#the most tragic character in Chinese drama land

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: The Apothecary Diaries Light Novel, Vol. 1

Author: Natsu Hyuuga, Kevin Steinbach (trans.)

Illustrator: Touko Shino

Genre/s: historical, mystery

Content/Trigger Warnings: implied pedophilia by a character no longer present in the series, kidnapping, being sold into indentured servitude, death, suicide, physical and emotional abuse

Summary (from publisher's website): In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there. Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison! At her lady’s side, Maomao starts to learn about everything that goes on in the rear palace—not all of it seemly. Can she ever lead a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers?

Buy Here: https://j-novel.club/series/the-apothecary-diaries

Spoiler-Free Review: Oh but this was a delight! The way I think of this is that Maomao is kind of like Sherlock Holmes, except she’s stuck in a period intrigue drama set in the rear palace of the Chinese imperial court and has to negotiate all the etiquette and conspiracies in THAT particular setting while also solving mysteries. Which, given all the conspiring, there are actually plenty of.

While the mysteries are pretty interesting, what REALLY hooked me was reading about Maomao interacting with the consorts and their ladies-in-waiting. The way Maomao views herself (low-ranked servant/food taster/apothecary) stands in direct contrast to the way the REST of the inhabitants of the rear palace view her (poor unfortunate waif), and there’s plenty of hilarious moments where Maomao does or says something that makes the other rear palace residents react in a certain way, and she does NOT for the life of her understand WHY. It’s not that she can’t READ people, because she CAN; she just doesn’t seem the least bit interested in anything that might necessarily apply to HER. On one hand there’s a pretty good reason for that: she firmly believes no one would care about her because she’s so low in the overall hierarchy that she doesn’t think anyone would care about her welfare. On the other hand, she’s just the type of person who’s not easily impressed by anyone. She knows how to act in front of her social betters, but that’s just manners; she doesn’t go out of her way to impress anyone because, in her opinion, it’s a waste of time.

What this means is that Maomao has some entertaining, and often outright HILARIOUS, interactions with the other residents of the rear palace. There is a moment in the novel where some ladies-in-waiting concoct a tragic backstory for Maomao that Maomao finds annoying - not only because it gets the facts of her life wrong, but also because it prevents her from working as much as she used to. Despite that, though, she tends to let it slide because the privileges she gains from the misunderstanding allow her to do OTHER things that are more aligned with her preferences. There’s a lot of “It is what it is, I should just make the most of it” to Maomao’s outlook in life, which is juxtaposed against her intense curiosity and willingness to go to any lengths to find the answer to any question she might have.

And then there is Jinshi: the beautiful eunuch who is constantly giving Maomao migraines. At first he’s an almost adversarial character, but that’s only because the reader first sees him through Maomao’s THOROUGHLY unimpressed eyes. It becomes clear later on that Jinshi isn’t all that he seems to be on the surface - something that Maomao figures out herself later on, though that doesn’t lessen her annoyance at him. It’s also through Maomao’s interactions with Jinshi and his assistant Gaoshun that the reader gets a sense of something brewing in the palace - something that goes beyond the games and intrigues of the imperial consorts and their ladies. Still, it’s clear his and Maomao’s dynamic is something to keep an eye on, and it’s easy to see why they’re popular as a ship in the manga and anime fandoms.

Overall, this is a very quick and entertaining read. Maomao’s an absolutely endearing character, both because she is extraordinary and extraordinarily flawed. The way she interacts with the characters around her and navigates rear palace politics often make for hilarious moments, but they make for some pretty interesting mysteries for Maomao to solve as well. It’s interesting to see where Maomao’s curiosity will take her, and what mysteries she will unravel - not just in the rear palace, but perhaps in the Imperial court itself.

Rating: five rare herbs

[prismdelta]

Period Dramas, we love them, they test your Knowledge on History and the Romances and Experience brought to life in front of your eyes, they MAY not be real people but it is the Fusion of those before you.

Today I'll be showing part 1 of Period Dramas you should watch, Minor Spoilers ahead tho

-Outlander

Outlander is a very unique Drama, it portrays the Characters from their era where they lived, Claire, the Main Character, is from the 1940s suffering PTSD from WW2 as she firsthand experienced it from being a Combat Nurse.The Fact that she is already scarred tells you about the Age rating of this show.

In some Event, I'm not gonna spoil it, she is Transported back in time to the 1743, in Scotland, where she faces dangers she only read from History Books and Records, none of the Characters are exactly Progressive in the Time Period they lived and that's unique part of it, it doesn't force Progressive themes onto the Characters and actually depict what people like back then.

You can legitimately compare the people from the 1700s to the 1940s to the 1960s.

-Last Madame

Hailing from my Country, Last Madame is a Netflix Series about a Girl who discovers the lives of Women from 1930s Singapore, the setting takes place in a Brothel, as in those times Women who wanted to find a Job and not be forced into marriage could only go to these places, it's a form of Freedom, that most people don't understand these days.

If you're looking for ✨ S t e a m y ✨ Romance, Rivalry and a Looming Threat of a World War 2, here's a Show to Watch.

-Scarlet Heart

There is the Chinese and the Korean version, each taking place in a different Era, the Chinese one takes place in the Qing Dynasty (1636 to 1912) and the Korean one takes place in the Goryeo Period(918 to 1392), I can say that both installments are Tragic as hell, heartbreaking, Unrequited love stuff if you don't count Chinese version's Modern Day Sequel and Literal Death of Characters.

The Main Character Time Traveled to this Era, so do you want to be Destroyed in and out? This is the right one for you, however Personally I think the two Series happened in the Same Universe for some Reason.

-This Land is Mine

Another Drama that also comes from my Country, it talks about Singapore in the 1950s, still suffering from the effects of WW2, it is apart of History that many Elderly Singaporeans still remember and it horrifies them, It talks about being Racial divide, the idea of Independence, Riots that happened that honestly told Countless stories that many still remember.

It's Available on YouTube and get ready for a Heartwarming Cliffhanger as you realize that the Character's stories are not supposed to be complete because the generation that lived in that time is still existing, it's a Good show.

[aion-rsa]

Chinese-Inspired Fantasy Books That Reframe Familiar Fairy Tales

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Reframing fairy tales has long been a common subgenre of fantasy fiction and, at the end of 2020, three authors put their own spins on stories (or fairy tale structures) familiar to most Western audiences by incorporating Asian mythology and settings. S. L. Huang combined European fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood with the Chinese tale of Hou Yi the Archer to form a story of redemption, love, and family in Burning Roses. Chloe Gong cast tragic English characters Romeo and Juliette as gangsters in 1920s Shanghai—pitting them against a Lovecraftian monster rising from the depths of the Huangpu River in These Violent Delights. And Nghi Vo continued her Singing Hills cycle, set in a world inspired by Imperial China, with an original story reminiscent of Middle Eastern folktale The Thousand Nights and One Night in the novella When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain. While none of these books are intended to be read together, all three make an excellent combination of courses for your literary meal, especially if you’re looking to dive into more fantastical tales written by Asian American authors.

Burning Roses by S.L. Huang

Fairy tales frequently feature young protagonists, especially young women, in peril. Some are able to evade dire fates through their own wits, while others must be rescued. Readers seldom see what becomes of them in their middle age, but that’s exactly what Huang takes on in her novella, Burning Roses.

Red Riding Hood, here called Rosa, survived the wolf attack that killed her grandmother. The event convinces her of the evil of the grundwirgen, speaking animals whom her grandmother had tried to teach here were just as much people as humans, but whom her mother had raised her to hate. Her mother’s point proven right, she sets off on a quest to rid the world of grundwirgen, teaming up with Goldie (whom she rescued from bears, and whom she later realizes is a thief and a con artist). But by the time readers meet Rosa, she’s left that life long behind, and now accompanies Hou Yi, the famous archer of Chinese lore, on a quest to keep people safe from unthinking monsters. (Hou Yi is traditionally described as male; here she is female, and she complains that Westerners from Rosa’s lands “insist on calling me a man.”)

Hou Yi, like Rosa, has her own demons to slay, and not just the literal ones. As Hou Yi and Rosa fight off a group of sunbirds, nearly dying from the smoke and fire, Hou Yi is confronted by her own past—the apprentice who turned against her. That apprentice is now a sorcerer, and has raised the sunbirds against Hou Yi in a twisted act of revenge.

But of course, it’s not that simple, either. Hou Yi and Rosa both acknowledge their own troubled pasts, and the wrongs they’ve both done, especially to those they love, weigh them down so heavily they almost cannot bear to move. The relationship between these two women, who truly see each other because they recognize a kinship of regret and repentance, is powerful. Without revealing too much in the way of spoilers, the feeling of the novella is that even in the midst of despair, it is possible to hope—especially when someone else can help carry the burden of your past.

Along with nods to Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood, there are additional mentions of Western fairy tales like Puss in Boots and Sleeping Beauty. Hou Yi’s story also closely mirrors the traditional tales, but familiarity with them isn’t required; those who already know the story may catch hints in the story earlier about where the tale will end, but Huang’s use of folklore from both Europe and China is complete within the story, and no additional outside sources are needed to get full enjoyment from the tale.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

What happens when you mix 1920s Shanghai with The Sopranos, Lovecraftian horror, and Romeo and Juliet? With Gong at the helm, the result is a chillingly violent romance that readers may hope, despite the source material, will come to a happy ending.

In These Violent Delights, Juliette and Roma are the heirs to the two gangs of Shanghai, crime families who once controlled the city but are both losing ground as more foreign interests—and communists—rise to power. Juliette Cai is the future leader of the Scarlet Gang, the only remaining Chinese power in the city. Roma Montagov is a White Flower, son of generations of Russians who fled the Bolsheviks, and now in a dangerous predicament as his father has begun to favor another Montagov over his own son as the possible heir. Years ago, Juliette and Roma met in secret, determined to defy their parents, pledging that together they could bring peace and prosperity to Shanghai.

But those years are long past, and now nothing exists between them but hatred—or so each of them claim. They would continue to be solely enemies if not for a contagion sweeping through the city, hitting Scarlets and White Flowers with equal severity, that causes the victims to rip out their own throats. The contagion seems to follow sightings of a monster—a creature that witnesses claim drives people mad. Investigating on their own, they are chasing their own tails. Together, they could be unstoppable…

Before you say that the story isn’t really a fairy tale—it long predated Shakespeare’s play—and while it includes no fairies, the element of the poison that emulates death borders on the supernatural. Gong’s addition of a monster that rises from the river and compels people to suicide brings in enough additional supernatural elements (mixed with a healthy dose of 1920s science) to include it within the genre. At the same time, the novel is just as much a crime drama; the feuding criminal families are vibrantly, violently drawn, and their ruthlessness makes it difficult to consider heroes (even while readers root for Roma and Juliette’s romance).

One of the delights of the story, for those familiar with Shakespeare’s telling of the tale, is watching Gong’s naming conventions give clues to the role the characters play. Lourens, a scientist working with the White Flowers, is an analog to Father Laurence; Benedikt and Marshall are Romeo’s friends Benvolio and Mercutio, while Juliette’s hotheaded cousin Tyler is Tybalt. But though they don’t always play into type (and they have their own motives far beyond the traditional tale), readers will still be waiting for that moment when Tyler and Marshall face off, and Marshall lays a plague on both their houses. That the story, while self contained, leads directly into a subsequent volume will have readers waiting to find out if fair Shanghai will one day see a glooming peace, and whether Roma and Juliette must both be sacrificed to achieve it.

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo

Vo’s novella is the second story featuring scholar-cleric Chih, who collects stories from far off places in order for them to be recorded for the archives at Singing Hills. In Chih’s first story (The Empress of Salt and Fortune), they and their recorder bird, Almost Brilliant, had an adventure; now Almost Brilliant is tending a clutch of eggs, leaving Chich to journey on their own. Luckily, Chich has guide Si-yu, a mammoth corps scout, to lead them through the mountains.

Unluckily, there are three tigers hunting in the mountains, and a lone mammoth and a few humans seem like a tasty meal. Si-yu and her mammoth, Piluk, reach safety, and Chih calls an uneasy truce with the tigers: Chih knows the tale of Ho Thi Thao’s marriage, and they ask the tigers to correct it for Singing Hills. The tigers refuse to tell their version—the true version—but they’re willing to let Chih tell the version they know, and correct the cleric when they get things wrong.

And so Chih tells the story of Ho Thi Thao and her human wife, Scholar Dieu—all the while, during the tale, keeping the hungry tigers from eating the humans. Chih weaves elements of ghosts—and the tigers add fox spirits, correcting the story; Chih gives a version in which human Dieu has most of the agency, and the tigers correct the tale to make Ho Thi Thao the hero. The story always feels very tightly organic to the Singing Hills cycle: the mammoths are a particularly delightful element of the setting, and the talking tigers, who can take the form of humans, feel a true part of the setting once readers (and Si-yu) become accustomed to the idea of conversing with them. In fact, Si-yu often takes the side of the tigers, preferring the details they give the story to Chih’s version.

