tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75613366330489948432024-03-05T01:19:50.375-08:00Digital SocksWords from an Irishman on his way home...Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-33932433054845028122012-04-25T02:57:00.001-07:002012-04-25T02:57:17.673-07:00Fes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If we're going to continue with this theme of me seeing the towns of
Morocco in different colours, then Fes is definitely the creams, beiges and yellows
of sandstone. The photos below are all from different locations around the city.<br />
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Because of all the hills, the place has a perched, panoramic quality. Dare I say it, it even
reminded me of Luxembourg a little in parts.
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A
Moroccan guy I got speaking to on the train called Fes an 'authentic'
city, and I think that's a good word for it. Compared to the other places I've visited, Fes doesn't feel like it's aiming itself at tourists. It feels like a place where real life is going on. Also, Fes doesn't have the crazy traffic of Marrakech, and it even has quite a
few pedestrian crossings. But nor did I discover any wonderful oases of
calm in Fes: I guess you have to taste the bitter to really appreciate
the sweet.<br />
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I certainly experienced plenty of local colour and stereotypical
backpacker moments getting here: the bus breakdowns; the mad running
with the backpack to make a connection; the sharing of one's seat on a train with
live chickens. I kid you not...if you look at the photo, you can see the girl holding
two chicks in her hands. The mother is busy packing more chickens in
and around my seat. All I could think was BIRD FLU!<br />
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I also had more run-ins with my taxi demons. On one ride from hell, we went the wrong way
up a one way street, made an illegal u-turn in the middle of traffic,
and stopped for shouting matches with other drivers. It was like a scene
from one of the Bourne movies. If I never have to take another taxi after this holiday, it will be too soon.<br />
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So big surprise, I spent most of my time in Fes visiting museums, looking at old buildings, and sitting on terraces watching the world go
by. Who'd a thunk it? I'm nothing if not original.
Fes has its own unique take on the terrace experience. In addition to the regular offers of shoe shining, they try to
sell you all manner of weird stuff as you sit sipping a coffee. I mean, random stuff like air freshener or
quartz clocks or shoes.
Fes has a more aggressive trade culture than the rest of Morocco. It's the only place where I've been almost dragged into shops in souks or taken 'to my friend's very nice place' by 'helpful' guides. Maybe I'm just feeling a bit souked out, like when people who travel to Europe get cathedral fatigue.<br />
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The Nejjarine fondouk is a national
landmark and is probably the most famous sightseeing place in Fes. It's a pretty building and now houses a museum of wood. Even
though I love wood carving, and even though the standard of craftsmanship is really
high in Morocco, the place still had a bit of a 'museum of buttons' feel
about it. <br />
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Another 'must see' in Fes would be the Merinid tombs. These are the remains of a 16th century palace that over look the medina. You really need a guide with you or you have to read up in advance when you come to
see the tombs. Otherwise there's a danger that you find yourself just
standing there looking at some old walls. Can you guess the mistake I made? <br />
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I also liked the Dar el-Makhzen (Le Palais Royal). This is a huge complex of palaces and gardens right in the centre of the city, and tourists can only access a fraction of the facilities, but what you do get to see is pretty nice.<br />
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I continued to have spectacular weather here. I've been so lucky - it's been blue sky, sunshine and hot temperatures
for a whole month. I've rarely experienced such uninterrupted good weather in my life. Honestly, it has only rained on me
for thirty seconds in the last four weeks as I moved from the door of a station to the door of a
bus. I have no doubt that Ireland will soon make up for this lack of precipitation, though. At least I will always have my memories. <br />
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</div>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-66413189439904061022012-04-21T10:40:00.000-07:002012-04-21T10:40:26.871-07:00The Atlas Mountains and Ouarzazate - fever, flies and FAIL!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Let me start by saying that the Atlas Mountains are spectacular and I am so glad that I had the chance to tour them. You see such a variety of colour and landscape that you feel you're seeing Morocco, with some Swiss Alps, some French Pyrenees and a bit of Mars thrown in for free!<br />
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Visiting the small mountain villages,
you get some idea of how basic and hard - but also how surrounded by
beauty - life is up in the Atlas.<br />
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They seem to have a few fields of
crops and a few sheep or goats to subsist on - if they can ever get to
goats down from the trees!<br />
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In the mountains, you also see some very traditional Moroccan restaurants. I was taken with the tagines
cooking outside on the street. They put a tomato or lemon on top to
control the steam and add to the fragrance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDxxOWjOA4-UikapaP3_IdiUYEztTp2V2r-KV7k40FUH5GmfI5qQT6lAZ3bs0ADjmXTq3bkOxTj6t7NntACu7_yU3J9qnCf1QIaMljsfiSxs4zaqXpWrZOpCHeI_zXqWATI0gjtC8atI/s1600/tagines+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDxxOWjOA4-UikapaP3_IdiUYEztTp2V2r-KV7k40FUH5GmfI5qQT6lAZ3bs0ADjmXTq3bkOxTj6t7NntACu7_yU3J9qnCf1QIaMljsfiSxs4zaqXpWrZOpCHeI_zXqWATI0gjtC8atI/s320/tagines+2.JPG" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As far as the natural beauty thing goes, it
may be that you can have too much of a good thing. When I took
one local bus right up amongst some of the most breathtaking scenery,
my fellow Moroccan passengers either fell asleep or pulled their
headscarves over their faces, while I was oohing and aahing and snapping
away. This may have been an effort on their part to counteract motion
sickness, though, as the roads up in the mountains were really winding.
One poor woman on a bus I took spent a good thirty minutes yawning up a
rainbow. I was struggling at the time not to join her.<br />
<br />
Usually,
when I go away from the tourist trail and join the locals, I try to
avoid the 'human zoo' thing and respect other people's privacy and not
treat them as some sort of exhibit for me to enjoy. But sometimes I
can't resist, and I had to catch this sneaky snap of the henna tattoos
on the hands of an old woman beside me. You see a lot of this
decoration every day over here. It's not just for special occasions.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnV_4YImkPU7duEZnybXilRHte9zS66dvaStUQTczzodBTRBRG4rNn4MDz59U68pR3l7EaiQ59UL7jvkZa0BR_9of4L9OeI8VnNuXiP56F0chyczHibOmdg_U6KkHRJqdQ7mOIBGkapQ/s1600/Henna+Hands.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnV_4YImkPU7duEZnybXilRHte9zS66dvaStUQTczzodBTRBRG4rNn4MDz59U68pR3l7EaiQ59UL7jvkZa0BR_9of4L9OeI8VnNuXiP56F0chyczHibOmdg_U6KkHRJqdQ7mOIBGkapQ/s320/Henna+Hands.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I was
supposed to be heading from the mountains into the desert for a trekking
expedition. Unfortunately, I caught cold and had to cancel this plan. I
knew from my time in other deserts that they are amazingly beautiful,
but also that you boil during the day and freeze during the night, and I
just wasn't physically up to that. Instead, I decided to spend a
couple of days in Ouarzazate, the doorway to the desert. This was
a mistake as Ouarzazate does not have much going on.<br />
<br />
There is a pretty
impressive kasbah, Kasbah de Taourirt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
To be honest, you see a lot of
the same goods - scarves, pottery, wood carvings, etc. - so it was really
the old buildings housing the goods in the kasbah that were of interest
to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROdCqWJUy5AKpQNDFvAKuG3ogwXEIsYpuN-IUJUqU85_h407LOgdzTALnclUltv1U_SvFdI5uboUwQipaE-KqTYZIvBFRZM11gmzYCCV1GjOMIeqgpcMi7zbanzc9wg6FNMujl-iR-1Q/s1600/Kasbah+goods.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROdCqWJUy5AKpQNDFvAKuG3ogwXEIsYpuN-IUJUqU85_h407LOgdzTALnclUltv1U_SvFdI5uboUwQipaE-KqTYZIvBFRZM11gmzYCCV1GjOMIeqgpcMi7zbanzc9wg6FNMujl-iR-1Q/s320/Kasbah+goods.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
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<br />
There is also a fun museum of cinema.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5twNnk-z7Sw1N5L_AubVssinxfsqpeINs7bgycakMTeEHmbA3WAWlt0C6SM6ziJdj17mastp8t6lfvAuXfvVK1zmcwNWJ4lq1zjz-ZaO4xv3QLIz6xU_TxkRD3H2zz2Gg56NO8di2qI/s1600/Museum+entrance.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5twNnk-z7Sw1N5L_AubVssinxfsqpeINs7bgycakMTeEHmbA3WAWlt0C6SM6ziJdj17mastp8t6lfvAuXfvVK1zmcwNWJ4lq1zjz-ZaO4xv3QLIz6xU_TxkRD3H2zz2Gg56NO8di2qI/s320/Museum+entrance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is located across from the kasbah and has sets from films like Lawrence
of Arabia, Gladiator and Babel that were all shot in the area; but aside from that the town of Ouarzazate
has a market, a lot of flies and a lot of beggars. I'm being pretty negative about the place, but I think after the splendor of the mountains and the disappointment of no desert trek, if felt like a letdown. I
got feverish on my second day of sightseeing around town and spent the rest
of my time there in bed. I was not sorry to say goodbye to the place and
move on.</div>
</div>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-48443587550108573012012-04-19T01:00:00.018-07:002012-04-19T01:40:44.212-07:00Essaouria - The Med of MoroccoEssaouira is a seaside town on the Atlantic coast about 3 hours west of Marrakech.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdvaD0DQclUSTK1EiiZsqDVgJZAxEpx8cpRO1V9_PdDV_wW9VdBAuSq8ZJJ6yLmN1a1RQNKzkQeK5TKu4-f3XLrRJdvCxaBnveQ1ZIEcAozQsb7cA-c9bLPuPDyyKNVaajJv32sNAIJo/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_42193e1d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdvaD0DQclUSTK1EiiZsqDVgJZAxEpx8cpRO1V9_PdDV_wW9VdBAuSq8ZJJ6yLmN1a1RQNKzkQeK5TKu4-f3XLrRJdvCxaBnveQ1ZIEcAozQsb7cA-c9bLPuPDyyKNVaajJv32sNAIJo/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_42193e1d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733024544992220658" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkw22mYeps-y61QJkaop-zXMtU0Mm63KWknbyAFpz7SdeMUua8X13miv4L2Q43KEnFRCYQx-0g1YEhOwiUtIdjaHnQ0hWmDFc6lTGGGa6DmyKKYUkOWhqBsmF4J2xbp-GeXCucnVGSEI/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_27735336.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkw22mYeps-y61QJkaop-zXMtU0Mm63KWknbyAFpz7SdeMUua8X13miv4L2Q43KEnFRCYQx-0g1YEhOwiUtIdjaHnQ0hWmDFc6lTGGGa6DmyKKYUkOWhqBsmF4J2xbp-GeXCucnVGSEI/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_27735336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733024554037569058" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq03fwxUw5NcTqFzagjtoFt42XK-VcKYFTyB37LlSNuR8Lz-czG8VMml_eVeb9z1xLAV5NDO7xmNavmfo1yYrhuVJX4cCya-30VlpsFkUbTxw2ZFwTJFiG9uD179BcCFiDyNsaVdiugow/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_4b847197.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq03fwxUw5NcTqFzagjtoFt42XK-VcKYFTyB37LlSNuR8Lz-czG8VMml_eVeb9z1xLAV5NDO7xmNavmfo1yYrhuVJX4cCya-30VlpsFkUbTxw2ZFwTJFiG9uD179BcCFiDyNsaVdiugow/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_4b847197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733021614488977778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczG7fG67m7l0c7YCSIFTkujvvO6Vkz91ktWm5j2RKB0MFh8pRO2DdSpCNxnoY2tuDmcab0NZp4NHO7Wr5jbd8K0kLXvVZmLVAx8ZGmkdTbR6OdWMl5xhUX79bFznkT265gy7yY3d5ozM/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_4b21a1cf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczG7fG67m7l0c7YCSIFTkujvvO6Vkz91ktWm5j2RKB0MFh8pRO2DdSpCNxnoY2tuDmcab0NZp4NHO7Wr5jbd8K0kLXvVZmLVAx8ZGmkdTbR6OdWMl5xhUX79bFznkT265gy7yY3d5ozM/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_4b21a1cf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733021605621767474" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwjHvwwAkh63IpV6QsNL45rIk_KVoTXSga3gmLXEHWSeQ1Gg4cctrngLVcrBv2hBdVOMjodBgBt28yeNP4HyGtm-q6OTVivQD95IwwolIDEp0AUsJGtqekDm7VRgMwEbWAAhNix81klM/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_58a36dd5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwjHvwwAkh63IpV6QsNL45rIk_KVoTXSga3gmLXEHWSeQ1Gg4cctrngLVcrBv2hBdVOMjodBgBt28yeNP4HyGtm-q6OTVivQD95IwwolIDEp0AUsJGtqekDm7VRgMwEbWAAhNix81klM/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_58a36dd5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733022801064102258" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXC5ETlwxDO9QHgFgONRaJlbBIdO55FojCJYULvi-jde9nbwTpJk15D4_Ql_c0vBJPUH1qzyOra3Gnn_hte2PklqCyRGA0iRepdqwZwxRh3sarza7h_yyBOY5Crp63G0VtO_wBRUfiAbM/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m202af2c2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXC5ETlwxDO9QHgFgONRaJlbBIdO55FojCJYULvi-jde9nbwTpJk15D4_Ql_c0vBJPUH1qzyOra3Gnn_hte2PklqCyRGA0iRepdqwZwxRh3sarza7h_yyBOY5Crp63G0VtO_wBRUfiAbM/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m202af2c2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733027226568867602" border="0" /></a><br />The wide expanse of beach and dune was just the contrast I was looking for after the craziness of Marrakech's Medina and souks. I wanted to breathe sea air and have space around me. Some of the best moments of the trip so far have been as simple as sitting on top of a dune, listening to the crashing waves, feeling the wind blowing the sand on my skin, and just trying to be in the moment. I found it a real kick to have camels walking up and down the strand.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIWAM5KzAZa5FRGJ3bHUoMu3nxzAAYy6XW8FPjdIMU73Ar4JJArruexqSYBhbaxFA8JbOmb4W7UekbrRhbrODaay9p-aI5sGazf1WbJrOfD2rJikdeJDMapLmo77KEgr2namiB84xLVE/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_2ac3c3e0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIWAM5KzAZa5FRGJ3bHUoMu3nxzAAYy6XW8FPjdIMU73Ar4JJArruexqSYBhbaxFA8JbOmb4W7UekbrRhbrODaay9p-aI5sGazf1WbJrOfD2rJikdeJDMapLmo77KEgr2namiB84xLVE/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_2ac3c3e0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733021582729567554" border="0" /></a><br />I have never seen this anywhere before. The locals ply a good trade offering rides up into the dunes. They must work the beasts pretty hard as this guy looks plain tuckered out.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCNeSEGgsqLnI6uSIa-JAhpUTx50Fbi5ynaljwUfvBTtEvMhDdiKFlWD8WFvMIhc9sNc_2pHnq2YMfzKDTEwwgqai6Vmx1nSRT79ZZMh7yqh-BkL6m7NzTybk9L6ltMj8wsiMY-TcdII/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_35a76647.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCNeSEGgsqLnI6uSIa-JAhpUTx50Fbi5ynaljwUfvBTtEvMhDdiKFlWD8WFvMIhc9sNc_2pHnq2YMfzKDTEwwgqai6Vmx1nSRT79ZZMh7yqh-BkL6m7NzTybk9L6ltMj8wsiMY-TcdII/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_35a76647.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733022788433323010" border="0" /></a><br />The surrounding landscape is one of rolling olive groves which makes it feel extremely Mediterranean - the local Argan olives and olive oil are famous, apparently. I can safely say I have never eaten so many olives in my life. They come as a side dish to everything, whatever the cuisine. Like pickles in Korea.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmNH1MZI2GuQoZI5h1TAbHQAG8e_5R1y3kV8WXkJjYeW3duKLk9cWGJcjUfkNPXDk5l0z_aDbFtgoVIY4dv3TK7vTqN7iTHipiU9K5j_r27Pdpc38dL0QHCU2d2nlBYr09avod7c0DK8/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_5595aeaa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmNH1MZI2GuQoZI5h1TAbHQAG8e_5R1y3kV8WXkJjYeW3duKLk9cWGJcjUfkNPXDk5l0z_aDbFtgoVIY4dv3TK7vTqN7iTHipiU9K5j_r27Pdpc38dL0QHCU2d2nlBYr09avod7c0DK8/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_5595aeaa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733024535344138962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nB4Wn2_M5oOYsWyoSJdi0HD1hNLqjru7ahvA8wu4IPFpdFbtn2lFZW2xOZICTHBcy-2nW0OtUSB7NxyPnq2uHtmsFOB1rAP_xd50LVPSD3XzIC72IpBshbhPS0lNY-xIvle95zRFZCM/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m612a3336.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nB4Wn2_M5oOYsWyoSJdi0HD1hNLqjru7ahvA8wu4IPFpdFbtn2lFZW2xOZICTHBcy-2nW0OtUSB7NxyPnq2uHtmsFOB1rAP_xd50LVPSD3XzIC72IpBshbhPS0lNY-xIvle95zRFZCM/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m612a3336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733027205956853842" border="0" /></a><br />The town, too, feels like it's on the Med. It was once a Portuguese colony, I guess, and where Marrakech was all pinks and terracottas, the colour scheme here is the white of the walls and the blue of the shutters. The place has a wind-worn elegance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpP-dFojLpqBQcEkDWalLNZbDwPgNvrN1RjjialEfpzIgDqp6RMr0aJmHF8ewTsauMvI0ALMqbJ0JOoBDN4Qn8RuFg4lR3Pb-YckcormFgR8MmQfL3kn79vmxLaXgglHd4sIBc6nftgM/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m68ad3aeb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpP-dFojLpqBQcEkDWalLNZbDwPgNvrN1RjjialEfpzIgDqp6RMr0aJmHF8ewTsauMvI0ALMqbJ0JOoBDN4Qn8RuFg4lR3Pb-YckcormFgR8MmQfL3kn79vmxLaXgglHd4sIBc6nftgM/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m68ad3aeb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733025781075428050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBNt8YTUSlcKFHro6b_GisIzsFCFleeVYeb8OOC848hZjX8peL579fFObdMeh5K4WXGWNDY3FMHCOVv8BhAXIeP4LQ0B6gSeIAPNOm54Ccik83xAUZSy3b5hu3fl_ybUL17sM843YpwY/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_3e33f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBNt8YTUSlcKFHro6b_GisIzsFCFleeVYeb8OOC848hZjX8peL579fFObdMeh5K4WXGWNDY3FMHCOVv8BhAXIeP4LQ0B6gSeIAPNOm54Ccik83xAUZSy3b5hu3fl_ybUL17sM843YpwY/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_3e33f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733021592101299522" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zurI2JCXkWQAC26VMOWS7Cinev9xQAxoy4mzIuvmVzyo4yeg88idjQr0GAKmy2sP_CIwBDnt0TiVmQaSRDp_1s5vRfW-VhULg6x-5VriXwiElDMeM2D9JyGBQyKEcAd2BG6LZIZ1pD0/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_52d48c05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zurI2JCXkWQAC26VMOWS7Cinev9xQAxoy4mzIuvmVzyo4yeg88idjQr0GAKmy2sP_CIwBDnt0TiVmQaSRDp_1s5vRfW-VhULg6x-5VriXwiElDMeM2D9JyGBQyKEcAd2BG6LZIZ1pD0/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_52d48c05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733022813162398418" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Quf3DivcyvzcdBZxwNNCw5vvAHt7AtyU-JxFpWl6qPRB58VMvyhyphenhyphentndPCsXty2KFdPlTvpQPS6oOexaYBEEchjHK_vknsIaSi4ScU1SduLSImeGrHBPOLf9uM-lqUMIknIERRA_ZzGk/s1600/P1040419.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Quf3DivcyvzcdBZxwNNCw5vvAHt7AtyU-JxFpWl6qPRB58VMvyhyphenhyphentndPCsXty2KFdPlTvpQPS6oOexaYBEEchjHK_vknsIaSi4ScU1SduLSImeGrHBPOLf9uM-lqUMIknIERRA_ZzGk/s400/P1040419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733028028342166130" border="0" /></a><br />The centre of town is made up of the same narrow winding streets as other Moroccan Medinas, but Essaoiura's Medina is more chilled out, less frantic. Think art galleries, craft shops and little mysterious courtyards, rather than hard-sell souks and bustling trade.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvlecElmytVknRkduyRwHo7B74vCayy46FVzcxhiS92F2_Yz9hBfDSqlaz4QtxCQnV52NYHgy9Gvh8DYYkfZJOwowwkiASifhLasCjrvrylImCs3hyS1Z8JIvcKYLc32PQzdy_8feO6g/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m72ffe146.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvlecElmytVknRkduyRwHo7B74vCayy46FVzcxhiS92F2_Yz9hBfDSqlaz4QtxCQnV52NYHgy9Gvh8DYYkfZJOwowwkiASifhLasCjrvrylImCs3hyS1Z8JIvcKYLc32PQzdy_8feO6g/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m72ffe146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733027234941966770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFa87ufVS7EnATV_1Ir5Gs5-a7F35vRuzZoSV2AGV9uISZRafCdW6pyqO-fpV7NryJeeRnXDI-43VZ-KpGeMotH7Na6CnDlNdFZ9N91_gplBNbR5TfOhBL8XpRwSc3YaGKIP-ClkG1rw/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m70e69135.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFa87ufVS7EnATV_1Ir5Gs5-a7F35vRuzZoSV2AGV9uISZRafCdW6pyqO-fpV7NryJeeRnXDI-43VZ-KpGeMotH7Na6CnDlNdFZ9N91_gplBNbR5TfOhBL8XpRwSc3YaGKIP-ClkG1rw/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m70e69135.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733027195596723714" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHDxgpmRuYpGwsnP2q43iiMxWHcQjSnPsP1iYnvHKCCz3nXPnLPYC5lBOCB2cQCdeje1UyNLADgXeUYC0-HAZiMBdPlMOoTesTviHqn2bdYblL4hjlQh95B0CPOSgsngWffFN2BL_O-0/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_6aa1754a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHDxgpmRuYpGwsnP2q43iiMxWHcQjSnPsP1iYnvHKCCz3nXPnLPYC5lBOCB2cQCdeje1UyNLADgXeUYC0-HAZiMBdPlMOoTesTviHqn2bdYblL4hjlQh95B0CPOSgsngWffFN2BL_O-0/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_6aa1754a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733021622238034546" border="0" /></a><br />The pace of life here is slow, and I loved listening to people just chat from window to window as I passed through the streets. (I could understand some of the rare bits in French.)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE-mJLxtitfR7tU5IlrdD5OQWuOhec0SFHYoaavKNV4civzOr_cl57ctNRvdg9Ky7iBBJEYvai4C3lREIGmGE-omecF0-8okR8lhW0xiGCVDcOyvpfpPPuV85Q8OQquUBZ9aipy7LASg/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m561a20f7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE-mJLxtitfR7tU5IlrdD5OQWuOhec0SFHYoaavKNV4civzOr_cl57ctNRvdg9Ky7iBBJEYvai4C3lREIGmGE-omecF0-8okR8lhW0xiGCVDcOyvpfpPPuV85Q8OQquUBZ9aipy7LASg/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m561a20f7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733027220860279010" border="0" /></a><br />And I wasn't the only earwigger.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_mTWsutHWu22EaBhtpfLy7Z0tzMFCpHo98Ip9ZUNoMtSEYmNbzH2YJHk02rZbzHo1cJ3rnx6ySrLcH2g1iFshjTwq7JMw3ktVPYMip-_SqguhNR3fqbpnMqVu3hcDUge5ngYUxULwTo/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_318b0b3d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_mTWsutHWu22EaBhtpfLy7Z0tzMFCpHo98Ip9ZUNoMtSEYmNbzH2YJHk02rZbzHo1cJ3rnx6ySrLcH2g1iFshjTwq7JMw3ktVPYMip-_SqguhNR3fqbpnMqVu3hcDUge5ngYUxULwTo/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_318b0b3d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733024526545587922" border="0" /></a><br />I spent my days in Essaouira going for long walks on the beach, sitting watching the sea, taking my time over sun-kissed meals, hanging by the pool, and just really relaxing. It was idyllic. I really didn't want to leave and ended up staying an extra two nights.