England/Ireland trip 2007: Part 1

October 23, 2007
This is a big day. . . I am on the train to Newark airport, to board the flight that will take me to Gatwick airport, London.

These past few months, since I've decided that I need to finally start my traveling in the ways I've been wanting to for years, have come and gone so fast. Everything in my life these days seems so obviously a test of some sorts or another, helping me learn and strengthen. In maybe my most favorite season of the year, fall, when I normally count on soaking in the vast array of colors brushing against a crisp cool sky. . . Not this fall. This fall is determined to wear a summers mask. With days still reaching the 80's, the trees are probably more confused about this global warming stuff than the Republicans. . . (bad joke? Sorry Mom and Dad). Seriously though, I normally seek out comfort in the cold days, burning fires and sipping hot cider. . instead I'm still sporting a summers dress, and quite frankly, for some reason, I think it's this "nice weather" that's aiding my sense of some sort of underlying loneliness. Even the colors on the trees seem lonely. A sea of confused green trees, with one random, lonesome spout of color, awkwardly placed and isolated. So. . . I look forward to this trip for adventure, experiences, and hopefully a starting point to fully break out of this confusing, blurry time I feel so "stuck" (that's for you, amanda) in lately. Oh yah, and of course some amazing photos!
"NEWARK AIRPORT, NEXT STOP".
.end.

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October 23rd, 2007 (later that night)
Made it onto the flight! Out of New Jersey, hooray! Takeoff was. . . . bumpy. . . to say the lest. I definitely am looking forward to this trip, and a few more specific travels to come in the next year(including Africa with Anders H). Upcoming travels will be both for the 'biz., and for my life, which of course keeping that sane, keeps the photography stuff inspired and growing!)

Every time I get on a flight, I can feel it in the depths of my heart. . . What the hell does that even mean, you ask? I'm not entirely sure, but I do know that my true home is where my heart feels full, and I've found that my heart overflows when I travel (even on small trips), be it traveling with a purpose, or traveling for the sake of experience and not needing a reason to go.
That said, every time I get on a plane, there is also a very big, noticeable part of my heart and mind that aches and wishes I was going back to CA. That speaks fairly loudly I'd say as far as where I want to / need to be heading as soon as possible.

And speaking of purpose, I think I've really settled on the organization that I want to start working with (through Michelle King Photography). It's called Kids With Cameras (htttp://www.kidswithcameras.org). If anyone has any other organizations in ind that focus on helping children in any way, globally and/or locally, I'd love to hear your input. I'm also starting to think of new (cheesy, perhaps, yes) catchy slogans for my photography business to kick off this joining of photo work with making a difference (at least to one child somewhere in the world). So far I have:
"Clicks with a cause"
" f/stop-ing child suffering "
OK. . . So maybe that's a poor start. . . Anyone wanna put some input on that too? I feel like I'm assigning homework. . . So all of you go work on brainstorming for me, and I'll go make myself ill on a lovely in-flight "meal".

See you on the other side of the pond!

~Belly in the Sky~
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October 26th, 2007
So far this trip is proving to be well worth it, on so many levels. . . Dylan, the sweetheart that he is, has hooked me up with a free (a very rare thing in these parts) place to stay with a very generous and welcoming couple in Colchester. Brigitta and Patrick Amos (thank you!). I've so much loved strolling around the 1/2 sized towns, down cobble street alleys that pour right into beautiful green hills, with old castles and ruins resting silently. . . Being able to catch up with Dylan a bit (for those of you who are wondering, Dylan's the adorable (in such a manly way!) red-headed guy who just so happens to be amazing behind the ol' video camera, and was in the same class as yours truly for enough time that it's silly we never spoke until only this past year. . . However when we did, it was the RIGHT timing, and I am so thankful to have found him as a very strongly connected friend). OK, back up. . . This place might not be as small as HALF size like I just mentioned, but MAN oh man, it really puts into perspective how romantic, sensible, and convenient it is to actually build things (houses/cars/towns) with such respect for creating what you need, and leaving the rest for the land to remain left as earth rather than pavement (btw., have they paved over the old tracks and grave stones in Bryn Athyn yet since I've been gone? Who needs that old junk anyway?).

