Mark's Life in Progress

Birthright done right! Part 2

2012-02-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

Injera Injury

2012-02-06T15:03:00.000-08:00

Egypt Ministry Ministry of the Interiror protest February 2, 2012

2012-02-04T13:57:00.001-08:00

Clashes between Egyptians and the military near Tahrir Square in Cairo fueled by the deaths following Wednesdays football game leave at least 400 injured and several dead.

Egypt Front Lines Feb 2nd

Birthright done right! Part 1

2012-01-31T15:49:00.000-08:00

New years at an Israeli hippy commune, a mountain at dawn, bathing in mud and brine, dancing, camels, shawarma and hummus, a MegaDisastrous event, a farm and unending laughter!

Day 1-5: Israel Kibutz to Jerusalem

Priorities and Divisions

2011-12-26T15:56:00.001-08:00

3 months of travel with only a Motorbikes helmet worth of clothes, why would I need more?

The Travel Arsenal:

2011-12-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

Canon 5D Mkii
Sigma 50mm F1.4
Canon 16-35mm L F2.8
Canon 70-200mm L IS F2.8
Canon 580EXii
Cactus Wireless trigger
Gorillapod Focus with Ball X
B+W F-pro MRC filters
B+W Circular Polarizer MRC
B+W Skylight MRC
32GB CF 133x

Cost of kit > All expenses associated with 6 months of travel through Southeast Asia & India

Packing light

2011-12-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

My trip organizers packing recomondations, with my edits to what I'm going to bring:

• 1 ~~four~~ Jeans (for hiking, for going out at night)
• ~~1 Sweatpants~~
~~• 1 Sweatshirts/ Sweaters~~
• 2 Long sleeve shirts
• 2 ~~four~~ Short sleeve shirts
• ~~1 Shorts~~
• 1 Bathing suit
• ~~2 Button-down shirts~~
• 2 Long skirts
• 1 Khaki or corduroy pants
• 1 Hand towel (for swimming outside of hotels)
• 2 Plastic bags for wet clothes
• Undergarments
• Socks
• Light jacket
• ~~Sneakers or walking shoes (with traction for wet Jerusalem stone, and with straps or laces)~~
• Hiking boots or sturdy sneakers (must be closed-toe, for rougher terrain)
• ~~Sleepwear/ Long Johns~~
• Raincoat/ anorak/ poncho
• Gloves - Gore Tex (or anything waterproof)
• Hat / Baseball cap
• ~~Travel alarm~~
• Flashlight (mini)
• Camera
• ~~Film (bring extra film, because it's much more expensive in Israel)~~
• ~~Fanny pack or~~ money belt
• ~~A kippah/ yarmulke and talit/ prayer shawl (although not required, you may want to bring them)~~

2012 Rough Calendar

2011-12-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

Burning Man 2009

2011-08-28T18:41:00.001-07:00

Burning Man 2009

Primal vs. Progress

2011-08-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

5 Days in the Trinity Alps

2011-07-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

Design and Installation: Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp

2011-07-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

Took this:

Using this:

From this:

To this:

Lighting techniques using only natural light

2011-07-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

Using a campers white sweatshirt as a bounce card held just above head height left of the frame, a soft fill was created on her right side (our left) to compliment the harsh sunset (key light)

Balancing Light Levels

2011-07-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

Without Flash

With flash offset 4ft to the left of the camera and subtle diffuser.

Notice how the subject gets more definition, the background colors don't get washed out and the direction of the added light respects the existing direction of the sun.

Bently Reserve Wedding Lighting

2011-06-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

Wedding Ceremony

Post Wedding Reception

34 up lights
17 pinspots on the flowers
10 Gobo break ups for the ceiling and floor
214 amp power draw

A Little Dilemma

2011-06-18T19:43:00.001-07:00

In an effort to prepare for a wedding I'll be lighting tomorrow, I found that I've come up a little short, literally!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Smoke and Mirrors

2011-05-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

When my director for Little Shop told me he was adding seating that would block a critical up light, I had to figure a way to get the light around the audience members seat and beyond the barrier of a structural column

When "pigs" fly

2011-05-22T14:46:00.001-07:00

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Little Shop Rehearsal Snapshots

2011-05-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

For this darker and edgier approach to Little Shop of Horrors, the tone is matched with bold lighting gestures, deep shadows and high color contrasts.

