Latest news with #Mish
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Stunning Japanese hike is like stepping into an (animated) movie
A related topographical quirk is Yakushima's location within the East China Sea's warm Kuroshio Current. Even in winter, the seawater averages 19.2 degrees, ensuring the island maintains a mild subtropical climate with cool summers and warm winters. The islanders like to explain the divergent topography thus: 'Oceanside, Yakushima is like Okinawa, but in the mountains it's like Hokkaido'. And: 'In Yakushima you can decorate a snowman with hibiscus flowers'. Another local saying: 'In Yakushima it rains 35 days a month', is equally revealing, although understandably, not as popular on tourist brochures. From the ferry port, it's an easy stroll to clifftop Hotel Yakushima Ocean & Forest where I am based for three nights. This 60-year-old officious looking place, formerly a government building, is now privately owned with a recent and decent facelift that makes it feel something like an alpine resort. Its 90 rooms all have ocean views, the best of which are Western-style with balconies overlooking the salt-sprayed cliffs. But it feels right to be in a Japanese room where I sip tea cross-legged on a tatami mat, knowing that my mattress will be dutifully rolled out on the floor come bedtime. Ideally, you'd stay a week on Yakushima and explore the entire clock via the island's loop road, but in two full days I'll tick off just the north-east coastline (about 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock) detouring inland for the hike. Along this part of the coast it's relatively flat with low-rise village houses and small-town infrastructure dotted amid a Tetris of citrus, tea and potato crops. Bougainvillea blooms along the roadside next to papaya trees and banana palms. At the inlet where the Anbo River meets the ocean the beach is sandy blonde, its warmish waters attracting swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers. My guide, Mizuha Higashi, aka Mish, leads me upstream instead to a little wooden jetty where we slip into kayaks for a paddle along the waterway. It's a forest bathing exercise, the river banks dense with giant rhododendrons, camphor and beech trees. I paddle around the roots and rocks on the water's edge, peering into its translucent depths. Heading back downstream, Mish points out the simple waterside house where Hayao Miyazaki and the lead artists on the Princess Mononoke film based themselves while studying the film's forested world. Its significance resonates the following day on our hike through the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine. From the trail head, the dirt path continues along a crystal clear stream over big granite boulders and across a little storybook wooden suspension bridge. As we ascend, the forest foliage thickens, filling in the canopy above us like puzzle pieces. In the gaps, thin shards of light illuminate miniature ecosystems of ferns, fungi and cushiony wet moss where cedar tree seeds germinate before taking root in the granite rock. We walk on passing azaleas, sakura cherry trees, evergreen mountain ash, hemlock and fir. Towering century-old camellia trees with bright orange trunks appear young against the millennial cedars; their gnarly girths, too wide to hug, dot our path like woodland gods. Generally, the Taikoiwa Rock trail is 5.6 kilometres – about four hours, but recent rain means a harder, longer (10-kilometre) detour that takes us along the Kusugawa Sidewalk. This natural rock path was painstakingly constructed 300-400 years ago during the Edo Period, so loggers could access the cedar trees. Back then the tallest, straightest cedars were harvested to make hiragi – lightweight wooden roof shingles that were also used as currency to pay land taxes. The less desirable cedars, including the ko-sugi – those that grow from the 'parent' stump of the felled cedars – remain today and are what makes the forest so magnificent. Stepping over slippery tree roots and trickling water channels, we continue to Kuguri-sugi cedar, its split trunk parting like curtains we can walk through, and Nanahon-sugi cedar, another wizened woodlands dame, 18 metres tall and said to be 2000 years old. Finally, at almost 900 metres, we enter the Moss Covered Forest of Princess Mononoke, where in the darkness a cool white mist shrouds us in stillness. The story goes that the Studio Ghibli artist Kazuo Oga had a favourite spot here where he would spend endless hours sketching the landscape and imagining its mythical inhabitants. As Ashitaka says in the film, 'this place is magical … a place for gods and demons'. And it is. This is a forest preserved in time, a world carpeted in lurid green moss where dragonflies flit, minuscule flowers bloom and giant tree roots hide the would-be tiny houses of forest creatures. As if on cue, we see a young Japanese couple taking in-situ photos of tiny figurines – the film's tree spirits, known as kodama in Japanese folklore. These endearing white ghosts with tiny bodies, cute misshapen heads and glowing eyes exist only when the forest is healthy and so become the film's symbol of hope for the natural world. Enchanted, we snap our own photos, then trudge on, eager to get to Taikoiwa Rock, the trail's balding rocky summit. Up here among the clouds the stillness prevails, at least until 'silence boy!' echoes around the mountains. THE DETAILS Fly + ferry ANA ( and Japan Airlines ( fly from Sydney to Kagoshima via Tokyo Haneda from $1220 return. Yakushima is a two-hour ferry ride from Kagoshima city. Loading Stay Hotel Yakushima, Ocean & Forest ( has six room categories and an onsen. Double room rates (some including a traditional Kaiseki dinner) from 12,000 Yen ($A130). The writer was a guest of JNTO.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CEO of Mistoria Group Mish Liyanage shares advice on why May is the best month of the year to sell a house
