Guest Post: Get Up Earlier by Jessica Sweeney
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m not a morning person. That you have to shout to get me to even open my eyes, and that I move kind of slowly any time before 10 am.
Let’s put it this way: I don’t think I’d be gainfully employed if coffee had never been invented.
But I think we all know that the edges of the day are best for photography, because the light is just pretty blah any time else. This is news you have probably heard before, but if you’re like me, maybe you haven’t been listening really well. For a while, I relied on the fact that there are two edges in every day. So what if I missed dawn? There was always dusk to fall back on. Same pretty light, but none of the soul-shattering pain that comes with waking up before 6 am. It seemed like a pretty easy call.
But I was wrong.
Dawn is better, and I will tell you why. First, I’m not the only person who’s allergic to waking up early. Most other people are too. So that means if you do make the trek out of bed, you’ve got the place to yourself. You don’t have to shoot over anyone’s shoulder. Or plan to Photoshop them out later. This is particularly nice in areas that are usually heavily trafficked, or overrun with tourists.
Second, dawn is calmer. Lakes or ponds will be glassier, with fewer ripples. You’ll get more morning mist. More drops of dew clinging to leaves and petals. And maybe some more wildlife that hasn’t been scared into hiding by the racket we bipedals make.
I woke up for dawn last weekend, and it was amazing. Magical. An hour or two of shooting and I had four or five new favorite images, plus the rest of the day ahead of me. Then I ate some delicious brunch, and pretty much could have died happy right then and there.
I recommend you try it.
Below, some more shots from last weekend:
If you enjoyed my post today, please feel free to mosey on over to my blog, Quotidian Photography. I try to post a photo plus a few thoughts there every day.
November 2009 Desktop Wallpaper Calendar
Each month I publish a new photographic desktop wallpaper featuring one of my photos as well as a custom calendar with holidays and other important dates listed. The images for the November 2009 Desktop Calendar were taken in Ithaca, NY during a photowalk I led there back in April. These were the last shots of the day, and we just happened upon the bike. They’re my favorites from the day.
Click on one of the links below to download yours today so you’ll be ready for November!
*If your screen resolution is not displayed, please leave a comment and I’ll be sure to include it next time!
Also, if you would like to sponsor the monthly desktop calendars to get your name/brand in front of readers on a daily basis, or if you would like to partner with us on one of our other regular series, projects, or to advertise on this site, please visit our “Become a Sponsor” page today to learn how!
It’s the 4th!
Hope those of you in the US have a great Independence Day!
But wherever you may be snap a photo for the On the 4th photo project and send it to me for inclusion!
March 19, 2005
My time in Ireland is nearly at an end. While one more day might have proved to be good – as I haven’t gotten to a couple of places I’d hoped to get – the timing feels right for me to go. I missed seeing the Giant’s Causeway and didn’t make it to Old Bushmills (the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world) to get a shot glass for Chris, but I crossed a rope bridge, found Tommy, and enjoyed my time in a far away land. They say that regret is nothing but a waste of energy and time and will leave you no better off. And so, while there are a few choices that I mistook, what’s done is done and my experience isn’t lessened for it.
I’ll soon be on to Belfast once again and then to London before I hop on a plane for home on Monday. Soon I shall be chasing the sunset on my way home. Ireland will be missed but I must come back. I haven’t even left Portrush yet and I know that I shall someday return.
I have gained a new confidence from these days though much uncertainty remains. Though, through this experience I know more clearly that whatever may come for me, all will be well.
Februrary 24, 2005
There’s a lot I need to figure out for myself right now. There are pieces of the puzzle that is my life that are in their proper places at the moment but there are some that lay scattered about waiting for me to fit them into the larger picture of myself. There are also, however, some pieces – even large sections – that have yet to come out of the box so I can begin to see where they’re going to go. But perhaps it is not yet time for those pieces to show themselves to me.
