Well,
I've been teaching 9 days and I'm absolutely shattered!
It's been a great couple of weeks.
Have LOVED being back at school. :-) :-) :-)
My journey seems such a long time ago now.
One month ago Ruth and I were leaving Sydney to go to Tokyo.
Two months ago we were in beautiful New Zealand.
Four months ago I was loving spending time with my sister and nephew.
And, 7 months ago we were just starting our journey of discovery in Darwin.
Where has time gone?!!
How easily we slip straight back into work and life back in the UK.
I made myself a list of things to achieve in 2008.....
Let's see if I can fulfill all my dreams/ambitions.
L x
Friday 4 April 2008
Wednesday 19 March 2008
Our Top 10 (in no particular order)
1) Wakaland Cruise, Bali
2) Red Centre, Australia
3) Great Barrier Reef, Australia
4) Solway Lass, Australia
5) Fraser Island, Australia
6) Blue Mountains, Australia
7) Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
8) Milford & Doubtful Sounds, New Zealand
9) Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
10) Kiyomitzu Temple & Gion, Kyoto
2) Red Centre, Australia
3) Great Barrier Reef, Australia
4) Solway Lass, Australia
5) Fraser Island, Australia
6) Blue Mountains, Australia
7) Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
8) Milford & Doubtful Sounds, New Zealand
9) Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
10) Kiyomitzu Temple & Gion, Kyoto
Highlights (in no particular order)
* Wakaland Cruise, Bali
* Darwin Walking Tour
* Litchfield National Park incl. the 'jumping crocodiles'
* Camping in the Red Centre- Uluru, Kings Canyon, the Olgas...
* Snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef
* Seeing the play 'The Sins of Ellen Thompson', Port Douglas
* Paronella Park, QLD
* Surviving Mission Beach! Meeting Jules, Charlotte and Brian
* Champagne Breakfast, Magnetic Island
* Achieving the bay walks, Magnetic Island
* Sailing on the 'Solway Lass' tall ship, Whitsunday Islands incl. Whitehaven Beach
* James
* Scooteroos, Town of 1770
* Fraser Island
* Seeing the Australian National Ballet Co. perform in Brisbane
* The 'Nimbin Experience'
* Dorrigo National Park
* Sandboarding, Newcastle
* Blue Mountains (everything!)
* Ben
* Australian War Memorial, Canberra
* Melbourne tours- the Grampians, the Great Ocean Road & Philip Island
* Rottnest Island, WA
* Ascot Race Course, Perth
* Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukakai & Mount Cook, South Island NZ
* Otago Peninsula, South Island NZ
* Milford & Doubtful Sounds, South Island NZ
* Fox & Franz Josef glaciers, South Island NZ
* Abel Tasman National Park
* Mount Taranaki, North Island NZ
* Waitomo Caving Tours, North Island NZ
* Waipoua Kauri Forest, North Island NZ
* Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
* Bondi to Coogee walk, Sydney
* Senso-Ji Temple, Tokyo
* Edo-Tokyo Museum
* Travelling on the bullet train (shinkansen), Tokyo/Kyoto
* Kiyomitzu Temple & Gion, Kyoto
* Darwin Walking Tour
* Litchfield National Park incl. the 'jumping crocodiles'
* Camping in the Red Centre- Uluru, Kings Canyon, the Olgas...
* Snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef
* Seeing the play 'The Sins of Ellen Thompson', Port Douglas
* Paronella Park, QLD
* Surviving Mission Beach! Meeting Jules, Charlotte and Brian
* Champagne Breakfast, Magnetic Island
* Achieving the bay walks, Magnetic Island
* Sailing on the 'Solway Lass' tall ship, Whitsunday Islands incl. Whitehaven Beach
* James
* Scooteroos, Town of 1770
* Fraser Island
* Seeing the Australian National Ballet Co. perform in Brisbane
* The 'Nimbin Experience'
* Dorrigo National Park
* Sandboarding, Newcastle
* Blue Mountains (everything!)
* Ben
* Australian War Memorial, Canberra
* Melbourne tours- the Grampians, the Great Ocean Road & Philip Island
* Rottnest Island, WA
* Ascot Race Course, Perth
* Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukakai & Mount Cook, South Island NZ
* Otago Peninsula, South Island NZ
* Milford & Doubtful Sounds, South Island NZ
* Fox & Franz Josef glaciers, South Island NZ
* Abel Tasman National Park
* Mount Taranaki, North Island NZ
* Waitomo Caving Tours, North Island NZ
* Waipoua Kauri Forest, North Island NZ
* Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
* Bondi to Coogee walk, Sydney
* Senso-Ji Temple, Tokyo
* Edo-Tokyo Museum
* Travelling on the bullet train (shinkansen), Tokyo/Kyoto
* Kiyomitzu Temple & Gion, Kyoto
Tuesday 18 March 2008
The final day of our Journey of Discovery
Can't believe it's our last day in Japan and our last day of our journey.
The last 7 months have gone incredibly quickly. But, it has been a wonderful journey. We have both learnt so much and we've got hundreds of photos to bore our family and friends with!
After checking out of the hotel in Kyoto we got the bullet train back to Tokyo. A good journey. Caught a glimpse of Mount Fuji on the way.
Arrived back in Tokyo at about 2.30pm. After settling into our room we then walked a short disctance to the Zojoji Temple.
We then made our way to Ginza to the theatre- Kabuki. Watched one act of a Japanese play. It was a really good. Fabulous costumes.