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicuIpKUH0a4obzwLd_nI027TGYyLlPsYk9k2-7Q3cXiDfVWUmmJ7FDauiXra4Wod7s1v9FVkF9sJb3pz9Zj18rjnOZNOYddiXBlFe4VrveyI9ZGMLUFPa9g3HV_MbpGER-J7PimfDtGQ/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_1e44d70f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicuIpKUH0a4obzwLd_nI027TGYyLlPsYk9k2-7Q3cXiDfVWUmmJ7FDauiXra4Wod7s1v9FVkF9sJb3pz9Zj18rjnOZNOYddiXBlFe4VrveyI9ZGMLUFPa9g3HV_MbpGER-J7PimfDtGQ/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_1e44d70f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733020144730473986" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeVFyWl4oRY4n9dNQ8iV6Asncw7TP_fH6zyWAfm5zUYpdaZeHHvBTqOaZwLPEGtihPKjvuMAqeWimCayzRd_b_E158cTvq_WiKWMQ0zvH9uQvsjMZOJjfHG2ihg9bpfZAXrNYdx__P2w/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m42e84f1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeVFyWl4oRY4n9dNQ8iV6Asncw7TP_fH6zyWAfm5zUYpdaZeHHvBTqOaZwLPEGtihPKjvuMAqeWimCayzRd_b_E158cTvq_WiKWMQ0zvH9uQvsjMZOJjfHG2ihg9bpfZAXrNYdx__P2w/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m42e84f1a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733025748078909858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLomyRE38NpDiEXTk065whyulZhxXkVGTHzxXBLWYevCuv7mnkuvZj5wUpb93Yz8ABQIwC5V8EApZtent4CdzS6z-n9MFeafutWVcWlAJa9aUWtnDJH5Q5cnLOe1y_IotyCCQwC9ygU7M/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m46ab136c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLomyRE38NpDiEXTk065whyulZhxXkVGTHzxXBLWYevCuv7mnkuvZj5wUpb93Yz8ABQIwC5V8EApZtent4CdzS6z-n9MFeafutWVcWlAJa9aUWtnDJH5Q5cnLOe1y_IotyCCQwC9ygU7M/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m46ab136c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733025762690636674" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpclPtXrJu9qS7wAkFyRN56UmihX7R0mk9BMhwvVuCHcFRUUtGISCV0j2HhVV_WlN1MazXu6PMokv6sg1ZGDGhZs5A5CWUzGjPmBktOFs_xkGVG8iNiM-CODHrEnpXE-l5jYbokHygD4/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m1a6c7f6d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpclPtXrJu9qS7wAkFyRN56UmihX7R0mk9BMhwvVuCHcFRUUtGISCV0j2HhVV_WlN1MazXu6PMokv6sg1ZGDGhZs5A5CWUzGjPmBktOFs_xkGVG8iNiM-CODHrEnpXE-l5jYbokHygD4/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m1a6c7f6d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733024562901654338" border="0" /></a><br />My stay was without incident except for my stray dog stalker. On a particularly warm day, I headed up to the dunes to enjoy the sun with a bit of a sea breeze when this stray dog comes along and starts chilling by my towel. And I mean right by it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRS8apFVbatOsMxa8cctAYse0pZi3dvvvN6j9o7UfTsHQ10ywR0HMjK1d-VwbWJdgwxuQcCimMqd-9izV4nMRHGw5vDmVbG52ceQTZYOOtT3fajhuuIjIj0PZ0b8ELHlplEo1Azu5fgo/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m1c328633.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRS8apFVbatOsMxa8cctAYse0pZi3dvvvN6j9o7UfTsHQ10ywR0HMjK1d-VwbWJdgwxuQcCimMqd-9izV4nMRHGw5vDmVbG52ceQTZYOOtT3fajhuuIjIj0PZ0b8ELHlplEo1Azu5fgo/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m1c328633.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733025740795123442" border="0" /></a><br />If I moved off, she would 'casually' follow me.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwF-eeisSLZOxoAnVByYMmS956sR6ojO6rvpWnoUHhJrpLMFeK64jfk9UcPYrM89yyRjGq8dse3KO17wZ3ptNsCGNh-Vpb2svc-ncvm1_sNkQv5epUito9-a4e4zeqo-yJtOGQoL5NXU/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_m61a4d533.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwF-eeisSLZOxoAnVByYMmS956sR6ojO6rvpWnoUHhJrpLMFeK64jfk9UcPYrM89yyRjGq8dse3KO17wZ3ptNsCGNh-Vpb2svc-ncvm1_sNkQv5epUito9-a4e4zeqo-yJtOGQoL5NXU/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_m61a4d533.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733025770257418530" border="0" /></a><br />I guess in the past people have given her food and so she's learned to do this tag along act. I am not that great with animals - even the ones I know well – so you can imagine how comfortable this all made me. So after a few attempts at shaking her off, I walk away really determinedly and she finally gets the hint and targets some other dune-dwellers. Cut to a few hours later, I'm at a beach side cafe enjoying a drink when I look around to see...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYlVLnCzFvpLPM8kWhsYUaQ_IrvHgVf_hd5J9cTyZB9dbQvRgde3gD0hoX4jPZ5DK0RujuOVr6p04vAwFU34CSGcyt_7KbingTIdfb5rWgFstkfs0jTuAiK8PUENSJ93K100Ah_QSP9o/s1600/Essaouira+blog_html_6cbc8a1f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYlVLnCzFvpLPM8kWhsYUaQ_IrvHgVf_hd5J9cTyZB9dbQvRgde3gD0hoX4jPZ5DK0RujuOVr6p04vAwFU34CSGcyt_7KbingTIdfb5rWgFstkfs0jTuAiK8PUENSJ93K100Ah_QSP9o/s400/Essaouira+blog_html_6cbc8a1f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733022780128261874" border="0" /></a><br />Cute and all as she was, I can barely take care of myself, never mind a Moroccan stray. We parted company shortly after I had snapped this shot.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-76331387626720368902012-04-15T10:08:00.069-07:002012-04-15T15:07:06.127-07:00MarrakechI came Marrakech to study the region's "ingenuous peasants for an anthology molecule" - best malapropism ever! But seriously, from the little I knew about Morocco, I was expecting markets, bustling streets, dust and heat.<br /><br />The approach to Marra is, in fact, much more pastoral that you would imagine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMz_A82vMn4WPZdensrF-45V8sZmH4X7oMsLpKjKr2WhHEj8AkftfxRgMUw-mUlU-FitSzgYeZHDWXYM4_fm-h24kcI3YHyP2SgU6-RMNWpanciAt3ckBYZqpwW16O0eZt294l85yKJA/s1600/P1030903.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMz_A82vMn4WPZdensrF-45V8sZmH4X7oMsLpKjKr2WhHEj8AkftfxRgMUw-mUlU-FitSzgYeZHDWXYM4_fm-h24kcI3YHyP2SgU6-RMNWpanciAt3ckBYZqpwW16O0eZt294l85yKJA/s400/P1030903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731678433737319010" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijckR0GXJQ0piAt32p3CQRitlpzJAsRzFJMktawCzlsoDfGqgzlexHHXgNhBIbbHU9psiov1lm3xXPfe3SRbAbfAwIC1sk7vjQKCtwcvwudu1KaJKyWTluZgKy8HpBReao4fP-qN76m6g/s1600/P1030904.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijckR0GXJQ0piAt32p3CQRitlpzJAsRzFJMktawCzlsoDfGqgzlexHHXgNhBIbbHU9psiov1lm3xXPfe3SRbAbfAwIC1sk7vjQKCtwcvwudu1KaJKyWTluZgKy8HpBReao4fP-qN76m6g/s400/P1030904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731678442585536226" border="0" /></a><br />You still get to see a bit of desert and some cacti, though.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWWGqGwLC6Iw_lfz63uRYTvOa-bhPzQUAmT_ZcmXUS2ZqddSrKlDHw_hxgdHjT0B2QU8HIbfMAkJibx9tbnSZjWzUpqPnw6aNox7cZo-jdAdFe4xKrqj3eKXwaDGkK4CDlneX6iGSex4/s1600/P1030924.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWWGqGwLC6Iw_lfz63uRYTvOa-bhPzQUAmT_ZcmXUS2ZqddSrKlDHw_hxgdHjT0B2QU8HIbfMAkJibx9tbnSZjWzUpqPnw6aNox7cZo-jdAdFe4xKrqj3eKXwaDGkK4CDlneX6iGSex4/s400/P1030924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731678439852398818" border="0" /></a><br />On reaching Marrakech, the immediate impression is one of beauty - the palate is colorful and exotic: salmon pink walls, strong blue skies, deep green palms.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80umrfWjttgEMjOZxDZ7MSrVXrTi5lIc1NIbNoF4Xlaxdmp_QFqum15_KFG37n-aeXMlBEYER1JF13AgetqhswtNrc9zWycwsg1sPEvHcdkgRW6ira6v_gGCNjYVZxo1WQ0aToAI-Mug/s1600/P1040121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80umrfWjttgEMjOZxDZ7MSrVXrTi5lIc1NIbNoF4Xlaxdmp_QFqum15_KFG37n-aeXMlBEYER1JF13AgetqhswtNrc9zWycwsg1sPEvHcdkgRW6ira6v_gGCNjYVZxo1WQ0aToAI-Mug/s400/P1040121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731723148031553026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AD3e-QRI-kwoUdJwp-EoRHlP_S-UCNijkyCIIIDqrr3NIcusinheNy1J7Hp57y50DvfQ_pk151jmrjEie_0sbXG93sqfA_MFuK0eTBp8CCslmFTl7_zOyb-xgQ7d_0staBLjLRjIFg4/s1600/P1040134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AD3e-QRI-kwoUdJwp-EoRHlP_S-UCNijkyCIIIDqrr3NIcusinheNy1J7Hp57y50DvfQ_pk151jmrjEie_0sbXG93sqfA_MFuK0eTBp8CCslmFTl7_zOyb-xgQ7d_0staBLjLRjIFg4/s400/P1040134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731723156620526450" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCLilXCsmIqRjcq4ZOXHo-WRPGp6EiNklz0SUo0Gt5AD7Kff_cdWXSdc7jRwsLQAGd7nFGdfpdeHlb5AjcVx99Dghhg0RJP_BCICCPykkKhkGFs3KvpPhtXo_cIQnWrvYwyYHyLUb4EE/s1600/P1040115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCLilXCsmIqRjcq4ZOXHo-WRPGp6EiNklz0SUo0Gt5AD7Kff_cdWXSdc7jRwsLQAGd7nFGdfpdeHlb5AjcVx99Dghhg0RJP_BCICCPykkKhkGFs3KvpPhtXo_cIQnWrvYwyYHyLUb4EE/s400/P1040115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731721252767238898" border="0" /></a><br />Marrakech's most famous landmark is the Koutoubia mosque. It is surrounded by an orangerie and park and has a great calm to it. This is not what I was expecting at all!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06Mh8FZ6Te7KAeJfviYN1u6NOsLFwTrXQdHPiZHkLUxAUE1Ek0kgS1H18sH1Ca6a1S5KDB36illKfGN5TI8ExA-PAmLPesrijUE4sj7eHRVcFmWjYf7Y3Lh-55WREvyp3nK4dnWuHDlw/s1600/P1040054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06Mh8FZ6Te7KAeJfviYN1u6NOsLFwTrXQdHPiZHkLUxAUE1Ek0kgS1H18sH1Ca6a1S5KDB36illKfGN5TI8ExA-PAmLPesrijUE4sj7eHRVcFmWjYf7Y3Lh-55WREvyp3nK4dnWuHDlw/s400/P1040054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731717265779743378" border="0" /></a><br />You might remember how I said Moroccoan mosque architecture was distinctive. Well, for another difference, look at the top of the tower: no crescent moon, but three golden spheres instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQTnATWjIAkC1IMMqsfLJ-8PJCtDWSpSI6grQybR5KSWY23jO3CFlYyXWj1WTshrLiQ3LnnBxuuNamZ_xvbFeG3r611GAiVIrYxY3D2I9Ls6CNMO0FL1PT9ehv7t4W8u5TECtztvtssg/s1600/P1040058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQTnATWjIAkC1IMMqsfLJ-8PJCtDWSpSI6grQybR5KSWY23jO3CFlYyXWj1WTshrLiQ3LnnBxuuNamZ_xvbFeG3r611GAiVIrYxY3D2I9Ls6CNMO0FL1PT9ehv7t4W8u5TECtztvtssg/s400/P1040058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731717273630786450" border="0" /></a><br />The Koutoubia is right by Place Jemaa el Fna.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwWeYg6GfooOZrRfRRCFtkja8x9sLpydmikZfZQ9HiaW_YGs1t5QTFn6kej-49dNvIbJalSFB9T39_FEfpyLM9y9Ye02UG27w6D6zuesJXDrhEvyY_W0aAmZ_Nwin8p1659wSufdG_0A/s1600/P1040067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwWeYg6GfooOZrRfRRCFtkja8x9sLpydmikZfZQ9HiaW_YGs1t5QTFn6kej-49dNvIbJalSFB9T39_FEfpyLM9y9Ye02UG27w6D6zuesJXDrhEvyY_W0aAmZ_Nwin8p1659wSufdG_0A/s400/P1040067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731746744758400962" border="0" /></a><br />This is the square that is usually used in TV programmes or movies about Moroccoa, and it acts as the main entrance point to the souks (or markets) of the walled city. Now this place was much more like what I was expecting. You seriously do hear the snake charmers piping and smell the spices and get tussled by the crowds. And that is only the start. Once you walk inside the Medina - the actual part inside the walls that contains a maze of narrow streets full of homes, shops, workshops, restaurants, hotels, and pretty much anything you can imagine - your senses just keep getting assaulted and your nerves ever more jangled.<br /><br />The Medina in Marrakech has been given UNESCO world heritage status as an example of an authentic and valuable piece of culture that needs to be protected. Going there is not an experience that everyone would enjoy, though: the colours...the smells...being buffeted along the tiny alleys...looking left at a butcher, looking right at silk shop...your way ahead suddenly blocked by a donkey and cart or a mechanical digger, sometimes both!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJv5DO2V7pH9jF-jH4BVOVlcODLHw4cW2Z147aP2Jf4AraSfWmchVytOfq3Q-hQtOTsUKWN8agSOkLKXuja_1npYovx4Xpaow_-hCinIF-Z_0fGFQE9zzGSoUdFhwNbDVXmhCA19FSto/s1600/P1040161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJv5DO2V7pH9jF-jH4BVOVlcODLHw4cW2Z147aP2Jf4AraSfWmchVytOfq3Q-hQtOTsUKWN8agSOkLKXuja_1npYovx4Xpaow_-hCinIF-Z_0fGFQE9zzGSoUdFhwNbDVXmhCA19FSto/s400/P1040161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731730402317722258" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3kVwJ9W6Rg9qrV4hKzdbA8RdlhzZ-Y68EqcVGr9xZAx5yMlUMfp-zMFYOBCu0UOXKq5q1He6wRwJ5-Y5eJ63mDdxJfmGoSOUbBYG1Qz-44AmCfQSUToD3S108zvUwN0ZQmSjZfPCKCs/s1600/P1040214.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3kVwJ9W6Rg9qrV4hKzdbA8RdlhzZ-Y68EqcVGr9xZAx5yMlUMfp-zMFYOBCu0UOXKq5q1He6wRwJ5-Y5eJ63mDdxJfmGoSOUbBYG1Qz-44AmCfQSUToD3S108zvUwN0ZQmSjZfPCKCs/s400/P1040214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731751840140003138" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7MKH28NNPoDf4LJpRm5292Gx-bkj28fDV03JtYqflzzDkbPhgoMEWJmypg6Qwm6s4xEPEQ2ocwNOvr0WiBrWl8hSHbZzL25QyAVPoN_4JvmurSrxeF9OnMuZMIWCFGNVlsUPG9jextY/s1600/P1040162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7MKH28NNPoDf4LJpRm5292Gx-bkj28fDV03JtYqflzzDkbPhgoMEWJmypg6Qwm6s4xEPEQ2ocwNOvr0WiBrWl8hSHbZzL25QyAVPoN_4JvmurSrxeF9OnMuZMIWCFGNVlsUPG9jextY/s400/P1040162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731730406806393378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDumyoM4K0hrT31AkdDgnCBc3U5-UFguM9qrcomMI-2pHYzVU2qyYOdY7UIdWxc6ieO4aoEdlodoPi4vn2A5gTnZba_e37BI49L0_pI_3rdoA1CPF26j22knvJil00MaCHn5yP4XPWRVc/s1600/P1040165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDumyoM4K0hrT31AkdDgnCBc3U5-UFguM9qrcomMI-2pHYzVU2qyYOdY7UIdWxc6ieO4aoEdlodoPi4vn2A5gTnZba_e37BI49L0_pI_3rdoA1CPF26j22knvJil00MaCHn5yP4XPWRVc/s400/P1040165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731733030168433314" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTums5N84LF4Kbx6C9rE-aPojfPqR-pL5l8DJIxU9GvdIDxyupd2mwMc8ID11EcTBl8pu0nC-l1SzUi8hT9Kr3k9Am4l0ufnwdPZJBz9d81WyU6aYEmjDVY_LdMmj7ebE1837-DMNzw4/s1600/P1040211.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTums5N84LF4Kbx6C9rE-aPojfPqR-pL5l8DJIxU9GvdIDxyupd2mwMc8ID11EcTBl8pu0nC-l1SzUi8hT9Kr3k9Am4l0ufnwdPZJBz9d81WyU6aYEmjDVY_LdMmj7ebE1837-DMNzw4/s400/P1040211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731749831984942786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I always loved going in to the Medina for about the first thirty minutes. Usually by the third hour of being lost and going in ever smellier, dustier, and more disheartening circles, I was quite ready to table a UN motion to have the things razed to the ground. I feel extremely lucky to have experienced this unique cultural property, but it is best enjoyed in short bursts.<br /><br />To keep your sanity, I suggest seeking out an oasis of calm after each trip to the Medina. I found three that were amazing. The first was the Jardin Majorelle. This garden surrounds the former studio of the French artist Jacques Majorelle. The plants he collected represent the continents of the world, and it is truly more work-of-art that mere garden.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszh4FnfD2ph3mr6mPyuGZhJN0EFgdJotlNAbr7dmzy8Iq-cH4jmBP-fhFYMIjMEPJXrEOl9tDt1zxm_xgOpbQ0gVF1NUlMorw2Hkh8PjmhxQoOUJOrXl6GFhyphenhyphenZwlGQdsZSCNz9-Atigk/s1600/P1030963.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszh4FnfD2ph3mr6mPyuGZhJN0EFgdJotlNAbr7dmzy8Iq-cH4jmBP-fhFYMIjMEPJXrEOl9tDt1zxm_xgOpbQ0gVF1NUlMorw2Hkh8PjmhxQoOUJOrXl6GFhyphenhyphenZwlGQdsZSCNz9-Atigk/s400/P1030963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731683363072604482" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU2O9C-Cagu5rd9keFo6sp9e_rObMLMtu0naQNrKkvKVHz1K62XIbCeDIkZFrln62Hm_Yw2VKknUA11b9PZtQ4VNTv1d3Mqe9jUaOMduOJ1dNiAxkaxxu1-MF-9nCat9eO-crWwk_dlk/s1600/P1040032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU2O9C-Cagu5rd9keFo6sp9e_rObMLMtu0naQNrKkvKVHz1K62XIbCeDIkZFrln62Hm_Yw2VKknUA11b9PZtQ4VNTv1d3Mqe9jUaOMduOJ1dNiAxkaxxu1-MF-9nCat9eO-crWwk_dlk/s400/P1040032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731713003122224066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWf5WSKAPh9I9lUoKzuasrHs-VSkFshAwEYjT1eV7SL1VRv2vMVQW6LURI4pBm-13q9HIkN1vmLYk8aaMD_QbQRC0MyW_w12GiK7g0uq4z58qLtIAEyd-xU7otTSG_ioaY8v6_Tf6xBkA/s1600/P1030954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWf5WSKAPh9I9lUoKzuasrHs-VSkFshAwEYjT1eV7SL1VRv2vMVQW6LURI4pBm-13q9HIkN1vmLYk8aaMD_QbQRC0MyW_w12GiK7g0uq4z58qLtIAEyd-xU7otTSG_ioaY8v6_Tf6xBkA/s400/P1030954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731683352262079186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHZFOp4KWd9dYoQ1HBECZspgRunV0c31bdt2N0YXlCLQWFi3h-WW3STrAcUWWSDjzYgkQCeoli4wkAEIhGzF9Wi08HzgzuNi7okIdvRunyI5hKCIlp9cVwfrppCUMxonUqMmlDrKiRAM/s1600/P1030986.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHZFOp4KWd9dYoQ1HBECZspgRunV0c31bdt2N0YXlCLQWFi3h-WW3STrAcUWWSDjzYgkQCeoli4wkAEIhGzF9Wi08HzgzuNi7okIdvRunyI5hKCIlp9cVwfrppCUMxonUqMmlDrKiRAM/s400/P1030986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731683386840975538" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8YdS_3LPkWO27blupZSyY8XsHsl1LlwPCthBXmUY_5jXBNkbmywv93MtXtQPM9uqSiEwi1IAChc5-A5bBmR9dD7QhdPS91I6f8fViz9iiG8SC32NOm73okMZjLgy2dtQqsCTSpwVv6Q/s1600/P1030994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 344px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8YdS_3LPkWO27blupZSyY8XsHsl1LlwPCthBXmUY_5jXBNkbmywv93MtXtQPM9uqSiEwi1IAChc5-A5bBmR9dD7QhdPS91I6f8fViz9iiG8SC32NOm73okMZjLgy2dtQqsCTSpwVv6Q/s400/P1030994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731689859437585746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkDWD8FacV7huRqQEXtxhz1JM695w9ztj7kKUYaroHnLicr6w1yBkvRXm4R3r_mr296Ii9jOYlyAymzg0BSMW5IDAqcuOoVikzRASNzzO9f64Cir9ixY0Z9p-Y3aBwQF2gYhXY_GZ5X0/s1600/P1030992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkDWD8FacV7huRqQEXtxhz1JM695w9ztj7kKUYaroHnLicr6w1yBkvRXm4R3r_mr296Ii9jOYlyAymzg0BSMW5IDAqcuOoVikzRASNzzO9f64Cir9ixY0Z9p-Y3aBwQF2gYhXY_GZ5X0/s400/P1030992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731689848003340642" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWxkT_6iI4zA6_Cwti9iiowUSqJeGGsbDkMlqmiJ6Uh5itse5JJpa5fkuLmo6CAn1pNH8xTaOqBeRIFjCPUHDFfFcw0QFkiPKeaU4p9fX5nevTzLIvVlYC1asm9tJ3V_75HMF-3_Tn5A/s1600/P1030981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWxkT_6iI4zA6_Cwti9iiowUSqJeGGsbDkMlqmiJ6Uh5itse5JJpa5fkuLmo6CAn1pNH8xTaOqBeRIFjCPUHDFfFcw0QFkiPKeaU4p9fX5nevTzLIvVlYC1asm9tJ3V_75HMF-3_Tn5A/s400/P1030981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731683378626994034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xZLx7iAWdhpedyVWjGussAErq7Er6eFuy_BtAsS0amBGmJkLF0aMdgTW8999RIgjOCT5PtYdz1CsYGbLEbhQQ4HI4CKjW1SLAti0BcZGxGTb5bjPL192qzdYqpdwCriYkwmkjynx9aI/s1600/P1040040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xZLx7iAWdhpedyVWjGussAErq7Er6eFuy_BtAsS0amBGmJkLF0aMdgTW8999RIgjOCT5PtYdz1CsYGbLEbhQQ4HI4CKjW1SLAti0BcZGxGTb5bjPL192qzdYqpdwCriYkwmkjynx9aI/s400/P1040040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731714363713779698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The property was restored by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner on the Majorelle's death, and just being there makes you want to create more beauty in the world.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhoKEpF3DRhtIgNDQYgm5J4lYDtfQIeGkcdJgbW5gMj7qXCEGECxdIrAskbQfh72xGCgflm9xWLzipkc1uZ7hroIMOxM0fkUUHO3nax5HONa8_u03CPDimTGxm77wJeqIKCWoDHqsfL8/s1600/P1030947.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhoKEpF3DRhtIgNDQYgm5J4lYDtfQIeGkcdJgbW5gMj7qXCEGECxdIrAskbQfh72xGCgflm9xWLzipkc1uZ7hroIMOxM0fkUUHO3nax5HONa8_u03CPDimTGxm77wJeqIKCWoDHqsfL8/s400/P1030947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731678459306282898" border="0" /></a>I especially loved the vibrant blue colour used throughout. Mam and Dad, are you feeling inspired?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX9A16uxZW_KEUrVuMtaAbvhL8a2Z6lpHokCtL5WkoL6ZcofUXeJkF6iId3cNJz7-JxKmV4ZeRRsY-zEQ_NfuCZ9bKJPwtoXgUTsQfPLYO_Q-7KBvCdKWRh5NJB7n8trn3UkePLF8f7M/s1600/P1040029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX9A16uxZW_KEUrVuMtaAbvhL8a2Z6lpHokCtL5WkoL6ZcofUXeJkF6iId3cNJz7-JxKmV4ZeRRsY-zEQ_NfuCZ9bKJPwtoXgUTsQfPLYO_Q-7KBvCdKWRh5NJB7n8trn3UkePLF8f7M/s400/P1040029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702480840264674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQxbjRzo1kwPxOarMRyu-5R7noh4uw7uPcC1d85il0oqRKb3vN0-L7ark9QC8uWRclWl3e0xRCPrfF3VarGpT-cYo_DcGKAxAkpwSxAQvKJ_6o6O2lg_rS3ctK5aga4qw7VCjqqrR0IA/s1600/P1040021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQxbjRzo1kwPxOarMRyu-5R7noh4uw7uPcC1d85il0oqRKb3vN0-L7ark9QC8uWRclWl3e0xRCPrfF3VarGpT-cYo_DcGKAxAkpwSxAQvKJ_6o6O2lg_rS3ctK5aga4qw7VCjqqrR0IA/s400/P1040021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731689876448860146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The second was the Musee Dar Si Said. This museum lies right in the heart of the walled city and is not easy find. But your efforts are rewarded with an interesting collection of Berber arts and crafts housed in a tiled and parqueted old villa.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0zQzdIULBJ1IjCRiB-vWQpi2nSEL6i4CyYwQM8Y9-aBRLQM274Rzl8YBbyxw3snkyL6mHelbPWS52bIuBvrb7R2mQQ9IaNIWeqIvV0eIYdHPgqXikqDtTr06T8clAk1G_ResYqVN1ZA/s1600/P1040151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0zQzdIULBJ1IjCRiB-vWQpi2nSEL6i4CyYwQM8Y9-aBRLQM274Rzl8YBbyxw3snkyL6mHelbPWS52bIuBvrb7R2mQQ9IaNIWeqIvV0eIYdHPgqXikqDtTr06T8clAk1G_ResYqVN1ZA/s400/P1040151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731726555697655442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6xSy9VGtpcOdZuEaP5uvnbWWu_1tFFRgj1MyDJhyphenhyphen-1Fs5sok26UTtzs8Jh_iM5EzGzXrxwNbggJsjhkWEudvry6vdovRnWeyU8w7oVdFWPL2IASfHdtFlt8hC617Srb_AHKp8qvvOGM/s1600/P1040157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6xSy9VGtpcOdZuEaP5uvnbWWu_1tFFRgj1MyDJhyphenhyphen-1Fs5sok26UTtzs8Jh_iM5EzGzXrxwNbggJsjhkWEudvry6vdovRnWeyU8w7oVdFWPL2IASfHdtFlt8hC617Srb_AHKp8qvvOGM/s400/P1040157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731728771489209490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9k3HQUq9dqGrU2x78WkCUNSPvevayXjTNTYnAjOShF_TnXy4UA0RlVKno8YG0ktHX9Dz_5UPVL65d9rICtk966-g9BmjPlnF3JBCW1imsCctenS7U1IzXDC3wW342q5CAClBCbYqsMQ/s1600/P1040153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9k3HQUq9dqGrU2x78WkCUNSPvevayXjTNTYnAjOShF_TnXy4UA0RlVKno8YG0ktHX9Dz_5UPVL65d9rICtk966-g9BmjPlnF3JBCW1imsCctenS7U1IzXDC3wW342q5CAClBCbYqsMQ/s400/P1040153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731726569080116946" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NPQb6oHNf1Z2_K94zABK2Ol4qtwIMqKDEObPig2ZNVVB2t0397ydFzM0ZrYpTgF7LMVWkCKuEaij3fAoFBMe4NGrIrTH4X0-2CsgMYE7rz5b8KeRb-B55zQF2BFQvoyh1yD_J7mKag4/s1600/P1040156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NPQb6oHNf1Z2_K94zABK2Ol4qtwIMqKDEObPig2ZNVVB2t0397ydFzM0ZrYpTgF7LMVWkCKuEaij3fAoFBMe4NGrIrTH4X0-2CsgMYE7rz5b8KeRb-B55zQF2BFQvoyh1yD_J7mKag4/s400/P1040156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731728764442370210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The third - and best - was a small gallery called the Maison de la Photographie. It was one of those places where I had one of those 'life is really good right now' moments. The exhibition was of old black and white photos of Morocco's Berber, Jew and slave populations.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZf3VqqY40G1ZnUG85DZBehCVXWdNErCBiT1rPll_d93DtKF3h5Y8kAKfppA2W89r6EQoy7J5EGyTgPI2aKzmXzMVCMnaXCcqAP77gsoJ4n04ARHhoLwXWXe-WtzOtQGkegcfNTg381U/s1600/P1040183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZf3VqqY40G1ZnUG85DZBehCVXWdNErCBiT1rPll_d93DtKF3h5Y8kAKfppA2W89r6EQoy7J5EGyTgPI2aKzmXzMVCMnaXCcqAP77gsoJ4n04ARHhoLwXWXe-WtzOtQGkegcfNTg381U/s400/P1040183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731739659324074130" border="0" /></a><br />It was an extremely impressive collection of photos, and I really wanted to buy a huge print of a young Moroccan woman that was just captivating, but it just wasn't practical with all the moving around I still have to do.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8OX80cYxWF7cMLLfqhT0lG8s2Sw_4H_VvKrVjSvIWfdtj63seuPaxauYJz_XdIismHQJ8H4UBIP98U0wWxlhzU4aI-cv3XnItCLzQWZ9p_ZcdbPkIpE1__9JhuQv34egY2FSKAuukeQ/s1600/P1040170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8OX80cYxWF7cMLLfqhT0lG8s2Sw_4H_VvKrVjSvIWfdtj63seuPaxauYJz_XdIismHQJ8H4UBIP98U0wWxlhzU4aI-cv3XnItCLzQWZ9p_ZcdbPkIpE1__9JhuQv34egY2FSKAuukeQ/s400/P1040170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731734504454204402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then, like with the museum above, the villa that houses this exhibition is a star in its own right. Catching glimpses of the works through curtained windows or from an upper terrace or lower courtyard really made you see each piece anew several times.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlzfjEaZpnfHdeOtSR2MbnTQsnrBNPVgbv902i1jdezAsbTDSm4ZJUTs7Zf8_nedpjp8nSPyC_ESK3rJ6MIZjdAEaS-Dfa17heeiHkx3Xl5blLvsCX4u1XGpieSJDbiR-tuY-8id6lC4/s1600/P1040172.