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Take a look at the button bling contest image dated March 11th and connect the clue mud.
Mud makes pots, bricks, statues. Boats carry the equipment that dredges the mud from the riverbed. Look to your right of this post, some clues reside there.
My most vivid memory of the "hello" children around the globe comes from my experience of biking deep in the delta, along single track dirt paths, carved from the edge of the river banks. Families bathe, wash dishes and earned income from the rivers many resources. MUD is the number one crop! What do they make? I snapped photos of bricks, clay statues shaped like lions and clay basket weave pots.
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Never thought a photo of a wounded Vietnamese albino rabbit, a morning sky over Angkor Wat, along with the antlers of a deer that hung on a wall of a New Zealand tavern, would be the heros of my artwork on tshirts, posts and keds shoes. My advice: shoot lots of shots as you take off and travel happy.
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raccoon cheese copyright 2009 TAS mania
After three weeks on the sparsely traveled roads of New Zealand, the "one up" conversation begins. "What do you mean you don't milk your sheep? You got like 40 million sheep and only four million people. We Americans even milk our raccoons."
While traveling in Thailand with a group of northern Europeans, we had a conversation about indigenous animals. I found some Europeans, don't know what a raccoon is. I searched the internet and unearthed a source, reporting raccoons in Germany as early as 1934 with an ensuing migration of raccoons to neighboring countries over the last 75 years. But my poll data of n= 7 says, they generally don't know what a raccoon is or what it looks like. Now pay attention here, this is where the opportunity comes.
Continue reading " a one up conversion - "why, we even milk our raccoons!"" »
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To travel around the world and carry all the essentials is a daunting task. Just answering the question, what is essential? - may propel you into a tizzy. Then, take a deep long breath here, to add souvenirs to your pack, when you need to carry, cart, roll your luggage over rough terrain, up three flights of stairs or on your back, can put you over your limit.
I use one kangaroo suitcase, marketed as the Meridian Osprey. I bought it at REI, San Francisco in the "used" section of the store for $90. It retails around $319. It is the toughest, strongest, heavy duty-est case, I own. Had to get over the ruby red color, and it was worth it. The big lower case houses, two pairs of socks, four shirts, two trousers, my chartreuse raincoat and fleece, one dress up outfit, pajamas, two pairs of shoes and various sundries. Everything must dry overnight. The top part usually houses wires, adapters, travel papers and art supplies. Thats it.
Most times, I become enamored by local artifacts - I buy one, say I'm going to send it, never get around to the post, move it around in my suitcase, and leave it on the bed of a hotel with a note for housekeeping.
Continue reading " souvenirs left behind - pack to travel for more than one month" »
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feeling big copyright 2008 TAS (click to make it bigger)
Remember that feeling? I felt big, when I was 6. My older brother and three sisters went to school and I stayed home with my mother. There wasn't a kindergarten class in my town, so I got quality time with my mother. One on One.
I helped with grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning the house and in the caring for my baby sister. And I did so with glee, cuz I was BIG.
Feeling Big photo came as a surprise on a bus ride through the Wild Coast of South Africa. so take off- senses wide open and resist the lullaby of the bus.
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It's quite natural to have a feeling of simple bliss. As a child, I experienced bliss. . . sitting on the porch and watching night fall. The stillness in the air, the faint smell of green cooling in the fading light and sounds of the night creatures, signaled a time of the coming of dusk.
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copyright 08/08/08 TAS goAWAY original designs
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Masks of me series work out copyright 2008 TAS. As an artist and avid looker inner. . . I experience moments of taking off my mask and connecting with people quickly, either through conversation or art. Then there are the moments of disconnection and silence.
I took a look at masks in miniature to see what it might represent for me. I'm guessing that in the silence, doubt and regret may set in and masks show up as likely armor. - a insincere smile, armor for the heart or even courage to reveal, become a mask. . . . when the next conversations happens and expectations fly.
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outloud she cried "no more, so I'll throw them on the floor." copyright 2008 TAS
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TAS copyright 2008 from photos taken in 2007 , Addo Elephant Reserve Lion on the Wild Coast, the Bubo bird Sumatra, Indonesia, and volcano lava expanded from Island of Hawaii 2000, Sapa, Vietnam trees 2008, girl, hand drawn 2008.
I noticed my experiences of travel and my memories are kept fresh, when I take photos. I spent a lot of my life being smug and saying hey, I want to EXPERIENCE my trip, the view and the action, not photo it and look at it as a memory!... and my perspective has changed. After traveling through the Wild Coast of Africa, hour after hour on roads with signs that say "pot hole ahead" versus having it fixed, I started to search out the round huts, all painted color on color. I spent the day snapping photos through a bus window. It became a safari game drive for me. . . some amazing shots of people and objects, hidden in the landscapes. I fell in love with color. Someday I'll go. . . to visit on the the Wild Coast, and drive slowly, taking in the views. Check out the photos named BUS BLUR on the left to see some fuzzy surprises. And remember take off - senses wide open.
