iPhone Time Capsule: Memories in Photos

After four years with my iPhone 4—and too little time spent cleaning up the built-up junk—I’ve amassed a lot of memories within this pocket device. Behind its cracked screen (only happened last fall, I swear!), lies a plethora of stories, a time capsule of sorts. For a day where my mind is swimming with thoughts of the past and future, let’s take a minute to look back on some of those flashes in time.

2011

I never used to be a photo-taking fiend like I am these days, but I do have this photo from a while back in St. John’s. I’ll never forget the day I saw this driving pug. -sigh- memories.

2012

When I worked in Korea, we were expected to take photos each week to print and include in our homeroom students’ diaries, along with a little update on how they did that week. So, my phone was always packed with photos of kids between three and seven. This four-year-old wasn’t actually in my class, but I just thought he was the most adorable child I’d ever seen in my life.

2013

This is the year when I went crazy with photos and really couldn’t decide which to include. So, prepare for a bunch.

My last day teaching in Korea. I was excited for my backpacking trip, but there’s something about when your students tell you that they don’t want you to go. It doesn’t matter how the rest of the year went–the nostalgia almost makes you want to cancel everything and stay.

That time in Ayutthaya when I found my guidebook cover (Frommer’s? I think?). What a lovely day.

That day that me and Tim took a cooking class in Chiang Mai. Tim has nut allergies, so this really helped relieve his fear of Thai food. Nuts and peanut sauce aren’t really hidden in everything.

We went kayaking in Ang Thong Marine National Park and it was beautiful. And hot. And beautiful.

At the airport in Bangkok–the day we left Thailand. Tim was happy, and I was… prepared for death–apparently.

Our first week in Australia, when we went to the Mindil Beach Market in Darwin. The sky looked like this and I was just insanely happy to be exactly where I was.

After our adventures in Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, we left Darwin on a loooooong bus ride to Alice Springs. Along the way, we stopped for food at the historic Daly Waters Pub. I hate eating heavy meals when spending close to 24 hours on a bus, but who can say no when the burgers look like this? Pretty sure this is the most gigantic thing I’ve ever eaten.

I admit, I could have covered the sugar-packet dish that the waitress had absent-mindedly left exposed. I could have, but instead I went crazy for this bird in Alice Springs who couldn’t get enough of the stuff–and was pretty skilled at opening the packets with ease.

The day we watched the sunset on Uluru and drank champagne, and there were a bajillion other tourists around. But, Tim and I took our glasses and ventured a little ways up the dunes, past the crowds, and had a moment of solitude in a place of red dust and relentless flies. How romantic.

From Alice to Brisbane, by plane this time. This was our first day in the city.

Hiking through sand is a lot more difficult than it sounds. That’s what we did for an hour before reaching Lake Wabby and the dunes of the Hammerstone Sandblow. It was worth it. This turned out to be my favourite place on Fraser Island.

That day we arrived at our hostel in Byron Bay and found plenty of little guys who called the picnic area home.

One of many, many bus rides we took. Many a photo like this exists, where I take selfies and Tim is not amused.

Our first day in Sydney. We walked around and, of course, took an iconic Opera House pic.

Fast-forward to Auckland, where my obsession with awkward and messy-haired photos continued (I’ve saved you from them up to this point, but had to throw one in).

Riding the bus in New Zealand’s South Island. This has got to be one of the most beautiful, and scariest places to be on the bus. Although, I rode many a bus in Korea and Cambodia. It’s quite impressive that New Zealand can compete with the terror that is riding a bus in Asia.

Navigating the maze in Puzzling World Wanaka. I had too much fun with this. Although, admittedly I did cheat at the end. I found all four towers but couldn’t find my way out.

See? I even took photos to prove I’d made it to the towers. This is in the red one.

2014

I put this bow on Chip. It was a big hit. She looks so precious in this picture, not too long after I arrived back home to Newfoundland. She died just a few months later–12 years old.

We also stayed with Tim’s mom in St. John’s. Here, her cat Trip is protecting the house from the orange cat who hangs around.

A Newfie night–Bingo and ugly sticks. My cousin and I were forced to perform when we went to play TV bingo with my mom and her friend. Wild night, I know.

I suppose my parents were lonely when my brother and I both ended up moving out West. My dad put his unique sense of creativity to work to make his own bleach-bottle friend. Let me know if you want a DIY tutorial post on how to make your own!

In Edmonton, I learned how easy it is to try new things when you live in a big city. This is the archery lesson where I destroyed my elbow with an enormous bruise and really learned why it’s important to compensate for hyper-flexible joints.

2015

I really haven’t taken any photos in 2015 (hey, it’s winter and it’s still early). But, I decided to include a selfie so you all know what I look like in 2015. So, when I write a post in 2019, you will be able to comment on how much older I look (please don’t).

What’s next?

My phone might not make it through 4 more years (it won’t), but it’s done well so far. It was fun to scroll back through these memories, though I’m ready to be more prolific with my memory-making this year.

Do you have any of these time-capsule-esque posts? Please leave me a link below! I’d love to take a look 🙂