tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57374514489917570142011-04-22T07:48:14.567+09:00Minakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906149606193650203noreply@blogger.comBlogger31100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737451448991757014.post-89646590863945912042007-05-16T00:02:00.000+09:002007-05-16T00:03:15.424+09:00Finally back home safely on 10 May. <div></div> <div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RknLlXF8TII/AAAAAAAAADs/qL17GPnaoZo/s1600-h/Chobi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064803098669370498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RknLlXF8TII/AAAAAAAAADs/qL17GPnaoZo/s200/Chobi.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Chobi, our dog at 16 year old, died next morning while I was patting her back. </div> <div>She was born on the day I left for USA for my first study visit, and waited for my return from New Zealand. Always sad to say 'Good bye', but appreciated for seeing her on time.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5737451448991757014-8964659086394591204?l=minakom.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Minakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906149606193650203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737451448991757014.post-56537696432588089892007-05-15T22:29:00.000+09:002007-05-15T23:10:31.608+09:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm1-HF8S7I/AAAAAAAAACE/kdzboOslc5A/s1600-h/Bye+bye+NZ.jpg"></a> Minako finally left home before 5am on 8 May. <div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm2O3F8S8I/AAAAAAAAACM/G9pMcjUmTq4/s1600-h/New+Caledonia5+-+beach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064779622378130370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm2O3F8S8I/AAAAAAAAACM/G9pMcjUmTq4/s320/New+Caledonia5+-+beach.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm2VHF8S9I/AAAAAAAAACU/2NnILJc8X9U/s1600-h/New+Caledonia4+-+trees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064779729752312786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm2VHF8S9I/AAAAAAAAACU/2NnILJc8X9U/s200/New+Caledonia4+-+trees.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>After three hour flight, I arrived Noumea. <div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm2VHF8S9I/AAAAAAAAACU/2NnILJc8X9U/s1600-h/New+Caledonia4+-+trees.jpg"></a> </div></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">This tree protects New Caledonia from disease such as malaria. Guardian of this country. </div> <div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064782706164648946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm5CXF8S_I/AAAAAAAAACk/OZUxgRI3czI/s400/Ouvea+Is1.jpg" border="0" />Ouvea Island - The Island closest to Heaven - </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center">This island is extremely famous for a novel written by Japanese lady 40 years ago. Since I read that when I was at 10, I've always wanted to visit here. Finally my dream came true...</div> <div align="center"> </div> <p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064783509323533314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm5xHF8TAI/AAAAAAAAACs/65zj-zFyyls/s400/Ouvea+Is4+-+beach+on+a+way.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064783921640393746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm6JHF8TBI/AAAAAAAAAC0/-F2Fnnog9uI/s400/Ouvea+Is7+-+beach.jpg" border="0" /> </p> <p align="center">Lost for words...</p> <p align="center"> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064784119208889378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm6UnF8TCI/AAAAAAAAAC8/7Otk7Rpbq8I/s400/Ouvea+Is9+-+beach.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Blue sky, white sand and clear water... </p> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm9InF8TFI/AAAAAAAAADU/9sKZX1-piKg/s1600-h/Ouvea+Is11+-+m+on+beach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064787211585342546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkm9InF8TFI/AAAAAAAAADU/9sKZX1-piKg/s400/Ouvea+Is11+-+m+on+beach.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p>By stopping over on a way to Japan, I had a chance to face my days in NZ and future in Tokyo where I'd never lived for two days in such a beautiful place like a heaven.</p><p>I also met a new friend who was passionate about sustainable tourism in New Caledonia than local people. Even though my dream to visit this island closest to Heaven came true, I feel I will visit this beautiful island again sooner or later. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5737451448991757014-5653769643258808989?l=minakom.