Aireys inlet — Canst thou be he that, yester-sunset warm, Purple with Paynim rage and wrack desire, Dashed ravening out of a dusty lair of Storm, Harried the west, and set the world on fire? Hast thou perchance repe...
Bangkok — Yuck, you say. But, good things can come of intestines. Remember sausages? Gallinejas, anyone? Fish intestines are probably the healthiest, and least gross, of all the intestines out there, so read on...
Dali baizuzizhizhou — It’s the first day of me and my bike riding alone, heading to Lijiang. Luckily, the road is empty—but soon I get know why1. For one full hour, if not more, I am overtaken by a never-ending stream of ...
Melbourne — As I move into Old Age, I think back on my life as being organized into compartments (about which more in a minute). My favorite compartment was in my forties, when I had a wonderful job writing text...
Artajona — On our first trip to Spain in preparation for shooting a film on the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, we settled on the walled town of Artajona, in Navarra, as our location for the Battle of Pamplona. ...
San francisco — Hollow Bones I never hear you coming Passed the night between your sleepy eyes One more time we’ve told our precious stories And held out hands to hold our heads up high I dream of cancer washing ove...
Duluth — The weather grayed, snowed and blowed a nor’easter as I began my daily walk. Nor’easters make the trip, a two mile walk, to the coffee uncomfortable. Returning, the wind blows at my back and pushes me...
Bangkok — Do you like lobsters? Do you hate lobsters? Do you neither like nor hate lobsters? Step right up! You will all love Thai river prawns. The closest thing to Thai river prawns is probably lobsters, alt...
Seattle — If you’ve considered seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel, I would highly recommend you add it to your must-watch list — you don’t have to watch it right away, but I think you’ll enjoy it if you do. That...
Musashino-shi — A great thing I’ve noticed about being in Tokyo: it’s okay to eat by yourself, and it’s even a disadvantage to come in groups or with one of your yappy friends, especially when these tight cozy spots ...
Setagaya-ku — Landed in Tokyo. It’s so interesting being back in Asia after more than a decade, so I’m somewhat rattled, but to be in a city that’s actually orderly and not as blatantly polluted as the others is a ...
Kirchheim unter teck — Usually, when I enter our sleeping space, you have been resting already for several hours. I never manage to lie down without arousing your attention. Your sole eye opens. All the music stops. Our ten...
Guatemala — I’ve been trying to be safe from the world, from my family and sometimes, from myself. But I’ve never been afraid of nature. nature is my home I was sat next to a beautiful flower but I didn’t look ar...
Bangkok — Thai fried rice is a great dish. You can put almost anything in it and it will be good, including tamale and various types of Thai chili paste. But, the main flavors of most Thai fried rice is salty a...
Quezon city — It’s not that I’m an underachiever, but I’ve pretty much spent my entire 30-something years waiting. For something. What exactly? I do not know. A calling? A purpose? A passion? I’m waiting for someth...
Quezon city — It might be wrong because I’m bedridden at the moment, taken down with a bit of flu, but I do believe that I have this permanent feeling like the world is about crumble down. Being bed-bound has left...
Wellington — “That’s my room right now.” I said, following a message with the photo above. “It looks very sad and lonely :/” she replied. On a Friday afternoon in the latter half of October, I was finishing-up a...
Bangkok — The best kind of noodles is deep-fried ones. The deep-fried version of most things is usually their best version. Why eat anything unfried if you could fry them? Yes, do fry those snickers bars, those...
Ahmedabad — The kids of today are the citizens of tomorrow. Can we guarantee and define Citizens in this loaded sentence. The kids of yesterday are the morons of today. What guarantee do we have that this country...
Seattle — If you’ve considered seeing Gone Girl, heed your friends and don’t go with your significant other. A winding and treacherous path through a dark and twisted world created between two people—one unwi...
Seattle — It’s hard to believe that it has already been a year since I began a massive undertaking and attempted to watch all of the Academy Award nominees in 2014. While I didn’t see them all—time and resource...
Bangkok — Mmmmm, duck. There is nothing like duck. Noodles in Thailand are pretty delicious, but the most delicious one of all is really duck noodles. The savory duck broth with a hint of star anise is incompa...
Bangkok — If you ever find yourself in a sit-down restaurant in Thailand (i.e. not a stall on the street), you might come across one of these delightful concoctions in its own crispy little baskets, called “Kra...
New york — Is it cold outside? Do you crave something warm and hearty that will help you get ready for a cozy nap? Well, a bowl of Ippudo ramen might just be the thing for you. Style: Fukuoka-style Tonkotsu ram...
