Jacaranda

On my 30th Birthday this year, I wanted to make my birthday something special to myself, then I thought I wanted to see beautiful thing....

Jacaranda (the name of a tree), is of South American origin, It grows well in sub-tropical regions and may attain a height of twenty metres. It looks like a purple Japanese Sakura (Cherry blossom).
During late spring (Oct and Nov), We can see the beautiful trees everywhere around Sydney. 

I found the town named Grafton, There are hundreds of Jacaranda trees in the streets of the town. so I decided going there on my birthday.  From Sydney where I live, about 10 hours bus ride to up north Grafton.

My birthday of this year, I was having hard time. I started working as a Japanese teacher but as it goes by, I was feeling loosing the way, stop and think which way to go in the middle of the journey... I needed the time getting myself together.   

So I secretly got out of the city alone in the midnight and turned off my mobile phone. as the bus went far from the city, I felt the burden gets lighter and lighter...

Next early morning, I arrived Grafton, quiet little town. I started walking around and finding Jacaranda trees. Under the blue sky, I found the brightly shiny purple flowers on a tree.
People talk to me very friendly and warmly way in a small town. Kids say hi to me naturally. I felt I love this town !
Jacaranda were all over the places in the town. I walked for the more and more to see.
I took a rest in a small park, Jacaranda flowers are everywhere on a ground, It’s like a Jacaranda carpet. 

I went to a restaurant for a special dinner myself, The restaurant was in an old building, used to be a bank. I found the place and got an inspiration immediately when I got in the town. so I decided having dinner at there. very nice Jazzy music and Sunset lights came in, the restaurant was beautiful in my eyes. I had a fantastic fish and vegetable satay at there, also had a couple of wines. I enjoyed them very much. My heart was healed by food. While I was eating, no one in the restaurant as if I reserved whole floor. The owner said to me “Happy Birthday”quietly but warmly in the end. She was only one said to me the wish that day and I feel so happy. I thought this is really my birthday, very special birthday.

I came back Sydney next early morning, all the pressure and speedy life in the city.
But I'll keep moving on with always bringing back the memory of the this birthday.

The language of flower is “Privilege”.
Wishing I can always walk proudly in my future life....  

“You have reached a new milestone in your journey - may you also seek wisdom which is greater than knowledge. - Blessings on you as your journey on this good earth.” the letter from mother  By “The Last American Man” Elizabeth Gilbert

Life in Young

I worked every day for packing and eating plums (that is a part of work right ?).
After work, just cooked some food, read a book and went a bed.
When its dayoff, went for walk & run to low hills where I could see the whole nature in

I've just moved into Sydney after finished working for plum packing for 2 months and a half in Young.

I didn't like Sydney at first. It was too busy city for me, but I am gradually finding beautiful nature around the city.

Let me talk about the life in Young, Young was 5,6 hours inland from Sydney.

Young and went to the town (takes 1hour and a half walk) , tried being outside. It was very simple life and I liked it.

Young is as it was like North part of Japan Hokkaido or like a part of New Zealand which I've never been there yet, but just because there were so many sheeps around.
I could see the low hills forever and there were many Cherry or plum Orchard.
I loved to see the sheeps, horses and cows in a grazing lands, beautilful lightnings, rainbows, sunshine, a ring of the sunlight, very red sunset, big moon, heaps of stars, Milky way and galaxy.... The simple life in a nature was really suit me.
First one month, I was living at a Camp-site, in a tent. I went a bed when its dark. good life without lights, without modern electric power.

Last one month and a half, I lived in a cabin, it was like living in a big strage room and that was with lights.
I experienced both lives without lights and with lights. Now, I think there is big difference in the both lives.
Today, people use electric power for granted. but It is really wonderful things the sun light, Ntural light and eyes of human being.
I ponder that how much we people are depending and wasting electric power.

Living in the middle of no where, A phone call couldn't get through smoothly, not to mention an access for the Internet.
I walked 1 hour and a half to get the library to use the Internet.
Means of transmission and communication, Today we use telephone, mobile phone for granted, we even use txt messeging, emailing or chatting on a computer.
We can tell, talk and send someone our feelings instantly.
There are so many way to communicate and convey everything what we thought, what we want to share, what we want to know, and also many way to answer for those.
What an age we are living now.
Lived without those access, I wrote my feelings to a paper, a letter, and think, ponder, sleep an idea.
In those ways, my feelings get more deep and calm, and feel those are more dear things.
We cherish ideas and thoughts more.
Nowadays, Everyone is in a speedy communication mutch, Living in minutes or seconds.
Communication is not about Speed. 　
I don't want people to forget to look at the substance of thoughts, look at the inside mind, look something we can not to see.
I believe that is the communication.

