Rolling in Budapest Cultural information in English … Hear everything first hand

snap by: http://www.redlemon.hu

This year’s guest will be Russia. Mr. Vodka, as the nation’s representative has been invited by Mr. Pálinka and Mr. Sausage to join the site and sounds at the forthcoming Pálinka and Sausage Festival.

October, 6-9.  2011

King Mathew’s Castle

October, 6 Thursday: 2 p.m. – midnight

October, 7 Friday: 2 p.m. –  next day: 2 a.m.

 October, 8 Saturday  noon – midnight

October, 9  Sunday: noon – Monday 2 a.m.

The Hungarian Palinka has more than a thousand years old traditional  in Hungary. Ask any Hungarian, they will surely say they have tasted it at least once. So you can try a snip, then again a snip  or as much as you like and you will see how the Hungarians were able to “survive” with their booze and their sausages through the ages  🙂

Throughout the two decades there has been many annual festival events of  Hungarian Food, Booze, Deserts arranged up on the hilly side of  Buda, at King Mathew’s Castle surroundings.This time it will be the cream on the top.

This year the Pálinka and Sausage Festival is going to bring new opt. to all those that will like to get into the groove. For the first time, there will be around 1000 tables on service to the public. They can be reserved in advance. Individuals can previously make a  reminder in their diary to enjoy the taste of many kind of Pálinka and the traditional Hungarian food with their companies. Surely will be a  great  occasion to spend hours, tasting, testing these essences with friends.

This will be a grand festive for tourists, foreigners temporary staying/working in Budapest/Hungary to get acquainted with the Hungarian mood. Of course the doors are opened for the local citizens as well.  The Hungarians know exactly what they will find up there. Yet many will surely be there to taste those countryside locally prepared various range of Pálinka and the special taste of the Hungarian sausages.

More than a hundred of 100% pure fruit based “PÁLINKA” and S/M/L/XL size of  Hungarian mild/medium/hot and BB hot sausages. Great combination to have the spirits of Pálinka, then go for the sausages.

Also will  be a grand variety offers of the Russian large spectrum of food specialties. 

The Palinka’s makers and the sausages producers will arrive with their specialities from every corner of Hungary. This means they all bring their own local booze to welcome the guests at the Festival.

This  time  a new “princess” drink has been especially planed for the  festival. The Italian Caffé Cagliari  and the Hungarian Angel of Copper “Rézangyal” will introduce herself. This Italian-Hungarian based booze will be here as  a  premier. Also the first time to be introduced around the world, i.e. the mixture of coffee-and pálinka. Now your eyes are wide open, so go and see, taste it and enjoy it.

During the open hours there will be live music to also make your feet tap the rhythm and fully enjoy yourselves. So can you wish for more?!?

Another “VIP” guest from Russia, Mr. Igor Presnyakov, the acoustic guitar player will be playing oldies from the 80s, 90’s, metal  and to-day’s pop singer’s tunes on a 7 strings guitar which by itself  is unique.

Here’s a peek:

So ain’t have to make a wish, Igor will be here. Don’t have to wish either for the Vodka  and the food.  Only have to keep one thing in mind, as to go there and not having  to have said at the end of the festival: “WISH YOU WERE HERE”!

To reach this festival take the number 16 bus. It takes you exactly to the scene. How to reach it: jump on the bus (O.K. carefully) at the end-station, at the Elisabeth Square “Erzsébet tér”, then get off  the bus at the other end-station at the corner of the Castle’s entrance.

The weatherman says it’s going to be a dry, sunshine day, just like the season says: Indian summer. Only without the smoke-signs, but the “light” smoke floating  around the freshly cook sausages will surely bring the hunger to everyone  that strolls along the paths at these huge surroundings. Your spirit will surely get high and you won’t leave the King Mathew’s Castle without not buying some Pálinka for the rainy days.

Well, I think I’m not going to spread anymore secrets now, cause life ain’t interesting if you know all the secrets in advance.  Try hard to make yourself free on the days of

October, 6-9.

and visit as much stands as possible. You will always cherish the moments of this event.

