Ian Smedley Ceramics

Ian Smedley Ceramics Full time potter making a variety of pieces in stoneware and raku.

Matang Wildlife Centre - Malaysian Borneo Just completed our first week at the wildlife project. It has been a tough wee...
10/06/2026

Matang Wildlife Centre - Malaysian Borneo

Just completed our first week at the wildlife project. It has been a tough week, it is extremely hot, mid 30’s, with up to 98% humidity. We have shovelled a lot of p**p from the macaque monkeys, sun bears and orangutans. Afternoons are spent creating enrichments for the huge variety of wildlife that the centre cares for, or helping with various maintenance tasks.
Cleaning work starts at 08:00 and hopefully we finish at 12:00. The afternoon session runs from 14:00 to 17:00. We have a local river swimming spot just 5 minutes through the forest. Supposed to be crocodile free spot!
Accommodation is basic, no aircon, no hot water and definitely not what we are used to.
We will be heading out for our 2 days off in Kuching. Staying at the Sheraton to recover.

Kuching - Malaysian BorneoBlimey it’s hot and steamy! A couple of days chilling in Kuching before we start our next adve...
09/06/2026

Kuching - Malaysian Borneo

Blimey it’s hot and steamy! A couple of days chilling in Kuching before we start our next adventure.
We are volunteering for a month at the Matang Wildlife Centre. Originally the conservation project was for the well-being of orangutans, this has now expanded into all endangered species native to Borneo.
We will be helping to prepare feed, clean enclosures, general maintenance and create enrichment opportunities to help keep the animals stimulated.
Should be a lot of hard work but hopefully fun and fulfilling…

Japan We spent 2 months in Japan keeping mainly off the big tourist routes. We avoided Tokyo completely and spent only a...
09/06/2026

Japan
We spent 2 months in Japan keeping mainly off the big tourist routes. We avoided Tokyo completely and spent only a short time in Kyoto and Osaka. We wanted to get a feel of what Japan as a country is like so spent time in small towns and villages. We mainly stayed in apartments and shopped in the local supermarkets which started as very confusing but as time went on it became easier to find what we wanted. When staying for that amount of time you have to do normal things like getting a haircut, replacing clothes, and this is when interactions can be challenging but also fun as you try to explain what you want with practically no Japanese.
If you get the chance to take a few months in Japan I would recommend visiting Okinawa. It is quite different to the mainland with its own identity. Visit the islands for some of the best beaches and crystal clear waters.
Hokkaido is a different world with stunning mountains and sparsely populated countryside. We arrived in Hokkaido in time for the Sakura (cherry blossom). We were too late to see it in Honshu but spring arrives later in the north. It really is spectacular and beautiful. So glad we got to see it.
I enjoyed seeing the craft culture of Japan in the smaller towns and villages. This wasn’t a pottery tour, we looked up the local kilns in areas we were visiting. The community kilns were the most interesting where different potteries share a huge climbing kiln.
Some of the best memories are the people we met whether in restaurants or bars or just random encounters.
A fascinating, complicated, sometimes exhausting and beautiful country.

Osaka - Honshu JapanDid a quick visit to Fukuyama Castle when we dropped off the hire car. It is next to the station so ...
01/06/2026

Osaka - Honshu Japan

Did a quick visit to Fukuyama Castle when we dropped off the hire car. It is next to the station so very easy to dump your bags in a locker and go for a mooch about.
Yet another example of a castle that was flattened in WWII and rebuilt in steel and concrete, this time in the 60’s. Just a museum inside, some nice bits of Samurai armour but they didn’t allow any pictures.
Caught the Shinkansen to Osaka, our last stop in Japan.
I thought Osaka Castle was going to be an impressive finish to our Japanese castle visits but it was very underwhelming. It is another steel and concrete 1930’s rebuild with detailing affixed to the outside. Inside is a sterile museum which failed to engage. The grounds don’t really add anything. Shame really.
There are lots of stacking car parks in Osaka. Didn’t get a chance to play with one.
Last day was sorting out shopping and packing. Off to Malaysia tomorrow for a month.