I’ve heard it many times before: “you need to know and feel comfortable with yourself before you can truly know and feel comfortable with someone else – and before they can know and feel comfortable with you.” I feel as though I’m not totally comfortable with myself, even though I think I know myself about as well as one can. Because I have waited for so long to tackle the issue of what I truly believe in more than a conceptual way, I feel somewhat uncomfortable with the life I’ve been living. Maybe that statement is correct and the reason I am still single and don’t feel like things are going as “right” as I feel they should be is that I have let so much time go by before making the changes in my religious life that I’ve needed to.
I’ve gotten too involved over the past years to the point where any sort of change has the potential to be painful. There will be so many questions that I’d rather not answer, so many comments that I’d rather not respond to, so many criticisms that I’d rather not deal with. Why does it have to be so difficult?
I’ve talked with my parents, I’ve talked with my best friend from college, I’ve talked with my pastor and after only 3 weeks of prayer and contemplation I feel like I know what I’m going to do. I have commitments that I’ve made and responsibilities I have over the course of the next 4-5 months so I can’t make the change before then but it’s hard to stay focussed or be motivated to follow through with the programs and meetings that I’m a part of when I know that I will most likely be stepping away from them in the not-to-distant future.
On to more happier thoughts, in just over two weeks I will be leaving for my vacation! I am taking 8 days off and traveling to London and Northern Ireland during the week of St. Patrick’s Day. My paternal grandmother’s family is from the Portrush area of Northern Ireland and I am going to stay there, see the sights, and celebrate St. Patty’s Day like a true Irishman. At the same time I’ll be visiting the house the family lived in, taking pictures at the cemetary my great-uncle is buried in – and maybe others – and try to learn about where I come from.
Since I have to fly through there anyway, I decided to take a couple of days on either side of my time in N. Ireland to tour around London and take advantage of this world-class city while I’m there. I can’t wait!
June 8, 2004
t’s another one of those times… Work and life have been keeping me quite busy these past months and I haven’t found rest. Sure I’ve gotten enough sleep, most of the time, but I can’t seem to get enough rest.
I was thinking about this a few weeks ago and came to an interesting observation. Many people have friends and loved ones that they go home to at the end of the day and on weekends to help take their minds off of the stresses and exhaustion of work. They have people to vent with, people to distract them from the busy-ness, people to live life with. It is when one has these kinds of people that they can find true rest. As for me, even though I have a wonderful family, it’s hard to separate our working relationship out from it sometimes. So it’s difficult to find much rest with them. But it does happen from time to time, like just yesterday I was helping to build a new front porch on my parents’ house or when I have the chance to just sit and chat with my mom.
But most days, as I’ve said before, I end up heading home at the end of the day to my spot on the couch where I certainly will be able to rest from my day’s labors but where I will rarely find myself rejuvenated and renewed.
I’m not sure what the answer is, but sometimes it’s a good enough start to simply pose the question of “what do I do?”
“Whatever is good and right will come…”
February 12, 2004
It’s that time of year again: Valentine’s Day… It’s not that I’m cynical about love or anything – far from it – it’s just that this year marks just one more where I am going to go without a Valentine to share the special day with.
I guess I just get a little down this time of year because it conjures up so many memories and emotions. For example, were we still together – and thank God we’re not – this weekend would’ve marked my former fiancée and my 7th anniversary. I was actually looking through an old journal of mine and found noticed that we had actually decided on this coming June 19th or 26th as our wedding date (I can’t remember which, off hand). It’s strange to think that just 3 and a half years ago I was so much in love that I knew when I was going to be married. Then, only a few months ago, I found myself deeply in love once more and felt that I would be getting married to this person. Alas, yet again, fate tricked me.
Another thing that comes to mind, not only around Valentine’s, is what is happening in the lives of those around me. I know it’s not the best of things to compare myself with others, but I do. I look to my brother as an example. He and his wife were married about a month before my brother’s 22nd birthday and their first child was born roughly 2 months after his 23rd. Now, in my own life, I have not been without significant moments around these same times. Roughly a month before my 22nd birthday I returned from a life-changing voyage around the world. As for the roughly 2 months after my own 23rd, well, there are still a couple of weeks before we’ll find out about that one.
