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 |   Enga mellom fjella: where from across the meadow, poems sing from mountains and molehills. |
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Enga mellom Fjella  Sentinel Marked as if you own me I bow before the Bitterroots and just like you my rocky soil, my withered grass lays prey to the empty sky. © Kåre Enga 2007 "Sentinel"   Reader's Choice of Poems: "Zmitri" "Where grows the compost heap" "Between us" "At three" "Drugs sold here" Reader's Choice of blog entries from my old blog "L'aura del Campo" :"Death of Jeannie New Moon" "Doing and don'ting. A scene in 2nd person." "Even in chaos ... More hockey poems." "A Thanksgiving Dinner poem and the WDC Zoo" "Wheat penny. Gave in, started a forum." FACES     PLACES            Kåre  Enga~ until everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow! And I let the fish go. ~ Elizabeth Bishop The Fish |
| My Tlog: "On The Write Path" I'll mostly be posting there on this trip. Already 15 views... will work on that. Need to set it up as my blog and elicit comments. The first entry is similar to my "Nuture your Nature" entries. All in good time.  |
| ...tomorrow may be worse. me: I bought shoelaces, gloves, ziplock bags for clothes (hope I can compress them), M&Ms (two bags of chocolate since United Airlines charges extra for food), razors... and I picked up my meds. I have clothes set aside. Too many I fear but getting them into bags and compressing them tonight should be fun (not). My lists are getting shorter. By tomorrow, Wednesday, it won't matter much. What's done is done. What isn't? Parts of the trip aren't planned yet but I feel confident that I can continue planning once I'm in Hawai'i. For example: trains are tricky in Japan but even that has an answer. People have been very nice to me recently. And I gifted some jade plants and found a friend to look after a bunch and another friend will water what's left in my room. So... just checking in before I check out. |
...losing it again. Needed coffee today. Woke up tired. I haven't thought about collecting seashells. But... I'll be at a couple beaches, so... Hail storm! Turned everything white and slick. Fortunately not dangerous. The crocuses are ready, probably been blooming. I wish! Once I arrive in Hawai'i I can relax a bit.Me: Typing on my new computer. A bit large... but light-weight and good in many ways. I'll get used to it just like I get used to lots of things... grumpily but eventually. I reserved three nights in Fukuoka for the end of March. Occupancy is already 87%! I was lucky to find a room. Slowly... my lists will get shorter. Pre-packed underwear... ...and if I'm smart I'll do the rest of the clothes. I set aside 7 pair of black briefs. If I over-pack like I usually do I'll have to cut back to 4 or 5. I like clean underwear. Outerwear is less crucial as long as I can layer. I'm thinking of calling my new blog (tlog) "The Write Path". Any thoughts? |
| Itinerary: HAWAI'I Honolulu, Hawai’i: Arrive February 26th (via Denver on United), leave March 3rd. Stay in HI hostel near U. Hawai’i-Manoa. $22/night! Try to see: Manoa Falls, bus to North Shore and Windward towns, Hawai’ian cultural sites, Chinatown, gardens. JAPAN Arrive March 4th (on China Airlines), leave March 30th. Narita: March 4th and 5th. Stay at Japanese style hostel near the airport to unwind and make plans. No particular schedule. Ueno, Tokyo: March 6th, 7th, 8th. Stay at hostel for $29/night. Hopefully link up with Hiroki (who I met in Poland last year), see gardens, shrines, Asakusa. Mito: Tentative at this point. Stay a couple nights and visit the plum blossom gardens. Possible itinerary: North to Sendai, Tohoku, then south to Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara) in hope I see cherry blossoms (hanami); but, there are many shrines, monkeys, bamboo gardens, old sections of towns and good walks. Then either Shikoku (island) or direct to Kyushu (island). Hot springs in Oita, sister city of Kumamoto, beautiful city of Nagasaki, pottery towns, volcanoes. Fukuoka: Stay a couple days and leave March 30th. Depending on year this could be the height of cherry blossom time (mankai). AUSTRALIA Arrive March 31st (via Canton on China Southern Airlines); leave April 14th. Brisbane: Arrive March 31st. Stay in Brizzie for three days… depends. Gardens, river, semi-tropical. It’ll be the early early autumn. Wangi Wangi: No exact date. Take train (11 hours) to visit friend, Linda. Sydney: No exact dates. Hope to visit friend Flavio who I met in Norway. Sydney is known as a party city. Melbourne: Spend a couple three days before leaving on the 14th of April. A very cultural city. SOUTH AFRICA: Arrive April 15th (via Singapore on Singapore Airlines); leave April 20th. Cape Town: Parks, Mosque, Multi-cultural city, baboons and penguins, fynbos (plant kingdom). UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Arrive April 21st (Emirates Airlines); leave April 23rd. Dubai: Two nights in hostel. No plans. PORTUGAL: Arrive April 23rd (Emirates Airlines); leave May 15th. Lisbon: April 23rd, 24th, 25th. Stay in hostel I’ve stayed in before in Bairro Alto (about $11/night). The 25th is the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution of 1974, a national holiday. Possible itinerary: Lagos for about 4-5 days (to rest at one of the most wonderful hostels I’ve ever stayed in); Tavira for a couple nights. Will check into visiting Sevilla and/or Mérida in Spain; then Évora in Portugal. Coimbra: May 8th- 11th (tentative). May 10th is A Queima das Fitas, a huge university graduation celebration. Lisbon: May 12th, 13th, 14th (tentative). May visit Óbidos, or just gather thoughts and relax before flight. NORWAY: Arrive May 15th (TAP Airlines); leave May 25th. Kristiansand: May 15th (arrive by train from Oslo), 16th, 17th, 18th. May 17th is THE national holiday. The 19th through 25th isn’t planned yet. Hope to watch Eurovision on the 24th. IRELAND: Arrive May 25th (on SAS); leave June 9th. Possible stop in Cashel for the first night. Bus runs from Dublin airport. Trá Lí: May 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st. Attend Listowel Writers Week. Take 3 day workshop on Travel Writing from Mary Russell. Possible trip to Dingle. Possibly visit friends from Montana. Possible itinerary: Definitely will visit Cork (and “rest”) but dates and duration not decided yet. May get to visit Belfast. Should probably spend a couple nights in Dublin. NORWAY: Arrive June 9th on SAS. Nothing planned after this date. Possible itinerary: Want to stay in Solvorn and Molde, visit Ålesund, Kristiansund, Frederikstad in Norway. May visit Dalarna in Sweden for Midsummer Fest; Göteborg and Uppsala also possible. Visit to Gotland or Åland less likely. Have considered Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. Coming back? Only two good one-way tickets found: WestJet from Dublin or Glasgow though Canada or Icelandair from many places through Iceland (could I afford to stay 4 days?) Dates: Between June 29th and mid-July. Total trip will be 4 to 5 months. I’ll stay mostly in hostels. I love trying new foods, especially regional ones. I visit gardens, churches, parades, et cetera. I don’t do beaches but I’ll be near and at a few so expect pictures. I specifically arranged dates around national festivals. Goals: To write in my journal every day and take down the senses: sight, sound and especially taste, touch, smell. To write a travel piece at least every other day. To post on facebook regularly if not every day, including a couple pictures per day (I’ll edit the thousands later). To keep in touch as best I can, though Skype, postcards, but mostly through facebook. Peace, Kåre. enga@ymail.com |
...but you'll have to wait.   Talked to a Turk from SW Turkey today. As he said... look at the eyes to know whether the smile is genuine... and he's right. I need a magic wand. Can I borrow yours? I intend to marvel at the variety of food I'll get to sample. Must remember to gather addresses again and send postcards. I don't expect to see any monsters... but one never knows.MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE: That was a short pale scream. Brought to you by trying to decide where to go and where to be. I reserved a bed in Narita, Japan for March 4th and 5th. For 4100 yen/2 nights. I reserved a bed in Lisbon for April 23rd, 24th and 25th. About 30 euros/three nights. I may as well try to reserve as many places as I can this weekend. The library is closed Monday but most other places aren't. Like Honolulu! I found a place then read the fine print... no one over 45 years old.  So... back to lists and checking them twice. 12 more days. They go by fast. |
