Bridge of Ross

I went off and hired a car for the day, so Sasha and I could discover some of the small corners of County Clare. We started late in the day, after taking our time just relaxing in bed. It was cloudy and actually looked quite miserable out there. When out on the west coast of Ireland, you can always look out to the Atlantic (west), look up and read the clouds, and you'll know what you're in for the next wee while. We were in for some strong wind and some showers. Well, at least we'd be in the car and outta Ennis.

Sasha works at a restaurant called the Long Dock, in Ennis and it's a semi-fancy place. Though the original restaurant is in a place called Carrigaholt and we were actually off there to see what it's like. The shop in Ennis is quite modern and contemporary, whereas the one in Carrigaholt is like your proper old pub. Personally, I find that it has more character. It's known for it's Seafood chowder and bucket of steamed mussels in a white wine garlic sauce. So, fancy that, guess what we ordered.

After packing it in, we finally reached the coast. Our original plan was to aim for the Loophead but somehow we ended up at the Bridge of Ross, and opted out discover every tid bit of this place. I personally thought that we'd just do a quick few minute walk around, but Sasha was really enjoying the location, so who could walk away from there. It was already past 6pm, and if I were in Japan, it'd be getting dark already, eventhough it's June. But here in Ireland, you could still read a book outdoors up to 11pm.

At the Bridge of Ross

At the Bridge of Ross, there's a cool cliff line, a wee cave, underground stream, and the wonderful sounds of the waves crashing against the land. I was starting to feel a tad tired, and began to have a wee tickle in the back of my throat, but who knows the next time I'll be able to enjoy the ocean side with Sasa again. Might as well enjoy it, as she's having a fabulous time. Once again, she's more or less stolen my digital camera and is busy taking many photos and making many silly movies.

I was already starting to feel ill by this time...
But, still a wonderful view and place to chill out.

Sasa did a bit of climbing around and found
herself a wee cove to sit down and enjoy the view.

What's this!? Naw, it's just the postmen doing their job
amongst the wonderful graffitti of Ennis.

Hurling

On Sunday, I took myself down to Cusack Park. The local ground where hurling and gaelic football matches take place. I came to watch the yellow and blues, An Clar. The match was scheduled for 16:00, but I was already in the stadium with a Japanese musician whom came here to learn a bit of the traditional Irish tunes, similar to myself, as to what I did before heading off to Japan. We may have seemed to be there a tad early, but some SAA or minor league was playing and it was giving us a good preview of what's coming up.

As per usual, when in Ireland, you're constantly rewarded with rain. Though not the heavy kind of rain which usually falls to the ground. In Ireland, you are greeted with a misty rain that blows from the side, as well as from above. Even though, Dai and I were under the stand roof, from below and from across, we were constantly drentched. As we weren't season ticket holders, we were in the standing zone.

As the stands started to fill with more fans, before we knew it, all of the empty spaces have been filled, and even the standing spaces out in the exposed area beyond the stand roof was covered by hurling fans.

As the players the came out from their change rooms, echos of An Clar, Limerick, could be heard. I've lived in Ennis for a while, but I never perceived Ennis like this. For me, it was always a place of traditional Irish music, but now I was surrounded by numerous GAA fans, and I could see the surrounding Ennis buildings at angles I've never seen before.

The match itself was full of adrenaline, and Clare supporters were constantly shouting chants of "Up the Banner!" which is the Clare supporters chant. The crowd was hot! Especially because they were against their neighbour, Limerick. The speed of hurling is totally amazing, and also seems quite insane how a hard ball is batted around with players not wearing any protective gear, aside from a cup or the occasional helmet. It's nice to see athletes that aren't buffly built but much leaner, built for speed. Whereas many N. American players are built like a frigg'n brick shit house.

All in all, the match was fabulous, and I was glad that I was able to experience another part of Irish culture.