…to be continued after the event.

Update by: Aggie Reiter

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Better to do something for your health than blame it on the washing machine, saying it shrunk in the rolling spin.

On a day called Sunday with the sun’s spreeding warmth opened platforms for all  those individuals who wished to spend time on their well-being and joined the FITBALANCE DAY  at the MILLENÁRIS PARK.  It was  the one and only utmost annual event of the year for all sizes of self sporty health exercise and lifestyle.

Approximately, 100H/programs, around 55 local and 4 international presenters and a gross of 80 „spinning” fulfilled the day’s event. At the Fitbalance LifeStlye Expo, your spending your leisure time as free as you wish. Can catch up to any class, or  outstanding group grounds.

The day we are born, our body is continuously in moving. We hardly think of it and don’t all realize that our body is a real champion, but how long are we able to place more-and-more lays of loads and live healthy without doing any care for it.  We can achieve more out of it you’d ever know.  The Fitbalance Day was a puff to many, that they are capable if they want to be.

What is the Fitbalance about: It ain’t just a lifestyle! You can control your mind, body and soul. You can gain more closer connection between you body and soul by eulogistic words and also having to carry your mind to achieve what you really wish to reach. When your health is in good shape, your soul is healthy.

First you have to give up those negative thoughts that block your mind to successfully reach your well-being, it’s simple  as that! Food was always the route to survive of mankind, but to-day’s „mankind” should care more for their body and „feed” it with uplifting energy to make you feel your living in a wonderful world.

To-day celebrities from different paths (Anikó UNGÁR, famous, unique  magician, Brigitta ERDŐHEGYI, singer-dancer, LACI,resident at the „4th Real World”, VV4, Ica BIRÓ, metal-lady, Attila KATUS, lifestyle consultant, aerobic exercise specialist, personal trainer and many more  joined the 2011 year’s Fitbalance to show how important the fitness counts in the well-being.

The Ripple Brothers are having high hopes and wish to reach  to be printed form in the  Book of Guinness with the size and weight of the Hungarian sweet called Cube Bar “Kockás Rudi”. They both needed all their strength to be able to lift up this “huge table” of sweetie (See the snaps).

It may be bit confusing for the readers here to see cigarette at this platform for healthy way of living, but this wasn’t about smoking. It was about an e-cigarette called GreenSmoke.  So this product advertised beside a day of full health being at the FITBALANCE was  well planned.

Since the cigarettes have flown throughout the world, many are enabled to stop to be a slave to them! Maybe millions are fed up with their smoking habits, the tar, the bad breath, the odors  that comes along with the smoking, yet aren’t much into deciding anymore to quit quitting. Fitbalance was a good field to show there is life without the cigarettes. The scientifically designed plastic case cigarette is a smokeless device. Only propels air into your lungs giving the sensation of inhaling in place of smoking real tobacco. The GreenSmoke looks exactly like the real thing without any tar, no carcinogenic agent, no more ash-trays, no butts, no cigarette-ends.

No one  else but you, is responsible for your well-being than you. Yes, I can hear you… what about stress, eating too much, less sleeping  and  so forth. Anyone can add their opt. to this list, surely aware of these ups-and-downs.

The Celebrities are on 24H “duty”. No wonder they also in need of their own peace in time to recharge themselves. Many of them suffer in the lack of time.  These newly developed equipments, also shown  and tried at the FitBalance are welcomed by them, because a 20 minutes “easy”  exercise equals with one hour of heavy training. They said they absolutely feel the difference before and after their class or field-work out.

Many realized they don’t need their coffin-nails. More-and-more are going on “stage” talking about “dropping their bad habbits”  in changing regular smokes  by use of the GreenSmoke e-cigarettes.

The drawbacks of regular tobacco and paper cigarettes and having a GreenSmoke e-cigarettes instead  will be welcomed by more-and-more and come favourable also by the ones having to have been previously the passive smokers. No more puffing unpleasant odors, burning two-ends on both sides: http://greensmoke.hu

Update and snaps by: Aggie Reiter

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This year’s   National Galopp   “Nemzeti Vágta”   came back with a race and an endless parade  looking to mark a worldwide name for Hungary and an International  interest to having to join this one and only unique  scenario  of shows in the forthcoming  year.

