Ululu

It was such a special 'once a life time' trip, meet up with my friend Karin from Japan in Alice Springs then went to see the Ayers Rock !


When we travel, everyone asks ''Where are you from?'' so most of us travelers will say the country we grew up or nationality.
My friend Karin who has been living in japan for 7years says ''I am from Japan''. She said when she flies back in Narita Air port (Japan) from her travel she feels ''I am home'' so much. 
Yes, Inside of her, I can see her Japanese soul... well actually more like Japanese pride.
When people ask me general question about Japan, sometimes she answered better.... shame on me huh !? but that is Karin. Indeed.
It's fun to traveling with her, Me, Japanese and have spent last few years in abroad, Karin, American and has spent maybe most or half of her life in abroad. We both have different perspective but we know those differences a bit better or in her case, a lot better ! 

Next day Karin arrived Alice springs, We joined 3days out-back tour. The weather was getting better from one day to the next !! 

We met great people from all over at this tour !
It was a great tour ever ! It's because of the member !
I won't forget everyone, because we made it !! We made this 'once a life time' trip together !

I liked the words Ole the guy from Germany said to Karin last party.
''We will come across twice in our lives.''
It might be so... I think even if we couldn't see actual person it self again, we have heaps of chances to remember the person, It doesn't matter if it's only one day we spend the time together. Every meetings are precious.
Ole left the pub with the words said to only Karin, without saying bye to everyone but We'll see each other again in somewhere in this world. I feel so.


Ayers Rock, called Uluru in there.
When I first time see the rock, I felt this place is definitely sacred place.

I don't remember when I saw the Mt.Fuji first time... It was probably around 5 years old.
When the first sight Mt Fuji came into my eyes was when I am still on my dad's car.
When I saw the Mt.Fuji, I said to my parents ''I see aura''
My parents laughed at me that this little girl said pretty big comment.
However when I saw the Ayers Rock, I remember the time when I saw the Fuji, and I again felt the rock is covered some kind of veil. I felt like being sucked into the rock with great dignity and felt tremble, thought how we are tiny and powerless..... 


The huge rock is changed its color like northern lights by the sun,
especially the rock with sun-rise makes me very emotional...
The nature creation is very precious, pure being and really beautiful.
I am here because There is mother nature.... I was reaffirmed this by the rock. 

Alice springs

The day I arrived in Alice springs, the main river in the area named Todd river which usually dry was flooding. I saw many kids enjoy swimming in the morning, but few hours later, it became flood-swollen river, cars were pushing through the water and finally the road was closed.

I heard that the river get water only few times a year.. everyone stopped and looked down this curious sight from a bridge.
I was worried that the out-back tour I will join in 2days how it will be....

However, I enjoyed staying this town of course ! 
I stayed here couple days to wait my friend Karin from Japan arrives. We have many difference such as age and nationality but also many things in common such as we both have loud voice, do not care such a small things, love drinking, traveling.... She is like my American sister. She is also world traveler, she traveled many places around Asia. And we go to Ayers Rock together this time !! I was so sure this is going to be very special trip.


In a backpackers, I met a girl from Germany, her name is Laura. She is very sweet, soft-centered personality.
She smiled and told me the one girl who left this morning wore and left with her one side of flip-flop.... and showed me red&brown pair of the flip-flop (pic), and asked me to go for shopping to get a comfy flip-flop together. So we went out together. 
 

When we came back, A Japanese girl came into the room, Her name is Yasuko, she is from Shimane Japan. She has been traveling around the world for a year, and Australia is the end of it. I felt she is kind of person who does things at her own pace but at the same time I saw earth in her. 


I went out with her, going to see the sun-set from the hill near our backpackers named Anzac hilll.  We ran up the hill, that was just on time, Sun was just about to set down...
We stunned when we saw the view from there... it was very beautiful...
There are double rainbows after the rain.
We see the whole town, Macdonnell ranges over the town,
the hills continue to the horizon on the other side of town.
I am going to deep in the nature in two days !! My adventure spirits were burning !!

Glenelg Beach

I spent wonderful holidays for 10days, and came back into Sydney last week.
I start this trip from Glenelg Beach in Adelaide.

I hadn't seen this much an unbounded horizon in a while. 

