kimplusireland

I. Love. System of a Down. I have their entire discography now... god bless UTorrent. :D

So here is a picture of my tattoo, its bad quality and its a webcam and its dark but you get the idea.



Anyway, as I am not in Ireland anymore and my trip is done, this blog is pretty much done. I'll create another one for my Denmark trip, I think. Thanks to whoever read my 3am drunken rambles and other travel writings!

Oh Geez I am home.

I am so freaking tired. I have been up since 12am this morning here-time, and slept on the plane, and had about 4 cups of coffee.

This being home thing is so weird. I am suddenly feeling really anxious, although that could be the coffee. I want to see people. I am seeing my brother's hockey game tommorow at 6 and visiting my grandma at some point... anyone free at all tommorow before 6 and after ... 2 or something?

So, Barrack Obama, huh?

And that will be my only foray into opinions on politics on this blog. Curently I am at the airport listening to a newscast about the election. I'm actually happy he won, I think that if America is gonna get a change, its more likely with him than with McCain.

Anyways, because I realize I haven't posted anything about it: Two days ago I got a tattoo in Galway at the cleanest damn tattoo/piercing place I have ever seen. I wanted to keep my dad in suspense so I won't post pictures or a description of it until after I get home. Hehehe.

I slept all day yesterday, pretty much. Melissa and I went out and chilled in Macs that night, but our table was overtaken by lads and we were both tired so we went to bed by like 11. Weeeird. I had about 11 hours sleep last night. I am so awake. And I am feeling weird. A strange sort of pensive. I have become so accustomed to being constantly happy that this shift concerns me, but then I guess its normal to have mood fluctuations.. I am not sad, per se. Well, I kind of am. But not really. I'm just grey. Stoic, perhaps. But I am still a little happy. I don't know.

I am awake, that's for sure.

I have noticed things. Like the island hasn't really changed... but I have changed. I see things differently. I feel like I'd have to wedge myself a little more if I wanted to fit exactly like I did when I left. But then, I don't want to fit exactly like I did before... I have changed and thats fine. I guess I am learning that you can't go back. I obviously cannot go back to exactly how awesome things were this summer, because I change, people leave, seasons turn into other seasons. This doens't mean things get bad, I still manage to stumble my way into more and more awesome situations. Its just a little sad to think this particular period of my life is over. Not the travelling part, nor even the island part (I'm planning on coming back) but the summer 2008 part, the fall 2008 part... I guess I am just a little sad that certain times are ending. This is normal.

I need to go to an ATM.

So I am apparently arriving in Ottawa on the 5th of November, not the 6th. I thought it was an overnight flight, but I just get to spend all day on a plane and then get really screwed up by time differences. :D Yaaay. My flight lands at 5:19. Which is... 10:19 irish time, I think. Yeah. 12 hours in transit. Whoo.

So Halloween on the island turned out to be freaking hilarious!! The custom here, see, is that everyone dresses up, covering themselves fully to mask their identity, and then they all go to the pub, order drinks by pointing or writing it down (voices would give them away) and those who aren't in costume try and guess who they are. The aim is to get through the entire night without being recognized. It was pretty cool! 

Melissa and I didn't dress up because I was feeling absolutely rotten that afternoon (shivering uncontrollably to the point of convulsing, even while under 2 large duvets... I think I had a chill or something) but by the time I had to go I was feeling fine, magically. It was a halloween miracle. But we didn't really have time or the effort to think of somehting really good, and I don't like to do Halloween half assed. Besides, there were a lot of people not dressed up.

I guessed a couple of people correctly, though! And there were some freaking fantastic costumes, too. These three lads dressed up as fireman with all these masks on. They were totally in character too, with exaggerated, mime-like movements. It was great! And Melissa and I kept badgering this one guy who we were positive was Chris. I hope it was, othewise we were badgering some random guy.

And then there was a ceilidh, which was just a huge drunken affair as it always is. I danced the ceilidh dance but our line kept getting obstructed by people milling around... and Melissa had to rescue me from this weird guy who kept talking about parisian women.

Haha, and because everyone orders drinks in masks and nobody knows who anybody is, this means that every minor on the island is out there in masks ordering drinks, and because they are drinking through straws and are not used to drinking they get massively pissed. Its pretty hilarious.

And, yeah. It was a good night!

So I am on the island again, it is wonderful. :) Still one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

And its strange the things you notice when you leave a place for a while and then come back to it. Things like smells are the strongest to bring back memories; the smell of the island, (the tang of the ocean mixed with the clean, bitterly cold smell of the wind, mixed with the peat smoke coming from the chimneys) the smell of the office, the smell of the kitchen with all of Joel's food cooking. Sounds as well, Melissa's voice echoing down the corridor, RTE blasting in the kitchen with the murmer of guests eating on the other side of the door and dishes clinking, the wind whistling over the barren rocks out in the back. Sights as well, like a shaft of sunlight coming in through a window in reception, or the unbelieveable blue of the ocean. The taste of Bulmers and Black tea. All of this is so very Aran to me. Things I took for granted but now I have noticed.

Leaving and coming back, it makes you appreciate a place.

This sort of thing is only going to be ten times stronger, I realize, when I return to Ottawa. Please don't mind if I start wandering around and marvelling at the stupidest things, like bus stops and burnt cigarettes on the ground or snow or something. I really don't know how I am going to react, it should be interesting.

Oh and I am back in Ireland. :D 

I got a lift from this random french girl from the ferry to Cork, which was awesome! We stopped at places on the way and saw a gorgeous sunset and had a long chat about everything. God I love Ireland. I re-fell in love with it on that drive back... the scenery was just so. Freaking. Gorgeous.

And I am now in Galway, waiting for my ferry to the island. Its like I never left.

BUT ITS COLD. And damp. Thats the only thing. I can feel the damp in my bones (and it makes me feel like an old woman). I am just constantly shivering... I need a jumper.

I am going to sleep for at least a day when I get back, maybe two. I am pretty sure I am coming down with something. Bleh.

Street Art is actually really interesting. Its too bad Ottawa Bylaws are so strict... we don't have very much. It all gets taken down too quickly.

I am in Brussels waiting for Annie and I am not entirely sure what there is to do in this city; so I ate some chocolate and did laundry. I will wait for Annie! Also, I stayed in a hotel last night. There were crazy things like towels, and my own bathroom, and a big comfy double beds with fluffy blankets and a TV and a table in my room!! What luxury.

Also mom, I mailed more things home! I could write this to you in an email but I know you read this so I will put it here.