Although  September, 18  was’t a National Holiday, the National Galopp’s „Nemzeti Vágta” race stopped locals and folks from abroad at Budapest, Nationwide  and the neighbouring countries to watch this outstanding show of the Hungarians as the horse-riders throughout the ages of their history periods.

It was a festive of horse-riders from each-and-every corner of Hungary.

A little bit on the side of numbers: There  were a diffusion of line-ups of 300 performers,  52  mayors, a number of ministers from  the Gov.  and  Secretaries of State, as the guest of honours.

Many that couldn’t make it home and abroad most probably found the nearest TV to watch parts of the parade and the final race. At the Heroes Square two big screens stood to follow the races. Even if folks were a bit far from the racing field standing in massive line ups to taste the Hungarian food and drinks could see what’s happening out on the race field.

On a day when fate, nature, the gods, and most of all the highly trained horse riders and their horses filled with the beauty of elegance  pulled to the scene to show their strength and the power of horse-riding

Was one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year, with a huge, as in a crowd of 150.000 or even plus to a full-day entertainment was  ensured by the organizers. This year the number of a tendency’s were higher than in the previous 3 years. There wasn’t even a “square inch”, whereas there hasn’t been something to see, hear, eat, drink, listen… etc.

Also new performances were swaying “running” throughout the ground. The clown horseback riders gave some cheering  and laughter to all ages. For the first time  at  the National  Galopp’s, the chariots were  implemented to the grand show.

The horse-riders in a way or the another,  behind the horses mattered just as much, if not more than the condition of the animal itself. It is a two-way lane to success.

The pants where on fire, not only in connections with the horses but also in style.

A party of  “celeb’s  joined within  their presence at a new sport of horse racing by standing for the first time on a  specially made chariots just for this  National Galopp event.  Great reminder of the pictures of the 50s  Ben Hur, as the one of the most epic scenes. Ms. Ildikó KERESZTES, singer, actress won the race with her “supporting partner” Mr. Zoltán LÁZÁR, WorldChamp.

László HAJAS, famous hairdresser, won the charity star race, supported by Bank of OTP. It was the day he dreamt for so long and was happy his dream came true. His prize was 100.000 HUF, which he offered as  charity support to the Department of Pediatrics at the Tűzoltó street’s clinic.

This  year’s winner at the National Galopp “Nemzeti Vágta” was Ms. Gyöngyi MOLNÁR, representing  the sub-region of Baja who raised high above her head the “Hussar Saber” as the challenge –cup (the Hussar saber is to-day’s  symbol of Hungary’s 1948 war of independence). Along with the grand prize of  she gain 10 million HUF to her sub-region.  She was not riding … she was flying  3 feet above the ground  and could hardly hold back her tears of joy and happiness.  Last year she took the 2^nd place at this National Galopp and what’s more to it, at the time being she wasn’t aware of her pregnancy. This year she brought her 10 months old little baby along to this race.

Other background figures at this outstanding festive: 170 tents, 240 equerry, 380 horses, 3 trailer trucks of wast-wood, 62 trailer trucks of special horse-friendly sand.  At the end of the event a huge picture of 20 ton of “wasteland” was collected by the sweepers.

YA WOULDN’T WANT TO MISS THIS NEXT YEAR, SO NOTE IT… AND SEE YOU  IN 2012 AT THE 

NATIONAL  GALOPP “NEMZETI VÁGTA”

Update and snaps by: Aggie Reiter

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The Dog May Be Man’s Best Friend,
but was the Horse that built the civilization!

Hungary has a long and deeply entrenched history of horse riding. Briefly, it is through their great skill at horse riding that they were able to migrate to Hungary during the 10th century. Ever since then, there has been an appreciation for horse riding skills and archery among Hungarian people.