But while the world is very much its own, the story is very reminiscent of the traditional tale of Scheherezade, who staved off death with her stories night after night. While When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain feels very much a new story, it also feels familiar, the way that being tucked in with a familiar bedtime story might, especially for readers accustomed to bedtime stories with the threat of being eaten by tigers.

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For the two stories with already familiar characters, the Chinese (or Chinese-inspired) settings offer a new perspective for readers less familiar with East Asian mythology, and help readers to see those tales in a new and different light, enhancing the old tales with a new point of view. For the original story, embracing the feel of older tales lends it the feeling of being at once both new and comforting. In all ways, these three tales offer the sense of meeting old friends for the first time—and coming out the other side enriched by the experience.

The post Chinese-Inspired Fantasy Books That Reframe Familiar Fairy Tales appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2OPnTxF

[nutty1005]

Yan Bingyun – An analysis on Wang Juan's adaptation

This is a series of short articles by the same author which will be a 6 part analysis on Xiao Zhan’s various roles.

Part 1.1 – Wei Wuxian

Part 1.2 – Wei Wuxian

Part 1.3 – Wei Wuxian

Part 2.1 – Yan Bingyun

Part 3.1 – Period Dramas

Part 3.2 – Period Dramas

Original Article: https://www.weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404473770331996359 Original Author: 诗债累累

There were a lot of controversy over the character of Yan Bingyun, and part of the reason is because of Xiao Zhan, while another part comes from the script. For those who had read the original novel, they would feel that the character seems slightly different from what they expected.

Before we talk about the actor, let us first discuss my understanding of the character and the script. There is one point that we can make for certain – the changes made to the character, Yan Bingyun, was made to service the script and plot.

Joy of Life is a novel with almost 3.8 million Chinese characters. The content of this novel is rich and the pace is quick, the style of the novel full of intrigues and foreshadowing, as well as independent, yet interlocking, plot lines, linking complex politics and personal motivations. Under layers and layers of intrigue, the author appeared to be playing a puzzle game with his readers by placing in countless surprises – for example, did you know that the genre of this novel is actually science fiction?

Novels are a form of narrative art, and therefore it is able to contain large amounts of information within a chapter, which the readers can reference back and forth. However, if the script were to be written similarly, it might cause confusion among its viewers. Drama is form of action art – the core of action comes from incident, and in order to form incident, conflict and contradiction are the most important. As such, in terms of script formation, it is important it to focus on the main plot line, with clear direction on the lead character’s motivations.

In comparison against novels, the script needs to be as clear as possible, with highly comprehensible direction:

What are the issues to be resolved in these episodes?

Who are our friends? Who are our enemies?

What is this character’s personality?

What must the character do in order to move the plot forward?

With this, we are able to allow the audience to have a God’s view over the entire storyline, and create the effect that only the characters in the drama are caught unaware.

In the novel, Yan Bingyun is a highly complex character, as quoted from the novel:

Fan Xian thought highly of this Mr. Yan, who he had never met, and admired that he was willing to leave behind his riches and fortune, despite being a court official’s son, travel to a faraway foreign land in order to take on the difficult task of spying on the northern borders, and in addition, he did that exceedingly well. Just by the fact that he managed to successfully infiltrate the Northern Qi upper class, Fan Xian knew that Mr. Yan was more outstanding than he was in many ways.

This meant that Yan Bingyun was a high-flyer, being of a high status despite his age, but yet uninvolved in politics, nor indulge in vices; instead, he worked hard, and it showed in his successful management of the spy network. Most people would manage a spy network by secrecy and infiltration, but for him, he did it by openly participating in Northern Qi upper class. He lived extravagantly as a distinguished and admirable member of the society – people knew him as the great talent Mr. Yun; his main opponent’s younger sister fell in love with him. Even when Fan Xian first saw him, he was still handsome despite being under severe torture for half a year.

From the above descriptions, we can see that Yan Bingyun is another “Strong, Beautiful, Tragic” character, and since Xiao Zhan appeared to be a specialist in such, we could say that this was a suitable casting.

Some said that the script adaptation reduced the complexity of the character, but I felt that this was a purposeful change.

(1) To prevent duplication of character type and performance type

The entirety of Joy of Life is a science of contrast and juxtapose in the its portrayal and scenes – important scenes were paired with relaxed performances; climatic conflicts were paired with an everyday setting, for example, when Emperor Qing was having a group lunch with Fan Xian, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, he openly asked Fan Xian if the Crown Prince or the Second Prince was a better choice.

By doing so, it added a layer of dark humor and intrigue in the character, creating complexity, and the actor had the freedom to include their imagination in the scene, for example, in the same lunch scene, the actors were given more space in their portrayal and were able to create their own reactions to that question.

This allowed the entirety of the cast to be also in contrast against Fan Xian. They were scheming, creating mystery and trying to be undecipherable. But Fan Xian quickly understood the rules of the game and attempted to change his fate from a chess piece to the chess player.

Based on the script adaptation, Fan Xian is a very outstanding character – he’s an antihero, not entirely righteous, and very relatable for viewers (who belong to the modern society). He had very strong protagonist halo, he is very practical and very self serving.

This also created a problem, in which the majority of the cast were self serving – Emperor Qing, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Elder Princess, Fan Xian, Wang Qinian. This caused the drama to have a darker tone, more egocentric,and most of the conflicts were internalized, resulting in restrictions in the script. While the story appeared to be attacking human nature, it also seemed to comply with the weaknesses of human nature.

As such, the story needed a more direct character, and this character needed to be acute, direct and aware of the self serving society, but uses above board tactics and stratagems. The line “Everything is for the Great Qing” is a brilliant line, as it brought the conflict in this drama away from a self serving level, and showed that there was a higher level which many continued to fight for.

Yan Bingyun was a character who never knew love, but loved deeply (in this case, Qing). This is again in extreme contrast, as the viewers and the characters in the drama would view that Qing is actually a rather lousy country. From the current status, it appeared that his view was to create a revolution from within, spiraling upwards from the bottom to top.

Hence, the Yan Bingyun in the drama became more passionate, more acute; while others were plotting in the dark, he continued to use above board tactics – the only externalized character in the entire drama.

I have created this table for easy understanding:

(2) When grouping up characters, the need to determine character positioning and quadrant

Wang Juan stated in this in a Weibo post: “This character (referring to Yan Bingyun), will need to be part of the team with Fan Xian, Wang Qinian and Gao Da in the future. It would be amusing when these 4 interact, there is probably a need to have greater headspace for this.”

If there were no adjustments to Yan Bingyun’s character, he probably could have completed all the tasks of Fan Xian + Wang Qinian + Gao Da on his own. He knew more about Qing’s internal conflicts, he also understands Northern Qi. While Wang Qinian also had the same clarity, his court position was too low and he had too little influence. And Gao Da’s main task was the fighting force, and for sure, Yan Bingyun could fight as well.

As such, in order to become part of the “crew”, there is a need to weaken his perfect image – a classic example, in the novel, Yan Bingyun built the spy network from scratch, whereas in the drama he took over and managed an existing network.

Zhang Ruoyun said in an interview: “Yan Bingyun is strict, and I am super not-strict, our relationship is a bicker-tease relationship. This understanding is very accurate.”

And we can see this after the changes in his character, we can see the distribution of work in this team of 4:

For the Great Qing: Yan Bingyun > Gao Da > Wang Qinian > Fan Xian

Political strength: Yan Bingyun > Wang Qinian = Fan Xian > Gao Da

Fighting strength: Fan Xian > Gao Da > Yan Bingyun > Wang Qinian

Support required: Fan Xian = Yan Bingyun > Wang Qinian > Gao Da

Before the changes in the character, “For the Great Qing” was a blurry concept, and Yan Bingyun felt mechanical and one dimensional. After the changes, he had more flaws, and as such had greater room for growth. He needed support from this team, and the symbiotic relationship he had with Fan Xian would aid Fan Xian in quickly attaining his goal.

Wang Juan said that to see Yan Bingyun, is to see the emotions that he was unable to contain. We can predict that Yan Bingyun will be of a greater effect in the next arc, with more scenes and character growth. His place in the first arc was just setup for this, and as such, this Yan Bingyun needed not to be perfect.

[larktb-archive]

How to Write About Africa - Binyavanga Wainaina

Always use the word ‘Africa’ or ‘Darkness’ or ‘Safari’ in your title. Subtitles may include the words ‘Zanzibar’, ‘Masai’, ‘Zulu’, ‘Zambezi’, ‘Congo’, ‘Nile’, ‘Big’, ‘Sky’, ‘Shadow’, ‘Drum’, ‘Sun’ or ‘Bygone’. Also useful are words such as ‘Guerrillas’, ‘Timeless’, ‘Primordial’ and ‘Tribal’. Note that ‘People’ means Africans who are not black, while ‘The People’ means black Africans.

Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel Prize. An AK-47, prominent ribs, naked breasts: use these. If you must include an African, make sure you get one in Masai or Zulu or Dogon dress.

In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don’t get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book. The continent is full of deserts, jungles, highlands, savannahs and many other things, but your reader doesn’t care about all that, so keep your descriptions romantic and evocative and unparticular.

Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat. Do not mention rice and beef and wheat; monkey-brain is an African’s cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grubs and all manner of game meat. Make sure you show that you are able to eat such food without flinching, and describe how you learn to enjoy it—because you care.

Taboo subjects: ordinary domestic scenes, love between Africans (unless a death is involved), references to African writers or intellectuals, mention of school-going children who are not suffering from yaws or Ebola fever or female genital mutilation.

Throughout the book, adopt a sotto voice, in conspiracy with the reader, and a sad I-expected-so-much tone. Establish early on that your liberalism is impeccable, and mention near the beginning how much you love Africa, how you fell in love with the place and can’t live without her. Africa is the only continent you can love—take advantage of this. If you are a man, thrust yourself into her warm virgin forests. If you are a woman, treat Africa as a man who wears a bush jacket and disappears off into the sunset. Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.

Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour. Or corrupt politicians, inept polygamous travel-guides, and prostitutes you have slept with. The Loyal Servant always behaves like a seven-year-old and needs a firm hand; he is scared of snakes, good with children, and always involving you in his complex domestic dramas. The Ancient Wise Man always comes from a noble tribe (not the money-grubbing tribes like the Gikuyu, the Igbo or the Shona). He has rheumy eyes and is close to the Earth. The Modern African is a fat man who steals and works in the visa office, refusing to give work permits to qualified Westerners who really care about Africa. He is an enemy of development, always using his government job to make it difficult for pragmatic and good-hearted expats to set up NGOs or Legal Conservation Areas. Or he is an Oxford-educated intellectual turned serial-killing politician in a Savile Row suit. He is a cannibal who likes Cristal champagne, and his mother is a rich witch-doctor who really runs the country.

Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West. Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty. She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment. Moans are good. She must never say anything about herself in the dialogue except to speak of her (unspeakable) suffering. Also be sure to include a warm and motherly woman who has a rolling laugh and who is concerned for your well-being. Just call her Mama. Her children are all delinquent. These characters should buzz around your main hero, making him look good. Your hero can teach them, bathe them, feed them; he carries lots of babies and has seen Death. Your hero is you (if reportage), or a beautiful, tragic international celebrity/aristocrat who now cares for animals (if fiction).

Bad Western characters may include children of Tory cabinet ministers, Afrikaners, employees of the World Bank. When talking about exploitation by foreigners mention the Chinese and Indian traders. Blame the West for Africa’s situation. But do not be too specific.

Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life—but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.

Describe, in detail, naked breasts (young, old, conservative, recently raped, big, small) or mutilated genitals, or enhanced genitals. Or any kind of genitals. And dead bodies. Or, better, naked dead bodies. And especially rotting naked dead bodies. Remember, any work you submit in which people look filthy and miserable will be referred to as the ‘real Africa’, and you want that on your dust jacket. Do not feel queasy about this: you are trying to help them to get aid from the West. The biggest taboo in writing about Africa is to describe or show dead or suffering white people.

Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires. They also have family values: see how lions teach their children? Elephants are caring, and are good feminists or dignified patriarchs. So are gorillas. Never, ever say anything negative about an elephant or a gorilla. Elephants may attack people’s property, destroy their crops, and even kill them. Always take the side of the elephant. Big cats have public-school accents. Hyenas are fair game and have vaguely Middle Eastern accents. Any short Africans who live in the jungle or desert may be portrayed with good humour (unless they are in conflict with an elephant or chimpanzee or gorilla, in which case they are pure evil).

After celebrity activists and aid workers, conservationists are Africa’s most important people. Do not offend them. You need them to invite you to their 30,000-acre game ranch or ‘conservation area’, and this is the only way you will get to interview the celebrity activist. Often a book cover with a heroic-looking conservationist on it works magic for sales. Anybody white, tanned and wearing khaki who once had a pet antelope or a farm is a conservationist, one who is preserving Africa’s rich heritage. When interviewing him or her, do not ask how much funding they have; do not ask how much money they make off their game. Never ask how much they pay their employees.

Readers will be put off if you don’t mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky. Wide empty spaces and game are critical—Africa is the Land of Wide Empty Spaces. When writing about the plight of flora and fauna, make sure you mention that Africa is overpopulated. When your main character is in a desert or jungle living with indigenous peoples (anybody short) it is okay to mention that Africa has been severely depopulated by Aids and War (use caps).