When I first got in a couple of days ago, I hadn't slept for WAY to long (let's just say the overnight/overseas flight seemed more like a well-lit cramped up puddle hopper, than a nice (or even remotely reasonable) place to catch some Z's. By the time I did make it to my bed, I think the very second my bum hit the hay, my legs, reminded of what it's like to be freed of all the weight, had a nervous break down. My calves locked up so badly it probably actually looked like I had nice huge muscle definition in them! YEOWCH! That night I fell asleep around 10:00pm and slept until 7:30am (with about 5 wake-ups throughout the night due to some HORRIBLE recurring nightmare I couldn't seem to kick). Although I did LOVE the rest, waking only brought physical challenges like aching calves and a jet-legged brain. No worries, though, I was ready to set out to Canterbury (thanks to Dylan for taking me on a such a SWEET day trip!) Probably the most fun you'll ever have involving a tourist trap, is the Canterbury Tales journey. . . Maybe not FUN, so much as funny and entertaining (due to the technology that I believe was used in the 1800's). Of course, this ended with a replica of some of the insides of the Canterbury cathedral and tombs (which 5 minutes later we saw as the real-deal). Once we exited we walked to the real cathedral about a minute down the cobble-stoned streets (lots of cobblestone everywhere around here, I highly recommend with all of this money going into "beautifying BA", we toss some cobble stoned streets in there. And why not anywhere else that has a name stolen from England? Southampton could probably use some enhancements.) The massive entry and choir halls of the cathedral are of course extreme and beautiful. I think I could have mistaken this one in particular for our very own Bryn Athyn cathedral, that is, if one was to shrink it down about 1 billion times. The truly humbling part, though, of this whole place, was the under croft. Wow. Another perfect example of where you can FEEL the warmth and power of a place of prayer and peace. I've never, in person, seen anything so dark, cozy and silent, while at the same time powerfully bold and strong. SAFE! It had this overwhelming aura of safety and complete balance. We sat here a few minutes before roaming the grounds a bit more, grabbing a bite, then heading back to Colchester.

This morning, before heading to breakfast and then to this train back towards London, I was DREADING putting back on my pack. . . My calves are reminded of how much HELL they're in every time I even look at the thing. Alas, Dylan to the rescue once again, 1/2 way on our walk to town, demanded we stop to fix it properly, because it looked something like a dwarf "attacking me". And BOY did it feel that way. A few minor adjustments, and I'm a new woman! Seriously, SUCH a huge relief. . . No wonder my body hates me! I think I had each setting/strap possible on the damn thing set to "hurt me as much as possible" mode. WHEW! THANK you, again, Dylan.

Jay. . . My best friend. . . My partner in crime. . . My "lint". . . I can not BELIEVE that I haven't seen him yet! He's already shown signs of one of the many reasons I adore him so much, by (protectively and stubbornly) telling me it's "unacceptable" to be staying in a room with 12 strangers and a shower in the center of them all. I actually do love the idea of hostels in general, and plan on staying in some while on this trip for the experience and meeting of other fellow backpackers, but for tonight, I've agreed to get my shit together, and stay in a private hotel room (one with a toiled AND a shower! How Fancy!).

"LONDON LIVERPOOL STATION: NEXT STOP!"

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October 29th, 2007
So. . . That hotel in London was just about as close to a shit hole as one could possibly have gotten without being a hostel, and to top it off, with the 60GBP price-tag, it's all together a shit situation. To make a long, miserable story short: Once I got past the A-Hole who seemed to have the most miserable life on the planet at the front desk, the stairs went on forever leading to my room on the very top, dark floor. There was a NASTY stench outside the room, which leading in through the 1.5 inch gap at the bottom of the door that didn't really even properly lock. The sink was falling off the wall, the shower barely SPAT at me, and the springs in the mattress seemed like they were on a mission to puncture my ribcage/lungs. Thank GOD that was one night, and is over.
Dylan and I flew to Dublin together (flying around here is cheaper than DRIVING. . . Let's make THAT more common in the states too). Rachel (Cole) HOOKED us up with a SAWWEEEETTTT hotel room in a really nice hotel for the two nights we spent there. . . I ADORE Rach. . . It was amazing for me to get her all to myself (OK, I shared her with the rest of Dublin who all seemed to know her. . . That's my girl!). I love her maybe more now than I did when we were joined at the hips as kids! Dublin. . . Oh my sweet Dublin. So far this is my most favorite city I've ever been to in my life. . . The people, buildings, really ALL of it is so amazing. Not to mention, it really brings out the SWEET dance moves in everyone, but most especially in Dyl. (Howth (along the coast outside of Dublin) is also an excellent place to visit if you're ever blessed enough to visit this beautiful Republic of Ireland. I was actually losing my mind with excitement over EVERY thing. . . The amazing sky which at any given time will be a rainbow, light misty drops, beautiful clouds, and a nice slightly warming sun all together. Pair that with the quiet harbor town, it's tiny Irish café's where the locals hang and play traditional tunes, and the gorgeous coastal line, and you have the ingredients to give a warmer heart.
Last night I made an attempt to venture off on my own and take some night shots around Dublin. I got about two shots of the hay-penny bridge, before getting distracted by these two Irish blokes. Turns out they were actually great people, and we all seemed to have plenty in common. Had a great time talking and laughing with them at their favorite local dive pub where "the cool kids go". One thing I've noticed (and completely am a sucker for) is that the Irish accent only gets FASTER and stronger the more one drinks. Also, apparently the American accent is an admired thing to a lot of people on this side of the pond? How is that even possible? After a good drink or two with my new local friends, I headed home to catch some Z's with Rach and Dyl.
Today we parted ways with Rach (I already miss her!) and wandered around Dublin a bit until stumbling into the Zoo. Who can resist a good Zoo visit?! Definitely not Dylan or me.
Now we're on a rail heading up the coast to Belfast, where we'll spend out day tomorrow before flying back to London. I get to see Jay on Wednesday (day after tomorrow) and I can barely contain myself.
Time to take a nap while I have this bit of time off from my pack and screwed up knee (I think I tore a ligament... Total bummer!). I miss my puppers whiskey so much.