| Traveling can be stressful for some of us. There are many who simply couldn't travel like I do (hostels, long periods of time, tight budget). Plane flights are one issue. A place to stay is another. It's possible to show up in a strange town and find a place... when any place will do and comfort or price isn't the issue. But... I'll be in at least 7 countries during national holidays and Spring, Autumn and religious events. If I don't reserve places to stay... soon... 1. I'm staying in Ueno, Tokyo for $86/3 nights. Dates: March 6,7,8. It's near Uguisudani station. Not sure which train line that is but it will be easy to get to from the airport. There are good connections north from Ueno station to Mito, to Sendai, to Tohoku. 2. Ireland is an issue. I'll be in Listowel May 28,29,30. I don't know how the Writersweek goes though. Big opening on the 27th? Big finale on the 31st? No clue. I'm signed up for a workshop on travel writing (with Mary Russell) but have no idea what else is free, open to the public, et cetera. Is there an open mic? In any case, there will be no place to stay if I don't act soon. Did find out that the buses run on June 1st, a bank holiday. So much to learn about a place I've never been. 3. Key places: Dubai U.A.E. April 21,22 (like only one reasonable place to stay), Coimbra, Portugal May 8,9,10 (university festival); Lisbon, Portugal April 23,24,25 (national holiday). Kansai, Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara) may be decided because when the cherries bloom (hanami) it will be crowded. 4. Coming and going... First and last nights in Japan (Narita, Fukuoka), in Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne), in Portugal (Lisbon both times), in Norway (Kristiansand on May 15th is reserved but May 24th is not)... you get the picture. Over 4-5 months there will be dates when it doesn't matter but I like to know where I'm going when I arrive. And having a place to stay before I get on a plane to my next destination is essential as well. 5. I realize that I should just let go. Depend on being flexible and the kindness of strangers. Go with the flow. But my finances and high anxiety won't allow me. Next trip? Maybe just couch surf... play it by ear... make it open-ended like a friend Paula did. But NOT this trip. Not me. My goal today is to tackle this. |
What to call me new blog... The skies have been dripping. Still spring-like weather. Someone mentioned "crocus". Oh my! I still have small yellow flowers in bloom by my bed. And still lots of questions that need to be answered before this trip! I need to send my itinerary out by mail to family and friends that don't use the internet. I should practice smiling. I do smile a lot. Maybe frown less? Can anyone come over and pack for me?Me: Not too stressed, but need to accomplish some things I've put on a list. Have a better idea how trains and buses run in Ireland... buses are cheaper. And there's a bus from Dublin airport that goes through Cashel on the way to Cork. Can I stay in Mito in Japan? Yes! Do I know a way to get there from Narita airport (Tokyo)? Not yet. Can I afford this trip? Called my bank and we slashed my piggy bank in half. Transferred enough funds to checking to hold me on this trip. Poor  .I'm running out of space on this old blog. I could consolidate it but it may be easier to use my old blog or open another one especially for this trip (and future trips?). It'll need a new name as well. I'll try to do more links on facebook. Few folks read my daily blitherings anymore. The travel blogs will be in a different writing style with a goal of daily writing if not posting. One can hope. |
