The one where I find out the difference between envy and jealousy…..

08.22.2015 by Trish // 1 Comment

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between envy and jealousy? Well I am here to explain what it is, very simply!

Envy is a two way situation, whereas jealousy is a three way situation

Hence…….

I am envious of Liz because she has the opportunity to do this amazing 88 Temple Shikoku Pilgrimage

This was the that fateful morning when I started off expecting to walk 35k's and I ended up being chauffeured 156k's. Lookin' good Liz!!! — This was the that fateful morning when I started off expecting to walk 35k’s and I ended up being chauffeured 156k’s. Lookin’ good Liz!!!

Whereas I am jealous of Sarah because she has joined Liz in Japan and they are going to finish the pilgrimage together

Happy trekking to Liz and Sarah, I can’t wait to join you

Liz does Temple 12 – Temple 22

08.21.2015 by Trish // 1 Comment

Hey folks! Some of you think it is me doing those amazing things. I’m not actually in Japan yet. I’m sitting at home with a cup of coffee, listening to the rain and waiting for my granola banana bread to cook, (granola from the gorgeous Red Lime Jones), easy peasy and delicious. If you want the recipe leave a comment!!

Sorry, got a bit lost there, started off talking about Japan and ended up talking about recipes. Which is sorta what Liz has done on her trek so far, granted there’s been a few detours, some may call it lost but I think that’s a bit harsh, a train here, a taxi there!! I won’t be in Japan for another 3 weeks, in fact this time in three weeks I will be sitting in the Qantas lounge at Perth Airport maybe enjoying a glass of champagne and hopefully upgraded to Business Class with my Frequent Flyer points. Butin the mean time I am sharing Liz’s adventures with you through her Face Book posts.

Aug 10th Temple 12: Because I’m a dumbarse I got horribly lost yesterday and didn’t get to temple 12 until 6:40pm. Everyone had gone by then so I set up my sleeping mat, and was sure I would fall asleep due to exhaustion. Fast forward 12:00am and I was still awake 😕. Managed to doze off at around 1:30am for a couple of hours but woke up at 3:30. By the time the stamp office opened and I could get my book stamped I was frustrated and tired. I walked up another steep hill and then finally headed down. Fast forward 12:30pm and 11 km later and I was absolutely hot and exhausted. So I did what any normal person what do and cheated. I called a taxi and got driven the last 10 km to temple 13. And don’t even feel bad about it, not even when we drove past about 3 or 4 people walking!

Just in case we didn't know we were going... — Just in case we didn’t know we were going…

Aug 11th: Sore legs, rest day today

Aug 12th: So my legs are still quite sore so I caught a bus to the bottom of the mountain I have to climb to get to the next temple. The bus driver was so nice not only did he drop me of at the walking path (which was not on his route) he gave me money to buy a drink!

So it is lunch time and I’ve already managed to walk what I planned to walk today!! Onto the next temple? I think so!! Right Liz, it’s time to haul arse!!

On the way down, it is hell steep and rocky like this for about 3kms. No wonder my shins are sore

No joke, on hot days the locals use this as their "beach" — No joke, on hot days the locals use this as their “beach”

Leaving my mark in Shikoku. I wonder if Mei knows if more than one person loves her? I hope this is some kind of love triangle!

Oh wow, a round house kick to the head has finally brought an end to Mei love triangle saga!

Literally?? Thanks, I guess.... — Literally?? Thanks, I guess….

Every time a pilgrim walks past this statue comes alive and challenges them to a fight. Even though his combat strength is over 9000 , I went super saiyan on his arse and now he is so scared he won't ever come alive again! — Every time a pilgrim walks past this statue comes alive and challenges them to a fight. Even though his combat strength is over 9000 , I went super saiyan on his arse and now he is so scared he won’t ever come alive again!

Dinner, it was waaaaay Japanese. I ate most of though

Finally made it to temple 22!, at Byodoji Temple.Staying in a lovely ryokan next door. That is all.

Tokashima to Temple 12

08.19.2015 by Trish // 1 Comment

Better start this morning, managed to get up feeling great. Got on the train right but got off on the wrong station, ended up walking about 15 minutes to the previous station to get on my transfer train. I finally got to Bando station and started walking to the first temple. I met a very helpful man who got me to the temple, helped me pick out my pilgrimage gear and taught me the ways of the temples. After visiting 3 temples I headed towards some accommodation only to find myself lost. Luckily some very nice ladies printed me off a map and sent me on my way. Sweaty and tired I finally found the hotel only to be told no vacancies! What!?! My name isn’t Mary and this isn’t the bible, this cannot be happening. All was not lost though, I got a ride back to the train station and caught a train back to tokushima city and booked myself a lovely hotel. Hopefully tomorrow will see me better prepared

Mauri, or something like that, my angel — Mouri, or something like that, my angel

Mouri(?) My angels, he pulled me into his shop and made me a green tea. He then proceeded to speak Japanese to me and then got me to write my name and where I’m from in a book. He then walked me to the temple and helped me buy my pilgrimage gear. He also showed me what to do in the temples and got me to do it until I got it right. Finally he he pointed me to the direction of the next temple. He did all this whilst only knowing a very minuscule amount of English.

