Gi's grandfather

...Last Thursday we went to the cemetery to visit Gi's grandparents. It was November 1st, a public holiday in Italy for All Saints Day. The following day, Friday, was the Day of the Dead, traditionally the day that people visit their deceased relatives. In order to take advantage of the day off, and the expected crowds on the Friday.

We took a special public holiday bus to the cemetery, wandered around, called Gi's mother for directions and asked a cemetery cleaner for help only to discover we were in the wrong cemetery. We were at the Old Cemetery. There is also the New Cemetery and the Newest Cemetery. We followed the road around the corner, strolling past the temporary flower sellers with buckets of roses, orchids and crysantheums (spelling?), eventually reaching the entrance gates.

I was surprised at the number of people milling around.

Playful Boys

Gi and I spent a May weekend in Melbourne visiting my sister and her family. An unseaonably warm Saturday afternoon saw us in the backyard playing with the boys. Here are some of the fun moments we captured.

JAL Building

My friend Kaz works for Japan Airline (JAL) and as a family unit they are typically transferred every 3 years. At the time of planning our trip Kaz was expecting to be transferred at any time. Thankfully they were still based near Osaka when we touched down.

As an employer Japan Airlines provides accommodation to its employees and Kaz and his family live in a 3 bedroom apartment as part of a large complex of eight apartment blocks.

The photo above reflects one of those blocks in the window of their family car prior to our departure on a weekend driving around the peninsula.

Much like apartment blocks elsewhere the balconies give insights into the lives of those residing inside.

An apartment block full of Japan Airline employees and their families.

At the front of the building - garbage and recycling are very strict in Japan.

Gigi and Take wait by the car.

A local sign showing character and age.

Day 2: Dinner

Arriving back at Kaz's family's apartment after a day of plum forest, castle tours and driving Takako served up Nabe for dinner. Our first experience of Japanese hot pot was fantastic. Fresh ingredients and noodles cooked in a soup base in the centre of the table inspired and surprised us. An array of vegetables and tofu were devoured, noodles and bowls of soup noisily slurped as is the custom in Japan, cooling the food as it enters the mouth and perhaps also a sign of appreciation. Each night to come would find us sitting at this table enjoying the most amazing Japanese meals, as Takako found ways to broaden our experience of Japanese food while catering to Gigi's veganism. The woman deserved a medal for her culinary efforts during our stay.

We just hope that one day the Mastuda family come to visit us here in Australia so we can repay the favour.

Take and Hanami showing us how it's done.

Day 2: Himeji Castle 27 Feb

Himeji Castle stands on a hill, looking a little disappointing from afar as it blended into the bleak sky on the day of our visit. Sometimes known as the White Heron Castle it is a Japanese National Treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Upon entering the castle, visitors are required to remove their shoes and shuffle up, and up, and up the flights of smooth wooden stairs in borrowed slippers or stockinged feet. In addition to potentially damaging the beautifully crafted wooden buildings, all 83 of them, that comprise the castle complex, people are a major threat for another reason...fire. Many of Japan's wooden structures have suffered devastating losses due to fire and the castle is full of signs constantly reminding visitors not to smoke.

As the most visited castle in Japan it was very interesting wandering through the grounds, a maze created in order to confuse attacking troops, entering through imposing gates and later ducking our heads to step through narrow, low doorways. Inside the castle were dark wooden walls, a strange contrast to the light, bright exterior. The most interesting architectural feature though must surely be the roofline, gently curving up at each end, giving it a graceful, somehow feminine touch. Thought to be originally built in the 1300's the history of the castle was a little contradictory. As we climbed up to the top floor, following a group of international students marvelling at the evidence of where weapons once hung in readiness for battle, or completely uninterested in the buildings stories I was reminded that whatever we chose to do today will be remembered and appreciated by some of those yet to come, and completely irrelevant to others.

I certainly don't imagine that the architects and labourers who constructed this castle completely from hand ever expected their handiwork to still be standing in the 21st century, with ipod clad teenagers and camera toting tourists clambering in and around it. I wonder what they would have made of us?