Suffolk Walk: Framlingham

 One week-day in March....

One week-day in March, we ventured out to Framlingham. It's not far either, only 20mins or so by car. I do love Framlingham. Beautifully quirky town. It has a castle, a church, and a new community centre. funky shops and a little market in the centre of the town. It has a cafes and pubs, and a yoga studio too. This town is small but has what you need. 

We are so lucky to have quirky places in Suffolk, no need to go far for fresh air.

That day, we walked around the castle, then visited the church. Exploring history, always interesting. Because of history, we are here, where we are today. We need to learn from history however, us, humans seem to have a such short term memory or being taken over a huge ego and greed, this history tend to repeat itself, which is really sad to see all this conflicts, racism and wars around the globe.

 Anyway, back to Framlingham. 

We do love visiting churches and monasteries. ( Also temples and shrines) some churches have lovely energy, peaceful and sacred. And Framingham church is one of them. Sometimes churches were built along the lay-lines where Mary line and Michael line run through west of England to France. The ton I used to live in Bury St Edmunds has both lines connects and separate again. Our Suffolk has a deep history, along with beautiful nature. So grateful to be here. 

Framlingham castle looks really magical, all we need is ; some wizard, elves and hobbits! 😆

My niece is visiting this summer, she is a huge fan of Harry Potter. So, I shall take her here for a bit of sightseeing, let her imagine harry Potter and his mates flapping their wands! 🤩

Here are some photos from the church.

Met a cute doggos in the square. They are pair of them. So fluffy😍

Where shall we go for a walk today? 

Suffolk Walk: Snowdrops & Dunwich Greyfriars

 One Saturday afternoon in March...

Dunwich isn't far from us, we only live in a market town of Saxmundhm🤩 Dunwich is one of our favorite place for our little walk. Since my illness, I am not able to walk too far, so walk in Greyfriars is perfect. It has sea view, history, beautiful snowdrops in winter, lovely footpaths, and peaceful. 

We used to go for different places for snowdrops but this year, not able to visit, that was due to I was in Japan early this month which were one of reasons... By the time I came back, the most of snowdrops were going out, still, it was very pretty. I feel grateful to be able to see them after my return. 

Greyfriars is a hidden spot for snowdrops, not many people walking in the season either. So, I would definitely recommend, and afetr your walk, why don't you pop down to Ship for your lunch? I have not been there yet, but I have seen on Time Team. When The team came to Dunwich carpark and Greyfrias to dig a couple of trenches, on their break ( after the day) they had a beer and chips etc in the pub. Looked very cozy! This episode is still on youtube. Very interesting, I love anything historical locally. Whether Romas, Anglo Saxons, Iron age or mediaeval... Or even older... Dinosaur time! 

Day 10: My little (?) walk..Shinjyuku Gyoen Garden

 21/2/2023

Today I met up with my friend and went to Shinjyuku Gyoen. I walked to Shinōtsuka Marunouchi line station ( underground), took me only 15-20 mins or so. I do love this line, it runs through centre of Tokyo, when it runs up to overground, it's a bit of sightseeing spots. I hadn't been on this for about 4 years and things changed a lot, especially Shinjyuku area. Anyway, managed to meet up with my friend ( a bit cold and windy, I waited for my friend downstairs rather than upstairs and missed him🤣)

It was only short walk to the main gate, paid 500 yen for entering fee. Already, I could see a few plum trees blossoming, looked very pretty. 

Once we were inside, it opened up to brown grass with trees, minimalistic zen-like open space. The garden was very neat and tidy, perfectly pruned trees everywhere. Soon we realised they were cherry blossom trees. So many of them and so many different kinds! We were saying, when they are in season, it will be so beautiful with pink petals! I was here long time ago in autumn time, and it was beautiful with ginko trees with yellow leaves. 

This garden has very modern building in backgrounds, contrast to how the garden is. Luckily it was sunny and warm ( although a bit chilly winds) with blue sky, pink petals really stood out. 