I again realized the earth is round.
I feel like I am in the south of Australia, I am on the earth.

I walked so many hours along the beach. 

The sea was always there and makes me feel so calm...
I love beach living so much....! 


It was raining so hard when I went out to the CBD of Adelaide, but luckily stopped raining couple hours when I got there, then I found beautiful rose garden. It was beautifully shinning with rain drops hanging on it.

I'd heard that the sunset view in this beach is splendid.
So I was really looking forward to watching the sun set over the sea but clouds are pretty much covered the sky a hour before the sun set. However I tried to wait the time the sun comes down.... I was really lucky, As the sun down, the clouds dispersed. I stunned with the beautiful sun set.... It was like the sun set over the earth...

A great thing of traveling, away from city living, we could find much more sensibilities in our selves which we almost leave in some where in our usual life.  

When I go traveling, I feel more like I am being myself, but It's probably the power of nature. Nature made me feel so. 


A Backpackers I stayed in Glenelg was really cool.
It seemed remodeled an old building, Interior decoration was very simple but I liked it. 
And one more thing ! unusually no bank bed !!! It was beautiful budget accommodation.

I always enjoyed staying Backpackers or hostels.
I always go the kitchen and check free food before going to grocery store, then cook myself. It's one of the fun part of staying Backpackers.

I had relaxing 3days at the beach side in Adelaide, then headed to Alice Springs! Out back Australia!!

a morning in Coogee

A spice of beach living is looking at the rising sun. 

A morning in Coogee is very early.
Everyone enjoys walking, jogging, swimming, doing yoga, chatting, etc... at the beach.

The radiant morning sun gives us power. Dawn breaks, the sun comes out, it starts getting warm my body. I am given a warm welcome for another day ! 

It 's getting cold these days in Sydney, Summer is getting over... it makes me feel a bit bitter sweet...
Make yourself warm from inside of body with hot soup and hot drinks. 

Sydney goes on no matter what !

Here, In Sydney we run into very interesting people on the street.

The other day, as I was going to home, was walking on the street.
One East Indian guy came up to me and said to me all of the sudden
''I see you are very lucky from your face.''
He kept talking rapidly things like...
''23rd, February 23rd is going to happen something really lucky... You are thinking too much, Don't think too much like that...''

I listened little while, but I started thinking I have no money to listen this....
He said ''Give me 5 minutes. I can tell you more, I am fortune teller. '' Here we go.... so I said ''Sorry I am in a hurry.'' He said ''You should not be in a hurry !!'' I laughed.

If it's Japan, the people will get scared and ignored. 
but for me, this kind of things are little spice for making me happy.

In a Oxford St, there are many gay people, Trans-sexuals, Trancevestaits are passing by.
I walk through the street, those people make me smile. Because I feel there are many different kinds of people are here, and They are kind of ecstatic being alive.


When you feel down, the sights get narrow. but Look round the world, all the differences are very interesting and powerful.
We need to feel alive.  

Look this picture down below, This guy was playing guitar while the other guitar was on his head.... every time the guitar fell off, the music stopped. The music could not be long enough. hahaha

Living in a city, sometimes make me feel little tight but for sure, the people have power.
So Every day, Sydney goes on no matter what !!

Christmas tree of the year !

The Rocks' Christmas tree created from recycled bottles :: SustainabilityMatters


This tree is near my work, Rocks Sydney.
It was created by using 18000 recycled plastic bottles ! I love the ecologically friendly idea !!
Let's enjoy Eco-friendly happy holidays !

It's been a year and a half I am living in Australia.
I think I am getting used to this hot Christmas season in Australia...
At the beach, I enjoyed look at the bikinis with Santa hats...

Now, I am in Japan, spending couple weeks for holidays...
30deg hot summer Australia to 3deg cold winter Japan.... well, I am the only one, having sunburn every where on my body;;;; ouch !

Happy Merry Christmas everyone !!

In peace

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 !

greets from Tropical North East Australia

How is everyone doing ???? I've been doing good in Australia.

I worked at the farm in Ayr Australia for 1 and a half month.
I stayed at the Hotel named Ayr hotel. It was crappy hotel but the people were so COOL, about 70 people from all over the world. German, Belgium, Korea, UK, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Nepal, Taiwan, Scotland, France and Japan etc....
I really enjoyed working and living with all the people at there.



