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Australian
Trip in Rod's Car
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- It was around 8:30 a.m. when we arrived in Sydney.
Some twenty-four hours passed after we had left Takada by the Asama express
train the day before. Around nine in the evening on the previous
day, we took off in a jumbo jet from Kansai Airport, where some members
of Nara Japan-Australia Society saw us off. Seven hours later we
reached at Brisbane. Then we took another two-hour flight from there.
I felt Australia was much farther away from Japan.
Though it was in the middle of winter in Sydney, the sunshine was unexpectedly intense. As long as the sun was out, it was warm enough for us to walk around in a short-sleeve shirt. I really envied the weather there.
As soon as a shuttle bus from the airport got to Wynyard Hotel, I set out to hunt for CD's at local record stores all by myself. On the way, I asked persons the way to a record store, but their Australian accent was so difficult that I couldn't understand well. Finally the fifth person I asked showed me the way and said pointing to a store, "Right over there." I smiled a little.
The store of Sydney, which is the biggest city in Australia, was by far larger than Tadakin, a local record store in Takada. Its classical music section alone was as large as a typical record store in Japan. I was so pleased to get one bonus CD when I bought three. If I could, I surely would visit this store next time.
Mr. Kondo and Mr. Hasegawa, my traveling companions, were sleeping soundly at the hotel while I was out shopping. I felt sorry about that.
Around noon, Rod, a son of an ex-POW, showed up. I shook hands with him lightly. At that time, I didn't know he would travel with us all the way. At our first meeting, he looked an ordinary man, but afterwards I came to know he was really somebody. I learned the lesson: we should not judge a person by appearance.
From that time into late in the evening, Rod showed us around in his car-the Opera House, Bondi Beach, Double Bay and so forth. We drank Guinness beer at the pub, which was said to be built early years in the Australian history. How delicious it was!
In the Botanical Garden, I saw a young man walking with a strange tube. I asked him what it was, and he answered it was an Aboriginal musical instrument. He kindly played it for us. I liked it very much. On that day, we saw many typical Australian things which made me quite marveled at.
To me Sydney looked a city where natural and man-made creatures harmonize well.
On the next day, Rod drove us to Mr. Mudie's home. It was the first time for me to see him since we had met each other at the party held after the opening ceremonies of the Peace Park. The dinner at a dining room, which commanded the whole view of the lake, was very impressive. We enjoyed it, being accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, a daughter of Mr. Mudie's. However, I felt sorry that I couldn't eat all the dishes they served. In my opinion, the dinner was big enough to serve two persons. I should have skipped lunch.
Over the dinner, Mr. Mudie told us that he had watched for a chance to break out while he was at the Naoetsu POW Campsite. He plotted to take a boat by force to cross the Japan Sea over to Sado Island. Then he would walk to the other side of the island and take another boat to go to either China or Russia for shelter. Though, compared with the breakout by Japanese POWs in Cowra, his plan seemed less feasible, it surely conveyed to us his strong desire to return home alive.
The next day, we left for Cowra. The mere thought that I would see Mrs. Ishizuka and Mr. Nishizawa at night of the day put me in a merry mood.
We visited the Three Sisters and Jenolan Caves, and finally arrived in Cowra around seven in the evening. On the way, we dropped at an area by a river and enjoyed real Aussie barbecue.
We dropped
at an area by a river and enjoyed real Aussie barbecue.
- Since it was such a wonderful lunch, I write
a little bit about it. Having bought lamb chops and bread, of course,
together with beer at a supermarket along the route, we entered a barbecue
area. We gathered some dead sticks and twigs, made a fire, and grilled
chops. We put a chop on slightly toasted bread with some sauce.
I will long remember the "wild" taste which I don't think I can enjoy in
Japan. Afterwards we made a pot of tea with some leaves from trees,
which had a certain name but I forgot, to add their fragrance. As
a matter of fact, I found some insect's eggs on the back of the leaves,
but Rod didn't mind them and put them into the pot. I was so anxious
that I stirred up the fire to kill the eggs in boiling water till Rod said:
"Don't keep tea in boiled water too long. It becomes very bitter.
This is just right." Though I was worried to death about the eggs,
I drank tea anyway. I really hoped the eggs wouldn't turn into Alien-like
creatures in my stomach.
On arriving in Cowra late in the evening, we felt very glad to see Mrs. Ishizuka and Mr. Nishizawa. We had a party and drank a lot that night. Speaking of Mr. Nishizawa, I envied so much his opal that he said he had bought in Canberra.
I don't write about Cowra because I am sure others do. My impression is … well, very cold.
We stayed there for two nights. Afterwards we came back to Sydney, where we met Mr. and Mrs. Mudie again. We left for Japan the next day. Back into the middle of summer again, since the climate being opposite, it was cruelly hot in Osaka.
Rod was such a wonderful person that he so kindly helped us all while we were in Australia.
Australia appears to me a country where we can spend relaxing, leisured life, maybe because it is a self-sufficient country with its abundant products and produce. Therefore it may neither have to collect foreign currencies nor desire to be the leader of the world like the United Sates of America. Everybody seems to enjoy his life, which I really envy. It may be a good idea that I will move to Australia to live when I become old.