New york — If you’re like me, and you just returned to New York from New Orleans where you ate gumbo everyday for a week because you love gumbo so much, Sugarfreak is a lovely godsend. You will be hard-pressed t...
Örebro — When everyone was ready for spring after this the longest and darkest of winters, the snow suddenly started to fall. And then it snowed and snowed and snowed. I wasn’t really prepared. Snow easily fo...
Curitiba — Are you like me, you panic if you don’t have a book with you on a flight? I don’t remember the last time, if ever, I boarded a plane without reading material. Lots of it. Usually I would carry on at l...
Tofte — I packed the car and drove 85 miles up the North shore of Lake Superior to a mid-winter haunt. I’ve visited this resort enough in the past few years to justify the characterization. The winter offers ...
London — We complain about our jobs. A lot, usually. There’s always something not right. “It’s too hard”, “It’s so demanding!”, “It’s so ungrateful…”, “Oh, the people I have to deal with… argh” And yet...
Edogawa-ku — The other day, my friend called me out for going to so many ramen shops. I go to about 2-3 per week, but last week I went to a new one almost every day. I get it, that sounds excessive, and if it was ...
Nevada county — I didn’t grow up in Marin county, or the bay area in general. I grew up half on the road, half in houses and in the streets I barely had time to call “home”; and more than half of my childhood in the ...
Saint-denis — Lundi 19 Janvier 2015 0755 Je commence à avoir mal au crâne. Je me glisse dans la dernière place libre. Ils me regardent tous méchamment. Je me brûle contre le radiateur. Je bouge la cuisse me met en ...
Shanghai — We spent our last night in Shanghai at a friend’s place on the outskirts of Shanghai where there is plenty of room for us to organize and pack the car before we depart. After a good night sleep we me...
Amsterdam — Once you realise that life has a meaning, you will also discover that it makes sense when you stand in collaboration with others. In the connected world whrere people unfortunately find themselves in...
Null — Dimanche 11 janvier 2015 Rêvé que j’étais en banlieue japonaise. Montagnes et forêts à l’horizon. Petits immeubles. Me perdais dans un labyrinthe de petits restaurant en tôle ondulée style kabuki-cho ...
Dammartin-en-goële — Samedi 17 janvier 2014 Ciel bleu, merle traversant les haies, papier d’Arménie se consumant rouge sous le lit, invitation d’un tigre vert et d’un sultan au bord de la mer à boire un café ou à diner. ...
Durham — Time is one of the major mysteries in our life. Although science tells you that every second is similar, and that time passes at the same rate every day, it never seems that way. Sometimes, time craw...
Duluth — The contrast of 2014 as the warm year in recorded history and last winter in the Great Lakes States as the coldest in recent memory suggests a moment of reflection. While Minnesota suffered in a brut...
Portree — The natural beauty of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, is said to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkein as he wrote Lord of the Rings*. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Other natural wonders I’ve seen...
South jakarta — A waning moon hangs early outside. Over the desk are pens with papers, magazines, mobile phone — all with collections of stories. Stories of things we know nothing and which know nothing of us. Of peo...
Genoa — Hi. Or, rather, hey— “hey, pesto”! Genoa. This place has birthed some greats. Yes. I consider the alchemy of basil and pine nut great; the right ratio of oil to flour/yeast/water/salt another example...
Ahmedabad — Yesterday, I read with horror about a 16 year old girl who hanged herself to death. Officially the reason given is her parent’s refusal to allow her to go to friends place to join the kite flying cele...
Quezon city — The University of the Philippines is fondly (and frustratingly) referred to by its students as the University of Pila, especially during registration. And in my (approximately) decade-long stay here a...
Duluth — I share this trail report I submitted to the Skinny Ski Trail site used by Cross Country Skiers in the upper Great Lakes Region. Very satisfying! Nice snow base and even a trail groomed and classic ...
San francisco — The wild sex and loud music neighbors have stopped having sex or playing loud music. Instead, they fight. One of them is a yeller, the other one is a crier. The yeller’s cries erupt in the middle of t...
Ahmedabad — At times I wonder if human brains have any ideological leanings and if there is one, why cant they stick to that? Why is that a sugar coated offer can easily lure you to go away from the ethical and i...
Rio de janeiro — It took me a long time to publish my first book. It’s funny because I’m a professional writer and above all I have always been a reader, an avid one, and books, more than movies, TV, plays, books defi...
Rio de janeiro — It’s eleven PM and I’m getting out of a movie called The Canyons. I’m not sure what I think about the film, do I like it or not and why, and it is with this kind of cinephile reasoning in mind that I ...
