Another adventurous weekend is complete. Friday after school I got my hair washed and a massage ($4.00), then took off to Taipei for a rock and roll circus. The venue was small, the sound was good and the walls were decorated with long shaggy white hair. People packed the place. Taiwanese and many expats gathered, united for a night of rock and roll. Dancing, drinks and a few surprises made our venture out of Ilan very worthwhile. Saturday was also good. I studied Mandarin in the day and then scooted to Luodong. Teppanyaki, a gorgeous stroll in the park, a smokey pool hall and my first peek at the city's kick ass night market awaited me. I've realised how small Ilan really is. I think my friend Amy pegged the analogy well. Ilan city, Taiwan compares to Charlottetown in Canada. It is a good place for me to be. Ilan is smaller, cheaper and with less things to do than the more urban areas. This means a plumper bank account for myself and that I will enjoy my free time on the weekends even more. Also this city is so close to Taipei ($4.00 for a 1 hour bus ride) that when I need some culture, a museum, a terrific meal or an English bookstore I can throw on my ipod and easily bust out of Ilan.
Saturday night I went to check out another new town and the beach at night. It was very nice to see stars again but the looming lights of the many fish trawlers made the scene less stunning. That night I met some South Africans and a cool Taiwanese chick. We chatted all night and I crashed on a couch.
Luckily a bout of culture shock has yet to strike me. Instead my brain is madly processing. Today on an empty beach near a small fishing town I could almost hear my other senses trying to digest where I was. Waves roared as I lay on the beach escaping the sun beneath the shade of a massive mountains edge. I am in Taiwan...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Taiwan 5: March 11th 2008
I have been in Taiwan for exactly two weeks 4 hours and 30 minutes and have already learned and incredible amount. Experiencing a new culture in its native country is exhilarating and sometimes overwhelming. I have adjusted quite well though. I found my bearings in Yi-lan, settled into my home and school, found places I like to eat and people I want to be with. I feel much healthier here. I am eating nutritious food and I have been enjoying walking, hiking, biking, playing tennis and bowling. I have also met a very nice Taiwanese family who have cooked for me, taken me out for dinner and given me a cellphone :) Most people are exceptionally nice. A beautiful part of this country is people seem to live and act within the virtues of karma. Yes there are jerks and thieves in every nook and corner of earth but Taiwan seems to be a very honest society. Quite refreshing. So far everyone that has lost something (wallet and a camera)has had it returned. No Dad, it wasn't me! It is comforting and encouraging to be in this environment.
Yesterday, I had a great day. Everything I needed to get done was accomplished, with smiles from others and by hitting some sweet sales at the stores ( Puma Tennis shoes $20, Tennis racket with case $23). I felt so happy and grateful that on my scooter ride home I stopped into the new Italian Restaurant. I gave them some of my pictures from my trip to Italy to decorate their freshly painted walls with. They were happy which made my heart smile. Also, I got a job out of it! I will be taking pictures of their delicious food and the interior or the restaurant. Honestly it is some of the best pizza I have tasted and that is saying a lot! Hand tossed, fresh cheese and a gourmet chef choosing the many delightful ingredients. The owner (who studied in English in Texas) enjoys our frequent visits and recently asked us what we would like on the menu. Such service. A team of smiling workers hands us Italian beer, fresh lemonade and a kick ass tiramasu, this place is an escape from my growing health kick. Although after a 10 km hike through the mountain hills I don't feel too bad about going.
On Saturday I hiked from Fulong to Dali with 4 other girls. It was quite intense, rewarding and amusing. We passed over a crossing called "horse falling to death bridge" and saw a sign warning us of killer bees halfway through hike! Instructions giving were things like "every second counts". Through out the 3 hours we saw ancient script and characters etched in stone, rivers flowing gracefully and parallel to the trails, steep inclines hide around corners made from walls of green leaves. A wicked panoramic view of the Eastern sea ports, hills and the unusually calm sea greeted us near the end of the hike. I hate to use an overused word, but it is truly awesome to read about something and then see it for yourself.
