Castles Galore!

Mental Floss had a blog entry this weekend about top castles around the world to visit. I have been to Mont Saint Michel, but not to the other ones. You can read the article here. I do not know how I missed the one in Rome, we were there long enough to hit everything. One of the things I loved about Cardiff and miss, was that in the centre of town stood a huge castle. I have been in the castle so many times, that I could probably go now and give the tour of Cardiff castle like a townie. Hope everyone had a very wonderful holiday, whatever your chosen belief may be!

When monkey’s attack!

I had already heard this story a couple of months ago, but the headline of this blog made me laugh. In Delhi, the deputy mayor was attacked and killed by monkeys who live around the palace.

In India, Monkey spank you!

Now, I totally appreciate Chewie’s complete fear of these animals. They were so cute in Malaysia, though!

Apartment Hunting

So next weekend I am heading up to Boston to apartment hunt. I have a few neighborhoods picked out: Brighton, Brookline, Allston, and Quincy. Of those, I know Brookline the best, because that is where Mom lived when she was in the city.

Movers have also been contacted and estimates arranged, and currently, I am looking for storage space. All of this is very exciting but overwhelming aswell. To prepare for my migration, I have been watching a lot of movies and TV shows set in Boston to amuse myself. Boston Legal, Crossing Jordan, Mystic River, and Gone Baby Gone, have all provided me with ideas and entertainment. Once I move, I won’t have TV for awhile, so I am brushing up now.

It snowed today, and I think it was a sign to get me in the mood for long, harsh winters in New England. This change will be good for me and my psyche, as I need constant stimulation and new things.

Here is the view from my window. The snow has melted off, but you can still see a few remnants of it on the firewood. Ignore the screen, I didn’t want to take it out to take the picture.

Flying Out

I am back in an airport.  My life doesn’t seem to be complete without me traveling to some new place, or old place.  I am flying back out of Boston and going back to Washington D.C. to go home.  I had a good time out here, and my interview went well.  As of right now, I think I am going to start into motion, moving up here permanently.  I love Boston, and out of all the American cities I have lived in, it reminds me of Europe the most.  I went shopping and bought some new shoes and new MAC makeup… Yay!  I hope to come up again soon and continue shopping for apartments and looking for a job.  Wish me luck!

Memorial

Today is the two year anniversary of my mother’s death. I have been ok, today. Chewie has kept me busy, but she also gave me the space I needed to contemplate and be introspective(Vegetate) . I called Amanda, and Nanny and Granddad, and Orin to check in. Shyam called me to check up on me, which I thought was sweet. I am safe and sound, and I am in Malaysia, still. I promise a full update when I get home. I am keeping a diary of experiences so that I can blog about them when I get more stable Internet access.

I bought a bunch of new Bollywood movies and a new purse to cheer myself up. Chewie and her family have been nothing but wonderful, and I am having a great time! I miss my mom dearly, and I think I am galavanting all over the world, trying to search for something. I am always exploring the corners of the globe, and each street I traverse down, I am looking for a face, maybe her face. I am looking for my people, and I want to find the meaning that is supposed to be a part of this life. Certainly, I am happier now, than I ever was in high school and college, because I have learned to make my own happiness. I rely on me.

You know what I have learned during this two year journey? The world is the same everywhere. The US, Britain, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Malaysia, Asia, Middle East, Russia, Africa, all the people and the ideas are the same. It is only the small details which differ. Was that the meaning I was to derive?

Instead of expounding on the meaning of life, I should be working on my dissertation. My mom would kick my butt, right now. I promise it is going along though! I will be done.

I love you, Mom! <3

Spectacle Island offers spectacular views of Boston Harbor

Tagged for its Boston content!  Spectacle Island at CNN

Curiosities

 

I have always been interested in historical curiosities, and the darker side of history. That might explain why, for my dissertation, I am focusing on the death of monks in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

One of my favorite websites, The Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society seems to satisfy my eccentric tastes.

I stumbled across this entry today, which talks about the Museum of the Souls in Purgatory. I found the idea of a collection of religious artifacts that had been believed burned by purgatorial souls to be interesting. Currently, I am working on chapters in my dissertation that deal with Purgatory and death visions. Some monks would have visions of Hell or Purgatory and come back with burn marks on their body and face to give authenticity to their visions.

I am disappointed that I did not know of this museum when I visited Rome last year. It would have been an good excursion for me.

Realization of Location

I just had a pretty cool realization. On my trip to Malaysia, I will be as close to the equator as I have ever been. I have never been below the Tropic of Cancer line, and this is pretty exciting for me!

I just wanted to share!

(This was secretly also a test post to see how embedded images would work)

*Edited to say: I think I like the Blogger method of inserting pictures better. But, WordPress is the trendy method to use these days.