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlzfjEaZpnfHdeOtSR2MbnTQsnrBNPVgbv902i1jdezAsbTDSm4ZJUTs7Zf8_nedpjp8nSPyC_ESK3rJ6MIZjdAEaS-Dfa17heeiHkx3Xl5blLvsCX4u1XGpieSJDbiR-tuY-8id6lC4/s400/P1040172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731737009363545234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBPSNijPlGxeS81TWyaW-osMfylnkU1pIDON69A0o5HOQQHFGlj6457z-LTmfsaFWW817XugjzEVwZL-6wh5-uVptwfFvLtlcQtBgWP753mo-9Q9KZiZAW3YRHDKzNpoNDYLkuAuSzI4/s1600/P1040171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBPSNijPlGxeS81TWyaW-osMfylnkU1pIDON69A0o5HOQQHFGlj6457z-LTmfsaFWW817XugjzEVwZL-6wh5-uVptwfFvLtlcQtBgWP753mo-9Q9KZiZAW3YRHDKzNpoNDYLkuAuSzI4/s400/P1040171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731737002688068402" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1XjpMV9gSdvWDNEYWUJ2JKN-IyozR4Cxe5-2YmVDlcSPwUR6k-GtAMvOa2oW0AzHDZ-qq5NzaTeNh4OEu0QP5UgAlcoZSTuO-Sbt4zlUKthPDhYxEKVxSxCufHaqe8gkHZHOcpCbpOM/s1600/P1040188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1XjpMV9gSdvWDNEYWUJ2JKN-IyozR4Cxe5-2YmVDlcSPwUR6k-GtAMvOa2oW0AzHDZ-qq5NzaTeNh4OEu0QP5UgAlcoZSTuO-Sbt4zlUKthPDhYxEKVxSxCufHaqe8gkHZHOcpCbpOM/s400/P1040188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731739670034030290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghxr0fw6sAg3ZXXJ02NNroKepf1-A-AVj6hx-ojr7SOP38LtI-A_GisXaaU3PVnK0CTI6oFy8O37wO0PiDgMqqiHhFMGZu13DJN8KQTT3_45cmpU6IUpNNI0mbLZrFmofBLQvp8U2xAQ/s1600/P1040190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghxr0fw6sAg3ZXXJ02NNroKepf1-A-AVj6hx-ojr7SOP38LtI-A_GisXaaU3PVnK0CTI6oFy8O37wO0PiDgMqqiHhFMGZu13DJN8KQTT3_45cmpU6IUpNNI0mbLZrFmofBLQvp8U2xAQ/s400/P1040190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731742354579983762" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ducMfQLhHRbgG3vBnsMzboWW4TyEByjKzs9M5cu_HHkPYB4RlrBKnv-CEsMw4-PmdicLxFDIOQ4VRDlOIxkudWXPlHndgdVjEWtO2wFJ8BvbtEX0n6WmLtts613PCfGPuBzqAqCc-dc/s1600/P1040194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ducMfQLhHRbgG3vBnsMzboWW4TyEByjKzs9M5cu_HHkPYB4RlrBKnv-CEsMw4-PmdicLxFDIOQ4VRDlOIxkudWXPlHndgdVjEWtO2wFJ8BvbtEX0n6WmLtts613PCfGPuBzqAqCc-dc/s400/P1040194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731742359049801890" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2qGTz7NtAll1gHX6SeWod1g2F76ELKhK03Sggqpc4wT80GuALv-7MgkAuJSDqfqR1M488BA0_wvTh2lOWxh7zIH_RXSqAAH6QTc3br7JappyIm3uPHtOfXypWZpdsbeArCmSUlErXVY/s1600/P1040201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2qGTz7NtAll1gHX6SeWod1g2F76ELKhK03Sggqpc4wT80GuALv-7MgkAuJSDqfqR1M488BA0_wvTh2lOWxh7zIH_RXSqAAH6QTc3br7JappyIm3uPHtOfXypWZpdsbeArCmSUlErXVY/s400/P1040201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731744863994627058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FEYQ2nImxydJgklEGAsbxO7DyKhbPANKDAn5eWsKt7IEEHCRYCqo07MurD9kKc0JbpshG5qHDd-wpZL5RiPtoAC2xyFTGUjr0BcpggW_gCmyrog_hOh13qYMtMmtVDHQRtHiLe7jwiE/s1600/P1040200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FEYQ2nImxydJgklEGAsbxO7DyKhbPANKDAn5eWsKt7IEEHCRYCqo07MurD9kKc0JbpshG5qHDd-wpZL5RiPtoAC2xyFTGUjr0BcpggW_gCmyrog_hOh13qYMtMmtVDHQRtHiLe7jwiE/s400/P1040200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731744854491483330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And then, of course, the villa boasts the highest rooftop terrace cafe in the Medina. If you go to the Maison de la Photographie for nothing else, go there to enjoy the views over the old city with a pot of spearmint tea. You will not be disappointed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCagYreBXy5VPSkck_H5nH3whNFZ4kYEd0fCbjQeI2-dk1FH_GTWdp62uIOt4jywTwcbCR_JYk7fo3wuro22KHmhXqqtNPz-_m2qKGheRu9-BjY02Kilzn5cEf5OB1WbkWCmGE9GJeXE/s1600/P1040208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCagYreBXy5VPSkck_H5nH3whNFZ4kYEd0fCbjQeI2-dk1FH_GTWdp62uIOt4jywTwcbCR_JYk7fo3wuro22KHmhXqqtNPz-_m2qKGheRu9-BjY02Kilzn5cEf5OB1WbkWCmGE9GJeXE/s400/P1040208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731746747051894802" border="0" /></a><br />While in Marrakech, I've tried to eat Moroccan food as much as possible. To be honest, the quality hasn't impressed me that much: I think the freshness and attention to detail in Japanese cuisine has ruined me for all other types of cooking. The two most representative dishes (which I've had many times now) are tagines and couscous. A tagine is the name for an earthenware bowl with pointed lid in which a variety of foods are oven-baked or broiled.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj4zdjSCR0DNyNlCnvgC70BMgMZHd8Vd_jlAkQgH_vSI7oX2gIjBmtL_3i_rnz5iAIx_GBxgcyHsBBb_WdcpzIKTb2_BP5kYDbyDEsHPyqlXhILEna-b1Qtkak5z00n4NTbNc5wDVuw0/s1600/P1040387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj4zdjSCR0DNyNlCnvgC70BMgMZHd8Vd_jlAkQgH_vSI7oX2gIjBmtL_3i_rnz5iAIx_GBxgcyHsBBb_WdcpzIKTb2_BP5kYDbyDEsHPyqlXhILEna-b1Qtkak5z00n4NTbNc5wDVuw0/s400/P1040387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731749823146101762" border="0" /></a><br />A good dose of spice is added to the broth before cooking, so a big part of the pleasure is the waft of fragrant steam that hits you when the lid is taken off at your table. The couscous here is also fragrant and colourful, but I find it a bit heavy and boring to eat more that once in a while.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4doAyEzeallHIJt-L1xTV6_QZ8kQovegYcKBzkwxD88MJBhbag15_jFqp8gWSs1Z9o6M3kgj74-UwultlK3y5zdnTJA-5T7kL6-8iUGgBc9mYea99-IBD2foxGUR1_kV5i4SapGAXbw/s1600/P1040164.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4doAyEzeallHIJt-L1xTV6_QZ8kQovegYcKBzkwxD88MJBhbag15_jFqp8gWSs1Z9o6M3kgj74-UwultlK3y5zdnTJA-5T7kL6-8iUGgBc9mYea99-IBD2foxGUR1_kV5i4SapGAXbw/s400/P1040164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731733013375912178" border="0" /></a><br />Still, I cannot complain, the portions in Morocco are very generous, especially for the salads, and the price is generally reasonable. Having said that, pricing is fairly flexible here and they have no problem taking the liberty of rounding up a number if they don't have the correct change to give you. I guess I'm still in a mindset of Japanese precision.<br /><br />I know these notes are giving a very rose-tinted view of my trip - the best and most memorable of my experiences. But there have been times when I have been totally fed up with moving around and where I have sorely wanted to be somewhere familiar. A terrible tiredness and despair can suddenly come upon you when the language and place and culture are so alien that even the simplest tasks, like finding a loo or getting a cup of coffee, can take on epic proportions. But these low times have been and far between. I just wanted to mention them to give you a fuller feel for what my last couple of weeks have been like.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-76149257096631373582012-04-13T13:16:00.012-07:002012-04-13T14:27:37.622-07:00CasablancaOkay, so I got a major farmer's tan walking around the UAE. Now the sunny Moroccan days have added wicked panda eyes to my skin fail. Needless to say, I will not be posting pictures of my current patchwork state.<br /><br />So Morocco - I started off in Casablanca as this is the main airline hub in the country. It does not have a whole lot else to boast about, from what I can see. It claims to be Morocco's city of culture, but it gives more the impression of a regional administrative and military base. I still enjoyed my day-and-a-half here, simply because I was in Africa.<br /><br />A beautiful full moon welcomed me at the airport and a slightly bedraggled but efficient train (Dublin take note!) took me into the city.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqczeSrm2Xt8TTNMaR2tlmYLa0eAo-6SFKt4700QDX7Chupgi9jndlN-o3EETAHpp7JMrDQaAvABlMLJO_WiHthUVjFjxrrB_G32ECALn2tC7zLg1nAOqktMKXtaWcU6ZcSlngfmUdiE/s1600/P1030883.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqczeSrm2Xt8TTNMaR2tlmYLa0eAo-6SFKt4700QDX7Chupgi9jndlN-o3EETAHpp7JMrDQaAvABlMLJO_WiHthUVjFjxrrB_G32ECALn2tC7zLg1nAOqktMKXtaWcU6ZcSlngfmUdiE/s400/P1030883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730988707233900002" border="0" /></a><br />It wasn't a difficult transit, but the fact that the train station platforms have no signs and that there are no announcements made was completely alien to the spores of Japanese efficiency that must still be clinging to me.<br /><br />The initial impression on arrival is more of France than anything more exotic, truth be told. I wasn't complaining though - it was comforting to be able to speak some French. I've been amazed at how much has come back to me, as I really thought my time in Japan had made me completely forget the language. I guess after Japanese and my continuing fruitless struggle with German, French feels a walk in the park.<br /><br />A new country and whole new bunch of national costumes to get used to. Way more people wear the djellaba hooded (and often tassled) gown and the pointy balgha slippers than I was expecting.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdl5_GZ5EqeE-pgg3-o3JH4btkYjcRxl-qYAN8Vezb5aMw4MJg1Cd_8FMxfDKD8Ak5TLoT5gHWTzRFsoF7zQdW90eTpsec0p0Ka0wzWmSExIT1R7JA6mqVXfuLj-NJou8FS5C7nxDL0Js/s1600/P1030855.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdl5_GZ5EqeE-pgg3-o3JH4btkYjcRxl-qYAN8Vezb5aMw4MJg1Cd_8FMxfDKD8Ak5TLoT5gHWTzRFsoF7zQdW90eTpsec0p0Ka0wzWmSExIT1R7JA6mqVXfuLj-NJou8FS5C7nxDL0Js/s400/P1030855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730986759217249234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oL5VRlkV4jkPY7Yf444Pzr1dgceLTBhDZt-bQbTN6K1ZrhFRcoELE6V2AZiBpoGtme9mwrijx_QbgYT4ms4cStER1es2bFZn2KE_Z3hOhcDtIHqRhz7LOSx56lN3r9VPSWgGniReFIQ/s1600/P1040088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oL5VRlkV4jkPY7Yf444Pzr1dgceLTBhDZt-bQbTN6K1ZrhFRcoELE6V2AZiBpoGtme9mwrijx_QbgYT4ms4cStER1es2bFZn2KE_Z3hOhcDtIHqRhz7LOSx56lN3r9VPSWgGniReFIQ/s400/P1040088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730996100967243362" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyOuydMivIbUA3LT7bMF9-Qp8Lxb3NV6wrBO-44Y8y1dSg0ra39xbhyMnFVVzwPRPqaRT1U4ihx5x3V3HUn4pdvcOAovLcIFX7mEaWJ00l_6akbI7cZV3Pv_uHLVxU98_RVjUEiVXstQ/s1600/P1040048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyOuydMivIbUA3LT7bMF9-Qp8Lxb3NV6wrBO-44Y8y1dSg0ra39xbhyMnFVVzwPRPqaRT1U4ihx5x3V3HUn4pdvcOAovLcIFX7mEaWJ00l_6akbI7cZV3Pv_uHLVxU98_RVjUEiVXstQ/s400/P1040048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730996094484858290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U-zvch1ihH6Q16dHrkWENFKB7DMDI0rVb09O3oKXoNqlXkKkMpjAw7aa9N7V1tJifu03iYQTho6twL_00geiC1-r_ng4wIr7KamnMIAPHpaWKtlx1xmfOpLjMQnLWBPQhyphenhyphen2PvKaBpRE/s1600/P1040045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U-zvch1ihH6Q16dHrkWENFKB7DMDI0rVb09O3oKXoNqlXkKkMpjAw7aa9N7V1tJifu03iYQTho6twL_00geiC1-r_ng4wIr7KamnMIAPHpaWKtlx1xmfOpLjMQnLWBPQhyphenhyphen2PvKaBpRE/s400/P1040045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730996090503114370" border="0" /></a><br />My sense is that Moroccans are happy and proud to be who they are. And maybe that's what makes them some of the friendliest, most helpful people I've come across. I've felt welcome, safe and un-threatened at almost all times here so far.<br /><br />To be honest, the scariest experience of the trip by far has been trying to cross the roads in Morocco. There are precious few lights, no apparent rules, and a multitude of vehicles (car, bike, moped, donkey and cart, camel) coming at you at various speeds and from various directions. You really just take your heart in your hands every time. But so far, no accidents and only one close scrape: I had to have a bit of a shaky sit down after a 'petit taxi' came out of nowhere and just missed me.<br /><br />I swore not to take a single taxi while I was here as a result of that little scare, but of course I couldn't stick to my pledge in a city where the two main stations are miles apart and there is no direct service running between them. It was funny, I was afraid of getting ripped off and asked the hotel staff what to expect to pay for my trip. The final bill didn't even come to half what they said, so I gave a big tip. Of course, the driver did pick up and drop off a whole other passenger along the way without once asking permission or acknowledging this action to me. But what was I going to do. So I just smiled and wished my fellow passenger 'Assalamu alaikum'. (Full discolsure: whenever I try to use this greeting I have to physically restrain myself from saying 'Shamalama Ding Dong' instead - damn you, Community!) <span class="st"><em></em></span><br /><br />Casablanca has lots of boulevards and avenues lined with tall palm trees. It also has a strong terrace cafe culture, and I am happy to say that almost all of my meals in Morocco have been al fresco.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnHVzYRcUqSWy63_mNYs__KQMrnhSZU6mmtnrnHO0-vqCm_XKK1lwdy1nFY8VLoXDzsXfzygzqF8-ACcXsu20R8OlkFmv4KOWpSwidKF8RDOzfm1ARSK6vOCWklXEZyvWhwPkqWRix-8/s1600/P1030838.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnHVzYRcUqSWy63_mNYs__KQMrnhSZU6mmtnrnHO0-vqCm_XKK1lwdy1nFY8VLoXDzsXfzygzqF8-ACcXsu20R8OlkFmv4KOWpSwidKF8RDOzfm1ARSK6vOCWklXEZyvWhwPkqWRix-8/s400/P1030838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730986740766624194" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZPv1LAVFf9nUgAOmD2yIUABBL3mwZdNCxR7hssbSFKILC9AEA8Mh1agX1eAJf3tlPPwgZD5m_ruuHK6n3DGr9oi0cTcAu4619Ggc7AF9LA4plxh9Ybbod7Q8lNFDDzrAEltm2I6FDsg/s1600/P1030887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZPv1LAVFf9nUgAOmD2yIUABBL3mwZdNCxR7hssbSFKILC9AEA8Mh1agX1eAJf3tlPPwgZD5m_ruuHK6n3DGr9oi0cTcAu4619Ggc7AF9LA4plxh9Ybbod7Q8lNFDDzrAEltm2I6FDsg/s400/P1030887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730999259883389058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But Casablanca nonetheless has a very crumbly aspect to its backstreets, as you can see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy9hXeyDi1_p3T8iTMs6zFfBAPtF5gtP1rxR1mkkALaqrwV6tlU2c53aoX-A1F3CQjgeolHlFxtsB0_TGrOgJGjlBnkcAME8RRs76BeL1G3KcsCiLL6w7WnzF2T7QFhyphenhyphenoaAO2vagbGd0/s1600/P1030878.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy9hXeyDi1_p3T8iTMs6zFfBAPtF5gtP1rxR1mkkALaqrwV6tlU2c53aoX-A1F3CQjgeolHlFxtsB0_TGrOgJGjlBnkcAME8RRs76BeL1G3KcsCiLL6w7WnzF2T7QFhyphenhyphenoaAO2vagbGd0/s400/P1030878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730988702085009090" border="0" /></a><br />But I think the standard of living in the cities might be relatively high - you can see these run-down homes still boast satellite dishes.<br /><br />There are a lot of beggars on the streets, though. They are not at all forceful and will give you your space - unlike in many Asian countries I've been to - and the strongest advance they will make is a 'Bonjour, Monsieur'. Still, I know this would made it a difficult place for many more compassionate people than me to enjoy travelling in.<br /><br />Coming from Abu Dhabi, the place also doesn't feel that Islamic. I thought Friday-Saturday would be the weekend here - as it is in the Middle Eastern states - but Morocco follows the same weekly calendar that we do in Europe. Also, though there are mosques throughout the city, they do not seem to be the centre of daily life and I do miss the call to prayer a little.<br /><br />However, the most famous (cruel people would say 'only') sight in Casablanca is a mosque - the Mosque Hassan II. You can see the architectural style is quite different to the one in Abu - a simple retangular tower and plain body construction is adorned with intricate tile work. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIJJ98l0g3E4-BkxXlG8pXs-vhfDttnstnDRN6Lpj14vRej0y1n8YBK80vaj_fFzMNEUfPVMdiYEOyKLYTS6k2SA1E7QCD6rR90yTJOq9-w8SgzuX07iB3_guEOEdxLd-IIMgQtylW-U/s1600/P1030846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIJJ98l0g3E4-BkxXlG8pXs-vhfDttnstnDRN6Lpj14vRej0y1n8YBK80vaj_fFzMNEUfPVMdiYEOyKLYTS6k2SA1E7QCD6rR90yTJOq9-w8SgzuX07iB3_guEOEdxLd-IIMgQtylW-U/s400/P1030846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730986750798160850" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPVNz6nVUIlUTjXX5VbqG9TYaWaZsw35QDHhXHh_2clogliFWYxG8zpfTHuHJLmhpCmUOSJyua8N8SxZFwZR3xTwSFyqVyNPiIYk8BIPoALwkeT6NysFqDwb7c7LhILnfhlTHJCac3cs/s1600/P1030870.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPVNz6nVUIlUTjXX5VbqG9TYaWaZsw35QDHhXHh_2clogliFWYxG8zpfTHuHJLmhpCmUOSJyua8N8SxZFwZR3xTwSFyqVyNPiIYk8BIPoALwkeT6NysFqDwb7c7LhILnfhlTHJCac3cs/s400/P1030870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730988689978160162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27NRBjhsz4fSpw91d4ozSsIO5KYn9p_zfcwG4FYA-mwxRlgE4DO76uA305F2EsH2Qc7rr-X2SGxZsKUdAIj6TTBlCp-08ulgBpiIepFh7gKaPhVXmYkDQTIzXegG5zUIll_Py5fv-Kmw/s1600/P1030862.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27NRBjhsz4fSpw91d4ozSsIO5KYn9p_zfcwG4FYA-mwxRlgE4DO76uA305F2EsH2Qc7rr-X2SGxZsKUdAIj6TTBlCp-08ulgBpiIepFh7gKaPhVXmYkDQTIzXegG5zUIll_Py5fv-Kmw/s400/P1030862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730986766074079042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJ-HMAd4v-y3udEasRJgStP9q5DUYgx9XU0yMWgG8Uw1uIyCD4XpQiGdHANQ6Mjibr20GG3gNivGrkiK4IpwbV-oelrYNq5kqblyc-lgTtOKXR3iIv7iAYGsdQVgsSudkL4WA35v7s0/s1600/P1030869.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJ-HMAd4v-y3udEasRJgStP9q5DUYgx9XU0yMWgG8Uw1uIyCD4XpQiGdHANQ6Mjibr20GG3gNivGrkiK4IpwbV-oelrYNq5kqblyc-lgTtOKXR3iIv7iAYGsdQVgsSudkL4WA35v7s0/s400/P1030869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730986774780334898" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhgllA72x3A_ce4e4sHg7Tf_DSB9sbaIUPVkIsIaRqUhCSaxruPSYBt9NGKugulCVXVBsG6SUVmHCZ1wVEuAZP-3Emx_X9OD0vyCqVN34YrGKz5l01py19l4AOoDbAdDu8RaVHNS1o9w/s1600/P1030872.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhgllA72x3A_ce4e4sHg7Tf_DSB9sbaIUPVkIsIaRqUhCSaxruPSYBt9NGKugulCVXVBsG6SUVmHCZ1wVEuAZP-3Emx_X9OD0vyCqVN34YrGKz5l01py19l4AOoDbAdDu8RaVHNS1o9w/s400/P1030872.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730999267477493810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydbILApOCS5DBX2sALRnyhxjNNncJJoBt1yUCVD0UUV39uTqTursHg3bDIQc0XE_uv260-FH2leIoASz_ATAaRkLlV-5Zp4gd76vhdLsTcbf65vgyPLOcmneQXkU8K3jj9OASQ8ZxhP8/s1600/P1030871.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydbILApOCS5DBX2sALRnyhxjNNncJJoBt1yUCVD0UUV39uTqTursHg3bDIQc0XE_uv260-FH2leIoASz_ATAaRkLlV-5Zp4gd76vhdLsTcbf65vgyPLOcmneQXkU8K3jj9OASQ8ZxhP8/s400/P1030871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730988696453780322" border="0" /></a><br />You might also see in the last picture that these two men are holding hands as they walk to the mosque. It's quite a common sight to see in Arab countries. It reminds me of how South Korean women often hold hands as they walk through town. Such behaviour would draw stares in Japan (and possibly Ireland). Again, it shows that any idea of what constitutes normal really depends on who you're asking, and being reminded of this is one of the great benefits of travelling.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-75842756286506117522012-04-09T01:54:00.011-07:002012-04-11T12:22:43.346-07:00Abu Dhabi - odds and endsI came to Abu for the weather, but also for the architecture: I love me some skyscrapers, as you know. The buildings are more Vegas and less modern classic than I'd hoped. There is a little too much golden reflective glass for my liking. It's all very 'Matt Houston' - anyone else remember that 80s TV show?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbDY22guWdbBEdxWkuzcBeZtOyyA0saMUrG65AbvhNtCK2j5XGvw3SPQtbiZoOWF4sYUcT3l_tT8B1b5s-C3R0gEhm-N51_Yi0wuj4uLszHwKGnVYydxWMHFT_JlGuPQ9w1_9BJkMN87y/s1600/P1030575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbDY22guWdbBEdxWkuzcBeZtOyyA0saMUrG65AbvhNtCK2j5XGvw3SPQtbiZoOWF4sYUcT3l_tT8B1b5s-C3R0gEhm-N51_Yi0wuj4uLszHwKGnVYydxWMHFT_JlGuPQ9w1_9BJkMN87y/s400/P1030575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729282279306901010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SgVtoL1YR8Uzzn2-3oDcjaTTV7lmHKRdctsVZ1DeFlvbTRZVhlcC80VHnnMsKsdYXqlM4BDvrJ1R0LHLYq16qQi9Ggynajx5FEutWhMr_WApVQLqhmyhBM8aWGo9_nKWrin_dAu24WhY/s1600/P1030666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SgVtoL1YR8Uzzn2-3oDcjaTTV7lmHKRdctsVZ1DeFlvbTRZVhlcC80VHnnMsKsdYXqlM4BDvrJ1R0LHLYq16qQi9Ggynajx5FEutWhMr_WApVQLqhmyhBM8aWGo9_nKWrin_dAu24WhY/s400/P1030666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729283621816288754" border="0" /></a><br />This is Uncle Rabbit, by the way. He may make the odd appearance. He was given to me by a friend before I left - we are both year of the rabbit, but she is one whole twelve-year cycle behind me. Hearing that the first time took its toll on me emotionally. But I'm pretty much resigned to being ancient now. It was hilarious when an overly friendly waiter asked me what I did in life, and I responded that I am a student: his look of confusion that anyone as old as me could still be in school was priceless.<br /><br />It must be heart-breaking for architects that design their buildings to shimmer to then have to place them in Abu. Here we can see a typical corporate palace in the city centre. Can you see the grimy coating of sand all over?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6ZKgSOnP6eE3V0meqBKbwpHgpqZz2gV9sQFvMTTVLzy4IWngEwdw91mP2UTnpYF6PIHYNUlZ1PDa3tkrhqb6yjrXp9ZTA3Z8sDmrPazTACB2kwWKEulNXYp7kl513f6LPlWpn-_88VzM/s1600/P1030785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6ZKgSOnP6eE3V0meqBKbwpHgpqZz2gV9sQFvMTTVLzy4IWngEwdw91mP2UTnpYF6PIHYNUlZ1PDa3tkrhqb6yjrXp9ZTA3Z8sDmrPazTACB2kwWKEulNXYp7kl513f6LPlWpn-_88VzM/s400/P1030785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729283586872720898" border="0" /></a><br />Workers are employed to fight a losing battle to clean facades of their daily layer of sand - but really, what's the point? Remember we're in a desert people!<br /><br />And don't get me started on the window displays in Abu Dhabi. All that money and the signage and window dressing looks like something from Craggy Island. I mean this example was right beside the Sheraton's flagship hotel in the city. The shopkeepers aren't even trying.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpYVVi3xx68dssjfnzi9N0cVNtVnnKbnZSUhtjs8U_J8OAtCLJeI1PT1LbShVdff5iukjx2oll-hKY-g70COqnF_MkNO_ptPOXq0P7C7yOXP3ssz6ugFUP9qsGzvkZknQutdHq9KsgeaD/s1600/P1030643.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpYVVi3xx68dssjfnzi9N0cVNtVnnKbnZSUhtjs8U_J8OAtCLJeI1PT1LbShVdff5iukjx2oll-hKY-g70COqnF_MkNO_ptPOXq0P7C7yOXP3ssz6ugFUP9qsGzvkZknQutdHq9KsgeaD/s400/P1030643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729116710583863970" border="0" /></a><br />And how appetizing is this? Umm, impulse purchase...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRiUT1eWtGW4v_zEY0jw-vSlJ-PG3Y428yp-anXsdIgwz4wuNwiJkLAdsP_X20zf-zeGEm-T3AfDfULSZfOetL_Z-Us6R3_Z-vIsShNCW-fx5_xDg5OFpeD__IdkER5Fv0L7CxXTLQ4oo/s1600/P1030654.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRiUT1eWtGW4v_zEY0jw-vSlJ-PG3Y428yp-anXsdIgwz4wuNwiJkLAdsP_X20zf-zeGEm-T3AfDfULSZfOetL_Z-Us6R3_Z-vIsShNCW-fx5_xDg5OFpeD__IdkER5Fv0L7CxXTLQ4oo/s400/P1030654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729284706916563938" border="0" /></a><br />In fairness, most retail in Abu is done in the mega shopping malls. These are air conditioned oases full of places to eat, shop and take your leisure. Coming form the desert, the Emirati people are fascinated with the cold, and indoor ice rinks and snow-based attractions feature regularly.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuiGPbkU0qjw_yaR_j73WVvfy7YwG4Drlc_3LEyD7n4solaLEmGu4SXSmnnVBNhmFII17pHVJpXUuxVcb_FeFtaSS2yxDm18XKuQSyrBeZjz8yGRu71RDNLlaI6LgrAYjt347gqWxdwQC/s1600/P1030637.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuiGPbkU0qjw_yaR_j73WVvfy7YwG4Drlc_3LEyD7n4solaLEmGu4SXSmnnVBNhmFII17pHVJpXUuxVcb_FeFtaSS2yxDm18XKuQSyrBeZjz8yGRu71RDNLlaI6LgrAYjt347gqWxdwQC/s400/P1030637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729282294123341842" border="0" /></a><br />There are lots of US chain restaurants over here. I love seeing their signs in Arabic script. They don't do that in Japan though - Starbucks is still written as is.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz1SaO4LwWpelkRGENoKVqMrIVrxczf_q6qj0XK1Ps6MYx-TTMlg7xo9oJr4F0ZFw1kLZRVRSc7LFkgo9OmRs_oBl10KP8WpDtJPPpi6SZ73EX2B7arQSQKRUqfWLZvDLxjOPFR-Vc3aj/s1600/P1030633.