I thought it was one of old Syogun's garden, but it is run and owned by Ministry of environment. I didn't know this, I Googled last night to do my homework where I was going.  😊

I  loved pine trees and Zen minimalistic garden as well as Taiwanese house which sat peacefully inside the garden. I felt really peaceful and serene there. I would love to have a house like that with view of the garden! 😍

After our walk, we went for lunch. It was a franchise Indian restaurant near Metropolitan Government Building. I had mixed Japanese mushroom Curry and Naan. It was lovely, naan was huge, I couldn't eat all. Then more walk! We walked to Metropolitan Government Building, hoping we could go to top of the building for observation area. However unfortunately, it was closed. So we strolled to Shinjyuku station where we parted. 

I was so pleased to be able to see early blossoms ( Kanzakura 寒桜) and plum blossoms. I really thought I was going to miss them. For cherry blossoms ( Sakura) will be another a month or so to be full 🌸. 

Shinjyuku Gyoen: https://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/english/index.html

Metropolitan Government Building: https://www.yokoso.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/

Day 6 : Rikugi-en garden, Komagome-ku

 17/2/'23

Part Two!

After our lunch and coffee ( I had a glass of oced tea) in really vintage cafe in Ikebukuro. They had a bakerly down stairs, cafe was on the 9th floor. Cor, when I stepped out, it was like...tme tripped into 70/80's. Really old decor, vintage looking fake sample display food, 80's wallpaper, yellow ceiling....It really reminded me of when I was grwoing up. Grumpy old guy took our order and served us. 

I oredered iced tea and it came with plastic straw and a little jug of sugar syrup! I was really surprisd to see being my tea served like tha, very 80's/70's. My friend had a bottle of Kirin beer. I could still taste in my mouth. I didn't even thought of drinking it, just remembered me used to drink. 

Anyway, after this, my mate asked me if I anted to go to Rikugi-En ( Japanese garden in Komagome station on Yamanote Line) He wanted to take some photos. So I said yes, I do like the garden I used to go there often when I was growing up. Only a few stations away from Ikebukuro. 

When we arrived, we walked around a corner to get into from side entrance. A bit of walk for me, along the main road. But, as always, worth the walk. It was beautiful. Kinda surprise, such a beautiful, peaceful garden in the middle of busy part of Tokyo. Today, there weren't many tourists, seemed like locals were there. 

It was 300 yen for an adult charge. It's not very big garden, just right size to chill out and looking round. It was buit for 5th Tokugawa Syogun in Edo period. More history, link below. Although there weren't fillend with any autumn colours or spring bloosom colours, still it was beautiful with shaped Matsunoki/ pine tree (?) 

There were little early blossom flowers, I would assume they were plums. Cute😍

Later, my friend asked me If I wanted to visit Shinjoku Gyoen which is another famous beautiful garden in Tokyo. really looking forward to this. These days, I don't get out from my local neighbourhood , so it would be lovely to visit the garden. 

Friend of my friend just has starting his touring company in Hawaii, Honolulu based. My mate is going to help him and getting business grow together. They are touring company, to Japan. If you would like to visit Japan, worth contacting them Full English speaking guides and show you round not only popular sightseeing spots in japan and restaurants but also hidden gems and gorgeous places to eat with very reasonable price. They can also suggest you where to stay with good price and service. Make Japan trip special and unique. 🤩 Link below!

Related links: 

EightDays dining: https://gurunavi.com/en/gg97700/rst/?__ngt__=TT13e22b3da005ac1e4a59edQ7jnBwvgEMZWp6bdJkxpNy

(2 chome, Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo)

Rikugi-En Garden: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3026.html

(Komagome, Bunkyou-Ku)

ResponderJapna: https://www.responderjapan.com/?fbclid=IwAR1tqjBnIM0w1gZqeLPIw-EDPoLThCVCmKakIINTkLL4gD2HGtmcWEzJtbE

(Honolulu based)