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. 

Homemade scones

Baking scones is a boom in my share house now !
It's all guess work. We have Guesswork-pro in my house.
She teaches others how and it's really easy ! so that is what the boom starts.
I am starting to get a hang of it.  
Someone makes scones and it is shared for others. We enjoy many different tastes and flavors.
So far, we had plain, lemon, White chocolate & Berry Jam, Ginger honey etc....
I tried Cinnamon scone today ! yam !!

SAKURA

As I went back in Japan last month, I went to see the SAKURA (Cherry blossom) named Kawazu Zakura.
I thought I can't see SAKURA this year but it was just in time, The SAKURA are in full bloom.  
However, KAWAZU ZAKURA is a particular kind of SAKURA , not the only name, they start blooming the end of January to February. It's about a month or two months earlier than others.
And also the life is longer than others.

My friends and I walked Miurabeach to Misakiguchi (the end of the KEIKYU line in Yokosuka&Yokohama area.) with watching beautiful full blooming SAKURA,
There are stalls by the SAKURA trees, we bought SAKURA rice cakes and we ate under the trees. it's traditional seasonal sweets.
There are also rape blossoms under the SAKURA trees.
Spring has just begun in Japan!! The day was really warm, I walked with only a shirt !
I came back in Australia then I heard that there are snowing in Japan ! Surprised !


I ate rape blossoms Ohitashi (seasoned with soy sauce）at home, it was really tasty.
There is SAKURA LATTE in StarBucks Japan now.
Japanese old people say eating seasonal foods are good for our health.
People in Japan !! Enjoy the Spring tastes !!!

Here in Australia...... Autumn is coming....
Which season are you enjoying in this world ??

Burdock and Green onion

I was impressed at a big super market in Japan.

As we brought a burdock and a green onion at a register, The cashier pull out little drawer with cutting board and knife. Surprisingly, they wore plastic gloves really smoothly then cut the long burdock and Green onion in a half instead of folding double at the cash desk.

Here in Australia, maybe they sell those long type of Veges with cut already and it's in a bag.

Well, Japanese product can be like that. but probably people think it's more fresh selling as it is. 
I again found kindness Japanese customer service and their inquiring mind for food.

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