Amanda Lilyan: Phew!

Wow, keeping my blog updated when I can't do it during work hours is hard work. Don't know how people do it! Quite a few things going on, one of the main things is that we had a nice bunch of consecutive public holidays, affectionately known as Golden Week.

I went to the Island of Shikoku with Hermina. First we went to Iya Valley. We went on a gorgeous little boat ride in nearby Oboke, stayed at a little guesthouse run by these dear little old lady who couldn't stop apologising that she didn't speak English, and walked across the Kazurabashi vine bridge (reinforced with steel wires - and thank goodness cos there were at least 40 people on the bridge at any given time). We also ate local soba noodles, udon, relaxed at an onsen, and last but not least, went surfing at Ikumi beach! It was the first time I had surfed since my first attempt at 10 years of age. And it's not like riding a bike at all, didn't remember anything at all, but it was great to be playing around in the ocean again - it actually made me kinda homesick even though the beach doesn't bear much resemblance to the ones back home.

Also, this weekend was jam packed full of fun and adventure in a local sense. Friday we celebrated Aly's birthday at a gorgeous French restaurant... that served Italian food for some reason. But no complaints, it was delicious nonetheless and the company was fabulous of course! Saturday was a trip out to this tiny little club where a couple of friends were having their first live gig. Good music, good fun had by all!