Ennis, Co. Clare, Republic of Ireland

It's been over a week since I've been back in Ennis. A small city out on the west coast of Ireland, where I spend a year living before heading off to Japan. It's great to be back here where traditional Irish tunes leak from every pub on the street. So, that is Ennis. A wonderful place to experience traditional Irish music, and I just missed the Fleadh Nua, a wee traditional irish music week, though not as big as the Ennis Traditional Music Festival which takes place at the end of October of each year. It's wonderful to be back in a place where the music moves the people and much of the heart. People from all corners of the world convey to this location to get a taste of the ever so popular Clare tunes, and each time I return here, I'm welcomed back into the various sessions. Plenty of the local musicians recognize me, and shout a great "Paul, welcome back!" with open arms and ask if I've brought my fiddle along. Alas, this time around, I've left my fiddle collecting dust in my flat back in Japan.

Each time I return to Ennis, I promise myself that when I return to wherever I'm currently stationed that I'll continue playing, so that when I return to Ennis, I'll be a much more effective player amongst the sessions. So, as you now know, Ennis has it's wonderful music sessions. And unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the people you ask, that's all it offers. Well, according to my books. Everything else for me just seems to be either dressing or annoyances. And I won't go into details of what's what.

On one of the days Saša and I ventured off to Galway just to hang out and see the ocean side by Salthill. Here I am, just relaxing and playing with my new whistle. Ahhh, I won't see scenes like this when I return to Japan. In Japan, I'm just not used to those clay japanese roof tiles, wooden buildings, wee alleyways and the lack of space. I'll certainly miss the smell of peat burning, Something I'll never smell in Japan. It'll be a while again when I next return to Ireland. I can only imagine how much it'll have changed from now. Also, I shall return to Japan, as a single man. Saša and I are finding that the time apart and distance from each other is a call for being good friends. But not exclusive, since we both currently have different goals in mind.

Tokyo then Hong Kong

For a number of JETs (Japan Exchange Teachers), whom are recontracting for another year we had a few days in Tokyo for a Recontracting conference. I must admit that the only portion of it which I enjoyed was going to a Mexican restaurant in Shinjuku. Mmmmm... all you can eat Nachos and Salsa. Being in Niigata, the dish I've truely missed has been Mexican. Even when travelling through Europe and Oceania, once in a while I crave Mexican, and low and behold... there's nothing I can do about it.

Anyways, since my departure from Tokyo, on the 8th I ventured a bit Southwest of Japan, and spend a couple of days in Hong Kong. And I guess that you could say that I was fortunate enough to be there during a fabulous storm. Went up top of Victoria Peak, but was rewarded with fog, mist, clouds and rain. Hmmmm, how could I decribe Hong Kong in a few words. HOT, WET (as in humidity wise), crowded and full of super tall high risers.

I was totally amazed with the amount of super high risers. Condos easily riser over 50 stories, and that's just not a single building, but such buildings cover the entire coastline. In town, the tiny buildings are still close to 20 stories in height. With the constant heat, one must take constant refuge inside the buildings which are constantly cooled with their airconditioning systems. May be it's just me, but when outdoors, I seemed to be the only one that was profusely sweating and constantly drentched, whereas everyone else seemed to be hot, yet coping... Bloody Canadianism in me...

And thanks to the wonders of airconditioning in Hong Kong, wherever you walk, you constantly think that it's raining due to the drip drip drips from the numerous aircontioning units that cover the entire side of the buildings. Only the buildings where people live, since the offices are using industrial units. I will forever remember Hong Kong as a shopping haven and wetness...


My time in HK was short, and I quickly departed as I arrived. Off to Europe. A long flight to London Heathrow, and almost the same amount of time awaiting at the airport for my connecting flight to Ireland. I'm currently in Ireland, and loving it. The town Ennis hasn't changed a bit. As usual, the music here is fabulous, but everything else is pretty crap... But, what can I say. At least it's not Japan. Nothing against Japan. It's just not for me.