Touring around on one bicycle trying and trying to capture it....

Still trying.....

Thai trains.

Enormous golden Buddah.

The most beautiful beach in the world.

Stone Buddah head craddled in tree trunk.

Holy Tree wrapped in colored banners.

Today I only worked until 1. It seemed like such a waste as the weather lately is horrid. Yesterday was gorgeous but all last week was rainy and cloudy. I'm not enjoying this weather when my only mode of transport is my bicycle - well, not even mine, my sister's. I know, it's sad.

I love biking around though. I get places almost as fast as I would in a car but I am getting exercise and giving the earth a break. Usually I listen to music on my MD(mini disc) player.

I tried to upload some more pictures but for some reason HELLO, the program I use, was not working. I'll have to try again tomorrow and if it still doesn't work, wait until Jon comes home from treeplanting.

I wrote a 5 page letter to my pottery teacher from Japan with the help of my new friend Iyo. I could have written it by myself with a lot of errors and without saying exactly what I wanted. With Iyo's help, and a lot of talking about it, I have a finished draft that I feel is exactly what I wanted to say. Everything I wanted to say.

I promised myself I would start going to bed earlier so my patience lasts longer at the daycare. It's 945 and I'm going to call it a night.

And we're off.....to Thailand.

Maxing and relaxing.

Koh San Road at night.

Golden Monks.

Laughing Buddah.

A Trip Down Memory Lane...All the Way to Japan

I have been reminising a lot about Japan and my friends there lately. Perhaps it is because I still don't feel like I fit in here. I am still adjusting and going through reverse culture shock I suppose. At least I feel like I have a purpose now that I have been accepted to school starting in September.

I know everyone feels the same but if I could go back in time when I lived in Japan, I would do a lot of things differently. I didn't know how good I had it there. I wish I had. I loved it and did all sorts of things but I feel like if I could go back (and only sleep 2 hours a day), I would do so much more.

Here are some photos from our Sayonara party on the last day in Japan. A bunch of our friends took us out to a local restaurant and bar. We had a blast!

2 Saskatchewan girls in rural Japan.

Tetsuji's story.

Binesu-san rappin' it up - ka-ra-o-ke style.

Asami-chan and Maru-kun - the staff of Shy Bar.

Mr. Jon and Mr. Tetsuji.

Sending offf the old - bringing in the new ALTS for Sakawa and Susaki.

Sayonara Japan - the night before we left - July 2005.

Birthday Treasure

Somewhere in my basement suite, that I share with my sister, Jon has hidden my birthday present. I have no idea where it could be. Part of me wants to go searching frantically and another, very very small part of me wants to wait until Sunday - my birthday. He sent a letter in the mail telling me where the present is hidden. I wonder if I can wait until Sunday?

I gave the stitch 'n bitchers a second chance after I was stood up at the last meeting. It was a bad idea - no one showed again. I guess I will have to resort to knitting by myself. It's too bad because I was really looking forward to meeting some new people who shared a similar interest. But it was not meant to be.

I bought Jon one of the drums that I wrote about yesterday. It has real character. It was painted by a young boy. There is a picture of a teepee on the front of the drum. I know he'll love it. I can't wait to give it to him!

My parents are coming to visit this weekend. It will be good to see them again. It seems outrageous the amount I've seen them lately compared to how much I saw them in Japan. It feels wonderful!