Sunday was great too. Sonya, a Canadian named Curry, two South Africans and I took a day trip to Taipei. What a city. I am still digesting everything I saw, my feeling is that without reservation I could live there happily. Everything is new, organized, efficient and clean with a terrific transit system and greater ethnic diversity (read: other whiteys, East Indians, black Africans etc). The art and business communities are thriving, a world class city, rightfully proud and beautiful. We hit the zoo ($2.00) and went to Taipei 101. What a building... the tallest in the world, filled with designer clothes and gourmet food. We enjoyed luxury's such as an English bookstore and a four course Italian meal for $18.00. I will definitely go back to Taipei and dedicate at least one weekend of this year to shooting it.
My teaching position, all things considered, is good. I enjoy teaching the kids and experienced what I would describe as my first "teacher's rush". It is a wicked sensation to see my students progress. Even though English is foreign to them they are still little sponges. True in form, they absorb to capacity and retain what doesn't drip out. I teach an average of 7 classes a day with their ages ranging from 4-13. They think it is a) amazing b) hilarious or c) both when I speak what little Mandarin I know to them. I will enjoy learning more Mandarin for practical and educational purposes, as well as to mess with my students.
Hope everything is great!! Keep me updated, ask me questions, and yes I will post pictures soon :)
Yesterday, I had a great day. Everything I needed to get done was accomplished, with smiles from others and by hitting some sweet sales at the stores ( Puma Tennis shoes $20, Tennis racket with case $23). I felt so happy and grateful that on my scooter ride home I stopped into the new Italian Restaurant. I gave them some of my pictures from my trip to Italy to decorate their freshly painted walls with. They were happy which made my heart smile. Also, I got a job out of it! I will be taking pictures of their delicious food and the interior or the restaurant. Honestly it is some of the best pizza I have tasted and that is saying a lot! Hand tossed, fresh cheese and a gourmet chef choosing the many delightful ingredients. The owner (who studied in English in Texas) enjoys our frequent visits and recently asked us what we would like on the menu. Such service. A team of smiling workers hands us Italian beer, fresh lemonade and a kick ass tiramasu, this place is an escape from my growing health kick. Although after a 10 km hike through the mountain hills I don't feel too bad about going.
On Saturday I hiked from Fulong to Dali with 4 other girls. It was quite intense, rewarding and amusing. We passed over a crossing called "horse falling to death bridge" and saw a sign warning us of killer bees halfway through hike! Instructions giving were things like "every second counts". Through out the 3 hours we saw ancient script and characters etched in stone, rivers flowing gracefully and parallel to the trails, steep inclines hide around corners made from walls of green leaves. A wicked panoramic view of the Eastern sea ports, hills and the unusually calm sea greeted us near the end of the hike. I hate to use an overused word, but it is truly awesome to read about something and then see it for yourself.
Sunday was great too. Sonya, a Canadian named Curry, two South Africans and I took a day trip to Taipei. What a city. I am still digesting everything I saw, my feeling is that without reservation I could live there happily. Everything is new, organized, efficient and clean with a terrific transit system and greater ethnic diversity (read: other whiteys, East Indians, black Africans etc). The art and business communities are thriving, a world class city, rightfully proud and beautiful. We hit the zoo ($2.00) and went to Taipei 101. What a building... the tallest in the world, filled with designer clothes and gourmet food. We enjoyed luxury's such as an English bookstore and a four course Italian meal for $18.00. I will definitely go back to Taipei and dedicate at least one weekend of this year to shooting it.
My teaching position, all things considered, is good. I enjoy teaching the kids and experienced what I would describe as my first "teacher's rush". It is a wicked sensation to see my students progress. Even though English is foreign to them they are still little sponges. True in form, they absorb to capacity and retain what doesn't drip out. I teach an average of 7 classes a day with their ages ranging from 4-13. They think it is a) amazing b) hilarious or c) both when I speak what little Mandarin I know to them. I will enjoy learning more Mandarin for practical and educational purposes, as well as to mess with my students.
