Today with the uncertainty of earthquakes, Tsunamis and nuclear meltdown in many peoples minds and it is all pervasive - I read this from the Dalai Lama ~ I love that man - a life lived well indeed!

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man.... Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Another Love Story

It has been a long time between writing - as I have no camera I wait until I receive photos that can tell a part of my story.
I just have 1 photo this time ~ but it tells a story of 35 years ~ it is my love story ~ a story of Japan and having babies and now having grandchildren ~ it is personal and yet it is wrapped up in many friendships and family relationships ~ my story, our story ~ a story of love and hate, a story of compassion and caring, of fighting and making up, of expanding as a human and of getting to learn of strength and gentleness - of sharing time together and yet being apart from each other for months at a time ... and I remind myself of all of those who share my life - and thus the millions of stories that make up our world. Blessing upon all of us!

Completing the story of being on the Drom

I am looking at these photoes and I am taken back to the last days of being on the Drom.
The last 8 days were really special as my grandson Izumo travelled with us - he being only 5 years old. Before we left I told him that if he complained even once or missed his parents I would take him straight home ... I thought he would last 3 days and every morning I would ask him do you want go home - and every morning he would look into my eyes and very clearly say 'NO".
3 days worth of clothes had to last 8 days - so he went home rather dirty but with a huge smile!
He was only allowed to bring books, colour pencils and notebook - I wanted him to have this opportunity to discover how fascinating this earth is A part of the collection of his precious stones and bones.
And he was such a willing little worker - helping collect firewood, digging holes for compost,drying dishes and sharing his life with 3 older women. We decided he can come camping with any of us any time!



Travelling with a horse meant that at night we camped where ever we could find somewhere comfortable. In these photoes we camped at the back of this abandoned church, next to the grave yard.
In the afternoons after setting up camp and making sure all the animals had been taken care of we would often relax.

In this photo Izumo and I are sharing a book- my bed is next to the chair. We call it a swag. It is a mini canvas tent and inside is a sleeping bag. Izumo had his own swag and brave he was the first night but by the third day it had become oh so normal!



Ans yes we lots of adventures ... we found an orphaned lamb and so Izumo was responsible for her while we went to a couple of nearby farms trying to find the right farmer - and we did!



We also sometimes camped along deserted dirt roads. Every evening cooking over open fires. At night gazing between the stars and the fire, Izumo would ask us to tell him a story. So we would pull his swag close to the fire and he would say 'tell me about 'Baba Yaga (similar to yamanba)' or I want to hear about 'the Gecko and the Dingo' & sometimes tell me a new story ... we all chuckled a lot!



This journey wasn't always easy and sometimes I felt exhausted. But it has left me richer and more in wonder with this earth and the creatures we share it with.
I want to thank Red Catherine for inviting me on this amazing journey that most of us would never have the opportunity to take. I consider myself extremely lucky. And to my husband who has seldom seen me this year but always encourages me to follow my dreams. I am blessed!

RED CATHERINE & IZUMO - on the drom

If I close my eyes I can still hear the clip, clop, clip, clop of Tigga as he pulled us through the vastness of time and the spaciousness of Australia....
My wish - May we all continue to learn to love our lives and this earth and may this wonderment move throughout our human life!

More Stories from on the Drom

Like on all journeys things can go wrong and yes our brakes needed repairs, so off to the local mechanics in a small country town!

And yes Tigga was in need of a new pair of shoes.































And Maya and her wonderful little family drove 400 kms to drop me off so I could continue travelling. I felt very blessed to have them drive me all the way and wave me off with lots of good wishes!






It was about a 1000 kilometre round journey. We didn't get to Alice Springs but it didn't matter.
Yes it was a destination but on the Drom (which in Romani means 'on the journey'), it is the journey that matters, not the destination. And so it was for us. Travelling slowly through the pasture land of South Australia gave me a renewed sense of this land.






















































And the wonderful people on the way.

We were warned as a bunch of women travelling that we might meet 'bad' people. But during the journey we only met 1 grumpy old man. The rest of the way we were met with so much kindness and help and yes some curiosity as well!


