Migration

In Alaska, autumn was over by August...I am migrating south, where I can see and feel the sun and its warmth.

I have been on the road. The photos above are some of the places where I stopped to stretch my tired body, breathe in fresh air, walk around, admire the mountains, sit by a lake, rest under a tall redwood tree, daydream...and act like a 10 year old girl around baby dwarf goats.

I Love Alaska

Aurora borealis

Beautiful day in the arctic

Migrating birds

Moose!

Midnight sun on summer solstice

Migrating caribou herd

A herd of musk ox (with babies!) came over to my house one day.

Cute little guy :)

I can honestly say that this place changed my life. Here, I feel alive.

Ah! Alaska!

Greetings from Alaska's Arctic! I have been busy working (and playing!) and it has been months since my last post. Thanks for visiting and saying hello, even though I am inconsistent and not a dedicated blogger like so many of you are. I do have many stories and photos to share with you, so come back soon :)

I am now in the arctic coast of Alaska, just 5 miles away from the Arctic Ocean. In polar bear country! Here, I experienced -65°F (with windchill, it feels like -85°F) and lived without the sun for too long...Summer is here (finally!) and I have been enjoying the continuous daylight (the sun never sets from May to August). The photo above was taken on summer solstice, about 200 miles south of where I live and work. In a couple weeks, I will be heading south once again for a new adventure.

Last Days of Indonesia

Medan, Sumatra

This restaurant serves meatballs, chicken, duck, fried noodles, and ice cram.

Boys at the mosque on a Friday afternoon.

Masjid Raya Baiturrahman in Banda Aceh, Sumatra.

The 2004 earthquake and tsunami killed more than 170,000 people in the province of Aceh (61,000 people died in the city of Banda Aceh) and destroyed infrastructure along 800km of coastline. The mosque remained intact and served as a crisis center for survivors. It was also here where thousands of unidentified bodies were laid out and later buried in mass graves.

Tsunami Museum in Aceh, Sumatra

Breakfast with Mei, Elly, and Dita. Bogor, Java.

I met these lovely ladies at the bus stop in Yogyakarta. They let me tag along and hang out with them all day and even invited me to their home in Bogor, where I spent the night and had breakfast with them the following morning. These special people made my trip memorable.

Back to Alaska's Arctic

Photo taken by Jack in Wiseman

Packing up and getting ready for another adventure in Alaska's Arctic.

Java Days -- Part IV

Ninth-century Hindu temple near Prambanan.

Borobudur, ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument. I've wanted to come here for a long time.

Borobudur

 

On the bus, near Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta

Charcoal in coffee. Yogyakarta.

Crater Lake, Kawah Ijen.

I am back in Alaska. It was -40 degrees Farenheit in Fairbanks last night. I hear it was -65 degrees up north (yow!), where I will be going in a couple of days. Although I am excited about spending another winter in Alaska's Arctic, I already miss Japan and Indonesia. Here are more pictures from Java (Lombok pictures are below). Photos from Japan will be up soon. I hope you're staying warm, wherever you are :)

Lombok Days

Sweet Leni, cutest girl in the whole wide world. Senaru, Lombok.

Climbing Gunung Rinjani (my little yellow tent on the left). I was surrounded by monkeys.

One of my neighbors on Rinjani. Stefan from Switzerland.

Post-hike beverage. Rice wine from Senaru, sold in reused plastic water bottle.

Siblings in Kuta, Lombok.

Monkey relaxing.

Happy Weekend

Love this girl.

Thank You!

Goodies from aunt Toshie's organic garden! I am grateful that we are able to eat delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables that are uncontaminated, free of pesticides and free of radiation!　　幸せ者です、私。