You’ll also need a nightclub called Tropicana, where mercenaries, evil nouveau riche Africans and prostitutes and guerrillas and expats hang out.

Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #394

Top Ten West Wing Episodes

So today, as you read this, is the twentieth anniversary of The West Wing, which remains probably my favourite TV show of all time. The combination of supreme technique – the craft and artistry on display in the writing, acting, direction, set design, music – and beautiful, aspirational, uplifting message is what keeps me coming back again and again. It’s the individual moments that make it soar: moments of friendship and camaraderie, of brilliant people making angst-filled decisions against a background of high-stakes international politicking. It imagines a world of flawed people trying to do good for the good of others; an idealised vision of what our elected officials should be. Obviously that idealism runs so strong as to sometimes be a fault; and given that, at its height, it constituted eighty-odd episodes written almost entirely by the same white man, it occasionally suffers from a myopic worldview. But, really, what Aaron Sorkin accomplished here is simply phenomenal; it had never really happened before and I seriously can’t see it happening again. To write almost every episode of a US network TV show for four years is astounding to the point of insanity. That he hit such heights with such regularity – seriously, there is barely a dud episode in the first four seasons – is myth-making in its ridiculousness. Not to diminish the team of writers and researchers he worked with, or the input of people like Thomas Schlamme or John Wells, but Sorkin’s achievement here is probably one of the greatest writing feats of the modern age.

Anyway. I love The West Wing. I love its soaring optimism. I love its wonkish politics. I love its beautifully-shot characters saying elaborate, witty things, very fast, whilst walking around labyrinthine sets. But it comes back to those moments I mentioned before. Scenes, speeches, one-liners; moments that linger long after the credits have rolled. And these moments, generally speaking, are what make whole episodes bounce around my memory. As such, this list – of my favourite episodes – is really a list of episodes in which those moments are either super-transcendent, or in which many moments coalesce to create something truly magical.

And “magical” is the right word, because The West Wing is so good – so, so good – that if I’m picking the cream from the top it is damn fine cream. The very best. As far as I’m concerned, you’d struggle to find any TV as good as what’s on this list.

So, happy birthday, The West Wing. Happy birthday Josh, Toby, Leo, CJ, Donna, Charlie, Sam, and Will. Happy birthday Zoe, Fitz, Ainsley, Mrs. Landingham, Debbie Fidderer, Oliver Babbish, Amy Gardner, Nancy McNally, Vice President Hoynes, and Dr. Abigail Bartlet. And, yes, while we’re at it, happy birthday Santos, Vinnick, Bingo Bob, and Kate Harper. And, of course, happy birthday Mr. President. Let Bartlet be Bartlet.

Game on, boyfriend.

Two Cathedrals (season 2, episode 22, 2001): Bartlet flashbacks, the ghost of Mrs. Landingham, “God, Jed, I don’t even want to know ya”, the speech in Latin, the cigarette, “You get Hoynes”, and the scene in the rain. Never has a journey of one man to church and back felt as epic.

17 People (2.18, 2001): Toby figures things out, the confrontation with the President, but most of all “if you were in an accident I wouldn’t stop for red lights”.

Shibboleth (2.8, 2000): partly the talk of “shibboleths” and the tragic story of the immigrants, but really it’s just the knife. He gave him the knife, people!

Posse Comitatus (3.21, 2002): the tragedy of Simon Donovan played out against the backdrop of The War of the Roses, plus added Josh/Amy angst, the Shareef affair, and – let’s be honest, the golden moment – “Crime, boy, I don’t know”. Out. Standing.

Noel (2.10, 2000): Christmas episodes in West Wing land are often special, and this is perhaps the specialest. Josh is unravelling, suffering from PTSD, culminating with Leo’s beautiful “There’s a guy in a hole” speech. Sad and uplifting.

Twenty Hours in America (4.1/2, 2002): I’m cheating here by including both parts of the two-parter, but the comedy of the Josh/Toby/Donna road trip, Sam staffing the President, interesting discussions of policy and politics, all culminating in the terrorist bombing and “ran into the fire”. Masterfully played by all.

In Excelsis Deo (1.10, 1999): the first Christmas ep and a beautiful, sad insight into Toby’s character. I don’t remember any specific quotes but really the scene that breaks my heart is when the homeless guy insists on giving Toby his cab fare back so he can get home. Really, just a Richard Schiff masterclass. What an actor.

Hartsfield’s Landing (3.14, 2002): a great showcase for Martin Sheen’s acting and Aaron Sorkin’s writing as Bartlet plays a high-stakes international game of chess with the Chinese whilst also playing two actual games of chess with Toby and Sam. Bartlet says he’d vote for Sam! It’s lovely.

In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (2.1/2, 2000): another cheating two-parter, we see Josh bleeding out, the President’s MS complications really begin, there’s the drama of who did the shooting, but most of all it’s the flashbacks. Lots of cute stuff (CJ falls in a pool!) but it’s Bartlet’s touching moment with Josh at the airport that really lingers.

The Long Goodbye (4.13, 2003): an utterly different West Wing experience, as CJ gets out of the office and goes home to deal with her Alzheimer’s-afflicted father. Melancholy and very powerful with great performances (and not written by Sorkin, oddly enough!)

There we are. No room for Bartlet’s debate. No room for We Killed Yamamoto. No room for “Let Bartlet be Bartlet”. And, oddly enough, no room for anything post-Sorkin. I think there are some classics there – Freedonia springs to mind, as does The Debate – but despite the best efforts of all involved there’s definitely a spark that goes out when Sorkin leaves, and it becomes a slightly different show. But it’s still great!

What’s next?

[xxntigo]

MIDTERMS: In-depth reaction of “Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” and “Insiang”  Film Reaction 2019

Film Language

Robedillo, Jeremy

MM23 S.Y. 2019-2020

     In the Era of 70's one of the most recognizable directors in the Philippine is Lino Brocka who expressed a very strong love for the country.And one of the Filipino films that impacted the lives of each and every one. Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Manila in the Claws of Neon), Brocka's most work which landed in some international critics' lists as one of the most important films ever made. The courage and his determination were undoubtedly surfaced based on the subject and the objectives of the story. 

    Very much acclaimed and deservingly noted in everyone's heart. Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag is an awakening and powerful film. Based on the plot, derived from a serial published in a local magazine, collaborated by screenwriter Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. The objectives can easily be seen in on the main characters Julio Madiaga (Bembol Roco) being purposefully driven by his urge to find his one true love Ligaya Paraiso (Hilda Koronel), one of the characters of a Filipino being naive and strong-willed, Julio went to Manila from his province where he grew up to rescue Ligaya . Lino Brocka used these two main characters as the subjects of his thoughts about the present situation of the Philippines, Manila as the capital and known for many promises, with its injustices hidden by affluence and commercialism as paraded by the several high-rise buildings and the neon lights that enhance every business. Julio Madiaga Orpheus' wife is LigayaParaiso Julio, a fisherman from the province travels to Manila to look for Ligaya, who was swooned by a certain Mrs. Cruz (Juling Bagalbago) from the province to work and supposedly study in Manila. Unfortunately, Ligaya became a prostitute. She was forcibly raped by a Chinese merchant who trapped her and threatens her every time she attempted to escape and only to find herself helpless and tortured.She also thinks about the plight of her child if she will be caught.

     On the part of Julio finally, he saw Mrs. Cruz after months of searching and looking for his beloved Ligaya. Throughout his journey, his money runs out and was forced to look for work and landed in a construction site and was involved in the troubles of the common laborer. Injustices in laborers like how the foreman would exploit them by lending them their own money, using and taking advantage of a portion of their wages to money-making schemes (bogus). Julio befriends Atong (Lou Salvador), one of the laborers welcome Julio to his house in the slums area where he could live since he has no place to stay.

    There's significantly a comparison that Lino Brocka derives from this film about the plight of the Filipino as a laborer and unjustified practices by the employer. Atong's fate is tragic. He was killed and his sister ended up work as a prostitute in a bar, and his bedridden father brought about of being paralyzed was burn to death when the slums area suspiciously catches fire during the Christmas season. Another of Julio's companions in the construction site became employed in an advertising company because of his eagerness to being a working student. In the event of the story, each character shows the different lives of the Filipino, how the ways of surviving poverty, unemployment, unjustly crimes and the means of living into one of the victimizers in this urban called hell.

     Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag had different episodes that were justifiably served. On one of the episodes, Julio is enticed to become a street hustler in exchange for quick cash. Used his body and swallowed his pride, dignity, manhood and allured by the promises of a bright future by the neon lights as everyone landed in the city. This film comes from reality based on the situations living in Manila. Every detail will make you feel the pain and agony being betrayed and it will uncover the leash of the abusers. It will cross the mind of the viewer the question that "where on earth do these people existed and never been caught ". Being a patriot or a hero won't be able to find a solution to change the situation.One might think the film is worth to watch and will leave a mark that opened the eyes that living under a depressed state and became a victim is a choice. Though the film is subjected to how badly wounded the characters are and is, still it showed the reality of the choices of every Filipino. The big mark is not only the effect but the cause of all the chaos, it is not where sweat, blood, and tears are within commerce, and those who are ignorant enough to get enchanted by its grandiose promises are oppressed and forever trapped in its clutches but the reality that mongers, infiltrators, syndicate and power hungered people are do existed and should not blame the choices of the Filipino only. It is an open invitation to all Filipinos that it is high time to fight their rights and start living under the truth.

    At the end of the story, Julio was caught in the dead-end street nowhere to go and decided he kill himself before the gangster ready to beat him up to death. That is the actual state of a scenario feeling being trapped and nowhere to go...do, we fight or plight. Lino Brocka ended the story this way to show from Julio's plight is inevitable because of his choice, it was based on emotions and not in convictions. 

    The director of this film perfectly given the choices for every Filipino, "Are we going to stand, or are we going to run?

    Ligaya Paraiso is our very own country the Philippines, it is a place to live (Ligaya) peacefully and honorably (Paraiso) by its countrymen the Filipinos. 

    Hence, in the event of searching, longing and being discontented on its own given opportunities there are some Filipinos who were willingly overcome by their greediness and selfish ambitions. 

    Historically speaking, it has something related in the past that our country was once slaved and abused by foreigners and infiltrators.Their teachings, customs, and traditions were passed from ages to ages.The motives and attitudes were also influenced by them.

    Colonization, it was brought about as part of future modernization but there are hidden agenda.

    In history, only educated Filipinos were given a chance to mingled and be part of the changes and eventually they were being used and abused too.

    Ligaya Paraiso represents innocence and vulnerability in the attacks of the enemies. 

    Her plight and being traumatized by the attackers is the exact reaction and state of being threatened.The feeling of being paralyzed of fears of the antagonist. Our country once was happy and free became slaved and trapped by the evil ones. 

     Unfortunately, there are some Filipinos were convinced and controlled by them. The purity that once was the main characteristic of a Filipino was taken away by the opportunist. 

     The cry of Ligaya Paraiso is the cry of our countrymen, her undying love for her child is the symbol of the undying love to the next generation. 

    The broken pieces of her soul shout out the agonies and the uncertainty over the future. 

    What strikes in the mind of Ligaya Paraiso is to stay where she was trapped unknowingly that she was slowly losing her dignity and right to withstands the possible solution until he Met again Julio Madiaga, who intentionally and purposefully driven by his will.

    His character in the film signifies that there are Filipinos who were willingly loose their very own life to fight what they think is right. In his journey also shows the possibility of being swayed by emotions in searching justice and truth.

    Driven by emotions per se is not only the solution. It can be done most recognizably. This film was one good example of opening the eyes of the Filipinos and to let them think what are the better ways to fight for their rights and start living in under the truth. 

    Though Julio who was having thoughts on how to help Ligaya, still his focus eventually went into a mess by clinging into his emotions and that is exactly some Filipino just wanted to get even and their focus of having a good stand and dignity was beginning to be driven away. 

    Finally, all the details of this film can be seen into ones stand and conviction using the art of film making to ensure the welfare of his countrymen in the future, the voice of the next generation, his attributes that made the present Ligaya and Julio today was once fought by his and through his masterpiece- film making a strong and loud medium. 

    Similarly Speaking, INSIANG another film directed by him.

    This was produced during Martial law. It was also temporarily banned because it contradicted the propaganda of Ms. Imelda Marcos. 

    It shows that this film elaborates again on the situations of every Filipino family and plight on how to combat it against the evil one.

     Insiang was produced in 1976 violent-drama footages that mostly shows the plight of filipino women on the hands of their attackers.The story was situated in the slums of Tondo, Manila, the film stars Hilda Koronel as a hardworking daughter who mainly just want to help her always complaining mother (Mona Lisa whose involved with a much-younger lover (Ruel Vernal) who eventually raped her. As part of her plan to her who sought a lover but also left her without reason (Rez Cortez), Insiang felt betrayed and wanted to seek revenge. 

