Claremont

The streets in Claremont evoked a vision of those days as if they had been only a couple of days ago. A park I used for a short cut to the school, a café where I studied ardently after school, a bus stop where I waited for a girl, though there were some new buildings, all the most precious places hadn’t changed at all. I couldn't stop reminiscing about the past although I'd been focusing only on the future ever since I left this town 3 years ago.

Following the same road I used to use on those days, I arrived at the (ex) ECU Claremont Campus. Although the ownership had been transferred to another university due to ECU’s financial issues, the buildings has been preserved intact as it’s a very important national asset of Australia. It used to be very lively as around 200 students including me studied there. Maybe because of the holiday, the campus was filled with silence and during my exploration there I could easily visualise the faces of the friends who were eating lunch on the grass, playing soccer after school and on and on.

Fremantle

Fremantle is my favourite place around Perth. I would never get bored with the sunset over the Indian Ocean observed from the lighthouse on the outskirts of the town. As far as my eyes could see, there are only the ocean and the sky. The big red sun setting over them was absolutely magnificent and somehow a little sentimental. Gazing at the clear gradient between navy blue and deep orange with no clouds, I in fact felt like crying.

Come to think of the past, I'd never suffered the emotion of nostalgia like this time. It was too vivid to avoid confronting although I'd been trying not to immerse myself in unobtainable bygone days. In retrospect, the days in Perth could be my late youthful days. Studying hard, playing with friends, dealing with a love triangle, they were indeed very new for me who had been engaged with the web industry since his high school days and not known an ordinary student life. Although not everything was pleasant, I can embrace all of them as precious memories for now.

Nevertheless, I have no desire to return to those days as this journey has just begun and I have many plans after my return to Japan. Keeping these beautiful memories in my heart, I'll travel to the future again.

No sooner had I arrived at his room accompanied by the other friends than a big surprise hit me. Though I actually anticipated this, the room had absolutely excellent taste. It was a two storey town house and going up from the first floor's kitchen, a spacious living room with a loft bed was there. The Northern European taste furniture went well with bare wood floorings and ceilings. It was like an show room from an interior magazine. Oh, I should have a nice room like this in Tokyo when he comes to Tokyo next time.

Johann's shop is named Pigeonhole and sells various design products imported by him from all over the world. I've never seen this quality of selection in Perth. Maybe the shops can thrive even in Tokyo. Although they are not big stores, you would find something new at every visit as they have many routes to import the products. One shop is located at London Court, a famous traditional shopping mall in Perth. You should visit there when you have a chance.

After Johann's return to Australia, we went out to a new bar in Perth. Drinking and relaxing at a open terrace bar, we chatted about design and business. I appreciate our relationship as we can talk about even some serious themes with ease. And after coming back to the house, we started working again on the couch. I had to write some on this blog and so did he to respond some emails. Taking care of each other but not interfering, two geeks were sitting together and working silently. It would've been a very bizarre scene if someone had seen from the outside.

I guess, our characteristics are very similar. Although it was initially just a coincidence to meet him, I'm very grateful for this serendipity. I' value this nice friendship and hope to keep in touch with him in the future.