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Minakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906149606193650203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737451448991757014.post-33224302713569245012007-05-15T21:35:00.000+09:002007-05-15T22:28:12.059+09:00After four years living in New Zealand... <div>I came back home in Japan on 10 May with beautiful memories. Overnight stay on Tiritiri Matangi Island wz Em and SR as promised... </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmrNnF8SvI/AAAAAAAAAAk/9mp3g1AWqzM/s1600-h/Tiri+wz+SR+EM7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064767506275388146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmrNnF8SvI/AAAAAAAAAAk/9mp3g1AWqzM/s320/Tiri+wz+SR+EM7.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmrg3F8SwI/AAAAAAAAAAs/yYYfg-Hiq7I/s1600-h/DNR+@+Lisa1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064767836987869954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmrg3F8SwI/AAAAAAAAAAs/yYYfg-Hiq7I/s200/DNR+%40+Lisa1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="right">Lisa invited me for Korean dinner</div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div></div><div align="right">Timo & Tomo invited me for Japanese dinner</div><div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmr8HF8SyI/AAAAAAAAAA8/kkc8xSCEEvo/s1600-h/DNR+@+Empress+Garden.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064768305139305250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmr8HF8SyI/AAAAAAAAAA8/kkc8xSCEEvo/s200/DNR+%40+Empress+Garden.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmr13F8SxI/AAAAAAAAAA0/aqk1czxHMMA/s1600-h/DNR+@+Timo+&amp;+TS3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064768197765122834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmr13F8SxI/AAAAAAAAAA0/aqk1czxHMMA/s320/DNR+%40+Timo+%26+TS3.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="left">Chinise dinner wz Nao &amp; MangoS</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Afternoon tea at Minako's flat <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmqdnF8SsI/AAAAAAAAAAM/vUJIol-vSIc/s1600-h/Afternoon+Tea.jpg"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmuqXF8S5I/AAAAAAAAAB0/OgFnJN9uQyQ/s1600-h/Afternoon+Tea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064771298731510674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmuqXF8S5I/AAAAAAAAAB0/OgFnJN9uQyQ/s320/Afternoon+Tea.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmq2XF8StI/AAAAAAAAAAU/S1TA4AoK7eY/s1600-h/Wz+JH.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064767106843429586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmq2XF8StI/AAAAAAAAAAU/S1TA4AoK7eY/s200/Wz+JH.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="right">Jo brought me flowers and her big smile :)</div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">IMP Hoovers enjoyed Yum cha lunch <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmq-3F8SuI/AAAAAAAAAAc/fkrKC9W9knY/s1600-h/IMP+Hoovers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064767252872317666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmq-3F8SuI/AAAAAAAAAAc/fkrKC9W9knY/s400/IMP+Hoovers.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmsinF8S2I/AAAAAAAAABc/yqsddvv_l5w/s1600-h/Lunch+wz+JD.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064768966564268898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmsinF8S2I/AAAAAAAAABc/yqsddvv_l5w/s200/Lunch+wz+JD.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="right">Thanks JD for surprised lunch!</div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmuLHF8S4I/AAAAAAAAABs/IOjjB5ued1A/s1600-h/Last+day3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064770761860598658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmuLHF8S4I/AAAAAAAAABs/IOjjB5ued1A/s200/Last+day3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmuw3F8S6I/AAAAAAAAAB8/53NOvgJfT50/s1600-h/Last+day5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064771410400660386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmuw3F8S6I/AAAAAAAAAB8/53NOvgJfT50/s320/Last+day5.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last dinner in NZ. Thank you, Toppy family. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmsWnF8S0I/AAAAAAAAABM/DcNf5fGLwJw/s1600-h/Kath+wz+penguin2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064768760405838658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/RkmsWnF8S0I/AAAAAAAAABM/DcNf5fGLwJw/s400/Kath+wz+penguin2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmt-nF8S3I/AAAAAAAAABk/4t-h_HQ7Gc4/s1600-h/Hoiho+being+friendly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064770547112233842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eCrkY-wWJ-o/Rkmt-nF8S3I/AAAAAAAAABk/4t-h_HQ7Gc4/s200/Hoiho+being+friendly.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Kath, a volunteer doctor for penguins on Catlin's Coast, kindly sent me farewell... I've been so happy to meet each one of you while living in NZ past four years. Look forward to catching up with you in June. Until then, take care... Cheers, Minako<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5737451448991757014-3322430271356924501?l=minakom.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Minakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906149606193650203noreply@blogger.com0