Horses  back in Hungary in an era  were considered as part of the  country’s national treasure. Also in the past as in the present is such an important part of our heritage.

In the year 896 AD the seven Hungarian nomadic tribes crossed the Carpathian mountain range from the east cca.890 AD. Theirs was the last move of the “great migration” which had begun in 400 AD. They arrived in the area, sitting on horseback by elected Arpad to be the leader of their tribal federation, and founded a dynasty, as well-considered as the founder of the Hungarian nation.

This short background is to understand the statues at the Heroes Square. The grand monument composition is a memorial to the warriors, princes. These statues show the heroes, warriors, princes, captains of the past history ages of Hungary. These heroes gave their lives for the freedom to our people and our national independence.

So can there a better venue to arrange this gigantic traditional parade with the Hungarians riding, wearing their uniforms to phrase their honour to the past horseback riders of our nation.

There are countries that whenever saying their names, certain things parallel goes with them, i.e. Italy – pizza, Swiss – ski, Holland – tulips and so forth. Now the time has come for the foreigners to think of Hungary (not just by placing an equal signal to Palinka, Gulyás soup) but as a nation with long-long history in breeding horses and horse-riders, horse world champions of the country.

Tomorrow will be 4^th day of the National Galopp.  This final day will share all the beauty for the eyes watching the parades and fastening heartbeats as the horse racing will take place.

Truly hope that those foreigners who by work stay in Hungary and those that are spending their holidays here in Budapest will surely go and watch this show. Hold the memories of the day’s at the National Galopp and the venues. Also their eyes will catch the beauty of these horses.

Updates and snaps by: Aggie Reiter

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A peek into the world of to-day’s September, 15 National Galopp

To-day the „road” at the Parade Square opened it’s “field” wide and length  for the  National Galopp’s annual festive. In the coming four days you will be welcomed around the areas of the Parade Square, the Memorial monument of 1956, along the pedestrian of the Andrassy Blvd.  Inside the Galopp’s proms are already awaiting to welcome you with their wide range of typical Hungarian flavours of foods, wine and palinka, and can’t miss the Hungarian desserts. So the table is set! They will always remind your visit to Hungary. Just mentioned a few of whats to come and surely are compliments to be around this outstanding unique show of races. This National Galopp is, as the well know comment says: 2in1, so not just for the eye, but also to enjoy the special Hungarian gastronomic.  As the sun slowly goes down there are for music lovers, live music on the spot with  Besh O drom (7p.m.),  Moonlight (7p.m.) (Holdvilág), Magdi Rúzsa’s concert on Sunday evening. The National Galopp will also bring joy to the ear for those guests who are interested in the Hungarian folk music. Each day from 2p.m. until 6p.m. live folk music will fill the air around the Folk Music stage. Both week-end days between noon and 6p.m. the students from the Department of Folk Music at the “Ferenc Liszt”  University of Music will spread the Hungarian folk music.

Most of the scene are  free of charge. Only those tickets will be in need to be purchased that stands for the entry to the run at  “Szechényi” platform and to the grandstand at the Heroes Square.

Update and snaps by: Aggie Reiter

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HELLO CHOCOHOLICS, THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU!

Ain’t want to miss it, right, then simply note
the dates and time:

September, 16. Friday, 11 a.m. until
midnight

September,
17. Saturday, 10 a.m. until midnight

September, 18. Sunday, 10a.m. until
10 p.m.

Chocolate has always been as medicine in History

„Let Food Be
Your Medicine and Medicine Be Your Food.”

Hippocrates
(460-377 BC)

Chocolate is going through a reborn era, back to
comfort, way back to retro, forward to new gastronomic exploration and healthy
indulgence.

Must admit,
I love the pleasure of chocolates served three ways:

Frozen

Liquid

Bars

Throughout the past 20 decades, Budapest has become the city of Festivals. Especially, from early spring to late fall, but also during the high seasons. There has been festivals almost each and every week-end, regarding to: Palinka, Wine, Gourmet, Typical Hungarian flavoured Sausage, Mulled wine, you name it, but this will be the first time to have sweeties on the table, as a dessert. Whether you are an addicted „chocoholic” person or not, it will be an event to enjoy for kids, adults and a great meeting venue point.