Hope everything is great!! Keep me updated, ask me questions, and yes I will post pictures soon :)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Taiwan 4 March 4th
Today is my second day of teaching. Yesterday my first class was a little rough. I am taking over another teachers schedule so it is a guessing game for me to figure out how much English the kids know and what I need to teach them so they can pass their tests. The curriculum here is set and on a very strict timeline. I have to get into the swing of things very quickly. The kids are extremely cute but are exhausted by the end of the day.
This past weekend was a little sketchy. At one point our house was in chaos with nearly everyone changing rooms and two Aussie's moving in. The same day we had no water and no internet! That evening I had my first experience of being lost in a country with no one around who can understand English, me not knowing where I live or how to get home. How did I get in this situation??? It was innocent enough. It was quite late and I wanted to go home so I got someone to call me a cab. The driver got the instructions to my house in Mandarin, said he understood and drove off. Soon after I realised he had absolutely no clue where to go and I immediately demanded to get out of the cab. I fisted my keys and began to wander around until I found a landmark I recognized. I was definitely nervous. I knew I would eventually find my way I just didn't know how long it was going to take or who I would run into along the way. It ended up not taking too long and really the only thing I encountered was a pack of wild dogs. I just looked past them and kept on walking. Whew. Now I carry a business card with my address on it in English and Mandarin.
A great part of my weekend was a trek that Stephanie and Sonja went on. We busted out of Ilan by train and caught a rickety bus to a fishing village near Keelung. This is where many hikes start and where some strange geological formations are located. The hike was short but very steep. We were rewarded with a gorgeous scene at the top. The cut rolling mountains looked like the hills of Cinque Terre in Italy. Rich coloured water smashed the rocks, a pair of goats perched precariously and happy families wandered around enjoying the scenes are their time together. It was a great break from the pollution and noise of Ilan
This past weekend was a little sketchy. At one point our house was in chaos with nearly everyone changing rooms and two Aussie's moving in. The same day we had no water and no internet! That evening I had my first experience of being lost in a country with no one around who can understand English, me not knowing where I live or how to get home. How did I get in this situation??? It was innocent enough. It was quite late and I wanted to go home so I got someone to call me a cab. The driver got the instructions to my house in Mandarin, said he understood and drove off. Soon after I realised he had absolutely no clue where to go and I immediately demanded to get out of the cab. I fisted my keys and began to wander around until I found a landmark I recognized. I was definitely nervous. I knew I would eventually find my way I just didn't know how long it was going to take or who I would run into along the way. It ended up not taking too long and really the only thing I encountered was a pack of wild dogs. I just looked past them and kept on walking. Whew. Now I carry a business card with my address on it in English and Mandarin.
A great part of my weekend was a trek that Stephanie and Sonja went on. We busted out of Ilan by train and caught a rickety bus to a fishing village near Keelung. This is where many hikes start and where some strange geological formations are located. The hike was short but very steep. We were rewarded with a gorgeous scene at the top. The cut rolling mountains looked like the hills of Cinque Terre in Italy. Rich coloured water smashed the rocks, a pair of goats perched precariously and happy families wandered around enjoying the scenes are their time together. It was a great break from the pollution and noise of Ilan
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Taiwan 3
Yesterday was wild...
For me Taiwan is a place where everything seems to change very quickly. High highs and low lows....
I will post more details tomorrow.
For me Taiwan is a place where everything seems to change very quickly. High highs and low lows....
I will post more details tomorrow.
Taiwan 2
March 1st
Yesterday was my hardest day yet. I believe the excitement of coming, then being here began to wear off. A somewhat daunting feeling sunk in. How will I manage to be happy in a country where I only know 10 people that speak English?? Also, half of the people I know are leaving in 2-6 months. Another thing that made me uncomfortable was my ugly, hateful room. Perhaps it is the bat shit on the wall or the huge wide metal slaps that block out most of the sunlight. I somewhat resigned myself to living outside my room and not getting too attached to people…. not the best feeling. Some things in my life (I’m sure in yours too) remedy themselves quicker than others. I decided that a) I can make my bedroom good and the common room great and b) I need to learn as much Mandarin as possible. I do feel better now.