Friends are getting married left and right and my last couple of relationships fell short of marriage. Sure, I feel a little left out, impatient, jealous and that I’m entitled to a significant, lasting love to share for the rest of my life. But more than that, as my most recent “ex-” used to tell me, I just have to pray that I’ll be happy. I’ve written before that I continually tell myself to just let go of all that is concerning me and let God do what God’s gonna do. Instead of allowing myself to feel all of the jealousy and impatience – a losing battle, I must admit – I just have to keep on hoping for happiness. After all, isn’t that what’s really important anyway?
February 11, 2003
Valentine’s Day is coming up this Friday. Ah, Valentine’s Day! The most romantic day of the year. The day when roses and chocolates and cute cards covered in hearts and glitter and filled with sweet odes to love can be found on every shelf of every store. I used to really enjoy this time of year…
There was a point in my life when I was in love. And I was truly in love. Most people say that when you’re young you don’t know what love really is, but let me tell you, I knew love well. She was my high school sweetheart, I was 19, we were engaged, and it couldn’t get any better! Unfortunately – and fortunately – it didn’t… Our anniversary was Valentine’s Day and for 3 years I had someone to share the day of love with. But for us it was different. While Valentine’s Day was a time to celebrate our love as another milestone was reached, we would take each day and turn it into something romantic. It was beautiful. I would write her poems, buy her flowers just because, and just be the all-around great guy that I am. (Not to ‘toot’ my own horn or anything…) But, as it goes, things didn’t work out as we had hoped, we grew apart, and it was over.
Since then, Valentine’s Day has been a day of mixed emotions for me. On the one hand, I look back and think that this Friday would have been our 6th anniversary and I try to imagine what it would be like to be with someone for that long. I am glad that we aren’t together anymore – frankly, it just wasn’t the best situation – but I do remember the good times and I miss that closeness that is found in relationships that last for so long. On the other hand, I look on towards the future, to what’s next with a hope for someone to fill my heart with love and joy, someone to share my life with, someone who isn’t perfect but is perfect for me.
It is on Valentine’s Day that my hope is renewed. Sure, it’s a very commercialized holiday but the meaning behind it still resonates within me and I wait in anticipation for what is to come. Some may call me a hopeless romantic, someone who is always touched by a happy ending to a love story, someone who looks longingly at couples that walk hand-in-hand down the streets. While that is true for me, I’d rather consider myself to be a HOPE-FULL romantic. I dream that the happy ending is mine, that I will someday – hopefully soon – be one of those people walking down the street with someone on my arm, that I will find, or be found by, that special someone that is out there just for me.
Who knows what this Valentine’s Day will bring? Lightning could strike and I could find “her” – whoever “she” may be. The day could go by like all others. Who knows? For me, everyday is a new opportunity to love, a new opportunity to live life to it’s fullest – whatever that might mean for each of us… What will today bring? Or tomorrow? Or the day after? Who knows? But I live in hope! “All I can is all I do: I dream of tomorrow…”
Atlantic Ocean: Day 8, Salvador Tomorrow!
Hello once again from little ol’ me traveling around this great big world of ours! A lot has been going on in the week since Cape Town. This past Saturday, the 16th, we had our Ambassador’s Ball – the equivalent of a prom. We all got dressed up and showed off our fancy purchases and tailor-made outfits from Vietnam and other countries. As promised since after Hong King, I’ve included a couple of pictures of me from the Ball wearing my blue and silver silk shirt that I bought for around US$16 in Hong Kong. There are pictures of me and the captain, me and our executive dean Lloyd, my friends Samantha, Valerie, and Kim, and my friend Lindsey (the one with short hair and the bright red dress), and my Vicarious Voyage partner Kate. I had a really great time. I love getting dressed up and spending time with such good friends.