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz1SaO4LwWpelkRGENoKVqMrIVrxczf_q6qj0XK1Ps6MYx-TTMlg7xo9oJr4F0ZFw1kLZRVRSc7LFkgo9OmRs_oBl10KP8WpDtJPPpi6SZ73EX2B7arQSQKRUqfWLZvDLxjOPFR-Vc3aj/s400/P1030633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729282288757005186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also, the call to prayer played throughout the shopping mall at certain times during the day was pretty impressive. I can actually tell you exactly when these calls came because there was a clock displaying the times in the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3E6E8G2WgcFrW69QfXwOrohnze65fLF3P7-NY8B2YMrgAUMLmjQGRhZWp4EvnXurj8Ie0FnJMJ4ImBNK03EEwLJcmw4_T9BrwQhG97fCUfA_zIRJ2mcteA-EiSxb58pj16fiPw6g_S86/s1600/P1030717.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3E6E8G2WgcFrW69QfXwOrohnze65fLF3P7-NY8B2YMrgAUMLmjQGRhZWp4EvnXurj8Ie0FnJMJ4ImBNK03EEwLJcmw4_T9BrwQhG97fCUfA_zIRJ2mcteA-EiSxb58pj16fiPw6g_S86/s400/P1030717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729287613799800578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It takes dedication to be a muslim, man. I wanted to say something about the true church being the one to commercialism, but my internet service would possibly be cut off, so I won't.<br /><br /><br />In my time here in Abu, I have become addicted to drinks with mint. The Middle East knows how to do fresh mint well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_LwmZNZ0aG1ye9c3Rdc7ZJng4jRJP3-NXHtEKXyBwaEX0GWtXcBAprelqyYBcymJVyXyMUmQx7QB3zYfAUTcJihYjH6NRQBTihKbPM4bdRD7jn_-bY5uSXhidKIlPk7c3a5Z36KtjpkK/s1600/P1030659.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_LwmZNZ0aG1ye9c3Rdc7ZJng4jRJP3-NXHtEKXyBwaEX0GWtXcBAprelqyYBcymJVyXyMUmQx7QB3zYfAUTcJihYjH6NRQBTihKbPM4bdRD7jn_-bY5uSXhidKIlPk7c3a5Z36KtjpkK/s400/P1030659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729283578980091698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This lemonade with fresh mint is basically a virgin mojito and is sex in a glass. I guess because the culture is pretty much tee-total, they come up with way more interesting soft-drinks than just diet coke. It doesn't always work.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL_w_-9Man9WK6f9mif1b-xyDThY6SLBkI9SX8xXqC9ks2bHXEmyUWwrnpf7Po8ny3P-dRD5vTeLFttq3gROWxao_Njn6HLDmsgimaQfGJJiT44bABWejjeO9rJ171DdP7VZv8Eij6LHb/s1600/P1030786.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL_w_-9Man9WK6f9mif1b-xyDThY6SLBkI9SX8xXqC9ks2bHXEmyUWwrnpf7Po8ny3P-dRD5vTeLFttq3gROWxao_Njn6HLDmsgimaQfGJJiT44bABWejjeO9rJ171DdP7VZv8Eij6LHb/s400/P1030786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729283572237588402" border="0" /></a><br />This cucumber and mint concoction was basically cold, weak soup. Not exactly refreshing.<br /><br />Abu is full of parks and is way greener than I expected it to be. In fact I got to do some blossom viewing to make up for the fact that I left just before the cherries had bloomed in Japan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68c4erknMdv7T8aVdQ9XGrCVnh8Cbj7zvpBvdYglGd6UeN0VXQ-pBJaQ1e67jFtaJofH6qs9PK0bxdPomZufStkeNUZwQ6qTuj5uQjCCtXYDF1TmgfqxEHGVrhN0cb9T85IGFe1LcMWw/s1600/P1030790.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68c4erknMdv7T8aVdQ9XGrCVnh8Cbj7zvpBvdYglGd6UeN0VXQ-pBJaQ1e67jFtaJofH6qs9PK0bxdPomZufStkeNUZwQ6qTuj5uQjCCtXYDF1TmgfqxEHGVrhN0cb9T85IGFe1LcMWw/s400/P1030790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729289105970336226" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKCbCh4zxALUi1e1UPFS3_O9dFSHWduBivjAWDWxpMAjWm3PNcwMRF-vyX9wiY9JxPulG_glcN8XwLauomOm3_ETyv2NSUb1NhgGhoo7zh0Y0k4lDXXWsCvbBf4mWmWySddH29HXl7Ls/s1600/P1030595.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKCbCh4zxALUi1e1UPFS3_O9dFSHWduBivjAWDWxpMAjWm3PNcwMRF-vyX9wiY9JxPulG_glcN8XwLauomOm3_ETyv2NSUb1NhgGhoo7zh0Y0k4lDXXWsCvbBf4mWmWySddH29HXl7Ls/s400/P1030595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730223247663467650" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMh1lM1Zt1cxBB8uH-pCfE844_gA9zy9w3bhu4_p2sXUUsADIGKmFL1KDDEKzcrdf532MECzhrHkiETfqD0Saj-e5gyg_iACnR6rMOePa4pnGMBL2RvS-ZKjKgmDVpA_DB1YFqKhsW1E/s1600/P1030594.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMh1lM1Zt1cxBB8uH-pCfE844_gA9zy9w3bhu4_p2sXUUsADIGKmFL1KDDEKzcrdf532MECzhrHkiETfqD0Saj-e5gyg_iACnR6rMOePa4pnGMBL2RvS-ZKjKgmDVpA_DB1YFqKhsW1E/s400/P1030594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730223240721950914" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSBpb-Isuu2o-XUeCDqTNh50QP_dAXxlK69KFrqaPcZppWRymvnJIiAlmio5gojKPthFbOV8f5BA9IMfA7PYcYxHpfVyfH2cTKGEtplYJyFnND4nVkvf-UHlmIXhwVkgKmM7Nk1UlsC8/s1600/P1030577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSBpb-Isuu2o-XUeCDqTNh50QP_dAXxlK69KFrqaPcZppWRymvnJIiAlmio5gojKPthFbOV8f5BA9IMfA7PYcYxHpfVyfH2cTKGEtplYJyFnND4nVkvf-UHlmIXhwVkgKmM7Nk1UlsC8/s400/P1030577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730223261220437666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Encyclopatrick time! Abu has the third highest per capita consumption rate of water in the world (they say) but 97% of this supply comes from desalinated sea water, so I shouldn't feel too bad about enjoying all those grassy verges and colorful blooms.<br /><br />As I said in the previous entry, Abu seems to be a peaceful place where different groups of people get alone well. The only time I saw any real culture clash was on the plane about to leave Abu Dhabi. An Emirati man in full national costume refused to take his assigned seat beside an unveiled, t-shirt-wearing Arab woman. He wasn't rude or aggressive about it: he just seemed slightly shocked that such a thing might be expected of him. The Arab church is a broad one though, because the same Emirati man was later seen having the craic with a Moroccan brother who was dressed in Western clothing, drank tonnes of wine on the flight, and openly kissed his English girlfriend in public. We're all gods children, as that guy on the radio used to say.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-55925080441854799582012-04-08T12:31:00.018-07:002012-04-09T02:17:38.461-07:00Abu Dhabi Doo!Well, I finally successfully finished up my life in Japan: work over, apartment handed back, worldly belongings shipped home, taxes paid, pension refund processing. It was busy and stressful, and I constantly felt I was forgetting to do something, but overall it went smoother than I could have hoped. <br /><br />I didn't feel any emotion leaving, even at the airport where I thought it would finally hit. But that's okay, because I think it confirms that my decision to leave was the right one to make. Of course, saying goodbye to friends is always hard, but I figure with modern communications they will never feel that far away.<br /><br />Now I have started my travel adventure home via Abu Dhabi and Morocco. So welcome back Uncle Travelling Pat!<br /><br />I came to Abu Dhabi for one main reason: the weather! April is the best time to come to the UAE because the temperatures are high, but not too high. When I visited Dubai before, it was over 50 degrees most days and just walking from A to B was a bit of a challenge. In Abu at this time of year it's 25-30 degrees and a comfortable dry heat.<br /><br />Abu Dhabi (which means Father of the Gazelle, in case you're interested) is the capital of the seven emirates of the UAE, as well as being the biggest and the richest. It has a lot of oil, but in an effort to diversify and ensure post-fossil fuel prosperity, it is pumping big money into becoming a tourism and culture hub. As a result it is way more beachy than I expected. Here is the beach on the Corniche that I went to every day. Not too shabby.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNURufGnRkA-R6zqjaVkpwqYTYWX4ksQglIbIJGIAHYVyGl5Bv45Lwi7uLGftMbFGEO3QTjkb6jNs-p0yRTXFf0Qrv-R1rsu-8INLHcq5NDCNs-Hadk-pFo35qF-XiiwuYdJH3GL_MIhyphenhyphen7/s1600/P1030797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNURufGnRkA-R6zqjaVkpwqYTYWX4ksQglIbIJGIAHYVyGl5Bv45Lwi7uLGftMbFGEO3QTjkb6jNs-p0yRTXFf0Qrv-R1rsu-8INLHcq5NDCNs-Hadk-pFo35qF-XiiwuYdJH3GL_MIhyphenhyphen7/s400/P1030797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729283602019532450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijok6SntxoEDYP8F9MgNdvduxA_f6p7rJVaOcPZlA3izovb-bT1NfiCjJP1mezoqs7v6Px-L8Ff7AtGorryfwaXL4KCIwQV-lQwSgDIGSej9aZWhZGm1LE0eY25hjAU3rlPb-l3xfqOLCY/s1600/P1030805.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijok6SntxoEDYP8F9MgNdvduxA_f6p7rJVaOcPZlA3izovb-bT1NfiCjJP1mezoqs7v6Px-L8Ff7AtGorryfwaXL4KCIwQV-lQwSgDIGSej9aZWhZGm1LE0eY25hjAU3rlPb-l3xfqOLCY/s400/P1030805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729282325801429218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9egqvhZnQDQMIEJYwMJ1FlGu9dyYU2YI4B84-PQesndAYAOQ-yaMRfTvkB9OPnTnLC0yfzEn55GJqmbY293UglrCRedN3D07Hzc7owGLYtd7eUBgzXPnFyoBnYeg-PqSLaXQKutIKA8c/s1600/P1030581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9egqvhZnQDQMIEJYwMJ1FlGu9dyYU2YI4B84-PQesndAYAOQ-yaMRfTvkB9OPnTnLC0yfzEn55GJqmbY293UglrCRedN3D07Hzc7owGLYtd7eUBgzXPnFyoBnYeg-PqSLaXQKutIKA8c/s400/P1030581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729323620802773314" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQLmt5Nn3ObZ4LfrJEDmeyd_rLsmgf11egd-Efyg3gCcN69QszeUWpyAYFRfSeyr4h00eXdtVbWzfS8LqqP-qvOGL7tZrLSzl9MZDdn9DSWqNdd6vsujQiPyMUWaaKXi3Q7RrID8i2FM/s1600/P1030812.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQLmt5Nn3ObZ4LfrJEDmeyd_rLsmgf11egd-Efyg3gCcN69QszeUWpyAYFRfSeyr4h00eXdtVbWzfS8LqqP-qvOGL7tZrLSzl9MZDdn9DSWqNdd6vsujQiPyMUWaaKXi3Q7RrID8i2FM/s400/P1030812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729289100661520226" border="0" /></a><br />There are segregated beaches for women, families and unmarried men, but the divisions don't seem to be strictly enforced, as you can see below.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw4LP5HG_bbAK2-9kWELAtJAE5V1mYeXg-ybNthKyol9DWdfwATb-89ty-OiUfjmJ9GMqKAEdmb2cW_k_lcWg4Xin6lespdbMv6_q4-i3lF2iiDwDnsXVR96QJnkfazn6ttkvV8N1l17M/s1600/P1030669.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw4LP5HG_bbAK2-9kWELAtJAE5V1mYeXg-ybNthKyol9DWdfwATb-89ty-OiUfjmJ9GMqKAEdmb2cW_k_lcWg4Xin6lespdbMv6_q4-i3lF2iiDwDnsXVR96QJnkfazn6ttkvV8N1l17M/s400/P1030669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729286168694425666" border="0" /></a><br />Overall, it seems that diverse cultures coexist fairly well here in Abu, and, while an Islamic moral code is definitely prevalent, other ways of behaving seem to be largely accepted at most times.<br /><br />The Corniche is a long, well-serviced sea front. People walk, roller blade, relax, play sports, fish...I walked the Corniche every day, and for me the main attraction was that it's a great place to drink a coffee and people watch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qA35g79nYXpP8gAMVn9cB6lvygdGjkHx9vTCAyPAHW8eqJsOzNuncNqWAvFMycjYLSBNNVTeCqXMSotdAcw7H1c605hLbGR6TaJclKNvbDZnHX7Y9I2kCpfhvgOTFYHfxaLW4RSU7SQ/s1600/P1030580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qA35g79nYXpP8gAMVn9cB6lvygdGjkHx9vTCAyPAHW8eqJsOzNuncNqWAvFMycjYLSBNNVTeCqXMSotdAcw7H1c605hLbGR6TaJclKNvbDZnHX7Y9I2kCpfhvgOTFYHfxaLW4RSU7SQ/s400/P1030580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729323614043150034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDZmKQ1Hfk9e0ccZibFwul9284j9oY9d9albEl9VnihWPQ-UDezR_WlqESbuaxTKDxptODMsE2pNqRT-diUSNdGLJJ8jfGJFvuCz3z3o9cxD_OhkHh_iIMe0sOsxzubsAzJqjdDQYmDoh/s1600/P1030591.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDZmKQ1Hfk9e0ccZibFwul9284j9oY9d9albEl9VnihWPQ-UDezR_WlqESbuaxTKDxptODMsE2pNqRT-diUSNdGLJJ8jfGJFvuCz3z3o9cxD_OhkHh_iIMe0sOsxzubsAzJqjdDQYmDoh/s400/P1030591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729116699359384530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC3QnVr86S-Aiwv7BL8zHmtx8Y8Cmj-EPIzN_u8nlz1uCgLh0cH5qDdM_1Y42UMwyDsvOn9LTPRFiBy4oNcq_DXMmRY05inGTWrVnUAUIF6GNCO4VSa-ElC6Wzx2cgBSYXdsl1mY69_Vm/s1600/P1030579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC3QnVr86S-Aiwv7BL8zHmtx8Y8Cmj-EPIzN_u8nlz1uCgLh0cH5qDdM_1Y42UMwyDsvOn9LTPRFiBy4oNcq_DXMmRY05inGTWrVnUAUIF6GNCO4VSa-ElC6Wzx2cgBSYXdsl1mY69_Vm/s400/P1030579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729116659039970002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A lot of the architects and civil engineers working in the UAE come from Australia, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Corniche was some of their work: you'd swear you were in Perth.<br /><br />The Corniche feels like one of the main arteries of the city, and it certainly is if you're not driving a car. Abu Dhabi is far more pedestrian friendly than Dubai: I even saw Emirati out of their luxury cars walking, which I never saw in the neighbouring emirate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOB_ssEpc4QXMAoeFTz094MTn1NY5HjcBLuxW9AH44WqHHeZu0uezGruDoBxffrKigImHfVVIcddKrzLruN138bNSdGqUUsEtbohKLBt6govtb28x4wBLpddOOJe8CP5BVCR12lVf2rgP/s1600/P1030671.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOB_ssEpc4QXMAoeFTz094MTn1NY5HjcBLuxW9AH44WqHHeZu0uezGruDoBxffrKigImHfVVIcddKrzLruN138bNSdGqUUsEtbohKLBt6govtb28x4wBLpddOOJe8CP5BVCR12lVf2rgP/s400/P1030671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729284750514632130" border="0" /></a><br />Abu also has lots of pedestrian underpasses to help you safely tackle the 10-lane highways. Each passage has a different decorative motif that holds a special significance for the people of the UAE: horses, falcons, camels, oysters, and so on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtWd6seTL_YfD7LmeLE-qpxNfphypXdXF1qCFEpcUiRrFJ8ZiSk7HVpcF0UOUl4mUONHEdpUoeAAgnztFQJsLcYl6vhGkuyuI8Fruacpw2wLax_7riXBSbRyThbVGiDDrTOTD-yNMRtE0/s1600/P1030578.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtWd6seTL_YfD7LmeLE-qpxNfphypXdXF1qCFEpcUiRrFJ8ZiSk7HVpcF0UOUl4mUONHEdpUoeAAgnztFQJsLcYl6vhGkuyuI8Fruacpw2wLax_7riXBSbRyThbVGiDDrTOTD-yNMRtE0/s400/P1030578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729116652138898290" border="0" /></a><br />Before the disvocery of oil in '58, pearl diving was the main source of income and wealth for the locals - until the Japanese developed cultured pearls and put them out of business...oops!<br /><br />Abu's main sightseeing attraction at the minute is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8foUdI1HFkXhEHXhdT5gN7IwWZu18jOUSy3K6r5L-veAe34ATX6lwus88VObfPymSSXrenSwNFvdosCslzVCgopvRzuYAegFaqRoeCzc7vPkuGm-Rf3CZJM_p58Py8jThOhfTDR0xdbF-/s1600/P1030752.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8foUdI1HFkXhEHXhdT5gN7IwWZu18jOUSy3K6r5L-veAe34ATX6lwus88VObfPymSSXrenSwNFvdosCslzVCgopvRzuYAegFaqRoeCzc7vPkuGm-Rf3CZJM_p58Py8jThOhfTDR0xdbF-/s400/P1030752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729287619900999474" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5ml4yrp4wh_fuOkert5Dp1COt3bYJqO-XiMonqgummO_umJ6gr5JGsKp6JeW0tGhdO3foIlWsprjPKDd2GRPXUodBmLdz7JtzmIkXJOr60jLJsSFVr9OelqW9PPlddpXRbno_6DJMrAf/s1600/P1030702.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5ml4yrp4wh_fuOkert5Dp1COt3bYJqO-XiMonqgummO_umJ6gr5JGsKp6JeW0tGhdO3foIlWsprjPKDd2GRPXUodBmLdz7JtzmIkXJOr60jLJsSFVr9OelqW9PPlddpXRbno_6DJMrAf/s400/P1030702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729286184459824786" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xOtrmQXoKDDHfEXnvAVxd9vxLqBRz8fyQh6qXZ54LWJh7rqfEra3OWa90PbDSTGjmDPBoMA4mATpxdLpHAUssUZA2O3L26ZVwEauzl9iRzQ1bV8Y3uKM9gCgW3S3lhC_XQMntcUsnufk/s1600/P1030734.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xOtrmQXoKDDHfEXnvAVxd9vxLqBRz8fyQh6qXZ54LWJh7rqfEra3OWa90PbDSTGjmDPBoMA4mATpxdLpHAUssUZA2O3L26ZVwEauzl9iRzQ1bV8Y3uKM9gCgW3S3lhC_XQMntcUsnufk/s400/P1030734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729287674580682882" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zU3S2g_V-rfqhLvHVrKcYIh2BLn3-nqn9uNRyWDhjc1P29UICTq2-ZHmiciGwSCFuDFBi5dc_aVOXAeBydZdbGMYZ1cu5h9gN4bGFflHZoAvcQewxlHO9SwmGjdVLVeAXdVMXAfmpIM/s1600/P1030731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zU3S2g_V-rfqhLvHVrKcYIh2BLn3-nqn9uNRyWDhjc1P29UICTq2-ZHmiciGwSCFuDFBi5dc_aVOXAeBydZdbGMYZ1cu5h9gN4bGFflHZoAvcQewxlHO9SwmGjdVLVeAXdVMXAfmpIM/s400/P1030731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729289073194649506" border="0" /></a><br />It's the third largest in the world and the largest outside Saudi Arabia. It's also the burial site of Sheikh Zayed, former ruler of Abu Dhabi and much-loved founding father of the UAE.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAissxbdkKqTzMvzEs_7mF_1bRt6swa2jwjvivncaIYxAi-0jUP_HTDg4sIotJdR8HcWDte3Sb7OiSOx4mlXHjjZ-Am20kairtECdDu74xu6Ictis2sSU6u6tH_qlfBexU69y4FQF24OF/s1600/P1030642.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAissxbdkKqTzMvzEs_7mF_1bRt6swa2jwjvivncaIYxAi-0jUP_HTDg4sIotJdR8HcWDte3Sb7OiSOx4mlXHjjZ-Am20kairtECdDu74xu6Ictis2sSU6u6tH_qlfBexU69y4FQF24OF/s400/P1030642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729282315742016130" border="0" /></a><br />The exterior is awesome. It feels like the Taj Mahal and you cannot help but be impressed by its elegance. The inside... not so much.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmsjVbt6yPnfrDlTGl_IdTcRGNmL1FFiztmhXI9-VbzWubxxH3uTV7v_2W_smiPVC5d7Qng0APmU197K0n0Xvv-mHbo54YhdmdQZ1DdlMVHKNDzrZ5nWWJ9mTs_SVuDYN9Up_G7GkxLrr/s1600/P1030706.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmsjVbt6yPnfrDlTGl_IdTcRGNmL1FFiztmhXI9-VbzWubxxH3uTV7v_2W_smiPVC5d7Qng0APmU197K0n0Xvv-mHbo54YhdmdQZ1DdlMVHKNDzrZ5nWWJ9mTs_SVuDYN9Up_G7GkxLrr/s400/P1030706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729286195279743106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-DHbd_9fsC3OCNAJqrwuUIm4xkH_cv-QmquB9Gu-5aREMop7AYAOmc1VKBuZLdppC-MjdyeWKSnI4U4Hi8UF37vvQ8t2BGgkwdCH_d85rgCRvjqmzARDmTuhSPxmeKAXZxIol-7AcV8/s1600/P1030708.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-DHbd_9fsC3OCNAJqrwuUIm4xkH_cv-QmquB9Gu-5aREMop7AYAOmc1VKBuZLdppC-MjdyeWKSnI4U4Hi8UF37vvQ8t2BGgkwdCH_d85rgCRvjqmzARDmTuhSPxmeKAXZxIol-7AcV8/s400/P1030708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729289051233987730" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoN40PVsMUiCQ4rSA0ijuL1TG5WQh3U0KthNThK9E6Au_5ZXrv-He2ICMm9ztq785RBklz5oXaRjfI_00jOMYvVNMjoPwFAJhglUXCrYEPDemaeGb_8_G8-BCWpl3gTIO8sV-aM7828SNZ/s1600/P1030720.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoN40PVsMUiCQ4rSA0ijuL1TG5WQh3U0KthNThK9E6Au_5ZXrv-He2ICMm9ztq785RBklz5oXaRjfI_00jOMYvVNMjoPwFAJhglUXCrYEPDemaeGb_8_G8-BCWpl3gTIO8sV-aM7828SNZ/s400/P1030720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729287637274068002" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1R_QznGun-5iSp_F1VTdaM6V4OrHhsbzBeNI-uF36fVayu4rT7ts0B_KrvneWDAmURfFragBnPDjXHTnlNpQb_FX8qXo5QYdlQzCMsKXfJzVexlw4RcunOsp4Qkvb-f2TepYDU021k8/s1600/P1030719.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1R_QznGun-5iSp_F1VTdaM6V4OrHhsbzBeNI-uF36fVayu4rT7ts0B_KrvneWDAmURfFragBnPDjXHTnlNpQb_FX8qXo5QYdlQzCMsKXfJzVexlw4RcunOsp4Qkvb-f2TepYDU021k8/s400/P1030719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729323629834772946" border="0" /></a><br />A little gaudy for my taste - other large mosques that I've been to have had much simpler interiors that - combined with great size - created a stronger impression. It's a wonderful place for people who like taking photos and deserves the title of must-see in the region.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85Yqs5M5ulK53bf-5CP8rPCHEDbKplNxkmjYK2lFsYjy2irvQMv-RCdiwe6baydFzZDnAAhhwZ8OYd5rGwoR3utgyH18veslSkWlhS4jqpYYqZMgkZkc_3yJEBAE9YHSQe7TSIqhanpWe/s1600/P1030727.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85Yqs5M5ulK53bf-5CP8rPCHEDbKplNxkmjYK2lFsYjy2irvQMv-RCdiwe6baydFzZDnAAhhwZ8OYd5rGwoR3utgyH18veslSkWlhS4jqpYYqZMgkZkc_3yJEBAE9YHSQe7TSIqhanpWe/s400/P1030727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729286212765001714" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Kvti7w8-LB9wCGW5FkHAarqUXgvF2s1nKCPrCscBOnF1FOArbdUgqY22vDerjWcZccd-yOfURsJ3rGad1fVZtcmiiwguG8YIon8s-bE7VROQUaOwpbWkZywbCfOI6VedeoOTFpKBww0/s1600/P1030741.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Kvti7w8-LB9wCGW5FkHAarqUXgvF2s1nKCPrCscBOnF1FOArbdUgqY22vDerjWcZccd-yOfURsJ3rGad1fVZtcmiiwguG8YIon8s-bE7VROQUaOwpbWkZywbCfOI6VedeoOTFpKBww0/s400/P1030741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729289080491814146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's not such a great place to easily contemplate and feel spiritual though. The tours are constant and I probably had the odd rage stroke trying to deal with my fellow humans, as I'm sure they did with me.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSA-1-vLIIHxwgrPgopl5-p9HTmvk3S6E0j9uIu0LsMCoH_t6BtBau2s_nkGjhP3VPs0RlmIVVMoV0vT1Os4WnNCPImrsV58PXBbjUBnaRgVfX89abhshGGhyphenhyphenr9OPXknZ7zBFmGIPnBvU/s1600/P1030726.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSA-1-vLIIHxwgrPgopl5-p9HTmvk3S6E0j9uIu0LsMCoH_t6BtBau2s_nkGjhP3VPs0RlmIVVMoV0vT1Os4WnNCPImrsV58PXBbjUBnaRgVfX89abhshGGhyphenhyphenr9OPXknZ7zBFmGIPnBvU/s400/P1030726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729323650254002370" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp4XpkzUNk1vq0tlGX0H2NEzpqPW3Q8S328-WmNSzxILuCA_5RIfAwMZeN4pCbLn746ojcfV7lA2eU_tflpNxrJGerYPvb61MoIYzUI7OveFD1SEGhbLfwFNljhCDt3g2TL4lEBNAcVzT/s1600/P1030749.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp4XpkzUNk1vq0tlGX0H2NEzpqPW3Q8S328-WmNSzxILuCA_5RIfAwMZeN4pCbLn746ojcfV7lA2eU_tflpNxrJGerYPvb61MoIYzUI7OveFD1SEGhbLfwFNljhCDt3g2TL4lEBNAcVzT/s400/P1030749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729287656071978802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The other big attraction (for now) is the Emirates Palace Hotel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuNITrciOVS9eDdDagZMmJlm02R-5MakkgQO3HeXdsgHwRrkQyIqcPOtaFoeiCpheN_r5DAoiyX5r_zthOMMoxXGqurXnVjpRv8NXuAeZRLi1ImB2ogvHaFw9U_PWTm-DM1zoz2oN7MKh/s1600/P1030777.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuNITrciOVS9eDdDagZMmJlm02R-5MakkgQO3HeXdsgHwRrkQyIqcPOtaFoeiCpheN_r5DAoiyX5r_zthOMMoxXGqurXnVjpRv8NXuAeZRLi1ImB2ogvHaFw9U_PWTm-DM1zoz2oN7MKh/s400/P1030777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729284741101386850" border="0" /></a><br />This is a palace to extreme wealth and conspicuous consumption. It boasts numerous statistics to stake its claim as the most luxurious hotel in the world (which no doubt irks their neighbours in Dubai who try to claim the same title). I can't remember all the reasons, but one factoid that stuck with me is that they apparently use 1kg of edible gold leaf a year for decorating food. Can that be right? If so, that's a lot of precious metal going down the drain pipes! I was half-thinking to set up a prospecting station in the sewers.<br /><br />The thing about Abu is thay everything feels like it's just not quite there yet. I mean, this most luxurious hotel is still right beside a construction site.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY9FCyGB8NuW-Yti-8yYQd9ulEXR-4iLJ6LY7mz8Lfsd7-oEk6kNlC_WXRrZSxpGVytOtT9mCRaroc5moEvNPT2aZuo-ArhyphenhyphencSDUT3QT2QHRlE6VOnLjkYrYceTD5LiN1h94FZRj3wNCF/s1600/P1030682.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY9FCyGB8NuW-Yti-8yYQd9ulEXR-4iLJ6LY7mz8Lfsd7-oEk6kNlC_WXRrZSxpGVytOtT9mCRaroc5moEvNPT2aZuo-ArhyphenhyphencSDUT3QT2QHRlE6VOnLjkYrYceTD5LiN1h94FZRj3wNCF/s400/P1030682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729286174041456354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I know your room would be far from here and you'd probably arrive by helicopter or something if you had the money to stay here, but it still somewhat takes that luxury sheen away. Similarly, there's going to be all these great cultural attractions: Abu will have its own Guggenheim and Louvre and all will be displayed in buildings designed by the world's leading architects). But none of this stuff is open yet. It chapped my ass to think that these new attractions will open later this year, but for now it feels like the city is saying, "Please wait, come back shortly and we promise we'll have a world-class city to offer you." Maybe. But the danger with these urban-planning projects is that they can feel a bit theme-parky. London, Paris, New York & co. built up over time, and with this time came atmosphere. At the minute, Abu feels like a Disney version of a cultural capital. But it is still fascinating and I would certainly recommend it for a few days' stay.