The simple life in Young was great. I won't forget those days.
Citylife is so stiffing, However I am starting to like here in Sydney now. I found a share house nearby beach and I often go for long walk to beatiful nature-side around ! I run to the beach every early morning and see the sun rise. I will enjoy staying here with my style.

Road Trip 2464k Cairns to Sydney !

I came back in Australia first week of Jan, then started road trip Cairns to Sydney by myself. it was a quite trip, 2464K adventure, and I really enjoyed all the way down to come Sydney.

I stopped many beautiful places, Innisrail-AirlieBeach-Gladstone-Bundabarg-GoldCoast-PortMcquierie-Sydney

There were many awesome meetings and reunions on the way.

In GoldCoast, I met my friend who had the around world cruise together in 2001. We haven't seen eachother 5years. Also, I met another friend from Japan, we went same college, surprisingly, we haven't seen for 9years but it feels like we saw last time was like yesterday. How cool having reunion in other countries... I sudden fell in love the beaches of GoldCoast.... Beautiful beaches and beaches .... I again realized how much I like sea....before I left GoldCoast the friend Eddy taught me a boogie boad at the palm beach... I want to keep trying catching a wave in Sydney!

Another meeting was a place named PortMcquierie... right after I got into the place, as I was looking for the accomodation for one night, I kept meeting nice people and beautiful scenery.... so my spontaneous trip god changed my plan, I stayed couple days in PortMcquierie.... it was so much fun. There are beautiful 9beaches, creeks, hills and many more.... Scenery reminded me Canada.... I tried Sea-kayak, was awesome ! we went trough between the mangroves in the creek, beautiful clear ocean and surf-kayking.... I really had a good time ! I feel I come back in there again !

Driving alone for 10days make my mind so fresh and clear. I loved it.

Australia is another grand country ! I sometime feel like I am in Africa as I was driving in the middle of nowhere.... humanbeing was only myself. (Others were Kangaroos...) I was surrounded endless land..... it's massive nature land....

And now I am in the place named Young in NSW, am camping in the middle of nowhere and working for Plum farm.

I enjoy this simple life. I woke up before the sunrise and just go the bed when the darkness comes. I am sharing my tent with two other Korean girls. They are so sweet.

I will work here till the season finished and till I get the second visa, then I go to Sydney for the Japanese teacher's school. I am looking forward to move on to my next step, studying for Japanese teacher!

I will post when I get into Sydney ! till then !!!! See ya !!!!! Love and Hugs....

PS:March 28 is Earth Hour !! Turn off the light when the night !!!! Enjoy the candle night !

A brand-new year has just begun !

In Japan, there are many superstition for a new year.

Seeing the new year's first sunrise is one of a joyous events and one of a superstitions, it is believed to bring good luck in Japan.

This morning, I was woken up around 5:30 by my dad.

And all my family members went to see the snrise.

There are already so many people waiting the sunrise at the scenic coastline.

Today was a perfect wheather, very clear air and not many clouds.

We saw the first sunrise from little fishing harbor. It was really beautiful.

On a new year's eve, I went out to a shrine by myself after the midnight.

So many people were standing in a long line to pray for happiness and good health in the coming year.

My old friend was playing a Japanese drum on a stage of the shrine, the traditional lion dance was also performed on the same stage.

It was really Japanese traditional new year which I haven't had in years.

I was just happy watched many people in there... nowadays, many traditional culture or customs are changing with times but on New Year's day, you'll see many people (all generations) still enjoy their culture.

I enjoyed drinking free sweet alcoholic AMASAKE on the way home with many happy thoughts. (Drinking AMASAKE is also to wish for the safety of their families and success in business.)

What a good time....

It's a good start for my 2009, It's a beginning of another year !

2009 will be a good year.

However, I can't forget right now many countries in this world are in suffering from war, severe food shortages, economic gap etc.... I'll try to make a difference from myself more in 2009... I believe little things also can make a change !

I hope this new year will bring EVERYONE in this world good luck and happiness.

Lots Love

In peace

Ice cream on a Christmas day

It was a cold winter Christmas in Japan, 8deg and very windy...

I was in a hot Summer Australia a week ago...

My Canadian friends emaied me they had a white christmas this year... which is unusual In Vancouver Island...

The Earth is interesting.

It's always nice to hear how and where is my friend from everywhere in the world.

My friend Satoko asked me to go get an ice cream tonight.

