A merging of cultures

The 28th of April 2012 Perth, was the day of the Australian wedding of Adrian and Mariko. It was a rainy day, not traditionally the kind of day you would wish for a wedding. Elizabeth had a different interpretation though as she remarked that water brings life and is typically a symbol of renewal and growth. In this respect rain is a positive symbol for a marriage.

It was a traditional church service with the priest making a beautiful analogy between this wedding and an SBS TV show that he had been watching recently. The idea being that this was a merging of two cultures, Australian and Japanese, and that the family was now increased to include both families and not just one. In that way I am now part of the family in Japan just as the family in Japan are now a part of mine. As the Australian family is already blended and already includes the family of my daughter's marriage it seems to be growing exponentially. Especially as my family has a lost history and currently only goes back as far as my mum and dad. Would definitely be an interesting exercise for that tv show 'Who do you think you are?', as we have tried but failed to find any living relatives (hint hint).

The rest proceeded as normally as possible. Many pictures were taken, most under cover, though brief periods of sunshine allowed some pictures in Kings Park to be completed. From the initial ceremony at 2pm to the reception at 6 and through to the leaving of the bride and groom about 11pm. The reception included the normal speeches, a very entertaining one from the best man outlining the groom's very chequered past as a cheeky troublemaker, and a very heartfelt one from Adrian, partly in Japanese, to his new family and his new wife. Cutting of the cake occurred, the first dance and then much partying and drinking.

Exactly eight days later in Hamamatsu, the Japanese wedding was much shorter, with a lot packed into a short space of time. It omitted the actual ceremony to make the marriage official as that had already been done in Australia. The bride and groom first arrived in the normal wedding dress and suit as in Australia and took their seats at the top table. In this setting they were alone on the table. Some speeches occurred, of which I understood virtually nothing, the shoe being on the other foot in this hemisphere, but I am sure were all heartfelt and warming judging by the tears and laughter. Food started being served and at a certain point Mariko's sister Tomoko escorted the couple out. While they were out each table received their own little wedding cake and the means to decorate it and we enthusiastically brought our energies to the task (well Jackie did anyway).

After a short while the couple reappeared having changed into kimonos, and Adrian suddenly looked like some Samurai warrior. They went around and judged the cake decorating, feeding each other the winning cake and making the losers (worst cake) eat vegemite (or some fascimile just as repulsive judging by the look on their faces). After that was a hilarious game hosted by two of Mariko's friends where they needed to decide yes or no to an unknown question and then were shown the question. More speeches occurred, including Adrian's, and Mariko's dad Masataka's. It finished with us all holding lighted candles and then blowing them out, with me being last because I was both trying to film my candle as well as having no idea of what was going on. The guests left at about 3pm after it all starting around 11:30 in the morning. Elizabeth looked amazing in a kimono herself thanks to the generous hospitality of Mariko's mum Kaori in lending it to her.

In the end there was much more similar in the two weddings than there were differences. Much laughter and crying occurred, thousands of pictures were taken (literally, the paparazzi having nothing on enthusiastic families and friends), and they were both a gathering of friends and family to celebrate the public commitment of two people very obviously madly in love with each other. So raise your glasses and let's toast the happy couple, to Adrian and Mariko, live long and prosper.

South Africa

Our South Africa leg started in Johannesburg and we stayed in a hotel across the road from Nelson Mandela Square, a huge shopping and food complex. I found my first Nandos since leaving Australia, yummm.

Blyde River Canyon

From there it was a massive 15 day coach tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town down the east coast. Some highlights included Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes, with absolutely beautiful views reminiscent of what I imagine the Grand Canyon to look like (I will find out :-)).

Bourke's Luck Potholes

Some of the animals at Kruger

Shy Hippo

A full day at Kruger, but we didn't find any cats. A brilliant boat cruise at St Lucia Wetlands, where we got our best ever views of hippos including one shy hippo who was peeking out from behind a bush and then made a run around the bush to get into the river, amazingly fast but comical in his timidity. I mean these things are supposed to kill more humans each year than lions.

Rhino Horn Mountain

2 nights at Southern Drakensberg Mountains. Finally and for the first time since South America, some mountains to climb. We have come to the conclusion we are walkers and we like walking on mountains. We spent 6 hours walking every track we could find. We had the lady at the front desk worried as our last walk started at 4:30 and took us past dark as it was about a 2 hour walk. When we picked up our key she said she had been warning the guides that they might need to go up looking for us. Lucky my trusty phone (android based) has a really bright torch. Even in the morning with an 8 o'clock leaving time we got up at 5 and did a walk to watch the sun come up on the mountains.

