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

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