Timor-Leste 2002-2003

2002年5月の東ティモールの独立から約1年半、UNDP (国連開発計画) 東ティモール事務所　というところで、働いていました。

UNDP Timor-Leste　国連開発計画　東ティモール事務所　http://www.undp.east-timor.org/
UN Agencies Timor-Leste 国連東ティモール常駐機関　http://www.unagencies.east-timor.org/
UNMISET/UNOTIL 国連東ティモール事務所　http://www.unmiset.org/



The office colleagues on the day of the Independence


Selling fresh fishes in Dili


near the port in Dili


"Delta Papa, Delta Papa..."


In Dili, in in Esplanada, after the trip to climb Mt. Lamarao with colleagues


Near Maubisi


In tutuala


With house owner, Madam Maria


With Emilia and her mother


With house owner's family members at my farewell party

SWY - South Africa, Tanzania, Seychelles, the UAE - 1999

I attended the Ship for World Youth 12th organized by Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, the Government of Japan. About 120 Japanese and 150 international youths in 17 countries joined to the two months' sailing to Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, the United Arab of Emirates, and Singapore for understanding cultural differences. The participated youthes in 1999 were from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, India, Spain, Belgium, Norway, Australia, Canada, Tanzania, South Africa, Seychelles, Mexico, Peru, and Japan.

Eventually, it became an eye-opening opportunity for me to encounter the Arabs and understand the Islamic norms and cultures a few years before working on 9/11 in journalism.

Table Mountain @ Cape Town, South Africa














Beach @ the Seychelles Islands










































Next >> Bali, Lombok, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney - 2002, 2003

Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Croatia - 1998

Dubrovnik, Croatia













My round trip to Ghana was made by the cheapest flight ticket issued by Balkan Bulgarian Airline flying from Bangkok through Bulgaria to Ghana. Taking advantage out of it, on the way back from Ghana to Tokyo, I transited in Sofia (Bulgaria) and traveled to Dubrovnik (Croatia), one of the best destination for vacation in Europe, through Belgrade (Yugoslavia) with a backpack by railway. It was eventually the most unforgettable memorable backpack travel.

Tokyo - Bangkok - Sofia - Accra (Flight)
Sofia - Belgrade - Zagreb (Train)
Zagreb - Rijeka (Bus)
Rijeka - Split - Dubrovnik (Ferry)

Enjoyed cafes in the town of Sofia while seeing the transition economy. Took railway, transited through war-torn Belgrade to Zagreb, slept on deck in a ferry sailing in the Adrian Sea, stayed at a cheapest sobe (room) in Dubrovnik for 10 days, and swam everyday in one of the most transparent sea. It was a good excise to refresh myself after the hardest life for one year in West Africa and prepared to go back to the real life in Tokyo...

(The above pic is from Google. Will upload my pics one day...)

Next >> SWY - South Africa, Tanzania, Seychelles, the UAE - 1999

Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin - 1998

My third backpack travel was the longest one - to Ghana. During the one year in Ghana, I made several travels around the country and to the neighboring countries.

(Following are pics from Google.)


Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (from Google)


Plateau, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (from Google)


Plateau, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (from Google)


Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (from Google)

Next >> Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Croatia - 1998

Ghana - 1997-1998

大学4年生だった1997年9月から1年間、西アフリカにあるガーナ国立大学というところで、主に、アフリカ研究と開発・発展の課題について、勉強していました。

University of Ghana
http://www.ug.edu.gh/


Campus, University of Ghana


Balme Library


Cape Coast, Ghana


Cape Coast, Ghana


Kokrobite, Ghana


Kokrobite, Ghana


Kokrobite, Ghana


Kokrobite, Ghana


Elmina, Ghana


Elmina, Ghana


During the PRA workshop in Larabanga


Larabanga, Northern Ghana


Larabanga, Northern Ghana


in a market


in a restaurant


in a club


in a festival


in a festival


Cooking Kenkey in Nima, Accra


Cooking fried yam at the kitchen in the Volta Hall, Univ of Ghana


With Abaya, working in a campus market

Thailand, Laos - 1996

My second destination for backpack travel was Southeast Asia for six weeks. Relaxed at Koh Samui, visited some friends in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, did home-stay in my friend's farmer family in Chiang Mai, and then moved to Laos. Laos was too relaxing place to extend travel to Vietnam and Cambodia. I have still missed to visit the two countries...

(The following pics are picked up from Google for images. Will upload my pics one day...)

Mekong River, Laos

Savannakhet, Laos












Next >> Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin - 1998

New Zealand - 1995

My first destination for backpack travel was New Zealand when I was 19 years old. I studied at a small language school at Mt. Maunganui with home-stay for two months. Then, traveled down to the South Island for two weeks to make my long-cherished dream come true!

NZ is the best place for beginner trekkers and backpack travelers. It is easy to travel around to enjoy the splendid natures of NZ. I met many individual travelers from all over the world and heard some exciting stories in other continents, which led me later to travel to South East Asia and Africa. It was an excellent start to explore the world!

(Following pictures are picked up from Google for images.)

Mt. Maunganui



















Milford Sound














Lake Tekapo















Mt. Cook


















Next >> Thailand, Laos (1996)