Beautiful beach at Mbotyi overlooking the Indian Ocean. We walked along the beach in the water and I remarked that it was our ocean and by walking in it we were connected to Perth. I took a picture of the sunrise from our room the final morning. First time ever for this Perthite to see a sunrise on our ocean.

SUNRISE on the Indian Ocean from our room

From the lookout, looking back to where we started.

Tsitsikamma National Park which had another magnificent walking and viewing opportunity at Storms River Mouth. We had to race to the lookout as our guide only gave us an hour and it took 40 minutes to get up there (with hearts thumping) and 20 minutes to get back.

Knysna Elephant Park, where Elizabeth was getting in the way of his feeding so he gave her a gentle shove with his trunk (see video). Feeding them was great fun, they grab a piece of fruit out of your hand with their trunk and before you can get another it is down the hatch and the trunk is back searching for more.


One hotel organised a Zulu dance and then they did the old get people up to try it out. I feigned the old knee injury but Elizabeth was quick to get up. Personally if I am offered a show then I want to watch the show, not BE the show.

Cango Cave

Cango Caves, which were huuuggge, dwarfs anything I have been in before. Then into Cape Town where we had a day tour down to the Cape of Good Hope and finally on the morning of our last day we went up Table Mountain.








A very busy time and a full on non stop tour. A bit too full on with not a lot of breathing room to smell the roses. I am really looking forward now to our next leg where we will be doing the Northern Hemisphere without any significant forward planning. It will probably be a lot more messy but we can do things in our own time frame. We will soon see if this is a more or less fun way to do a holiday...

He just pinched a muffin from the car

Penguin sanctuary

Hout Bay on the way to the Cape of Good Hope

Cape of Good Hope

On top of Table Mountain

Ostrich Farm, Elizabeth loved eating them with rice

Where did that baboon go?

From the balcony

As we turned a corner while jogging

Walking to the falls

In Zambia we stayed at a place called the Zambezi Sun, situated inside an actual heritage listed national park. The advantage of this is that as well as being surrounded by bush, animals were roaming free. Some real 'what the...!' moments included walking back from breakfast and finding 8 zebras munching on the lawn. Also one morning going for a jog we came across a giraffe and baby munching on a tree outside some apartments, and on our last breakfast a baboon had to be chased out of the kitchen by the chef and then led the chef and other staff on a merry chase around the grounds and the roof. When you see a tail hanging down from an eave you can't help but find yourself rooting for the monkey.

A break in the mist of Victoria Falls

We did do some actual touring. Firstly was a tour of Victoria Falls, which the locals call Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders). The name fits as we were there while the river was at its height and all you could mostly see is the rising mist and hear the thunder as the water crashes to the bottom. At one point during the trek we walked across a bridge and the water coming up from the falls would soak you from the bottom and then would rain on you as it came back down. The effect was like a shower from all directions at the same time.

Elizabeth mesmerised (and wet)

The power of the falls was palpable and the thunder deafening. In retrospect not the best time of year to actually see the bottom but you could certainly feel and hear it. You can see the spray from miles away.

The afternoon included a really relaxing boat trip on the Zambezi river on the African Queen, we didn't see that much wildlife but saw the most beatiful sunset (picture below). The next day was the fulfillment of a 30 year bucket list item, an African safari. We crossed into Botswana for a full day in the Chobe National Park. The morning was by boat looking mainly for the birdlife and the hippos, we also saw impala, elephants and a crocodile. The afternoon was by open 4 wheel drive where we saw literally hundreds of elephants in herds with whole families and we were so close we could nearly touch them. I am not sure I could ever go to a zoo again after seeing all these magnificent animals in the wild. I gave the guide the mission to find me some giraffes, which he did with only half an hour to go. We also added water buffalo and warthogs to our list.

On the final morning we walked to the railway bridge that crosses the Zambesi river and you get a spectacular view of where the water from the falls comes out. This was where the current bungie jump operator told us the rope broke for an Australian lady last year, not a good selling point. We needed to get a special pass as the bridge is no man's land between Zambia and Zimbabwe and then get another pass to get back in. Shades of that Tom Hanks movie crossed my mind where if something went wrong then neither side would let us in. Zambia and Botswana will go down as a high point in our trip to Africa, beautiful land, animals and people.