As I write this I am sitting at my fave coffee shop. It has some of the best coffee in Yi-lan and the guy behind the counter is sweet and accommodating. Lots of the teachers hang out here. I rode here on my new bike and am waiting to go on a hike or to the hot springs with Sonja and Stephanie. I discovered that 7-11 sells English newspapers ( I am a bit of a news junkie) and that eating a friend egg with chopsticks is a little tricky. The shop I am in is directly across from the National Ilan University.
This past Thursday I had the hilarious experience of going shrimp fishing. I’ll set the scene: we scooted away from Yi-lan in a gang like formation and drove for 15 minutes. We showed up at a large industrial size building and sauntered inside. There we rented polls and fished for shrimp in a pool sized area. We baited our hooks with chicken hearts then waited and waited. The experience was the opposite of riveting and just plain funny. In one hour we caught 4 shrimp for the 7 of us. The Taiwanese people looked so serious when thehy were fishing. We just chatted, waited and giggled a bit. At the end of the hour we grilled the 4 shrimp (I caught the biggest! woot) and ordered two buckets of prawns, one big fish, general tao chicken, fried shrimp with pineapple and a sweet sauce + the shrimp folk threw in about 3 dozen shrimps cooked with chilies. I literally had shrimp on the brain and in my tummy as I dreamt of shrimp fishing that night.
Some people have asked what I have been eating:
Chicken curry with pasta and shrimp
Veggie packed burritos with peanut sauce
Fried onion bread
Leek dumplings
Lots of bananas and salad
Soup with every possible ingredient
My school provides a very nice free lunch for the kids and the teachers. This week I tried rice with steamed veggies, perfect tofu and a chicken or pork stir-fry with veggies. It is very nice to have a home cooked meal to break up the teaching day. Kids here definitely eat healthier then kids in Canadian elementary school lunch program.
I think I figured out why the Taiwanese can be so emotionally flat.,…. I believe they are exhausted. They definitely work really hard. For example, the school I work at is in addition to their elementary school program. This makes for a very long day. It is inspiring to see people work hard and to be so dedicated however I think they could take a bit more from the Italian lifestyle, as in life should be pleasurable. To each their own though!
Yesterday was my hardest day yet. I believe the excitement of coming, then being here began to wear off. A somewhat daunting feeling sunk in. How will I manage to be happy in a country where I only know 10 people that speak English?? Also, half of the people I know are leaving in 2-6 months. Another thing that made me uncomfortable was my ugly, hateful room. Perhaps it is the bat shit on the wall or the huge wide metal slaps that block out most of the sunlight. I somewhat resigned myself to living outside my room and not getting too attached to people…. not the best feeling. Some things in my life (I’m sure in yours too) remedy themselves quicker than others. I decided that a) I can make my bedroom good and the common room great and b) I need to learn as much Mandarin as possible. I do feel better now.
As I write this I am sitting at my fave coffee shop. It has some of the best coffee in Yi-lan and the guy behind the counter is sweet and accommodating. Lots of the teachers hang out here. I rode here on my new bike and am waiting to go on a hike or to the hot springs with Sonja and Stephanie. I discovered that 7-11 sells English newspapers ( I am a bit of a news junkie) and that eating a friend egg with chopsticks is a little tricky. The shop I am in is directly across from the National Ilan University.