    The story evolved about a young girl who grew in the slums. It shows the reasons why the violence occurred due to overcrowded neighborhoods; the absence of human dignity due to poor social environment and the need for change. Relatively speaking its attributed as part of the consequences of being rape and to revenge in end.

    A very gross scene as an introduction was done in a slaughterhouse killing violently pigs, 

    The process was quite normal showing how almost brutally killed and pushed into big boiling water while hearing the groaning of the pigs, the cutting, poaching the ribs, head cutting and limbs chopping. The sound and movements of the poachers that could give you goosebumps and almost felt like vomiting. 

    The blood oozing from limbs to limbs showing the carcasses of the pigs, hanged and swung from end to end, leaving no space to stop and pause to check if anyone was misplaced or still moving. As if no mercy at all since it was an Animal then.

    The areas chosen by the director were depressed, misplaced and taunted that could emphasize the present situations of the country back then. Poverty was the number one issue during the '70s, especially those who live in the slums areas of Tondo Manila which a place that is commonly feared for. Uncontrolled growth of the population and unemployment rate rose up. 

     Lino Brocka’s 1976 Insiang, a woman who came from a very poor family that made her decision to work hard but still it's not enough. A Picture of an environment of destitution and abused by attackers and left her thought that revenge is an answer. On which she can only struggle violently, and vainly. The film was an expression of Lino Brocka’s sentiment to every poor Filipinos, he portraits the everyday walks of life in certain depressed areas. 

    Certainly, the roots of her misery extend all the way home, where her mother, Tonia (Mona Lisa), bitter about her husband’s departure, kicks her financially strapped in-laws to the curb so she might have her young lover, Dado (Ruel Vernal), move in, before proceeding to badger her daughter into a Machiavellian rage. Beset by maternal resentment, Bebot’s love-’em-and-leave-’em callousness, and Dado’s perverse tendencies, Insiang plots her revenge, with Brocka expertly dramatizing the (understandable, if not prudent) reasons for each character’s behavior.

     Representation of urban poverty, the film explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and despair.

     The film was a typical plot about a victim and the revenge that leads to destructive effects on both parties. The mother and daughter relationship was crushed after the incident in which the daughter was blamed to protect the existing relationship of her mother's lover. And this leads to the distraught feeling of the victim. In order fulfilled to revenge, Insiang made a drastic move by attracting her rapist to gain his attention and pretends that she wants to have a relationship but to make an act of successful revenge towards her former lover Bebot(Rez Cortex) who was killed by her assailant. To have all her revenge her rapist was caught by her mother and tragically killed in front of her daughter only to be put behind bars for her misdeeds.

     During the time that her mother was killing her rapist, she just stood up and watch him killed violently. This shows that her anger that brought her into the moment without thinking that in the end, her very own mother will suffer the consequences that she planned.

    In the last part of the film where she visited her mother, she was rejected when she started showing that she is trying to let her mother know that all she wants is her love and affection.

    This story was existed before and as high as the number one case of rape and lead to murder. Especially in very poor areas where there is no protection for women and children. They are always the target and became a victim.The sad part of it that justice more often than not was not given.  

     Lino Brocka made this film as an awakening about the present situation of the Philippines that justice is not always served and the family ties are becoming weak because of high unemployment rates, poverty escalated and there are no programs yet to enhance the life of the Filipinos especially the children.There are no laws that will protect children and women. 

    The government is deaf in does of the victims. During that era, a million of cases of rape and murders are never heard and were not given a chance to be solved at all.

    Insiang is a symbol of how women are so weak and fragile during those times but were not given importance. Their rights against violence and abusive situations that sometimes after being a victim to worsen their situations became a prostitute and all the more exploited.

    In this film family, ties and values were also tackled.In the event of having a family the Filipino culture of being dependent even after marriage is far beyond issues. Married children are still clinging to their parents and the worst their needs were still a responsibility given by their parents even it is hard for them to do so.

    Unemployment is the number of problems that the government cannot solve by that time due to Avery low foreign investors who can tie up in the government and also 8t is not yet the priority of the government. 

   The effect of this problem is the high rate of crimes is everywhere and mot of the time it occurred in the depressed areas like the slums. Men are becoming violent into their wives, they become a problem in the family and society. The Director's mindset about the negligence of the government is seen in the entire story these were shown in the different characters the reactions and conversations contents where drastically proved the condition of the hearts of every Filipino family who are presently suffering.

   This gives the person after watching the film thought of how he or she can contribute to help the change in society. The center of it that becoming a victim and the plan to avoid it can be done by the help of not a person only but the whole unit and that is the family.

   Filipinos are family-centered and their values are important on how their role in the society that can make a difference. Instead of revenge, it can be undone by the proper collaboration from the people who have power and control on the government program and the priority would be canter in the family needs of every Filipino. The culture and traditions of the Filipino are originally strong by its spiritual conviction and strong values about the family. Lack of education areas the main reason for making a family strong and ready to have a family. The top priority of the government is not just to tackle every detail of the problems but the cause of it. The program base and facing reality are the most effective solutions.

    After what happened in the life of Insiang the problem was not solved through her revenge but the worst of it all the more it did not solve but rather it aggravated the situation. Being imprisoned and being desolatedare not the end of the story at all.

   It's was an open-ended question on the mind of a viewer but by these points were justifiably brought out by the director's mindset that was perfectly raised in the eyes of every Filipino may it be individually impacted or as the whole family.

   The whole story has made up a very good declaration based on the reality of what was happening in the country. It is also a declaration that the Filipino has an entire choice on how to combat the existing problems not only by sulking and fell on the trap of self-pity. That there are a thousand ways to fight poverty, crimes and most of all to bring back the government as the main source of a helping hand to everyone.

   The film has also used a very wise and convincing tactic to open the hearts of the Filipino not to revenge but to learn and know how to become aware of their rights and how to pursue their dreams and goals in life no matter how impossible the situation is and are.

[pakkiyick]

Trip to Denmark and Benelux (11th – 24th Sep, 2017)

Travel and Life

 According to the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, “To travel is to live”. If you agree “Life is a journey”, the only way to live your life is to travel. Life is a story of oneself. One’s story is the summary of every piece of experience that one has ever encountered since the very first breath of his or her life. Writers use their pens to write their fancy stories on a piece of paper. Travelers use their own feet to record their adventures on the trails they have been to. A novel is a book in which authors express their ideas. The world is an arena on which travelers build up their memories. Not everyone can become a novelist, but all of us can write our own life stories simply with a pair of feet.

 If the world is a storybook, your hometown is the first page of your story. Turn to page two after reading the first one. Going to another unfamiliar frontier and exploring a new world. Life is a continuing expedition. No matter where is your destination, just travel as far and as widely as you can. Don’t keep your imagination just on page one. Start moving to the next page and creating your own memories. Fill your life with memories and experiences instead of sorrows and regrets. Finish your story and complete your life with your own footprints.

 Life is full of unexpected events, so does your journey. Something unpredicted always comes up during your trip. Just take the challenge and face your fears. Those trials will become your unforgettable memories. Sometimes you are only able to learn something valuable when you leave your comfort zone behind. One’s hidden potential can only be revealed by getting uncomfortable. Therefore, traveling may be the best way to learn about your true character.

 Though Europe is the world’s smallest continent in terms of land surface area, European civilization is definitely utmost significant in human history. To a large extent, the modern western culture is somehow originated from the ancient European civilization. Today’s thousands of priceless historical and cultural heritages, including architectures, artworks and literature, can be dated back to the times of Renaissance. Nowadays leading political and economic ideologies such as democracy and capitalism were first proposed in the 19th century of Europe. No one can doubt the contribution of the European civilization to the world. European history is an inseparable part of world history.

 Traveling to a new place is just like reading a new book. If I got a book by the name of “World History”, I would assume the first chapter of that book should be about Europe. Supposing this very first chapter is divided into different sections and each section introduces a single European country, I have already read the first few sections. Having traveled to some major traditional European powers such as Britain, France and Germany; and some other middle strength countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal, I continued my journey to some small-size European nation-states in western Europe. Although these four low profile independence nations are relatively small in size, they have never been treated as second-class members in the European family. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are four key participants with the same importance as other European counterparts in European development and integration.

 Although these four tiny sovereign states have never had much political influences in world politics, their citizens enjoy quite a high standard of living with low Gini coefficient and long life expectancy with high happiness index. Just the same as the United Kingdom, all four western European nations are constitutional monarchies. Theoretically, the people who live in those countries are not the citizens of the public governments, but the subjects of the royal families. Kings, queens, princes, princesses and castles can all be found in this territory. With well-preserved historical and cultural heritages, traveling to this European wonderland is just like reading a fairy tale story.

 Denmark has been one of the members of the European Union (EU) for over 45 years. But having said that, Denmark has still refused to adopt euro as its currency. Just like the other northern European countries, such as Britain and Norway, Denmark has a long tradition of euroscepticism towards the European integration. Even though Denmark has never been regarded as a world super power, it was ranked the 11th best country out of 80, referring to the US News and World Report in 2018. Denmark is less than one-fourth the size of Guangdong province, but its GDP (nominal) per capita is nearly five times of Guangdong’s. It is not surprising that Danes enjoy a much higher quality of living compared to the Chinese.

 Benelux is a geopolitical expression of three neighbouring nation-states in western Europe, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The Benelux Union is also known as the Low Countries since quite a portion of their territory are below sea level. Different from the Eurosceptic Denmark, Benelux countries have been the keen participants in European integration after World War Two. These three small nation states together with Germany, France and Italy are the founders of the modern European Union (EU). The total population of Benelux is five times more than that of Denmark. Since both the Low countries and Denmark share a similar level of GDP (PPP), it is believed that the living standards of their citizens are quite alike.

 In September 2017, a two-week excursion was planned to nine different cities in these four idiosyncratic nation-states. Besides their capital cities, some low profile historical towns should not be omitted from the to-visit list. Each destination has their own story to tell and every traveler has their own story to complete.

 Day One - Copenhagen: Den Bla Planet (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 Having been the national capital for more than half a millennium, Copenhagen has turned to be the biggest city in Demark. With over a million Danes reside in its urban area, Copenhagen is also the most populous city in the country. This time-honored city takes you back in time just by having you walk down any of its streets. Surrounded by characteristic brick buildings, a walk down the street can be quite exhilarating and mesmerizing. This is where childhood fairy tales blend with historical architecture and cultural inheritance. From royal castles to national museums, from century-old amusement park to modern aquarium, the beauty of Copenhagen can be seen just about anywhere. Enjoy relaxing yourself in a local café, reading your favorite Anderson’s novel with a cup of cappuccino in hand can just be the perfect thing to do.

 Since the urban area of this mini-capital city is less than one-fourth of Hong Kong, four days in Copenhagen is long enough to have a brief overview of its cultural and historical heritage. For those who want to immerse in the atmosphere of Middle Age Europe, there is no better place than visiting a castle. A myriad of medieval castles is scattered around the city. Kronborg Castle is a well-known Renaissance stronghold not because by its hundred years of Danish history, but because by a tragic drama of a celebrated British playwright. The fictional Danish prince, Hamlet, was created by William Shakespeare some four hundred years back. The tragedy of protagonist took place not in another place but in this castle. Stepping into Kronborg Castle, you can submerge yourself in the story of this tragic character and read this immortal novel by following the footsteps of Hamlet. The Casemate is another highlight of this bastion where you can find the statue of Denmark’s national hero, Holger Danske. Legend has it that, Holger is a legendary knight of Charlemagne who will wake up if Denmark is in mortal danger. With such mythological background, it is no wonder that Kronborg Castle is enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 Within walking distance from the Prince Hamlet’s Castle, there is a national maritime museum, M/S Museet for Søfart. Claiming fame to numerous international architectural awards, M/S Maritime Museum is a brand new dominant feature in the region which is built below ground level around a former dry dock. The museum tells hundreds of years of Danish maritime history in a modern way. Upon entering the elongated exhibition hall, you can explore a series of maritime stories and sailors’ adventures of all times. Model ships from old sailing vessels to modern ocean liners really showcase the Danish maritime development over time. It is a perfect place for those who are interested in maritime affairs.

 Not far away from the maritime museum, you will find a low-profile university-owned aquarium. Øresund Aquarium may be less well-known compared to some other national aquariums in Europe, but its educational functions are the same as the others. With detailed explanation from the researchers of the aquarium, visitors can learn some fascinating facts and intriguing stories about the sea animals found in the waters between Denmark and Sweden. Under the guidance of aquarium staff, visitors are welcome to touch different kinds of local Danish fish and marine invertebrates in the specially designed touch pools. Since this saltwater aquarium is not too big and its displays are well-organized, a half-an-hour tour is good enough to admire the amazing underwater world. Øresund Aquarium is far more than a local aquarium and acts as an educational centre for a family with all ages.

 Leaving the outskirts of the city, I hurried back to the urban area and looked for some exhibitions related to high technology. Tycho Brahe Planetarium is a state-of-the-art space museum located in the heart of the city dedicated to popularizing astronomy and promoting knowledge on space science. The exhibition hall depicts the development of cosmos exploration and space technology. The highlight of the Planetarium is surely the Dome Theatre. On a 1000-square-metre large domed projection screen, audiences can enjoy spectacular IMAX movies. Once you sit inside the Dome Theatre, you will just like voyaging into the infinite space. Losing yourself in a digital 3D universe, you can experience the cosmos like never before. There is no wonder why Planetarium is so popular from both local residents and far-traveling visitors.