"Paper Boy" Stand In's:

2011-05-04T01:41:00.001-07:00

Newspaper bundles help me focus lights and set levels for Boxcar Theaters production of Little Shop of Horrors.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Lighting ACT Black Box Studio (3/4 Round)

2011-04-26T20:28:00.002-07:00

Design strategy for this drama set in the 1900's called for realistic interior and exterior looks in a night time setting that evolved with the moon and approaching dawn.

From ACT Black Box Studio Show of Orphans Cycle by Horton Foote

Why I tell people I'm booked until the end of May

2011-04-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

Design Space

2011-04-10T08:27:00.001-07:00

Documents of the Light Designer

Learning the ETC Ion Lighting Console

2011-04-03T14:27:00.001-07:00

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Quick and Dirty

2011-04-02T09:50:00.001-07:00

I had 1.5 hours to turn this blank basement with 7ft high ceilings into a rock venue.

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Recent Small Project: Choir lighting and Architecture accents

2011-03-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

From Drop Box

Welcome to the family.

2011-03-28T11:17:00.001-07:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

New/Used price on Amazon: $2500/ $1900

Found it legitimately $1250, how could I say no?!

currently: Music Video Shoot

2011-03-21T23:33:00.001-07:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Currently

2011-03-21T22:32:00.001-07:00

Shooting no budget music video in a warehouse.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Cabaret Rehearsal Snaps

2011-03-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

Quick snaps my current project of a private High School performance, which includes one of the band members from Cabarets original Broadway performance in the 60's.

Cabaret Rehearsal Photo Set

Recent Small Projects

2011-02-26T00:10:00.000-08:00

Vagina Monologues and Quintet Cabaret

Recent Low Budget Work

2011-02-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

For this psychedelic jam-band, I chose a trippy teals and greens to contrast subdued lavenders.

2.5 hour "quick and dirty" load in on a 10'x10' stage.

Chum at Connecticut Yankee

SF Pillow fight 2011

2011-02-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

Multitasking

2011-02-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

Learn More...

Round 2.1: Thoughts?

2011-02-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

Thoughts on Logo for D'Angelo Lighting?

2011-01-28T16:46:00.000-08:00

Dolby Digital Flikr Feature

2011-01-27T23:51:00.000-08:00

Dolby is featuring a bunch of my photos on their Flikr page, yippy!

The Fine Print

2011-01-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

ATT's web page dedicated to 4G, technology, and coverage deceptively includes a big map that has nothing to do with 4G. Curious.

"Map depicts current and future 3G coverage. 4G coverage not depicted." Nice.

Just a thought...

2011-01-14T15:03:00.000-08:00

Currently:

2011-01-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

Working my way down the steep terrain of Zion Nat'l Park

Currently:

2011-01-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Ready to elope with Antelope Canyon.

Currently:

2011-01-09T06:42:00.000-08:00

Glen Canyon Dam: only 16 feet shorter of Hover Dam, yet oddly 16 times less popular.

Currently:

2011-01-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Whats more impressive than a sunset at the Grand Canyon? The HDR photo of a sunset at the Grand Canyon printed on the front of a Coke machine at the end of the south rim trail.

Currently:

2011-01-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

Find out more...

Currently:

2011-01-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

Find out more...

Winter Road Trip

2011-01-02T00:37:00.000-08:00

Currently on our second leg. Double the time, double the trouble, except this time we are prepared for the snow, with style...

Stay tuned.

View Eat, Pray, Barf. in a larger map

Weather when trip planning began Dec 1, 2010

Currently for leg 2 of the trip

Private Backyard Party Lighting

2010-12-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

Contracted out to light a annual backyard party. 36 RGB LED and theater lighting, spread over 48 channels. About 150 guests, ranging from 30's to 50's. A permanent triangular stage and awning built specifically for this once a year party bridges the house and garage.

