Jean

This author has written 81 articles
Portfolio - Le parlement Hongrois

Hungary – Budapest: Pest from Buda

From the top of the Citadel, the two ancient cities of Buda and Pest join to form the capital of Hungary: Budapest. The crossroads of Central Europe, the heart of the country lies with the inhabitants of its capital. T he cars are in perfect alignment. One after the other, they move forward and stop continuously, always at the same imperturbable rhythm. In their wake, they leave a stream of light that runs along the entire length of the Erzsébet Bridge and rushes into the city, following the main arteries. The repetition of the movement gives a hypnotic effect and we could stay here for hours watching the heartbeat of the city of Budapest, its pulse. It is like entering the soul of a city, secretly, and being able to see the lives of the people there without them being…

Japon - le Dôme de Genbaku à Hiroshima

Japan – Hiroshima, a journey through history

Hiroshima is infamous for being the first city to suffer the effects of nuclear weapons at the end of the Second World War. However, despite some of the scars still present, the city today has become a modern, peaceful and above all a haven for its inhabitants. A cloudless sky. Deep shadows contrasting with the reflections of the sun on the foliage of my garden. This is what I was contemplating that day, early in the morning. I lay on the terrace of the living room in my trousers and vest; I had been up all night in the hospital. Suddenly there is a flash, then another, and I remember - one always remembers silly things - that I wonder at the time whether it was magnesium lamp lightning or sparks from a trolleybus. Shadows and reflections, all gone. There…

Indonésie - Le temple de Borobudur à Java

Indonesia – Sunrise over Borobudur

The legendary Buddhist temple of Borobudur and Mount Merapi on the island of Java are among the jewels of Indonesia. Even today, the Borobudur temple still fascinates locals and travellers alike, who do not hesitate to come and see the remains of a religion that has almost disappeared. A light wind is felt. It wanders quietly between the centuries-old stone sculptures, dances between the legs of the visitors before disappearing into the surrounding jungle in a muffled rustle. Only this murmur manages to disturb the tranquillity of the valley. For the moment, the jungle is still sleeping. After a short walk in total darkness, guided only by the powerful beam of our lamps, the first lights from the temple make their way through the thick wall of vegetation. It doesn't take much longer for the imposing stone edifice to stand…

Japon - Le Torii de Miyajima

Japan – A walk in Miyajima

If there is one place that describes the spirit of Japan, its spirituality, its essence, it is undoubtedly the Torii of Ituskushima. A famous red wooden gateway over the sea, it is certainly no coincidence that the Torii is considered one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan. The boat glides quietly over the almost perfect surface. The clear blue sky merges at times with the Seto Sea. There are no clouds on the horizon, the sun is at its zenith. At the back of the boat, a little girl exclaims "Look at Daddy! "pointing with her outstretched arm to something on the horizon. The closer we get to Itsukushima Island*, the more the cameras crackle. All attention is now focused on him. At first a point of infinity, it gradually reveals itself until it becomes the main actor…

Japon - Le temple Senso-ji à Tokyo

Japan – A visit to the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo

If there was only one place to visit in Tokyo, it would of course be Senso-ji temple. The oldest temple in the Japanese capital is a treat for the senses: the smell of incense, the sound of prayers, the magnificent decorations. Everything is there for a guaranteed change of scenery. T he streets are almost empty. The district looks more like a small town, quiet and pleasant, far from the agitation of the big districts of the Japanese capital. At the corner of a street, an elderly person quietly sweeps the front of his small shop with a supple gesture that betrays his advanced age. At the end of another, a cyclist crosses the alley peacefully. As usual, we are lost. Pungent incense fumes carried by the wind reach us. Senso-ji, Tokyo's most famous temple - located in the Asakusa…

China – Shanghai between sky and sea in Pudong

Discovering the Pudong district in Shanghai. In the space of a few years, these swamps have become China's economic showcase. The difference between the modern skyscrapers of Pudong and the 1930s buildings of the Bund is striking. T he clouds slowly start to creep into the darkness in the distance, while the sun is also declining on the horizon. In front of us are mountains of steel and glass, reflecting the last rays of daylight. Here and there, a few lights come on, proof of the diligence of some people for their work. The famous television tower, the Pearl of the Orient, wakes up and turns red, making its round shapes more voluptuous. At the foot of the incredible tower, a strange sight resembling an advertisement for a new brand of car attracts the crowd. The Pudong district prepares for…

Japon - Le Food Festival à Hiroshima

Japan – Hiroshima Food Festival

What better way to experience Hiroshima than to attend its Food Festival? All the best dishes of the region are on display. As well as traditional Japanese theatre. All this just a stone's throw from the famous Hiroshima Castle. A slightly salty smell wafts through the air. A familiar, delicious smell that makes your mouth water and awakens your senses. A smell of grilled food, fried fish, delicately simmered vegetables. No, in an instant, another gust of wind brings sweeter, more exotic connotations. A mixture of products from the land and the sea, no doubt. In the distance, above the tree tops, several columns of smoke dance with the wind and the dead leaves. The closer we get, the more the smells blend into a sweet perfume whose origin is difficult to understand. We who only wanted to see the…

Maroc - La médina de Marrakech

Morocco – MSC Cruise – On the roads of Marrakech

From the Agafay desert rises the famous ochre city of Marrakech. An imperial city and former capital, Marrakech is full of unusual places to visit, not forgetting the famous Jemaa el-Fna square, located in the medina.   The bus is speeding along the motorway. We have been travelling for almost an hour through an infinity of greenery. To the right and to the left, plains as far as the eye can see. From time to time, a small village with its beautiful white or orange mosque creates a break in this uniform space of colours and shapes. The shadows of the clouds float over the hills of grass and rock. Laughter rings out. It's the three Norwegian women in their fifties at the back of the bus again. As laughter is contagious, the whole bus starts to laugh too. What…

Chine - Le lac Shihu et la ville de Suzhou

China – Walk around Shihu Lake in Suzhou

The city of Suzhou is considered in China as the Venice of the East. Next to the city is the Shihu Lake, which has become a popular place for Chinese people in need of greenery. So much so that it is not uncommon to see future brides and grooms having their photo session on the banks of the lake. T he weather is heavy, almost suffocating. The humidity is omnipresent. The slightest movement requires extra effort due to the heat. Clothes stick, skin is clammy. The sun is nothing more than a yellowish, transparent, round ball. The pollution must have something to do with it. The clouds are beginning to conquer the sky. The fight between the sun and the clouds makes for a magnificent scene, for those who take the time to contemplate it. Storm, not storm? The sky…

Indonésie

Indonesia – Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo, on the island of Java in Indonesia, is a must-see destination. Whether by Jeep or on foot, the visit to the active volcano is magnificent and the landscape seems almost lunar. T he jeep goes straight ahead, full headlight. Nothing seems to stop it, not even the huge ruts punctuating the dirt road. At the back of the jeep, it looks more like a washing machine, so intense are the shocks. All this is covered by the noise of the roaring engine. In its wake, a thick cloud of dust rises but quickly dissipates in the darkness. A hundred metres ahead of us, a procession of yellowish lights, dots dancing in a lightless landscape. These points of light suddenly begin to float in the void and disappear sporadically. Then it is our turn to leave the dusty desert…

Back To Top
Search