William Creek, South Australia

Woomera represents the region in South Australia that has been used for rocket launching and astronomical testing site since 1945. A numerous tests, jointly by Australia and Britain, have been carried out since them. Not much of the nature of work is known, but less known is what is left behind by these tests. In the regional “museums” (in parks) lies numerous monuments - wreckages, fragments of parts and metals. What we don’t know are the invisible scars left by these experiments and scientific achievements. Scars are on land, in the soil, on wildlife habitats – but most importantly and least being acknowledged is the visible and invisible scars left on the indigenous people who call these places home (Photo: Simon Wearne).

Lake Hart, South Australia

There are a number of salt lakes in central part of Australia, scattered in this vast dry continent. The red landscape is also surprisingly green contrary to our images of desert land. Many of the salt lakes are below sea level, and this Lake Hart is at 12m below. Lake Hart is a place of spiritual significance for the Australian Aboriginee Kokotha people. Around the lake, we see numerous middens, animals bones, emu footprints…. It felt like a place of life and death – life’s simple yet essential cycle. The salt lies like a thin ice with a pink glow from the red soil underneath. The water is never high, perhaps only a knee high even at the centre. The perfect silence kept the water surface still like a thin glass layer over the pure white salt. The sun started to break, covering the landscape with metallic gold glow. As the lake started to reflect the pale blue sky, I suddenly found myself standing on the edge of the sky.

Tessen

Tessen (Clematis florida) literally means steel wire for its steel-like vines. Also kazaguruma (wind wheels) for its shape. The flowers are in fact sepals, not petals. They are believed to have transported from China in Edo period and favoured as an ornamental plant featured in many Ukiyoe prints, screens and wall paintings.

Sakura

Sakura saku (cherry blossoms are in bloom) was a typical telegraph message used to give a good news, mostly a success in being accepted to a university (Sakura chiru- blossoms are falling- is the contrary message). The telegraph message is hardly used today, but sakura is still a symbol of good fortune and happiness as they announce the arrival of the spring with joyful colour, gentle perfume in warm breeze and happy songs of the birds. The blossoming of sakura symbolises a new beginning in many ways, as the school year, financial year and new employments start on 1 April. So with this sakura blossom, I wish you all "Sakura saku"

Koke

Koke or moss are important elements in Japanese gardens, as well as ornamental plants (eg bonsai). The Koke garden of the Saiho-ji, Kyoto (1250) is said to have over 120 species of koke. 'Koke-covered' has a positive and respectful connotation in Japanese, respecting for an ancient time, long-term establishment and stability. The word is also featured in the national anthem, wishing he Nation's long-lasting fortune 'until it is covered with moss'.

Kage

Kage in Japanese is symbolised in two characters. 影 (kage) dark projection created by blocking the light. Shadow, silhouette, reflection. In the past, kage was used to measure the height of tall objects (trees, buildings). 陰 (kage) - places that do not receive sunlight. Shady places, darkness, also negativeness in personality. Darkness exists in kage, but without kage, there will be no depth and quality in our thinking. (Nakahichi, Chikatsuyu, 中辺路町近露)

Art of drying

Kaki or persimmons are now in season. Wakayama produces over 20% of kaki in Japan as well as mikan (mandarins). Both are planted on steep mountain sides, covering the slopes with the bright orange. Persimmons have bitter and sweet varieties and bitter ones are mostly dried (hoshi-gaki), which are lot sweeter than the sweet varieties. It is the tannin that causes bitterness, which can be removed by drying, soaking in alcohol or warm water, leaving in a sealed container with an apple etc. Many houses have kaki drying under their eaves keeping them from rain and birds. They turn sweet enough to eat in a week or so, but for preserving, a few more weeks of drying is recommended. With varieties of art of drying, people make sure they won’t waste any food and get ready for the coming winter (Nakahichi, Chikatsuyu, 中辺路町近露).