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My eldest daughter Maya recently had her entrance ceremony for kindergarten. I wasn’t sure on the procedure and niether was my husband being a typical male so I had to rely on other people’s posts on what to expect.

Before seeing a picture online of my friend’s wife in formal attire ready to attend her son’s ceremony I had no idea that it was a formal event. Mind you this was three days before my daughter’s was due to take place. Thank God he put that photo up or my husband and I would have turned up in jeans and flipflops!

Anyway, I was able to find out through another mum’s post that most women wore pastel coloured suits to entrance ceremonies and dark colours to graduation ones. So I picked up a pastel coloured jacket and teamed it with a black dress and an oversized flower which is to be worn on your left side between above your breast and your shoulder. The flower is supposed to be pink or coral for kindergarten and elementary school ceremonies and beige or white for older school ceremonies. This information was pointed out to me by the very helpful saleswoman at the boutique at which I purchased the flower. Also you should note that these pin on flowers retail from between 2,000円 to 8,000円　and upwards.

The day itself was like being at a school assembly where teachers to bus drivers introduce themselves to the kids and photo’s are taken. Not really sure why the formal attire is necessary but it is nice to dress up once in a while.

No pics of the day as my daughter was camera shy that day but there will be many more entrance ceremonies to come should we stay in Japan.

Looking for a place to call your own? Have a family or one that’s growing? Then this is the place for you!

Located in a quiet street just off route 32; this 4 bedroom dwelling offers the astute buyer a quality home at a steal.

Boasting 5 spacious bedrooms (master with walk-in-closet), kitchen, a generous sized living room, two toilets (one on each floor) and a roomy bathroom. The home also has ample storage space and a grand entrance.

There is parking for 2 cars under the house as well as a yard adjacent to the home which could serve as additional parking space and/or a place for the kids to play!

Should you require any additional information or would like to inspect the property, please don’t hesitate to call Kangaroo on 087-847-8553 or contact Kenji Nakamura on 080 1996 7144.

As Monday was a public holiday, we decided to take our daughter to Tobe Zoo in Ehime Prefecture.

The weather was a perfect 27 degrees and the sun was shining brightly. We left just before 9am and arrived at the zoo a little before 11am.

The walk from the car park into the zoo is long and winding but beautiful viewing. As you enter the path toward the zoo you are greeted with a lush green backdrop of trees and a tranquil lake. There is a ramp for wheelchair or pram access to the zoo as well as a set of steps.

The entrance fee was a mere 400円 for adults and 100円for kids between 7 and 17. A very cheap form of family entertainment indeed!

The zoo was divided into ‘streets’. There was an African Street, an American Street and even an Australian Street to name a few. There were an interesting array of birds and animals both large and small and our daughter had a ball. She seemed to be afraid of the penguins but adored the elephants and the donkey!

It took us about an hour and a half to walk around the zoo but we didn’t stop at the reptile house due to my fear of snakes. It was a great sized zoo – not too small and not too big.

I totally recommend a visit there if you’re in the area. A fantastic way to spend a few hours and a great family activity that will make memories for life.

The Japanese summer is upon us in full throttle! I must admit that I am not a fan of it at all. The humidity makes most daily tasks unbearable as even the slightest movement will lead to massive amounts of sweat pouring down one’s face.

The upside to summer is however, the fireworks! I absolutely love fireworks and I believe that the displays in Japan are amoung the best in the world.

I am totally looking forward to this year’s fireworks as it will be Maya’s (my daughter) first! I hope the sound doesn’t scare her!

Last month we were privelleged to have had the opportunity to do a little bit of sightseeing as a family. We decided to take a daytrip accross the Seto Bridge to the mainland and visit Korakuen Garden.

It was a glorious sunny day and thankfully the humidity wasn’t too bad. I was most excited about crossing the world’s largest two tier bridge. I had crossed it once but by train on the bottom tier, but going accross it from the top by car was a completely different experience.

I know I have mentioned that we live in front of the Seto Inland Sea but to see it in all its glory from the top of the Seto Bridge was something else. I only wish that there was a parking area on top of the 13.1km bridge so that you could stop and take it all in and some snaps to boot.

Our destination however, was Korakuen Garden in Okayama prefecture. It took us about 1.5hrs door to gate and was well worth the drive. The grass was so luscious and green and the air so fresh and clean.

There were a variety of plants and flowers on display and some gorgeous landscaping too. The thing that really struck me though was that the vast open spaces could also be viewed as being beautiful.