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-82392695869066577752012-02-24T03:39:00.002-08:002012-02-24T04:39:42.205-08:00The countdown is onWell, it's really starting to hit me that I'm leaving. I'm now thinking in terms like, "only five more shaves till I finish work," or "I should really eat at this restaurant today as I might not be back in this neighborhood again before I leave Japan." <p>My group took me out for lunch today as a little goodbye party. I hope whoever comes after me takes good care of them. I don't think I was very nice to them because I was always so stressed out dealing with my boss. But we must have made some sort of connection: they clubbed together and got me the pen below as a parting gift. I don't know if you can really see the detail, but the pen is inlaid with red and gold dragonflies. You see, I once told them that one of my happiest memories of Japan was a trip to Yamanashi prefecture where I sat in the garden of a restaurant beside a reservoir in early summer with my sister and some friends and just watched hundreds of dragonflies fly in the blue sky around us. Just remembering that makes me smile, and now I'll feel the same way whenever I use the pen.</p><p><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil12zD4kGSpaooYTBgh6M-wTqlCiUqrE1NTletjJhFpaYy9MlCTxRTOxbn87W_i07g5ClE96jB_sfWpIfDb1KoHrJW7CJTkDBosU1vMQtf0IB4zGuvR63kC8448Qg0o9BcpNPADBzPIXDZ/s1600/__-759778.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil12zD4kGSpaooYTBgh6M-wTqlCiUqrE1NTletjJhFpaYy9MlCTxRTOxbn87W_i07g5ClE96jB_sfWpIfDb1KoHrJW7CJTkDBosU1vMQtf0IB4zGuvR63kC8448Qg0o9BcpNPADBzPIXDZ/s320/__-759778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712665822649802370" border="0" /></a></p>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-24300102673393094272012-02-20T06:11:00.000-08:002012-02-20T06:11:01.218-08:00Second in a series: things I'll miss about JapanWell, the move is really happening. My last day at work is March 2 and then I leave Japan on March 31. As the reality of what I am doing is setting in, I'm trying harder and harder to focus on the good things about my last few years here so that I'll say goodbye on happy terms. I'm finding it helpful to continue to jot down the things I'll miss. (None of which have been about work... so far, hahaha!) So here come three more:<br /><br />Uniqlo<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZkzfGxVRoTMy5zNKCQGZtzCOAET4j8e6Ia3MY06KtH8BLvr09nlVOsmfN0rdcWmmWqSJ-0WiadL2bcHJA-VABMfVHEpZt0EgSQ0CA-0kWqSnksVY9Q3UUXPFPIuSxYRi_RmoLQ4c6fV-/s1600/Uniqlo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZkzfGxVRoTMy5zNKCQGZtzCOAET4j8e6Ia3MY06KtH8BLvr09nlVOsmfN0rdcWmmWqSJ-0WiadL2bcHJA-VABMfVHEpZt0EgSQ0CA-0kWqSnksVY9Q3UUXPFPIuSxYRi_RmoLQ4c6fV-/s400/Uniqlo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710853526537322514" border="0" /></a><br />I may as well be sponsored by Uniqlo at this stage. Almost all the clothes I own come from there, and you cannot beat them for simple, good quality, inexpensive casuals. And they are far and away the best place for foreigners like me who don't fit the traditional Japanese size templates. The mothership in Ginza is currently being renovated and will open just before I leave as the world's biggest Uniqlo store. Luckily I'm not a compulsive shopper or I'd be planning to clean the place out before I send my shipment back to Ireland.<br /><br />Japanese presentation<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRALSLc42ksDouW8QmVgHl6Fq0c6vAieu0QUat1csqWl7iKo0nbzkNImRTUtnNdwpB8HGSTJDBG6CBRnxzmZJehgtMyU1zKyloupvYQConD00Ku-HfKGzOitd2Q34jVug1LgtPq47gdcB/s1600/P1030352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRALSLc42ksDouW8QmVgHl6Fq0c6vAieu0QUat1csqWl7iKo0nbzkNImRTUtnNdwpB8HGSTJDBG6CBRnxzmZJehgtMyU1zKyloupvYQConD00Ku-HfKGzOitd2Q34jVug1LgtPq47gdcB/s400/P1030352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710853544423838034" border="0" /></a><br />The attention to detail and thought that goes into presentation in Japan boggles the mind. Appearances count for so, so much over here. I will miss how even a 6-euro fast-food dish like the one above will be served with thought, care and artistic flare. However, I also now know very deeply how much effort and discipline is required to achieve these Japanese standards of quality. I will not dwell on the (many) times I have been scolded by a superior for not folding a piece of paper correctly or stapling a report in the wrong place, and don't even get me started on the deficiencies in my stamping technique. But these negative associations aside, living here makes you really appreciate quality and precision.<br /><br />Open spaces<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEcHHJIx1lvJchrPgnq375yT8aomBpAm_8AZV3PBYOb73yT2e2BPdWxxEP-guy7JtyFqWIdjCqUYtDNU6B9Z-WVhWdyUNEekLiFVL_TS8PNcuaDxnTE3M9spKRNbHaeynqjZIYTq9fLh8/s1600/Fountain+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEcHHJIx1lvJchrPgnq375yT8aomBpAm_8AZV3PBYOb73yT2e2BPdWxxEP-guy7JtyFqWIdjCqUYtDNU6B9Z-WVhWdyUNEekLiFVL_TS8PNcuaDxnTE3M9spKRNbHaeynqjZIYTq9fLh8/s400/Fountain+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710853531606476882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cjn_CyXq9rcTLu468gxy5WEiorj7JTifw5-z4KOBSfm0Uj0YB533aOkxafDJBEYAcL-66Yf7-doJwN1MuEhBj6jfE72J5QtO6QdVSPZi9W-XJDk5tZpF6BYQ9pZ43aalWw00w_6SGMOw/s1600/Fountain+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cjn_CyXq9rcTLu468gxy5WEiorj7JTifw5-z4KOBSfm0Uj0YB533aOkxafDJBEYAcL-66Yf7-doJwN1MuEhBj6jfE72J5QtO6QdVSPZi9W-XJDk5tZpF6BYQ9pZ43aalWw00w_6SGMOw/s400/Fountain+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710853539612417794" border="0" /></a><br />I bet you never thought anyone would say that about Tokyo. But to be honest, the city is extremely well served with parks and plazas and places to enjoy the outdoors. Here is just one example I passed through today by the Imperial Palace. All the people who come to Tokyo expect thronging streets, mad neon-filled crossings, and buildings packed one on top of the other. And the city has all that in spades. But the longer you live here and the more exploring you do, the more places you will find that allow you to get a bit of space outdoors. I think it must be because homes are so tiny - people would go really crazy if there weren't some public areas to get away from it all.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-49192572041513650262012-02-18T22:50:00.001-08:002012-02-18T22:50:15.930-08:00Conversations with my mother<div></div><div style="font-family: Times; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium; "><p>Me: so yeah, the woman I was out with last night, I hired her...<br><br>Mother: say what now?!!<br><br>#thehiddenperilsofworkinginHR(makingyourmotherthinkyoupayforit)</p></div>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-85478421692716218022012-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:002012-02-06T07:02:02.288-08:00Today is a big day in "2012: a year of changes". I just submitted my first funding application to do a Ph.D. later on this year, so the whole thing iToday is a big day in "2012: a year of changes". I just submitted my first funding application to do a Ph.D. later on this year, so the whole thing is starting to feel real. You have to really big yourself up in these applications, so I ended up writing the thing as if I was going to find the cure to world hunger. In reality, I feel much more like image below. (P.S. This post was really just an excuse to show the cute dog to my sis and mam.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49pvlSuS53QSPCYpj3tIb8wgcTUSPyX9inzOJdPN6hX9nU5zmiW7wIOIIe1w1hCRX3JuyAEkqLcBc2y4YXtMnbn7tt6J3XvG1hoJAUglwfOj-SZBV3jFVwU2RvmFqBTSJlGyDBhTwezFq/s1600/noideawhatimdoing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49pvlSuS53QSPCYpj3tIb8wgcTUSPyX9inzOJdPN6hX9nU5zmiW7wIOIIe1w1hCRX3JuyAEkqLcBc2y4YXtMnbn7tt6J3XvG1hoJAUglwfOj-SZBV3jFVwU2RvmFqBTSJlGyDBhTwezFq/s400/noideawhatimdoing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706037958199587938" border="0" /></a>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-16671645376581611922012-01-26T06:33:00.001-08:002012-02-05T05:30:31.548-08:00First in a series (hopefully): things I'll miss about JapanNo. 1 Blossom-watching<br />I will have left Japan before the cherry blossoms come out in Tokyo. I going to make every effort to track the seasons a bit more when I get back to Ireland, and I think the odd 'ohanami' party will have to be organized. Though we'll probably all have to bring scuba gear in case the Irish weather doesn't play fair. When I was really in the depths of my despair last year, getting out and walking among the autumn leaves really helped. I think you can see why.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkGGdMtlzIXaEx0J25ZEqAWj7SDBym9HmdV662oQS7Qldjuf5v2a17GywLqmt07YZzcpmIcvroEAe451FdpY1cYwQwceQNfaDYR-2nHDn54u9vTdRWn84AONBUn1ldFslBfGbh4PfT4qi/s1600/Red+leaves.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkGGdMtlzIXaEx0J25ZEqAWj7SDBym9HmdV662oQS7Qldjuf5v2a17GywLqmt07YZzcpmIcvroEAe451FdpY1cYwQwceQNfaDYR-2nHDn54u9vTdRWn84AONBUn1ldFslBfGbh4PfT4qi/s400/Red+leaves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701947282268163458" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDvjcR0ijbm5hPdQ1la2pY7LdiaTNXVwGv5QIZDVr5v1LhMqunGmaYiQxph-0kaMz867c8Hwb1yc95ecHZLLLCVxVLEm7-tfRX_oFQt45WS3tlBMkfAJeS6hbQX1cbJXqciwBqGc1tBK1/s1600/Momiji.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDvjcR0ijbm5hPdQ1la2pY7LdiaTNXVwGv5QIZDVr5v1LhMqunGmaYiQxph-0kaMz867c8Hwb1yc95ecHZLLLCVxVLEm7-tfRX_oFQt45WS3tlBMkfAJeS6hbQX1cbJXqciwBqGc1tBK1/s400/Momiji.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701947286141876146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t1OGFwiMrMsFhM-UTq2JqrXME-PzZLJaJgmXhXGjOV4yKx7TfyEWnp5uuihZwVidMQboMb9BkwHDiUonfsUIaKIX40KUP1Cdp3hUW5Ne_KdVb3w41gczhtiQNkqR17ZE_Ij-iQl-5qUA/s1600/P1030283.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t1OGFwiMrMsFhM-UTq2JqrXME-PzZLJaJgmXhXGjOV4yKx7TfyEWnp5uuihZwVidMQboMb9BkwHDiUonfsUIaKIX40KUP1Cdp3hUW5Ne_KdVb3w41gczhtiQNkqR17ZE_Ij-iQl-5qUA/s400/P1030283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701948467813733234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxPGbhgevlqPQkNNOMyGwb2xhpFRSjR7isXfExnZtldioGtJO1Xdufu4pP5Mmiq0D4Xiq3HqRe3GhQwGFgJixtcnxM9LAhwuCiBq9VndrrfY9sBjCAkiJ0M_RyfxFnEisrgrbsVa2ab87/s1600/P1030286.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxPGbhgevlqPQkNNOMyGwb2xhpFRSjR7isXfExnZtldioGtJO1Xdufu4pP5Mmiq0D4Xiq3HqRe3GhQwGFgJixtcnxM9LAhwuCiBq9VndrrfY9sBjCAkiJ0M_RyfxFnEisrgrbsVa2ab87/s400/P1030286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701948487860600098" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWcxCEuX5fs4213oqcXnkG4GaCTdPbltLG715Xk0V-hrgQAeJsuq7A5NKXuFZAKGG7qwiyndaihdYMyhJlN1KKjUNJeeiAoWH9aIhGh8h1kl-jxF9zjyO5Z9W74AzTcYkHSQSJ782ulzz/s1600/P1030274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWcxCEuX5fs4213oqcXnkG4GaCTdPbltLG715Xk0V-hrgQAeJsuq7A5NKXuFZAKGG7qwiyndaihdYMyhJlN1KKjUNJeeiAoWH9aIhGh8h1kl-jxF9zjyO5Z9W74AzTcYkHSQSJ782ulzz/s400/P1030274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701947312833323874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />No. 2 Mount Fuji<br />Even though she may erupt and melt us all, she really is a fine looking mountain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1BlBx5vmUnk6k90ed16tGFD1kGjlEJJ2YOtlw7f12tjjRzhCUjj_pyNyeamjEuPyX7bvAgLXjeMm_lnCXbOC2FQIKjWYQ75o4j90Kjsn1d7i2dLmboVO5tGhpACp-iAJEv7A9l0eCOQM/s1600/P1000868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1BlBx5vmUnk6k90ed16tGFD1kGjlEJJ2YOtlw7f12tjjRzhCUjj_pyNyeamjEuPyX7bvAgLXjeMm_lnCXbOC2FQIKjWYQ75o4j90Kjsn1d7i2dLmboVO5tGhpACp-iAJEv7A9l0eCOQM/s400/P1000868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705635651693684674" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRHWffYhoz6TIEpK_RXvjEgLXmOyONVarOKiOHl10yi-J3DC1z4nhV9Toh5S7t8JeQHbn-gPz_3_2iPzCTVfcYONwt3ZPtEj-sYLQRp3lOY94UK92auEk_-lE9MCesK9qoTDk1t_6_6r3/s1600/Fuji+summit+detail.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRHWffYhoz6TIEpK_RXvjEgLXmOyONVarOKiOHl10yi-J3DC1z4nhV9Toh5S7t8JeQHbn-gPz_3_2iPzCTVfcYONwt3ZPtEj-sYLQRp3lOY94UK92auEk_-lE9MCesK9qoTDk1t_6_6r3/s400/Fuji+summit+detail.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705635643645860834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My favourite thing was to catch surprise views of her from the city on a clear day, like the one below.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtTLRtuILOMtG1VXb3g3st5Lj-n_KYcl6GscWBksa3G8VnPZ58PrI14OAak8GiYz1WICSXOdcA4NthBVpsZ53Dg5AUUaS1tsydhXNh5pRb8CeJZX00VGk6v4yV96pETNVMEuvolMPzJFh/s1600/P1030291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtTLRtuILOMtG1VXb3g3st5Lj-n_KYcl6GscWBksa3G8VnPZ58PrI14OAak8GiYz1WICSXOdcA4NthBVpsZ53Dg5AUUaS1tsydhXNh5pRb8CeJZX00VGk6v4yV96pETNVMEuvolMPzJFh/s400/P1030291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701948452294672626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />No. 3 Tokyo Tower<br />Kind of the same as Mount Fuji, I'll miss the tower because I think it's beautiful, because it always seemed to just pop up out of nowhere, and because it helped orient me on my mega-walks around the city in the days before GPS-enabled smart phones.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ-GorHv6cQrfDpqx7NNmu0uh7n_c6uIY8QhuiFu64tNQgsnLk2pHJzvUcadE5u_UhEXqWUuIGvxEHSArv7KGOqA2WPIY3sUMQmTKsuSv0m77sPVrhvKQtZ_1hfgtUErsA_oWxjLE7EJM/s1600/P1020923.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ-GorHv6cQrfDpqx7NNmu0uh7n_c6uIY8QhuiFu64tNQgsnLk2pHJzvUcadE5u_UhEXqWUuIGvxEHSArv7KGOqA2WPIY3sUMQmTKsuSv0m77sPVrhvKQtZ_1hfgtUErsA_oWxjLE7EJM/s400/P1020923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705636395412557298" border="0" /></a><br />An image that sends ice down my spine is this photo of the tip of the tower. You can see how the March 11 earthquake twisted that girded steel like a plastic straw.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKvoBOs_T7bXGZmc46RwEKnnggt3PkC8KxA-_FN-eBvJx0jXYqrE45vt5MZEAkjq0G2Lq14dtPIGRdpWHEeeAoN2Vr8QMJFywsksBzAWZvvFCR4Xip-pit6m3Mbp6JfNGfNskO9ZjHLTR/s1600/P1030345.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKvoBOs_T7bXGZmc46RwEKnnggt3PkC8KxA-_FN-eBvJx0jXYqrE45vt5MZEAkjq0G2Lq14dtPIGRdpWHEeeAoN2Vr8QMJFywsksBzAWZvvFCR4Xip-pit6m3Mbp6JfNGfNskO9ZjHLTR/s400/P1030345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705641215204809986" border="0" /></a><br />As I've said a lot before, Tokyo really didn't suffer in the disaster, but this is a reminder of how much the city got shaken about, and how much more it may be shaken about in the future. I will not miss earthquakes.<br /><br /><br />No.4 Skyscraper living<br />I love a big metropolis. I got great pleasure going to restaurants and cafes on some dizzying floor and feeling like I was living in the clouds. This view from Shiodome can't be beat. I wonder are there any rooms for rent at the top of Liberty Hall (Dublin's fun-size skyscraper)?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ9_pjpucdXaefr6kblCltXuYhnfZWZObkLzZSeOs6iRpPsT-x9X9ojo58hmYiiqGKrjBIBoekjYOHJ-So8UWNzN8N050ExHVmQ_YeWxbJE4SXmL4XEOMA49AOgq1DlqnerUy-JWle-vL/s1600/P1030330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ9_pjpucdXaefr6kblCltXuYhnfZWZObkLzZSeOs6iRpPsT-x9X9ojo58hmYiiqGKrjBIBoekjYOHJ-So8UWNzN8N050ExHVmQ_YeWxbJE4SXmL4XEOMA49AOgq1DlqnerUy-JWle-vL/s400/P1030330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705641598157872066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />No.5 The aesthetic of weird<br />I will miss how weird things are over here. I will also miss being allowed to be weird(ish) without the fear of being beaten up by youths! So much of the aesthetic over here is beyond explanation: I don't know what it is, but I know I like it. Take for example this ad. What this young woman has to do with fast-food restaurants, I don't know. But I like the ad. Also weird: the food combinations over here. They can be hit and miss, but the Japanese really give it a go in the kitchen. This burger with a half-slice of mango is a pretty big seller.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yXrl5ve-VFY" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-10932350324382190802012-01-26T05:11:00.000-08:002012-01-26T06:19:29.932-08:00Twenty-Twelve: Year of ChangesSo 2011 was pretty much shitehawkes.<br /><br />Apart from the obvious national crappiness (3.11), it was my worst year so far, personally and professionally. I had an already bad work situation that turned really toxic, combined with terrible homesickness and a feeling of having really messed up my life. I spent the second half of the year depressed - being sick going to work, crying alone, hiding under the covers. It was not good. But I got to go home at Christmas, and the support of friends and family helped me take control. So come twenty-twelve, I've quit my job, I'll be leaving Japan in April and heading back to Ireland to (hopefully) do a PhD at my old uni. Better yet, on the way home I'll be doing a bit of a mini world tour.<br /><br />2011 broke me down and made me feel worthless, but it's a new year now and I'm back in control and things are looking up.<br /><br />Of course the past year wasn't all bad. When I had gone through the worst of my angst, I headed to Hawaii to figure some stuff out. It's not a bad place to try and get your head together. It's hard to feel that life is treating you bad when you're hiking Diamond Head in the sun or having drinks at sunset at the Sheraton on the beach.<br /><br />Basically, I'm a whiny bitch who had a bad few months and is now going to spoil himself unnecessarily with more world travels. I'm luckier than I know.<br /><br />So Hawaii...Freakin' amazing sunsets (and mojitos)...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoviwJCnWuE0Sx4FBskXsviUtgWEymqN8sZaO3mFzD9xEuG2LcVH2SSQyy2ZYC31ivgED5TbKv460VsE3meYEG40w7TRyQEXfLaY8SIhcqG5Fb65EZ_qdyt59nmthmyJ4ektzJ1q8I-Ke/s1600/P1030225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoviwJCnWuE0Sx4FBskXsviUtgWEymqN8sZaO3mFzD9xEuG2LcVH2SSQyy2ZYC31ivgED5TbKv460VsE3meYEG40w7TRyQEXfLaY8SIhcqG5Fb65EZ_qdyt59nmthmyJ4ektzJ1q8I-Ke/s400/P1030225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701936550879377154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmeHPxAZHmqmff46-cSJK7BMsXeuee9GU7M2LtMQj_m2zN70eYb0QAbE0xf6peNBTcs7z07D2IiGpJMklOS2_7dhP0Y3ufLaUTW0hZ-YI2kSRt4pQ63B-hK4okYPzmdrxEt_fkISKgplY/s1600/P1030229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmeHPxAZHmqmff46-cSJK7BMsXeuee9GU7M2LtMQj_m2zN70eYb0QAbE0xf6peNBTcs7z07D2IiGpJMklOS2_7dhP0Y3ufLaUTW0hZ-YI2kSRt4pQ63B-hK4okYPzmdrxEt_fkISKgplY/s400/P1030229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701936549120261586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSyPCmfRmZZiQn6k7GlGQpkR6ISmfjaT6dQc__chJd_z_IFbRIOtZGNMuns-P1qnjH2Dc_NuO7c4Wsu23egMWUdQdsV_piML74TTRxHKI5xK_cD3ZIF9ZIQ3mqj3-yCglSlE0S9hZnNYp/s1600/P1030224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSyPCmfRmZZiQn6k7GlGQpkR6ISmfjaT6dQc__chJd_z_IFbRIOtZGNMuns-P1qnjH2Dc_NuO7c4Wsu23egMWUdQdsV_piML74TTRxHKI5xK_cD3ZIF9ZIQ3mqj3-yCglSlE0S9hZnNYp/s400/P1030224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701936536340014354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tApsLiA7wOsch-8rwcVVsg9juVZbiOgl0t9UdlNn7KkRPGCsKUYU7wf9wzK3hpxPx2TNkSVMwdyhIqj7uybgc1SrFF0b4QRrkDfMPB8J8wYzD9oAq42JU8C0Lis3AnX2qK09ngEys6NF/s1600/P1030230.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tApsLiA7wOsch-8rwcVVsg9juVZbiOgl0t9UdlNn7KkRPGCsKUYU7wf9wzK3hpxPx2TNkSVMwdyhIqj7uybgc1SrFF0b4QRrkDfMPB8J8wYzD9oAq42JU8C0Lis3AnX2qK09ngEys6NF/s400/P1030230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701935801830748722" border="0" /></a><br />Hiking this arid beauty...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B8rGyP8TcFNhE_GQGjTLnqYv4Yvw_ijD0UUnZGNP2IySifC2gIttF9tQHQFIqqTmagSwNJmntly7YFDVCJOxM7E2kZMlSjAEOhfF9QPb06ylElJtEXD_joiOiKZPda4KuAJEYlGOQ2k4/s1600/P1020986.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B8rGyP8TcFNhE_GQGjTLnqYv4Yvw_ijD0UUnZGNP2IySifC2gIttF9tQHQFIqqTmagSwNJmntly7YFDVCJOxM7E2kZMlSjAEOhfF9QPb06ylElJtEXD_joiOiKZPda4KuAJEYlGOQ2k4/s400/P1020986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701936557502765266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhSeaDiRP9JugQqEF2XvwEP2cGAmHdX7OM87GYYW7B6FnuSto8gdcbTSSCuS_sanACs6GRGNAIr0XGgjRQcfjVV2Wob-na9jvsYDm8sbMNOt27uvQSZuRj7HjLXt1GQa2f-M5m5elViCt/s1600/P1030011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhSeaDiRP9JugQqEF2XvwEP2cGAmHdX7OM87GYYW7B6FnuSto8gdcbTSSCuS_sanACs6GRGNAIr0XGgjRQcfjVV2Wob-na9jvsYDm8sbMNOt27uvQSZuRj7HjLXt1GQa2f-M5m5elViCt/s400/P1030011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701934819036254946" border="0" /></a><br />I mean, c'mon, it's paradise...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi94qP3iGuHDIEgwSPXeggzplv0pmiEhFSEChZTnUIJTXwITZ0vuO0G43ISIR1V99emueo5OZ9Fg7Rksa8OZIewbafVRkaNVhYUPvdWDzqcoP6T3b_2jVXKIUtX_v69SL16gaCHhvm62uM/s1600/P1030163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi94qP3iGuHDIEgwSPXeggzplv0pmiEhFSEChZTnUIJTXwITZ0vuO0G43ISIR1V99emueo5OZ9Fg7Rksa8OZIewbafVRkaNVhYUPvdWDzqcoP6T3b_2jVXKIUtX_v69SL16gaCHhvm62uM/s400/P1030163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701936531221527954" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEVafUOwO3zoVCV2hiQ3kzdAcrhyqqsJaF9sTWOdW-tvvusNK0zFNF4a-zoVpbZE_pEqvU7QXA-HhQZS96SS8i6RRWyn_YdhVp3n8nH8C68bmS-oMXceutRCK3bI7Ujmshn9zpnEty-hJ/s1600/P1020982.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEVafUOwO3zoVCV2hiQ3kzdAcrhyqqsJaF9sTWOdW-tvvusNK0zFNF4a-zoVpbZE_pEqvU7QXA-HhQZS96SS8i6RRWyn_YdhVp3n8nH8C68bmS-oMXceutRCK3bI7Ujmshn9zpnEty-hJ/s400/P1020982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701938262409338514" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVt6tpgNvZzDClMvxAo11JEPXWDOti4iz75c-mfc1Q2UvfF3K57_1I4xWeUffgiqRQIsr84-f8wQo7rkEPCkfOBDge3c-3ckH8JSTVzXKNrBc8RAODd6gPSG4IH-bBVcO4WxFKHHuS33b/s1600/P1020953.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVt6tpgNvZzDClMvxAo11JEPXWDOti4iz75c-mfc1Q2UvfF3K57_1I4xWeUffgiqRQIsr84-f8wQo7rkEPCkfOBDge3c-3ckH8JSTVzXKNrBc8RAODd6gPSG4IH-bBVcO4WxFKHHuS33b/s400/P1020953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701932425188308338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqa5mmPcNuiI9nj9sFeYDqJ68JEnCsaQ9p0SMB43wGZkHdeUnQa2gF0MBP8uMyz1Ll13va2pdYxmqkYMUbHq7XsbGHIdijf7M8h3mT9qq_wpOPtnXD4DSpQXIlMSg_kl8AJ5-nHmsMSYb/s1600/P1020950.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqa5mmPcNuiI9nj9sFeYDqJ68JEnCsaQ9p0SMB43wGZkHdeUnQa2gF0MBP8uMyz1Ll13va2pdYxmqkYMUbHq7XsbGHIdijf7M8h3mT9qq_wpOPtnXD4DSpQXIlMSg_kl8AJ5-nHmsMSYb/s400/P1020950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701932421787402754" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpSdRqEmGKmswfJgIjI-rT72tRYwWfvIUzlKLKuJL998SbROP8_tciIfRpdIBCH5i2zJrjDrl4fkr743jhmVS72fw5Mdxa7z_JQ8s0WDY5fLWeBstWJuDzszhY8Ps8-y5E4DNqqA7C25p/s1600/P1030159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpSdRqEmGKmswfJgIjI-rT72tRYwWfvIUzlKLKuJL998SbROP8_tciIfRpdIBCH5i2zJrjDrl4fkr743jhmVS72fw5Mdxa7z_JQ8s0WDY5fLWeBstWJuDzszhY8Ps8-y5E4DNqqA7C25p/s400/P1030159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701935790828504338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-B9A1rg4bttT_3wUFVPWaD5HcrOqhFtikTCzy3cuWyp9octIeyNFkgHhMh4QcvlPLz81PwCpjX_XJwAj5civqrbuFAHi5uz6VBV-4XUVFEAMHeFJ9iV7YJCE-fmsTYqBfVHZFp5ApM0hB/s1600/P1030123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-B9A1rg4bttT_3wUFVPWaD5HcrOqhFtikTCzy3cuWyp9octIeyNFkgHhMh4QcvlPLz81PwCpjX_XJwAj5civqrbuFAHi5uz6VBV-4XUVFEAMHeFJ9iV7YJCE-fmsTYqBfVHZFp5ApM0hB/s400/P1030123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701935788035541570" border="0" /></a><br />And I know it's Tacky McTouristy, but you can't go wrong with a fire show and a bit of hula.