Mish Liyanage SALFORD, United Kingdom, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- May is the best month of the year to buy or sell a house, according to a leading property expert. Mish Liyanage, the CEO of the Mistoria Group, says there are already 'positive signs' that the market is gaining momentum, and he expects to 'turbo-charge' in the coming weeks. History indicates this to be correct. Last year, May 31, 2024, was the busiest day for property sales in the entire calendar year, according to industry transaction data. Commenting on why he expects to see a repeat in 2025, property expert Mish said: 'That momentum isn't slowing. This year, market indicators are pointing to a similar surge in demand, especially across the North West and key urban regions. "Spring has always been seen as a season of opportunity for estate agents, buyers, and sellers alike, but May 2025 is forecast to be particularly exciting. We're already seeing early signs of increased valuations, elevated buyer enquiries, and multiple-offer scenarios. Spring 2025 is creating a perfect storm for positive movement across the sector. "The Bank of England is also forecast to cut interest rates three more times this year. The general consensus on the financial markets is that the base rate will end 2025 at 3.75 percent, down from 4.5 percent where it is currently lying. This will have a massive positive impact for all buy to let investors.' Mish has outlined his five top tips for buyers and for sellers looking to capitalise on the May bounce: 1. Secure Mortgage Pre-Approval Early "In a fast-moving market, being prepared is everything. A mortgage pre-approval gives you clarity on what you can afford and positions you as a serious buyer in the eyes of agents and sellers. This can be the deciding factor in a competitive bidding environment." 2. Be Ready to Act — But Don't Skip Due Diligence "The best homes won't stay on the market for long, especially in hotspot areas like Manchester, Bolton, and Salford. Have your solicitor instructed and surveyor on standby. But remember, don't compromise on essentials - check EPC ratings, boundary issues, and planning permissions." 3. Think Beyond The Price Tag "Look beyond cosmetic finishes. Consider proximity to schools, transport links, work hubs, and future development potential. The value of a home often lies in its location and lifestyle compatibility as much as its square footage." 4. Stay Flexible on Viewing Times "Be open to short-notice viewings and virtual tours. With demand spiking, waiting a day could mean missing the opportunity. The more accessible you are, the more options you'll be able to explore." 5. Use a Trusted Local Agent "National portals are great, but a knowledgeable local agent like Mistoria can give you access to off-market or pre-listed homes. Our clients often benefit from early alerts on properties not yet live online." Top 5 Seller Tips to Capitalise on Spring Demand 1. Maximise Kerb Appeal from the First Glance "First impressions sell homes. Invest a few hours in refreshing your entrance, pressure washing driveways, and adding plants or flowers. It creates an emotional connection from the moment a buyer arrives, or views your listing online." 2. Declutter, Neutralise, and Lighten "Spring is about light and space. Remove heavy furnishings, clean windows, and use mirrors to bounce light around. Consider repainting in neutral tones to allow buyers to imagine their own lives in the home." 3. Time Your Launch Strategically "Timing is everything. Listing in early to mid-May ensures your home is live during peak buyer activity. At Mistoria, we advise clients based on historical click-through rates and seasonal patterns to optimise launch impact." 4. Price Smart – Not Just High "Overpricing can stall momentum. Instead, price competitively to generate interest and possibly spark a bidding war. A strong opening few weeks on the market are crucial as this is when your listing gets the most attention." 5. Prepare All Documentation Upfront "Avoid unnecessary delays by getting EPCs, ID verification, property information forms, and Title Deeds ready from day one. A well-prepared seller can exchange contracts quicker, often a deal-maker in time-sensitive purchases." A photo accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: CONTACT Mish Liyanage COMPANY: Mistoria Group EMAIL: info@ WEB: in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Grim truth behind seemingly innocent sight on rural road: 'Didn't realise'
A seemingly innocent video of a koala drinking rainwater on the side of a rural road has prompted an urgent warning from wildlife rescuers. The iconic animal was recently spotted by a driver hovering over the ground and using its tongue to lick moisture off the bitumen in South Australia after parts of the state saw rain for the first time since December. 'I think it was assumed she was initially hit by a car,' Mish, a carer with Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue Ltd, told Yahoo News Australia. Tragically, the koala's condition was even worse than the motorist who called for help feared. 'She was just a really, really sick koala unfortunately,' Mish said, explaining that the animal's thirst was actually an indicator of poor health — and she wasn't the only one suffering. 'We got three reports of koalas drinking [on the road] and they all had various health conditions, and they're not in a good way.' The wildlife rescuer told Yahoo more drivers likely saw others searching for moisture after the rainfall, but probably thought the behaviour was normal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Southern Koala & Echidna Rescue (@southernkoalaechidnarescue) Healthy koalas are able to absorb all the moisture they need from gum tree leaves, but 'the ones that are coming down to the ground and seeking out water all seem to have some pretty bad health issues', she added. 'We've had people that were trying to shoo them off the road because they were drinking during the rain. They were more concerned about the koala getting hit and didn't realise the drinking itself is an issue. The koalas just go straight back onto the road because they're so desperate.' Without intervention, the animals become too weak and ultimately starve to death or succumb to their illnesses. 🐍 Aussie man shocked by 'elusive' find on roadside 🐨 Koala wearing mysterious devices on busy road sparks concern 📸 Travelling Aussie influencers delete video of 'abhorrent' koala trick Poor fur condition Allowing a predator (human or dog) to approach Sleeping or sitting hunched on the ground A koala on the ground drinking Cloudy eyes A koala smaller than the size of a football The female koala seen in the footage was revealed to have a host of issues, including reproductive disease and 'bad kidneys'. Sadly, she had to be euthanised, Mish said. One of the others still in their care — a thirsty male who was also seen on a road — had injuries to his back leg and jaw after being struck by a car. 'If it wasn't for the fact that he was on the road drinking and someone rang us, he would have probably still continued in the he would have continued to just go downhill as he got weaker and weaker from not eating as much as he needs to,' Mish told Yahoo, adding 'one simple phone call' to a local wildlife rescuer is 'all it takes' to stop their pain. 'If people aren't sure, we'd rather they just call anytime they see a koala drinking — worst case scenario, they come in for a vet check, and if they seem otherwise healthy, then they'll get a boost of vitamins and fluids and [we'll] get them back out there. 'It's heartbreaking to see so many that are just left to suffer.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
