radisson SAS Balmore

Let's start the walk....

I will follow his footsteps...

Although there are plenty of withered and fallen leaves, but the trees in the woods are not as yellow/orange

The brown leave in contrast with those on the ground and the green trees behind...

Walking and keep walking... a bit of overcast but that didn't stop us from walking....

There are plenty of nice and stand alone villas/bungalow houses everywhere in the woods and along the trails. Most of them have big woods compound that marked private/priv�. There must be a lot of rich people hiding in Spa and living a good life...

Another hugh and big mansion along the trails...

Although unauthorized trespasser are not allowed in the compound but hey, I don't understand French :p....

It was a short and easy walk but a good start on Saturday morning ...

:hello.from.spa:

After we woke up from the Kyoto's dream (or rather after we visited the Japanese Garden at Clingendael), we embarked a southbound journey to Spa, Belgium. It took us 4 hours to arrive....

Radisson SAS Baltimore - the hotel we are staying this trip, just a few minute drive to Spa city center

At the compound of Radisson SAS Baltimore, just behind a thick yellow orange foilage woods, yet to check them out tomorrow....

The twilight of Spa city center in the evening

Last year we stayed at this hotel, right in the city center and has a lift connecting to the Thermes de Spa...

The plan is also to soak in the spring water tomorrow... but need to be realistic....

Tonight we enjoyed a good swim, sauna, hot steam bath and jacuzzi at our hotel. It's a complete relaxation and followed by a few drinks to unwind the week that leading to a significant 7 years....

It's late now, it's time to catch up with sleep and I hope you have a excited weekend ahead of you...

Greetings from SPA....

Het Zuid Experience

Instead of exploring the tourist spots of Antwerp, we opt for off the beaten track and head to area called 'Het Zuid'

. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and also museums to soak in.

We first had our lunch at a bistro called Canal nearby the Modern Art Museum. The place already very crowded when we arrived, there is a terrace section but all occupied so we settled for a window seat inside.

I decided to start my day in style with bubbles. They actually poured my cava in Moet & Chandon glass as if I have ordered a glass of champagne.

Johannes decided to feast on Tuna steak which comes in a really huge portion with a bed of tomato under the tuna itself and the side dishes of potatoes and salad. What a feast for lunch.

I am absolutely happy with just a simple Chicken Ciabatta as I want to save some space for tea later.