Canberra — Hi. This sketch is massaging an idea for a yoga assignment. Putting the TANJA into PaTANJAli, channelling a bit of yogic wisdom, the whole “I see myself in others” line. Hence why I’ve ditched the pen...
Athina — Don’t know who invented the MRI scanner and who came up with this amalgam of sounds produced by the machine, but they sure had lots of imagination. When I entered the MRI room I was met by a sound th...
Quezon city — Looking for decent bedtime reading (Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, while a great novel, was decidedly not the best choice for that purpose), I found this thing amongst the old paperbacks on my book...
Portland — The culmination of a humorous, ditzy day with my Mom is this photo of… a dinky strip club named Pirate’s Cove on Sandy Blvd. with this gem of a sign, absurdly proclaiming, “Packed with Gluten!” How...
Hamburg — Do you still remember the day this picture was taken? It was a good day. And do you remember listening to the same CD over and over again during those long car rides? Or floating around in the lake? ...
Fujikawaguchiko-machi — Last week, my friends and I rented a house on Lake Sai (Saiko is it’s full name, but “ko” means lake so…), which is one of the main lakes around Mt. Fuji. On our last day, we had planned to go see ...
Örebro — The sky, flat and grey, like a lid over town. Haven’t seen the sun it feels like for months. Every ray of light straying from the clouds is a shock to the system, people freeze and look around with so...
Hillsborough township — That night I couldn’t sleep for some reason, so I decided to sit on the roof. Don’t ask why, it just felt right. The roof was wet and cold and dirty, and I’m sure I ruined a perfectly fine t-shirt, bu...
Quezon city — This installation, Mga Damong Ligaw, took Oca Villamiel nine years of collecting horns. The other half of it couldn’t fit in the photograph.
Bristol — You watch the flickering of the only light on. The only light that is ever on in this house. It is in the room furthest from the front door. You have never seen her. You know she is in there though. ...
Boston — I spent most of the last few years floating along, which is why I feel like, at the cusp of the new year, I have been trying to hold on to my memories. Here is a photo from three and a half months ag...
Bayreuth — In every little town of France, the onlooker can not but read three old and simple little words on the pediments of the city halls and of some schools, “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité”. These few short...
Bristol — You head straight to your favourite spot. At least your favourite for a sunny day. Sitting down on the bench in the dappled shade you think it is good place to drift off, even if you don’t see them. O...
London — Thanks to the extensive re-jigging of some rail routes for the next two years while major rebuilding work is undertaken at London Bridge Station, my route home now requires a change of train at Blackf...
Aireys inlet — And watch the world go by.
Bristol — You watch as the sun rises. And in the house lights start to come on. Shadows moving about behind the curtains. You can hear murmurs of discontent. Fractured conversation. An argument not finished fr...
Halle (saale) — Living town history does not only start with, but in this case also on this cemetery. Sometimes your own hometown is much more interesting than you usually think. The „Stadtgottesacker“ was originally...
Lyon — I love Christmas. It is a cosy moment we can share and enjoy with our family or closest friends. But each year, after Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, in the first days of January, I used to se...
Pasig — This is the view from the studio in the new office. With fewer clouds, you can even see the light glinting off the waters of Manila Bay. I’m grateful for new spaces and the freshness of mind they brin...
Mexico — My college friend, Mimi, got married a day before the end of 2014. I RSVPed ‘yes’ to her invitation and decided to forgo going home to my province for the holidays to witness in person this milestone ...
Bristol — You find yourself on the floating jetty. Walking beside the boats being gently rocked by the water, like a mother and child. You don’t expect much at this time, these boats are normally empty, it is ...
Granbury — Things that leave in a sec’s are the ones that will change the rest of your life. Things that we still hold so close to our hearts still. At time’s we want to run and look back but what would that do....
Upplands väsby — This is the only porch left in Sweden, due to the famous Swedish anti-porch act from 2003. The effects have been significant across the board. Swedish health authorities see a massive reduction in smo...
Lungsod quezon — I wrote a #1, so I figured, why not keep going? Resolution #2: learn how to be alone. It sounds ironic coming from me. I’ve spent my whole life “alone,” relationship-wise, and I’ve managed to travel ...
Chūō-ku — It’s dark. And cold. But it’s okay, because you are charged by an energy of knowing you are about to witness something special. As you walk towards the warehouses miniature tractors stacked with styro...
Mountain view — I hate having to put myself out there and let other people judge my work and, essentially, judge what I do and who I am. Are you good enough for this position, are you good enough for this
Makati — Not a cloud in the sky, full moon directly overhead. It’s too bright in the city to see the stars, so this illusion will have to do. They blink too much, like they were anxiously aware of their own fa...