Takamatsu’s Ritsurin Garden is differen’t as it is more maze like and condensed which makes it more intruiging and mysterious. Korakuen Garden is just as pretty but is laid open in plain view for all to see.

I couldn’t say that one was better than the other, both a place of beauty, relaxation and enjoyment.

We are pleased to announce our summer campaign. Join between June 1st and August 31st and recieve 5% off your entire contract! If you would like more information on what types of contracts we offer, don’t hesitate to email us at gotokangaroo@yahoo.com or call on 087 847 8553.

The season has finally changed. The days are longer and the sun shines brightly. This is my favourite month of the year besides maybe October here in Japan. The weather is so beautiful…sunny and warm in the day but not humid and cool at night. The gorgeous spring blooms can be seen at every turn making you feel like nothing can get you down. Except of course if you have allergies.

Hay fever is such a common ailment here in Japan. Fortunately, I don’t suffer from it (knock on wood) but my husband does something shocking! It has been said that even if you are immune now you may not be forever. I have friends who didn’t suffer whilst living in their home countries but after living in Japan for a couple of years were soon victims of the dreaded allergic rhinitis as it is more technically known.

If you do suffer from hay fever then I empathize with you but don’t miss out on the beauty nature has to offer because of it. Smear your nostrils with some petroleum jelly and wear a mask. This may help stop pollen from going up your nose.

As for me, I am going to enjoy every last minute of this beautiful weather until the horrible rainy season hits and the humidity kills me!

Last weekend a friend from Tokyo came down to visit us here in Takamatsu. He only had a couple of days with us so we had to think long and hard about the best places to take him sightseeing. There a many beautiful scenic spots here in Kagawa but perhaps the most noteable is the Seto Inland Sea.

Fortunately, we live right in front of the inland sea so it was easy to show him the beauty of it from the comfort of our home.

The view of the Seto Inland Sea from one of our balconies is pictured above.

The most famous sightseeing spot here would have to be Ritsurin Garden. An absolutely gorgeous park situated in the heart of Takamatsu. The appearance of the park takes on many different forms depending on the season. The colour of the foliage is highlighted throughout different periods of the year.

There is of course a hidden treasure here in Takamatsu. That is  Shikoku Mura. A kind of outdoor museum that plays tribute to old buildings and tools from all over Shikoku Island. Perhaps the best part is the fact that you have to follow a kind of course up, around and down Yashima. A little physically challenging for those of us who are unfit and unfortunately not wheelchair or pram friendly but a really beautiful way to enjoy Yashima.

A waterfall at Shikoku Mura is pictured above.

A bamboo garden at Shikoku Mura is pictured above.

Another interesting part of the outdoor museum was the Kabuki outdoor theatre. I am unsure as to whether or not it is still in use, however, I am sure one of our avid readers will be able to tell us. The theatre is pictured below.

I think the scariest attraction was at the start of the course and that would have to be the rope bridge pictured below. There were huge gaps inbetween planks so I being a chicken went all the way around. It is crossable though.

Admission to Ritsurin Garden is 400円. Admission to Shikoku Mura is 800円.

All in all my friend really enjoyed the sights and is looking foward to coming back again one day to check out some more of what Takamatsu has to offer.

Phillip Island is a popular tourist destination in Victoria and for good reason too! Located about a 90minute drive southeast of Melbourne; the island is famous for it’s breathtaking sights and native wildlife.

Perhaps Phillip Island is most famous for its penguin parade but few people realize that it’s also home to the largest fur seal colony in Australia. The island also houses koala reserves and bird habitats.

The scenery on the drive to Phillip Island.

Another scenic shot.

For sea lovers, the most magnificent sight would have to be the island’s coastline.

My family with the vivid blue sea behind.

There is a beautiful boardwalk from which you can view the dramatic coastline.

Phillip Island is an inhabited island, in fact there are 10,000 permanent residents. It is also a popular place to have a holiday house (second home). There is also a chocolate factory on the island which runs tours for about $15 pp and has a wonderful adjoining cafe. The cafe serves the most delicious scones with jam and cream. I thoroughly recommend them 🙂

After the Tasmanian devils we saw emus!

They went crazy over the feed…

Maya enjoyed looking at the giant birds!

Once we’d seen the emus it was on to the kangaroos.

Kenji really enjoyed feeding the kangaroos but wasn’t so keen on the smell or the swarm of flies that stuck to your skin. I hadn’t experienced bush flies in a very long time and I am not interested in seeing them anytime soon!

Young Leilani really enjoyed patting the kangaroos, I must admit though that I was worried one might throw a punch as she is a little on the rough side. Fortunately, however all was good.