a bit of japan

I finished my first Haruki Murakami!!! The wind up bird chronicle! And what fun it was. Not in a literal sense. But in a quirky way!

Anywho without further ado, I will jot down my musings during this phase.

* It truly felt like a diary. Of Mr. Wind up Bird.

* Parts of it was so bizarre, that I could not tell what was real and what was not. Felt like a David Lynch movie. Mulholland Dr. to be specific. One can even say shutter island or inception!

* What quirky names! Noboru Wataya, Malta, Creta, Nutmeg, Cinnamon. Of course, I am not a Japanese, but still!

* Murakamai's pop culture references, put forward Japan in a totally new perspective. Have never been there, have never read much about it, but always had a feeling that it would be weirdly orthodox. May be I am wrong.

* I again use the word dream like. I am still not sure, what was what. But whatever it was it was very intriguing and kept me hooked.

* Most of the times any writer's ability or eye for detail normally impresses me. This time super impressed by Murakami's ability to dig deep and describe weirdest of thoughts using simple words. Basically I am a word fumbler. Hence.
* I have decided my next Murakami would be Kafka on the shore.

Co-incidentally they were having an Ikebana workshop in office. I basically like flowers and the freshness they bring to any room. And I had always wanted to learn it since school days. So I automatically signed up for it. What fun it was! More than fun it was very relaxing and calming. If you even distantly like nature, trees, plants you should give it a try. It is sooo zen ;)

Some pics for public disposal. 

my first arrangement..has basic elements and teaches you subject, object  fundas - courtesy my nokia N72

my second arrangement..seeks balance..check out the flower structure to see what I mean ;) again taken from my Nokia N72

the freestyle..again seeks balance, made using bamboo sticks and minimal objects- taken from my nokia N72

the welcome arrangement - by the teacher, isnt it just wonderful  ? :)

~nightflier :)

P.S. Please don't copy the pics without asking, specially the last one. Thanks!