The Wanderer Returns....

Karen arrived home on Saturday 20 December looking forward to a 'real Kiwi' Christmas of lamb, pavlova and sunshine. We met her at Milson International Airport (which is a misnomer as it no longer has any international flights). PN turned on a typically chilly, moist and breezy day, but compared to Aomori, it was positively tropical. Here's what she looked like after 25 hours or so travelling:

The 'Welcoming Committee' then adjourned to HQ for refreshments...

Snapshots of Sydney

Here's a quick overview of our trip to Sydney. In no particular order we relaxed, had a dabble at the Casino, visited the QVB Building, explored downtown Sydney's shops, shopped at the Sunday Market at The Rocks, walked from Bondi to Bronte, following the 'Sculptures by the Sea' trail, had coffee with Sally, caught a ferry to Manly and had lunch with Jenny & Mark, checked out the Fish Market (twice), wandered up and down Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay, had pleasant coffees in interesting places, browsed around Paddy's Market, walked round the waterfront wharves, including Walsh Bay, to Circular Quay; and, to top everything off, went to Billy Elliot at the Capitol Theatre, followed by a meal in Chinatown. Loved it all.

All too soon we were home again and back at work.

Roll on the next trip. Can't come quick enough ...!!!

From Turangi with Love...

Random photos (mostly) from Turangi when Gayle & Carla were visiting recently:

Cherry trees along Taupahi Road
Looking downriver

Peace, Brother! (not in Turangi, obviously)

The mountain, the river, the bush. Home away from home!

Kowhai over the river. Tui. You just know it's spring....!!!!

Gayle & Carla & the cherry blossom

The Whanau at Tokaanu Wharf

Mt Ngaruahoe, NZ's Fuji-san

Mt Ruapehu, looking particularly inviting! Good skiing this year!

A Potpourri of Japanese Photos...

Very big Tuna at Tsujuki Fish Market in Tokyo

Meat displayed in a supermarket; very thinly sliced and marbled - just the way the Japanese like it.

Cultural immersion...

Traditional tea cups.

Starbucks time in Kyoto.

You can take the girl out of Palmy, but she'll only get as far as Ginza.

Electric City (Akihabara) during the day. At night it's a neon jungle.

Making an advert; maybe for burgers, or maybe this is what'll happen if you eat too many of them?

Fun with wigs.

Statue of Two Bronze Maidens (and two fleshy ones) on the edge of Lake Towada.

Surely if the wather's ok you won't need an umbrella?

Only in Japan...

Plastic food for your restaurant window display.

Making friends with some school students on a trip to Nara.

Japan's finest sashimi.

Running repairs in Harajuku, Tokyo.

The Japanese "Bucket" List

Before leaving for Japan we received a postcard from Karen. There was nothing on it but a list of things she wanted to do with us in Japan, plus instructions to bring the postcard with us so that she could remember what she'd written. The movie on the plane happened to be 'The Bucket List' and so that name was appropriated by us for Karen's list. The list is as follows, in postcard order, illustrated by appropriate photos to prove we just about did it all...

TODAIJI IN NARA

The Great Buddha

SHIKA SEMBEI IN NARA

Unwary tourists being terrorised by tame deer while offering food

KIYOMIZU DERA IN KYOTO

One of Kyoto's oldest and most famous temples

KINKAKUJI

The Golden Pavillion - we saw it in the rain


FUSHIMI INARI

Zillions of vermillion torii gates. Awesome!

GINKAKUJI
Our one failure - we didn't make this one

TERAMACHI

A huge pedestrian mall in Kyoto. It was early in the morning when this photo was taken, which is why there is no one else around!

YAKINIKU AT GYNKAKU

Cook your own food, barbeque style

OKONOMIYAKI

Pancakes of a sort; these are being cooked in Hiroshima where Okonomiyaki is famous

RAMEN

The real McCoy - seafood ramen in Sapporo

IZAKAYA

A Japanese pub experience with some of Karen's friends

KARAOKE

The one Japanese experience I'm not in a hurry to repeat...

DINNER WITH A JAPANESE FRIEND

Beautifully presented food, traditional surroundings, very Japanese. Delicious!

PURIKURA

Sticker fun!

HAKKODA-SAN

At the top of the ropeway up Mt Hakkoda. Couldn't see a thing!

TOWADA/OIRASE

Lake Towada - reminiscent of Taupo

In front of Choshi Otaki waterfall in the Oirase Gorge.

SHINGO

Those of you who thought Jesus was buried in the Middle East are WRONG!

Here's his grave in northern Japan.

SHOWA DAIBUTSU

This is the largest outdoor Buddha in Japan but it only dates back 20 or so years.

It's on the outskirts of Aomori.

ASPAM AND NEBUTA

The ASPAM building is Aomori's tourist centre.

This is a Nebuta float from a previous year. The festival is held early August each year.

HOTATE AT LGP

LGP stands for Little Green Place, one of Karen's favourite restaurants.

MEET KOTO

Morning tea at Karen's apartment with Koto and her kids

HIROSAKI-JO

Hirosaki's beautiful castle


NEPUTA-MURA

Displays of Hirosaki's version of Nebuta (giant fans), trying out a taiko drum (that's me in the blue), traditional shamisen music, crafts such as weaving, pottery, wooden toys and lacquerware.



KAITENZUSHI-KANTARO

In other words, Sushi train. Lots of raw fish.

MOS BURGER

Japan's version of McDonalds?

HANBAAGU

(No photos available)

QUADRILLE/ZILCH

Lunch at Zilch, coffee at Quadrille, a couple of favourite hangouts.