[after a rather logistically-challenged trip to Leipzig, i visited Berlin with F as tour-guide and learnt to appreciate the east-west German dichotomy... for the first time in person.]

[i made a trip to the hot-springs resort area of Hakone, about an hour away from Yokohama, Japan, while attending a conference. the weather was misty and miserably wet in July but that did not stop me from wandering in the famous Picasso sculpture garden, nor did it prevent me from enjoying a therapeutic warm foot bath within its grounds... however my old Canon Ixus camera did eventurally RIP in its homeland and the following few pictures are whatever i managed to rescue from it...]

[i did pamper myself for one night in Hakone at the luxurious Fujiya Hotel, indulging in the in-house hot-springs onsen facility...]

[and the traditional Japanese breakfast was literally a gustatory awakening and i am still lusting for more... ]

[the second day of my visit in Hakone offered better touristy opportunities... and i actually saw Mt Fuji in the distance while floating in the air during the cable car ride and crossed Lake Ashi with better views of the beautiful scenery...]

[one memorable stop during my visit to Hakone was at the quaint tea-house Amazake Chaya, which supposedly dates back to the Edo period, where relics of stone-paved path still lined the sidewalks leading to it. i had a loveliest of simple snacks; savoury and sweet sticky bean puddings and a refreshing chilled rice-malt that's yet turned into sake... i'd love to have another cuppa there some day!]

[in the last few months, i got acquainted with 3 new four-legged friends: Max, Rusty and Vespar]

[i got to attend my brother Wee and Lianne's wedding, which was low-keyed and very enjoyable... and am amazed by how much little Raeanne has grown...]

[the colours of Autumn cheered me on as i struggled to write my thesis in 2 months...]

[i got to enjoy an American wedding despite a scary and nearly terrible fall down the stairs of the church wherein the couple was being wed, thanks to my date for the timely catch. note-to-myself: heels are horrid things!]

[i discovered that i ain't the only one who enjoys messing about in the kitchen...]

[and i sampled and made a lot of random edible things... =)]

[waking up early to run the Twin-Cities 5k in the Autumn drizzle with a fun goofy friend was one of the loveliest things i did this year..]

[Ulli came to visit and i began to miss all my cool friends who are scattered everywhere in this crazy world when she left...]

[i had my first American Thanksgiving and a fun walk in the woods with the Boeffs!]

[a first American Christmas celebration at the Merkles with my very own stocking filled with treats and got to enjoy a very decadent and rich chocolate pudding with divine amounts of whipped cream!]

[best of all... there has been so much snow this winter... i got to try snow-shoeing... x-country skiing... and enjoy the wonders of nature in the snowy outdoors...]

[the loveliest scene this winter is this picture i captured during my recent visit to the Boeffs... i hope the magic of this winter will carry through the new year... and that 2008 will be a beautiful journey for everyone out there!]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!