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBzZC1tUy3EhKqN9xVB_Ai0AabfEvbuH2OGjrhGxt-wJ8HCdSCgHCnClyrmLXyWoTXxiru-ZdfvJQ3AGtSfv0EVZxZWBwEYU6ypSXujDp73ieDYGte4RJ3phqSoAd2DkvVZmlOLPQO2kG/s1600/P1030249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBzZC1tUy3EhKqN9xVB_Ai0AabfEvbuH2OGjrhGxt-wJ8HCdSCgHCnClyrmLXyWoTXxiru-ZdfvJQ3AGtSfv0EVZxZWBwEYU6ypSXujDp73ieDYGte4RJ3phqSoAd2DkvVZmlOLPQO2kG/s400/P1030249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701933857093581346" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRi2Jui1CjW7vB4-0NMJr_pcMqTtx9_-FDWMY0FtTiYqgzHCeM8Ss7ke1WgXjGrgrFT_Z7PdikBoxr6bWuQ6YPVFFS34M2OH9Xxl-otDcQzCjUVmLq-XDFC2Omoo8xEq42VFo_QQrHieu/s1600/P1030248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRi2Jui1CjW7vB4-0NMJr_pcMqTtx9_-FDWMY0FtTiYqgzHCeM8Ss7ke1WgXjGrgrFT_Z7PdikBoxr6bWuQ6YPVFFS34M2OH9Xxl-otDcQzCjUVmLq-XDFC2Omoo8xEq42VFo_QQrHieu/s400/P1030248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701934827887764210" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPADi5558keJwvxI0-27R__nly2PvoDBdlh_X3HSQQSwLmwxzoZ_X4l-JskWrqWLjroTeJmdjban84iiRT0JvXo2IuJzPVaSz3cpJPB0DcyC0nxpbQ2Ly_9sdj70CboDcd16VcrtfS8KRP/s1600/P1030240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPADi5558keJwvxI0-27R__nly2PvoDBdlh_X3HSQQSwLmwxzoZ_X4l-JskWrqWLjroTeJmdjban84iiRT0JvXo2IuJzPVaSz3cpJPB0DcyC0nxpbQ2Ly_9sdj70CboDcd16VcrtfS8KRP/s400/P1030240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701934834851357474" border="0" /></a><br />The state flower (yellow hibiscus)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgf5P9xCDsIz5k9oqKMcILtBt1ADdQsLqsjf8OSBTdVsw117qlrgLDVntD7FIXLnbX8m5kgdhyphenhyphenEf5Gu5WdprWcMJmeVqhiAOcAjD2WvBl4VkbS6pNCISo4JhTpBnmEgR-aP6a88z9JUkq/s1600/P1030146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgf5P9xCDsIz5k9oqKMcILtBt1ADdQsLqsjf8OSBTdVsw117qlrgLDVntD7FIXLnbX8m5kgdhyphenhyphenEf5Gu5WdprWcMJmeVqhiAOcAjD2WvBl4VkbS6pNCISo4JhTpBnmEgR-aP6a88z9JUkq/s400/P1030146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701935768729919570" border="0" /></a><br />Love the natural air-con on this place, but if you lived there, you'd spend your life opening and closing windows...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhJEY-cizNYPCMDXpzuPONjax7CHHxB8ldU8q9qeK2Azr3MtwrF82Wy9ozvHR-EEKgGWLk0Nkg65p1U5sCLEoNcGU4UXRKYPOWMic19Qzivalb-6DIFbT6R29lifAfi3Y4dp3aCYx1Hym/s1600/P1030148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhJEY-cizNYPCMDXpzuPONjax7CHHxB8ldU8q9qeK2Azr3MtwrF82Wy9ozvHR-EEKgGWLk0Nkg65p1U5sCLEoNcGU4UXRKYPOWMic19Qzivalb-6DIFbT6R29lifAfi3Y4dp3aCYx1Hym/s400/P1030148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701933847782897106" border="0" /></a><br />I also just love the unusual perspective on this next shot - they look like "Angels of the North do the Pacific"...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_Lbi6jr_TDU-SXkv_TqUpNrjFB47yEVfRWG9ZmTXsb2Bcf9pEAz8b_oP5FeXne4Xtr47GZi1AG-cTFZmpiqNxV4zLGIaXb5zkDvGFebUtnxaIuvIbvAU3E6dPjmNuCuWv5C7DwjLVtMj/s1600/P1020994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_Lbi6jr_TDU-SXkv_TqUpNrjFB47yEVfRWG9ZmTXsb2Bcf9pEAz8b_oP5FeXne4Xtr47GZi1AG-cTFZmpiqNxV4zLGIaXb5zkDvGFebUtnxaIuvIbvAU3E6dPjmNuCuWv5C7DwjLVtMj/s400/P1020994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701933834980707938" border="0" /></a>And can we also talk about how much I love Honolulu's open-air airport and occasional ukelele concerts...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ58dCs6Wv0lRL5qVgFo0RI1bw8rdRXUaQ_4rOfCOI61LCkV8huOlP4EAAVz5DpOKfygub-e0XScTY334TEEkIzsqeqImJkrDGN9MvknNN-3a9IpgG1zFnn7vDdVP3sFHRoLV-_Las8qv/s1600/P1030256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ58dCs6Wv0lRL5qVgFo0RI1bw8rdRXUaQ_4rOfCOI61LCkV8huOlP4EAAVz5DpOKfygub-e0XScTY334TEEkIzsqeqImJkrDGN9MvknNN-3a9IpgG1zFnn7vDdVP3sFHRoLV-_Las8qv/s400/P1030256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701933841542905698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are so many doves (when seen in nature) in Hawaii...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmcVsXs8VD3rv_v4asgYmlp8bAFJogiZZ_uFBLzT-FHi6ZfsGJ2K-69hctlmqlqpP4oE256lexWS_B-D5f9IBhvJWi54XwF_cJkoW_-pNKoprOxjUpspxcC0X8dZpG9UrgwBN62hnk8CC/s1600/P1020955.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmcVsXs8VD3rv_v4asgYmlp8bAFJogiZZ_uFBLzT-FHi6ZfsGJ2K-69hctlmqlqpP4oE256lexWS_B-D5f9IBhvJWi54XwF_cJkoW_-pNKoprOxjUpspxcC0X8dZpG9UrgwBN62hnk8CC/s400/P1020955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701932437505431666" border="0" /></a><br />AKA flying rats (when seen sneaking in off the balcony into your hotel room - this guy broke in three times! Look at him giving me the side-eye)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ayj4ls-YwtGphWgRVjq-8F-p4rVokOtnwYI0xx5X4TIVFSGmPlkteKSQuOu6nm_DhqqfOSuYXzwt9iQ_79F2teM-a2xLNUEoT3dh23HBym1s3k2Ddlr_B2DGn9bxmcnthmrek3PZZfAQ/s1600/P1030219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ayj4ls-YwtGphWgRVjq-8F-p4rVokOtnwYI0xx5X4TIVFSGmPlkteKSQuOu6nm_DhqqfOSuYXzwt9iQ_79F2teM-a2xLNUEoT3dh23HBym1s3k2Ddlr_B2DGn9bxmcnthmrek3PZZfAQ/s400/P1030219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701932443275797986" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, I kind of loved this couple doing paradise on scooters for two...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazNRJhjrYenBeIZS8nW60_MCALpH3ZRvRHk4P0XA05F9o5-Zh78H4Gixn6smwZif5TCQDkK-LwpQow84ROhdx5RGMLP4_aKmG__o4RDCWJHgyTOLhFuVDPLBtQPQsxFXiujdAPcCTGcw2/s1600/P1020970.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazNRJhjrYenBeIZS8nW60_MCALpH3ZRvRHk4P0XA05F9o5-Zh78H4Gixn6smwZif5TCQDkK-LwpQow84ROhdx5RGMLP4_aKmG__o4RDCWJHgyTOLhFuVDPLBtQPQsxFXiujdAPcCTGcw2/s400/P1020970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701932446615748658" border="0" /></a><br />Although these mobility devices are way more popular in the States than in anywhere else I've been. You even get them free at Wal-Mart (surreptitiously snapped on a business trip to Kansas last year)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU0WllBmHcIHF95uPzfv8UjnmbH3VZP9JiyVEMBui1L_dE15t6jwADHvRWWGRscf4Llj7EUpUR2T78aXvGCP-DiMul-DJTWMFpI900E3pQRum-LMmNlfCyVdTtJGLkfY8HZiyiVhEt0Eu/s1600/download.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU0WllBmHcIHF95uPzfv8UjnmbH3VZP9JiyVEMBui1L_dE15t6jwADHvRWWGRscf4Llj7EUpUR2T78aXvGCP-DiMul-DJTWMFpI900E3pQRum-LMmNlfCyVdTtJGLkfY8HZiyiVhEt0Eu/s400/download.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701941373883619794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also, seen on my trip to Kansas, this welcoming sign on the door to my (soon to be former) company's premises...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvKEfAgWE_bpWxSK9As9L8KwkDijBZoZ6DnWgTMr7d_62xpKsGEBLq_s2QgVcFPv2444tJfbcikolr0qinrtp9EUzbiLPwAkSzLFqohGhJ0-a0gxOSSysObxSbAoUVZMjnN0Mpy1lO0yc/s1600/P1020907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvKEfAgWE_bpWxSK9As9L8KwkDijBZoZ6DnWgTMr7d_62xpKsGEBLq_s2QgVcFPv2444tJfbcikolr0qinrtp9EUzbiLPwAkSzLFqohGhJ0-a0gxOSSysObxSbAoUVZMjnN0Mpy1lO0yc/s400/P1020907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701933828597048210" border="0" /></a><br />And, of course, the ever-present tornado shelter. Dorothy wasn't kidding around!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fWj5duv0_4IqREWTAORRnD4HqooVPEFu4w0yd-NpA4QSq_NuqrZzCcMxWDh5catxWH1tVxAm9eR4zfB0Fg_3Z6IYWC9yTBDfdZBk6qzhsJ35zkpUQkKCRH6RscNi5fr1WPcibkt1K3L8/s1600/download+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fWj5duv0_4IqREWTAORRnD4HqooVPEFu4w0yd-NpA4QSq_NuqrZzCcMxWDh5catxWH1tVxAm9eR4zfB0Fg_3Z6IYWC9yTBDfdZBk6qzhsJ35zkpUQkKCRH6RscNi5fr1WPcibkt1K3L8/s400/download+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701944315898740754" border="0" /></a><br />Moral of 2012 - there's no place like home.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-45875249959175106552011-08-13T22:47:00.000-07:002011-08-14T00:36:54.015-07:00Nostalgiapalooza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dKjwn9xlso83zWiaFoEPjpJ7AZdvKDhW6ZFsH1W2DP5YRmBwg1cvXlBhyW_m6Su8RbviFg6BYZZf9eLUNxdnDLd9R7jqPltRFnDWhUEL0eBZFvIlLwoW_ItG6HKnYNOPG6joa5lxHgkk/s1600/P1020854.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dKjwn9xlso83zWiaFoEPjpJ7AZdvKDhW6ZFsH1W2DP5YRmBwg1cvXlBhyW_m6Su8RbviFg6BYZZf9eLUNxdnDLd9R7jqPltRFnDWhUEL0eBZFvIlLwoW_ItG6HKnYNOPG6joa5lxHgkk/s400/P1020854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640607584303544834" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHasLU7rTbApWDgFzvJXkBY5UxDjdEwx6PACQGW_wYEC3FqIoP8nIgUIgt66LrWIXzrz4gTXh93B5c46kmJHpngtOrfwBwKNLHUiJ7koSFn3cVqD4Ebjw-Ja2BBr1y6sVXQ4mt9vInIC_J/s1600/P1020858.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHasLU7rTbApWDgFzvJXkBY5UxDjdEwx6PACQGW_wYEC3FqIoP8nIgUIgt66LrWIXzrz4gTXh93B5c46kmJHpngtOrfwBwKNLHUiJ7koSFn3cVqD4Ebjw-Ja2BBr1y6sVXQ4mt9vInIC_J/s400/P1020858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640607623099211330" border="0" /></a>
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<br />I'm going away on business on Tuesday, and I must think the plane is going to go down or something because I was overtaken yesterday by a need to look back on my life and visit some old haunts. I went to see my former home in Zama, about an hour and a half by train from the centre of Tokyo. I lived here when I was studying Japanese and paying for my studies with English teaching. This feels like a world away from my life now. It certainly was a poorer time back then, but oh for the holidays. Being in Zama again brought back lots of happy memories.The town is a rural suburb, with lots of rice fields and small holdings, but it's still on the commuter belt for Tokyo, and it's also home to a major US air force base. All this combines to give it a pretty distinctive atmosphere. I mean, it must be a special place if you can find a Godzilla tombstone next to a vegetable patch as above!
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<br />I hadn't been back in over two years and nothing was any different. Well, apart from the fact that my beloved neighborhood karaoke-izakaya has changed hands. Peace out, warawara! The town centre is made up of a small train station and about 10 shops, and my video below captures most of them.
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<br />Anyone who visited me in Zama will recognize the sound in the background (though you might need to really turn up the volume, as it's just a crappy phone video). The bloody level crossing (fumikiri 踏切) was the soundtrack to my life as I lived right beside one. It got to the stage living there where I only noticed the sound when it was gone, like on the rare occasions the train service got stopped for a typhoon or something.
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<br />On the topic of noise, I got to take a walk in the nature reserve that is located just a few minutes from the station. I took this short video at the entrance to the park of the sound that will forever be Japanese summer to me: insects doing their nut.
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<br />This is a sound you just don't hear in Ireland's glacial summers. The park was such a great resource to have nearby. I used to walk here a few times a week and sucking up all those negative ions probably helped me be a happier person than I am now. That and the doing stuff for other people, I guess: back in the day, I used to volunteer at this old folk's home.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOualsqFZxATOTO-XnqYJb_AeVMjW_MC3BlyRhrzMZhheE_8ovVVLi8SicAtw0-ID63RoJTTYSY1risnZStcpUMPO8LjOJvRs0Ma8bjcgOqZepjFsZCGgBWS_LQECYdVkifpSAMKy1oF8/s1600/P1020862.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOualsqFZxATOTO-XnqYJb_AeVMjW_MC3BlyRhrzMZhheE_8ovVVLi8SicAtw0-ID63RoJTTYSY1risnZStcpUMPO8LjOJvRs0Ma8bjcgOqZepjFsZCGgBWS_LQECYdVkifpSAMKy1oF8/s400/P1020862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640610303556089234" border="0" /></a>
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<br />I certainly haven't been charitable like that for a long time. The journey down memory lane was a lot if fun, but it also helped me to take stock and figure out how I need to recalibrate my life.
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<br />Major tangent, but one final bonus of going back to Zama was being able to shop at my old supermarket and stock up on the world's best wet wipes!!!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgJ9iwGpnOq2ZbucN81t4lbv23m3IvkXhwwBBRNeklYHbSViACZy2VrexytdDKHWmsvDclIxBEvlasTTx3mHFfC0dBvu2KGJ4y1yNzURxyZ0uOMh5FgHlZHh8YcBbg-GqzZz-dl48KDMK/s1600/P1020863.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgJ9iwGpnOq2ZbucN81t4lbv23m3IvkXhwwBBRNeklYHbSViACZy2VrexytdDKHWmsvDclIxBEvlasTTx3mHFfC0dBvu2KGJ4y1yNzURxyZ0uOMh5FgHlZHh8YcBbg-GqzZz-dl48KDMK/s400/P1020863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640607619445371250" border="0" /></a>
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<br />I know it might not seem like a normal cause for excitement, but these wipes are individually wrapped, keep in a crazy amount of water and will get anything clean. Only a few people who know me extremely well can understand why this purchase made me so happy: these wipes have come to my rescue in some odd situations, most notably the time I was accosted by a deranged man far from any source of water and soap who was intent on shaking my hands with what could only be described as the filthiest hands I have ever had the misfortune to squeeze. You can't buy the wipes for love nor money in Tokyo, and I ended up clearing the supermarket of its stock minus one box, in order to be a little considerate of others. You see, I'm already recalibrating towards a sunnier more charitable disposition.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGOWv7XrIpd3n3ZvXORpPdMMu4OF52CXC9moF7Rvp8Kxei51Jec1nUgKcONPajCFFCTmbJB_1j8Zh6Pj7z0lkGbiu82R0Z-r64tiTEt15Cjnq9EfFxlyl294TdYXM5w3ve55f-pKI5WEJ/s1600/P1020857.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGOWv7XrIpd3n3ZvXORpPdMMu4OF52CXC9moF7Rvp8Kxei51Jec1nUgKcONPajCFFCTmbJB_1j8Zh6Pj7z0lkGbiu82R0Z-r64tiTEt15Cjnq9EfFxlyl294TdYXM5w3ve55f-pKI5WEJ/s400/P1020857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640607614862375938" border="0" /></a>
<br />Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-9610989024807946852011-07-17T02:46:00.000-07:002011-07-17T06:20:38.119-07:00Art and nature in TokyoWow, over a month since I last put something up here. That's pretty shoddy. In my defense, I caught this cold that just would not go away. It would look like it was clearing up and then suddenly get worse again. It's been over four weeks now and I'm still not one hundred percent. This all meant that apart from work and sleep, not much has been going on in these parts of late.<br /><br />I did go hiking with my friend and his wife a couple of weeks ago, and that was a lot of fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUDuKoM8hYjJL0ejqLnKnkqGo5IU3GPzbUnwF5yZQ7boONGMRSQa7BirS4OC0OgeV4mXcRp_Ev7BVvPrTaUFgFv_I7ACyUqI1CQbyf3cyvnR1Jr_0UVB4TLBGEoDEKmTMOTMYpZKqB_mw/s1600/P1020824.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUDuKoM8hYjJL0ejqLnKnkqGo5IU3GPzbUnwF5yZQ7boONGMRSQa7BirS4OC0OgeV4mXcRp_Ev7BVvPrTaUFgFv_I7ACyUqI1CQbyf3cyvnR1Jr_0UVB4TLBGEoDEKmTMOTMYpZKqB_mw/s400/P1020824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630274727181198786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIxrnL9E-q27RzDiupZD5qKOomEgTgeQBQE08wj7wgIn0c21_o12XniHAzLiwjbiA91kFHkpHr-x_BhfAJrsft0TlSpP-URX6AgpCqs4SeNjkvDsJ9OY1KJN-zs6lj9V-faDcMQ3hJOlD/s1600/P1020828.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIxrnL9E-q27RzDiupZD5qKOomEgTgeQBQE08wj7wgIn0c21_o12XniHAzLiwjbiA91kFHkpHr-x_BhfAJrsft0TlSpP-URX6AgpCqs4SeNjkvDsJ9OY1KJN-zs6lj9V-faDcMQ3hJOlD/s400/P1020828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630274740184566434" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyZ0ZCux67Usll5UD6Lt59I2TqRaDAi7vuzf0ExAV9B4CDb1UmFzLBZJqJSQON7C_fUAct7hwIT6lAB_FGLPP9YzEIA8qd0S98mj_-mdqETKeRnuEAfZDrSa26J8FAQnabR8IfUSvsPW0/s1600/P1020825.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyZ0ZCux67Usll5UD6Lt59I2TqRaDAi7vuzf0ExAV9B4CDb1UmFzLBZJqJSQON7C_fUAct7hwIT6lAB_FGLPP9YzEIA8qd0S98mj_-mdqETKeRnuEAfZDrSa26J8FAQnabR8IfUSvsPW0/s400/P1020825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630274732908422690" border="0" /></a><br />I definitely won't be earning a tour guide badge any time soon. I thought I was suggesting a nice, flat hike, but it turned out I mistook the course for another one I'd done ages ago, and it ended up being quite the vertical climb in parts. It was good to get some fresh air and to see a bit of nature. The bamboo forest was especially nice.<br /><br />Then, I had a museum day yesterday. I went to the Paul Klee exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art. I'm actually not a big fan of his work, but I just love the piece that was used to advertise the exhibit. It's called '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bluhendes</span>'. (I think that means blossoming.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3AvwaF8QW4mS2Q_qPHBSX-JD_ckmB8wQqesnTkRFL9ndKnQ2rLY571gFD-UfkKu7AFePQDaH9I6aBZmIOUGrOjFnERhqk3ewWJd8FEmLLFUOB1sLQMc8ck0dTYG4vil1VrkbJXSVx3e_/s1600/Paul+Klee+Bluhendes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3AvwaF8QW4mS2Q_qPHBSX-JD_ckmB8wQqesnTkRFL9ndKnQ2rLY571gFD-UfkKu7AFePQDaH9I6aBZmIOUGrOjFnERhqk3ewWJd8FEmLLFUOB1sLQMc8ck0dTYG4vil1VrkbJXSVx3e_/s400/Paul+Klee+Bluhendes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630257702596591490" border="0" /></a><br />I love the way he plays with geometric shapes to make them feel really organic. There seems to be this energy or force just waiting to push through the canvas, which I guess is where the blossoming idea might come from.<br /><br />There were about one or two other works that I liked. In particular, Dad, I thought you'd be interested in the next one, called 'Prelude to Golgotha'. The one after it is called '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">trauerende</span>' (sadness, I think).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-fChKKKBKVCyZUfbQCY8EzMFJorpjRfmJNjSfJkGtC-vxGN6Ep5b13FX5pyUeEmoLpK2jz_lm8bLwxbUlgzidnfUsmVTlsSu7JBNP9ZxdhafOIxEaYsL0UWXeSnko90Hnyig220VL8yQ/s1600/Paul+Klee+Vorspiel+zu+Galgatha.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 513px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-fChKKKBKVCyZUfbQCY8EzMFJorpjRfmJNjSfJkGtC-vxGN6Ep5b13FX5pyUeEmoLpK2jz_lm8bLwxbUlgzidnfUsmVTlsSu7JBNP9ZxdhafOIxEaYsL0UWXeSnko90Hnyig220VL8yQ/s400/Paul+Klee+Vorspiel+zu+Galgatha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630259123437624834" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1sEzB0ysSHVfojahfrKYTe77_dFTvZWhWF2h5kgxf5VZP6ujDGHYy8mfHbTTh9SHhBevu75uPEXnbLYzb_xik3aFXq3dFR8xtoePqViH8EkQiCimouWMeyce0fbjGaWLg-Yz8UL43cKe/s1600/Paul+Klee+trauernd.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1sEzB0ysSHVfojahfrKYTe77_dFTvZWhWF2h5kgxf5VZP6ujDGHYy8mfHbTTh9SHhBevu75uPEXnbLYzb_xik3aFXq3dFR8xtoePqViH8EkQiCimouWMeyce0fbjGaWLg-Yz8UL43cKe/s400/Paul+Klee+trauernd.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630258213814345970" border="0" /></a><br />But, to be honest, apart from these few exceptions, his stuff just reminds me of the Quentin Blake illustrations from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Roald</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dahl</span> books. (Not that that's a bad thing, just not something I'd go out of my way to see.)<br /><br />Keeping with the arty theme, I hung out in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Roppongi</span> Hills today.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpijkBdO_8IvkaJVuetXP5QcE-qQKmoR6urF8qc5caIUnkIR4yXk2MWZeE8bgILW-RENP5g1SVXCYRJHQmN9qik947XnFA_rYMVyJ-57mS78ejnZANJxqu2hCcZ6dkbJzAgnC0hHruQ73l/s1600/P1020798.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpijkBdO_8IvkaJVuetXP5QcE-qQKmoR6urF8qc5caIUnkIR4yXk2MWZeE8bgILW-RENP5g1SVXCYRJHQmN9qik947XnFA_rYMVyJ-57mS78ejnZANJxqu2hCcZ6dkbJzAgnC0hHruQ73l/s400/P1020798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630274717625208434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAEFBslEWDyKcTS9UoBFnfzrBljykC1RAxTaJwGXZ4_0H5vhCE2sbDTmkd9Xzt5Bx5LXQ10zt1Y33Kn9WTi1QSZbXZD1jAxkmZuPZ1FirxN1E5BGuWTeY_DLTZPqtHrmgq_CGcVAib2j2/s1600/P1020835.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAEFBslEWDyKcTS9UoBFnfzrBljykC1RAxTaJwGXZ4_0H5vhCE2sbDTmkd9Xzt5Bx5LXQ10zt1Y33Kn9WTi1QSZbXZD1jAxkmZuPZ1FirxN1E5BGuWTeY_DLTZPqtHrmgq_CGcVAib2j2/s400/P1020835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275390195561010" border="0" /></a><br />I love that complex. It's a great place for people watching, and it has some really interesting corporate art. Here is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Roppongi</span> Hills Spider.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNTl-qZpEtpqg59PN1dZPUSxAHBJuMZXPHZ_VbRd6vtR3CqddceFN7lITL4qnOmLDOq2s6kGiTgdChr1px_z3LogpFOM6ECIbkbMNsRk7c_dSgP7AX_nLpNrx6_0YiosNGEp4L9Zaepk4/s1600/P1020837.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNTl-qZpEtpqg59PN1dZPUSxAHBJuMZXPHZ_VbRd6vtR3CqddceFN7lITL4qnOmLDOq2s6kGiTgdChr1px_z3LogpFOM6ECIbkbMNsRk7c_dSgP7AX_nLpNrx6_0YiosNGEp4L9Zaepk4/s400/P1020837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275397686024546" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZEqdiQO4UINqZ4hqt58oTRNNnUXwt4GH1r1Kf3zQtnTWGKeqXu0MoM9rwhdLljLR26H5J4JXnr2dqK7yV-aL9UegMm-mVNGY_37sqqsAHl-ErWHPaxYFE6oYz7-DjdphHdMhNKxOJBg7/s1600/P1020839.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZEqdiQO4UINqZ4hqt58oTRNNnUXwt4GH1r1Kf3zQtnTWGKeqXu0MoM9rwhdLljLR26H5J4JXnr2dqK7yV-aL9UegMm-mVNGY_37sqqsAHl-ErWHPaxYFE6oYz7-DjdphHdMhNKxOJBg7/s400/P1020839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275401163896978" border="0" /></a><br />I hated it at first, but I've grown to like it over the years. I still refuse to stand under it, though, for fear that she's gonna drop those nasty eggs on me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF8aOShovcuBIx6xeeceEpUR0VayRYZ48l34VERWEzWRmhhHHKTbn_u-1Xp9ewG2bpYTsq1VU22wmKx7V8XMsY6Yeb1VjfTmYTOtrB7tnXoI0M5XXLsTmCKHW7wCfkDl8ZsxUQIn81To1/s1600/P1020840.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF8aOShovcuBIx6xeeceEpUR0VayRYZ48l34VERWEzWRmhhHHKTbn_u-1Xp9ewG2bpYTsq1VU22wmKx7V8XMsY6Yeb1VjfTmYTOtrB7tnXoI0M5XXLsTmCKHW7wCfkDl8ZsxUQIn81To1/s400/P1020840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275878713199938" border="0" /></a><br />And here are some horsemen of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Apocalypse</span>, or something.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7hmvJdwn9JIntu5qY2LHJU4MLlxyADmi8JQuVck5xkxgpSCgBeET7ClW1k6KvdlOzymUuvyFyONk9viN0WSGNIa7j7vt_WEPNMR5FNJlfj5H9Uxo1-jV0GzMogvd4AC_Q8GYfoXjngM3/s1600/P1020842.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7hmvJdwn9JIntu5qY2LHJU4MLlxyADmi8JQuVck5xkxgpSCgBeET7ClW1k6KvdlOzymUuvyFyONk9viN0WSGNIa7j7vt_WEPNMR5FNJlfj5H9Uxo1-jV0GzMogvd4AC_Q8GYfoXjngM3/s400/P1020842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275884496942066" border="0" /></a>In the background, you can see the sprinkler system giving people a cool place to sit. And believe me, we're in need of such places at the minute. It's hot! We seem to be hitting mid-thirties most days. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Luckily</span> though, the energy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">saving</span> measures at work have worked really well, so we're able to have some air con on. The biggest reduction was when we disabled a bunch of lights in the building, so it is a bit darker than I'd like, especially where I sit. Still once you step outside, it's like opening an oven. I was in my hot yoga studio last night, and I got to tell ya, there didn't seem to be too much difference between the sauna-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">conditions</span> in the main room and the feeling out and about in town. I must try and get a quick photo of the view from the studio one of these days. It'll not an easy thing to do, as they'll probably think I'm trying to grab some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">pervy</span> shots of the other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">yoginis</span>. But the night time view from the 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span> floor in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ginza</span> where the studio is located is pretty class.<br /><br />This baking weather is particularly bad news for the plants.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYF0lyWeAtX8WTfAFzypgYKdl6b9teogorlZkj5YgS1Oj2hrh5HoeuG3VjHVnXkWz-XRVCKgP5-6XLmUe9_pq4KTkLkGI7kcmfnZHFWW25eaJEeYXaffv9MuFKghhs2O1bWydJWC-hQyN/s1600/P1020845.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYF0lyWeAtX8WTfAFzypgYKdl6b9teogorlZkj5YgS1Oj2hrh5HoeuG3VjHVnXkWz-XRVCKgP5-6XLmUe9_pq4KTkLkGI7kcmfnZHFWW25eaJEeYXaffv9MuFKghhs2O1bWydJWC-hQyN/s400/P1020845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275890069986434" border="0" /></a><br />As you can see, the sun even managed to bleach and dry me poor old hydrangea. Basically, we got no rain this rainy season in Tokyo. There are still some living flowers to be found in shaded nooks and crannies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHcj6blNJp4Br40i5Ucl_5IXoIr06bJ1N0vfjaqiuIdtis0GDIhbSm1Seij-KeREHfoIUKHRe8PeMnMiKbaVRGrpKBPTFkZvSUJ51yabLs5BvdrjZK8REPTYV11RMxoUK-2QC7ZsnfM2L/s1600/P1020804.