I watched as the magma found its way down the side of Kilauea to the sea igniting trees like match sticks. The flight gave me a sense of the scale and power but I felt removed, not a part of it. I wanted to be closer.

On my second visit I received permission from the Park Service to walk across the Kalapana Field escorted by a park ranger. This time I could feel the heat of the magma just below my feet. We hiked across the crusted lava field created by the cooled magma. There was still magma flowing in tunnels, lots of it.

Here is the entire article Shooting Magma

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I’ve recently heard a different use of the expression, “Corridor Effect”. Rather than describing spatial changes of landscape patterns, a friend used it to describe the experience of entering a situation with a primary objective but finding unexpected doors of opportunities along the way.

Last month, while getting a haircut in Bangkok, I asked my barber if she could help me find a bilingual assistant to help with my current photography project. She said she knew just the person. A couple of days later, I met with Kamontip (Kamon) Chockthanyarat, a Thai education consultant.

In the course of our initial discussion explaining the purpose of the photo project, Kamon asked if there were other projects where she could help. I told her that there were two other projects I wanted to start but haven’t gotten around to them. The first was about the MlaBri people who I have wanted to learn more about for some time. I first read about them in the early 90’s. The article described them as a wandering nomadic tribe. It has been my intention to locate and photograph them. Kamon told me that she could get me access to the tribe through a friend of hers in Nan Provence where the MlaBri roam.

Read the Entire Article here …

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Beijing, China 18 June 2008

Yesterday, I arrived in Beijing from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia having just crossed the country from Dalanzadgad to Huvsgul Lake.

On Craig’s List, I had found Steve Klein [golden.2004[at]hotmail.com] offering walking tours along less traveled portions of The Great Wall of China. We exchanged emails and phone calls while I was in Mongolia and agreed that he would pick me up at my hotel at 7:00 a.m. on 18 June.

The weather forecast was optimistic, but in reality the weather could not have been worse. It was foggy, smoggy, and I, after a two week odyssey bouncing around in an SUV across Mongolia, was groggy. It was not an ideal day for photography. As we drove 90 miles northeast of Beijing near the city of Miyun we became acquainted, exchanging our stories of how we both ended up in Asia.

Steve is a Canadian from British Colombia and is married to Rebecca, whom he met in BC. She is from Beijing. They have a four- year old son, and moved here three years ago to give their son an opportunity to experience both of his cultural heritages.

Here is the entire article Walking The Wall, The Great Wall That is, hope you enjoy the story.

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March 2008 Lijiang, China (26 52 N, 100 14E)

Lijiang, China is located in the border area between Southwest China’s Yunnan province and Tibet. The Old Town area of the city is lined with beautiful tile-roofed court yard houses. The wooden homes and flag-stoned pavements are reminiscent of Tang and Song Dynasty styles. Several minority ethnic groups live here, most notability 210,000 Naxis. In fact, the town was built and developed by the Naxi people. The town flourished as a trading post on the “Tea-Horse Ancient Path”. Tibetans bartered horses for tea with the villagers around this area.

My first visit to the Old Town was in November 2006. Located in a Lijiang River valley, the old town is an excellent representation of traditional Chinese courtyard houses. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements for several cultures that have lived in Lijiang over the years. My two favorite examples are Wen Chang Palace and Mu Palace.

Another unique attraction of Lijiang’s is its complex and ingenious ancient water supply system that still functions today. In fact the icons of the town are two huge water wheels located at one of the entrances to the town. It is along the main canal where most of the local restaurants set up temporary outside eating areas when the weather is pleasant. Further along the canal both sides are lined with open air bars full of very inebriated singers charming the opposite sex from opposite sides of the canal. As if it provides some protection. The mating rituals of the Naxi and their singing of pickup lines across the canal is a unique and an entirely different story to be told later. (more…)

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March 2008, Lijiang, China

Lijiang is located on the north side of the Himalaya Mountains 1,500 km east of Mount Everest and approximately 150 km from the Tibetan boarder in Yunnan Provence.