Christmas on Hillegass

Off Cue.

2010-12-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

I saw a billboard in SF that reminded me of another in Montana.

Sugarloaf 2010 Week 2

2010-12-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp brings together children talented in music, art, and creative expression in a spirited and friendly environment.

Sugarlof Week 2

Gym by day, Theater by night

2010-12-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Dodged a Bullet

2010-11-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

Lighting for the SF Ballet training group

2010-11-12T18:38:00.001-08:00

44 lights designed, hung, cabled, focus and 68 cues programed...

in 9 hours.

Company Lighting Symbol: Thoughts?

2010-10-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

Preliminary Idea: The Flame/Filament meets the overlapping circles that would be created by the projection of multiple theatrical instruments.

Tangled Tango Teaser

2010-10-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Rivets: Behind the Scenes

2010-10-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

I discuss some of the technical challenges with the lighting and set for the musical "Rivets!" performed inside the hull of a war-era ship docked in Richmond, CA

Sugarloaf 2010 Week 2 Teaser

2010-09-13T11:06:00.001-07:00

Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp 2010 Week 1

2010-08-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp brings together children talented in music, art, and creative expression in a spirited and friendly environment.

Sugarloaf 2010 Week 1

Taterations

2010-08-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

For some reason, I read the word "limitations" as "tater tots." They're sort of inversions of each other. Few limitations in college, few tater tots in the real world.

Lighting for Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp

2010-08-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Previous lighting had been two sodium-vapor street lights that flooded their amphitheater in monochromatic orange. My goal was to design a collapsible lighting system that created a intimate setting while preserving the sense of outdoors, which I achieved by highlighting the scale of the surrounding trees.

Sugarloaf Lighting 2010

Lighting Design for "Rivets" 2009

2010-07-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

Performed in the hull of a Liberty war ship docked in Richmond, CA.

Though limited by power and hanging constraints, 52 lights on 48 dimmers, helped the successful production of "Rivets" deliver a punch.

Rivets Light Design

Sugarloaf 2010 Week 1: Teaser

2010-07-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp brings together children talented in music, art, and creative expression in a spirited and friendly environment.

Sugarloaf 2010 Week 1 Teaser

Names I Think Would Be Interesting

2010-06-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Band Names

Splended Appendix

Maximum Tortilla

Garth Bucket

Jam Stand

Pipes of Showering

For the Road

Top Shelf

Phantom Clam

just pockets

Computer Game Names

Dark Shed 2

Kill Switch

Cat Names

pedal

chach-key

gear ratio (GR8)

top

scrapper

mukilteo (muck-ill-T-O)

grub

messanger

cocusa (co-cos-uh)

coscos

punch card

skagit (gaget with a "sk")

woolsey

launch pad

yu kuan

milos gloriosis

mastaba

sergio

little zipper

octagon

iron horse

zamboni macaroni

mankit

yabloko

kiska

humburto

qrunky or gronky

plinko

truckee

toshiro or toshi

truffle

coin slot

pellow (intended e)

Chairman Meow (found online)

Community Commodity

2010-06-17T13:01:00.001-07:00

What a collage from an image search of "Community" reveals

R and R. And R, and R...and R.

2010-05-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

After 5 wretched days of mud-slung breakdown near-death Hell, I finally arrived in Hanoi.

And now?

Retuned

Replenished

Recouped

Relaxed

Rejoiced

Ready!

Vietnam's Quirks and Perks

2010-05-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

The True Focus

2010-05-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

December 23, 2009

I'm surrounded by color with only a pencil for a paintbrush.

Unfortunately, damage to my EF-S 18-200mm F2.8 en route from Thailand to India has limited my photographic creativity to a 30mm F1.4 portrait lens, which explains why you see a lot more portraits in some of the more recent photos. Fortunately, there are a lot of interesting looking people in India.

This is a mixed blessing, because the limitation has encouraged me to take less shots and simply enjoy the world around me.

Update January 15, 2010

A terribly, terribly convenient Canon World Headquarters and service center means that my damaged and dirty lens is being refurbished for about 1/6 the cost and 1/10 the time as it would have taken back home.