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHcj6blNJp4Br40i5Ucl_5IXoIr06bJ1N0vfjaqiuIdtis0GDIhbSm1Seij-KeREHfoIUKHRe8PeMnMiKbaVRGrpKBPTFkZvSUJ51yabLs5BvdrjZK8REPTYV11RMxoUK-2QC7ZsnfM2L/s400/P1020804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630274721166895154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I know I go on a bit about flowers and greenery, but I guess something a bit natural becomes even more important to you when you are living smack in the middle of a mega metropolis. I think the Tokyo government does a pretty good job of providing parks and more natural spaces. I remember trying to convince an Irish friend who'd lived a few years in Tokyo that it was a pretty green city, but he just wasn't having it. (He has since changed his mind.) I mean, here is the snap I took sitting under a tree in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Sangubashi</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OpxDSdzDVscuE31jKIhDMvlk7n82kQLY4W0N8U9ZDF6w0YYkkQvEbxezj5IGcOWjSqwhLU1rnULDWYZn_yqlSMgXw0nmQ9C8-qHvGH0S7IcP2hC8_ehyPA9visEuZw1nB86oFzQGCnuC/s1600/P1020831.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OpxDSdzDVscuE31jKIhDMvlk7n82kQLY4W0N8U9ZDF6w0YYkkQvEbxezj5IGcOWjSqwhLU1rnULDWYZn_yqlSMgXw0nmQ9C8-qHvGH0S7IcP2hC8_ehyPA9visEuZw1nB86oFzQGCnuC/s400/P1020831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275381060405202" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolReVyq1RnAe6x8AH7-14-J_is1RgR-AP7p6aAsmKjFfSfNJdtS0ioqUPfvIZrc6ODTx3hA-Ub9QRKXAbPG3TRrxJJRtvieDTjRge0IjbaxrxPB5qG_hosbEhz1F1WUZMl4iQ0FaWdepI/s1600/P1020833.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolReVyq1RnAe6x8AH7-14-J_is1RgR-AP7p6aAsmKjFfSfNJdtS0ioqUPfvIZrc6ODTx3hA-Ub9QRKXAbPG3TRrxJJRtvieDTjRge0IjbaxrxPB5qG_hosbEhz1F1WUZMl4iQ0FaWdepI/s400/P1020833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630275386197065778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's not so bad, right? And this is just one of two major parks smack in the middle of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">downtown</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Shinjuku</span>. It is a concrete jungle, but when you know where to look, there's always some little oasis nearby.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-89309484755762903872011-06-05T01:49:00.000-07:002011-06-05T02:36:04.545-07:00Chateaux en IrlandeI went home for Golden Week (the week-long string of Japanese public holidays in April/May), and it ended up being just the tonic. I completely relaxed, despite a hectic social schedule, and came back to Japan refreshed and over the anxiety that the quake and constant aftershocks had created in me. We've had about 10 significant aftershocks since <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GW</span> and none of them has ruffled my feathers, not even the one where the early-warning alarm went off in the middle of the night: I didn't open my eyes!<br /><br />I had so much fun back in Ireland. The weather was amazing and the long days made me feel energized and eager to fit as much in to my flying visit as possible. In the end, the holiday took on an unintentional castle /stately home theme; certainly something you don't get much of over here in Tokyo.<br /><br />We celebrated my Mam's 70<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> birthday at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Clontarf</span> Castle. It was a great meal with even better company. It was one of the best family events in recent memory for me and just thinking back to it now brings a smile to my face.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpTLqhnrGSRr7rZCbExvFmGFG8oLcDHRehiAqQgDayMY_Kw0bTvzMgH_xeHDe0zKx6TehrVvExthKkqXXFaZOXrbfxCt8nmHIFu9wikhTpJX_EPLMlSpuvmAQgmdi3g1jQ7__1gOP-xfk/s1600/P1020620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpTLqhnrGSRr7rZCbExvFmGFG8oLcDHRehiAqQgDayMY_Kw0bTvzMgH_xeHDe0zKx6TehrVvExthKkqXXFaZOXrbfxCt8nmHIFu9wikhTpJX_EPLMlSpuvmAQgmdi3g1jQ7__1gOP-xfk/s400/P1020620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614659306814218434" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex2LfKy6TMgC9E0ksKqLcw_36OeXNaG1Nw9h8eaxuPuNzeBbT_vcq9UYlY01HXXsmvEGwEqJfG1RLkonBEVQ9fweNcU2oXa-ekhhIdLuRocBt_4DRDWvbD5JKcpH-8r-nY_t0MtdJM7AP/s1600/P1020617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex2LfKy6TMgC9E0ksKqLcw_36OeXNaG1Nw9h8eaxuPuNzeBbT_vcq9UYlY01HXXsmvEGwEqJfG1RLkonBEVQ9fweNcU2oXa-ekhhIdLuRocBt_4DRDWvbD5JKcpH-8r-nY_t0MtdJM7AP/s400/P1020617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614659300092320626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj682RNMcj-wWLPpk5vtxirSS2CKeWjCbxKNLOgA1T0KZInJk3Y-HWD5UlXOYVHiTiIPVflArXjEnBjDG3R7ysaMqe6FZqlz1XNaVW8RTjPw9uLOyzU0TjGjra8zx0OpuHJ7pL0cfN5Bzxv/s1600/P1020605.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj682RNMcj-wWLPpk5vtxirSS2CKeWjCbxKNLOgA1T0KZInJk3Y-HWD5UlXOYVHiTiIPVflArXjEnBjDG3R7ysaMqe6FZqlz1XNaVW8RTjPw9uLOyzU0TjGjra8zx0OpuHJ7pL0cfN5Bzxv/s400/P1020605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614657402546560402" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlzHGJ0svkfybyxSjpLoVPxAsKw1YWd3AuG6Nnc0mg51A2GiWou2EtqOxKa3gHQSLC2tnp_iAls0RaW5vrHWPCISXljkUVf_wEvZcG6RAW6GqWKgEsytxjThnhoIUeVV5TVyLPOVL_xQp/s1600/P1020614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlzHGJ0svkfybyxSjpLoVPxAsKw1YWd3AuG6Nnc0mg51A2GiWou2EtqOxKa3gHQSLC2tnp_iAls0RaW5vrHWPCISXljkUVf_wEvZcG6RAW6GqWKgEsytxjThnhoIUeVV5TVyLPOVL_xQp/s400/P1020614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614657418892712146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlxVaAmNi4R_Xut2jdn7LHWPQlTgOiQjqMF5s7M2QTAJnmeb7IkUlsBhaB-pRwvCxv6oqdAOK2d3x3GwTu7GCdWpZ7HwqKbKIdsqLZ6-35Jb5BVBfR61z4W89RDREhA_qAu9oBdePx6mI/s1600/P1020611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlxVaAmNi4R_Xut2jdn7LHWPQlTgOiQjqMF5s7M2QTAJnmeb7IkUlsBhaB-pRwvCxv6oqdAOK2d3x3GwTu7GCdWpZ7HwqKbKIdsqLZ6-35Jb5BVBfR61z4W89RDREhA_qAu9oBdePx6mI/s400/P1020611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614657406016627490" border="0" /></a><br />I also walked down memory lane with my friend and took of a tour of Dublin Castle in the city centre, a place where we had both been tour guide many moons before. It was weird going back and the old place looked a little rough around the edges, but it holds many precious memories.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0Zd3Eve7ciij8o4XlHGpIjQpUZ_XRkpOWVhe19hDrxdDe3ggw1T7PpVAoTPLqrF5oquBk2NF4TSuZqAieij3iAjteKMGH09_ZfO52aGn1yc8VmWAFpzk6kyX74JBszGH3nKL-qc3EVmR/s1600/P1020765.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0Zd3Eve7ciij8o4XlHGpIjQpUZ_XRkpOWVhe19hDrxdDe3ggw1T7PpVAoTPLqrF5oquBk2NF4TSuZqAieij3iAjteKMGH09_ZfO52aGn1yc8VmWAFpzk6kyX74JBszGH3nKL-qc3EVmR/s400/P1020765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663557735806434" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XC6BnOp-L_SIAF1_FjWVC9kWDdhrt09DnPpk2PIoPB4fDrMyf8rT72O7HJrx6aBO9a-aeeiWtrOEuooNQX6kGZjcg8KsyzTwPrwvhZA0qCMCvk_L51aUuQFRGxpOc4N1vQpmNJ6e9636/s1600/P1020764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XC6BnOp-L_SIAF1_FjWVC9kWDdhrt09DnPpk2PIoPB4fDrMyf8rT72O7HJrx6aBO9a-aeeiWtrOEuooNQX6kGZjcg8KsyzTwPrwvhZA0qCMCvk_L51aUuQFRGxpOc4N1vQpmNJ6e9636/s400/P1020764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663549840958962" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl96FoSjOBq6bwW9KNvHyHviUSXNM_DS4nNfUFmJ6dc1JkMCUqMu0eUefqgUBP0MwIBZ-zYmvIJnDiv-16yRE685LnGcftc95nKD4yvEIC-sJJ-2FkkJgjWdQTNPlhMPrzMLTHzwOKX77M/s1600/P1020749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl96FoSjOBq6bwW9KNvHyHviUSXNM_DS4nNfUFmJ6dc1JkMCUqMu0eUefqgUBP0MwIBZ-zYmvIJnDiv-16yRE685LnGcftc95nKD4yvEIC-sJJ-2FkkJgjWdQTNPlhMPrzMLTHzwOKX77M/s400/P1020749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663049716487746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBF0G-n9zsNTbvgnw-uFEpTwRbIdW_zNCXoYwFRsQBVKj1pBUqNDKTBy1gJeHTxiwTpEEQT_a3kdcXA8CAPRs1y-qmeLDis2VCBMFvDKa78zEyIhbZ4e08WoKkMQM4crYLMQ12jm74lIF/s1600/P1020742.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBF0G-n9zsNTbvgnw-uFEpTwRbIdW_zNCXoYwFRsQBVKj1pBUqNDKTBy1gJeHTxiwTpEEQT_a3kdcXA8CAPRs1y-qmeLDis2VCBMFvDKa78zEyIhbZ4e08WoKkMQM4crYLMQ12jm74lIF/s400/P1020742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663036195217250" border="0" /></a><br />On one of the really fine late-spring days I took a spin into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wicklow</span> with my sister to visit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Avondale</span> House and take a seemingly never ending trek - it got a little Blair Witch Project at one point - around the forest and river running through the grounds.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurh0ufl1NwXpI0thifjaBb93p6My1jteSNRGkqogg89XLO2Lhd8_Vrem2BEXmJ1W5KBIQm5rlmMvQafTqGFxpB_HOZ_Kt2EX1AM4jgf0XvFgAOGu7X_E3yLOKUIRJSpb4tNOk5RWfG4FH/s1600/P1020665.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurh0ufl1NwXpI0thifjaBb93p6My1jteSNRGkqogg89XLO2Lhd8_Vrem2BEXmJ1W5KBIQm5rlmMvQafTqGFxpB_HOZ_Kt2EX1AM4jgf0XvFgAOGu7X_E3yLOKUIRJSpb4tNOk5RWfG4FH/s400/P1020665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614660035667266866" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG38ezlQ5Gkk_ZmoqHt3g_-a9b047zMLgGlAhBZqpc8wVElfdiQlIrK_jly4vxpmMg-f3iGBFiCR53pmbPQmutGQfNKOL93ll7sbqD1419-nw4PNACT7Fpb1jMW7xB7yf6uLrGxSnkR5WU/s1600/P1020663.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG38ezlQ5Gkk_ZmoqHt3g_-a9b047zMLgGlAhBZqpc8wVElfdiQlIrK_jly4vxpmMg-f3iGBFiCR53pmbPQmutGQfNKOL93ll7sbqD1419-nw4PNACT7Fpb1jMW7xB7yf6uLrGxSnkR5WU/s400/P1020663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614659331953493986" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uzp-_uiu7vvDmAVV2SSEvs1WzBBfqxjiSphZCU6R-HQmXGl6WyX-DFFWZjs1ITo7wQgGjhDSpeP3ofCUcrLEGve26YtnOQwET_Sb4AuHrokob8CAYxApAyaXg2_NhdywzEUqPZlURlM_/s1600/P1020662.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uzp-_uiu7vvDmAVV2SSEvs1WzBBfqxjiSphZCU6R-HQmXGl6WyX-DFFWZjs1ITo7wQgGjhDSpeP3ofCUcrLEGve26YtnOQwET_Sb4AuHrokob8CAYxApAyaXg2_NhdywzEUqPZlURlM_/s400/P1020662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614659320914295682" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8MNpo3UGt7-IFtjRviugBUwmMgP4z4lNmXo3KUqQv-nkyTGOtwEBLqfkuQpAjNy1_MakYce2ezc5abCKXSc1pmCsaC9gAkxGy-CKbpdrw4o6QcXZLTS1tAHbHF6Ysur6pQyrgv7i9Kc_/s1600/P1020646.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8MNpo3UGt7-IFtjRviugBUwmMgP4z4lNmXo3KUqQv-nkyTGOtwEBLqfkuQpAjNy1_MakYce2ezc5abCKXSc1pmCsaC9gAkxGy-CKbpdrw4o6QcXZLTS1tAHbHF6Ysur6pQyrgv7i9Kc_/s400/P1020646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614659313826248034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz5Edw5Bs4Kr7xgxPyU6VjHkBPNcWuf_CONZ_HomLeov1nWqhFtzgZxm0lWIdFGFIj2DKxJLpMz2MyOK7nF4qCFwBi7h_2dqmA2mxwNX9AXS3ZaQgwls7r8vjB0adNaZG6q1Cr5ldVFE1/s1600/P1020698.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz5Edw5Bs4Kr7xgxPyU6VjHkBPNcWuf_CONZ_HomLeov1nWqhFtzgZxm0lWIdFGFIj2DKxJLpMz2MyOK7nF4qCFwBi7h_2dqmA2mxwNX9AXS3ZaQgwls7r8vjB0adNaZG6q1Cr5ldVFE1/s400/P1020698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614661217319226114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMszcOlUaoWxLET_Nx8HYMsYL0q7NDUS5eph0VavwoI6jyfBFNJ_3BMMrIDqmxtOA4HJpKzHgRTlOam9diqJFjUU9wDb81rESzxAnmGInxdqE4eFA8rLgKj5i8t4tRHTGRbOBRl-YWJMd/s1600/P1020700.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMszcOlUaoWxLET_Nx8HYMsYL0q7NDUS5eph0VavwoI6jyfBFNJ_3BMMrIDqmxtOA4HJpKzHgRTlOam9diqJFjUU9wDb81rESzxAnmGInxdqE4eFA8rLgKj5i8t4tRHTGRbOBRl-YWJMd/s400/P1020700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614661228918396050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqWD7ud_5yPwiNN93SgE-qKhmRTnUkH1wmed7DOt7n0rS-ueEQ-XksvVJ6aN5IyY8ZtLDl0VGQiMhIyksOOA0YLapcSb9oXMirNQdIuuuwj1IFzldEXtVhdPzH2D1c1Yb_4tqaSqLQrdb/s1600/P1020696.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqWD7ud_5yPwiNN93SgE-qKhmRTnUkH1wmed7DOt7n0rS-ueEQ-XksvVJ6aN5IyY8ZtLDl0VGQiMhIyksOOA0YLapcSb9oXMirNQdIuuuwj1IFzldEXtVhdPzH2D1c1Yb_4tqaSqLQrdb/s400/P1020696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614660059359245858" border="0" /></a><br />It's a cliche, but I do forget how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">unbelievably</span> green the little island is.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRuDrH51TbHvJ2pO1vb-24C6Ddp_n_SjEmeP2h_Arh7oIKc4vg5uOZHjJljq2j2qazRGj5KEWJlh0C2h0PKTua5K1JqpCh0kRRPh_VBeeoot7BqRWwoYs4K2_K09chQKsvqkSuEfYfYUP/s1600/P1020670.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRuDrH51TbHvJ2pO1vb-24C6Ddp_n_SjEmeP2h_Arh7oIKc4vg5uOZHjJljq2j2qazRGj5KEWJlh0C2h0PKTua5K1JqpCh0kRRPh_VBeeoot7BqRWwoYs4K2_K09chQKsvqkSuEfYfYUP/s400/P1020670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614661215526001346" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyYqLU1KG_ttLafm6SdJTK_D0qvT1wKHU0B-xOZErnd_-jcRycpdFR7KiTQVH_TS9Ec6kDBur_Znx8ELDFaFb5tf_dNO_-6NRNgSh2FHhgcTtpzws8-Iy66SmwTEGotutlQld7LobG4MU/s1600/P1020687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyYqLU1KG_ttLafm6SdJTK_D0qvT1wKHU0B-xOZErnd_-jcRycpdFR7KiTQVH_TS9Ec6kDBur_Znx8ELDFaFb5tf_dNO_-6NRNgSh2FHhgcTtpzws8-Iy66SmwTEGotutlQld7LobG4MU/s400/P1020687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614660069374093282" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi621bzL6wTk2Gu4Xes2miW8UONIbmrL_p4ZUj0iI7tHsXqOJRCaYQrOckOLPt6dF-9_9lKFbhtzyfva1JtkN-oc5MINhzhZ2EVk2ZCTqooEICU5ZuFOjeJLw6S2IOdm7y6qPtlUIM5j6Kk/s1600/P1020681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi621bzL6wTk2Gu4Xes2miW8UONIbmrL_p4ZUj0iI7tHsXqOJRCaYQrOckOLPt6dF-9_9lKFbhtzyfva1JtkN-oc5MINhzhZ2EVk2ZCTqooEICU5ZuFOjeJLw6S2IOdm7y6qPtlUIM5j6Kk/s400/P1020681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614660051117089042" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT19kjrTAYcH_JXGqcleVxmg2TIYt-6TaytA1HlG0gvv1at1vD_uDviMb8H5AemjvCsm6I_M0iks68dRiX1fUid76SgPhjlStcDgbPwp-Fcno2aJLenun255eyJiiTWGvGAZVL5_TeMBz/s1600/P1020676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT19kjrTAYcH_JXGqcleVxmg2TIYt-6TaytA1HlG0gvv1at1vD_uDviMb8H5AemjvCsm6I_M0iks68dRiX1fUid76SgPhjlStcDgbPwp-Fcno2aJLenun255eyJiiTWGvGAZVL5_TeMBz/s400/P1020676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614660041209665426" border="0" /></a><br />Ireland had it's Sunday best on that day, so we even managed a late-afternoon stroll along <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Brittas</span> Bay. It was great to see the sea, and our beaches really aren't all that bad on the days when you're not being attacked by driving wind and horizontal sheets of grey rain.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj68aUXL6-gjqbMFjLx-WmugbqMUW0KVr0RD5iIIER0UWHdJiXlfeXv-vUixQ2MYOZr96QLErioly9elr2Xt3wGbKWHibsJjWZ0S6ptUfngd9z9gxcsNmLwBc9UQAQeuYikdwVgeemACN/s1600/P1020720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj68aUXL6-gjqbMFjLx-WmugbqMUW0KVr0RD5iIIER0UWHdJiXlfeXv-vUixQ2MYOZr96QLErioly9elr2Xt3wGbKWHibsJjWZ0S6ptUfngd9z9gxcsNmLwBc9UQAQeuYikdwVgeemACN/s400/P1020720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663033041504338" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwj8r_BhJcu8Z_z7pEIFXKRPtqzwzqtgZXc29zBFT96d93f1n4qhniQd4cvgqv_QULgBHsLOegmp7QAKThmtCn3zsKPGR0h3s4KDzKTKVc7z7xIgl-8rsF5agKKm6Lc3o9KDzX85vlqUQg/s1600/P1020718.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwj8r_BhJcu8Z_z7pEIFXKRPtqzwzqtgZXc29zBFT96d93f1n4qhniQd4cvgqv_QULgBHsLOegmp7QAKThmtCn3zsKPGR0h3s4KDzKTKVc7z7xIgl-8rsF5agKKm6Lc3o9KDzX85vlqUQg/s400/P1020718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663023339884690" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG38HNzcmJjjP7J0xq1wsX1AZe6mEEY6a5yatEqEy0dDYmRtUUQGZxmt7PtQ32z_e0effHhSoWjEYkpna44JJvE8egDPtNACexQMBdIku7f8jOKmxPwNrIiU5NEv96-p2Q4wSFKsZY0GB/s1600/P1020719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG38HNzcmJjjP7J0xq1wsX1AZe6mEEY6a5yatEqEy0dDYmRtUUQGZxmt7PtQ32z_e0effHhSoWjEYkpna44JJvE8egDPtNACexQMBdIku7f8jOKmxPwNrIiU5NEv96-p2Q4wSFKsZY0GB/s400/P1020719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614661236516728514" border="0" /></a><br />One final little fun photo from my trip: so we have this infamous childhood photo of me and my two siblings dressed in matching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">onesies</span> from some time in the mid-80s.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUUZ8gG5j8yrL53D1SzMC9SDBYSp7gZmDBzB8_JaBTVrRW_19kwa_MCuqYt0VGNXNC3H12AP0Jtcv5qqMtXd64KHYRjeoN8GbT3-RQMgrfHerQYUn8kwWkfT9BzooqWMxrpJCdqon8Jr0/s1600/img033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUUZ8gG5j8yrL53D1SzMC9SDBYSp7gZmDBzB8_JaBTVrRW_19kwa_MCuqYt0VGNXNC3H12AP0Jtcv5qqMtXd64KHYRjeoN8GbT3-RQMgrfHerQYUn8kwWkfT9BzooqWMxrpJCdqon8Jr0/s400/img033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614657386150792226" border="0" /></a><br />We had great notions of recreating the photo in the present day, but it all went a bit pear-shaped because we never got round to buying the adult-sized <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">onesies</span> and had to unceremoniously snap a shot on my last night in the country. We got the positioning all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">arseways</span> on the first attempt, and I was so tired from all the parties and travelling and whatnot that I could barely keep my head up. But the spirit is there, even if I am doing a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">convincing</span> impression of the brown Jamie Lee Curtis.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOmsOgvurHY-p8zArch77-dRsHkh8klawElXq3-9vGeG2FAgQuFL3ooySCCBOfDfoADTXryLQNZYCs-KMC7NB7k921IQIvu70kdiofT8TVB_7z_Gt-a497sqLhq3LKRLfVkxIpvnpsYGa/s1600/P1020782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOmsOgvurHY-p8zArch77-dRsHkh8klawElXq3-9vGeG2FAgQuFL3ooySCCBOfDfoADTXryLQNZYCs-KMC7NB7k921IQIvu70kdiofT8TVB_7z_Gt-a497sqLhq3LKRLfVkxIpvnpsYGa/s400/P1020782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663565758521250" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix53ltpzCC0mZ-06lPp7nHuukPsv2LT2tDgkfCMXi3vua4X8zLZ9W_RFvYWzWTGC23wUIxZ7sT69zSeTPIQd5G5dKr9fcxcq1Xi_G4DN2h2hMQs1kA7r0MzU2CTuRxnOKHT1TBqa4jSOmJ/s1600/P1020783.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix53ltpzCC0mZ-06lPp7nHuukPsv2LT2tDgkfCMXi3vua4X8zLZ9W_RFvYWzWTGC23wUIxZ7sT69zSeTPIQd5G5dKr9fcxcq1Xi_G4DN2h2hMQs1kA7r0MzU2CTuRxnOKHT1TBqa4jSOmJ/s400/P1020783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663571098018642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WY6eglKm9zP7EDll99_tksJ2erqISkbf3xPfkWFY2AKi4J4X76jYjkjdHv3s6OFvi43JhDzd39uqv6EH9m1yl408DDT6w-bSiD2eLC70d33p1m0YkWJXcxmaJOMToGTx3QVqhz0kI7jU/s1600/P1020784.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WY6eglKm9zP7EDll99_tksJ2erqISkbf3xPfkWFY2AKi4J4X76jYjkjdHv3s6OFvi43JhDzd39uqv6EH9m1yl408DDT6w-bSiD2eLC70d33p1m0YkWJXcxmaJOMToGTx3QVqhz0kI7jU/s400/P1020784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614663576995613858" border="0" /></a>Like I said, fun, fun times.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-49160985259131043212011-05-25T00:02:00.001-07:002011-05-25T00:05:39.405-07:00Moreover, in other catalog- shopping related news...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_lsE2B3qJcb0sRoEEqS-KqKkt6PL_S7OjH3eW8rFWV0HVk1sj6dRejGdTwKm_hiEnpBCTwFRrZd8_4JhMFJkpqZDC_B5pmtii4yJm2d9uq-jQhdUZt6OpASRjwRrtpePtDZCpIocbs1m/s1600/%253F%253F-739406.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_lsE2B3qJcb0sRoEEqS-KqKkt6PL_S7OjH3eW8rFWV0HVk1sj6dRejGdTwKm_hiEnpBCTwFRrZd8_4JhMFJkpqZDC_B5pmtii4yJm2d9uq-jQhdUZt6OpASRjwRrtpePtDZCpIocbs1m/s320/%253F%253F-739406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610546444538197602" /></a></p>You know that when these guys were starting out modeling, they thought they would be on the catwalks of Milan or Paris... Not waist deep in some mosquito infested swamp with a Marks and Spencer shopping bag on their head. The fate of the catalog model is truly a cruel one.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-17138963165025435472011-05-25T00:02:00.000-07:002011-05-25T00:03:38.903-07:00Remote control condom (not what you think)<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGiqynWdK6X_9ohIkVo-JkahYFbqF5zDIP3UNHvuG5X5fjbiy7nCdaHtDxPhnQZwzgygrEDoJjEfYpTVjQw_McNR-glYzCWkflvnkcBXhKqjxuWwRsgWRBhWmAKx0YFVTP-lYU_gX7fDc/s1600/%253F%253F-718904.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGiqynWdK6X_9ohIkVo-JkahYFbqF5zDIP3UNHvuG5X5fjbiy7nCdaHtDxPhnQZwzgygrEDoJjEfYpTVjQw_McNR-glYzCWkflvnkcBXhKqjxuWwRsgWRBhWmAKx0YFVTP-lYU_gX7fDc/s320/%253F%253F-718904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610545927045393986" /></a></p>It's been ages since I've taken a look at the catalog shopping in the japanese bullet trains. In the interim, they've really outdone themselves. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the remote control condom! (This idea actually appeals to the clean freak in me.)Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-12628222297536002552011-04-26T05:53:00.000-07:002011-04-26T05:53:00.093-07:00Lunch on highSunday was easily the most beautiful day of the year so far. The weather was perfect and it made the calamities of late seem a whole world away. I had some shopping to do in Ginza, so I stopped for lunch on the 42nd floor of a skyscraper in Shiodome, the next neighbourhood over. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFV1N5Ca4i1rhXV45qSx0KOjyX-CDBc4TKa3PnwKoy5ZLZ5o8P_H1GGDiqPXAd5WmWmxVBeFlysEMHVjCuyA00gxM55V1Jk5WCf3Sp5fmbsgviUk47OZw7xUt7l7_tu0PCHSeUo2EstGZ/s1600/P1020571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFV1N5Ca4i1rhXV45qSx0KOjyX-CDBc4TKa3PnwKoy5ZLZ5o8P_H1GGDiqPXAd5WmWmxVBeFlysEMHVjCuyA00gxM55V1Jk5WCf3Sp5fmbsgviUk47OZw7xUt7l7_tu0PCHSeUo2EstGZ/s400/P1020571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134389825532130" border="0" /></a><br />As it was completely unplanned, I had to go Nigel No-mates, bit it would certainly be a great place to go back with friends. It's a bit swanky,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVgjyc4sOYj24pNSTsNFunaGZKPb5Bjvf8f1QMfHi0qy-05t0OlRTsDD0DH_TsKgAan8iMmfFsEE1PAcvxOFhEkD-WChPSYImqhHxsp_Ki0mkWH4xNT91gFogfpoFyTamhulzGFUS1KDh/s1600/P1020581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVgjyc4sOYj24pNSTsNFunaGZKPb5Bjvf8f1QMfHi0qy-05t0OlRTsDD0DH_TsKgAan8iMmfFsEE1PAcvxOFhEkD-WChPSYImqhHxsp_Ki0mkWH4xNT91gFogfpoFyTamhulzGFUS1KDh/s400/P1020581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134730649380770" border="0" /></a>but the lunchtime buffet is not at all exxy and the view cannot be beat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1l_JDWK3haaSMxjjXqg26YiEHzzSZfkt8onkbg3yaPSUyBFNzGVONV2fiDhGSDdshrud_Xkct6E93Rit3HXqQPI9a6zDv6hCDgJn3TOt7JfNq6-ZLA-_PBUaGRfygqXnm9BsuPNN8whj/s1600/P1020563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1l_JDWK3haaSMxjjXqg26YiEHzzSZfkt8onkbg3yaPSUyBFNzGVONV2fiDhGSDdshrud_Xkct6E93Rit3HXqQPI9a6zDv6hCDgJn3TOt7JfNq6-ZLA-_PBUaGRfygqXnm9BsuPNN8whj/s400/P1020563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134368597259938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb2_ZjxXAsHQdxs0NA_1jfviHSDo1ZDS_FIMDi39wiQzsBYdU7s8wrD7-e6yZmmjqz1YNuwrDDVmj_dMsu-HY7dpNwVnylxalK4sdbFeWQJtnjguwaDPsCxQ0re6vT94LMWuk-E6bwZar/s1600/P1020567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb2_ZjxXAsHQdxs0NA_1jfviHSDo1ZDS_FIMDi39wiQzsBYdU7s8wrD7-e6yZmmjqz1YNuwrDDVmj_dMsu-HY7dpNwVnylxalK4sdbFeWQJtnjguwaDPsCxQ0re6vT94LMWuk-E6bwZar/s400/P1020567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134378773961810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO3fcKeC7nS6W_lnRYYdTUkJiwsod_qYfj24DBSChh-2eDURoyd5y7bkPBO3ZrqQCESz33BCCUS6QHWZdzo3d8IldS6szNnOAaw3LbDI-oSeeevJwBVTQCjuUkNDQnLN0qcKeDOiy9Vqd/s1600/P1020568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO3fcKeC7nS6W_lnRYYdTUkJiwsod_qYfj24DBSChh-2eDURoyd5y7bkPBO3ZrqQCESz33BCCUS6QHWZdzo3d8IldS6szNnOAaw3LbDI-oSeeevJwBVTQCjuUkNDQnLN0qcKeDOiy9Vqd/s400/P1020568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134385496419490" border="0" /></a><br />You can see here how much progess has been made on the Tokyo Sky Tree. It should be finished very soon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5HsQJv6h-fkN_hPA-17Tw0LJKN0Bp72yRolTOclWwdW67NV9NEn7Z4WCFA5IDF8qF8oDJqQCczK0DQdm6vxnJ7AwKanVm2K2yChHW8Vmv8QqmU4dPFXzy72SSyz6GvkgM4jjRCrunGka/s1600/P1020566.