first of all, i’d like to say happy new year to everybody in Japan! it’s 2012 there already and i want to wish everybody a safe day and a safe year. in japanese, we say “AKEMESHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU! KOTOSHI MOU YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU!” for us in hawaii, we have one more day. and it’s usually this day i reflect on the year that will pass. 2011 was a turning point in my life. so many thing happened in this year that it seems like it went by so fast. one thing after the other and next thing you know, it’s gone! thank goodness i have this blog and i take a lot of photos and videos to keep the memories in my mind. if i didn’t, i’d forget a lot because there’s no way to keep up with my life. what i’ve been though this year i will never forget. just 2 things, traveling and the tsunami. since april of 2010 when i got my new passport, i went in and out of japan 16 times, traveled to 6 different countries, and traveled around this world. then the tsunami in japan made me realize how important it is to help people, and at the same time, enjoy every breath of your life. i found a place in me that likes to help others. i found a place in me that wants to bring people together. and i found a place in me that appreciates everything i have, and everything i don’t have. life for me is simple and all i need to survive is my family and friends. hope your 2011 went good, and if it didn’t, there’s always 2012 to look forward too. hope you all have a good one!
people think i’m playing around when i’m traveling. not always. i’m learning, i’m soaking up the experience, and i’m trying to connect with nature. sailing this little catamaran in the secluded islands of indonesia was fun. it was my first time there, my first time sailing, and my first time feeling so free! if a wind storm came and blew me out to see, i wouldn’t have cared. i was at a place i loved.
riding this seaplane was also my first time. i would love to take this around the world and look for waves. that would be cool! it’s one of my dreams to do this and let me say something, MY DREAMS ALWAYS COME TRUE!
and riding in a private jet was my first time too. rode it 4 times this year and riding it again next week. like i said, 2011 was a great year. i want to thank everybody that made my life so good, i want to thank everybody that supported me, and i want to thank my family and friends for making me the happiest man in the world. i already know what i want for 2012. i’ll tell you tomorrow.
once again, Happy New Year to all my family and friends in Japan! i wish i was with you eating mochi soup! keep warm, keep smiling, keep happy, and KEEP SURFING! Aloha from Hawaii!
*and last: to the kids and everybody in tohoku, 2012 is going to be a great year!!!! i’ll see you again and again! WE ARE ONE CONTINUES!