From local gathering at their local shop, to being invited to dinner in farm kitchens, to being given sheds to take shelter from storms and offering even shelter for the vardo when big wind gusts were expected



The journey holds a kaleidoscope of so many images, so many faces, and the rain - which in Australia you can never wish away for it is what our country is crying out for ... the only thing I would have wished away was the wind. But during our last week on the road the wind must have heard our pleas as we were blessed with perfect weather ... and I will write of that next time!

some love from Australia - part 2

I started talking about this journey I have been on in my last blog ... and here are some more of the photos I promised.

Tomorrow I am off again to join up with the merry crew. I have been in telephone contact and I hear the journey continues to be difficult at times and then fabulous. So there are tears and then laughter - but that is real life - it is all and everything!
On my return will post new stories and new photos. But I hope the photos below give you an idea at least ...

Arriving in the afternoon at a reserve - our home for the night - lots of trees so enough wood for a fabulous campfire!





some days have jsut been too hard with intense 90km wind gusts. So when it gets too hard Tigga comes off the wagon and we tow the vardo to the next camp site













we camped at a run down abandoned house - no ghosts!
early morning scenes















Lunchtime stop on long dirt roads we travel down. Our main companions are birds with the occasional rabbit or fox poking their heads out and wondering what is happening as Tigga clomps by. Some cars pass slowly and wave while others rush by. But Tigga the gentle giant takes it in his stride



I prefer walking up hills but then I have to jump back on the moving vardo
Getting up and off the vardo is something that I am slowly mastering - - not bad for a 52year old!
















These photos were taken at a small country town called Eudanda. We passed by the elementary and secondary schools & had teachers come and ask us to talk to their pupils - which we did and by the end we had talked to nearly every class - the photos are of the first graders - very cute and lots of questions


and because they did such a good job we gave them carrots to treat Tigga with.

訳

オーストラリアから愛をこめて　　　　その２
前回のブログで“私が出ている旅”についてお伝えしました。お約束通り、いくつかの写真を紹介します。

明日私はまた楽しい旅の仲間に合流します。私はレッドキャサリンと電話で連絡を取り合ってきました。この旅は、時に、困難に出会ったり、またすばらしいものだったりと聞いています。涙あり笑いあり。でもそれって人生そのものだよね。いろんなことがある。
また戻ったら、新しい話や写真を紹介します。今回のブログに載せた写真で、旅の様子が少しでもわかるといいな。
午後、予定の場所に到着－今夜の寝床―ここには、キャンプファイヤーに使う木が十分ある。
数日間、９０キロメートルの突風で、難儀を強いられる事もありました。そんなときあまりにひどくなると、テイガはしんどいので馬車から外し、次のキャンプ地までワゴンを私たちが引いてく。
私たちは朽ちたあばら家でキャンプしました。――幽霊なんかいないわよ！
早朝の風景です。
長いほこりだらけの道で昼食をとり、ひと休み、そしてまた進む。旅の途中、小鳥や時折ウサギや狐が顔をのぞかせて、ティガがパカパカ行くのを一体何があったのかしらと不思議そうにしている。
ゆっくり通り過ぎながら手をふっていく車もあれば、一方勢いよく走り去る車もある。でも、おとなしく大きなティガはゆったり歩を進めていく。
登り坂を歩くのは好きだけど、移動しているワゴンに飛び乗らなければならないの。ワゴンに飛び乗ったり、降りたり･･･　なんとなく少しずつ上手になっている。５２才にしては悪くないよね。
これらの写真はユーダンダという小さな田舎町で撮ったもの。小学校・中学校の側を通りかかると、先生から生徒に何か話をするように頼まれたの。私たちは生徒達に話をして、最後にはほとんどのクラスに話をしたの。この写真は１年生達―とてもかわいくて、たくさんの質問をしてくれた。
彼らがとてもすばらしかったので、ティガにニンジンをあげるお手伝いをしてもらいました。