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5HsQJv6h-fkN_hPA-17Tw0LJKN0Bp72yRolTOclWwdW67NV9NEn7Z4WCFA5IDF8qF8oDJqQCczK0DQdm6vxnJ7AwKanVm2K2yChHW8Vmv8QqmU4dPFXzy72SSyz6GvkgM4jjRCrunGka/s400/P1020566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134370666645842" border="0" /></a><br />I couldn't capture a good photo, but this helicopter came really close. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNcp0ZuJHDSW7LvXAxOWn8WMzU-TRhgd4xm54F4gzfhXuBeM2i7IYURgVBS8G_SBf8qq72f5I1UYKbHQclUo7C_-0a7v_HE2qfcavtCj1TlqRcaagSuwHOu8fIYTDzv-BQC_XivsfYP3t/s1600/P1020572.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNcp0ZuJHDSW7LvXAxOWn8WMzU-TRhgd4xm54F4gzfhXuBeM2i7IYURgVBS8G_SBf8qq72f5I1UYKbHQclUo7C_-0a7v_HE2qfcavtCj1TlqRcaagSuwHOu8fIYTDzv-BQC_XivsfYP3t/s400/P1020572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134721083719650" border="0" /></a><br />Some women beside me even gasped. I guess we're all still a bit on edge.<br /><br />The coolest thing was that I could see my apartment. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR861wGPHKMGC2jmkZyM3yIYiLx7B2YbwEds-TrRtffTY_6yWu_Vrpsw9bur60sbJ2aHdxPw9h82MyMCbJJ0i_RyyTYRo4hZOHKHYRKE0hz1MhbWtnNkH1efKh7h8YKL-VTCqwqgxdifTj/s1600/P1020577.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR861wGPHKMGC2jmkZyM3yIYiLx7B2YbwEds-TrRtffTY_6yWu_Vrpsw9bur60sbJ2aHdxPw9h82MyMCbJJ0i_RyyTYRo4hZOHKHYRKE0hz1MhbWtnNkH1efKh7h8YKL-VTCqwqgxdifTj/s400/P1020577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599134729411888914" border="0" /></a><br />It took me a few minutes to get my bearings, but once I could find the river, it wasn't hard. As an anti-stalker measure, I won't tell you exactly where it is, but you can see my building in the lower left-hand quadrant of the photo.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-62485379528525070202011-04-24T05:31:00.000-07:002011-04-24T05:52:24.789-07:00Kyoto cleanseI was in Kyoto for work last weekend. Unusually, there was enough time in the schedule for me to get up early and do a little sightseeing. To be honest, I haven't been a big fan of Kyoto for many years: it holds bad associations for me - fights, forced smiles in photos, bitter silences... But I think the bad juju must be gone, because I really enjoyed myself walking through the narrow streets under a clear blue sky .<br /><br />We Japanese love our towers. This a the candle-like one beside the station.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaNdv0ei6YfU95C_sKTGx8oA-hZCntXDEZPyABq7jEBa6o06ky7_j397ujVhqHNUmH3joLAWw3ve4xskNZU2vw1ecI9EGuaBuY2_5Ht_G5yAZJJgUyJ-oyWmNgq_WO6KF-fJzy41vNPZY/s1600/P1020542.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaNdv0ei6YfU95C_sKTGx8oA-hZCntXDEZPyABq7jEBa6o06ky7_j397ujVhqHNUmH3joLAWw3ve4xskNZU2vw1ecI9EGuaBuY2_5Ht_G5yAZJJgUyJ-oyWmNgq_WO6KF-fJzy41vNPZY/s400/P1020542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599128127254443938" border="0" /></a><br />Most of the shrines and temples are spread out throughout the city, at least a bus-ride away. I only had time to walk to Higashi Honganji near my hotel. But it was colourfully serene. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_xeSqmpL1ehSf61nPPnjFOEGNiUGSBuxrsIkOYu6CG1p_pB0X2MQW9UB0xp0h4k-OXdLk8PV2ifK6h2R0o2DR3MWzQnOdXL_GeEhkGXPkG9xB-T9XCJYO2JIswAoNK8meT_pD1JfOjHx/s1600/P1020552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_xeSqmpL1ehSf61nPPnjFOEGNiUGSBuxrsIkOYu6CG1p_pB0X2MQW9UB0xp0h4k-OXdLk8PV2ifK6h2R0o2DR3MWzQnOdXL_GeEhkGXPkG9xB-T9XCJYO2JIswAoNK8meT_pD1JfOjHx/s400/P1020552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599128146376284770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI2aqsg3j-YmH7356vt5ezKskqH1Zo-xp8wxNyI6z-4KNdpMJJkGSSVxQ3ct8tDhjXt1b6WBb5LBTGpBlGNP4LaL1H9Yi4PVU60V49kRxrUWj11GjjkGJ-4gMymyLQ3ErBi3DH_EKCQlC/s1600/P1020554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI2aqsg3j-YmH7356vt5ezKskqH1Zo-xp8wxNyI6z-4KNdpMJJkGSSVxQ3ct8tDhjXt1b6WBb5LBTGpBlGNP4LaL1H9Yi4PVU60V49kRxrUWj11GjjkGJ-4gMymyLQ3ErBi3DH_EKCQlC/s400/P1020554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599128636468913906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpitXqi-Xp2Vxq5E-XT15keLNDURVD4B4cvT4mfafKMTwcR_xgR0LiMwIEjxhpYxNF759tJqGYDeQZIB7FQSBAQNIXkLwCfsPFHFnvGSYroaHgJcdXR35KqFLdMuLbKX3IQ63PtZZ_Uklv/s1600/P1020549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpitXqi-Xp2Vxq5E-XT15keLNDURVD4B4cvT4mfafKMTwcR_xgR0LiMwIEjxhpYxNF759tJqGYDeQZIB7FQSBAQNIXkLwCfsPFHFnvGSYroaHgJcdXR35KqFLdMuLbKX3IQ63PtZZ_Uklv/s400/P1020549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599128138508432002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the courtyard, I spied the last of Kyoto's cherry blossoms. They have to give way to the fresh green leaves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwU_EcpfsS0ccpZNrIB0FzjveihLUv5xppAPb-hi7hIE6S6X-aLwesmZ2qHajvw-4jXbOzZzs19zfYLuiUnYmHeW-QE5mR6PxJf1Rm-KRzCeUYnayRwQYKFONT2fEMkhvr3xsjoJuAklB/s1600/P1020546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwU_EcpfsS0ccpZNrIB0FzjveihLUv5xppAPb-hi7hIE6S6X-aLwesmZ2qHajvw-4jXbOzZzs19zfYLuiUnYmHeW-QE5mR6PxJf1Rm-KRzCeUYnayRwQYKFONT2fEMkhvr3xsjoJuAklB/s400/P1020546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599128134093555778" border="0" /></a><br />I even made it to the renowned original shop of the Inoda Coffee House chain. This is a Kyoto institution. (Irish readers, think Bewleys back when it was a bit classy.) It's all dark corners, mirrored elegance and eccentric, bow-tied wait staff - they don't always let you order what you want, and sometimes tell you it'd be too filling or that you look like you'd be more in the mood for something else! And, of course, they serve great coffee.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVX1sX0RMpo9oB1n4GktBYAsNuLttgFE0Z60m0m-xEpKUNdvoKj7x0T3CS4NRGByB4uwvLQXlM_lniJU5uWtqXgb97tgqxU3PINb9B39w_69AMV-xEexr4fNL7MWf60HedJXQI50QkZXg/s1600/P1020557.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVX1sX0RMpo9oB1n4GktBYAsNuLttgFE0Z60m0m-xEpKUNdvoKj7x0T3CS4NRGByB4uwvLQXlM_lniJU5uWtqXgb97tgqxU3PINb9B39w_69AMV-xEexr4fNL7MWf60HedJXQI50QkZXg/s400/P1020557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599128639962973682" border="0" /></a>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-57075584997690749052011-04-19T04:32:00.000-07:002011-04-19T05:39:55.111-07:00Bloomin' MarvellousI know I said I wouldn't do blossom watch this year because it made me feel the passing of time too much. Well, you know what, with the recent disaster I feel very privileged to be having time still pass for me at all, so get ready for a cherry petal overload.<br /><br />The blossom season turned out to be a pretty brilliant one in Tokyo. They stayed out for almost two weeks. And the poor flowers really didn't have it easy - they got battered by gales, rained on a couple of times, endured a fair dose of radiation, and got shaken by hundreds of aftershocks. Yet they pulled out all the stops to give us a bit of cheer.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p2H98W6Nl_Vd8V6dA_wijkaJg3Xk8tQXHxg6ZvZ4hFR_44btUEHFFpGngk3HkFgntS7-Ln67i4e14SlvYmXdC5X_IWymoq3wrYGuPtkGwef1SuVrsULwoDclQJzKoBVYeEabw5m5pUzd/s1600/m.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p2H98W6Nl_Vd8V6dA_wijkaJg3Xk8tQXHxg6ZvZ4hFR_44btUEHFFpGngk3HkFgntS7-Ln67i4e14SlvYmXdC5X_IWymoq3wrYGuPtkGwef1SuVrsULwoDclQJzKoBVYeEabw5m5pUzd/s400/m.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264402597782562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQfMrAVZQwWa9eJg2I4uCiajdgwm20FDd8wrizwAnLEjlvLbf2YHzoUZsywDKPNyqCDT0qDCQN6WjrIGD579sz4y0g5HYg6f1T7ma7SwT_QujnmHEvx1N_qav3Z9OEpVjZiT_I2iIILlR/s1600/h.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQfMrAVZQwWa9eJg2I4uCiajdgwm20FDd8wrizwAnLEjlvLbf2YHzoUZsywDKPNyqCDT0qDCQN6WjrIGD579sz4y0g5HYg6f1T7ma7SwT_QujnmHEvx1N_qav3Z9OEpVjZiT_I2iIILlR/s400/h.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264042283447154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfi9CdP2dmG-zU1yfkf9f0HR9iw-doFbFTlIPAtyB9p7_mjDv6qkvOGzkFuO4HH6X-CHgyRZuADRUDnj1pCm_lHz3MzcPWejP3TEqPMB3WyPGSmL7eN8nWUk2CTmPHC0EIo3LI4L6-q5Q/s1600/g.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfi9CdP2dmG-zU1yfkf9f0HR9iw-doFbFTlIPAtyB9p7_mjDv6qkvOGzkFuO4HH6X-CHgyRZuADRUDnj1pCm_lHz3MzcPWejP3TEqPMB3WyPGSmL7eN8nWUk2CTmPHC0EIo3LI4L6-q5Q/s400/g.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264039106723394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-76wUAlpkroOR5IMzE4gB8zdnNV7A18lSDZ65_mtlcwwGOVCf_E2pfcS-2KcvOFlnWGN1QDyoBJRA_cOs3kHRTClK9ckM9dsqWvuC-U63cFK3COV91kA_smDZa9dwkmULXuC1k1hrkEyP/s1600/v.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-76wUAlpkroOR5IMzE4gB8zdnNV7A18lSDZ65_mtlcwwGOVCf_E2pfcS-2KcvOFlnWGN1QDyoBJRA_cOs3kHRTClK9ckM9dsqWvuC-U63cFK3COV91kA_smDZa9dwkmULXuC1k1hrkEyP/s400/v.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265981941804754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83fwwnM0IHs8g0tTkvqACDOYLFe6ldeOX8eQvmzmYKRjd7vrr4qwFrscyixrHnZyJD0mxc-jb5qpKxLSwgcThp7Tt1UfpZBPS87jx4rkLUvSpqhhuDbQ-_uvLWdjm91iJ1yk4X6QtynZy/s1600/u.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83fwwnM0IHs8g0tTkvqACDOYLFe6ldeOX8eQvmzmYKRjd7vrr4qwFrscyixrHnZyJD0mxc-jb5qpKxLSwgcThp7Tt1UfpZBPS87jx4rkLUvSpqhhuDbQ-_uvLWdjm91iJ1yk4X6QtynZy/s400/u.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265972500183106" border="0" /></a><br />For Japanese people, cherry blossom is all about rolling out the plastic mats, sitting under some big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ol</span>' trees and getting drunk with some friends. There's a lot to be said for that as a national custom.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-45sxifoqO_4C5xwRRjU6t3-yIN61QFYmSaQsGDPD8cOi5b6e995YT5oLXbVKLnGRsr-FOnQIX4eY1daK2ctV01FNqQ8EyhWuva77cdAiXXVXHWYo0X6wlSrTyS-dcx3JxCOaPgn2E9k/s1600/t.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-45sxifoqO_4C5xwRRjU6t3-yIN61QFYmSaQsGDPD8cOi5b6e995YT5oLXbVKLnGRsr-FOnQIX4eY1daK2ctV01FNqQ8EyhWuva77cdAiXXVXHWYo0X6wlSrTyS-dcx3JxCOaPgn2E9k/s400/t.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265721278003570" border="0" /></a><br />Taking a boat out a lake is another popular way to get a good view of the trees.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bn53x8-Jj1XiFi9lslwitjZskxr1aIJ078JTVJGN_bYdavFHvEImDOkZyxYs8vVULX1hfvQ6aqwSdunL5Kcu9-muHyvH6RZApMelM1C9_RqxA9RCSJiImo0SkMkVbsu8UrxjwZtprzEY/s1600/s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bn53x8-Jj1XiFi9lslwitjZskxr1aIJ078JTVJGN_bYdavFHvEImDOkZyxYs8vVULX1hfvQ6aqwSdunL5Kcu9-muHyvH6RZApMelM1C9_RqxA9RCSJiImo0SkMkVbsu8UrxjwZtprzEY/s400/s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265713617825090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyyQN71q84QByud53E-ljtoVjHFMJRnvFfpJ1F7KA3JiEoQzeMBHI1sbxM8ReuEp27Adw-2AGNew7FixnvkyOykGN6F-hFqIzUySK3me2I4AtUBd5E8UMLT2_m_HQFn8JgSOVklNFgNA4/s1600/j.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyyQN71q84QByud53E-ljtoVjHFMJRnvFfpJ1F7KA3JiEoQzeMBHI1sbxM8ReuEp27Adw-2AGNew7FixnvkyOykGN6F-hFqIzUySK3me2I4AtUBd5E8UMLT2_m_HQFn8JgSOVklNFgNA4/s400/j.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264048384407506" border="0" /></a><br />I'm lucky enough to have a 10-minute walk from work along a road called '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sakura</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dori</span>'. It makes the daily trudge a lot more pleasant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3kmsOKUIviwPiU9KQerhxK9XStnjkiwF5EWKiB2EBMBTj9Pj-KYPxvsSn-EQ9Mfzn3NrPoZU0GlDIncN8ehgcp9i-gpwvLh62QrL8MCO-iZmigNWQPNcpOvP3hCThjfk1u6VsNWbUE9k/s1600/r.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3kmsOKUIviwPiU9KQerhxK9XStnjkiwF5EWKiB2EBMBTj9Pj-KYPxvsSn-EQ9Mfzn3NrPoZU0GlDIncN8ehgcp9i-gpwvLh62QrL8MCO-iZmigNWQPNcpOvP3hCThjfk1u6VsNWbUE9k/s400/r.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265709323117394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU5sshKZochJHiN6Tox4PbHvDgnnQpZ_HAYxJ4yHRx_91hIqu67_5fM9DMD2Iu9Bzk0Rt_PzHIWIp3tkHGe4dxdlr0HeCYoWosiUjXWCtydJW-W7cPHnk143Iv3qQW_9vez5cI8Jex3VJ/s1600/q.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU5sshKZochJHiN6Tox4PbHvDgnnQpZ_HAYxJ4yHRx_91hIqu67_5fM9DMD2Iu9Bzk0Rt_PzHIWIp3tkHGe4dxdlr0HeCYoWosiUjXWCtydJW-W7cPHnk143Iv3qQW_9vez5cI8Jex3VJ/s400/q.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265281191499778" border="0" /></a><br />This is a little cherry-unrelated, but it just struck me as a particularly Japanese scene.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3b02pw3jrUNYDAD25dyNwfyj7lLyP-KWuBPO0fSm4dqzjyt733wcvoWWN8X9ZYfGORJaeO8kwxrLsd4VGjyK0ONypGXjy6CWhX3YHiLnWURfqGflrUKhJZ3eBy0S6cSZHwx8z9F0LoYt/s1600/c.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3b02pw3jrUNYDAD25dyNwfyj7lLyP-KWuBPO0fSm4dqzjyt733wcvoWWN8X9ZYfGORJaeO8kwxrLsd4VGjyK0ONypGXjy6CWhX3YHiLnWURfqGflrUKhJZ3eBy0S6cSZHwx8z9F0LoYt/s400/c.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597263461823893154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBLeSRwCTaKVnAUKCZzXG54a2a0G40LqDklUEP2_ZLzfmrcrxvaU5XDZZHV2A1wlrAsyVl3JXc8QK4JR7DKN4KJoOxSQ1a3t1iS-K6J8c5FWSVM-fKV-HezDOkoA03BPjUy24O-drUqVK/s1600/d.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBLeSRwCTaKVnAUKCZzXG54a2a0G40LqDklUEP2_ZLzfmrcrxvaU5XDZZHV2A1wlrAsyVl3JXc8QK4JR7DKN4KJoOxSQ1a3t1iS-K6J8c5FWSVM-fKV-HezDOkoA03BPjUy24O-drUqVK/s400/d.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597263734147010018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I enjoyed hanging out with some friends, making good conversation, drinking a cool beer and eating some nice food as cherry blossoms fell gently around us. But I also really enjoyed getting up really early to take some walks around the city's famous viewing spots before most other people were up. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHJYu1DnSjT1ct8qJqv7hRPwkJr6tKRhS8_kOJjuMd-EcAlt89kw9RSu0Q27auFH0Nb_cVpymTkdomtO3D1EbWG5rKPPf_KIOJ7OeUNVXHpuCti7H004yr9zsfBD2s_am043yRTHKviOX/s1600/n.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHJYu1DnSjT1ct8qJqv7hRPwkJr6tKRhS8_kOJjuMd-EcAlt89kw9RSu0Q27auFH0Nb_cVpymTkdomtO3D1EbWG5rKPPf_KIOJ7OeUNVXHpuCti7H004yr9zsfBD2s_am043yRTHKviOX/s400/n.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264405021279554" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIcBVD-eOpG7duhNBQ3z-lF16Wpkv3w4DzKSrGaznE1HyhS5ErM9Dw6DieP2NOcHzDEwR6hm8AuYjO5BMxPyBFuMmUaMtb92nGZotAKoNJnllaMpJblnygYBJDPwdhj4eD1pB97pzDhgL/s1600/p.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIcBVD-eOpG7duhNBQ3z-lF16Wpkv3w4DzKSrGaznE1HyhS5ErM9Dw6DieP2NOcHzDEwR6hm8AuYjO5BMxPyBFuMmUaMtb92nGZotAKoNJnllaMpJblnygYBJDPwdhj4eD1pB97pzDhgL/s400/p.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265279492009986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE1kyS0yHMn0z7J1mYn1dyI1ImduHQotBH25mdtSnEDgnN8K_uQDUKhtoyW0Y4l-pYxR3X7r0eS1RZ3iho0cHKXWs9ttA_Mnzil5yZMdjYpT-2KKY3QvDRHTS3wOuwn0eSPt2kTQjI1us/s1600/l.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE1kyS0yHMn0z7J1mYn1dyI1ImduHQotBH25mdtSnEDgnN8K_uQDUKhtoyW0Y4l-pYxR3X7r0eS1RZ3iho0cHKXWs9ttA_Mnzil5yZMdjYpT-2KKY3QvDRHTS3wOuwn0eSPt2kTQjI1us/s400/l.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264391724138978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6tQ1d6_2tuXaK9lSrczF1XnJb-mfUtkuMWuRNHRRTIqi4mf0EyW2Q08UaGgSFKXN3Qzhk4lKsW6zSBpAzXL_22z_WbY68V-_eImS41U_td_8jY2CXnpickwAhrgNMN8ibcOhiHnb_f3g/s1600/k.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6tQ1d6_2tuXaK9lSrczF1XnJb-mfUtkuMWuRNHRRTIqi4mf0EyW2Q08UaGgSFKXN3Qzhk4lKsW6zSBpAzXL_22z_WbY68V-_eImS41U_td_8jY2CXnpickwAhrgNMN8ibcOhiHnb_f3g/s400/k.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264391086750754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoN7ZjaihXdWT_Ae0UD3SDg07iK42H7SQQtwuP8q4g-eAIOvhC1ELRzCbS2nUAhaP19W-HXquKl94F7EYO5W_1Ryd4UnNm5Tq-ziEMaXK1rfQ5mkpLfwFUiXxmyQOcJjo79hBUnO_7L7L9/s1600/i.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoN7ZjaihXdWT_Ae0UD3SDg07iK42H7SQQtwuP8q4g-eAIOvhC1ELRzCbS2nUAhaP19W-HXquKl94F7EYO5W_1Ryd4UnNm5Tq-ziEMaXK1rfQ5mkpLfwFUiXxmyQOcJjo79hBUnO_7L7L9/s400/i.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597264043993735442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkaDBiJKjlb_P9L0162WvElkx6hEeuCQ5EpEWISbvOGAHMVmRNBSQMpr4NlFNZMWLqPC72zcTFjfJgV9VjpA2ZyuhvipAA82-WblIrHvWpEEbWMf1gIHbUcrKjrkwfIVTmTEdgjI0I-hH/s1600/f.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkaDBiJKjlb_P9L0162WvElkx6hEeuCQ5EpEWISbvOGAHMVmRNBSQMpr4NlFNZMWLqPC72zcTFjfJgV9VjpA2ZyuhvipAA82-WblIrHvWpEEbWMf1gIHbUcrKjrkwfIVTmTEdgjI0I-hH/s400/f.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597263739567151842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tum9lau-yEMAagnAqDMet0Vl3QWaaz-84XkGjBKk13KR2tYGnRb0REh_WM-MPvdHXw4DkJIJkL2clFWZIsZ0nY2c8d7wjf4k9RpMs_O2mTzZRFgex3O7jax2PnYPHfNUxLPfBkWkoYaW/s1600/e.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tum9lau-yEMAagnAqDMet0Vl3QWaaz-84XkGjBKk13KR2tYGnRb0REh_WM-MPvdHXw4DkJIJkL2clFWZIsZ0nY2c8d7wjf4k9RpMs_O2mTzZRFgex3O7jax2PnYPHfNUxLPfBkWkoYaW/s400/e.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597263742617897314" border="0" /></a><br />Getting up early to do some blossom watching before the crowds is a great chance to see some fellow eccentrics at their best. To wit: some grannies stretching for some serious power walking. (We are right in the centre of the city here, not at the foot of Mount Everest???)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW8QlkWyBBfd5f0leZWrUqsnpkzfUaaperR413_PlSaXfviZcOwQc2wMneW9FNLUuX3PJzVJoYyEN3-RWJ03aE7KlCn4EoZDSpeW9hPptuMWCBD3gTcNEXSddcg73ecTKaRzfvWUyOkA8/s1600/b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW8QlkWyBBfd5f0leZWrUqsnpkzfUaaperR413_PlSaXfviZcOwQc2wMneW9FNLUuX3PJzVJoYyEN3-RWJ03aE7KlCn4EoZDSpeW9hPptuMWCBD3gTcNEXSddcg73ecTKaRzfvWUyOkA8/s400/b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597263453899799234" border="0" /></a><br />Or this kind woman who didn't want to disturb her neighbours as she learned to play the trombone. Squeaky scales was an unusual accompaniment to my early-morning walk, but not that bad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkbPm6GiTe6yFiKMDl2_29SAs3aN_H_vLk8-gOI2I1HAGk0hhD4DHBu7yLTUnfYfg89X2VEDhLzX4w9h5nb-fn1JG-6gXyLW3l3rdlKyvRcDAtLFDNfCPYZ8x3MFA4OQ4XF2bl6JTQMT_/s1600/a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkbPm6GiTe6yFiKMDl2_29SAs3aN_H_vLk8-gOI2I1HAGk0hhD4DHBu7yLTUnfYfg89X2VEDhLzX4w9h5nb-fn1JG-6gXyLW3l3rdlKyvRcDAtLFDNfCPYZ8x3MFA4OQ4XF2bl6JTQMT_/s400/a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597263446623576850" border="0" /></a>You can enjoy cherry blossom viewing as much in the late night as in the early morning. By evening, people are usually pretty wasted so the night time tends to be quite a different vibe. This year, though, the power saving means the trees weren't lit up. We had to really on the moon instead. It made it all much more atmospheric.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CTovAIKs7sAzuJKwU2jK18MIzSF-a2UkRuXNhEdgx5oNr5g_rJDUYR8IsmpJTYxPQB1LzTCTgFU1DGDWLbzkCBytMKibNj5ovEm_ky5ubBJJ3cV-ux3c6i1CT-iH-r2dqlYVxbmhX25g/s1600/w.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CTovAIKs7sAzuJKwU2jK18MIzSF-a2UkRuXNhEdgx5oNr5g_rJDUYR8IsmpJTYxPQB1LzTCTgFU1DGDWLbzkCBytMKibNj5ovEm_ky5ubBJJ3cV-ux3c6i1CT-iH-r2dqlYVxbmhX25g/s400/w.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597265986640886914" border="0" /></a>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-9620425465683246492011-04-16T00:28:00.001-07:002011-04-16T00:28:56.863-07:00A working weekendIt's no rest for the wicked for me at the moment. I'm on duty as MC of our domestic recruitment events today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday).<p>I find these things nerve racking at the best of times - I'm not given naturally to public speaking (and my brother would probably tell you I'm not particularly given to speaking) - but the anxiety factor has been kicked up a notch in that we are gathering 100 people on the 24th floor of a skyscraper in the midst of seemingly endless earthquakes. We had to come up with emergency plans and I had to add a section to my introduction explaining what we'd all do in the case of an earthquake (scream???). Would you believe we had TWO flipping quakes before the event and one of them was quite a shaker. Luckily we were left in peace for the event itself.<p>It really is starting to feel like the ground will never be solid again. But we're battling on. And we're going to have to focus on domestic hires because international recruitment is up the spout - we've already had our first prospective employee break their contract and cancel their plans to come to Japan. I totally understand their situation, but it meant about 100 hours of my work from last year (many after business hours) were flushed down the toilet. <p>Oh well, I'm off to Kyoto for our event there. Maybe a day in the west will give me a bit of relief from earthquake stress.<p><br>iPhoneから送信Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-45500413161969399252011-04-09T03:57:00.000-07:002011-04-09T04:00:17.829-07:00Zoink!I totally stole this from my brother. I just think it's lovely. I want to have some nice things about Japan out there in the blogosphere to counteract all the grim.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lQ-ly-H-Mes" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-47119068189011566882011-04-06T05:32:00.000-07:002011-04-06T05:47:10.657-07:00Plus Minus EqualsSigns that things are back to normal:<br /><br />1. Bottled water is starting to reappear on shelves.<br /><br />2. People (myself included) are bitching and moaning about stupid, pointless stuff again.<br /><br />3. I went for a run tonight just bringing keys and my phone; no emergency water, no food, no radio, no torch. (Though the torch would actually have been kind of handy...)<br /><br />Signs that things are still far from normal:<br /><br />1. People are talking excitedly about finding sliced white bread in their local supermarket.<br /><br />2. There are rumours going around that the power saving measures and rolling blackouts will have to continue for two years!!!<br /><br />3. Companies like mine are having serious, long meetings about how to deal with working in Tokyo in summer with no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">air conditioning</span>. You guys in Ireland might not be able to imagine, but it's a serious health and safety problem. Our office will easily break a humid 40 degrees in the height of summer, what with all the computers and human heat. Suggestions are on the table that I never thought I'd hear from a conservative company like mine: teleworking (blasphemy!); late-to-night shifts for office work (I like this one as I work late anyway and would get the mornings off!); and even temporarily moving offices. (So not a fan...I pay exorbitant rent to live near work and have no commute!)<br /><br />Overall, I think it's fair to say that things remain abnormally normal.Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561336633048994843.post-39309101847560759592011-03-30T16:40:00.001-07:002011-03-30T16:40:16.810-07:00It's going to be an interesting fiscal year: is that a foxy-moron?Now that we seem to be leaving the panic response phase at work, the realities of how the disaster are going to affect my day-to-day job are starting to sink in:<p>My training plan for FY2011 (about 2 months work) scrapped. Start all over again.<p>A huge question mark over about 30% of my budget. They haven't said it's gone, but I won't count on getting it.<p>Transfers from our overseas offices effectively frozen. It hasn't been said by anyone, but the underlying feeling is that nobody wants to come near the new Chernobyl.<p>Recruiting new overseas candidates as good as dead in the water for the same reason.<p>Oy! I'm actually not complaining because I'm safe in my job and I will always be given something to do, but that right there is my work year fairly decimated on the day before the new fiscal year. I guess I've been cursed to live in interesting times.<p><p>iPhoneから送信Digital Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916970630450921937noreply@blogger.com2