| ...are killing me... But for my kind of trip? They have to be done.  I do hope to do daily vignettes, even if I don't post daily. I'll need a new blog as well. It will be getting into autumn in Australia and South Africa but I don't expect anything other than slightly cooler temps.  I need some magic. A fairy will do. I'm not a party person so I'm reading the notes on places to stay. Loud-party-hostel? Not for me.  I don't do water but the cheapest places to stay in Honolulu are by the beach... Ah...mE... I am looking at places in Honolulu and Ueno (Taito), Japan. I have choices between hostels and capsule hotels. Capsules? Reminds me a bit of a hostel I stayed at in Goteborg, Sweden and another in Brugge, Belgium. Prices? 5 nights in Honolulu for $150-170. 3 nights in Ueno area of Tokyo. $60-100. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. End of trip not near to being planned. I've looked at Sweden through June 22. May be doable. But... details. And how do I do everything? Truth? I can't. At least it's now clearER when my mother is visiting my sister. That's no longer a factor. Money could be a factor but I'm more concerned about doing too much. Or not doing what I want to do most. Can the roses in Molde, Norway hear me now? SCREAM. So... I'm doing okay. 53,034 |
...   Note to self: wake up before you make a phone call. South Africa... my trip will be too short.  I may see penguins in Australia or South Africa. I'll be traveling alone... I may need good meds before, during or after flights. Suggestions? Me: Still going a bit nuts. Must make plans for trip back. Then I must reserve places to stay in key cities: 1. The first night off the plane. 2. The night before getting on a plane. 3. Festivals... so I'm not sleeping on the ground. (Old bones  .)Festivals: I'll be in... Japan for the 21st of March. Lisbon, Portugal for the Carnation Revolution, April 25th. Coimbra, Portugal for A Queima das Fitas, May 10th. Kristiansand, Norway for Constitution Day, May 17th. Listowel, Ireland for the Literary Fest, March 28th-30th. (maybe) Goteborg, Sweden for the Pride Parade, June 14th. (maybe) Dalarna, Sweden for the Midsummer fest, June 20th. I'll have to check the calendar of holidays to make sure I'm not missing any key ones. It affects transportation, lodging and what-to-do (something special? everything closed?). So much to do! My friends back east were shocked when I told them this morning. I called Gary... and John walked into his office while we were on the phone. I should've been more awake.  53,029 |
| That or... I'm nuts or... both.  I hope to see some trees on my trip. I also hope to see the fynbos. If there were a pirate ship going my way it'd have to be easier than arranging planes. I'll be on a few trains... those tickets must wait. At times it's cheaper to fly. Must remember to buy tea as gifts and instant coffee bags as well. I was in Costa Rica for my birthday in 2012, in Luxembourg in 2013, in Spain in 2014. This year? South Africa. me me me me me: I haven't been a good person to be around the last two weeks. The planning has driven me nuts. Good plans... and mistakes. So: 1. Honolulu, Hawai'i 2. Tokyo, Japan: Will try to get to Kyoto, Nara, Osaka... plus Shikoku and Kyushu. Would like to visit Tohoku. 3. Brisbane, Australia: To include visiting friends in Sydney and leaving from Melbourne. 4. Cape Town, South Africa (should I have done a stayover in Singapore?) 5. Dubai: It breaks up the trip. Just two nights. 6. Lisbon, Portugal: Coimbra! Évora! Lagos! And probably Tavira, maybe Bragança, Sevilla or Mérida in Spain. 7. Oslo, Norway: Definitely Kristiansand for the 17th of May! 8. Dublin, Ireland: Tra Lí (Writer's workshop in Listowel?), Cork. 9. Oslo, Norway... and it's the 9th of June and the next part isn't planned yet. Sweden? Finland? Latvia? Estonia? Lithuania? Noway: Molde, Solvorn, Ålesund, Trondheim, Voss, Bergen? 10. HOME? That's not planned yet either. I've thought of cutting it a bit short but June 27th is big in Sweden. Some problem with cheap tickets to the U.S. as well; but, Canada may be the answer from Dublin or Glasgow. A lengthy list; but, it's a lengthy trip. 4 months or longer. Anyone want to lend me some money? In other news: I'm eating, sleeping, pooping... and slowly calming down. I'm sooo FOUR YEARS OLD! |
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