King and Queen on a budget

The temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Considering that most prices in Egypt are comparable to Australia we are being treated like Kings and Queens for pennies. Because of the unrest in Egypt and the military currently running the country after the overthrow of Mubarek their tourist numbers have plummeted. Consequently there are some fantastic deals. We were on an 11 day Wonders of Egypt package that cost $3500 total for the 2 of us. That has put us in amazing 5 star hotels with pools on the roof with panoramic views. Included breakfasts that have to be seen to be believed. A 4 day Nile cruise with all meals included. Our own personal driver and guide for seeing the pyramids, temples all along the Nile, valley of the kings and the valley of the queens and much much more.

Khan El-Khalili bazaar

Cairo for us was too full on, as people who prefer to be surrounded by nature and have a dislike of nick nacks and bargaining we were overwhelmed. But if you like that kind of thing then you will get your fill here. The pyramids of course were amazing and not to be missed but we were more in our element when on the cruise and visiting the temples and tombs in Luxor, Edfu and Aswan. We were surprised at the size of the rooms having never had a cruise before, bigger than some hotels in South America and the attention and attitude of the staff was superb. Nothing forces you to relax more than a cruise, you have nowhere else to go.

Karnak Temple

The tombs in the valley of the kings were amazing, no pictures as you were not even allowed to take in a camera, long deep precise tunnels under the mountains themselves to the tombs with every inch of wall and roof covered in coloured hieroglyphs and representations of the gods. Another surprise was the size, you could stand up straight easily, everything done by these guys was on huge scales, and thousands of years ago. Similarly the temples such as the Luxor temple were huuuge, you feel tiny and can see how intimidated anyone who came here would be. The final day in Aswan finished with a sailing boat ride and a belly dancing show that night. They liked to pull up audience members as part of their show, so as the performer Elizabeth is she spent more time as part of the show than watching it.

Alexandria from the hotel room

Then off to Alexandria where we were told not to cross the road on your own. Crossing the road is considered a national sport and we were told to ask the hotel staff to get us across the street if we needed. We actually crossed on our own and were then called locals (or was it loco). Traffic was still insane but the lifestyle here was definitely more relaxed. The Alexandria museum was brilliant with a different floor for every major different period covering 5000 years of history, and we finished off our trip to this troubled country at El Alamein and the war cemetery which had a special monument for the Australian forces that died here.

Lest we forget

150 year old graffiti

Umm what can I say? Elizabeth likes cats.

Puurrfect Peru and final thoughts on South America

7th March

Cats of Lima



Main Square of Cusco in Peru


There is a special syncronicity to ending the South America leg of our holiday here in Lima, Peru. If you remember we started in Buenos Aires where diagonally opposite our hotel room was a wonderful family oriented dog park (where I killed my camera). Well 10 minutes from our hotel in Lima was a park, a park of cats! Yes you heard me right, there must be 50 plus stray cats in this park, running up trees, hiding in the flower beds, sparring with each other etc. They are not just tolerated but celebrated and looked after by visitors in the park. Little bowls of water are put out, and they are fed scraps. This was heaven to Elizabeth who kept wanting to go back. Much fun was had by both Elizabeth and cats.

Lima apparently the city of love

We had heard a lot of mixed reports about Lima and so did not have high expectations, but like all of Peru we were extremely and pleasantly surprised, the place had a lovely atmosphere and energy, we found the people friendly, and the best and cheapest food and service in South America.



We think it was a protest for womens rights



Huaca Huallamarca Pyramid in Lima



Did you know that Lima has pyramids? How the hell did I not know that! Apparently so does Mexico, which also has a volcano on the natural wonder list. We are now trying to find a way of adding Mexico to our itinerary (thinks wistfully of Villarica). Peru also has a national drink called Pisco Sour that is threatening Elizabeth's teetotaller status (her now favourite drink after water).

Bye South America, it has been a ride, I have seen mountains, waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers and many more sights that greatly exceeded my expectations and blew me away. I have done things I never thought I would or could do and I have met friendly and genuine people whose lives were rich in their attitude to life even though we would consider them steeped in poverty. I did not even want to come to this continent so thanks Elizabeth for opening my eyes. What I won't miss. Insane traffic and constantly beeping horns for no apparent reason. Not being able to trust corn as a gluten free ingredient. Busy and inefficient airports. But these are minor inconveniences and we have already discussed the places we would like to return to. But onwards and upwards, Africa here we come...

Getting ready to leave



Note: I was pleasantly surprised to find that my blog has had a total of 1056 views as of when I logged on today. We enjoy writing them and are glad that some people find them interesting enough to read them. Thanks :-)