He lets me know where to prayer. Thanks little dude, u are my new best friend

Don't know what it is, but it tastes good — Don’t know what it is, but it tastes good

Most of the walk today was along roads and through streets. This was one of the few times it wasn't — Most of the walk today was along roads and through streets. This was one of the few times it wasn’t

Plz universe let me be on the right bus!

I've ordered this for lunch. Don't know what it will be but I'll let you know..... — I’ve ordered this for lunch. Don’t know what it will be but I’ll let you know…..

Although I planned to get to temple 10 yesterday I only made it to temple 9 at around 5:20pm yesterday (Late start and hot day). The ladies at the temple very kindly arranged accommodation and a lift for me at a lodgings located about 3km after temple 10. “No worries”, I thought, I’ll just catch a taxi to temple 10 tomorrow morning. So this morning after a lovely breakfast the front desk person called a taxi for me, I got in, pointed to temple 10 in the map, taxi driver nodded and away we went. 15 minutes and about $30 later we arrived, I pay and as he drives away I realize he has driven me to temple 11!!! I actually don’t know how I feel about this, on one hand I’ve missed on a stamp from temple 10, on the other hand I’ve knocked off 9.7km from my walking time. I wonder if this is the universe’s way of letting me know that just because things don’t always go as planned, it isn’t always a bad thing. Or maybe the universe isn’t actually telling me anything and I should learn some basic Japanese!

12.9km up a mountain to temple 12.

Hmmmm - this doesn't look too bad.... — Hmmmm – this doesn’t look too bad….

Mountain view — Wow lovely view. I’ve still got a far way UP to go

More freaking steps, mum you would just die. I'm a bit sore and tired at this point — More freaking steps, mum you would just die. I’m a bit sore and tired at this point

You have got to be kidding me, they just keep coming and coming

Ummm....... Why is this path going downhill?? This means at some stage I have to go back up again, agggghhhh — Ummm……. Why is this path going downhill?? This means at some stage I have to go back up again, agggghhhh

A Hard Day!!

Liz does Japan – Tokyo – Mt Koya – Takoshima

08.16.2015 by Trish // 2 Comments

Thanks to modern technology (Facebook and Viber) Baguettes and Vegemite has been with Liz almost every step of the way so far, from her farewell in Perth, her first night in the capsule hotel at Tokyo airport, the trip to Mt Koya for a blessing to keep her safe on her pilgrimage and Tokashima City where the pilgrimage starts.

She was just a tad excited as she was leaving Perth!!

Anyway, I will let Liz tell you her story from her Facebook page

sleeping pod — Well I’ve finally made it to Japan and am about to retire to my capsule bed. I will post better photos later, the beds really are a hole in the wall. Good night everyone 😴😴😴 — at 9hours.

My cosy hole in the wall! I would definitely recommend 9 Hour capsule Hotel.

Couldn't wait to sit at the table - Ho-ji Inn Mt Koya — Couldn’t wait to sit at the table – Ho-ji Inn Mt Koya

Lolz, the prayer area is next to the TV! Unfortunately I couldn’t pray (or meditate) as I had no incense so I had to make do with watching tv instead 😁 — at Mount Kōya.

Being the busy local business person that I am, I like to wind down my day by drinking green tea and counting my money — at Mount Kōya.

The monk man who looked after me and cooked me dinner. I'm assuming he's a monk, his unshaven head might say otherwise. Every time he called me Ms Anderson my heart melted a tiny bit ☺ — at Mount Kōya. — The monk man who looked after me and cooked me dinner. I’m assuming he’s a monk, his unshaven head might say otherwise. Every time he called me Ms Anderson my heart melted a tiny bit ☺ — at Mount Kōya.

The big one, Kõbõ Daishi temple — at Mount Kōya.

Jimon-ten, he guards the temple. This picture doesn't do it justice, he looks fearsome. — Jimon-ten, he guards the temple. This picture doesn’t do it justice, he looks fearsome. “Come at me bro!” — at Mount Kōya.

A selfie with my mate!! I was not allowed to take photos inside the temple, if I was u would be seeing a picture of a young trainee monk sitting on the ground playing with his phone (updating fb? “Fucking beans for breakfast AGAIN!”)

Translation: Monkey was here. (HAH!) — at Mount Kōya.

This guy makes a mean noodles. He made it in under a minute, look at him he's so proud. It was roughly only $3 Australian, who says Japan is expensive! — This guy makes a mean noodles. He made it in under a minute, look at him he’s so proud. It was roughly only $3 Australian, who says Japan is expensive!

The hotel I stayed at (Hotel Avanti) takes a photo of everyone who stays there and puts it up on a wall. Well don't I feel special!!! — The hotel I stayed at (Hotel Avanti) takes a photo of everyone who stays there and puts it up on a wall. Well don’t I feel special!!!

Tomorrow the pilgrimage begins!