So let’s talk while we eat chocolate and get down to the point. Here is a notice to keep in mind for the forthcoming week-end. So, this week-end there will be for not only the sweets-tooths the „SWEET DAYS FESTIVAL”. This will be the first chocolate festival in Hungary to be in the line in the future like many European and Overseas traditional festivals.

Yes, most festivals last only through the week-ends, so be sure to get your walking shoes on and head up to the hills of Buda. Up there it has an amazing view to the city’s landscape of 180 degree. This festival will be a venue based on looking into the trends within the Chocolate Industry and
sharing all the excitement and flavor that it brings, to the general public.

Share your passion for varietal chocolate, fresh ingredients,  organic, vegan and infused flavor with your kids and friends by tasting not just any chocolates, but some of the finest rich, creamy, decadent trifle, high quality hand-made chocolates produced here in Hungary.

Mr. János Pataki, President, UIPCG (World Confectionery Association) main patron, will open the festival.

The host of this year’s festival will be Sarah Jane Evans, the specialist writer to the BBC of food and wines. She also enjoys exploring the different byways of fine chocolate and regularly keeps the readers updated about them.

In the evening hours there will be live music: funky, soul, jazzy – to lose some fat 🙂

So make plans to attend the chocolate festival. Good luck, enjoy  your day and night.

Update by. Aggie Reiter

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HELLO CHOCOLATE LOVERS

Please note the dates and time:

September, 16. Friday, 11 a.m. until midnight

September, 17. Saturday, 10 a.m. until midnight

September, 18. Sunday, 10a.m. until 10 p.m.

Chocolate has always been as medicine in History

„Let Food Be Your Medicine and Medicine Be Your Food.”

Hippocrates (460-377 BC)

Chocolate is going through a reborn era, back to comfort, way back to retro, forward to new gastronomic exploration and healthy indulgence.

Must admit, I love the pleasure of chocolates served three ways:

Frozen –  Ice cubes

Liquid  – Hot

Bars – Dark  (70%,80%,90%)

Throughout the past 20 decades, Budapest has become the city of Festivals. Especially, from early spring to late  fall, but also during the high seasons. There has been festivals almost each and every week-end,  regarding to: Palinka, Wine, Gourmet, Typical Hungarian flavoured Sausage, Mulled wine, you name it, but this will be the first time to have sweeties on the table, as a dessert. Whether you are an addicted „chocoholic” person or not, it will be an event to enjoy for kids, adults and a great meeting venue point.

So let’s talk while we eat chocolate and get down to the point. Here is a notice to keep in mind for the forthcoming week-end. So, this week-end there will be for not only the sweets-tooths the „SWEET DAYS FESTIVAL”. This will be the first chocolate festival in Hungary to be in the line in the future like many European and Overseas traditional festivals.

Yes, most festivals last only through the week-ends, so be sure to get your walking shoes on and head up to the hills of Buda. Up there it has an amazing view to the city’s landscape of 180 degree. This  festival will be a venue based on looking into the trends within the Chocolate Industry and sharing all the excitement and flavor that it brings, to the general public.

Share your passion for varietal chocolate, fresh ingredients, organic, vegan and infused flavor with your kids and friends by tasting not just any chocolates, but some of the finest rich, creamy, decadent trifle,  high quality hand-made chocolates  produced here in Hungary.

Mr. János Pataki, President, UIPCG (World Confectionery Association) main patron, will open the festival.

The host of this year’s festival will be Sarah Jane Evans, the specialist writer to the BBC of food and wines. She also enjoys exploring the different byways of fine chocolate and regularly keeps the readers updated about them.

In the evening hours there will be live music: funky, soul, jazzy – to lose some fat 🙂

So make plans to attend the chocolate festival.  Good luck, enjoy your  day and night.