This past Thursday I had the hilarious experience of going shrimp fishing. I’ll set the scene: we scooted away from Yi-lan in a gang like formation and drove for 15 minutes. We showed up at a large industrial size building and sauntered inside. There we rented polls and fished for shrimp in a pool sized area. We baited our hooks with chicken hearts then waited and waited. The experience was the opposite of riveting and just plain funny. In one hour we caught 4 shrimp for the 7 of us. The Taiwanese people looked so serious when thehy were fishing. We just chatted, waited and giggled a bit. At the end of the hour we grilled the 4 shrimp (I caught the biggest! woot) and ordered two buckets of prawns, one big fish, general tao chicken, fried shrimp with pineapple and a sweet sauce + the shrimp folk threw in about 3 dozen shrimps cooked with chilies. I literally had shrimp on the brain and in my tummy as I dreamt of shrimp fishing that night.
Some people have asked what I have been eating:
Chicken curry with pasta and shrimp
Veggie packed burritos with peanut sauce
Fried onion bread
Leek dumplings
Lots of bananas and salad
Soup with every possible ingredient
My school provides a very nice free lunch for the kids and the teachers. This week I tried rice with steamed veggies, perfect tofu and a chicken or pork stir-fry with veggies. It is very nice to have a home cooked meal to break up the teaching day. Kids here definitely eat healthier then kids in Canadian elementary school lunch program.
I think I figured out why the Taiwanese can be so emotionally flat.,…. I believe they are exhausted. They definitely work really hard. For example, the school I work at is in addition to their elementary school program. This makes for a very long day. It is inspiring to see people work hard and to be so dedicated however I think they could take a bit more from the Italian lifestyle, as in life should be pleasurable. To each their own though!
Taiwan 1
Feb 28th
My first days in Taiwan have been enjoyable but tiring. I have been busy shopping, observing my classes, meeting other teachers and somewhat desperately trying to figure out where I am in Yi-lan. So far I know how to get to a good grocery store and where a great coffee shop is. Today, Sonja (my new friend) scooted me all over. We had a good lunch at a pasta shop ( I had a yummy chicken curry ), then we strolled around a lovely park. There a river cuts through the green area and the mountain hills stand gorgeous in the background. There is also a common area for people to grow a small garden. The vegetation here is vast and varied. There are big trees, little trees, some with huge leaves others are tiny, long, narrow, short and wide. The mountain hills looks impenetrable as the trees are very luscious and dense. As we walked random people told us we were pretty, others practiced saying hello and army boys shouted as they jogged by.
People here sometimes seem somewhat sedated. I can’t figure out if everyone is just incredibly calm or stressed.
Last night was a hoot. I met up with the other teachers at a bowling alley, played three games and then I played poker with the boys at a local bar. Most of the teachers seem very friendly and seem to answer some of my questions before I ask them. Not speaking Mandarin could make this country a very isolating place so having fun and wise crowd of western friends is great. Last night someone said to Sonja, “ Laura is great, I would even hang out with her in real life”. I laughed hard when the message was passed on to me. I guess all the teachers hangout as we have to have someone to talk to. Its nice to know some friendships are genuine, not forced. My friends Sonja and I clicked in two minutes flat. We spend a lot of the day talking and she has been invaluable to me learning the “ropes” of Taiwan.
Things here are cheap, but not ridiculously inexpensive. I am sure some western teachers go home with little savings.
My students here are mostly adorable. There are some obnoxious wankers, but I can deal with them. Everyone calls we teacher Laura or teacher Roara. ☺ Some of the Taiwanese teachers are rude but I can handle them too. I think they may resent us because we make way more money then them. This isn’t really fair so I can see why they are frustrated.
I haven’t busted out my camera yet. I need to start teaching first and then I will begin shooting.
My first days in Taiwan have been enjoyable but tiring. I have been busy shopping, observing my classes, meeting other teachers and somewhat desperately trying to figure out where I am in Yi-lan. So far I know how to get to a good grocery store and where a great coffee shop is. Today, Sonja (my new friend) scooted me all over. We had a good lunch at a pasta shop ( I had a yummy chicken curry ), then we strolled around a lovely park. There a river cuts through the green area and the mountain hills stand gorgeous in the background. There is also a common area for people to grow a small garden. The vegetation here is vast and varied. There are big trees, little trees, some with huge leaves others are tiny, long, narrow, short and wide. The mountain hills looks impenetrable as the trees are very luscious and dense. As we walked random people told us we were pretty, others practiced saying hello and army boys shouted as they jogged by.