Classes are starting to wind down. My first final is on the Tuesday after Brazil and my last will be a week later on the 3rd of December. Wow, finals already! I know many of you must be quite jealous since you still have another month or so before you get to be home with your families for the holidays. Thanksgiving is coming up next week! It’s hard to imagine that it’s already that close! Being out here on the ocean and running around in various ports, gaining an hour here and there, and not really having any time off so to speak it’s really hard to keep track of what day of the week it is any more, let alone what holidays are coming up. The only holidays I know of at this point that are coming up is that tomorrow is something like “Black Awareness Day” in Brazil. But I’m sure there will be a big “to do” onboard for Thanksgiving. From what I understand, we will not go without the traditional turkey with all the fixings. Granted, it will be served buffet style with around 750-800 other people but it will be nice in its own way.
I’m getting ready to be done. Senioritis is certainly kicking in for me. Traveling the world has taken a lot out of me mentally, emotionally, and physically and I’m just ready to be finished with classes and be home where I can just crash for awhile before heading back into the thick of things for my final semester at BU. This has been an amazing trip and I want to see more of the world. My only comment would be that I’m ready to be home. It’s been hard to be so detached from family and friends and because of all of the demands that come with traveling the way that I am with the constant routine of class and port I am ready for some time off. Brazil and Cuba – aside from the possibility of meeting with Castro, still uncertain – were not high on my list of countries I was looking forward to visiting. I pretty much have no expectations for either of them at this point and so, it’s somewhat bad to say but, I’m not that excited about them. Or perhaps it would be better to say that I am looking more forward to being home, meeting Garrett and being back with the familiar again for awhile. Bebo Norman – one of my favorite musicians whom I highly reccomend – wrote a song on his newest CD – that I picked up in Cape Town of all places! – that really spoke to me as to this feeling of wanting to be home. It says: “Yesterday it seems/ I traveled in a younger man’s clothes/ living out this dream/ and wandering through fields of touch and go/ moving on forever/ watching the distance fade away/ but now I just want to land…where the trees stand still.” But Brazil is tomorrow! I have pretty much no expectations of what it will bring. I know it will amaze me just as all the other ports have, each in their own way. I need to let go of the desire to be around the familiar, “where the faces look the same most every day,” and be open to what these next five days have to teach me about Brazil, its people, its culture, its history, and about myself. I will be amazed again!
First Day After Cape Town, Back in the Atlantic Ocean
I know in past ports I’ve done a little better about writing every couple of days about what’s been going on and what I’ve been up to but Cape Town was just so amazing! I pretty much stayed in Cape Town and didn’t take advantage of the trips to the African Townships that have their own distinct culture and heritage. I was told that they were quite meaningful for those who visited but if you went to a Dalit village in India, as I did, you would get much of the same impression of the poverty and social/racial inequalities present. After seeing a lot of the world’s poverty in the past few ports it was certainly a refreshing feeling to be in Cape Town, which is a fairly modernized city. In the waterfront area, where the ship was docked, it was quite touristy and the down town area was like many other cities in the US. Overall the city had somewhat of a Cleveland or Boston feel as you walked the streets. There was a charm that you find in little New England towns too. It was a great comfort to be there.
I was scheduled to hike up Table Mountain – the dominant feature of the Cape Town landscape – on our second day there. Unfortunately, when I got up that morning I was really sore from wandering the city the day before and I was feeling a little under the weather – a result of living in an enclosed environment and breathing the same air as all of the rest who have been sick. So I slept for another few hours and went out to tea with Dean Lloyd and took the cable car up to the top of the mountain later. The views from the top are breathtaking and I can only hope that the pictures can do justice to it. I wandered further into the city on Day 3. I walked the botanical garden, museum, university area for most of the morning to get a feel for the place. It was amazing. That night I called home for the first time since Vancouver. I got to talk to my entire family, including Garrett! I said hello and he made one of those uniquely baby sounds. Even though I’ve seen pictures just hearing him made his existence for me that much more real. I can’t wait to see him in person and, as Chris (my brother) says, Garrett can’t wait to meet me either. What a brother I have! It was great to hear all of their voices again! I haven’t felt homesick at all on this trip; there’s been too much to see and do to feel homesick. I’ve been missing them terribly and can’t wait to be with them again, though. But I don’t want this all to be over either! On Day 4 my friends Valerie and Samantha and I took a tour through the Stellenbosch wine region. It was a lovely afternoon of driving through the countryside and tasting some good wines with some good friends. I would highly reccomend that you give South African wines a shot – those of you over 21, of course. I’ve gotten hooked on sparkling wine myself, it’s good stuff. Some of the white wines were pretty good as well. A good time was had by all and I am so thankful that I got to be there with such good friends.