 Den Bla Planet (Blue Planet) was my last stop before I called it a day. This national aquarium has been the largest of its kind in Northern Europe since its commencing in 2013. This newly built aquarium is a masterpiece of art itself. When looking from the sky, the whole structure is just like a giant whirlpool with five spiral arms that reach out to the ocean. But if you look from one side, you can just see a huge blue whale lying on the sea surface. The whole aquarium is divided into three main sections and features over thousands of marine animals and seven million litres of water. By walking through the water tunnels and fish tanks, one can truly appreciate how fantastic the marine world can be. Amongst all aquatic creatures, five cutest animals are highly recommended, including sea otters, hammerhead sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus, arapaima. In my opinion, sea otters should be the most popular sea animal among children. Sea otters are one of the few marine mammals that know how to use tools. In order to crack open shellfish or clams, sea otters hold rocks between their forepaws to pound their hard-shelled prey. It was a remarkable experience to watch the foraging behavior of this little sea creature up-close at the aquarium tank. This gigantic aquarium is a must-go spot when you come to Copenhagen.

 Day Two - Copenhagen: Frederiksborg Slot (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 Early in the morning of my second day in Copenhagen, I took an express train up north to Hillerød, a Danish town with a small population of around 30,000. The only reason for tourists to visit this remote suburb is to see an unrivalled fairy tale castle. Scenically situated in the middle of an extensive green lake found the largest Renaissance citadel in Scandinavia, Frederiksborg Castle. This imposing castle was first built in the early 17th century by the legendary Danish King Christian IV. The castle was built with red brick fortress walls and green copper tower roofs, making the whole architecture stand out from its idyllic scenery.

 The Museum of National History at the castle portrays five hundred years of Danish history with a significant collection of portraits, furniture and decorative art. A tour through the museum feels like going back to the Medieval Age of Denmark.

 Judging by the scale and historic importance, some may think that Frederiksborg is nothing more than an ordinary medieval castle. The true beauty of this castle cannot be only evaluated by its lavish decoration inside, but also the landscaped garden outside. The most eye-catching part of the garden is four meticulous royal monograms executed in boxwood, which located at the centre of the lower level of the garden. Strolling around this romantic garden, one could temporarily escape from the hustle and bustle city life, and admire the man-made nature in tranquility. This Baroque garden is built of four terraces cascading down the castle lake. One can climb up to high ground at the other end and then look back to the gorgeous garden with the magnificent castle as its backdrop. It is the reason why Frederiksborg Castle is often referred to as the Danish Versailles.

 Located in the heart of Copenhagen, Christiansborg Palace is the real jewel of the city. Not only is it the largest palace in Scandinavia, but it is also a multifunction government office with the National Parliament, the Prime Minister’s office and the Supreme Court. This palace is also the place where the queen entertains state guests and hosts New Year banquets.

On the site of Christiansborg today was originally a medieval castle which could be dated back to the mid-12th century. Suffered from two serious burndowns, the current palace was rebuilt in Neo-Baroque style in the early 19th century. With 17 colorful tapestries hung on the walls, depicting historical scenes of Denmark, the Queen’s Reception Rooms are the most remarkable part of the palace. It is used for receiving official guests and holding state dinners. The Royal Kitchen was the place where prepared royal banquets. Visitors can experience the history by touching the copper cookware found in the kitchen. The Royal Stable houses queen’s white horses together with a wide collection of royal carriages. The Ruins under the palace tell the story of Copenhagen over 800 years ago.

 Situated in the city centre, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is a medium-sized local museum with a main focus of arts and antiquities. This museum houses an extensive collection of antique sculpture from several ancient civilizations around the Mediterranean including Egypt, Greece and Rome. In addition to the ancient artworks, Danish and French paintings from the 19th century are also presented in the museum. Once stepping into the building, you will be astonished by a brilliant winter garden replete with palm trees reaching up high to the glass dome. The focal point of the museum may not be some century-old artifacts, but the sculpture Water Mother lies at the middle of the garden. The Water Mother depicts a young mother feeding a dozen of her cute babies above a fountain. Wrapped up in a peaceful surrounding and under gorgeous afternoon sunlight, you just like being in a lushness botanical garden instead of an art museum.

 Positioned right across the road from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Tivoli is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world and is the most visited theme park in Scandinavia. Walt Disney once praised this park as “Happy, with an unbuttoned air.” Unlike other theme parks, Tivoli is not decorated as a fairy tale wonderland with a lot of cartoon characters, but a nostalgic fairground with all the elements which a fun fair should have. Some classic old time carnival rides can be found in the park, such as bumper cars, Ferris wheel, music carousel and even a small aquarium. Inside the park, you can also find a number of exhilarating rides built over a hundred years ago, including one of the world's oldest wooden roller coasters, The Mountain Coaster. At night, Tivoli is ornamented with thousands of color lights that make the park even more romantic. During the Second World War, Tivoli was once burnt down by the Nazi, but fortunately it was quickly rebuilt and reopened to the public within a few weeks. It showed the bravery and intelligence of the Danes. Thus, Tivoli is more than just a fun fair amusement park, but also a historical gem of Copenhagen.

 Day Three - Copenhagen: Rosenborg (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 On the third day in Copenhagen, I continued my trip of cultural and historical sightseeing. Visiting a castle is a great way to learn about the life of a royal family.  Rosenborg was originally built as a summer hermitage in the early 17th century commissioned by the Danish King Christian IV. This elegant Renaissance castle had been served as a royal residence for over a hundred years. Today, this 400-year-old castle is open to public as a royal history museum for featuring artifacts spanning a breadth of royal Danish culture. Among all the rooms in the castle, the Great Hall is the main attraction. At one end of the hall, you can find three life-size silver lions guard the coronation chair of the Danish kings. Moreover, the treasury beneath the castle houses a large and exquisite collection of Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia. Through the exhibits of the royal family mentioned above, visitors can travel back in time and get a sense of everyday life of the kings and queens.

 Kongens Have (The King’s Garden) is a 12-hectare park beside Rosenborg. Under a bright blue endless sky, taking a leisurely stroll in this castle garden is quite a relaxing activity away from the hassle of the city. The gardens today are a popular retreat for the Danes and oversea visitors.

 In the same neighborhood of the Rosenborg Castle, there is another century-old Renaissance building which is served as a national gallery of Denmark. Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark), also known as SMK, is Denmark’s principal art museum, which contains a wide-ranging collection of western art from the period of Renaissance until the present day. Apart from thousands of paintings and artworks from the 19th-century Danish Golden Age, masterworks of international-known artists, such as Matisse and Picasso, can also be found in this gallery. Spending an hour or so is sufficient for taking a quick review of Danish and European art history of the past seven hundred years.

 Situated in the same locality, Statens Naturhistoriske Museum (Geologisk Museum) is a natural history museum of Denmark. By merging several science museums in 2004, this newly established museum contains a rich and varied selection of exhibits relating to geology, zoology and botanology. The collections of the museum include a variety of minerals, fossils and even meteorites. By the time I visited this museum, a special exhibition about insect was on display. Thirty huge high definition insect portraits were hung in the exhibition hall. With such a state-of-the-art photo-shooting technique, all the details of the insects are clearly shown in a poster-size photo. It was the first time I saw some beetles on such a big color picture. Furthermore, visitors were allowed to use a big LCD monitor to zoom in on details of an insect. No other museum can you get equally high definition insect photos.

 Nationalmuseet (National Museum of Denmark) is the biggest cultural history museum in Denmark with almost two hundred years of history. The museum preserves the most varied collection of exhibits from the earliest prehistoric period to the recent past of Denmark. Covering over 14,000 years of Danish history, the museum tells the stories of the Ice Age, the adventures of the Vikings, the artworks of the Renaissance and the modern daily life of the Danes. This museum is especially well-known for its comprehensive collection of ethnographic exhibits. Among the many prominent national treasures are some ancient artifacts, including 3000-year-old Egyptian mummies, 3500-year-old Sun Chariot and 4000-year-old Greek marble figurines. Placed inside the Nationalmuseet, Children's Museum is an area specially designed for the children who are under 12 years of age, where the young visitors are free to touch and examine the historical items in order to learn the history from the Viking Age to the Medieval period. It is quite a good museum for families with kids.

 Before coming back to my hotel, I visited a lesser known attraction where normal tourists seldom venture. Det Kongelige Bibliotek (Royal Danish Library) is the national library of Denmark and the largest libraries in the world. The library is home to an incredible collection of books including the first Danish book of the late 15th century. Most tourists came to visit this library was not because of its large collection of valuable paper documents, not because of its fascinating architectural design. The building was designed in a rectangular shape with shiny black glass-curtain wall. Looking from a distance, the structure of this national library is just like a gorgeous black diamond situated by the riverside.

Day Four - Copenhagen: Amalienborg Slot (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 On the last day of my trip in Copenhagen, I headed out to the Danish royal residence, Amalienborg Slot (Amalienborg Palace). Since the old Christiansborg Palace was burnt down in 1794, the royal family moved to Amalienborg. Today, Amalienborg is the winter residence of the Danish royal family. According to size and splendor, this royal residence cannot be compared with other palaces in Europe. Nevertheless, the complex layout is still acknowledged to be one of the finest examples of Danish Rococo architecture in the city. The Amalienborg complex consists of four identical classical palaces which are built around an octagonal courtyard. At the centre of the courtyard stands the monumental equestrian statue of King Frederik V, the founder of Amalienborg Palace. Currently, among the four classical palaces, only the palace of Christian VIII is open to the public.

 Another reason to visit Amalienborg is to watch the Royal Guard changes. In addition to post replacement every two hours, the Changing the Guard ceremony takes place at the palace every day at noon. It is an unmissable highlight for a visit to the palace.

 My next destination was neither an opulent royal palace nor a colossal national museum, but it still draws millions of tourists all over the world every year. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, Little Mermaid is about one-metre high bronze sculpture displayed on a rock by the seaside. Since its unveiling in 1913, the Little Mermaid has been a major tourist attraction for over a hundred of years. It is said to be one of the most photographed statues in the world. Undoubtedly, the Little Mermaid is an unofficial mascot that symbolizes Copenhagen and a de facto symbol of Denmark. Unfortunately, the little statue has suffered from repeated vandalism since the mid-1960s for multiple reasons. To prevent from further damage, the Little Mermaid was moved onto a water-locked rock at Langelinie in the harbor of Copenhagen. Yet, in order to take a snapshot with this iconic statue, many visitors still take a risk to climb onto the dangerous slippery rock. As far as I had observed, most of those visitors were from Asia, especially from China.

 After having lunch in a Chinese restaurant near the Central Station, I came to another natural history museum which is located a little bit away from the city centre. With over a century and a half of history, the Zoological Museum is the world's oldest natural history museum. Compared with other science museums around Europe, this one is relatively small but still worth spending an hour or so exploring. The museum holds a unique scientific collection of rare prehistoric animals. Some of the fauna fossils and specimens can date back to twenty thousand years ago or even earlier. The precious exhibits found in the museum include the models of a sperm whale, a giant sloth, a glyptodon and much more. Some specimens are not easily found in other science museums, like the skull of a dodo and a full-scale specimen of whale heart. Visitors can also get pretty close to an array of stuffed animals, such as a giant mammoth. Certain exhibits are even allowed to be touched, for example, the skull of a T-Rex and the skeleton of a whale. Amongst all the exhibits, the newly discovered Diplodocus is undeniably the most prominent item found in the museum. With the nickname of “Misty”, this 17-metre-long herbivorous giant was a fantastic creature some 150 million years ago. The Zoological Museum is just like a living encyclopedia of ancient animals.

 Day Five - Amsterdam (Zaanse Schans): Zaans Museum (A&O Amsterdam Zuidoost Hotel, 2-star hotel)

 Located a little less than an hour and a half flight time from Denmark, I came to my next destination, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Some people, especially the Chinese, always refer the Netherlands as Holland. The Netherlands comprises 12 provinces. Strictly speaking, Holland only represents the two most powerful provinces which have the greatest economic contribution to the entire nation. Windmills, tulips and dairy products are probably the first few things which come to your mind when you think about the Netherlands. But people seldom ask why all those things are so famous worldwide. The Netherlands is known as a flat country since only around half of its land exceeding one metre above sea level. To prevent the damages caused by floods, windmills were invented to pump water out of areas below sea level. Additionally, with benign climate and gentle relief, market gardening has been well developed on extensive low-lying grasslands. This is the reason why beautiful flowers like tulips and high quality dairy products like cheese can be easily found in the Netherlands but not in other places.

 Besides the capital city, two more metropolises were visited during the four-day trip to the Netherlands. Each city has their own characteristics and worth to be deeply explored.

