Tag Archives: Japanese

A Family Day Out at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Our recent trip to Tasmania was filled with incredible experiences, but one of the highlights was spending half a day at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart. As a family of four, we’re always looking for places where both adults and kids can enjoy themselves, and this garden turned out to be perfect for all of us.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by lush greenery and beautifully maintained paths that seemed to lead us into a different world. The kids immediately dashed off to explore, thrilled to find so much open space where they could run around and burn off their energy.

One of the first spots we visited was the Japanese Garden, and it completely stole our hearts. The tranquil ponds, delicate wooden bridges, and the soft rustle of the leaves created such a peaceful vibe. My husband and I took a moment to sit on one of the benches, soaking in the calmness while the kids excitedly pointed out the koi fish swimming gracefully in the pond. It was one of those rare moments where everyone was happy and content in the same place.

Another highlight was the Tasmanian native plant collection. We spent time admiring the unique and diverse flora that this island is known for. It was amazing to see plants we’d never encountered before, and the kids had fun trying to guess the names (with some hilarious results).

The Subantarctic Plant House was a bit of an adventure in itself. Stepping into the cool, controlled environment was like visiting a miniature version of Tasmania’s subantarctic islands. The kids found it fascinating, and we all learned a lot about the unique ecosystems of these remote places.

The gardens are so vast and varied that there was always something new to discover. From colourful flower beds to the aromatic herb garden, every corner offered a little surprise. We even found a lovely spot to sit down and enjoy some snacks we’d brought along, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

What made this visit truly special wasn’t just the stunning scenery but the chance to slow down and connect as a family. Watching the kids laugh and run freely while we explored together was such a joy. It felt like we’d hit pause on the busy-ness of life and stepped into a place of pure calm and beauty.

By the time we left, we were all feeling refreshed and inspired, with plenty of photos and happy memories to take home. The kids even asked if we could visit again next time we’re in Tasmania, which says a lot considering their usual attention spans!

If you’re ever in Hobart, I can’t recommend the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens enough. Whether you’re traveling with kids, as a couple, or on your own, it’s a place that offers something for everyone—a perfect blend of education, relaxation, and fun.

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Take care,

M from Nepaliaustralian
XOXO

A Different Perspective

I have read a few blogs from the perspective of a wife, a husband or a daughter in law in an intercultural relationship but never from the prespective of a mother in law.

Yesterday I was talking to one of my colleague and I came to know a bit about the perspective of a mother in law and it was quite interesting so I am sharing it here with all of you. 

My colleague is from Russia and she moved to Australia more than 20 years ago. She has two boys who were both born and brought up here. So they are more Aussie than she wants them to be.  

Anyway, her older son was in a relationship with a Japanese girl for a while. They met when she came to Australia as an exchange student.  

Last month they got married in Japan so my colleague and her family flew to Japan to attend the wedding. 

 She was not very happy about how everything was working out before she left the country. A few things that she mentioned were: 

  • She wanted a Russian daughter in law.
  • She felt that her new daughter in law was not very open when she visited her. (She stayed in the same house with my colleague.)
  • She wanted to be a part of the wedding preparation but she was never consulted about anything.
  • She wanted the wedding to be in Australia especially after the nuclear problem in Japan recently.
  • She was scared that her son was planning to move to Japan after the wedding. 

 Yesterday I saw her for the first time after the wedding. When I asked her how the wedding went, she was positive about her experience. 

 She said she is happy about lots of things after visiting Japan as she can now see that some of the things she was not happy about with her new DIL is more cultural than personal. 

For example, she was a bit sad when her DIL didn’t hug her when they met. Now she is happy that DIL doesn’t hug her mum either which means that hugging is not a part of the Japanese culture. It made her realise that her DIL is not trying to keep a distance from her; it just is not a part of Japanese way of life. 

 Also she was happy that the bride’s family made a lot of effort to make them feel comfortable and welcome in Japan. 

 The most important thing for her was, that her son and DIL spent lots of time with them and made sure that they were looked after while they were there. So now she doesn’t worry about how her DIL is taking her son away from ber as she feels that her DIL is a part of her family now.  

I think all relationships are difficult in the beginning but for intercultural relationship it is more difficult for a man and woman but same goes for their families as well.