End of a decade

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed the sudden influx of "the last decade's best" and "end of the 2010's", and it hit me that it was a (human-enforced) landmark time for reflection.

2010 was a year of change, some good, some bad, some exciting, some frightening. I became more open in some ways, and much more closed in others. Regulation and learning what my own "everything in moderation" is a constant, ongoing quest. I wish I could say the past decade provided me all the answers I was looking for, but I think for every question I had answered, a dozen more questions popped up.

Little things I am looking forward to next year; more artistic endeavours that have been mainly shelved for the last decade, more discovering good reads, and of course, more plants. More time with people who matter, and more time investing in finding the ones that matter.

I'll be welcoming 2020 with arms wide open.

Crazy plant lady

Lately, my plants have been taking a larger part of my brain than normal. I find myself thinking about them in every quiet moment, and looking forward to going home to check on their status and tend to their needs.

A cup for every occasion, pt. 2½

I loved my IKEA glasses so much that I got a pack of 6 of the shorter variety. They make decent glasses for lattes, water, and even the impromptu beer... I often go to cafes and find them using these glasses, because they are just that awesome.

Autumn leaves

The autumn leaves are long gone, but before they fell, we visited a pond known for it's beautiful reflection of the surrounding leaves.

Notes on Japan, pt. 2

Last time we were in Japan (mostly Tokyo), we were wowed by the efficiency of everything. All things, down to the smallest details, seemed well-thought out and every inconvenience or small discomfort eradicated.

I have some little tidbits about my trip this year that didn't really fit anywhere, just small observations of the place, the trip, and myself.

MORI Building Digital Art Museum

After the adrenaline-fuelled, mad rush for the train we experience yesterday, we were determined to leave a huge window of time to leisurely amble to the train today.

Being the early bird, I crept out early in the morning to take a quick walk to the nearby post box, and was dismayed to realize that the rain was out in full force.

Hot springs of Hakone

Our morning started off early once again; my travel buddies went for breakfast while I stayed to eat my leftover Coco Curry. I was determined to pay a visit to Ippodo again to stock up on more teas for souvenirs, and made my way across the city, with the aim to arrive right at opening.

Bamboo forests, monkey parks, and Shinto shrines

An early morning train ride took us to the outskirts of Kyoto.

The old capital, Kyoto

Another early morning, and another ride on the Shinkansen.

The deer deities of Nara

Nara has long been on my list of must-go places in Japan; I love parks where wild animals are allowed to roam freely, and one of my fellow travel buddies was doubly enthusiastic.

Osaka; the kitchen of Japan

We didn't really get to explore outside of Tokyo last time we visited Japan, so this time we were determined to add a slew of new destinations to our list.

Our first stop was in Osaka; but first, an early breakfast at Sukiya.



After making our way to Tokyo Station through the end of the rush hour craze, exchanging my pass and booking our tickets, we headed to an even-crazier Ekibenya for bentos for our long ride.

Back in Tokyo

The conclusion of our last trip to Asia had us itching for more, but none of us could have guessed that we would reunite in Japan 4.5 years later.

Mount Nemo

I rarely drive very far, but when I do, it is usually for hiking-related reasons.

A sense of community, pt. 2

The sky started off a little less gloomy this morning, and it couldn't be more welcome - we were about to head out into the waters of Iqaluit.

The road to nowhere

A sense of community, pt. 1

We were beginning to feel as if we had done most of the activities to be done in town, and a niggling bit of restlessness began to creep in. Thankfully, we had a walking tour booked with a local outfitter, and began our day with a stop at their office in Apex.

The pursuit of utopia

I can't quite remember when I first heard of the word 'utopia', but one of my first thoughts were "oh, so that's why it is called "Fruitopia", and "that sounds amazing. Why does it not exist?".

The trail to town

Our first morning in Iqaluit started off slow and easy; a breakfast with the B&B supplies later, I had some time to kill before noon.

Iqaluit

We got up bright and early for our flight at Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. The flight was abut 3 hours, so we were pleasantly surprised to be served a meal.

12 hours in Ottawa

There are only a few cities that fly to Iqaluit, and Ottawa being one of the closest ones to us, we made the long drive over to the nation's capital.

An empty fridge

My fridge at home has almost never been empty. We are a family that makes entirely too much food, and so our fridge has to hold our leftovers until they are either eaten or forgotten.

Making sense of rail passes: Japan Rail Pass

I had heard of the JR Pass through friends and family who had used it in Japan before, but all I was aware of was that you could ride the Shinkansen with it.



The process of finding out how to purchase, redeem, book tickets, and ride the trains took a considerable amount of time, so I tried to outline my experience in hopes of streamlining the endeavour.

A new life

Hi home, it's nice to be back.

A cup for every occasion, pt. 2

I love these classic IKEA glasses; they serve more purpose than just the smoothie glass, they also hold iced coffee and iced lattes, and can withstand hot or cold temperatures.

