From top to bottom, left to right: Matsumoto Castle (Nagano), geiko in Kamishichiken (Kyoto), the Imperial Palace (Kyoto), Kiyomizudera (Kyoto), Oi Kindergarten (Ena), Kurama fire festival (Kyoto), maiko in Gion (Kyoto), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), maiko (Kyoto).1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia :
I watched the sun rise over Angkor Wat as it dawned on the year 2007, then spent its first few days playing with my old friends at Ta Prom. I never blogged about it, but I will!
2. Phnom Penh, Cambodia3. Battambang, Cambodia:
Went on a tuk-tuk tour with my old friends, the monks, wandered the rice fields, took a ride on the bamboo express and spent some quality time with my Cambodian family.
4. Taipei, Taiwan:
Spent a wonderful night curled up on an airport coffee shop couch shaking after drinking my first cup of real coffee EVER. What does Taiwain have against Chai tea?!
5. Nagoya, Aichi, Japan:
An oasis of Chai in a veritable dessert of delicious, non-coffee drinks!
6. Ena, Gifu, Japan:
Emraced by rolling mountains and chock full of rice fields, the lovely little city I was blessed to call home: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn
7. Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan:
Castle-bound, a lovely little roadtrip gone right!
8. Nagano, Japan:
Lovely little roadtrip gone wrong- but what a great adventure!
9. Kyoto, Japan:
Geisha, festivals, temples, palaces. My happy place- a home away from home... away from home.
10. Tokyo, Japan:
Adentures with the Howell Kyodai.
11. Osaka, Japan
Reuniting with my Gaidai friends is always fun!
12. Nara,Japan:
A suprise trip to the ancient captial, ablaze with the colors of fall, to view the Shoso-In Exhibition of National Treasures. Icredible!
13. Inuyama, Aichi, Japan:
Japan's oldest castle: another great desitination for a roadtrip.
14. Cleveland, Ohio, USA
15. Omaha, Nebraska, USA
16. Duluth, Minnesota, USA
Where did the year take you?
Share your list in the comments section!
10 comments:
Numbers 5-10 and 13 plus:
Buffalo, NY
NYC
Rockland "The Rock" County, NY
Somewhere in Amish Country, PA
Komaki, Aichi-ken, Japan (JLPT 2007, Y'all!)
Takayama, Gifu-ken
Gero Onsen, Gifu-ken (Ooonseeeeeen...)
Gifu-shi, Gifu-ken (Driver's Licenses anxiety and New Year's refuge)
I really need to see more of this country!
oh my! you do get around...I haven't been much of anywhere this year, but I suppose I have done my fair share of traveling these past few years. Some of this may have been 2005? I can't remember... anyhow, here's the list:
Toronto, CAN -Niagara Falls (shh..)
Las Vegas, NV bachelorette party!
Boulder, CO 2x-wedding, xmas
Albany, NY- Miss NY USA pageant
Boston, MA (2005) -aquarium, imax
Baltimore, MD (2005) aquarium
Harrisburg, PENN -Txgiving (2004&5)
Los Angeles (2004)
Next is...
San Fransicsco. wanna go?
saving up for Turkey, Greece & Egypt
About #11, did you go to Kansai Gaidai or some other Gaidai? ;)
I'm a bit curious because I'm supposed to go to Kansai Gaidai for a semester next year.
You sure went to many different places, hopefully you'll travel as much in 2008
Tell Me: Yay! You're going to Kansai Gaidai?! Excellent! I was only there for a semester, but it was an absolutely amazing, unforgettable, life-changing experience! When will you leave, and how long will you stay?
I should be there also only for 1 semester in August this year. I'm glad to hear you loved it so much, I'm very much looking forward seeing improvement in my Japanese skills and of course seeing more Geisha and Maiko in Kyoto :)
Did you do homestay or dorms?
I was blessed with an incredible host family. They were pretty young... Not even 30, so they were more like host friends (^_^) But they were so kind! They took me on many trips, dressed me up in a 30,000$ kimono to see the autumn leaves in Kyoto... Even promised to name their first child after me if it was a girl (It was a boy)!
That being said, I know a lot of students who weren't as lucky, and staying in the dorm has its advantages. Even if you do, you can still visit a Japanese family on the weekends, and I'm sure your conversation partner will invite you to spend time with their family... not to mention your future friends (^_<)
I set my mind on homestay for now. Hopefully I'll be half as lucky as you were ;) Your stay sounds really fantastic.
Besides the written and spoken Japanese classes, do you remember what other classes you took? Any recommendations?
Sorry for all those questions, I'm a tad excited to be in contact with someone who actually went to Kansai Gaidai!
Tell me: Please don't apologize! It's my pleasure (^_^)
The best class I took was "Peace, Justice and Human Rights in Asia". I think the professor's name was Dr. Scott. It was a very interesting and enlightening class. We even took a trip to Hiroshima to see the Peace Museum and met a survivor of the atomic bomb who told us her story. I learned a lot in that class that I never learned in the US, and Scott was really cool and very passionate about the subject matter.
His wife taught Sumi-E, which was another one of my favorite classes! I would have loved to take the pottery class as well...
I think the only other class I took was 'Buddhism from India to Japan'. The professor was completely useless, but it was OK.
I'm not sure if they still offer the same classes, or if the same professors are still there, but I'd just recommend taking classes that sound interesting to you. Some of my friends took an architecture class, so they always took trips to temples and palaces to have class. That always sounded nice!
Hearing all of this is great. I can't think of any other questions for now. Thanks so much Melissa for answering all that and happy 2008!
Tell Me:どいたしまして！Like I said, it's my pleasure. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask!
Happy New Year! Looks like 2008 will take you on quite an adventure. I can't wait to see your list for 2009! (^_<)
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