Update February 20, 20210

It took three rounds of opening up that lens before they could get the alignment fixed. Inbetween each round, sdgsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsd I traveled to different countries for a couple of weeks. In the end, I got the Lens back 2 months after submitting it at a cost of $80 for parts and labor.

Update March 10, 2010

I motorbiked around Southern Laos for 5 days with only my camera and a toothbrush. My lens focus and zoom barrels began acting mechanically faulty. On the 3rd day, several interior components and lenses came lose and are now jumbling around inside rendering the lens useless, once again.

Update March 30, 2010

My hotel was within visual sight of Canon's service center in Vietnam, convenient when you realize there are only Three in Southeast Asia. It was determined that interior cable failed as a result of the Bangkok technical tightening a screw too much All work/cost/time to date is down the toilet since there is not an international warranty on Bangkok's work.

Update April 4, 2010

After I found out it would take 2 months to repair my 18-200mm lens, I said forget it and dropped $650 on an EF-S 15-85mm. Half the zoom for a wider angle was a fair trade off. Plus it has a fancy-fast USM.

Update April 26, 2010

Three weeks later, after 42,000 photos with my SLR, the curtain failed. Hanoi Canon didn't have the part on hand, citing 2 months turnaround time, and is not willing to ship it back to America.

Update May, 2010

Hanoi Canon agreed to attempt to ship the camera to Siagon, where the have the specific part on hand, and back to Hanoi by the 18th. If it does not come back in time I will have to abandon the refubuished camera, a risk I've decided to take.

Update July, 2010
After a failed attempt from Canon in Hanoi, Vietnam to mail the camera out to California, the camera successfully arrive...but they forgot to include my battery. So if you're swinging by Vietnam anytime soon, I might need to ask a favor from you.

Central Laos: Plain of Jars and 7.5km Cave

2010-04-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

If poverty was a measurement of life's happiness and not finances, those charts above the whiteboard in your Econ class would have looked strikingly different.

Plain and Simple can be Jarring

Large stone urns sit perched on a wispy hill, overlooking the calm sea of rice fields. During the war, proportionally 2 tonnes of bombs for every person were dumped Laos, much of which still lurks unexploded in the soil, awaiting the strike of a farmers hoe. Its so prevalent, that learning how to detect and avoid munitions has become part of the schools curriculum. Go USA. Way to break a treaty and kill people you weren't even fighting by making it the most bombed country on Earth.

Passing through Hell on the way to Heaven

Road construction has just begun, and won't be complete for years, but that doesn't stop locals. As long as the dynamite blasted hillside doesn't bottom out the bus and the rivers aren't deeper than the wheel wells, its drivable. Just make sure you bring chains. 120 miles in 15 hours, that's an average speed of 8mi/hr.

7.5km of Carnivorous Cave Mayhem

Tuck several days of travel away. At the foot of craggy limestone mountains, nested among the tobacco plantations, is a 7.5km cave. At times, wider than the wingspan of a Boeing 747 and taller than three times the height of Notre Dams vaulted ceilings, its big.

Central Laos: Phonsavan, Paksan, Kong Lor, Savanaket,

Laos: Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang

2010-04-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

Northern Laos is a romantic getaway and a gateway to a haunting history that still lurks in the plowing soil. Carpeted in a lush undulating landscape that tumbles like cumulus clouds, you're most likely to overlook a bamboo hut and banana grove when everyone scatters into the brush for your buses bathroom break.

Rock climbing to water sliding, Parisian paradise to spring break central. For Laotians however, hammocks are the word and sleeping is a full time job, though they seem to work overtime. Children eagerly greet you with high-fives and "saba-dees" as you pass on your bike. The former French occupation lingers in the weather-stained contemporary architecture and bakeries, where baguettes stalls are more common than chairs at tables.

Northern Laos: Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabaung

Polar Power

2010-03-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

For water, sky and specular reflections, a polarizing filter is a kit essential. In the second photo, the sky and water are "stopped down" allowing vibrant vegetation, cleaner water and a better tree shadow.

