Do you know there's a teddy bear museum in Japan?

Teddy bears! For the longest time, I have been wanting to visit a teddy bear museum, especially the one in Jeju, because... of Goong, the Korean drama. That was love at first sight for me, with the kawaii teddy bears dressed as my favorite korean drama characters.

Though I have yet to visit the teddy museum in Jeju, nor the 4 or 5 others in Seoul (there are really many teddy bear museums in Korea!), by coincidence, I stumbled upon a teddy bear museum in Japan, Takayama 高山, and would love to share this wonderful little hut of happiness with all teddy bear lovers outta.

Tucked in a little corner in Takayama, 飛騨高山テディベアエコビレッジ Hida Takayama Teddy Bear Eco Village, is located in a traditional 150-year-old 合掌造り (Gassho constructed) wooden house.



Besides housing antique bears...


I didn't know that wood shavings were used as stuffing then...

There are many exhibits with various themes like, the Japanese theme:



wedding theme...




Bears in traditional Japanese wedding kimono


Make a wish!

and of course the main theme... eco... protecting earth:



and many many others....




I am sleepy... zzz...





This is probably one of the less beaten tracks in Takayama. Most would have covered the old town, morning markets, Shirakawa Village 白川郷... So if you would like to explore Takayama a little more, try this route instead. Near the teddy bear museum are other tourist attractions like the Folk Village, the Seven Gods 飛騨開運乃森大七福神...


There are 2 famous morning markets, 宮川朝市 and 陣屋前朝市, from 6am to 12nn everyday.


白川郷 in early autumn. It is very picturesque in winter. The postcards will testify that. I have yet to see it layered with snow though...



飛騨開運乃森大七福神

So... some basic details about 飛騨高山テディベアエコビレッジ Hida Takayama Teddy Bear Eco Village:

How much does it cost?

• Adults: 600yen
• High School students: 500
• Elementary and Junior High School students: 400
• Free for all other even younger kids :)

TIP
Visit the Takayama Tourist Centre right in front of the Takayama station to get a coupon with 100yen discount off admission tickets.

How to get there?

Take the さるぼぼバス Sarubobo Bus from the Takayama Bus Terminal (right next to the Takayama station). Alight at the 飛騨の里下 (Hida no Sato) bus stop. The museum is just right across it.

TIP
It costs 200yen per ride. You can also buy a day pass for 600yen, or a package at 900yen which includes a day pass with the Hida Folk Village entrance ticket.

Enjoy your date with the teddies! :)

Barrio Fiesta

Drawn by the Manikako Doll Workshop, YF and I went to explore the Barrio Fiesta at Singapore Art Museum this afternoon, after our usual Salvation Army session.

So.. what's Manikako dolls? I did a brief google search before I went, they seemed to be rag dolls. Mmm.. I haven't did much sewing since I left school (other than cross-stitch, but that doesn't count haha...), so...

Anyway, the setup seems easy, and there are many volunteers/ staff around to ask for help.





And so, the craft starts... There weren't many instructions, as the instructors left us very much on our own to start stitching with our imagination. How do you want your doll to be? An animal? A monster? A human?

I didn't have any in mind, actually.. but inspirations just came rolling, after I did the eyes:



and the dress.. inspiration from the lace!



and the final product.. tada... my first Manikako doll!



And all proceeds of the workshop fee, $5, goes to charities.
The rag doll bodies, as I've heard from the volunteer, are made by laid off workers in Philippines. So, why not head down to SAM tomorrow, to make your own Manikako doll as well?

Next, we tried our hands on the flower ball. They are common decorations which Filipinos make and hang up in their houses during festive occasions.

Very beautiful products from seemingly simple ingredients- crepe papers!

From:


To:


Other parts of the Barrio Fiesta, includes 2 art galleries - "Thrice Upon A Time" and "In the Eye of Modernity". Some sneaks:







I love art installations! :)

In additon, you can collect 2 stamps for viewing these 2 galleries, and use it to redeem a Filipino snack.

Lastly, we ended our afternoon window-shopping at the stalls set up at the entrance of SAM. We especially liked the accessories stalls. :)

There will be a procession at night as well. And the Fiesta is only available for one more day, i.e. tomorrow. Do catch it while it lasts!

Museum of Broken Relationships

I went to visit the roving exhibition of the Museum of Broken Relationships yesterday.

Unlike usual museums which showcased items of historical value, this exhibition showcases donated items from the public (from all over the world, including Singapore) and their stories of their fruitless relationships.

Through this avenue, it hopes to offer a chance to overcome any emotional collapse through art creation.

Each item is tagged with a story. It will state the place, date (of relationship), length of relationship and of course, the story. The story of the now defunct relationship.

Some are really very touching.

Especially this one…

The story of the key…



And its story:



Out of love for her, he had stayed away from any sexual activity with her.
And she only knew why after he'd left her forever.

Next.

A very sad story.
Of a couple who loved each other deeply.
But destroyed by, I suspect, depression.



Click larger size to view the story.

And how though the relationship came to an end,
it has at least made a positive impact on someone.



Read the story:



Some other exhibits also included letters, diary entries.
It feels rather strange to read a breakup letter, or a Valentine’s Day letter of a stranger.
Through the few pages of words,
We try to form the story in our head.
The characters of the male and female lead,
The struggles each had..
Why it didn’t work out and had to end anyway...

It can get pretty sad… while browsing the exhibits
So visit it with someone.

It’s really worth a visit.
Catch it while you can.
(It's free admission,
and today-18 Jan 09 is the last day in Singapore)
Before it roam another spot on the world.
It has already being showcased in Croatia, London and Berlin.

And if you would like to share your broken stories too,
Click here.

Meanwhile, on the way to Esplanade (Lvl 2 Jendela),
you can visit the photograph exihibition,
which began as an online photo-journal-
"Days with My Father"
Very touching piece of work.
It's at the Esplanade Tunnel.
Also ending today :P

P.S: As it's a very impromptu visit,
I did not bring my camera...
thus, the low quality of the pictures above.
They're taken using my very antique 2G phone
:P