In 1933 the nearby mountains inspired James Hilton to write Lost Horizons the book that popularized the term Shangri-La. Citing extracts from Hilton’s book, some areas of China, such as the scenic town of Lijiang now claim they were the inspiration for Shangri-La. The neighboring county of Zhongdian in Yunnan has gone so far as to officially rename itself as Xianggelila (Shangri-La).When no one was looking I kicked the dirt in a couple of places but found no signs of a hidden diamond.

The day after visiting the lamasery in Shangri-La I headed two and a half hours southwest of Lijiang to Shibao Shan (Mountain).

Here is the Entire Article …

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Once we were clear of the listing Explorer and the threat of the other lifeboat dropping onto us my attention turned to my new environment. The lifeboat was surprisingly crowded even with two short of the stated seating capacity.

Fortunately, this was not a typical cross section of people; we were mostly slim to medium sized, no XXL’s here. I can’t image what it would have been like if we had a full Thanksgiving dinner. Even though the lifeboat was under capacity with thirty-seven trim passengers there was no wiggle room. And let’s not forget we are going to be here for at least six hours without a toilet.

Before we left the Explorer, Captain Wiman announced there were three ships on the way to rescue us. The nearest was six hours away. He cautioned us it could take longer as they may have to sail around pack ice.

Clearly, comfort is not part of the design brief given to lifeboat architects. It would also seem they are not required to spend any time on a fully populated lifeboat testing its functionality. I can’t believe our lifeboat could properly function using the oars while fully loaded. I guess the assumption is when you board a lifeboat from a sinking ship in the middle of the sea you will take what’s there and be forever grateful.

Here is the entire Article - Adrift at Sea

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The captain told everyone to move outside and assemble near our lifeboats. Sola and I could only get as far as the door before the line halted. There were too many people on the catwalk and insufficient space for all the passengers to gather outside. The passengers outside tried to make more space by repositioning themselves. I think the cooperation and mutual support by each of the passengers was a major factor that ultimately resulted in no injuries. Reflecting on the entire ordeal, we were fortunate to have such a well disciplined and focused group.

We’d moved a little then waited before being able to move again. There was never any pushing or shoving. What was going on while we waited might surprise to those not present. There was quite a bit of joking as we waited to get outside. One person started singing, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” then another, followed with “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Someone else started a game of Complete This Sentence. “Rather than boarding a lifeboat right now I’d prefer to …”

More space became available on the catwalk as the aft lifeboat started loading. By the time we got outside the aft lifeboat was nearly full. We turned forward and waited again. At this point there was some grumbling about why it was taking so long to board. In fact, why weren’t we boarding, rather than waiting alongside our boat?

Here is my entire Abandoning the M/S Explorer story.

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The Penguin Room or lecture room was used in the evening to show movies such as “March of the Penguins” and “Happy Feet”. During the day, more sober presentations on sea birds, penguins, mammals, geology, icebergs, weather, research and history – Shackleton, Antarctica and its environs were presented. The scientific presentations were given when we were not boarding Zodiacs to experience firsthand the wonders of Antarctica. The room is laid out like a typical lecture hall with theater style seating but with benches and coffee tables around the perimeter.

When Sola and I entered the lecture room I looked for Simon. If anything happened to Simon his wife would feed me to the leopard seals. As I looked around the room for Simon I was surprised to find both computers at the rear of the room engaged with email writers. Once I spotted Simon, looked through the window to check the weather condition and wondered if shipboard computers have become the modern day message-in-a-bottle.

Here is the entire article - The Penguin Room

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Just before midnight on Thanksgiving Day we were now sailing southwest through Bransfield Strait having spent the morning at Elephant Island; we were now heading to Antarctica.

Bransfield Strait is south of the Drake Passage, the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and Antarctica. The cruise was titled the “The Spirit of Shackleton”, no one knew when we left Ushuaia how aptly this cruise was named.

I was particularly keen to go on the Explorer as it is well known for being the only purpose built ship for exploring the Arctic and Antarctic. Unlike my first cruise to Antarctica aboard the Ushuaia, the Explorer cruise included visits to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island with King Penguins, as well as Antarctica.

When we weren’t boarding Zodiacs, visiting historic sites or viewing the wildlife, we were onboard the Explorer attending lectures given by prominent scientists in ornithology, geology, sea mammals, climate and glaciology.

Here is the full article The M/S Explorer - Dress Warmly

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