People here sometimes seem somewhat sedated. I can’t figure out if everyone is just incredibly calm or stressed.
Last night was a hoot. I met up with the other teachers at a bowling alley, played three games and then I played poker with the boys at a local bar. Most of the teachers seem very friendly and seem to answer some of my questions before I ask them. Not speaking Mandarin could make this country a very isolating place so having fun and wise crowd of western friends is great. Last night someone said to Sonja, “ Laura is great, I would even hang out with her in real life”. I laughed hard when the message was passed on to me. I guess all the teachers hangout as we have to have someone to talk to. Its nice to know some friendships are genuine, not forced. My friends Sonja and I clicked in two minutes flat. We spend a lot of the day talking and she has been invaluable to me learning the “ropes” of Taiwan.
Things here are cheap, but not ridiculously inexpensive. I am sure some western teachers go home with little savings.
My students here are mostly adorable. There are some obnoxious wankers, but I can deal with them. Everyone calls we teacher Laura or teacher Roara. ☺ Some of the Taiwanese teachers are rude but I can handle them too. I think they may resent us because we make way more money then them. This isn’t really fair so I can see why they are frustrated.
I haven’t busted out my camera yet. I need to start teaching first and then I will begin shooting.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Cottage Journal and Update
It has been several weeks since I left the cottage. I do miss being there and was glad to have gone back for a short trip earlier this week. The driveway is now impassable so I had to park on the road and hike down. It was cold. Before I even reached the cottage my fingertips were numb. It was also very beautiful. The snow was freshly fallen and the tracks of many different animals spread all over the cottage property. It was surprisingly noisy! The ice was continuously colliding and roared a sound that was deadly cold. My flash actually froze to my camera while I was shooting the new icy landscape.
I have rearranged my blog. Below are my journal entries from my first days at the cottage to my last. I have kept my favorite pictures and will continue to add photos when I go to the cottage for day trips. Thanks to everyone that followed my adventure and supported me. I promise there will be many more interesting experiences to follow!
*** CONTINUE TO SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW PHOTOS ***
A NEW CHAPTER October 5th/07
Some transitions in your life you can't really feel, they just happen. Moving from Toronto, my home of seven years, to my cottage is one very clear chapter in my life. I have never done anything like this before. In the past week I packed up all my belongings, had a fantastic going away party and moved to Devil Lake. Apart of me is in disbelief I haven't moved here before, another part is astonished I actually did.
After some self doubt, a few questionable looks from my friends and the dire warnings from my aunt who lives her most the year, I am here. What I see when I peak up from my notepad is truly right and beautiful. The islands stand like statues, the water is almost flat rippling tiny waves that carry the colours of falls. I can see three loons, one swimming and fishing in the bay, the others tour around looking for lunch. I hear actual crickets! This is a sound I heard in Toronto only from Linda's cellphone ring or in Ryley's backyard. A bee bumbles while my tummy rumbles and the outhouse door slams. Someone else is up....
I came here to work, explore myself and grow as a photographer. I am very grateful to have this place, the support of my family and friends. I really don't know what the future will hold for me, I am just going to enjoy NOW.
October 6th
Today I woke up and felt bloody awful. Then I saw the calm of the lake and sprung out of bed, camera and notepad in hand. I walk to my bench at the waterfront and hear thunder and gunshots go off in the distance. The loons enter the bay and the ducks fly in their frantic way above me. More gunshots. I suppose the hunters are excited to have the long weekend and a Thanksgiving meal to contribute to.
I am trying to get a good fish shot while waiting for the loons to get closer. As I wait I start to worry. I wonder how long I can stay here for. I feel a little nervous. Will it be weeks or months before I move again??? After my time at the cottage, what next?
21 ducks fly above and continuously switch their formation. Good luck ducks!! They are flying high, hopefully out of gunshot range. In the five minutes I have been sitting here I have heard 17 shotguns fired. The sky is grey now and I may have to run from the rain................