I worked at a basil farm most of the time. I really enjoyed working at there. I liked working with the smell of a basil and with nice people in the beautiful place.... It was so much FUN... I will miss the days in there... so I will remember the days when I smell basils... haha..


Working at a farm was sometimes hard so we always encouraged each other and enjoyed having a beer (or two or more!! ) after work ! It was so much fun with many different kind of people !

We are living in one world, we are one family... I truely feel that way through this experience!


It's much different staying backpackers as a tourist and staying working hostels as a worker. People can much closer and enjoy all the meetings.


Now, I left Ayr and am in Townsville. It's a beautiful city. I traveled with Christopher (from Belgium) and Axel (from France) who are good friends I met in Ayr. We went to the Magnetic Island (30min ferry ride from the city) for a couple of days together. Traveling with them was so much fun. Our plan is always No plan but it's always good adventure !!


We enjoyed swimming at the beaches and hiking at the National park which we can see most wild koara bears in this country. we were so excited when we found a koara !! They were all sleeping but was really cute !!

I'll say bye to my friends Christopher and Axel this afternoon.... I will miss them....such a good friends ! but We'll see each other some day again !! That might be in Sydney ? , France ? Belgium ?? or Japan ??? Who knows !?

Here QLD is really HOT now!!! I can't believe Christmas is coming soon.... It feels weird...

I'll be in Japan for couple of weeks this holidays. it would be nice spending time with my family. I was in Canada last year. so this would be special gift for me !

Have a nice holidays everyone !!
Love and BIG Hugs to you all !!!
Life is always Journey !! bon voyage !!

Eri

Moving on !

I am going away from the Cairns city for working at a Vegetable farm down South in a while.

The place named “Ayr”. I am not used to the Australian or British pronunciation of 'A','E', 'I',and 'R' yet, but sounds like people are saying 'Air'. well That's alright, unless I pass through the bus stop. hahaha wish me luck !

It was a wonderful relaxing time with my friends Hiroko and Yatsu last 1month.

They always make me feel very peaceful.

Hiroko and I went the same college about 10years ago.

We always talked about dreams or ideals in our future. We both wanted to go other countries. Soon after we gradurated, We worked hard for saving money, tried our dreams become true. Couple years after, Hiroko came to Australia and I went to Canada. Although we were far from eachother, we are always encouraged .

so now, It's great to be here with her in Australia... and I am really happy that she looks very happy with her partner now....

(tears;;) Life is wonderful...

Well, but I need to continue my journey for myself !

It's too comforting place for adventurer !!

Let's move on !!

I don't know when I can update my blog next time... but I sure will share my journey every now and then !!

Love and Hugs to all my people ..... from Australia ERIE

G'day !

I left Japan again... now I am in Cairns Australia.

It's my new start to be a Japanese teacher here or some other countries that need a teacher ...

I've been trying to find a way I can be a cultural bridge in my life. I looked back my past 10 years. I was saving money in Japan, traveling other countries and doing that over and over again. I think it was to know who I am and to know what I want to do.

After I arrived back home in Japan, I quickly tried to find my next step... couple of hopes weren't that I thought. so I again tried to think from beginning. Then one idea came up was a Japanese teacher. It's funny that the idea came up now. Because Japanese teacher was always somewhere in my mind, some of my friends are already working as a Japanese teacher and My foreign friends always encouraged me to teach... but I have never thought for real. However, this time was real. I tried to go a brief meeting at a Japanese teacher school near my house, and I thought that being Japanese teacher... it might really suit me !! it might be the one !! I want to learn how to teach Japanese !! But at the same time, I felt that learning how to teach Japanese at the school in Japan was little different than how I learned English as a second language. It was too grammatical , teacher and student style I mean Japanese school style.. I haven't learned my second language in that way....

Then I found a Japanese teacher school in Australia. They focus on practical learning. so I suddenly decided to get Working Holiday Visa to go Australia, so I can work and save money for school.

I am in Cairns and am looking for a job right now. After couple of months (or more) I work, I go the school in Sydney.

I hope this is the way I given.