The tinsel tartan samurai is a regular sight around Inokashira Koen.

Coz I just can't get enough of people laying in grass.

Darin knows some awesome frisbee tricks. He cracks me up.

Tyler about to catch the frisbee - see it just on his leg?

So finally the world knows that Kat is pregnant! She announced it on her blog a week or 2 ago. Which means I can write about it now too.

Technorati Tags: araku, friends, inokashirakoen, japan, life, photography, sigma17-70mm, teachingenglish, travel

A lot of people assume that Inokashira Koen is just that little park around the lake, but actually, it's a huge horse-shoe shaped thing that streches from near Kichijoji Station, up, around and across to Studio Ghibli on the other side, in Mitaka. Recently it seems that every man and his dog has discovered Kichijoji and the lake-part of the park, especially on weekends - the crowds have been getting insane. In an effort to be far from the madding crowd, my friends and I have been enjoying frisbee and picnics in the more remote part of the park. I was there on Sunday afternoon with Kat, Darin and Tyler - the regular local crew, after a BBQ at Tylers house. It was an awesome afternoon, eating watermelon, drinking beer and enjoying the great outdoors.

Actually, it was a great weekend in all. Friday night I went to Hughie's bday party, we celebrated it in Taiwanese nomi/tabihodai (all you can drink and eat) style up on the rooftop beer-garden on top of the Shinjuku Station building, watching the dusk fall behind the Shinjuku skyline. Only ¥2200 - ¥2500, an aweseme deal. Afterwards we went to Araku in Golden Gai again. My memory is pretty hazy which means I was probably a little obnoxious and messy (sorry Tracey & Ash), but I do remember drinking champagne with the delightful Dr Dave - back in town from Paris for a 2 month work stint. Sorry, no photos from this night unless Tyler ever decides to update his blog....

I had a couple of lessons cancel on me today - still have 2 more, starting at 6.30 p.m. though. I'm enjoying the unexpected time at home, laying on the couch in the sunroom with my bare feet up on the table and looking out at the garden. I am so lucky to have found this beautiful house to live in, it is such a sanctuary to come home to every day.

The months have been flying by and I'm half way through my second last week of High School classes before the summer break. Just when I was getting used to the 6.30 a.m. thing! It's been a hellacious 3 months - I've really worked hard and applied myself to my work and have learned a hell of a lot. The job you have can really shape your experience of life in a foreign country - I know so many people who have left Japan full of mis-guided hatred hatred towards Japan and its people when actually, had they just left their job - instead of the country, and found a different job they would have had a far more rewarding time. Obvs. I was so lucky falling into my job the way I did. Not only is it a great, rewarding position, but I get all those fabulous long holidays.

Regardless of great jobs, though, there is always that niggling feeling.... is there somewhere else I could/should be? Ever restless, me.

I leave for India in just 25 days, and I can already smell it in my senses and feel it under my feet. It's gonna be stupidly hot there but that's OK. Suzan and I had a great Monday night date of planning and shopping at outdoor shops for essentials. We spent a lot of time watching youtube vid's of Rajastan and Delhi and getting really excited about the photo's we're gonna take. I've decided to take all my photography gear with me. It may get stolen/damaged, I know, but what a great opportunity to get some amazing photos. Our route so far looks like this: Delhi - Dharamsala - Delhi - Rajastan - Agra - Delhi - Varanasi - Delhi. Then he has to fly back to Tokyo while I stay in Delhi for 5 more days before flying to Bangkok then possible travelling overland/sea through Thailand and Malaysia, to Indonesia - ultimate destination being Bali. I'll be away about 6 weeks in total - not nearly long enough, but I've got to get back and earn money for the next big trip (Australia in December for 3 weeks).

There is nothing more intoxicating than knowing that you are about to embark on a grand adventure. I'm sooo excited. And now that it's actually summer in Tokyo and that schools almost out, I kinda just feel like getting drunk every day.