I did have to run!!
October 23
I'm back at the cottage! After several days of finger foods, a funeral, family and friends I'm enjoying the sound of rain hitting the cottage roof. The consistent rhythm of the big heavy drops reminds me of living in the B.C rain forest. The first summer I worked there it rained 90% of the two and half months I was there. Crazy cabin fever... With 9 girls and 2 guys living there it is amazing there wasn't an all out war.
This morning reminded me of how different my life is now. My phone is dead from the storm, I totally smell of smoke from the wood stove and I ran out milk, with no store to walk to. The water pump isn't working and I have a serious pile of dishes to deal with.
Last night I had a great hike with my friend Mac. We made our way over to Sunfish Bay then stopped for a drink at this perfectly made natural stone bench. We saw a beautiful deer swimming from island to island. We skipped stones, beach coming while we walked home. When we came up the hill 3 large deer were grazing under the apple trees. They heard and saw us, but didn't care.
The colours around Devil Lake are amazing. It is so calm and quiet. I see the occasional fisherman and hear hunters on the weekend. The only other people I see are whomever I invite down.
Everyone who has visited me so far understands why I love being here so much. Although I am faced with different work and a different series of problems I am rewarded in a much more fulfilling way then I felt living and working in T.O. I don't mean to bash Toronto as there are many things I love and know are distinctly unique to the that city. I guess what I want to say is that I needed and am enjoying the change in my own life.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Today a humongous deer jumped in front of my van. It was scary. Another strange occurrence was overhearing this conversation at the liquor store. The little lady stated " We gotta pop that coyote, otherwise the neighbours will think we are feedin' her. Yeah, lets pop it!". I saw the coyote trumping across a nearby field as I was leaving. I tried to telepathically tell it to mosey on. Good luck coyote! A Granny is out to get you.
Tonight is a nearly full moon. I will try and get some amazing night shots if it clears up. Hopefully I will post them tomorrow!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Changes
In this past week a lot has changed at the cottage. Most of the colourful leaves have fallen, the water level dropped even further and the deer hunting season is now open. The most dramatic change affecting my own life is that we had to take out the water pump. I have wanted to travel for awhile, now it seems I am traveling back in time! I can't hide the fact that doing dishes, bathing and cleaning with running water is a luxury I am used to and will probably miss.
Another big change is that the temperature has shifted significantly. I use to get away with letting the fire die in the night. Now I am discovering that unless I want to wake up uncomfortably cold, I have to get up and stoke the fire. My firewood is getting low. This is a problem I will have to fix ASAP.
I discovered many interesting subjects I will shoot on an epic hike with my friend Mike. One area that really stood out was a tunnel cave made up entirely of the roots shooting from five different trees. Totally amazing!! It has a grand entrance way that led into a beautifully braided tunnel. I will post pictures of it this week.
There is not much action in the bay right now. A small loon is bobbing in the waves as the sun seems to enlighten one island at a time. Earlier in the week I spotted a huge bald eagle from a far. I hope to get a great eagle shot! However, I know from setting up and chasing eagles out west that this is no easy task. It is however immensely rewarding when successful. When I look at this shot that I eventually got on Digby Island, all I see is strength!!
I'm not sure how long I will be able to stay here. My goal right now is until November 29/07. I wish I could stay longer and I wish I could make maple syrup in the spring. That would be deliciously fun, but I suspect is a job for more than one person.
Ciao,
Hope everyone is well :)
Monday, November 5, 2007
After a very stormy Sunday it is another beautiful day on Devil Lake. The sun is out and the lake is flat. The water is so still you can see the bottom with perfect clarity. I can hear water dripping of the dock to the offbeat of the woodpecker having its way with the tree. Several gunshots fire while traffic speeds around the bend in the road.