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The first thing to do is to VISIT FOR MORE THAN A DAY. I see bus after bus, drop off tourists for the day. To get the flavor and experience of UBUD, I recommend at least a three day visit. . . My last trip was for a month in UBUD - April 2008. HERE IS THE LIST, READ ON TO SEE DETAILS. . .10 things-Ubud Rice Field Walk, Balinese Ceremonies, Breakfast Coffee at Tutmak (everyday, there's no comparison), Salsa Dancing and Latino Band at Indus, Splurge Day at Como Shambhala, Get a Spa Treatment, everyday if you can, Yoga at the Yoga Barn with Lunch at the KAFE, Pick an Activity from the list below and you'll be in the Bali Groove, Ribs at Naughty Nuri's, Meet the Artisans, Watch a Balinese Dance performance and a One Day Dine around Shopping Experience. . .
Continue reading "10 Things to do in UBUD - Ubud, Bali Indonesia Experiences" »
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To get myself psyched to travel for a extended amount of time, meaning one year or maybe two , I tried the mindset - "Home is where I'm at." Little did I know, that over 200 beds were in my future.
The most rigorous route -Capetown, South Africa to Livingstone, Zambia- I slept in 26 beds in 31 days. - You will want to come back to this one. . . it includes an armed escort, Robert Redford look alike, the time I slept with others. warthogs and more. . .
This is one of my rooms at the Sofitel Hanoi, Vietnam. will update with 2 person tent to get you in the mood.
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I'm traveling for a month. What will I do with my pet? And should I get the rabies series vaccine for my trip? Only you know the answer to both of these questions. First, your pet needs a home where he can be himself and be loved. On my month long to Europe, I left my cat Myron with a house sitter. Myron had a nervous breakdown. He lost hair, cried into the night and developed a hyperactive thyroid. I didn't investigate the best for Myron. He needed nurturing and love. He got fed and his litter box cleaned. -Not enough. Bottomline, my house-sitter was not an appropriate pet sitter. Myron survived, and I learned my lesson to interview and hire a specialist.
Rabies- Why get the series, if you have to get a rabies shot within 24hrs anyway? Because you will only need 2 shots within 3 days on your trip and thus not delay your further travel. Rabies shots take 30 days to complete, so if you are on a time schedule and don't want to be delayed in a country, then get the first 3 shots BEFORE you go. If you get scratched by a monkey, bit by a bird, cornered and clawed by a raccoon, you will only need an immune globulin shot and one more rabies shot. Don't go MAD with rabies . . . travel happy- senses wide open.
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Forty-five days: Vietnam, Cambodia and a few side trips Singapore, Bali and Japan
Accommodations: 50% Hotels 5 and 4 star,ecolodge, homestay pre-booked. government hotels in route.
Activities: Ten days of activities with guides pre-booked, 7 days guides, booked on site
Transport: International flight, Victoria Orient Express, speed boat, junk boat cruise pre-booked, domestic flights in route Vietnam Airlines, Bangkok Air,
Question: How is it to be on 10 flight segments and on vacations during the same 5 week period?
Continue reading "how to trip around the world- Asia in 5 Weeks -if only I had wings" »
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copyright 2008 TAS
30 days San Miguel de Allende
Question: How is it, staying in the same place for a month? -ya, besides my house.
Accommodations: Casa Corazon, 1 month rental pre-booked
Transport: International Flight and Airport pick up pre-booked
3 Friends came to visit
My Experiences:
Fun Meter: The meeting of the skirts. I met Karen on the street, which led to Thanksgiving Dinner for 10, prepared in an over the top villa. Mind you, we traipsed around to 3 markets and 9 stores to get the ingredients for the dinner. National Geographic, guest speakers with photo slideshows at Theatre Bellas Artes, Instituto Allende, Academia de Fotografia for workshops, House Tours, got picked to dance with the band ( it was the skirt again), Latin Guitar, Day of the Dead, cemetary decorations and celebrations. . . . the wetlands and barrel cactus carpet at the Botanical Gardens and La Gruta's 4 pools and a cave swimming, thermal hot springs. Local wine shop full of great international wine. For upmarket art, interior,antique galleriers, shop at Fabrica La Aurora. Or worked my way from the in town food market stalls through the textiles and accessories for a mile. Excursions to Guanajuato, "place of frogs" a city of great architecture, art and artist Diego Riveria, Frida Kahlo, mummies, silver and Don Quixote museum.
$$ Money Debits- oil paints and supplies scarce and expensive. International wine
$$- Money Credits- Local Market offerings keep the food budget intact. It helped to have two visiting organic chefs too! And the locals restaurants for authentic abound.
