Sayonara Japan! I’ll see you again…
There could have been no better way to have left Japan, the proverbial land of the rising sun, than with a warm, glowing, delicate, soft, sunrise. Sitting waiting for the plane to taxi into position that’s what I was met with. The clouds on the horizon picked up the light first, reflecting an intense orangey-pink glow. The cascading mountains stretched out across the horizon, carpeted by an early Winter’s mist. Another uniquely Japanese perspective. A beautiful one.
And, perhaps such beauty is only, and could only ever, be eclipsed by the beauty, compassion, and depth of the people that I was fortunate enough to have met. I will miss you. To Shoma, I will miss how much you loved Thomas the Tank Engine. I’ll miss the way you hate to lose and how much you cheat when we play Uno. To Yoshinobu, I’ll miss your humility and gentleness. I will miss your kindness. Thank you for taking me to eat your favourite delicacy, puffer-fish, overlooking the glorious Seto O-hashi. To Eriko, my Japanese mother, I will miss your mother’s spirit. To Misao, for teaching me how to make Nable and Tempura and always being there for me. And finally, to my beautiful little Urara, thank you for your laugh, for thinking that I knew everything you said to me, and for being the happy end to my teaching week. Sayonara, I’ll see you again.
P.S – Just sorting the photos out and I’ll put up some pics: Tokyo craziness, Street photography from Asakusa, the world’s tallest twin-tower and a lot more! Then a South African video, one for you Meneer Adriaan-eigo-sensei.
Kinashi Bonsai Village, Shikoku, Japan
Here’s the video from Kinashi Bonsai Village in Kagawa prefecture on Shikoku Island, Japan. I hope the video will give you a glimpse into this amazing place and it’s Bonsai treasures… Thank you to Adriaan and Tori for being my travel buddies on this trip! Enjoy!
Untamed…
“Our task is to rediscover ourselves in Nature and the only clear way to do this, I believe, is to make the mindfield livable. Clearly, this is an individual choice. We either continue to believe that someone or something else will rescue us, show us the easy way, or even to take the hard path on our behalf, or we choose the opposite—we take it upon ourselves. We take the hard path, each one of us, in our own way and we take it gladly. And where or when does that path begin? It begins exactly where we are right now, when we look up to see the world as a mirror; when we discover that our sense of freedom and authenticity is linked to the well being and authenticity of others—and that includes the animals, the trees and the land. It begins when we are open to synchronicity without pretending to control it” – Ian McCallum
The Cosmic Quiet…
Here’s a video from my afternoon walk up in the hills above Kasaoka. It’s a brilliant time of year to be in the forests, there really is so much to see. I must apologize for cutting the video short, but you will (hopefully) be happy to know that it didn’t rain in the end, I was able to make a small fire, enjoy a cup of Rooibos and watch a pair of Woodpeckers banging away at two old Oak trees as the sun was setting. I hope you enjoy the parts I was able to film, let me know if you do, or don’t:)
The Great Rivers of India
By Barry Sierra
For years now I have been inexplicably drawn to an adventure in India. As I have done more and more research so it has been lesser-known areas that have kept me imagining and dreaming of what it would be like. It’s not only the geography of India that intrigues me but also its incredible melting pot of cultures, religions, and history. More than anything else I am driven by the majesty of India’s great rivers, revered as Gods by the people of India. Two rivers really stand out to me, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. I came across this BBC documentary on the Ganges that is well worth a watch, and as time passes by, expect to see a lot more information about the Brahmaputra, I have special plans for a trip on the Brahmaputra. For now I just have to work to get there, patience, I keep telling myself, the day will come and when it does, it’ll be worth the wait.
Mike Horn lecture on TED
South African born adventurer, Mike Horn, was a guest speaker on the TED network this year. Virtually unmatched in the scope of his adventures, he is a man that has redefined the world of exploration and human tenacity. Visit his website for a look at the current Pangaea expedition, and if you enjoy that I’ve put in this link that includes all of his videos from previous expeditions like Latitude Zero, the first solo and unsupported circumnavigation of the equator, and Arktos, the first human powered loop of the Arctic Circle. Really good stuff!
The Veggie Patch Video
By Barry Sierra
This afternoon I planted a simple winter crop: broccoli, cauliflower, and strawberries. After which I just cycled around town soaking up a glorious autumn afternoon. Here’s a short video from today, I hope you enjoy it. As always, comments, criticisms or advice are always welcomed…
Matsuri & Mikoshi Festival in Yorishima, Japan
By Barry Sierra. The annual Mikoshi Matsuri took place yesterday in Yorishima, Japan. It was an all day affair with the men carrying the Mikoshi’s through town, from shrine to shrine, drinking beer and sake as they went. The main event came later in the afternoon with the introduction of the horses. Loads of people, Sake, food, lanterns, and taiko. This video is just a snapshot from the activity of the day, but I hope it will give you a window into the atmosphere of this amazing festival.
African poaching tragedy
I recently received an email about Geza, a young white Rhino in the Kariega Reserve, South Africa. Having lived not far from the reserve it was definitely a local story for me. The email was an account, by the vet who found him, of Geza’s last moments. It was a moving story that illustrated the brutality of the poaching industry in South Africa. One must remember that South Africa is custodian of 80% of the world’s Rhino, and so far in 2011, Rhino have been poached at roughly one a day. It is sad that we are destroying such amazing creatures purely for profit. It has been proven that the horn has no medicinal value and is not a cure for cancer. However it is still sought after and mainly in the East. I have embedded a video from Geza’s last moments, and if anyone wants to read the moving account of his last moments, please email me at delrioadventures[at]gmail[dot]com and I will be happy to send it you. Also, please take a look at the link to the Wilderness Foundation who are actively involved in the protection of South Africa’s Rhino population – sign the petition, make a donation, learn about these beautiful animals and the constant dangers they face from poaching.