1st without filter/2nd with

Buying Local. Fair Trade?

2010-03-28T01:24:00.001-07:00

Muy Muay Thai (Kick Boxing Revealed)

2010-03-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Untold story of Muay Thai

Sepia India

2010-03-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

Perpetual Sunset

In looking across my photos of India, I noticed there was a consistent golden-sepia tone. Unlike the Stratosphere, which filters the blues into the sky, India's heavily polluted air tends to pull out the warm ambers. The haze results in a softer light, with sepia tones that compliment the earthy sandstone architecture and darker skinned people. If you start looking at India movies and commercials, such as this one for Preguet, you'll suddenly notice this everywhere.

India day 40-47 Jaslimer, Jaipur, Jhodpur, Agra

View Running Tab of SEA in a larger map

Some Roads Don't Lead to Rome

2010-03-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

I'm Back in the land of dilapidated communistic looking French buildings where children on passing motorbikes grip the rear view mirrors for stability and eagerly greet you with "Saba Dee!"

Returning from the Thai island of Kho Tao, I picked up where I left off in the Southern Laos town of Pakse. The plan is to continue south into Cambodia, arriving in Ho Chi Min City when my Vietnam visa begins on the 20th of March.

I learned that I may have to get a Cambodia Visa in advance throwing a wrench in my plans.

I can either trek to Laos northern capitol for the Cambodian Embassy or back track into Thailand and enter Cambodia from the west. The later would allow me to check out some awesome temples that are technically in Cambodia, but you enter from Thailand without a visa, but it would require me to go through Siem Reap and Penom Phen.

View Laos to Cambodia options in a larger map

A bakers Dozen and a half

2010-03-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

Last night, I slept restlessly in the desert near the Pakistani boarder. The sandy blasted winds snuck through the holes of the heavy blankets and sending icy gusts down my spine. I looked out at my camels saddle, sitting on the silver-lined crest of a sand dune and couldn't help but to think of a girl's hut we had pasted earlier that day.

I think photos from the India Day 29-30 had some photos go awol or were omitted from the get go. Here are some photos exploring the Johdpur fort and beyond...

India Forgotten up to Day 2

Also! Updated Map!

Hustlers of the Future

2010-03-06T05:35:00.000-08:00

Here are some videos from the Streets of India. Enjoy!

This man vomited twice before we drove off. We didn't get more than 10 meters of spiraling swerving before we realized that something was up. Try as we might to get away, he follwed us for blocks before Mike really laid down the law.

India: Kicking and screaming

2010-01-24T07:20:00.000-08:00

Varinasi as a city

The Mc Escher esq network of alleyways and collage of stairs trickle between the narrow alley ways down to the holy Ganges river where Indian's from around the country make pilgrimages to wash away their sins in the polluted Ganges river. An evening stroll along the moon lit treads guided me towards the sounds of rhythmic chisels. I followed an unmarked entrance up stairs that would only allow the most slender, around fractured corners, up ladders, through Boolean-cut portholes and along railess edges until I came across workers meticulously dissecting the heart of the structure by the light of the moon, very surreal.

Varinasi Scamapoloza

I got involved in an impressive scam that ended with me running full of adrenaline down the street yelling for the police while being chased by two men on a motor bike. It was only then that I realized the scale of the scam: the whole city is in on it. Indian's have a powerful way of manipulating that I've never encounter and all those skills of bartering go out the window. This is one of the most exciting stories I have from India, but you'll have to ask me about it when I return.

Khajuraho

Khajuraho temples riddled with meter high erotic karma sutra sculptures (I need the redundant descriptor “erotic” because all the KS paintings out there are anything but sexy) were as stark of a contrast to the conservatively dressed women as the lack of trash on the gound within this UNESECO's monument. Eroticism aside, the multi-teared structures are immaculately maintained, celebrately the highest level sando precision and relief construction techneques. We were so insipred, that we shot this fun video:

Blogger crops the right 1/4 this video frame in some browsers

Watch the Hi Res, full width version here

Sanchi Stupa

On new years day, Mike and I finally got unstuck from the industrially toxic exhaust-filled unfriendly-urban trash-dump city of Bhopal to the calm and tranquil village of Sanchi. At dawn, we climbed the the singular hill overlooking vast landscapes of vegetation from the Great Stupa Mount (you Arch 170 students will remember.)

