Surf City - Huntington Beach, CA

 
 

London Journey

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borough Market

Talk about a pub with my name on it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soho

Oxford Circus

 

 

 

Hyde Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River Thames

 

 

 

Seeking London Beauty

The Meeting Place - St Pancras Int'l Rail Station

 

Fancy

From the outside

Sir John Betjeman

 

BFI IMAX

Bus Stop

Waterloo Birds

Waterloo Peek-a-boo

Waterloo Station

Missed the Bus
 

Why We Try

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try… try again. Right? Perhaps. Obviously, any goal worth attaining is worth expending the required energies to achieve, but what exactly is it to try? Yoda famously preached that “there is no ‘try’”, and one must simply “do or do not.” That assumes, of course, that one has the ultimate power of achieving the desired outcome. We all know that, due to any number of variables and obstacles, the doing just may not be in the cards. Yet we try, because of one reason – hope. Hope is a powerful notion. It gives us courage, creativity, and resilience. It gives us a reason, drive, and purpose. Hope turns a boy into a man and a peasant into a king. Hope can also make you a bit crazy. When all hope is lost, we have no reason to try. However, a drop of hope can be like an ocean. We try because we believe. We fail only when we do not stay true to the endeavor. The best endeavors are dreams that light the fire of your heart to find the way in the dark and guide you to a place you have never been... I hope.

So Far... (2013)

So far, I have learned a few things which I should never forget:

Some of the greatest finds are unexpected. Appreciate beauty in all of its forms. Study what interests you, and even some of the things that don’t. The airline may forgive your tardiness, however showing up the next day is just stupid. Look out for big metal poles in playgrounds when playing with children or driving your truck in reverse. Sometimes you must recant. Say thank you. Best intentions matter little to: thieves, women, cancer, customers, and Samuel L. Jackson. If your uncle calls you on his birthday, you could probably be a better nephew. Most opportunities are created. You must be present to win. There is no shame in losing, only in not learning from defeat. Sometimes it’s better just to take a cab. Call your mother. Life is temporary – treat it well. Angels exist. Go out and meet the world, because it really wants to meet you. Never trust a Greek cab driver at the drop-off point of the bus from the airport in Athens. It’s easy to wake up early when you sleep in your car. Narita Airport does not have 24-hour public transportation into Tokyo. The train station in Rome closes. Feed people. 21^st Century technology is no substitute for face-to-face communication. Give up your seat for a lady. Don’t spend all your money on a first date, even if she’s worth it. Get out and walk. Teach others what you know, and always be open to learn more. Love is a decision, as well as a commandment. Never trust the people at the drive-thru to get your order correct, without checking, if it’s that big a deal. You must be an active participant in your own rescue. Empathize. Say what you mean. Laugh. Smile. Watch out for motorcycles.

Wildest Moments

Attention all world travelers: what you seek may not be found in books or on maps. There is a good chance you are looking for moments. You know, those moments when you realize you have found something uniquely special that you are certain you will talk and think about forever? You know when you are in the moment, however it is oftentimes difficult to discern when that moment begins and when it ends. Of course, some time after the fact, you may be able to pinpoint the duration of your moment with precision. Sometimes you decide. Other times, you simply enjoy it for what it is. Still others, you hang on for dear life like on a roller coaster or in a great movie. The wildest moments are just that - untamed and out of your hands. You can pray to be able to hold on or revisit, but the wildest moments are completely unpredictable... and they are precisely the goal of many a world traveler. This is not to say you seek out fleeting moments, but rather welcome the experience that others dare not - the best or worst in this world - and are willing to take the chance for that journey. The wildest moments are indeed a gamble, but they are the wind in many a sail. In many cases, they are your inspiration. The best, they become your reason.