I have finally started putting things in boxes, it is about 1 AM now, and there is an enormous mess in my room. I think it actually makes Neko nervous, because instead of being curled up at my feet, she is out in the kitchen. I have to clean.

I wasn't planning on writing today, I hadn't done much and packing was looming large on my mind, but I talked to two people, and thanks to them, the blog is going on. So thank you to Brendon and Sara's mysterious English flatmate (scratch that. Friend) - if it weren't for you two, this update would not exist.

First, a random picture from yesterday.


It's been cloudy and rainy every day for the last week - I suppose that's part of the reason that I haven't been taking many pictures. Either way, the sun peeked out for a moment yesterday while I was hanging out at the new half pipe yesterday so I took this picture. That's about all the story that goes with it.

And that brings us to today. Suddenly it was boiling hot and humid again, and I spent most of the day buying boxes, cleaning, and getting ready to pack. At about 5:00 I was going to the store and figured I would stop and see what Mori was up to. He was just finishing cleaning his boat, and he proposed that we go diving for shellfish. I had my mask and flippers mailed to me expressly for this, so I cancelled my plans to go to the store, and we got ready to go.


My scooter, equipped for diving.


Our boat.

We stopped to pick up Takenobu, Mori's friend who works at the factory island. He had just gotten off work, and he wanted to come along. His birthday was last weekend, so Mori got him an excellent birthday present.


I kind of think this picture is amazing.


And this is where we were diving.


Arriving. Takenobu with present in hand.


Yes! The current was so strong that we actually had to pick up the anchor and go get him when it was time to go back.

So the diving. We were diving for these big snails, maybe seven inches in diameter, that hang on to the bottom and sides of big rocks. The current was pretty brisk, and the visibility in the water was probably two meters. Frankly, I didn't have the chops for it. First, you had to swim pretty hard to get lined up over a big rock outcrop. Once you found it, you did a dive and swam down probably 20 feet. It was far enough that if you didn't equalize your ears on the way down, you were in too much pain at the bottom to concentrate. Once you reach the bottom, you grab onto a rock to prevent being swept away, and then there - ears pounding, lungs screaming for air, work gloves barely protecting you from sea urchins and whatnot - you pull yourself over and around the rocks looking for these snails. Mori got three in a half hour, I got a rock and a sinker that somebody lost. I refuse to accept defeat, we're going back out soon - to an easier spot, says Mori.

It was fun and exciting, and really hard! I am looking forward to going again. Next time I'll get five.

Coming home, Takenobu was pretty excellent, so here is a little photo shoot to end it off. I hope I have something to show on Friday.







Today I have officially been here exactly one year. Wow.

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