Cape Town is a wonderful city and will certainly be towards the top of the list of places for me to return to. Many of us could see ourselves even living and working there for a little while. The people we encountered were such a joy. We are even going to try to keep in touch with one of our waiters who was so eager to share experiences with us and learn about the US and tell us about Angola, where he’s from, and his impressions of Cape Town and school and all of that. I am so amazed by everything that I’ve seen and done! I still can’t fathom the fact that I’ve been to so many places and experienced the beautiful diversity that is all around me. And I’ve only scratched the surface. I’ve only gotten a taste of each port and I will definitely be returning and branching out to other countries as I travel throughout the rest of my life. I can only hope that you all have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of how the greater world works and find the beauty of everything that is out there. My thoughts are with you and I can’t wait to see you all and share what I’ve seen and hear what’s happened in the past months. But first, Brazil is calling and I must answer!
Enroute to South Africa
Kenya was amazing! I absolutely loved it and I will definitely try my best to go back some day. My safari was wonderful. We had two days of game drives and saw tons of animals and beautiful countryside at Tsavo East. The night before I left to go on the safari I watched “The Ghost and the Darkness” which is set in Tsavo. I thought the man-eating lions were an appropriate subject for pre-safari entertainment. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any lions or rhinos or hippos but I saw tons of elephants and gazelles and giraffes and many others. It was really cool!
I can’t think of much else to say at this point. Today is my one real day off until the Ambassador’s Ball after S. Africa. While everyone is competing in the Sea Olympics today, I’m watching movies and hanging out with friends and basically just enjoying myself. I’ve shut my brain off for the day and so, I have nothing else to report for now. I’ll update you all again after Cape Town on my adventures there!
Mombasa, Kenya
Midterms have been taken, papers written, and we have arrived in Africa! Finally, my first real break since after Vietnam. We were given a day off this past week to celebrate crossing the equator (which actually happened a couple of days later) but I spent much of that time doing research for a paper and studying for another midterm. But that is now all finished and I am free to experience our first stop on a new continent.
After classes were finished yesterday the ship received a call from Sir Arthur C. Clarke – author of “2001: A Space Odyssey” – that was routed through the PA system so we could all ask questions and hear what he had to say. He lives in Columbo, Sri Lanka and has been a lecturer more than a few times on previous SAS trips. He had good wishes and kind words to share with us all and it was a pretty cool opportunity. We received confirmation the other day of another amazing opportunity. Bishop Desmond Tutu has agreed to come aboard to meet with us once we reach Cape Town. We’re still waiting on word from Fidel but we’re pretty confident that he’ll agree as well.
Well, I have two more days in Mombasa before I head out to the Tsavo National Park for my safari. Today I spent on the ship relaxing and giving myself a long-needed break before heading out on the town tomorrow and the next day. So, I think I’ll stop here for now and write more after I’ve done more interesting things than relaxing and taking some time for myself. Until then…
First Day After India
As we were told, and as I realized, India is a land of contrasts. Alongside some amazing sights of art and architecture and the skillfully crafted silks I witnessed the extreme poverty and chaos as well. I saw the masses of people, I saw the serenity of rural villages, I saw a lot of dirt, I saw the beauty of it all.