 Amsterdam is the very first place I visited in the Netherlands. It is the country's biggest city and what a million Dutch call home. Most people know that Amsterdam is the official capital of the Netherlands. However, not everyone knows that the Dutch central government is located in The Hague instead of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is colloquially known as “Venice of the North” because of its arresting canals and compelling bridges weaving around the city, which bears a resemblance to the romantic Venice in many ways. With dozens of national museums and art galleries dotted around the city, Amsterdam feels like a pop-up history book. Wherever you go, layers of history will unfold before your eyes.

 Normally, city centre is a place where the main tourist attractions are located. Most tourists tend to spend countless hours walking around the urban area or simply taking a bus tour to get a brief overview of the city. However, if you would like to get an accurate impression of the traditional life of the Dutch, a heritage Dutch village is indisputably a great place to start with your historical sightseeing. Zaanse Schans, approximately 15 kilometres north of Amsterdam, is a serene Dutch village situated in a fairy-tale-like countryside. Having been meticulously restored to its former beauty, Zaanse Schans today serves as an open-air conservation zone with a number of museums displaying the traditional architecture of the Dutch.

 Zaans Museum is sited at the entrance of the windmill village and also the place where the visitors can buy their admission tickets. The museum tells the history of the windmills and provides all the necessary information about the village visiting. The Verkade Pavilion which houses inside the museum gives a historical overview of the chocolate and biscuit making in the village. Visitors can even taste the fresh cookies made in the pavilion. The Zaanse Time Museum is dedicated to illustrating the history of Dutch timepieces and uncovering the hidden secrets of engineering and design of clocks.

 As the icon of the Netherlands, the six well-preserved windmills are surely the focus in the village. Besides water pumping, a windmill is actually a kind of multi-purpose factory with the functions of wood cutting, oil refining, paint making and so on. Apart from the windmills, several traditional handicraft industries can be found in the village, including cheese making, cookies baking, cloth weaving, etc. Visitors can observe the whole process of wood sawing, clogs manufacturing and barrels making in different corresponding craftsman’s workshops.

 Arranging a pleasant day trip to this picturesque Dutch countryside is a great education experience for every tourist. On a bright sunny day, exploring the historic windmills one by one is quite a delightful thing to do.

 Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House) is the best-known biographical museum in Amsterdam and the third most visited museum in the Netherlands. Since it is considered one of the must-go tourist attractions, this historic house museum draws over a million visitors every year. Even though you are lucky enough to reserve an entry ticket through the Internet, you still need to line up a long queue at the main entrance for about half an hour to get in. In order to keep the artifacts intact and streamline the crowd control arrangements, no photo is allowed inside the museum. All the related historical documents, photographs, film images and even the original copy of Anne’s diary are shown in the museum.

 This 17th-century canal house was the place where Anne Frank and her family hidden from the Nazi. It was also the place where Anne kept her noteworthy diary. Anne had hidden in the secret annex behind a bookcase for more than two years before she was finally arrested by the Gestapo. Eventually, Anne was sent to the concentration camp and died afterwards. Although Anne Frank could not survive during the Holocaust of the Jewish, her wartime diary was published after the Second World War. Today, “The Diary of a Young Girl” has been translated into over 70 languages. It is one of the bestsellers and significant first-hand documents about the dark history of World War Two.

 The following museum may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is another tourist hotspot which attracts half of a million grown adults annually. Although this museum is only a five-minute walk from the Amsterdam Central Station, it can easily be overlooked in the busy streets of the Red Light District. Located in a 17th century-old multi-story building, the Venustempel (Temple of Venus) is the world's oldest sex museum with a considerable collection of erotic pictures, comics, photographs and even some life-sized sex mannequins. Some of the exhibits can be dated back to some 4000 years ago. Aside from some historical sexual artifacts, such as medieval chastity belts, the most eye-catching object should be the genital-themed furniture. Visitors are welcome to sit on that furniture and take photos with it. This museum is devoted to human sexuality rather than nudity and pornography. It is the very place for any adults who are interested in exploring the history and culture of sexuality.

 Day Six - Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum (A&O Amsterdam Zuidoost Hotel, 2-star hotel)

 Before I left Amsterdam, three more museums I would like to pay a visit. First and foremost, Van Gogh Museum is a national art museum dedicated to the artworks of Vincent Van Gogh, the best-renowned Post-Impressionist painter in the whole Netherlands. With the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings, this museum was claimed to be the most visited museum in the Netherlands in 2017. Millions of local and overseas art lovers make a pilgrimage to visit this museum each year. The museum is home to some masterworks of this genius artist, including Self-portrait, Sunflowers and Almond Blossoms. Aside from Van Gogh’s work, the museum also owns some masterpieces from Van Gogh’s contemporaries, such as Auguste Rodin, Claude Monet and Gauguin. Like the Anne Frank Huis, photography is not allowed inside the Van Gogh Museum because of the damage it may cause to the priceless paintings.

 Within the same proximity, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam is the second most popular national museum in the Netherlands after the Van Gogh Museum. As the largest art museum in the country, it holds more than 8000 art pieces in 80 showrooms to illustrate over 800 years of Dutch history, from the Medieval Ages to present day. Amongst all the celebrated paintings, The Night Watch by Rembrandt and The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer are two of the finest examples of artworks from the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Another worth mentioning part of the museum is the Rijksmuseum Research Library. It is an exquisite and the biggest public art history research library in the Netherlands. No travelers should pass up on the Rijksmuseum when they have a chance to come to Amsterdam.

 My final destination before leaving Amsterdam is the Nemo Science Museum. It is a popular science and technology museum housed in a huge ship-shaped emerald edifice on the harbor which is hard to be unnoticed. It attracts over 600,000 visitors from every corner of the globe yearly. The target audiences of the museum are the youngsters from the age of 6 to 16, but adults who are young at heart are more than welcome. As the largest science centre in the Netherlands, it contains five floors of interactive science exhibitions in which visitors can get close to the daily science and technology. The most attention-grabbing science-themed exhibition must be the “The Machine” on the second floor. It shows the logistic process through a large-scale assembly line of transferring some color balls from one place to another. Even if you have no time to go through the entire museum, please spend some time going up to the rooftop terrace where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Day Seven - Den Haag: Mauritshuis (NH Den Haag Hotel, 4-star hotel)

After leaving the capital city, I headed to the next Dutch metropolitan, The Hague (Den Haag). With a population of around a million, The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It is called the country's administrative capital since it holds the seat of the central government, the parliament, the Supreme Court and even the residence of the royal family. This “Dual-Capital” political structure has its historical reason. Before 1806, The Hague was the state capital. During the Napoleonic rule, a puppet government was set up in Amsterdam by the French to govern the Kingdom of Holland. After the abdication of Napoleon I, the Dutch government was restored in The Hague, but the official capital remained in Amsterdam. Today, The Hague is no longer the state capital of the country, but it is crowned as the “Judicial Capital of the World” since over 150 international organizations are situated in this city, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Though Mauritshuis (Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery) is only a compact-size art museum, it has a truly exceptional collection of the best Dutch paintings from the Golden Age of the 17th century, including some world-known masterworks from the old Dutch art masters. The “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer is regarded to be the jewel of the museum. The image of this painting has been printed a million times on all sorts of souvenirs, such as mugs, T-shirts, posters, umbrella and so on. “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp” by Rembrandt van Rijn is another highlight in the gallery which no one should miss. Mauritshuis is one of the few tourist attractions found in The Hague which I highly recommend visiting.

 A monumental architecture tells the thrilling story of crime and punishment in the Netherlands across the centuries. Museum de Gevangenpoort (Prison Gate Museum) was originally the main gate to the Court and a medieval prison where serious crime suspects were locked up awaiting interrogation and trial. The penalties could be as light as a small fine to as harsh as capital punishment. This building served as a prison for four hundred years until it was turned to a museum in the late 19th century. Under the guidance of the museum staff, visitors will learn all the fascinating history about the prison, the trials, the sentences and even some horrible tortures applied to the prisoners. Visitors are allowed to walk through the premises and exploring underground cells, interrogation rooms, judge rooms and torture chambers. What’s more, an intriguing service is only offered to young visitors. Children aged from 7 to 13 are welcome to hold a birthday party inside this prison. An official guide would take the children on a unique historical tour of discovery through the museum.

 Nearby the Prison Gate Museum, Galerij Prins Willem V (The Prince William V Gallery) is another hidden jewel in the heart of the city. It is an intimate art gallery built in the late 18th century. Among all the stunning paintings, I personally like the ones relating to Bible stories and Greek mythology, such as “The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man” by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel the Elder and “The feast of the gods at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis” by Abraham Bloemaert. Since it is not a big gallery, you can walk through the premises within half an hour.

 Due to a limited travel schedule, it is nearly impossible for most travelers to visit every single best-loved attraction in the Netherlands one by one. Madurodam (Little Netherlands) is the ultimate place to provide you an exceptional overall impression of the whole Netherlands within a short period of time. Madurodam is actually a miniature theme park featuring the most iconic landmarks found in the Netherlands on a mini-scale. Once you enter the park, you find yourself in a Lilliputian and everything surrounded you is re-modelled on a scale of 1:25, including windmills, canal houses, tulip fields, wooden shoes factories and many others. Every single model is recreated with incredible detail. The flower-bulb fields are made with real flowers at a quarter of real size. Ships, trains and airplanes are all mechanical objects controlled by computer. Although the size of the park is less than an acre, all major Dutch cities, public facilities and historical landmarks can all be found in such a small area.

 Not every part of the Madurodam is built in a miniature structure. “Nieuw Amsterdam” (New Amsterdam) and “Het Hof van Nederland” (The Court of the Netherlands) are two real life size interactive presentation rooms which take you back in time to experience the enthralling medieval history of the Dutch. In addition, two playgrounds are built on a man-made beach which offers a place for children to play. It is much more than an amusement park for a family to spend a lovely afternoon. Since Madurodam is in the top five of the most visited theme parks in the country, over half a million visitors rush into this miniature world every year.

 Day Eight - Rotterdam: Kinderdijk (Hotel Breitner, 3-star hotel)

 Rotterdam was the third and the last city I visited on a trip to the Netherlands. The city developed from a quiet fishing village in the 13th century to nowadays the busiest seaport in Europe and the second-largest metropolis in the Netherlands. With its strategic location by the North Sea, Rotterdam plays an important role as a major logistic and economic hub. As a commercial centre, one may think that this municipality has nothing much to offer their visitors. Yet, some captivating tourist attractions are still worth to mention, like the Cube Houses, De Markthal, MiniWorld Rotterdam and so forth. Because I could only afford to spend one day in this port city, I decided to make a good use of my time. Somewhere which can represent the rich culture and history of the city is the ideal place for me to explore.

 Located in a suburb of Rotterdam, Kinderdijk (Children Dike) is another impressive windmill village in the Netherlands. Although Kinderdijk is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site with the highest concentration of classical windmills, it is less crowded and more tranquilized when compared with Zaanse Schans of Amsterdam I mentioned before. Against the backdrop of the Dutch country landscape, an array of traditional windmills stands on the two sides of a river and welcomes every visitor come to the village. Regrettably, only two out of 19 windmills are now open to the public. Anyway, visiting an authentic windmill is a good chance to understand the daily life of the Dutch in their good old days. Visitors can also learn everything about the engineering of the windmill hydraulic system at the visitor centre. The Dutch windmills were originally built for regulating the water level to prevent inundation and keeping the lowlands dry. It also helped the development of agriculture and early settlements of the Dutch in the low-lying lands. Consequently, it can be regarded as the highest engineering achievement of the Middle Ages. Today, many windmills and pumping stations are rebuilt to be generated by electricity and controlled by computer, but the Kinderdijk is still well-preserved to be a traditional windmill village just like the one found in the 18th century. In a good weather day, taking a boat tour to go around the village is quite an enjoyable activity to do.

 Day Nine - Antwerp: Museum ann de Stroom/MAS (Century Hotel Antwerpen Centrum, 3-star hotel)

 As the neighbor country of Holland, Belgium was once a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands shortly after the Napoleonic Wars during the early 19th century. After the independence in 1830, Kingdom of Belgium has become a sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy. Having suffered from two world wars, Belgian have been continuously looking for peace and stability. Since the end of the Second World War, Belgium has made much efforts in European integration and international co-operation. Not only is Belgium a founding member of the European Union (EU) but also a founding member of the NATO. Just like the Netherlands, Belgian society is rather open-minded and respects individual human rights. The LGBT rights, same-sex marriage and even mercy killing are all legalized in this low-lying country. No wonder that Belgium ranks as one of the most peaceful countries in the world.

 In addition to the state capital city of Brussels, three more lesser-known cities were briefly explored during my five-day excursion to Belgium. A number of hidden cultural and historical heritages were uncovered in this small European nation.

Antwerp is my first stop after I entered Belgium. Since the 16th century, Antwerp has been one of the most prosperous financial centres of the world. At present, Antwerp is the second biggest city in Belgium behind Brussels. The port of Antwerp is ranking second in Europe after Rotterdam of the Netherlands. The city is so sparkling not because of its economic power in the country but because of its leading industry in the world. With its reputation as “Diamond Capital”, Antwerp is the world leader in diamond industry, accounting for over 70% of global diamond trade. Antwerp is a city with many faces. It is not only a major trading hub but also a cultural city with myriad heritage sites.

