I still call Australia Home..

...although grudgingly at the moment!

This is a little update for those who are interested.

I have been home for just over three weeks. 'Home' for me at the moment is Brisbane. I'm staying with my Ma and Da while I try and figure out what is next on my journey.

It only took about 2 weeks for me to start going stir crazy, and the initial excitement at being home and seeing my loved ones got old! I think the hardest part is accepting that life isn't always super exciting, and compared to my last year, nothing much is exciting at the moment! I am having trouble dealing with the fact that I have no flights booked for the immediate future! Argh!

Anyway, I was lucky to get work right off the bat at a pub near home. It's tough trying to get back into the swing of things, and I bitch and complain constantly becuase I'm a spolit brat who hasn't had to work so far this year!! However, I do know I am lucky to have a job, which pays good rates and keeps me busy....and more importantly, helps me to save for the next big adventure.

My immediate plan is to look for a job in my industry and work until I have enough money saved to go back and do it all again. I'm thinking Edinburgh or Cardiff in 2011, so stay tuned!

Thanks to everyone who has kept in touch and sent me their best wishes over the past year. It's so nice to know nice people, and I hope to see you all again soon.

In the meantime, all my love and super cool vibes come your way...
xx

The Temples of Zen

On my second day in Japan, Ashi and I caught the train into the countryside to a place called Kamakura. We started at the Engakuji Zen Temple, which is one of 5 Zen Temples in Kamakura. It was absolutely stunning, set high in the mountains, and felt like we were walking through a 5 star resort in the middle of a rainforest. The Temple was still in use by monks, so much of it was off limits, but it was worth going to have a look. It dates back to the 14th Century, but everything was so well looked after that it looked new, despite being hundreds of years old. The architecture of the buildings was spectacular and much of the Temple was classified as a National Treasure, very cool.

While we were at Engakuji, we partook in a traditional Green Tea Ceremony, which was so special. We were sitting out on a wide deck overlooking the forest, and I could have stayed there forever. The utter peacefulness was almost numbing...

Our next stop was the Kotoko-in Daibutsu, or The Great Buddha, circa 1252. It was HUGE and amazing, and I was even more amazed when Ashi told me it was only the 3rd largest Buddha in Japan!


Our final destination for the day was Enoshima Island, where we visited another Shrine. It was a wet and windy walk across the brudge to get to the island, and then very steep walk up a shop lined street to the shrine, but I was happy because I got to play my new favourite game, dodge the brolley! When we got to the Shrine we kept out fitness levels up and climbed what felt like a never ending set of stairs which lead to a variety of different shrines and temples until we finally reached the top and could enjoy the view of the water stretching out to the mainland.

It was stunnning day and a great end to a great couple of days in Japan. I am so lucky that I have a fabulous friend in Ashi - I can't imagine being in Japan without him! Thanks Ashi x

I`m big in Japan...

...Literally.

They are tiny over here!

I am in Tokyo for 3 days, on a stopover on my way home after a FAB year away!

I am very lucky that I have a friend / tourguide / photographer here. I met Ashi when I worked at UniSA and he represented the University in Judo at the Uni Games. He was studying for his Masters in physiotherapy, and is now working as a qualified physio just outside Tokyo.

I arrived on the afternoon of Monday 3rd May into Narita Airport. Ashi came to meet me in the evening and we had a great night out in typical Japanese style - starting with some Japanese `fast food` - Octopus balls! Mmmmmm.... A bit later we went to dinner in a traditional Japanese restaurant, complete with cushions on the ground, no shoes, weird raw things and sake! Yum Yum. Our spirits were quite high after that! I do enjoy me some good sake....Mmm mmm.

Today I donned my tourist hat for one last time, and we hit the road in Tokyo, starting at the East Garden of the Imperial Palace. It was stunning stunning stunning! My only disappointment was my discovery that although it is Spring, I have missed the flowering of the Cherry Blossom Trees - they only flower for one week apparently. But not to worry, there were many other beautful sights to see, including 3 old guard houses in typical Japanese architecture (I can`t stop thinking about the Karate Kid!), the ruins of Tenshudai (main tower), the Suwano-chaya Tea House, and various beautiful gardens.

From the East Gardens, we walked to the famous Nijubashi Bridge to take some pictures and try and get a glimpse of the Imperial Palace, but no luck there. The Imperial Palace and the East Gardens are situated smack bang in the centre of Tokyo, so you literally have a concrete jungle on one side of the road and a serene, peaceful garden on the other. Crazy!

This afternoon, we went to Asakusa, whish is Tokyo`s `downtown` area, lined with narrow backstreets which are full of shops selling traditional Japanese wares (kimonos etc). It was a holiday in Japan today, so it was absolutely packed. It was also raining, so I had to take care not to be stabbed by the thousands of brolleys that seemed to be out to get me! We stopped here for lunch (Raman noodles - Ashi told me that the louder I eat them the better, so I put my all into making it the slurpiest meal I`d ever had!)

After lunch we went to the Asakusa Kannon Temple. I really enjoyed the traditions that this involved. Walking up to the temple we passed a huge insense burner, where you wave the smoke towards your head to make you smarter, towards you face for beauty, etc. I waved that smoke everywhere I could! Then, before entering the Temple to pray to the Gods, it is good manners to be clean, so there is a special fountain to wash your hands and mouth with. Suitably cleaned, we headed up the stairs to the Temple to say a prayer.

We also got our fortunes, which was exciting! Unfortunately Ashi got a bad fortune, so he went over and tied it to the pole, which is apparently tradition if you get a bad fortune. My fortune was good luck for the future, which is something to look forward to!


Tomorrow we are off to the Japanese Countryside for the day. I can`t wait!

For those of you interested, my photos from today are up at: http://picasaweb.google.com/jesshargreaves0

The Journey of my Life..

Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela.
707km in 31 days.
Pretty. Bloody. Proud.

As you may have noticed, I have had a lot of trouble keeping this blog updated on the road. As I briefly touched on in an earlier post, I have been on quite the journey, both physically and mentally. It would be impossible to even attempt to put half of it into writing for anyone to understand.

The Camino de Santiago is intense.
I have walked in all kinds of weather - burning hot sunshine, pouring rain, hail (a lot of hail), wind blowing so hard and fast that it feels like it`ll flatten you, and even snow.
I have walked through all kinds of terrain - vineyards, mountains, valleys, along streams, through dry arid countryside, along freeways, through tiny untouched villages, and through forests.
The paths have been concrete, grass, puddles and mud, stones, dirt and at times, hard to find.
I have experienced emotions ranging from the most intense highs to the most incredible lows.
I have laughed, and I have cried. I have felt at peace, and I have felt frustrated. I have been scared and I have felt powerful.
I have met people who have amazed me with their outlooks, insights and incredible ways, and I have met people who have astounded me with their bitterness and stupidity.
I have learnt so many important lessons, and these lessons have come to me in the most curious and subtle of ways. They say that their are angels on the Camino and I think that is true.

I would like to give a shout out to my Angels:
Cathy.
Jon.
Stefan.
Otmar.
Hermann.
Harry.
Steffi.
Rebecca.
Megan.
Jeff.
Some of the most amazing and special people in the world. My thoughts will always be with you all. We`ve had the most amazing of times and I couldn`t think of people more appropriate to share the journey with.

This is without a doubt the best thing I`ve done in my life so far. I wish I could share more, but most of the things I experienced are mine to keep close to my heart. I`m sure stories will come out over time, so keep tuned to this station if you want to know more...