In the evening we enjoyed our final Japanese meal accompanied by a glass (or two!) of Sake. Wonderful.
A fantastic end to a great day.
We fly home early tomorrow morning. Should touch down at Heathrow at about 3pm on Sunday 16th March.
I will endeavour to up-date the blog within the next couple of days with our final two sections-
1) Highlights of our journey
2) Our Top Ten
Many thanks to our families and friends who have checked out our blog and left messages and comments.
See you all soon!!!
Lucy and Ruth xxx
The last 7 months have gone incredibly quickly. But, it has been a wonderful journey. We have both learnt so much and we've got hundreds of photos to bore our family and friends with!
After checking out of the hotel in Kyoto we got the bullet train back to Tokyo. A good journey. Caught a glimpse of Mount Fuji on the way.
Arrived back in Tokyo at about 2.30pm. After settling into our room we then walked a short disctance to the Zojoji Temple.
We then made our way to Ginza to the theatre- Kabuki. Watched one act of a Japanese play. It was a really good. Fabulous costumes.
In the evening we enjoyed our final Japanese meal accompanied by a glass (or two!) of Sake. Wonderful.
A fantastic end to a great day.
We fly home early tomorrow morning. Should touch down at Heathrow at about 3pm on Sunday 16th March.
I will endeavour to up-date the blog within the next couple of days with our final two sections-
1) Highlights of our journey
2) Our Top Ten
Many thanks to our families and friends who have checked out our blog and left messages and comments.
See you all soon!!!
Lucy and Ruth xxx
Friday 14 March 2008
Kyoto 3
Friday 14th March: Our last day in Kyoto. :-(
Unfortunately the weather wasn't so good but that didn't dampen our spirits or spoil our plans.
In the morning we got the bus to the 'Kinkakuji Temple' (Golden Pavillion) which was given world cultural heritage status in 1994. A beautiful temple set in peaceful gardens.
After stopping for a coffee/hot choc we walked to the 'Ninnaji Temple'. This was an impressive pagoda-type temple set in extensive grounds. Had our lunch before getting the train back to Kyoto Station.
L & R x
Unfortunately the weather wasn't so good but that didn't dampen our spirits or spoil our plans.
In the morning we got the bus to the 'Kinkakuji Temple' (Golden Pavillion) which was given world cultural heritage status in 1994. A beautiful temple set in peaceful gardens.
After stopping for a coffee/hot choc we walked to the 'Ninnaji Temple'. This was an impressive pagoda-type temple set in extensive grounds. Had our lunch before getting the train back to Kyoto Station.
L & R x
Kyoto 2
Thursday 13th March
Another busy day.
First of all we got the train to 'Nijo Castle'. Originally built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the 1st Tokugawa Shogun. Quite an impressive place, particularly the Ninomaru Palace which we were able to walk inside and look around.
We then continued on to the Kyoto Imperial Palace where we enjoyed our lunch and watched the world go by.
We then walked for what seemed like miles (!) to the 'Heian Shrine'. Another magnificent shrine.
Finally we walked back through Gion and got a bus back to our hotel.
L & R x
Another busy day.
First of all we got the train to 'Nijo Castle'. Originally built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the 1st Tokugawa Shogun. Quite an impressive place, particularly the Ninomaru Palace which we were able to walk inside and look around.
We then continued on to the Kyoto Imperial Palace where we enjoyed our lunch and watched the world go by.
We then walked for what seemed like miles (!) to the 'Heian Shrine'. Another magnificent shrine.
Finally we walked back through Gion and got a bus back to our hotel.
L & R x
Thursday 13 March 2008
Kyoto 1
Got up early the morning Wednesday 13th March and checked out of hotel.
We then made our way to Tokyo station to get the bullet train (shinkansen) to Kyoto.
A good journey. The train was great. Spent most of the time learning some more Japanese words.
We can now count to over 1000, say hello, goodbye, please, thank you...etc We also know the days of the week and months of the year. Most importantly- I can order a glass of red wine!
Enjoyed our lunch on the train before arriving in Kyoto at about 1.30pm.
A great afternoon.
Decided to walk to the Kiyomizu Temple. On the way we stopped at the Higashi Honganji Temple- a Mausoleum of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Shin Buddhism. An impressive temple.
The Kiyomizu Temple was fantastic. This temple was founded by Yenchin, the great priest, in the 8th century.
Amazing. Here we were lucky enough to see Geisha.
Brilliant.
We then walked through the old Geisha disctrict of Gion before catching a bus back to our hotel.
L & R x
We then made our way to Tokyo station to get the bullet train (shinkansen) to Kyoto.
A good journey. The train was great. Spent most of the time learning some more Japanese words.
We can now count to over 1000, say hello, goodbye, please, thank you...etc We also know the days of the week and months of the year. Most importantly- I can order a glass of red wine!
Enjoyed our lunch on the train before arriving in Kyoto at about 1.30pm.
A great afternoon.
Decided to walk to the Kiyomizu Temple. On the way we stopped at the Higashi Honganji Temple- a Mausoleum of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Shin Buddhism. An impressive temple.
The Kiyomizu Temple was fantastic. This temple was founded by Yenchin, the great priest, in the 8th century.
Amazing. Here we were lucky enough to see Geisha.
Brilliant.
We then walked through the old Geisha disctrict of Gion before catching a bus back to our hotel.
L & R x
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