November 24, 2008

Pictures from Australia







Memories from Australia 2008






From Oct 25th to Nov 8th, I stayed in Australia (Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane) on my vacation. It was my first time to visit a country of the southern hemisphere. Through what I saw, felt, and experienced in Australia, now I can say “I love Australia!”

My two-week vacation went so fast…Time flies when we are having fun, you know? Although I stayed in my friend’s house in Australia, I went there by myself and I thought at first the travel could be like adventure. But I’ve got so many great memories thanks to my friends, their family, their friends and those who I met…

On the 1st day of my arriving in Sydney, I was invited to go to my friend’s relative’s birthday party. Many of their relatives and partners got together for the party, so there were about 40 or 50 people, I think. The theme of the party was “Hawaiian”, so people were wearing Hawaiian clothes and items ;-) There was also a band, and when the band began to play live, people started dancing! It was fun!!
Since the place was located 2 hours away from my friend’s house by car and the party lasted long, we (my friends and I) went back home around 1 am. It was my 1st day in Sydney, so I felt so sleepy at the moment. Well, I was falling asleep in the car actually...Of course, I enjoyed the day so much though!!!

On the 2nd day, my friend took me to fly with a Cessna. I could see all Sydney from the sky!!! It was really cool. We saw the beautiful sunrise, city, Opera House, Harbour Bridge, beach, etc… I loved it!!! I woke up around 5 am in the morning (Sydney time) to take the Cessna and was lack of sleeping, but I had a great time in the sky ;-)
At the night, I met up with my friend's friends (about 10 people) and all we had dinner together. You know, I did not know anybody except my friend, but all of them were so nice to me, and I enjoyed talking with them. I became good friends with one girl Josie, and she offered me to show around the city next day. It was so sweet of her!!! She happened to have a day off from her work next day and offered me to go sightseeing together! I had been planning to walk around the city by myself, but I got such great company!









On the 3rd day, Josie showed me around the city ;-) It was sunny and hot day. We went to see and visit Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Circular Quay, Opera House, Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour, etc… We visited so many places on the day, didn’t we? We enjoyed walking around the city and shooting pictures! We also went shopping. I could not have such fun time without Josie. I did enjoyed the sightseeing, but what I enjoyed the most was talking and spending time with her ;-)

On the 4th day, I went to Taronga Zoo by ferry. The zoo was huge!! It was much more bigger than I expected. I saw koala, kangaroo, wallaby, parrot, giraffe, elephant, chimpanzee, crocodile, and so on… We can see many kinds of animals in the zoo within one day! They are so wild as well!

I visited the zoo by myself (my friend was working.), so I wished I could share the fun time with someone together!

I flew up to Gold Coast and stayed there for about a week. I loved the beach!!! It was so beautiful. The beach was so long that I could not see the end of the beach. If you go to Gold Coast, I recommend you to go up and see the beach from QDeck - beachside observation deck- of Q1- the world tallest residential tower-. You’ll see the beautiful view of Gold Coast ;-) It was also nice to take a walk on the sandy beach. The sand was like powder. The weather was gorgeous too. Well, it was too hot honestly…


Anyway, me and my friends went to theme parks, Dreamworld and Seaworld while we were in Gold Coast. It was nice that my friend Asami who was studying English in Brisbane made it to join us to go to Dreamworld together. In Dreamworld, we could enjoy everything! I mean, there were roller coasters, animals, and water slides. Tiger show was really cool! They were well-trained. We also saw big and thick snack really close! It was scary for me!!!
On the day, Asami came down to Gold Coast and stayed with me. We hit it up together!

I also had a chance to go up to Brisbane and hang out with Asami and Jaqueline. I thought Brisbane was nice city as well for visiting and living. At the night, we had a dinner together near riverside. We enjoyed the atmosphere.

I also did Putt Putt for the
first time (King Tutt's Putt Putt) in Gold Coast. I had been to a golf driving range for a few times, so Putt Putt was really difficult for me! But it was a lot of fun ;-)

While I was in Gold Coast, I visited my friend’s friend’s house and spent some time together with the family. They had two little kids and I played with them. The one was still a baby! She was really cute!!!

After coming back to Sydney, I spent my time for sightseeing and buying souvenirs for my family, friends and coworkers. I bought lots of souvenirs for those people, so my suitcase was almost overstuffed and I had a hard time to pack them into my suitcase. LOL. Anyway, when I was walking around the city, I happened to stop by a galley of Charles Billich, who is a Sydney-based artist. His art work was really beautiful, and I liked it.

I had a really great time in Australia, so I wished I could stay longer there. I felt sad when I left there and when I say good bye to my friends and their family. I hope to come back and visit them again near future.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me while I was in Australia. Daniel, Graeme, Linda, Jessie, Jacqui, David, Carly, Leesa, Brianna, Glen, Bailey, Tayla, Josie, Jaqueline, Asami, and those who I met…thanks to you guys, I had a wonderful time in Australia. How can I express how much I enjoyed being, talking and hanging out with you! I am thinking of you. I am missing you guys. Let’s keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep in touch ;-)

The Only

My friend Satoko-san (She is actually my previous company's 先輩.) got married yesterday, on 23rd Nov. She was so beautiful.

She and her husband love each other very much. They are cute together.

What she said was really touching: “Maybe, he could have chances to choose a woman to whom he wants to get married among many women. But, to me, he is the only one.”

At the after-party, many of their friends (150 to 200people) got together and celebrated them. Many entertainments were going on.

Yoshiki-san and Satoko-san, Happy wedding!

November 15, 2008

Sickness

I’ve got a pretty bad cold after I came back to Australia. Maybe it was probably the change in weather between Australia and Japan. Also people around me are having a cold right now…

And how come so many people at the office knew I’ve got a cold??? I took sick leave on Wed and Thu. Actually, I felt sick but went to the office on Thu, but my team members let me take another leave. I was trying to work, but they were even forcing me to go back home…which I really appreciated. They are always so nice to me…And when I went to the office yesterday, many people asked me if I was ok or I got better. Mmm…they might have just heard about my sickness or I looked pale at the office the other day. LOL

Anyway, thank you my team members who offer me to take sick leave. Thank you all who covered my jobs while I was away from the office. Thank you all who concerned about me…I am 70% ok.

Take good care of yourself too, please…