HANABI -Fireworks-

This is the season for fireworks in Japan.
Last week, I watched fireworks from my friend Karin's (almost) private beach in Hayama.
What was beautiful the fireworks from the beach is we could see Enoshima (a small island in a popular beach area) on the right side and Mt.Fuji on the left, Then fireworks set off between ....
(I know it's hard to see from a picture above but might be from a picture below?....)
This was beautiful Japanese summer scene...

My friend's wedding in Seattle

I went to Seattle United States for my friend Emi's wedding.

I met my friend Emi, when I started working at StarBucks. We have so much in common in our life experiences so we hit it off with each other right away.
We always talk passionately about lives or any topics.

Emi is very attractive and beautiful woman and more beautiful since she met Tim who she has decided being entire life with.
Tim is dependable and always make Emi (even us) smile with his humor.

I feel so happy every time I looked at her shining.


The wedding was planned all by themselves. 

Emi's mom also helped a lot. She is very talented woman. The dresses of bride made, a big lease of the main decoration and the ring pillow.... many things she made for the wedding.

The wedding was in a chapel like building at a park surrounded by beautiful natures near their house.
Us Emi's friends decorated at the chapel in the morning, made balｌoons and put up the lease.... we often got emotional just imagine the ceremony begins after couple hours... 

After the decorations, we girls got together at Emi's room, dressed up, made up together, We all enjoyed the special time before the big event. Emi always likes having a fun time with friends. I remember Emi said ''This is definitely my wedding !'' so we all said ''Yes it is !!''

Then, the bride Emi with gorgeous wedding dress drove down to the park by her self.
There were many people already waiting Bride and Gloom.
I was in charge for audio. I switched on for the music then the ceremony was started.

Sadie their lovely dog was in charge for carrying their rings. Sadie started walking down the aisle when Gloom Tim called her name.
When he got to them, he sat down between bride and gloom quietly...
He had done wonderful job and made warm atmosphere ! Well done Sadie !!


When the ceremony finished, We toasted with the SAKE cup witch the name of bride and gloom on it, KAMPAI !!
Then, BBQ party was started.



What a blessing day, beautiful blue sky showed up, it was actually first blue sky for last couple weeks. Everything celebrates them....

Sake, home made salad, sushi and bbq meat meat meat ! 

Japanese, English and smile smile smile !

It was so much fun.

Then, We got a happy reunion with great friend Val and Mike and their son Mikey.
They drove up from Yuba city South California for Emi.

I got lots of love from Emi & Tim and all the happy people there, and for sure it was once-a-lifetime memorable wedding.

I am a woman, however I sometimes amaze how beautiful women are... toughness, kindness, generosity and forgiveness.....
Through the time spending with Emi and her mom, looking at beautiful women, again I learned many things.
Those beauty might bring out more and more with their loved one.
I won't forget the smile which loved one make, from the smile, I also felt that it's free her mind from some kind of fear which singles have... 
ah.... It was wonderful day. she is alright.
It's a new start.
Walk happily with new life-journey....
Happy life together and forever ....
Congratulations.

Early Summer Sunset

Yesterday, Mt.Fuji was profiled by bright golden color of the sky at early-summer sunset.
It was beautiful.... It is definitely Japanese beauty....
The rainy season is over, The Summer has just started in Japan....

Hydrangea

The rainy season, known as Tsuyu in Japan, has begun.
It is the period from spring to summer, when the country experiences a continuous spell of rainy weather.

Hydrangea, It is called Ajisai in Japan, bloom in this season everywhere.
There are many different kinds include rare species.

Kamakura has many temples with beautiful Japanese gardens.
I am home in Japan. I don't remember when did I visit Kamakura in this season last time.
So, For the first time in years, I went to enjoy this season of my country. 

Hydrangea is very pretty flower, it seems like so many little petals make a big flower.

Enjoying looking at flower of the season is a part of the appeal of living in Japan.
Same place, but flower, weather, season make different scenery.

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!!