Saturday 14 April 2007

Easter holidays in Oberon

I am fortunate to be able to 'escape' for breaks to the country. My intention was to practice [shakuhachi] quite a bit but naturally the scenic surroundings also caught my attention, ranging from the prolific wood fungus growing on sawn-off pines while running in the forest to the wind farm at Blayney driving to Cowra, small country villages in drought-stricken rural NSW, the autumnal colours of changing poplars and red deciduous trees and gorgeously alive sounds of frogs, birds and other wildlife on the farm.











Tuesday 10 April 2007

Cowra Japanese Garden in NSW, Australia


With Mum and Dad, I took a (nearly 3 hour one-way) drive through country NSW from Oberon to to Cowra Japanese Gardens. Designed by Ken Nakajima in 1971, opening 1979, the gardens commemorate the Cowra POW breakout and long association of Cowra with Japanese immigrants to Australia. Somehow this deplorable time in Australia's history has been transformed into something very beautiful. In addition to the stroll garden pictured, there is a rock (and pebble) meditation garden, bonsai house, pottery and in season a Sakura Matsuri! www.cowrajapanesegarden.com.au/ and more photos here Flickr/

Monday 9 April 2007

Running and walking around Sydney Harbour

I recently started running again (and sometimes walking), mostly in the early mornings. This is supposed to increase my phrase-length on shakuhachi! I am very fortunate that this often takes me to some of the most picturesque locations on Sydney Harbour's northern foreshore. For the benefit of my overseas friends, I am including here some pictures from around Lavender Bay, Milsons Point and Kirribilli. Other times, I run down to the water at Balls Head Reserve in Waverton and Berry Island Reserve in Wollstonecraft, incorporating a very hilly but scenic course including many natural bush regeneration areas and quiet roads. In Oberon, I ran in the paddocks and along dirt forestry roads through the pine trees and sheep (and managed not to disappear down a wombat hole!)