Rural scenery from a road on the way to Kumanovo. After few rain, now wheat fields are green. It was beautiful. One selling point of Macedonia is the beautiful rural scenery, I think.
It was an "Open Government Day" today. Lots of public visited the Government building as group tours. Students, old men and women were all over in the government with tour guides. Prime Ministers and ministers had Q&A sessions with visitors. To me, most impressive initiative was the display of ancient statues, nicely done with the museum-kind display with light-ups, in the hallways. It was much nicer display work than the one you can find in museums in Macedonia.
There was an exhibition of a Macedonian artist with concept of "Wabi Sabi". Wabi Sabi is very difficult concept to explain to non-Japanese because it involves deep feelings of Japanese towards impermanence nature of things. Wiki explains somehow, but I guess it is difficult to really understand as own "experience" or feelings. And this artist seems somehow try to express it. Whether she understands the concept by experience or not (I believe she does), I liked her cute style of the drawings. Seeing from this or Macedonian haiku, it seems Japanese concept is well accepted in Macedonia. Good.
There are ancient Macedonian statues displayed in front of the government building nowadays. These statues are from some old ruins in Macedonia, I guess, and had been stored in a basement of a museum for a while because there was no space to exhibit, but, lately someone decided to display them in front of the government building because many foreign guests visit the building, and it is nice to show them Macedonian heritage. Aaaand that got on Greek's nerves again (well, the one before was when the airport name was changed to the "Alexander the Great Airport"). Well, I would say that's a politically incorrect move from Macedonian side, again, like the airport name, but, I would also say to Greeks, "Get over". 
When I first saw this building I thought a building on-purposely designed like this as an art object is being constructed. Well, no. It had been illegally developed and "authorities" found out, on the half way of the construction, that the construction project does not have any legal approval or exceeds the dimension set by a building approval authority or something, so, some authorities came in and torn down some part of the building like this as an effort to stop the construction or to stop the building to be used. There are many buildings like that in Skopje; half finished construction, sometimes with some parts demolished. But, the question is what on earth in the first place, nobody notices the illegality until the building takes shape to this level. Or, maybe, people notice it but nobody can do something about it, because someone from “authorities” may be involved in the business. It is called “construction mafia” in Macedonia, as a type of organized crimes. And now the Macedonian Government is trying to stop organized crimes including this construction mafia. BTW my image of “mafia” is more scary stuff that that.
Unfortunately, my favorite Pastis was gone out of business in the end of the last summer. Then, Gusto opened in the fall at the place where used to be Pastis. Since Pizza is not my favorite kind of food, I am disappointed that there is no more smoothie and cute, unique cuisine in Skopje. But still, it is still worth to go for lunch since there are not many restaurants that serve light meals for lunch with good soup and salad in Skopje. I kind of like their panini style sandwich too. Gusto seems a favorite of many foreigners. Every time I go there, I meet foreigners I know.
Среќен празник (Happy Holiday)! Today, March 8, is a day for women in Macedonia (or in the region). Girls receive flowers and gifts, and are treated with nice dinner or something else to spoil girls (i.e. massage?). I got only flowers since there is no one to pamper me with nice dinner today ;-p .... I guess this custom came from the International Women's day (see Wiki), but it seems people here are more like focusing on the "cute" part of the idea. Good for me. Too bad it was not a holiday; my dear women co-workers were working hard as usual.
I think this tree looks like a Japanese Sakura (Someiyoshino) tree more. I hope it is Someiyoshino... or is it still too early for Someiyoshino?? Or, Spring in Macedonia comes earlier than Japan?! Or, maybe it is Sakura, but different kind? Whatever it is, this looks definitely more similar to Japanese Sakura than the one I wrote about last year.
It is indeed spring has come in Macedonia. This tree near my office starts blooming. I found it looks like Japanese cherry tree, Sakura. Or, considering the season, it is more likely Japanese plum tree, Ume? Either way, the blossoms look a bit paler than Japanese ones, but still, the texture of the trunk and the shape of the branches look familiar.... Maybe this tree is good for tying up my martinka.
It is March from today. Martinka is something you wear on March 1 and keep it until you see a swallow back from south first time in the spring. This red/white ball is a kind of martinka, and I am also wearing a red/white yarn woven bracelet, another kind of martinka. And then once you see the swallow, you take this martinka off and tie it to a twig of a tree like what Japanese do with omikuji. It is an old Macedonian tradition to wish your good luck and good health. I am wondering if I can find the swallow before the bracelet is gone somewhere as it was so in the last year.... And I do not remember if I have ever seen swallows in Skopje. Wish me luck.
There are bunch of foreigners working with IT Macedonian at this company in Macedonia, one of which founders is a Macedonian. It is a globally-known special client customized software development company, set up in Sweden originally. Lately, their business operation in Macedonia has been expanded, hiring lots of people including foreginers from all over the world. Since "Invest in Macedonia" promotes the IT industry as an potential sector for investment in Macedonia, companies like Seavus could strengthen the industry's potential and spread the fame to the world. Maybe.
It was 18C today in Skopje. A beautiful day like spring. It is like "excuse me, is it still February?" Now grass is green and flowers are blooming. How come. Well, of course I like it. Very nice weather for the outside coffee. But it seems it will be snow in the weekend.
Zurich is a beautiful, small city with a lake. Since there is no direct flight to Skopje from Tokyo, I have to spend one night somewhere in Europe and this time it was in Zurich. I enjoyed Shiatsu and Thai food there.
Even a snowman is an anime character in Japan! To the right, Anpan-man da!
This is the first thing I did in Tokyo. Soup and coffee with my friend at Soup Stock in the Narita airport when I flew in and she was going to fly out.
This is the famous Ohrid pearl craft, created from scales of the little fish "Plasica", an inhabitant of the Ohrid lake. I do not know how it is made, but it does not look like something made from the fish scales. It has really a pearly shine. It is said that only two Ohrid families, which carried over this tradition to three generations, can make this craft. Very nice gift. Thank you, my friend.
It has been a warm winter in Skopje as said everywhere. But this weekend, it seems snowed heavily in the mountain area in the outskirts of Skopje. They are all white now. Shining in the blue sky this morning. The contrast between blue and white was beautiful. There is no snow on Mt. Vodno of Skopje yet, though. I remember the first snow in Skopje last winter was in November....
There was an exhibition of a Macedonian designer, who studied in Japan, at a gallery in Skopje. She used Japanese Katakana for a basis of the design work. Some of the work looks like using Macedonian words written in Katakana, like "Pivo (beer)". I would call this the cute fusion of Japanese and Macedonian culture.
I happened to bump into this awesome blog, Macedonia Daily. It covers stories related to Macedonia and Macedonian abroad and domestic. In terms of concept, design, and contents, whoever is doing this is doing an excellent job. This kind of site will definitely help to promote the good images of Macedonia to the global market. "In English" is the key.
Speaking of the FDI, the Macedonian Government launched the global advertising campaign for attracting foreign investments lately, called "Invest in Macedonia, New Business Heaven in Europe". Promoting the FDI in Macedonia has been the most urgent priority of the new Macedonian Government for the economic development since its establishment in September. Now they are promoting it aggressively with a balloon thing on the top of the government building as well as putting ads on 50 media in 35 countries worldwide. Of course, the Japanese are one of expected investors.