My favourite smoothie recipe (a.k.a. it tastes like fruit roll-up): frozen mangoes, frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, and a splash of orange juice, may increase juice content depending on the strength of your blender.

On feelings of inadequacy

I have always been an introverted person, slowly chipping away at my shell and then building my walls again, ad nauseam. I used to associate introversion, or rather, my shyness, with a feeling of inadequacy; why couldn't I easily talk with others, why was I always worried about what others thought, why couldn't I always be happy and bubbly around others?

Home[ostasis]

I love being at home, and I also love travelling to new places. But these two yearnings are seemingly at odd with each other.

There are some places I love visiting, and a revisit is my favourite type of travel. The first time visit is new and exciting, but the second time, you have a bit of the background in your mind, you recognize streets and buildings, you know the feel and mood of the place. Could I be enjoying this more because there is a bit more 'home' to be found in this once-strange place?

I do love being at home, but I feel while a little recharges me, too much makes me feel stagnant. I get too comfortable, feel lazy, and think 'everything I need is in this one place'. I feel the mood reflected in my dog too, as we enjoy lying around in each others' company, and a long walk outside of our usual route often re-energizes both of us.

As usual, the conclusion is always: everything in moderation. Striking the right balance is the tricky part.

All walks of life, pt. 3

In Japan and South Korea, there were so many elderly men at gardens, palaces, and just walking along the streets. Many of them were volunteers that were eager to speak with tourists, and when they found out we were Canadians, they would happily share their experiences of traveling and living there.

Plants over flowers

Giving and receiving flowers has always made me feel a little sad; the flowers are beautiful at first, but slowly wither and die, or die prematurely to make dried flowers to last 'forever'. I always wondered why people didn't gift potted plants and flowers, and as a result, I started building my own plant family once my living situation had settled down.

Allan Gardens Conservatory

Earlier this month, during the long weekend, we headed downtown for brunch at Chez Firenze. 

Magical places, magical moments

There are certain places I've been to in my life, where I was suddenly struck with the feeling of magic. The place may not look extraordinary, but there was something special about it, a difference in the air, a shift in the order of things. It is a rare thing to come by, which makes me treasure these places all the more.

Berry picking

Our original plan of peach-picking turned into berry-picking, and we made our way to Andrews' Scenic Acres.

If I told you a story, would you believe it?

I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking, and thinking about what I've been reading.

The favourite bite

When we were younger, my sister used to save her favourite item for last. The best side of a slice of cake, the sweetest part of a watermelon, or perfectly-shaped piece of fruit.

I was the opposite. I would eat my favourite bite first, without spoiling it by being full, or running the risk of someone stealing it from me.

Mediation and meditation

One of my first experiences with meditation was during high school; one of my teachers wanted us to be more enlightened, and took it upon herself to do so. She had us sit in a circle, and as we closed our eyes, she led a guided meditation. I remember being quite fidgety, not quite understanding the point of the whole practice.

Cut to several years later; my local studio offered free meditation classes, and I decided to pop in. I was mightily confused, having had a preconception of people sitting with their legs crossed uncomfortably and chanting in a circle.

Meditation was nothing like what I had imagined. I have been going infrequently and still can't say if it's made a noticeable difference in my life... There are definitely days when I feel calm and relaxed afterwards, and days when my mind races and nothing I do helps to slow it down. But that is all normal, and a part of the process. Being present will likely be a lifelong lesson to learn, and meditation is slowly teaching me to stop and smell the roses.

A walk in the park

I've been sick. I feel like I've written this sentence way too many times this year, but I have caught a nasty cold during the heatwave, and I've reluctantly dipped into the world of nasal sprays and cough syrup.

A cup for every occasion

A few months ago, we were on a long-awaited trip to IKEA, one of my favourite places to visit. At the market hall, I was carefully inspecting a few drinking glasses, and my mom wandered over to inform me that I had one too many cups to justify another purchase. I proceeded to try and explain that different cups, mugs, and glasses were suited for specific drinks and occasions, but she was not swayed. Undeterred, I happily purchased my very specific, basic glassware and am currently drinking from one as I type this up.

The friendly wind

I began to walk home from school by myself around the later years of elementary school. My parents didn't want me to, but there weren't many options for them. It was not a long walk by any means, but long enough for an adventure.

Strawberry fields

It has been a few years since my last strawberry-picking adventure. My remaining memories from my last visit: red-stained fingers, pants, and eating warm, overripe strawberries in the fields.

Six Mile Lake

I don't think I've ever written about our yearly camping trips, so a few reasons. They are a tradition, and I often don't take many photos of my time. However, due to the languid death of my cell phone, I decided to bring my camera along this year.

Kicking off the summer

Summer has finally more or less arrived, and the delayed warm weather meant the sudden transition was jarring.

The flooded island

A visitor from the other side of the pond (the other, other side) came to visit, and seeing that the summer solstice called for a full day of sun, I suggested we head to Centre Island for some cycling fun.