India day 29 - 39 Bhopal, Khaujaro, Udiapur, Johdpur

MAP running tab of where I've been

Khao San Road

2010-01-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

Khao San Road is a repulsive frat boys paradise. The street is really broken up into 100m of repetitions of fake Ids, tailors, bars, food carts, fish massages and screen T's. Like at Disneyland, every night is a calculated repeat. The novelty scoccer player, the flame dancer, the thai guitar player covering western songs. John Mayer, Bob Marley, Oasis, and Jason Marz blast from every bar in a one hour loop. After 11pm the venders vanish into the alleyways and are replaced by 100 whores, many of which are “Lady Boys” All that sex tourism you've heard about in Thailand, you're looking at it.

2010_01_17 Khao San Road

Strange Rearange

2010-01-16T03:20:00.000-08:00

The path of my original trip would have spelled the letter "N" but an upcoming surprise in February and an unaffordable delay in acquiring a Vietnam visa meant restructuring my plan to a web of returns to Bangkok.

Whoreable

2010-01-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

Kao San Road is the touristy epicenter of Bangkok. If Catastrophic Kuta and Pier 39 had a child, this would be it. After 11pm, all the street venders vanish and are replaced by a hundred whores. Between the time I took this photo and wrote this text, four "women" (two woman, two lady boys) solicited themselves to me. After finding free wi-fi, I grabbed a blue plastic chair and caught up emails, and had a few interesting conversations.

Three whores solicit to two men

First look at India

2009-12-31T07:53:00.000-08:00

Sanchi Stupa

On new years day, Mike and I finally got unstuck from the industrial exhaust-filled unfriendly-urban trash-dump city of Bhopal to the calm and tranquil village of Sanchi. At dawn, we climbed the the singular hill overlooking vast landscapes of vegetation from the Great Stupa Mount (you Arch 170 students will remember.)

Facial exressions neatural expression

Unlike the smiley people of Thailand, the neatral expersion on people faces is akin to looking directly at the sun. Its uncommon for adults to smile, like in old western photographs of miners. This is why all those photos of Indian people you've ever seen look like they've lived a life of hardship.

Ganges River

The Ganges River is where one type of Holy meets another. It is a sort of town common, where ceremonies take place, paying homage to Allah or wash away sins. The river is also used for laundry, bathe and receives 21 cities worth of sewage. A 2009 study found that there is 300 times the fecal matter in the water than is safe to bathe in.

I watched motionless as a body, ritualistically wrapped in clothe, was placed on top. When a few logs fell from the pyre, a mans arm slumped out. The cloth covering the man receded into ash, revealing a mans face carved with age. After 3 hours of burning, the remaining piles were shoveled into the Ganges, 200 meters upstream from where the cities raw sewage is dumped and 500 meters up from where the locals come to wash clothes and bathe.

Map of where we are and where we've been

India Day 24 - 28 less Christmas

Christmas on the Ganges River

2009-12-25T06:49:00.000-08:00

December 25, 2009

Before sunrise and half asleep on Christmas day, we headed down to the Ganges river for a spiritual awaking. Varinasi, the holiest of holy citys in India, is a mecca for pilgramage, where people come from all around the world to wash away their sins and pay homage to Allah. It can be cold and tough for some of the stray goats and cows, but the music and spirituality is strong enough to drown out the filthiest of conditions.

To everyone back home, I wish everyone a happy happy and a merry merry as Mike Coleman and I venture into the heart of India.

Christmas on the Ganges

The Distance of a Smile

2009-12-13T06:11:00.000-08:00

Today was my day off. We motorbiked along the countryside and into the jungle. After negotiating a few streams, we navigated the faded trails until our wheels spun in the dirt and the vegetation was too thick for anything but feet. On our way back we found a lone farmer planting his final seeds at sunset, just before a monk rang the evening gong.

