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There is always a lesson to learn from. Kyoto, a city that is too late to revert back to its original grandeur but it is hope that history is not repeating in future to its remaining heritage also to any other cities around the world.
Unfortunately, Beijing city is the next victim.
A Japanese friend once told me (Alex Kerr), "I always associated old Japanese houses with an image of poverty. When I saw Tenmangu I realised for the first time that one could live well in an old house." The key to the destruction of the city of Kyoto lies in this comment. In the eyes of the city administration, rows of old wooden houses look 'poor'; they are an embarrassment, and should be removed quickly. This is not only true for Kyoto - the same feeling lurks deep in the hearts of people all over Japan. If this were not so, the rampant destruction which has occurred here would have sparked a strong public outcry; but until recently there has been hardly a peep of protest. Alex Kerr
'Lost Japan' by Alex Kerr. Winner of Japan's 1994 Shincho Gakugei Literature Prize.
"Of course there was nothing wrong with wanting to "modernize the environment in which people lived, in the sense of making it more hygienic, more comfortable, more practical. But the question is, was it really necessary to destroy so much of the traditional environment and culture in the interest of modernization?" Matsahumi Yamasaki
Kyoto: Its Cityscape, Traditions and Heritage: Process Architecture
Kuching on Google
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On the northern side of the river there are places named with 'Kampung ...' means village so you can see the urban centre of Kuching city is all concentrated on the southern side of the river.
This is one of the unique features of Kuching and is associated to many of the entries in this blog. Please keep in mind.
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