Kikukawa Station

When the weather starts getting cold, I can't help but look back on past memories.

That is the sentence I started off writing when I thought about this post many, many months ago.

Suwon

We visited Suwon on my first trip to South Korea, but I only briefly covered it in my single post covering the week we spent there. I wrote it about a year and a half after my visit, so I had tried to condense the memories that remained into that post, but over the years, bits and pieces of the day we spent in Suwon came back, and I decided to write about some of the fond details I remembered from that day.

Vending machines in Tokyo

One of the things I noticed upon my first few days in Tokyo was the abundance of vending machines. Not just confined to indoor spaces, vending machines lined the outside of convenience stores, alleyways, car park garages; just about anywhere there was a few extra feet of space, a vending machine was plopped in place.



Vending machines weren't limited to dispensing drinks and snacks. They sold all kind of imaginable and unimaginable things, but my favourite were the ones outside restaurants that printed tickets. You would order your food and pay through the machine, and it would dispense your food ticket. You enter the restaurant, hand your ticket to the chef, and in no time, your food would be placed in front of you.

Quite honestly, my mind immediately went to a post-apocalyptic theory, that will perhaps see the light of day in another form. I found the plethora of vending machines fascinating.

Eldred King Woodlands

I rarely take Tofu on walks outside of the neighbourhood; we just got used to our usual routine, and I felt it was a perfect time to go on an little adventure together.

Fuji-san

This isn't a new trip, but our trip to Japan in 2015 mainly consisted of exploring in and around Tokyo, as it was all of our first time in the country, and there was lots of do in the city. As I was responsible for part of Hong Kong and Seoul, this leg of the trip was planned mostly by my travel buddies, but my one request was that we visit Mount Fuji.

Seaton Trail

There aren't many things that sound more pleasant than a Sunday morning hike. Our morning devolved into noon, but nevertheless, we were on the road to Seaton Hiking Trail.

Things that make me happy, pt. 2

Welcoming a new arrival to my plant family.

When a package arrives earlier than its expected date.

Being the only one awake at night.

When someone just accepts what I feed them without even checking to see what it is.

When a new release from a favourite artist is announced.

Snuggling into the sheets and feeling perfectly, contently warm.

Reading the first page of a new book and the instant knowledge that it will be enjoyable.

When Tofu picks me up in the car after a long day (with the aid of someone else...).

Before the mercury rises

It's almost officially summer, but the weather seems to be stuck in springtime. Rainy days, cooler weather, thicker sweaters, and then sudden bursts of sunshine and heat have categorized the last couple of weeks.

Queenstown, Hong Kong, and home

We made the drive into Queenstown again, and after finding parking for the day, we split up into our respective bungee and non-bungee jumping groups.

Kayaking in Roys Bay, all-terrain in Glenorchy

We walked back down to the waterfront in search of breakfast, and decided to stop at Alchemy Wanaka.

Fox Glacier to Wanaka

Sunsets are always romanticized, but I personally have always been a lover of sunrises. However, I realized why people like sunsets - you're already awake, and often in a place where the sunset is accessible. For sunrises, you have to wake up when its still dark and chilly outside, bundle up and wait amid the mosquitoes for the sun to peek over the horizon.

Franz Josef Glacier

We started the morning off with a jaunt around Okarito Trig Walk.

Through Arthur's Pass into Hokitika

A gloomy sky greeted us in Christchurch; we cooked our breakfast on the barbecue-meet-stove outdoors, and then packed our bags. Our hostess had suggested we visit the top of the hill for a view of the city, and we stopped by for a quick, rainy visit before hitting the road again.

Skywards

I've been looking up at the sky a lot lately. I realized that I rarely do that now, but I remember often coming home in the evening as a child, and stopping to stare at the stars. I remember sitting in the park and watching the clouds roll by, watching the trees shaking their branches to the wind, of birds chirping and flying about, of squirrels chasing each other along the boughs.

Blossoms in the park

By a single thread

My little croton is holding on. It used to be a big, beautiful thing with four strong stems, and then it suddenly dropped, and three of them withered away. One held on, and remains green with new leaves pushing through every week.

Thornton Bales

Wandering around downtown

The original plan was to head to High Park for cherry blossom viewing, an activity I haven't partaken in for the last several years. The night before, there was news that peak bloom would be about 4 days later, but we decided to chance it anyways.

Along the peninsula to Christchurch

Another morning, another early drive. We made a stop at Kaikoura Peninsula, and begin hiking up the area.

Picton & Blenheim

As per the norm in most of my trips, an early morning to catch the ferry to the South Island. What was perhaps slightly, but sadly not entirely out of the norm, was the change of mood.

Wellington

We woke up and decided to go to the McDonald's with the plane (which is actually a play area) for breakfast. The offerings were pretty similar to breakfast back home, and I made a mental note to try the Kiwi burger if we stumbled across another McDonald's.