On Day One I went to a Dalit (untouchable) village in Chennai to do a work project. Getting off of the bus we were surrounded by women with flower necklaces for us and a band was playing happily. As we made our way down the main street to our work site we noticed that we were the main attraction in a parade through the village. The band and police escort was leading us on through the crowds of smiling children and curious adults. Let me tell you, I have never seen children smile so wide in my life. We were led to a tent where there was a welcome reception for us where a number of local politicians gave speeches for the press about our upcoming work. Our main tasks included painting a classroom, hallway, and outside wall of the local school as well as transport a few piles of dirt and gravel that the school will use for a water collection system and other purposes that weren’t made too clear. We found out that our visit was somewhat of a publicity stunt but the general consensus of our group was that we didn’t care as long as the work was being done for these people. We didn’t have nearly enough time to do as much as we would’ve hoped but we were grateful for the chance to do what we could. It was a wonderful introduction to India and we saw how such beauty can be found in the lowest of the low and the poorest of the poor.
Day Two was spent at Kancheepuram and Mamallapuram’s temples. On one level, at this point of the voyage, a temple is a temple. I’ve just seen so many. But, these were distinct and special experiences as well. The style of architecture and the intricacies of the stone carvings were unlike much of what I’ve seen before over the past month and a half. These were also “living temples” where munks, nuns and devotees would be seen wandering the grounds and down the corridors in more numbers than the tourists that came through. We, once again, were spotted as being “rich” Americans and were targetted by the locals trying to sell us things and beggers asking for money who wouldn’t step aside even after we said “NO.” The poverty really gets to you sometimes and it’s hard to know what to do.
Day Three was a day of rest, or so I thought. I had no trips planned for the day and thought I’d explore Chennai. The moment I stepped out onto the main street the group I was with and I were mobbed by auto-rikshaw drivers trying to convince us to ride with them. They would follow you down the street and never take no for an answer. When you finally picked one to take you where you wanted to go they would try to take you to places you didn’t want to go that were on the way that they would get commissions from for taking you there. When you finally reached your destination, they would wait for you to take you somewhere else – and try to charge you for them waiting. I think we did pretty well in dealing with them and only paying what we agreed before hand, which was always the higher price for foreigners but fair. It is certainly an adventure and it is very easy to lose your cool at times, like when we got a flat tire. It just takes some patience, practice, and a firm stance on what you want them to do. It’s all part of the experience.
Day Four I went to a rural farm. The man who runs it is slowly starting to turn it into a resort farm so we got to just relax for awhile on hammocks or comfortable chairs on the shady lawn. We then took a bull-drawn cart ride through the village and played with some school children. Upon our return to the farm, an employee of our host shimmied up a coconut tree so we could have a refreshing treat. His parents then prepared a ton of Indian snacks for us, and they were wonderful. It was an amazingly relaxing time that balanced out the stressful day before.
Day Five was like my other free day. Some friends and I went into town to do some last bits of shopping for friends and family, and, of course, for ourselves. I picked up a couple of nice things for relatively cheap prices and my friend Kim bought a really nice sari – a traditional Indian outfit. We were only out for a few hours but we had a good time. After dinner, my friend Samantha and I won our 6th consecutive Skip-Bo game making us undefeated. It’s become a new favorite thing for my friends and I to do while we’re too tired to do much else – like study.
Well, that’s about it from India. I’ve got 2 midterms tomorrow, 1 the next day, a journal entry, paper and an oral midterm on Saturday and only one day in the middle of the week to rest for a little bit. Neptune Day – the day we cross the equator – is on Tuesday and I decided that I will not be shaving my head in celebration. Though, I have heard many of our floating community will be. And those who will are not only of the men in our group. Though it is a celbration day, I will be in the library doing research for my art history paper. But, as of Kenya at the end of this coming week, I’ll be able to take a deep breath and relax for awhile until finals come a-knockin’. Good luck all of you who are in the midterm mode and I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful colors of autumn that I am greatly missing right now.
