It's actually nice to be typing here using my nice, familiar, North American-style keyboard. :) I'm now sporting a nice, new HP laptop, so the next time I'm out-and-about in the world I won't be running into the problem where I can't read my own website anymore. Also, starting in January I'm getting back into studying Japanese. I'm hoping that the next time I find myself in Japan that I'll be able to communicate a little more efficiently than I managed the first time around.
That brings up another interesting point. Yes, I will be returning. That much is certain. I'll call it almost 4 months since I returned to Canada and I'm still missing Japan. Of course, you always miss being on vacation when you have to return to work, but it's more than that. There are funny little aspects of life in Japan that I miss. I liked waking up, walking down to the Lawson Station variety store, and buying an onigiri (rice balls with various fillings) and a big plastic bottle of cold, sweetened coffee. A fantastic breakfast for about $2. It's a funny thing to miss, but I think about it every now and then... usually on a Sunday morning when I'm not particularly inclined to actually MAKE breakfast.
At this point, I think I'll throw up a few select pictures that some of you won't have seen before. I'll try to jump on every so often and post some more pics.
This is from Nara, on top of Wakakusayama which we climbed after visiting Todaiji Temple. It's actually four photos that I stitched together using MS Paint (hence the excellent quality of my stitching...)
The Shinkansen. Seriously, this is the only way to travel. I wish we had these in Canada, nobody would have to fly from Toronto to Vancouver.
There was a lot of talk about the Typhoon during my time in Nobeoka, and thought this photo really captured the effect nicely. Rain. LOTS.
Well guys, I'll stop there for the sake of keeping this post reasonable. I'll try to be back soon with a few more pictures. Next time I go away I'll do my best to get pictures up in real-time, not 4 months later... should be easier with my own computer in tow. That said, I'd like a little help with the planning phase of my next trip. Namely, where am I going? I WILL go back to Japan someday. Someday. For now, there's a lot more world to see out there, and I need suggestions, so let's here them. I want to see England and Scotland (my ancestral homelands), Machu Pichu (hope I spelled that right, it's in Peru anyway...), Australia, New Zealand... there's too many options. So, in the comments section for this post, let's here your thoughts.
For now, this is Colin, signing out.
