Counting down to the Olympics! But in the meantime...

I've been looking forward to this for so long, I've almost forgotten what it's like to be overseas.
http://en.beijing2008.cn/

If you know me, you know I enjoy travelling, visiting a foreign culture and immersing myself in the language, the wacky idiosyncrasies of a new place, and just trying to communicate and buy food (you wouldn't think this would be that much of a problem in most English speaking countries, but watch out for alternate realities like Quebec in Canada!)

Anyway, the last time I went overseas was Japan in late 2006; an exquisite holiday, where I bathed naked in the hot springs of Hakone (it's the custom!), attempted to compose gorgeous pictures of autumnal Japan (along with all the other domestic tourists - the Japanese love to tour their own country) and shopped quite a bit on 'cultural artifacts and curios' - translation, I couldn't resist buying a couple of yukatas (light summer kimonos), a parasol, toys, lanterns and kites, culminating with a purchase of an uchikake, a long white formal kimono what I hope to one day grace a suitable wall space. Pretty!

Lord knows what I'll bring back the next time I go to Japan (for I will, I'm fascinated by it's slightly fatalistic, perennially cute and yet altogether mysterious customs and history).

Keep me away from Studio Ghibli!
http://www.studioghibli.net/