Konnichiwa

One of the easiest flights of my life.  I ate lunch, then read for a bit, then slept, then woke up to eat again, and then slept some more, and then woke up and I was about to land in 30 minutes. Yea it was nice.  I really have to thank God for these great travel genes.  I just switch into hibernation mode whenever I travel.  I'm made for this stuff.  

Tokyo is so amazing. It is such a huge city, keep a look out for new photos once I make it into town.  It's about 12am Tokyo time right now. I had my first meal in Japan, which oddly enough was Indian food.  And dang good Indian food at that.  The owners are from Nepal and they pride themselves for making the best Indian food.  It was quite amazing, I ate four different types of nan (sooo good).  I'm starting to learn some Japanese words.  I tried to ask for more water and failed, but I'll do better next time.  

I will be sleeping in tomorrow and then hitting the town.  I'll try and get some good shots of the district I'm in for ya'll. 

I also made some new friends.  Dieki, Yumi, and Yuki (probably spelt wrong) they live here in Japan and seem really nice.  Yuki likes Lincoln Park, haha.  Im looking forward to getting to know them more. 

stay posted more to come as my adventure continues.

Japan is about to begin.

Well I just printed out my itinerary for my Japan flight.  But still it has yet to hit me that I will be spending the next two months there.  I also packed today.  I managed to get everything into one backpack and a carryon.  Remember now thats 7 weeks and only two bags, impressed? I could have got the job done with one but i thought i would take it easy on my back this time.  Back to the it not hitting me thing.  I don't know what's wrong with me.  Is it my carefree attitude, or my absent mindedness?  I just can't figure it out.  Anyways this will be my first of many (hopefully) blogs that I will be posting about my adventures in Tokyo.  I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences with you these next few weeks.  

I leave Monday the 2nd and return the 18th of July.  I'll have some opportunities to do some exciting and challenging things while I'm there so whatever your style is pray for me. If its head bowed eyes closed, prostrated, Indian style, whatever. Just throw some up for me. Gracias. 

We are going.

One thing ends another starts.

Somethings continue from an abrupt stop.

They stop and they go.

Some will see red, some will see green.

What ever the case, shortly, we will all return with a tale

I'm looking forward to sharing stories and experiences from our summers.  

Al-Jazeera.net/best news website I read

I highly recommend adding english.aljazeera.net to your bookmark, as well as making it part of your daily news source. I have been frequenting this site over the last few months and I have enjoyed it more than any other news-site i've read. Yes i know even more than NPR, please dont hate me. It just has so much news from all over the world. I have learned more about global politics than ever before, it's quite pleasant. Now there may be some resistance and skepticism about this website, which some may claim as being pro-terrorist, and anti-American, but give it a chance. Compare their stories with similar ones given by more accepted sources and you will find that the contrast is slight. But hey the media will always be plagued with half stories and subtle (many times not so subtle) propaganda, so really give it a try. I hope you come to appreciate it as much as i have.

Thank you Steve for the reference.

Brotherhood.

A gracious answer to pray at a pivotal point in life.

This shared life of sorrow and joy has been mixed,

mixed with the narratives of a select few.

This selection was divinely inspired,

divinely orchestrated in perfect unity.

Common themes knit together contrasting paths.

Our banner will be unity in diversity. 

Brotherhood - a common bond amongst a group of men with a common maker

Boredom

and unrest

its seeping in through the walls

transcending everything you have created to keep it out

yet any attempt fails and breakdowns

faster it drowns your entire body in its cold abandonment

you fight it with all that you have but your mind cracks 

filling and overflowing with the thoughts you've been avoiding

they hit you hard and leave you unconscious until you wake 

The Breath of Nature - Chuang Tzu

When great Nature sighs, we hear the winds

Which, noiseless in themselves,

Awaken voices from other beings,

Blowing on them.

From every opening

Loud voices sound. Have you not heard

This rich of tones?

There stands the overhanging wood

On the steep mountain:

Old trees with holes and cracks

Like snouts, maw, and ears,

Like beam-sockets, like goblets,

Grooves in the wood. hollows full of water:

You hear mooing and roaring, whistling,

Shouts of command, grumblings,

Deep drones, sad flutes.

One call awakens another in dialogue.

Gentle winds sing timidly,

Strong ones blast on without restraint.

Then the wind dies down. The openings 

Empty out their last sound.

Have you not observes how all then trembles and subsides?

Yu relied: I understand:

The music of earth sings through a thousand holes.

The music of man is made on flutes and instruments.

What makes the music of heaven?

Master Ki said:

Something is blowing on a thousand different holes.

Some power stands behind all this and makes the sounds die

down.

What is this power?

This is for those who love nature.