looking glass

salutations my darling, young one

Why, hello there ! Good to see you again. Just a moment while I scratch off the cobwebs from the keyboard. Mmm...looks like obsolescence hasn't swept this one up quite yet.

And so I find myself in these strange, familiar confines of life. Work, leisure, time, money, love, friends, rinse, repeat. Fulfilling and sometimes thrilling, the expected rhythm of your day, week, month and season move time forward. Slowly and steadily you bind to places, people, things and they, in turn, bind to you. Under the duress of excessive compression you howl, "Where is my reward, my salvage, my refuge ?".

Well, I'll tell you my friend, it's all in your mind. And it's up to you to figure out how, what, when and with whom you can tickle those neurons. Such is life as a human; you must love yourself first and then choose wisely.

moments in a box

To the north of an aqua-hued horizon filled with peaceful, pacific water and sky as clear and blue as only sky can be, I consume nature's bounties with my mind and through my senses. Above me seabirds are angling their flight patterns to cruise along ocean breezes, while all the time keeping a keen eye out for edibles from us bipedal day trippers. Ocean waves batter the rock formations below that have been beaten into beauty for thousands of years. Cool, calm winds carry scents of salt and seaweed while telling sultry tales of their journeys from the south pacific.

A light touch on the hand and I turn to my partner, my love, to share in an embrace. We hug and kiss and start laughing about how terrible horseflies are in Australia. Thank goodness we only have to worry about birds stealing our gouda, mustard and red onion sandwiches. Smiles cover our faces and we sink into this place, this space, ourselves. These are the fragments of time that last forever, engrained in emotion, touch and feelings more than on any calendar. These are the moments we make our own.

ode to a resurgence

back in the saddle
riding shotgun
through haze and fog
endless seas and skies
clear my consciousness.
whispers of freedom and love
flow through me
resonating in my soul
thoughts surround
nature abound
life is best spent glowing.

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Point Reyes National Seashore

San Francisco

Berkeley

Sonoma

Muir Woods & Stinson Beach

San Francisco

Ship's Mast Redwood Forest Marin

a time to reflect and reminisce
a time to search and pursue

all those years ago seem like days and months now. yet so many facets of life have evolved here, there and everywhere. relationships were certainly tested, and those that mattered still do, and those that didn't, well, never did.

what a feeling it was to be back in the motherland!!! the mixed emotions, the friendly smiles, the familial hugs and the strangers stares. disembarking in los angeles was quite a treat of cultural diversity. mandarin and spanish blaring from the speakers in the terminal, and skin colors that were nonexistent in kiwiland were abundant in LA. the commercial aspect of the states surprisingly didn't faze me. the strip malls and silly adverts seem to be ubiquitous in every urban/suburban area around the globe. in the states atleast i have the opportunity to practice some espanol while glancing at the billboards.....

large portions and a plethora of mexican cuisine were gastronomic successes out west. enchiladas, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas.............aren't they all the same in the end? fried, grilled, sauteed, braised..... the cheesecake factory was probably the victor in the largest portion competition, and sad as it is to say, in-and-out burger disappointed. two words put together: cookout.

a job, a career, a future loom on the horizon. how near is the job? how distant is the career? how soon is the future? when will i answer these questions? an inquiry of the author.

an antiquated internet search yielded a few potential job prospects, but the traditional 'connection' seems to work best. it has me somewhat employed and i believe i may even find a good job in these trying times of economic worry.

returning to america at his juncture in history is also quite fascinating. the belly of the beast and the fuel of the fire wrapped into one country. the world waits for america's answer; for its prosperity is linked to the states. perhaps they shouldn't have lent us all our credit....or maybe we shouldn't have have borrowed so much....or maybe we should just forge forward and forget the past, but won't we repeat all those mistakes again, and again? i ask for transparency and accountability, but who am i kidding, i'm an american citizen.

the facade of blankness has retreated yet the veil of uncertainty remains.

pictures below are in chronological order, beginning with the north of the south island, and ending in mt. penn, pennsylvania. stories are attached to many of the photographs, maybe you can ask me sometime?

SPLIT APPLE ROCK

MARLBOUROUGH SOUNDS

WELLINGTON

MAORI MARAE

MAORI CHURCH

WHANGANUI RIVER & MATEMATEAGONA TRAMP

TAUPO & SURROUNDS

NGAURUHOE & TONGARIRO

MT. DOOM NGAURUHOE

DOOM'S PEAK

THE END OF AN ERA

COROMANDEL

BUDDHIST STUPA

PINNACLES

FLORA

KAURI

OPONONI

90-MILE BEACH

CAPE REINGA

WAITANGI TREATY HOUSE

AUCKLAND

MAORI WOODWORK

FIJI-TIME

THE KING OF FRUITS

SLEEPING BABY

PARADISE

THE LAST HURRAH?

AMERICA......THE RETURN

CALIFORNIAN IDEOLOGY?

THE TOYOHASHI CONNECTION - >CODY, KANA and ME

CITY OF DREAMS

HOME SWEET HOME

abundant wildlife and unassuming locals make natural immersion a breeze!!!!!

WITH THE FOLLOWING:

four wheels and an atlas.

YOU, TOO CAN:

fly in bird land.
tramp around the anchor.
hop on the spine.
chat with a parrot.

i'm living proof it's possible, and i'll even give you a brief account what it's like to travel around an absurd land.

stunning scenery is the standard description of new zealand and it is well-deserved. a kaleidoscope of colors and jaw-dropping pictorial moments make one pulse with energy in an atmosphere devoid of bass beats and synthesizers. this one comes from the heart of nature. the beast in the woods. the man in the clouds. the boat that helped maui catch the fish. the maori lore brings the land closer to you. you are connected to it and it's power can control you.

my feeling in the bush when i saw two people and four kiwis in nine days. speaking to yourself and questioning your own thoughts, feelings and morals. signs of personal triumph.

back to the grand land. northern reaches with rocky beaches and snowy mountains with warm fountains. that's the story these days.

pictures say a few words, so read these for now :-)

THE KING ITSELF

AFTER THE LONG-DESERVED SHAVE

WHERE LAND MEETS SEA

IN THE ELEMENT