Election Heartbreak

It's unbelievable...It's worrying...In fact it's downright disturbing. Who are these people I share my country with? We had both had a good feeling that a change was in the air for Australia, but it seems the people have spoken.

I don't need to go into the many reasons I am shocked and dismayed that the little prick has romped home to another term...I know many of you out there are feeling just the same way. Being over here during such and important election allows a unique vantage point. And sadly, when I think about home, I feel like I don't want to be there, I don't want to live in a place where the hardline, the reactionary and the discompassionate make up the majority. I feel estranged from a land that is really on loan anyways...

I won't ramble on too much more about these feelings of dismay...but just wanted to put it out there.

We've had a wonderful few days. Today was a public holiday, and a perfect autumn day. We got out on the bikes and cruised around Osaka Jo-Koen, which is a huge park that borders the palace - a magical old place in a busy city.


Everyone was out and abut and there were festivities and events in every corner of the park. One curious aspect of Japanese life is that even though they work like dogs for their whole life, they restore some balance by having on average one public holiday a month. Today was the Sport and Health day, a holiday for the nation, 2 weeks ago it was Respect for Old People Day and so on. To celebrate the concept of health and wellness, there was a big dance/karate/kendo display - At any one time 4 or 5 troupes of up to 60 dancers would be performing, each trying to outdance and overpower the other with a show of superior audio technology. It is a peculiar asian fancy, this mish mash of multiple auditory assaults. It ranges from the radio in the supermarket that is just that bit too loud and that bit to far to the left of the dial, so you get that screeching crackle and distortion in Japan, to the Laotion bus drivers selction of 'best ever recordings of happy birthday'...that was one to remember!

We enjoyed the spectacle of 8 year olds doing battle with 68 year olds on the dance floor before crusing around to take in some of the baseball, soccer, fishing and picknicking that was going on in other corners of the park.

On the way home we found an amazing sento that had a dry sauna, steam room, spa shower, regular spa, herbal spa, still bath, electric bath and salt spa....total bliss and all for $5!

Yesterday we went to the Kobe Jazz Street Festival. It was a mixed bag, but we saw something that we will never forget, one of those things that warms the heart and would put a smile on even the most concrete of hard jawed old hacks. An amazing dixieland band was playing and most of the Japanese folk were sitting quietly, listening intently and being very much the 'serious aficinado' types. Then an old guy of about 75 leapt out of his seat, opened up a huge umbrella (we were inside) and began to charleston and lindyhop like an absolute champion, all the while holding his umbrella ala singing in the rain. He danced and whooped hsi way around the hall and before long a couple of nana's dolled up in their sunday best joined him, soft shoeing their way around the room with huge smiles....The vibe lifted, the band lifted and that old chap had us all grinning for the rest of the day.

Oh buggar my internet card has run out so farewell for now! By the way there is a guestbook you can sign now, so you don't have to go to the bother of joining blogger.com if you want to say hi - just sign the book so we know you are still reading.

xx