Innoshima Island - Honshu JapanVisited Kousanji Temple, it was a beautiful complex of old Buddhist temples with a modern...
01/06/2026

Innoshima Island - Honshu Japan

Visited Kousanji Temple, it was a beautiful complex of old Buddhist temples with a modern sculpture park on the hill above. Probably the most impressive temples of the trip.
This area’s specialty is lemons, so many different lemon drink shops.
Afternoon spent chilling on Sunset Beach. Nice to take some time off!

Innoshima Island - Honshu JapanA quick blast on the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Fukuyama then a hire car down to the is...
31/05/2026

Innoshima Island - Honshu Japan

A quick blast on the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Fukuyama then a hire car down to the islands for a few days driving about.
Short drive around the headland to a quiet beach and a Shinto shrine above.
Next day visited Imabari Castle which had the first multi tiered tower. This reconstruction was done in 1980. Excellent display of samurai armour. The castle also features a sea fed moat.
Had a lovely dinner at the local Italian, the Japanese waitress was delighted to show us her extensive Snoopy and Moomin’s ‘Little My’ collection. She was so happy to share it with us, made her day.

Hiroshima Day 3 - Honshu JapanEnjoyed wandering around the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, the castle was destroyed by the ...
27/05/2026

Hiroshima Day 3 - Honshu Japan

Enjoyed wandering around the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, the castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb but was rebuilt. Unfortunately it is currently closed for repairs. The grounds have a few old trees that survived the atomic bomb blast, amazing considering it is less than 750m from the hypocenter. The steam train we passed was used in the rebuilding of Hiroshima after the bombing and now stands as a reminder of Japan’s recovery post war.
Went further across the city to visit Shukkeien Garden, it is an old restored garden, very pretty.
Hiroshima is a lovely city, not too busy and very easy to get around.

Hiroshima Day 2 - Honshu Japan Visited the Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. A very moving experienc...
26/05/2026

Hiroshima Day 2 - Honshu Japan

Visited the Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. A very moving experience.

This is the inscription on the plaque overlooking the Victims Memorial Cenotaph and Flame of Peace:

“No one else should ever suffer as we have” is the heart-wrenching message of the hibakusha who have overcome hatred and rejection while agonizing over their cruel and miserable circumstances.
At the heart of this message is a love for humanity and the spirit of reconciliation.
As a response to the hibakusha appeal, the inscription on the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims reads: “Let all the souls here rest in peace; for we shall not repeat the evil.” These words represent the Spirit of Hiroshima, which yearns for the peaceful coexistence and prosperity of all humanity, as well as for the realization of genuine world peace.

Can’t add anything to that..

Hiroshima Day 1 - Honshu JapanFloaty Torii gate day. Took the ferry across to Miyajima and went up Mt Misen on the roapw...
26/05/2026

Hiroshima Day 1 - Honshu Japan

Floaty Torii gate day. Took the ferry across to Miyajima and went up Mt Misen on the roapway. Saw the remains of the Reikado Hall which unfortunately burnt down 2 days before we visited. The local community were busy clearing the site ready for a rebuild (not the first time). It housed the eternal flame which was used to light the Flame of Peace in Hiroshima. Luckily a Buddhist priest managed to save the flame before the fire completely destroyed the building.

Kyoto Day 4 and 5 - Honshu JapanVisited a local market held at the nearby temple, thought it would be just a few stalls ...
25/05/2026

Kyoto Day 4 and 5 - Honshu Japan

Visited a local market held at the nearby temple, thought it would be just a few stalls but it was huge. Food, antiques, crafts and some lovely pottery. Bit better than the local market on Chippenham High Street.
Just crossing a bridge we saw a Nutria which is a large aquatic rodent about the size of a cat. It was just swimming down the river.
That night we were invited by our accommodation host to the karaoke bar. We had a marvellous time being plied with Japanese Whiskey and singing Beetles songs. Next day horrific hang over and had to travel to Hiroshima…

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