Until after Kenya…
Less Than 2 Days from Chennai, India
I’m not sure what to write this time. As I think I’ve said before, the pace we keep is quite rigorous. Sure, we only have classes between ports but the time spent in each country is quite exhaustive mentally, physically, and emotionally. And it will only be more emotionally draining in India. To compensate for the constant traveling and the tiredness we all feel, we got to gain an extra hour last night and we get another hour and a half tonight! It’s such a treat!
Another bonus would be my friends. Though the first month or so was rough because it seemed like so many people were making friends left and right while I was still spending much of my time alone, through day trips and classes, meetings and chance encounters I have developed a pretty great group of friends. In some sense, it’s a new situation to me. I am not quick to make friends and I was scared to be tossed in with 600 other people in a closed environment. But the proximity and shared experiences we’ve had have certainly made a community out of us. I’m really enjoying it!
I got my trip selections the other day for the remainder of the semester. I pretty much got everything I wanted minus a small trip in Kenya that I can do independently without too much trouble. I still have my two-day safari planned for the end of October in Kenya, our executive dean is trying to arrange some sort of meeting with Desmond Tutu who will be in Cape Town when we’re there. I signed up for a trip to cycle through the winelands of South Africa but a friend of mine didn’t get into the trip so I’m going to sell off my ticket so we can do something else. I’m going to be going to see Bahia by night in Brazil. There, we will see some dance demonstrations and other entertainment. And, finally, I’m going to be visiting some colonial fortresses in Havana. To fill the rest of my time I am planning on seeing a lot of different things independently where possible. I think there is still a group that is going to try to do a trip into the forest canopy in S. Africa. I know some people are going sky diving there but I’m thinking that I’ll opt out of that one. I’m thinking of using Brazil as a time to relax for at least part of the time. And depending on his schedule, we might get to see Castro in Cuba. So, even though we are past the halfway point for ports and quickly coming to the 50-day mark of our 100-day voyage there is still much to see and do and I’m eagerly awaiting it all.
Though this is all great fun, I do miss you all. I miss going to a regular service and all of the programs at Marsh. I’m actually listening to the “Sending Forth” tape I was given last May – Thank You Hope! I miss all of the great friendships that have formed over the past 3 years in Boston and those that I’ve formed elsewhere throughout my comings and goings. I carry all of you with me as I continue on around the world. I know that there will be much to share when I return. But until then, I hope you are all having as much fun as I am and that you find as many blessings as I have.
Between Malaysia and India
Hey Everyone! Sorry I haven’t written too much lately. We’ve been hopping from port to port and life’s been full of classes and little free time lately. And the trend continues. Papers and midterms are quickly coming up and exhaustion from our pace is hitting everyone pretty hard. But we’re all having a great time!!!
In Penang, Malaysia I toured a number of religious sites and saw the extremely open and tolerant nature of religion and its diverse expressions. The next day I was there I hiked Penang Hill. They call it a hill but I beg to differ. It was a grueling 4 hour hike through the forest-covered mountain. The temperature was about 95 and the humidity was up there too. By the time I reached the top there wasn’t a dry spot to be found on my body or clothes. It was rough, it was hot, and it was a lot of fun! But no matter how much fun that was, I am glad for the month between now and when I hike Table Mountain in Cape Town to rest.
My final day in Malaysia was spent at the Wesley Methodist Church in Penang. I had seen it on our way to and from Penang “Hill” and decided I’d stop by. I got a tour and sat in on their Senior Fellowship time. After refreshments and some mingling a couple of their members offered to drive my friend and I around the island of Penang some and drop us off at the ship afterwards. It was a lot of fun and it felt good to be around such loving people. I gave in to my American taste buds though and went to Pizza Hut for some stuffed-crust and breadsticks. What they laughingly call pizza onboard wasn’t as good as I like and I needed to have something I knew at the onset would taste good; and it did!
Well, I have to head to class now so I will end it here for the time being. I wish all you who have papers and midterms the best of luck and I wish I could be there to suffer through it with you. I hope you all are doing great and I look forward to seeing you when I can. Until after India…