 Looking from a long distance away, one would find a huge red Lego-like brick floating on the water. With its idiosyncratic design and special building materials, no one could guess that it is a contemporary city museum. Situated in an old dock, Museum ann de Stroom (MAS) is the largest museum in the city and served as the landmark of Antwerp. Since its opening in 2011, this ten-storey-high postmodern building has been a custodian of an ever-growing collection of cultural and historical objects related to the city. Up to the present, the MAS houses nearly 500,000 museum pieces, including artworks, utensils, figurines, etc. Go up to the top floor, visitors can enjoy an unblocked panorama view overlooking the cityscape. It is a must-visit tourist spot for everyone who comes to Antwerp.

 Consecrated in the early 16th century, Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal (The Cathedral of Our Lady) is a fabulous Gothic cathedral with the highest church tower in the Benelux. Inside the cathedral, Bible stories are depicted on stained-glass windows. During the day time, the Bible characters come to life when the sunlight passing through the colorful stained-glass windows. Numerous religious masterpieces are also exhibited in the cathedral, including a series of centuries-old paintings by Flemish artists. Both “The Elevation of the Cross” and “The Descent from the Cross” by Peter Paul Rubens are two most reputable art pieces. This sacred place is unquestionably another iconic treasure of Antwerp.

 Museum Plantin-Moretus (Printing Museum) is a notable printing museum founded in the 16th century by Christophe Plantin. Though it has never been a national class museum since it opened to public in the late 19th century, its historical significance is recognized by the United Nations in 2005. It is the only museum inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage list. The museum boasts its incomparable collection of typographical objects, including the two oldest surviving printing presses in the world. Also, the museum library possesses a wide range of precious printing collections from the early Gutenberg Bible to the first Dutch dictionary, and many other invaluable treasures. The crown jewel inside the museum must be the Biblia Polyglotta (Pentaligual Bible). It is a Bible in five languages: Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek and Syriac-Aramaic. If you are interested in European printing history, it is the place where worth a visit.

 Day Ten - Brugge: Historium (Ibis budget Brugge Centrum Station, 1-star hotel)

 Brugge (Bruges in English) is located along the English Channel and is situated around 90 kilometres to the west of Antwerp. It takes less than 90 minutes to get to this Belgium town by express train from Antwerp. Though both Antwerp and Brugge are major seaport cities in Belgium, they are quite different in many aspects. Today Antwerp has developed to be a commercial centre with its geographical advantage and successful diamond industry, whereas Brugge has preserved to be a fairy-tale medieval town with its rich cultural and historical heritages. Just like the capital of the Netherlands, Brugge is also referred as the “Venice of the North” with its delightful cobblestone streets and dreamy canals. Similar to Venice of Italy, Brugge plays a role as a cultural city instead of an economic one. It is perhaps the reason why the city centre has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My trip to Brugge is not an average touristy sightseeing tour, but a chance to explore a historical old town.

 The following tourist spot I would like to introduce is neither the biggest nor the most famous in the city, but it must be the most favorable museum for every history lover, especially those interested in Renaissance Europe. In my opinion, Historium should be regarded as a new-style interactive movie theatre rather than an ordinary historical museum. Different from the traditional museum, the whole building was redecorated in the form of several medieval scenes from the Middle Ages to the city’s golden age. Visitors are guided to immerse themselves in the Medieval Ages of Brugge by entering seven different historical themed rooms. Each room was refurbished to recreate the cityscape of Brugge in 1435. With the help of the latest multimedia technology and spectacular sound effect, you are just like stepping back in time and experience the daily life of an ordinary Brugge citizen. Making use of the newly developed virtual reality technology, visitors can now explore the old city in the first-person perspective. This fantastic museum just gives every visitor an exhilarating historic experience.

 Some may think the following museum is quirky and chilling which may not be suitable for children and young adult. However, it is undoubtedly another paradise for history enthusiasts. Among all the torture museums of Europe, Torture Museum Oude Steen (Torture Museum of Brugge, the “Old Stone”) may not be the one with the biggest collection of related exhibits, but it may be the one which can recount the history of torture in the most detailed way. The premises was a former prison and later operated as a museum focusing on torture and punishment during Medieval times. As you walk through the museum you will be captivated by the bloodcurdling collection of torture devices and punishment methods. Over hundred horrifying torture instruments are on display, such as the thumbscrew, the chastity belt and the inquisition chair. Cruel punishment and execution scenes are recreated with the help of some lifelike wax mannequins playing the roles of prisoners. Visitors can feel the victims suffered atrocious pain when those harsh torture methods were applied to the human body. The Old Stone Museum tells the terrifying tale of crime and punishment a few hundred years before. The daunting torture tools and merciless punishment methods are the best silent witness of the gloomy history of the past judicial system. The museum provides you a unique learning experience and an insightful history lesson.

 Sint-Salvatorskathedraal (Saint-Salvator Cathedral) was merely a common parish church when it was erected at the heart of the city in the 10th century. Although the church eventually obtained its official status as a cathedral in the 19th century, it was still outshined by the nearby Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (The Church of Our Lady). As the highest structure in Brugge, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is indubitably the highlight of the city. The most eminent masterwork of the cathedral must be the “Madonna and Child”, a white marble sculpture made by Michelangelo in the early 16th century. This is a sacred place that entices tourists to stop by when they come to Brugge.

 Splendid palaces, far-famed museums, exuberant gardens are all popular attractions which fascinate tourists during their visit. But sometimes hidden treasures could only be discovered by accident and it is not easy to be found in some tourist hotspots. When I was about to leave Brugge after visiting the prevalent city’s attractions, I came across an exhibition centre which was exhibiting the artworks and inventions of a Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci. The Xpo Center Brugge is responsible to organize high-standard exhibitions about art, culture and science. During my visit to Brugge, a temporary exhibition about Da Vinci was on display. Over hundred models of Da Vinci’s inventions were showcased in different exhibition rooms. Visitors were even welcome to touch and operate some of the full-size models. It is no longer only an ordinary exhibition, but an interactive learning experience.

 Day Eleven - Gent: Gravensteen (Hotel Adoma, 3-star hotel)

 Gent (Ghent in English) is located about 50 kilometres southeast of Brugge, a train journey may take less than half an hour. Considering the scale of the city, today Gent can be no longer treated as a metropolis, but it has a glorious past during the Middle Ages. It was once one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe. Though Gent is a thousand-year-old historic town, its population is quite young in comparison to other Belgian cities. Among 250,000 inhabitants, a quarter of population is students. With such a big portion of youngsters, it makes the city more vigorous and energetic. The city’s immense fortress and grandiose cathedrals are the best evidence of the triumphant past of Gent.

 The Gravensteen (Castle of the Count) is a medieval stone castle built in the late 12th century. It was once a courthouse, a prison and even a cotton mill. During the Middle Ages, this infamous castle was a symbol of power abuse and feudal repression. Today, this reputed citadel is now the single most significant landmark of the city. Visitors are allowed to explore almost every corner of the fortress, including the gatehouse, ramparts and count’s residence. The castle was meticulously restored and houses two historical museums.

 The Museum of Judicial Objects, also known as the Museum of Torture, illustrates the turbulent history of inhumane torture and punishment during medieval Europe. According to the criminal law of that time, punishment could only be applied after getting the confession from the accused. In order to get the confession, torturers would inflict severe pain on the prisoners by using various kinds of coercion devices, such as neck restraints, thumbs screws, leghold traps and many more. All the mentioned items together with a full-size guillotine model can be seen in the museum.

 The Arms Museum possesses an extensive range of collection of weapons, including pistols, crossbows, maces, daggers, rapiers and so on. Anyone who is interested in historical weapons should pay a visit to this museum.

 Sint-Baafekathedraal (St Bavo's Cathedral) is a majestic religious structure with a mixed architectural style of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque. The cathedral was first started to build in the mid-10th century and it was not completed until the 16th century. There is nothing special about the cathedral itself. The only thing deserved to be mentioned is the 15th-century polyptych altarpiece of the cathedral, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. It is a multi-paneled painting that is considered to be a magnum opus of European art by the Van Eyck brothers. It may be the reason why admission to the church itself is free of charge but charging four euros for seeing the masterpiece.

 Though the Sint-Niklaaskerk (St. Nicholas' Church) is less well-known compared with the Sint-Baafekathedraal, its particular Scheldt Gothic architecture standing out from the surrounding. Under extensive restoration programme, this religious edifice is now a striking blue-gray church and has long served as the icon of the city.

 Before leaving Gent, I came to another city attraction. STAM (Stadsmuseum Gent) is a newly established city museum commenced in 2010. The architectural design of the museum adopts the combination style of medieval red brick structure and modern glasshouse. Looking from the outside, it does not look like a cultural history museum at all. Different from the old-fashioned approach of traditional museums, STAM offers a brand-new museum visiting experience to every visitor. Once you step inside the museum, you are guided to enter a 300 square metre big multimedia exhibition room. The whole floor of that room is actually a gigantic aerial photo of Gent. Visitors are allowed to walk over it and see every detail of the map. No other museums I have visited use the same presentation method to show their city layouts. It is an exceptionally good idea of using innovative multimedia technology.

 Day Twelve - Brussels: Waterloo (Hotel Mirabeau, 2-star hotel)

 I spent the following two days staying in the capital city of Belgium. Brussels is a city that is crucially important not only because it is a state capital, but also because it is a “European Capital”. Although the European Union (EU) does not have an official capital, no one would deny that Brussels is de facto considered the capital of the EU since it hosts the official seats of major European institutions including the European Commission, Council of the European Union and European Parliament. Internationally, Brussels is the headquarters for NATO, the most powerful intergovernmental military alliance in the world. Therefore, Brussels is a place where worth it to travel.

 On the first day in Brussels, I decided not to visit some tourist attractions in the city centre but went to someplace far away from the urban district. Anyone who is interested in European history would know the place called Waterloo. Waterloo is a place where Napoleon suffered his final defeat in 1815. For a history lover, a trip to Brussels would not be complete without a stop at Waterloo. Today, Waterloo has developed to be a tourist district with four historical museums related to this decisive battle which rewrote the modern European history. As it is only 15 kilometers away from the Brussels, a day trip to Waterloo is easy to be arranged.

 Wellington Museum was the headquarters of the Allied Forces and the place where Duke of Wellington finalized his strategic plan a night before the Battle of Waterloo. The museum contains a rich collection of period weapons, military uniforms, old drawings, etc. Some of the exhibits shown in the museum are the authentic items from the battle, such as maps, letters and even a wooden leg of a British army officer. The scene which Wellington wrote his victory announcement was recreated. This museum is a very good starting point for learning about the history of the battle.

 Memorial Museum 1815 is the biggest and the most captivating one among the four museums. Building on the historical site, this museum is the best place to retrace the history of the Battle of Waterloo. It is definitely an innovative museum which extensively utilizes the latest technology to reveal the turbulent history of the Battle. An impressive 4D movie let you immerse into the battlefield as if standing next to an artilleryman and hearing the cannon firing sound. The museum also has a comprehensive collection of full-size model soldiers and warhorses of the battle. As far as I am concerned, the highlight of the museum is not the multi-sensory experience which the state-of-the-art technology is offered, but the immerse panorama canvas which illustrates scenes from the battle of 1815. Further information and other reading materials related to the Battle of Waterloo can also be found inside the museum shop.

 Located four kilometres away from the Memorial Museum, the Napoleon Last Headquarters was the place where Napoleon drew up his military strategy a night before the Battle. The museum holds variety items, including weapons, paintings and even the Emperor’s camp bed.

 Leaving Waterloo before nightfall, I headed back to the city centre and visited my last stop before going back to the hotel. Manneken Pis, also known as Petit Julien, or little Julien, is a small bronze fountain statue. It is now the national symbol of Belgium and the best-known landmark of Brussels. There are multiple versions of the story of the Manneken Pis. Legend has it that a young boy called Julien peed on the burning fuse of the explosives and saved the city. Since then, the bronze statue has been erected and later became a must-see tourist hot spot in the city. Manneken Pis is not always naked. Sometimes the statue is dressed in different costumes.

 Day Thirteen - Brussels: Mini-Europe (Hotel Mirabeau, 2-star hotel)

 The following day I got up early to head to a temporary exhibition about dinosaurs, the Expo Dino World. It claimed that this dinosaur exhibition was the biggest exposition ever held on earth. The habitat of the Mesozoic era was recreated and over 60 animated lifelike dinosaurs were on display, including Triceratops, Brachiosaurus and Tyrannosaurus. The exhibition just took the visitors back to 65 million years ago when the daunting creatures were the rulers of the planet Earth. Most of the model dinosaurs were mechanized, so their heads and paws could move. Standing next to a Diplodocus, you would feel yourself really small in the presence of this sheer size animal. It was quite a good educational experience especially for the family with young children.