Update by. Aggie  Reiter

Press Release

issued  by

Orsolya Ferenczi, Head of PR, Operetta Theater Budapest

The Budapest’s Operetta Theater and the Sopron’s open-air Musical Arena (MKB) surely handled the “ribbon cutting ceremony” with the production of Miss Saigon as an unforgettable evening of three days in front of more than 14 thousand  individuals.

The whole show was a unique, gigantic production with the   impressive scenarios and especially as the helicopter flew above the Arena and landed on the stage.

The spectators terrace were crowed and at the end they stood up clapped and cheered over-and-over again, uninterruptedly.

They say the light show, the sound effects, the fireworks, military vehicles and the scene of the stampede escape  on by the Americans from ‘Nam on  a gigantic, 12 hundred kgs. of weight helicopter lift off the stage , leaving above the heads of the audience was simply awesome. Probably a lot from the audience held their breath, as it was a breathtaking scene.

The casting was perfectly selected. The show’s level was also highly raised by the collective of the Budapest Operetta Theater’s Musical group, the pupils of the Pest Broadway Studio, and the walk-on men and women.

In the hope of 2012, KERO® would like to bring a new gigantic musical production to the audience at Sopron’s open-air stage again.

MISS SAIGON WAS AT SOPRON, August, 19 – 20 – 21 and if you missed it there, then don’t think twice, make it to the Operetta Theater at the dates shown below.

AS TO MY PREVIOUS UPDATE, MISS SAIGON COMES TO BUDAPEST!

Operetta Theater, District VI.  17. Nagymező street, Budapest

7 p.m.  September, 17 – 18 – 20 – 21

3 and 7 p.m. October, 15.

Be at it to get your tickets in advance, cause the house will be crowed (this time again) here in Budapest!!

Incase you’re not coming-going, you won’t have that buzz experience that’s for sure!

 I will deeply try to make it this time.

Update by: Aggie Reiter

Here’s an invitation for the States of Art Gyms

FITBALANCE

September, 25. 2011.

MILLENÁRIS PARK

Budapest, District 1. – 20-22 Fény street

Wake-up and be there first at the open gates at 8.15 a.m.

I would like to add my personal thought:  Fitness for the body is as important as  feeding ourselves, because how can a person pull on their skate shoes and go, if they ain’t fit enough.

Attended yesterday at the Fitness – Lifestlye press conference held for the media, members of written and electronic press, whereas sportsmen and sportladies, multiplied body builder champions, well know sportsmen, celebrities  had attended to express their own experiences and thoughts of importance of to-day’s rush and to take the time to care about their health no matter of age nor their weight.

Mr. Csaba Bara,  Marketing Director opened and pointed out that during the past years the number of wellness hours has became the most active hours and have had increased a lot at many institutions.

This year they have invited Mr. Robert Steinbacher, who received the title of the best presenter of the year in the US. He created the BodyArt  training system. Who is also the founder of this huge movement. Also created  a “mind center” whereas, thousands of instructors and bodyworkers are educated worldwide.

Mr. Csaba Bara, Marketing Director introduced some background figures of this year’s Fitbalance to be hold at the Millenáris Park. “There will be platforms of 7 workout stages with 100 workout programs  and  55 Hungarian and 4 international presenters. This Fitbalance Expo is for all age. Beside the mass sports there will also be space for the racing sports.”

Talked about future plans: “As for the plans for the future we will be holding a Children Word Championship  in 2012 at Budapest. Early in October the Hungarian “bodies” are off to Spain to participate at several contest. There will be 27 categories at the International Federation of Body Building (IABB). The IABB doesn’t have the level of high training schools, even though the pretence is highly needed, therefore it is a challenge and  a project to be  fulfilled to develop this need in the future.”

Here are some coming up activities: Zumba, House dance, Kngoo, R’nB moves, Capoiera, Afro-mania, Spinning, Lyengar Yoga, Body art, African dance, Iron box, Kangoo, Jazz Adagio, BodyArt pure, BodyArt Dynamic, BodyArt all rotation and hip opening, BodyArt basic new structure, (New!) BodyArt deep  work,  Pilates, BodyArt stretch, Strength and streach,  Step and turn,Hourse step, Step oxy, Step surprise, Step basic, Asimetric step, Step challenge .