I ate a holiday ice cream, colored Red and Green (rasberry and Pistachio) was really good. Satoko ate another holiday special cappcchino and bisccotti.

It was too cold having an ice cream out side but I enjoyed eating ice cream and watching people at the entrance of a shopping mall.

The other day she and her room mate invited me a dinner. it was awesome Tuna and Abocado rice ball... Oisiiiiiiiiiiiii (Delicious)!!!! It's always nice to have a home taste after the life in other countries.

Satoko gave me a Christmas present. It was a original hand-made Chopstick case and a little bag. She made one before(you'll see the story on my blog), but she made new one for me. It's a special one. I can also bring a spoon and a folk .... my spoon & folk... isn't not great ??? I won't use those disposable prastic spoon&folk anymore !!

Satoko always use recycle clothes for making original creation things, she is 'Remaker'. I like those eco friendly things she is always trying in her life.

I spent almost whole day with my grand parents today. Time passed very peacefully and calmly... this time was a wonderful gift for me...

I had a good organic red wine myself tonight.

I had a good Christmas this year in Japan. Good night everyone.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

I walked around my home town today on a Chtistmas Eve.

My town seems still the same as my childhood days... many old people are busy with shopping for Christmas dinner. Young people are on the way to go a party. Couples are walking so happily. People are selling Christmas cakes or chickens on a street, some stores are waited in an ordinaly line. Christmas songs are heard from everywhere....

Those each tranquil sights on a street made me really happy.

The Christmas song ''Have yourself a merry little Christmas''... is one of my favorite Christmas song. I like the title.

I don't need fancy Christmas... I don't need any sumptuous dishes or any special gifts.
Each little natural things make me happy.

I am having myself a merry little Christmas this year... having Christmas dinner with my family, talking my grand parents, watching happy people in the town, listening Christmas song, having a hot drink at a cafe.... this all little things brought me joy... how great an ordinary hapiness is.... I realized... Little things and the things we can't see are always beautiful...

How's everyone spending time this Christmas ???
I wish you all have yourself merry Christmas...

I send you a Big laugh and a Big Hug to you all my people ....

Very very happy merry Christmas to you...

from Japan....Eri

Enjoy .....

The song '' Have yourself a merry little Christmas'' By Kenny G.....
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=JEyR8LOv8Bg

YUZU

The YUZU is a citrus fruit originating in East Asia.

The yuzu's flavor is tart, closely resembling that of the grapefruit.

In Japan, bathing with yuzu on the day winter solstice is a traditional custom. The whole fruits are floated in the hot water of the bath (sometimes enclosed in a cloth bag), releasing their aroma.

It's good for blood circulation promotion, povide backpain relief, prevent chapped skin or cold etc...

Yuzu is known for its characteristically strong aroma, and the oil from its skin is marketed as a fragrance.

In my grand parents' garden, There is a Yuzu tree.

My grandpa love keeping his garden.

Picking Yuzu fruits is usually his job, it's one of a pleasure. But he can't do that this year.

He has been suffering with cancer.

I came back in Japan to see him yesterday.

Eventhough he has a widespread cancer, now surprisingly he's getting much better than a month ago in a hospital. He is eating a lot and having clear mind since he came back his loving home.

My cousin Rena and Mika, they are lively grand daughters for him. They always give him a bright smile, and talk in cheerly to him. Sometime, Taking many meds and being hospital are not cure for us. He is getting good cures from his family now.

I will try to visit him as much as I can my stay in Japan this time.
So, I helped picking Yuzu fruits with my grandma today.

Yuzu have a little spine. We wore gloves and had nippers.

The tree is in a higher part of a slope, it was a bit hard to pick all the fruits with using ladder.

Grandpa has difficulty walking however he picked some yesterday.

We picked a lot.

Grandpa was happily sharing those Yuzu fruits to prastic bags. And he'll share the Yuzu to all our family and neighborhood.

My grandma is fun. She talks like a man with dialect from north part of Japan Fukusima.

Her little vest got caught in the tree so many times... and everytime she got stuck, she start laughing so quietly.... then after long laugh, asked me 'help!!'... it was funny....

Look her bright smile on the pic (left).. She looks so happy!!!

Seeing them is such a gift for me this time of the year.

I was away from home this last few years... so I am looking forward to spending a New year in Japan this time.

After We finish picking Yuzu fruits, We enjoyed the sun in Engawa which wooden veranda of Japanese style in a while. There was the good winter sunshine yesterday....


I like their house, it's quite traditional Japanese house and garden they have. I played a lot in there when I was a child.

I enjoyed feeling comfort in my mind with my home life and my happy family....

Matane !
From Japan