Porthcurno Beach (Cornwall) Swan Boats (Ally Pally London) Arthur's Seat (Edinburgh)

I've been doing too much gallivanting to post much this month.

A few days in lovely Cornwall and I'm in love with this beautiful beautiful beach. Perfection.

Back in London, I finally rode a swan boat at Ally Pally Very relaxing and calm...apart from when I pedalled us over a large stick and I think it went inside the underneath of the boat as there were disturbing clunking sounds for a good while after!

Afternoon tea at Biscuiteers - tasty and adorable. I think the biscuits look better than they taste though - I'd rather have a bourbon! I wouldn't pay full price either (£40 for 2 people to eat one sandwich cut into 4 and some mini cakes each! what!?) I had a 2 for 1 voucher so it was £20 and it was a treat for my little sister's birthday. It was lovely though. The raspberry jam in the battenberg and the icing on the cupcakes were especially good. 

Then up to Edinburgh for a fantastic Easter wedding and a walk up to Arthur's Seat which is a glorious walk. Lucky, lucky people who live in Edinburgh!

All in all I had an amazing break :)

Walking from Howick Hall Gardens along the coast to Craster

One of my favourite walks, it's so beautiful. I'm somewhat in love with Northumberland and have visited every year for the past 3 years. Currently wondering if I can go twice this year...

Also, Howick Hall was the home of Earl Grey (as in the tea!) and the gardens are definitely my favourite gardens I can think of. So natural and sprawling yet considered. And also there's a tea room and one table has a window seat in front of a bird table so you can drink tea and look at birds up close!

Planning a journey...

So we are finally planning our 2 month travels......and so very very excited! Stu has never been to Asia at all and I've never been without my family, never independently planned a trip.

One month will be spent travelling Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. One month will be spent in Japan. In Japan we will spend 2 weeks with my family (who don't speak English) and 2 weeks sightseeing.

My main goal is to improve my Japanese to a level where I can hold a conversation. My Japanese is basic and I've forgotten so much. It makes me very sad that I can't really communicate with most of my family. I'm trying to self teach from my sisters old textbook, and talking to my mum in Japanese when we phone...

Other than that I want to learn about and enjoy different cultures. I spent alot of time looking into volunteering, but realised short-term volunteering may not be helpful. I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough to make definite judgements, but I can certainly see how "voluntourism" could be a problem, especially where children are involved. I'm going to opt for not. But will see if there are any opportunities to get involved in conversation practise, so we wouldn't be amatuer teachers teaching a class, just a bit of extra help. I like the look of Big Brother Mouse in Laos...obviously, as a former bookseller and lover of storytelling. Definitely want to drop in there! I'd like to donate as well. Books were my world as child.

I could ramble on, I'm so excited but I guess I should stop :)

London Wetland Centre - Widgeons!

I ent to London Wetland Cetre for the first time yesterday and it is lovely lovely! At first I was a little disappointed, because it seemed like a bird zoo catered to children, but then it got quiet and there are wild areas, gorgeous and marshy with exciting ducks and lilies and reeds and tumbling plants :D -happy sigh- and the weather was so good (and i made an amazing picnic).

bird glee:

- fat moorhens running around with giant feet
- baby moorhens with extremely giant feet
- brown ducklings that kept bobbing under the water and reappearing elsewhere
- golden sparkling something mist under the water (not bird related but nonetheless good)
- 2 wigeon on opposite sides of a fence wondering how to reach each other
- blue beaks
-general amount of ducks

the pictures aren't mine (links below) but the top one is white headed duck (should be called blue beak duck) and bottom one is widgeon ( i heart the name widgeon).

http://www.beakspeak.com

http://www.natureconservationimaging.com

http://www.wwt.org.uk

Venice - Out There - Architecture Beyond Building

On Tuesday I went to Venice for the day with some of the Textile Futures girls :D It was amaaazing! Venice is so beautiful! (my first visit) and we went to go to the architecture exhibition which was overwhelmingly huge and inspirational. See posts below for my personal highlights :)

http://www.labiennale.org/en/

Japanese drain covers

Yay pretty :)

I miss Japan...

Nagasaki

Karatsu

Kawaguchiko

Takedao

Japan was amazing! It was so good to see family even though I could barely communicate - my sister has given me her textbooks now though so we shall see. Most amazing was staying near Kawaguchiko, one of the lakes near Mt Fuji. It was incredibly beautiful surrounded by misty mountains and loads of lavender. I love the way the air smells in Japan, it smells familiar, it's a piece of my childhood. And I love hearing chirping insects. I love the food. And I especially love the bathrooms. I want a japanese bathroom!! You shower on the floor, then relax in the bath. Everyone shares water because you get in clean, then after the water goes to the washing machine to wash the clothes. They're wonderful :)

I don't love mosquitos. Though they love me.

Farmily prints and Japan

I'm pretty happy with these experiments - flocking on photographs :) I had a bit of trouble with it because the glue kept sticking the photographs to the screen...then tearing...then the flock didn't stick everywhere...then I blocked my screen with glue..I guess it takes some practise :) I like it so hopefully I'll get it right next time. Its lovely to have flock on a photo. The sillhoettes are me and my family...I'm gonna take them as gifts for my relatives in Japan.

Off to Japan tommorow! Exciting! I haven't seen my sister for a year or everyone else for 4 years...we'll all be different people... I've been reading Japanese for Busy People on the bus. And for now I guess I'd better pack!

Walks and Kisses

Mmmmarsh.

Stripy grass! Click it to see!

Went back to Stu's parents house in the countryside yesterday for his dad's birthday :) Nice and relaxed and delicious food :) Me and Stu went for a walk together which was really really lovely. So peaceful. Stu took these photos except the one of the blinds. That's me enjoying dark/light contrast.

I heart Poland

I had such an amazingly good time in Poland! We stayed with family I never knew I had before as our families had lost touch. They are lovely lovely lovely, cooked us lovely food and took us about. These are pictures from their home and from our visit to Pszczyna which had a castle museum place (where you must wear slippers over your shoes) and the cars got clamped dammit!

Karolina (my new distant cousin) and I showed each other music and videos on youtube which is where I picked up Efterklang and the shadow video in my March posts. She got good taste :) We also watched some Lost which made me want to watch it properly...and now me and Stu are spending far too much time watching Lost from the beginning.

Krakow is beautiful though I've not put any pictures in. My favourite favourite is the interior of St Marys church. It is stunningly beautiful! I'm not religious but I love beautiful churches and cathedrals. I never take my own photos inside religious buildings, I feel weird about it. But I will look for other peoples in a bit.

Salt mine is incredible too..salt miners carvings, statues and a whole church made of salt!

I can't remember the last time going abroad made me this happy...I usually find it a bit exhausting.

Have now looked for photos of St Marys but I can't find any that do it justice. Here's a link with other reactions and a description though - http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/krakow-st-marys

N29

More Travelling Photography

First Great Western train seat. Piccadilly Line tube train. W3 bus from Finsbury Park to Wood Green, by Alexandra Palace at night. Waiting in Wood Green for the 329.