Over the last two weeks I have seen a full array of temples and technology. I've eaten exotic fruits, munched on bugs and (thankfully) seconded guessed street sushi. I've had a slough of diarrhea and horrific stomach-inverting vomit, witnessed multiple drug deals and an international championship of kick boxing. I've been submerged in cultural trances and humbled by local generosity. I've been massaged by butch prisoners, put to mercy by their thumbs. I've trekked to hillside tribes, ridden a bamboo raft and an elephant. I've danced and cooked with locals, celebrated with the king, and cried with a prostitute.

and there are still 3 more months to go.
Welcome to my odyssey through South East Asia.

I have as many stories as you have questions (what were you doing with a prostitute?!) but there is a particular story about one day, no, 12 hours on the Kings Birthday, and if you are patient, I will tell you.

SEA Day 1-7

Map of where I've been

Map of where I'm going

2009-12-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

But it was when she did a hand stand that the knots came out of my back and into my stomach

2009-12-07T21:49:00.001-08:00

And I quote, "I want you to jump over me, but heres the catch: if you hit me, I will punch you."

Tastes like Chicken

2009-12-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

Buried deep in the Bangkok ghetto sat an international guest house on the waters edge. One by one, we took the challenge. You don't really realize how big grasshoppers are until its in your mouth.

Yes. That Dense.

2009-11-23T23:32:00.000-08:00

Bay Area: 7 million people
22,600 sq km
-------------
300 people/sq km

Calcutta Metro: 15 million people
185 sq km
-------------
100,000people/ sq km

Tentative Plan

2009-11-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

Fly into Bangkok, across India, out through delhi and then figure eight SEA. Thoughts?

SFBC in now the largest lier

2009-10-29T00:56:00.001-07:00

Above: Seattle's primary bike club
Bellow: San Francisco's primary bike club

http://www.cascade.org/About/
http://www.sfbike.org/?membership

Delhi's Advocate

2009-10-28T23:17:00.000-07:00

View Delhi Belly: in 3D in a larger map

2009-10-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Its about time! Finally, the future is now. And yes, I do "like" that

India vs. California

2009-10-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

India had over 8 times the land area of California.

US Census website

Indian Government website

Looking Back at Looking Forward

2009-10-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

A photographic survey looking back at the rehearsal process, preformance and backstage activity of a show I worked on in Seattle at Theater Schmeater.

Summerized photo set

Extended photo set

(and a test of embedding a web album in a blog)

Iron and wine

2009-10-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

How to iron in a pinch.
1: sandwhich article between bed and t-shirt
2: boil a pot of water in kettle
3: try not to spill

A winning combination

2009-09-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

They also have ski masks, for sale, depending on the situation

Backing the Packing

2009-08-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

This calender catalogs the "back to backness" of events that have happened over the last month.

Summer of Twos

2009-07-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

Aug 2nd to Aug 22. Two road bikes, two mountain bikes and a shelled pick-up truck. We'll be backpacking and biking through different national parks, hitting up local festivals along the way.

View Road trip Summer 09 in a larger map

Early Road Trip Proposal

2009-07-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

My proposal in blue. Amanda's in gray.

Orange. So cheap and Juicy

2009-06-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

PEMDAS

2009-06-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

Today
Fly Oakland
Cherry picking
Dental Check up
Blood Appointment
Wedding in San Jose
Design Twilight Zone
Move into storage unit
Techdress Twilight Zone
Drive down to California
Horseback Riding at Ranch
Sugarloaf Camp Counselor
Garlic Festival in Gilroy, CA
Architecture for Humanity
Jordan Lance gets Married
Road Trip Across The USA
Lighting Design for Rivets
Tech The Rivets Musical
Week at Burning Man 09
Int'r light design for loft

Lighting Little Big fest?

Deck backyard design?

Green Fest Assistant
Travel far & abroad
Return to Bay Area

Light Mr Roberts

Greenfest again
Return Seattle
Move Studio
Working
Next

Where I'll be...Sort of

2009-06-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Scheduling for the next couple of months is mostly set

The following months are still loosely planned. The purple labeled "Pollock Pines" should read "Road trip"