Bottomline- 30 days in the same place is great, when it's San Miguel de Allende.
Note to self- When the town, tantalizes all 5 of my senses, then 30 days is worth a house, villa, or chateau rental. take off- senses wide open.
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great blue heron, photographed 03/05/08 TAS copyright
I didn't do a gap year. I didn't take 30 days off during my career until a few months before I quit. My travel ideas came solely from the Town and Country magazine. I resorted at Cap Juluca on the BWI, island Anguilla, bicycled with Butterfield and Robinson on one of their first, over the top trips to Corsica and Costa Smeralda on Sardinia, wined and dined in most of Europes top cities. California was the farthest "east" I tripped. I wanted more: more time, more adventure, more remote, more culture, more locals, more learning and LESS of WORK. Note to self: I needed to travel with some sort of reins on my budget and less Town and Country magazine . . .
Continue reading "how to trip around the world- Experimental Europe" »
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To plan or not to plan is not an easy, yes or no question. My answers come from thinking about the kind of trip, I want. Where am I headed? What's my budget? How much money do I budget for buying my way out of frustration or say bad weather?
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african ellie copyright 2007 TAS
The conversation goes like this . . . "You have to plan everything. (ugh!) I take a trip and lounge on the beach. What 's to plan?" he asked with sarcasm.
"Well there's the date . . . ," you shoot back.
"Why I bet you even plan your spontaneity," he retorts.
"Hmmm, not a bad idea," you say with a smile.
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This one is by me, global girl! copyright 2008 TAS
Make your own Harajuku PaperDolls by Gwen Stephani!
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The painting of Isabella was sold in 2006 to a Chicago collector. And I get to keep it with me, thanks to a photo and digital painting in photoshop. with no mess! This brings to mind the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu. The gallery has the largest display of public art in New Zealand. This building is a remarkable landmark in Christchurch. Soon to come is a list of my favorite Art Galleries around the Globe.
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As much as I remember background paper. Click it to EXPAND BELOW and look to see where you and I traveled.
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Happy Travel is for you IF . . . . you're into picture books or love to cut and paste. Most posts are 300 words or less, otherwise they will be tucked into the essay section. Posts always come with a photo , image illustration, collage collection or at a minimum a doodle.
The photo is a moonrise over the desert in Namibia, where the sand dunes met the petrified mountains.
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copyright 2008
Two ideas came to mind as I painted Maria Teresa Pilar Colon Blanco
One, my artwork is environmentally friendly, now that I paint on the computer. - less toxic chemicals, less trips to the art store, less material and less mess. Two, I drew in notebooks while I traveled. and many of the my drawing are just right for postcards. Hmmm, I just might work on a series of fictional postcards.
One postcard, in the works is called "sIZe mAttERS pOsT". That 's a reference to my size/height, compared to most of the Balinese . . . . so look for a webish post book.
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copyright 2008
Elegant Lolitia Gothic Click here to order your own anime or cosplay! moonstruck costumes my favorite. . . Tokoyo Mew Mew and Japanese School Girl Uni. Visit the wikipe TAN mascot
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After 18 months of sporadic internet access and four years of living with dial up, Feb 2, 2008, i got broadband. Now, I can file all my scraps of paper and notebooks, upload photos, art and documents at whim! whew who!!!!
Some to Come. . . .
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To calm my confusion I googled right side driving and what did I find ?. . . . Advice like. . . visitors are informed that UK drives on the (LHS), that's the left hand side of the road. In the interest of safety, YOU are advised to practise this in your "COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE YOU VISIT" ya right! Exactly how would that work? Or how about the transition of a country from LHS to RHS, a governmental announcement, says that the change will happen in phases . . . where taxis and buses will first drive on the RHS with cars and trucks driving on the LHS until 90 days pass. Did they think that thru?
Continue reading "Drivers Wanted, must know how to drive on both sides of the road. . ." »
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Was it a thousand African elephants? The fine features of the African Blue Mountains? The maternal touch of a baboon and her young? The more I travel, the more I want to go back to what Edward Rice Burrough's describes as Tarzan's philosophy. . . he had an EXTREME FORM of "return to nature". It's the Tarzan of the jungle, not the Tarzan of Jane and Greystoke.
Continue reading "Longer I travel, the more I take on Tarzan's feel osophy" »
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