the five senses of travel

I was recently interviewed by Rizado for Neil Kramer’s Great Interview Experiment 2009. Rizado posed this question to me, “Name your top five foreign locales that everyone should visit?” Whittling down the list of amazing places that I have visited – to just five… became a battle of the senses…         Travelling to [...]

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the tourist and then the traveler

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.        -Mary Schmich       Smile and wave, thumbs up, camera click, wipe the sweat from your brow, no stand this way, closer, closer and camera click again, smile [...]

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Space Mountain.

“Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.” –Mary [...]

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the bluest kind of oblivion

“Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how [...]

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How Red Rooster Chips transform into Licorice.

On the weekend we took a day trip down to Phillip Island. Along the way we stopped for some road-munchies at the local supermarket. I had a bit of a tummy upset so I grabbed some licorice (need I say anymore??!!??). In the car I snapped open the bag and popped a black stick into dear [...]

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Aching backs and the longest stone sculpture in the Forbidden City.

Leading up to the Hall of Preserving Harmony is the largest- or perhaps better described- longest stone carving of the Forbidden City. The single piece of marble is intricately and symbolically carved with dragons- the symbol of celestial power and the Emperor. It forms a ramp flanked by two marble staircases and measures sixteen metres long [...]

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The Forbidden City: where it was possible to have hundreds of brothers and sisters.

Behind the Hall of Preserving Harmony is the largest courtyard of the Forbidden city. As some of our group, sweaty but determined, headed up the grand marble staircase I was distracted by a gathering of folk who seemed intent on trying to fan themselves while catching two wild children. These kids were slippery indeed. They [...]

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another tick off the bucket list

my walk/great wall of china/mutinyu section/july09

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I met an amazing toilet in Japan

There is actual medical evidence to suggest squatting is a more natural way for the bowel to errr… evacuate? Less of us would be constipated if we squatted.

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