Sunday, December 12, 2010 Posted in Countries, Japan Please check your monitor calibration: 
Japanis a country that to me has always had a bit of a mystical allure.
Which makes sense I guess. Dichotomies by nature appear as logically and rationally incompatible, and yet it is that paradoxical nature that is found in most of the mysteriese that captivate myself. And so is true of Japan.
On one hand, this country is very much at the forefront of worldwide technological innovation, modernization and future setting. But at the same time, the very fabric of japanese life and culture is woven around ancient tradition and family customs. Throughout the places I’ve been fortunate enough to Visit in Japan it isn’t strange to find the a pagoda, hundreds of years old, battling for its place in the sky amongst brand new skyscrapers.
And what I find even more captivating and almost sentimentally mesmerizing is that children, teens and young adults – those driving forward the future of innovation - are fully in tune with the ancient cultural and religious rituals practiced by their parents and grandparents, upon which their culture is ultimately based. While it is hard to draw a far reaching comparison between Americans and the Japanese in this circumstance due to the differening positioning of religion within each respective culture, seeing such a pan-generational unity through cultural tradition is just one of the beautiful things in Japan I sometimes find myself longing for back home.
Oh the pictures I wish I could share! But due to a cultural sensitivity surrounding other’s privacy and the conception of “stealing” images of people and the accompanying adversion to candid photography, most of my people-containing pictures (from Japan) that I did end up taking have been pre-spoken for for that book.
But hit the link to see a few shots of the stark and beautiful contrasts that exist within the amazing country of Japan: (more…)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 Posted in Japan Please check your monitor calibration:
Now that I’ve found some internet access (I’m in India at the moment and internet access out has been pretty patchy), I want to back track and share some images from my time in Japan.
Click the link! See awesome stuff! Go!: (more…)
Saturday, November 27, 2010 Posted in US - Hawaii Please check your monitor calibration:
Being in Kauai makes me smile.
Its one of those places that just calls out to be explored; eager to show all of its adventurers all of its beauty in its most raw and pure form. Far different than being surrounded by the dull hum of thousands of other tourists, being surrounded by the island’s people you find yourself wanting to be a part of it. And it imparts a special respect: a responsibility to the island and its amazing culture to never take more that you put back. Its a feeling that I wish I could have everywhere I travel – a feeling that from now on I will strive ever more towards.
Everywhere where we explore somewhere off in the distance you can either hear the sweeping swells of the ocean or the crisp flow of running water that somewhere leads to a waterfall, if you follow it long enough. A waterfall that if you are lucky enough you can jump into and experience the exhilarating rush of breaking into the incredibly refreshing spring water after flailing through the air praying you don’t do a 25 foot bellyflop (luckily I didn’t do a bellyflop!).
I know it is hard to sound authentic with such words of praise been used so often (especially coming from myself, who generally uses the words “awesome” “amazing” “great” “fantastic” “epic” and “sweet” at least once every sentence), but Kauai truly is one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever visited, all while what I couldn’t describe any other way than simply being true to itself.
A philosophy that could possibly be summed up by the words of the monk I spoke with briefly. He talked about being fully present in each and every moment: in every conversation, in every sound you hear, in every sight you take in. Enjoy the beauty in everything, and never be so hurried that you aren’t fully present in those moments, for those moments will then be forever lost; wasted to never be experienced the same way again.
That is the Kauai I love.
For a few more images of this amazing island (which I must return to some day), hit the link:
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Posted in US - Hawaii Please check your monitor calibration:
This post … this blog … has been a long time coming and I’m so glad that it is finally up – chronicling my travels to some of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen, meeting some of the most special people I’ve ever met whose hospitality I can never be thankful enough for and without which this trip wouldn’t be possible.
With this blog I’m going update things with pieces of the projects that I’ll be working on from all the different places I’ll be visiting around the world. But as these projects will ultimately be contributing towards a book, I can only show a few of the pictures I take (and not necessarily even my favorites!), but hopefully it allows you a small glimpse into the world around us through my perspective.
To see more from the first leg of my trip in Kauai, Hawaii, hit the link! (more…)
