Day 5 The next morning, we set off early for the next leg of our journey through Japan, which began by boarding a Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto. We bought a bento box for breakfast to take with us on the train and, as we consumed it, we wondered where the outer…
Category: Travel
Tokyo
We are staying in a cosy ryokan in Tokyo and we are learning quickly about tatami mats, the rhythm of moving between slippers, shoes and socks as we walk across different surfaces, the protocol for bathing in the onsen and surprise fillings (today umboshi plums) in little rice packages. There is a room here where…
Madurai
The next morning the four of us piled into a tuk-tuk and farewelled Thanjavur at a nearby bus station, boarding a local bus bound for Madurai. Lonely Planet promised we would discover the “soul of the south” there. On the way I bought some eggplant pieces that had been deep fried in a spicy orange…
Thanjavur
With the new day came the sad realisation that our home in our little Garden of Eden had come to an end. Dan did some yoga, we had breakfast, packed and were soon picked up by a taxi to take us into Pondicherry. Unfortunately, we hadn’t negotiated the fare in advance and paid ₹500 for…
Auroville
We left the hostel at about 8am to get a bus to Auroville, a town about 150 kilometres south of Chennai. For the first time since our arrival, I felt one hundred per cent well. No jet-lag and no tummy troubles. And just as well, really, considering the travelling we had to do that day….
Chennai
Our flights from Sydney to Chennai were a truly budget experience. Air Asia seated Dan and I in different rows, dashing our plans to binge-watch Netflix together for the duration of the journey. We boarded at 9.30pm, well-fed and in good spirits. I’d been feeling apprehensive about the trip, but as it kicked off the…
Torrens River
Monday 9 October 2017 On Monday morning we rose early with Ruby and drove to a local supermarket for picnic supplies. We continued on to the ABC where Ruby works and went inside with her to check out the office of Behind the News and meet some of the staff of this iconic Australian children’s…
Vegans & botanic gardens
Sunday 8 October 2017 On Sunday morning we stumbled on a spring fair in a community centre located in Green Street, barely a block away from where Ruby and Rob were living. A cheerful gathering had convened there on a sunny morning to show off the shiny new facilities and the community garden. This consisted…
Barossa Valley
Saturday 7 October 2017 I rose early in Angel’s AirBnB and found some ground coffee in the fridge. By the time the caffeine was coursing through my veins, Ruby, Rob and Susie emerged from their beds. Our host kindly gave us all a lift into town where we searched for a suitable breakfast. The café…
Morialta Park to Tanunda
Friday 6 October 2017 Friday began with a few obligatory rounds of Bananagrams. We then set out in Ruby’s pink Toyota (Floyd) to Morialta Conservation Park, which is located about 10 km North of Adelaide. On the way into the park we passed a children’s adventure playground which had been designed by the children of…
Wundercliffe 