More shots. I have been advised not to hike during these next few weeks. Historically hunters have poached on our property. Even though I have an amazing pink plaid jacket (see pic above) I know it won't protect me from a drunk hunter firing shots into the bushes... right into my bottom or worse. With this new situation, I regretfully cannot hike. I think I will shoot night shots as well as some of the beautiful birds that so far I have taken for granted. I also want to experiment with changing the photos I have taken into graphics. I will post them so let me know what you think.
Questions, feedback or shooting ideas are always welcome.
If I am feeling adventurous enough I may shoot hunters shooting.... we will see!
Thursday November 8th
It is chilly, calm and very quiet on the lake today. Right now I am sitting on a massive driftwood log, waiting for something to happen. I have seen, but missed shooting some animals as of late. Very frustrating! It is exciting too. For example, I was waiting to iChat with my friend Maria and just outside my cottage window a bald eagle speedily swooped down into the swamp. It grabbed a stick and flew away satisfied. I suspect it is building a nest, but I haven't found the location yet. I do hope it sticks around. The last eagle my family remembers seeing was over 30 years ago.
This morning I saw a beaver or a muskrat. Of course by the time I ran down to the lake it was long gone. To be a good nature photographer I need patience, to research and luck.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The grass is crunchy from the frost. Each step I take is kind of delightful. crunch crunch
Aware of every step I make I mosey down to the lake. Today I have to calculate where I am going to write. The place has to be in the sun and hidden from the chilly wind. I settle on a smooth rock by the tree cave (pictured in a past blog).
Things are good here. Without running water cleaning takes more time and planning but it is far from impossible. I refuel, stock up, clean clothes and shower when I go to Kingston to visit and help at my Grandma's house. I am still unsure how long I can stay. The weather can change so quickly and here it can"come like the devil". The dropping temperatures do make life more difficult. It is harder to keep the cottage warm. I may rearrange some furniture today so my bed and computer are closer to the wood stove. I have to make sure my guest bed is cozy too! My biggest concern is that my things will freeze when I am in Kingston. Pens, water, my computer, camera and food are all at risk when I am away.
For now I sit, listen and watch. The water flows, the pussy willows whistle and a variety of birds come and leave the bay.
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The cottage seems a world away when I am in Kingston. In the city I feel like I spend most of my day driving from A-Z. I am enjoying spend time with my family and friends. It as been seven years since I have been home and I am unsure of how long I will stay. I have discovered that I am not ready to live in Kingston again. I am an urban or rural girl. I might be able to live here if I had a stimulating job that satisfies my curious nature plus had time to leave the city and explore.
As the days get darker I think more and more about leaving for a warmer climate. In fact I am inquiring about ESL classes for December. The world awaits me and my camera! I do feel reassured that no matter what I end up doing or where I live I will always have a great home and an even more amazing cottage to go to. The Australian Aborigines believe you leave a trail behind that contains your essence. I know some of my trail is at the cottage and always will be because it helped form who I am.
Cottage Closure
I have discovered that I cannot stay at the cottage if the temperature is lower than zero. The building is not insulated and will not heat up. This environment makes my nose sting when I try and sleep! I have really enjoyed my time on Devil Lake and am grateful that I got to stay there as long as I did. I will still go there when the weather is warm, for some day trips and parties.
So now......... I am starting my ESL training on Wednesday and will be researching where I should teach.
Also, I really want to keep shooting. I will be giving myself assignments, posting them online for you to read, then showing you the fruits of my labor (is it really work if you love it???).
GOOD NEWS!!!!!!
The Stillwater Bookstore in Westport Ontario is selling my photos!
I am excited by this and am hoping to sell at other stores as well. If you know places I could approach please let me know.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Changes
Wesport
Mike chopping up some firewood.
Lovely isn't it?
A petite mushroom I noticed on a hike.
My eagle shot from Digby Island, B.C
Friday, October 26, 2007
Pictures of and around the cottage
It is a beautiful time of year.
The view of the bay from the beach.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
quick update...
I am an aunt!!! Ms Livia Alexis was born. She is 7 pounds, healthy and wonderful. Pictures to come soon.
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