New york — I didn’t know what I was in for this evening. Each part of the performance could have gone on for a couple minutes or a couple hours it seemed. Sense of time seemed removed from the equation. I’m uns...
New york — It all started to make sense. It was reaffirming in a way. The cards said things that matched what I had been thinking. Was that a good sign? I think so.
Los angeles — Utility service boxes are used as painting canvases in certain parts of L.A. This one is from a box at Smith Park in Hollywood (clicking on the image above reveals the whole photo). There’s only about...
Bath — I remember standing in the middle of the freezing plaza, absolutely mesmerized by the lone street musician. Gah, this guitar. This music, this cold, this crowd. A perfect little moment. Almost f...
Kirkfield — We drove as far as we could and then strapped on our skis, headed for Smudge Creek deep in Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park. The air was cold and still, and the sky was a deep, rich blue. ...
Wheatland — I want a mermaid bath. I have been told this is a little odd because I am born and bred a landlocked Wyomingite but despite this I find mermaids pretty and want a treasure, shell, and shipwrecked bat...
Hong kong — These past two weeks back in Hong Kong have been some kind of magical. Being away for so long has made me feel like a tourist in my own home, but also has the upside of making me so much more acutely ...
Bristol — You shiver. Trying to keep dry under the small shelter of a gated entrance. Waiting. Waiting. A few people pass, but there’s nothing. You walk away, towards the church. You don’t want to get too c...
Portland — Crazy uncles tell stories that defy disbelief. For instance, why would you refuse to believe me when I tell you that I have a kind, but rather fierce, monster who has ALWAYS LIVED WITH ME BENEATH MY B...
San francisco — I think I’m falling in love with San Francisco. Here are the reasons why: 1) if a man in golden leotard were to walk down the street with a small dog there is a good chance someone would make a comme...
Kirkfield — It’s hard to describe the unique joy of skating between maple trees frozen in the ice, crossing one leg over the other and chasing embers through the dark. I’d never experienced anything like it. The ...
Wien — I don’t remember who said that (cf the quote in the title), but it is important: Don’t accept to be average! Be at your best, every day! Be curious! Be bold! Don’t ever give up! above all … St...
Wien — 2o15 Here we are! 2014 wasn’t necessarily the easiest and most agreable year for me but I am happy to say -in hindsight- that it was the most important year for me in a long time. The worst moments m...
Kita-ku — It’s in the mountains north of Kobe. It took an hour and a half to get there. There was snow and a big moon above. We got to sit outside with our tops freezing and our bottoms toasty. Onsens (hot spri...
Duluth — I prepared to inaugurate 2015 with a photograph. I adjusted the parameters on my computers for storing and processing in this new year. I layered up to venture outside in the late afternoon sun: wool...
Darkhan — Darkhan’s main events happen in the plaza outside the Children’s Theatre. Every year there are ice sculptures and a giant tree up for New Year’s. Last year’s ice sculptures were a bit more impressive,...
San juan — The second day of 2015 is, for me, another day filled with unproductive (in)activity: scrolling down FB, Twitter, and Instagram feeds, and generally doing nothing. And yes, my January 1 was not any di...
Bristol — You amble over to the bench and take a seat. One of your favourite spots - perfect for a clear winter’s day, the low sun coming through the bare branches warms you slightly, and being here always warm...
Aireys inlet — First day of the year. Oh damn. I really should do a little something on Hi. Nothing comes to mind. And it’s hot. Heading for 100 F (38 C). Something on ‘fire risk in the Australian bush’ perhap...
Accra — Karleen, you know I looked up the meaning of your name, and I must admit it fits you perfectly. Forgive me if this sounds a bit risqué . But I have always thought of you in the way your name describe...
Santa fe — “You know two big, black nurses pushed you out,” Mom said. “I was NOT having a good time 46-years ago today,” she added. My birthday. The call, there is always the call. “I couldn’t get the doctors t...
Liverpool — I went for a bike ride down by the beach and when I got there this was happening. Update : 1/1/15 : Only just noticed that this was not published yet! Oops :p
Liverpool — This year (2014) I decided to keep a note of things I am grateful for. To look back on at the end of the year and reflect. There was no goal, no need to write one thank you a day or a week or a month....
Bristol — She shook off the morning fog. Ugh, happy new year then. She glanced to her left, well, that certainly isn’t new. The congratulations rang in her ears. She couldn’t say that she wasn’t surprised, thi...
Makati — My meditation this morning was about how to receive love. Hungover and unable to focus after New Year’s celebrations, I wasn’t too impressed by the thought: Who doesn’t want love? But then I remembe...