 In the same vicinity, a miniature world is found, the Mini-Europe. Very similar to the Madurodam of Den Haag, Mini-Europe is another miniature amusing park presenting the most eminent architectures found in Europe in a tiny-scale. All world-famed attractions, like the Big Ben of London and the Eiffel Tower of Paris, are on a scale of 1 to 25. All the memorial buildings have been replicated till the smallest detail. Visitors are free to take photos next to the mini-models. Within the park, there is a section called “Spirit of Europe”. It is just like an education centre where you can learn everything about the European Union. Mini-Europe is not only a wonderland for tourists but also for anyone who interested in European affairs.

 Museum Voor Natuurwetenschappen (Museum of Natural Sciences) is a natural history museum as well as a research centre of all living things on earth. The exhibition covers the complete evolution of animals and insects from millions of years ago until the present. It has the world’s largest dinosaur hall in which houses 30 completely assembled iguanodon skeletons unearthed in a coal mine in Belgium. Besides, an array of imposing dinosaur skeletons is on display, like stegosaurus, tyrannosaurus, triceratops and even mosasaurs. Aside from the prehistoric creatures, the museum also possesses variety kinds of modern animal specimens, such as giraffes, ostriches and whales. In the gallery of mankind, visitors can explore the evolution of human being and see some human organ models. This museum is a true treasure trove for anyone who is keen on natural sciences.

 Day Fourteen - Luxembourg: The Casemates (ibis Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare, 3-star hotel)

 The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a landlocked country surrounded by France, Germany and Belgium. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is my final destination of my trip to Benelux. Luxembourg is a fully sovereign state with a territory smaller than Hong Kong and a population size even smaller than Shatin, a district of Hong Kong. Although both the territorial and population sizes are small, Luxembourg is a developed country and an important financial centre. According to the IMF, Luxembourg has the world's highest GDP (nominal) per capita. The country is also keen on strengthening international co-operation with other European partners. Just like Belgium, Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union (EU) and NATO. The capital city even holds the seat of the European Court of Justice, the supreme court of the European Union. As a prolonged active member of the European family, Luxembourg has many cultural and historical heritages offer to the visitors all around the world.

 A trip to Luxembourg city is simply not complete without a visit to the world-known Casemates. A casemate is a type of firearm fortification with an immense underground military defense system. The very first mighty bastion was built in the mid-10th century by Count Sigefroy, and which provided a basis for the future development of Luxembourg city. In the following centuries, the casemates were strengthened and enlarged by different European rulers. Luxembourg city was gradually turned to a military stronghold and was famed as the “Gibraltar of the North”. After signing the Second Treaty of London in the mid-19th century, a large part of the fortified structure was demolished. The remaining part of the casemates is now a top tourist attraction of the city and which has been inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO since 1994.

 Musee National d'Histoire et d'Art (National Museum of History and Art) offers an extensive exhibition space dedicated to archaeological, historical and art collections from all periods of Luxembourg. By the time I visited this museum, a marvelous temporary exhibition about the history of Portugal was on showcased. The museum also showed the daily life in the Ancient Times by remodeling the huts and tents found in that period. It is the exact place for anyone want to familiarize themselves with Luxembourg’s history through its public collections.

 Situated right in the heart of the old town, Musee d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg (Luxembourg City History Museum) is a glass structure embedded in a four-story historical building. It is a successful combination of medieval architecture with modern extension. The exhibition provides both local and foreign visitors with a thousand-year history of the city through original exhibits and topographical models. The permanent exhibition named “The Luxembourg Story” will give you a complete picture of the city's evolution from a socio-economical approach. While I was walking around the top floor of the museum, I unintentionally discovered a scale model called "Kueb". It was an architectural project called "European Hemicycle Project". A new premises was supposed to be built for the European Parliament, but the project had never been realized. It was quite a surprising discovery during the trip.

 Within the same neighborhood, I reached my final stop of my whole trip. Musee national d’histoire naturelle, natur musee (National Museum of Natural History) is a national science museum with a rich collection of botanical, zoological and paleontological specimens. The museum is focus on the small to medium size creatures from prehistoric period to contemporary world. Since the museum is not too big, no mega-sized prehistoric animals can be found in the exhibition hall. Besides the fossils like ammonites and dinosaur eggs are showcased, a wide range of life scale mammal models are recreated. There was a special exhibition themed on wild cats. Visitors could see a variety of wild cats, even some rare species. It is a place where natural science lovers can spend their afternoon.

 Traveling and Learning

 The trip to Denmark and Benelux were fruitful and memorable. During this half-month excursion, every single day was an exhilarating adventure and a treasure opportunity to learn something new. Reading and traveling are both good ways of learning as far as I am concerned. Reading a book about Europe may be the quickest way to learn what the continent is like, whereas traveling to Europe may be the best way to experience the spirit of European civilization. You can learn almost everything about this world from books with your logical mind, but you can only explore the unknown wonderland by traveling with your body and soul. You can learn someone’s valuable experience from a good book, while you can build up your own indelible experience from a great trip. I will continue my journey to Europe until I finish traveling every corner of this continent.

[aion-rsa]

How Xena: Warrior Princess used Greek Myth

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First of all, sorry if this bursts anyone’s bubble, but sadly Xena: Warrior Princess is not a ‘real’ character from Greek myth. Whereas Hercules and Iolaus from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys are both important characters from Greek mythology, the three most important characters in Xena: Warrior Princess – Xena, Gabrielle, and Callisto – are all original characters with entirely original stories.

Xena does have things in common with some characters from Greek myth. Most obviously, the Amazons (who appear in the series and adopt Gabrielle as their princess, but Xena is not one of them) are a ‘real’ Greek myth – not a real people, but a mythical tribe who appear in numerous stories from Greek mythology. They were described as a tribe of warrior women, who cut off one breast to make it easier to shoot arrows – oddly enough, the show left out that detail!

The closest non-Amazon character to Xena is probably Atalanta, a huntress who killed centaurs with arrows (with both breasts intact), won a wrestling match against the male hero Peleus, and refused to marry until a suitor could beat her in a foot race, which no one was able to do without cheating. The goddesses Artemis and Athena, who both appear in the series, had traditionally masculine attributes as well, and Athena is especially similar to Xena as she was associated with war (as well as the male god of war, Ares), but they were both completely divine beings, and so were considered a bit different to mortal human women.

Keeping it real

The series did include lots of elements from ‘real’ Greek mythology. Numerous Greek gods and goddesses turned up over the course of the show, from famous Olympians like Ares, Zeus, and Aphrodite, to less well known deities like Nemesis (goddess of justice), Morpheus (god of dreams), and Discord (in Greek Eris, the goddess of discord). Some early episodes were inspired by stories from Greek myth, like Hercules freeing the Titan Prometheus from being chained up and having his magically regenerating liver eaten by a giant eagle every day (Season 1’s ‘Prometheus’); the story of Odysseus, known by his Latin name Ulysses in the show, and his long journey home to his wife Penelope (Season 2’s ‘Ulysses’), and Season 1’s brief glimpse of the Trojan War in ‘Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts’.

For the most part, rather than directly adapting specific myths, the series used characters, elements and ideas from Greek mythology to create new stories. As a 1990s show, the series used the blend of arc plotting and standalone episodes that was common at the time. This meant that the show, like an anthology show, could do different types of stories in different episodes, allowing it to incorporate not just the tragic and dramatic tone of some Greek myths, but the comedic and light-hearted tone of others as well – for in the ancient world, playwrights used mythological characters and themes for both tragedy and comedy.

Ancient Greek playwrights would mess around with the stories people thought they knew to surprise their audience and keep their attention. The famous story of the witch Medea murdering her own children, for example, was an innovation of the playwright Euripides, adapting earlier stories where they were killed by accident or killed by other characters. So what Xena (and parent show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) was doing was exactly what ancient Greek dramatists did, taking ideas and characters people know and playing around with them to create something new.

Remixing the myths

One of the interesting things about Xena: Warrior Princess was the way the show took place in a vaguely described mythical time which seemed to cover millennia of not just Greek mythology and legend, but even well-known, real and dateable Roman history. For the ancient Greeks and Romans, there was a sense that the distant past was a time of myths, and that gods and heroes and monsters walked the earth long before their own time. However, they also had a fairly strong sense of there being a rough chronology to these stories. Certain myths happened in a certain order, and there was a clear progression of ‘Ages’ with different events belonging to different periods. The Titan Kronos was in charge first, then he was usurped by his son Zeus. Mankind was created by the Titan Prometheus, and Woman inflicted on them as a punishment to Prometheus by Zeus (ancient Greek myth was not as feminist as the show it inspired, as you can tell!).

The Greek poet Hesiod outlined five Ages of Man. The Golden Age was the reign of Kronos, when men lived like gods. When Zeus took over, the Silver Age began, and men were now inferior beings who had to work for a living. The Bronze Age was an age of strong, warlike men who were destroyed by Deucalion’s flood (the Greek equivalent of the story of Noah’s Ark). Next was the Age of Heroes, and this is where myth starts to meet legend and pre-history. This is the period when the Trojan War supposedly took place – the war is fictional, but the city of Troy is real (it’s at a site called Hissarlik in modern Turkey) and so were the Greek city states described in the stories, so this war can be placed in a real timeline of human history, at around 1200 BCE, even if the war as described in the stories never really happened. The final age was the Age of Iron, Hesiod’s present day of around 700 BCE, an era of misery and toil (Hesiod was not much of an optimist).

Xena throws all of this chronology out of the window and blends everything together into a glorious mish-mash of myth, legend, and history. The 10-year Trojan War is covered in a single episode set at the end of the siege. Heroes from different stories appear in no particular order. King David of Israel turns up – he lived around 1010-970 BCE, which would be a couple of centuries after the Trojan War.

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Most bizarrely for a show supposedly about Greek mythology, substantial chunks of Roman history are thrown into the mix as well, forming major story arcs across the years, especially in the fourth season. Producer Rob Tapert is obviously keen on this period because he later produced the STARZ Spartacus series – starring his wife, Lucy Lawless, a.k.a Xena – which features several of the same characters including Julius Caesar, Crassus and (briefly) Pompey.

Even when using real historical characters, though, Xena folded in decades’ worth of history. Most of the characters and loosely adapted plotlines follow the collapse of the Roman Republic and the beginning of a monarchy under the emperors in the first century BCE, and although it’s loosely adapted to say the least, there are lots of genuine details. Julius Caesar really was kidnapped by pirates as a young man (and had them all executed later on) and the power struggles in the dying years of the Republic really did feature an alliance between Crassus, Caesar, and Pompey, and the famous love affair between Mark Antony and Cleopatra. The British Queen Boudicca, or Boadicea, however, lived over a hundred years later, and although Julius Caesar invaded Britain twice, he never actually conquered it (it was the later emperor Claudius who did that) so even the Roman historical chronology is all over the place.

There’s something kind of wonderful about this ‘throw everything at the wall and see what sticks’ approach to chronology. There are lots of fun depictions of Julius Caesar in pop culture (from the dude with the surfer hairdo in Tapert’s Spartacus: War of the Damned to Kenneth Williams camping it up in Carry on Cleo) but none are quite as off-beat as Karl Urban repeatedly trying to kill Xena and even escaping the underworld after death to create a new reality where she never met Gabrielle, in an attempt to save himself. And the idea that the first Empress and possible serial killer (depending which ancient Roman rumours you believe) Livia was really Xena’s daughter – and a formidable warrior – is rather fun too.

Playing in other cultures’ sandpits

It wasn’t just time that Xena jumbled up whenever the writers felt like it – the series also included plenty of gods, myths and heroes from other places that had nothing to do with Greece or Rome. From Norse gods (including Loki and Odin) to Hindu gods, to Tau Chinese characters, to the early medieval British hero Beowulf, Xena’s “time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings” and “land in turmoil” could be anywhere, anywhen. This gave the writers great freedom in choosing the stories they wanted to tell and playing with them in new and creative ways, as well as allowing them to cast a diverse group of actors to play them.

Casting black actresses Galyn Gorg and Gina Torres as Helen of Troy and Cleopatra respectively was reflective of academic movements throughout the late 1980s and 1990s to recognise the importance of black Africans to Mediterranean culture, and it has been argued that the real Cleopatra was black, as while her ethnicity was primarily Greek (her Greek ancestors conquered Egypt), her grandmother was a concubine of unknown origin. But the wide range of sources of inspiration Xena drew on meant that they could largely cast actors suited to their roles, regardless of skin colour. Although the goddess of Love, Aphrodite, was somehow still portrayed as a slim, ditzy blonde in pink, which is not a representation the ancient Greeks would have recognised – their statues of Aphrodite are a lot more rounded in body shape and wear even less clothing!

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Xena: Warrior Princess, like a lot of great shows from the 1990s, was a series full of good humour and creativity that didn’t take itself too seriously most of the time, but was still able to land a dramatic punch when it turned its mind to it. It’s a method of making television that, when done well, can give audiences the best of all worlds, and perhaps one that might see a bit of a comeback if audiences start to tire of heavily serialised, grimdark TV. The series’ approach to Greek mythology was like its approach to story-telling in general – use the things that you think will work, don’t be afraid to change things, to mix it up, to mess things around, and tell whatever story you want to tell using whatever tools are available to you to tell it. The ancient Greek playwrights would have been proud.

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