This year there will be 70 programs and a number of 40 national and international performer and presenters who surely will bring the eyes to attention for the  audience.

There will be also additional programmes: the Biopont Lifestyle Expo, Phoenix med health screenings, offering a choice of around 20 types of free screening; demonstrations of the latest exercise equipment and types of fitness training. As well as throughout the day, the necessary equipments will be out on display.

Updates a snaps by Aggie Reiter

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Kyoko Aihara,   third visit to Budapest.

The famous book writer of the lives of the Geisha’s

PONTON   GALLERY – BUDAPEST

September, 6-10.

Over the past 10 years, this is the third time Kyoko Aihara, the fascinating and detailed book writer of the lives of the Geisha arrived to Budapest.  This time she bought along her own design collection of amazingly beautiful, rich in patterns kymonos and self taken photos, hand painted personal cards, hairpins, hand-made coloured silk and cotton shawl, wooden made footwear, special socks,  wooden and pearl made headdress  accessories. Kyoko Aihara  was wecomed  by Rita HALASI, the owner of the outstanding  PONTON Gallery  (Budapest, First District, 65-67 Batthyány Str.).  Dr.Györgyi FAJCSÁK, Director of the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Eastern-Asia Arts talked about the tradional background of the Geisha’s past and present lives. Kyoko also greated with kind  words  the huge gathered crowd of interest.

Asked Kyoko about her experiences throughout  the times of her visits. She said. “It’s been now almost 10 years since I first visited Hungary and ever since my first stay, I felt and saw so much beauty in the country’s landscapes and met friendly people. Been to  the Lake Balaton, at Villány and the surrounding mountain side, visiting also a vineyard area. Traveled  through  the country’s north-east part to Tokaj.  One of the famous wine areas in Hungary. Of course, tasted the worldwide know Tokaj wine. Have to admit  the rich taste was really enjoyable.” Kyoko also  spoked about the Hungarian traditional dishes, saying: “Even though my body was raised on the Japanese meals, I am  very much fond of the Hungarian food.”  Moving along from her past visit’s experiences she talked about her present exhibition regarding to the Geisha’s world and culture. This time  her stay is for 10 days, visiting sights before and after the exhibition and some other parts of the country.  Kyoko also said: “I am very happy to be again in Hungary. I feel very close to the Hungarians and hope I’ll be able to come back in a short time. From   Hungary I will be off to do another exhibition with this collection  in Lithuania”.

(Kyoko Aihara was born in Yokohama in Japan.
She graduated in History of Art from Keio University in Tokyo. Since 1994 she has been working as a freelance journalist and a photographer in Japan.)

Asked her how she went into writting a book of the Geishas. She said: “One day a representative from the BBC got in touch with me saying he read my articles and asked me to write a book of the Geisha’s.” At this point her whole world changed in 1999  within the realise of her book marked with her own photos she has collected among the Maiko and Geikoin. Her unprecedented access to the city’s tea houses of Kyoto, made her uniquely to write this outstanding book. With Kyoko’s original photos, her informative and honest text provides a fascinating and detailed portrait of a distinctive and intriguing aspect of Japanese society. During the period of collecting material and taking photos for her book was the time when she fell inlove with the Kymono. Kyoko also discovered that the to-day’s individuals have completely forgotten of the beauty that lies in wearing the traditionally artwork of the kimonos and only can meet the eye reading old books and seen in the world of the Bohemians.

Here in Hungary the first edition of  the Geisha’s book of 6000 copies had entered many homes. Hopefully, there will be a second edition coming sometimes in the near future.

The exotic appearance interest in Geisha world have spawned various popular culture both in Japan and in the West. Now-a-days mainly in Kyoto, whereas it has always been a deep tradition of the existing  strong  culture.

Special thanks goes to dr. Györgyi Fajcsák for the background assistance.

Update and snaps by: Aggie Reiter