Kevin's Blog2EndAllBlogs Blog

Introducing the Blues Brothers, Jake & Elwood Blues.

They're on a mission from God.

Man, the old stab-you-in-the-chest-with-a-make-believe-sword gag never gets old.

...and for their next trick...

I guess I'm a little homesick. I found these old photos on my computer today. I miss living in the mountains of North Carolina. They are soo beautiful and encompassing. I used to go for hikes into the woods to clear my mind and rebalance with nature. Sometimes living in the city can make you lose site of whats important in life. Harmonizing with nature seems to be secondary within this hustle and bustle lifestyle. I feel like I'm being drained of my Qi. I need to get away...

"Knowing harmony is constancy.
Knowing constancy is enlightenment."

- Lao Tsu
Tao Te Ching

I have no idea whats going on in this picture.

From the top of Rough Ridge Trail.

Andy Neal, the owner of Second Foundation Bookstore

http://www.chapelhillcomics.com
The best bookstore in the triangle
(Ok, so I put a lense flare on the photo. Sue me!)

I took this photo about a week ago. I was checking out a potential place to live. Turns out the house wasn't what I was looking for, but it was right off Franklin street (my only strict requirement). While leaving the small, but quaint neighborhood I noticed a strange neon green sign on an adjacent house. Upon closer examination, I busted out laughing at what the sign read...

"Dear Robbers, Stop breaking into our fucking house! We have nothing left to steal. We hope you rot in HELL!"

Apparently, the house had been broken into three times. The owners were fed up with it and this was their reaction. I discovered this info in a DTH article the other day. I would have broken the story before them, if I weren't so damn busy. But thats another story.

Needless to say, this wasn't the type of neighborhood I was looking to move into.

Reference: The Daily Tarheel

Yosemite National Park. Photo by: Ansel Adams

This photo has no real significance to my blog, other than I really like Ansel Adam's Work. Actually, I just wanted to post something on this day. Its 04/04/04!

Sand Crab Sculpture

This guy built the vice/stool he is sitting on. I forgot what he called it, but it is a very simple device that uses foot pressure and leverage to vice wood pieces. Here he is carving a tool handle.

Cedar, Oak, Pine and many other woods

The Moaners are a two member, all girl, local band. And they really jam! Kinda punk/rock with some nice vocals. I recommend seeing them if you get the chance.

This is the view of the main stage. On stage is an African dance ensemble from Ghana. Lots of energy!

More info about the festival can be found here.

Festival for the Eno

Silk Embroidered Gown

Description:
One Hundred Childern Jacket

"This jacket combines many different styles of embroidery. In addition to the hundred images of children that adorn the jacket, dragons are also an important feature of the design. The five-claw dragon is an emblem of imperial power that was frequently found on the emperor's clothing and other possessions."

This thing is huge! As you can tell, one person sits in the top and the other in the bottom. They work together and synchronize to the same rhythm. A curator for the exhibit told me that the two women in the picture "never switch positions." And, that "one is always on top and the other is always on bottom." Cool.

The detail of these pieces is amazing.

Some of these pieces are double sided. On the other side is a completely different image. Wow!

Sorry for the crappy photos. I think its time for a new digital camera. Also, the lighting was weird and some pieces were in display cases (above image).

The exhibit is worth seeing, not to mention it is totally FREE. I'll warn you, its rather small and you can see everything in under an hour. The tour should be avoided. It seemed rather long and boring. I recommend viewing just before or after the tour begins. There is also an IMAX movie that accompanies the exhibit. I missed it, but will def go back to see it. However, the exhibit is about China and the movie is about an American woman who rescues some panda bears from China and brings them to America to be placed in a zoo. Hmmm?....Well, thats what I gather from the description.

Also, be prepared for tons of tourist-type people with cameras to flock over things and flash cash in the faces of the artisans. Its actually geared more like a store than a museum exhibit. Most of the work is for sale. Everything from pottery, minitaure wax figurines, to silk embroidery. My favorite, by far, is the embroidery. The young woman who made the pieces is there selling smaller, more affordable embroidery($30?).

This is a funky canal that runs between Exploris and the IMAX movie theater. I just think it looks really cool.

More info about the exhibit can be found here.

China Exhibit @ the Raleigh, NC Exploris

Exploris.org

View of Boone, NC from Howard's Knob

I sometimes visit this place when I wish to be alone. Its very peaceful and the view is spectacular. Sitting up here helps me get my head straight.

Park Boundary

Mountain Skyline

You can set these photos as desktop wallpaper if you like. Just click on them, and then right click the image that opens and select "Set as Background." Or you can right click on the image and select "Save Target As..."

What a beautiful place!

It was much greener than I expected. Very lush, and the air was filled with the sweet fragrances of flowers and fruit in bloom. It truly is paradise.

After a brief 10 hr flight, I landed in Honolulu (Aloha) International Airport, which rests on the outskirts of town. Driving into Honolulu, I realized how much a city it really is.

Honolulu is a very culturally diverse city, due to its history and tourism.

Waikiki is no exception. With thousands of tourists flocking there everyday, its like an international melting pot. Its no surprise either, that Waikiki is the most expensive land, per square foot, in the world (Tidbit: Waikiki is a human-made peninsula slowly eroding into the ocean and needs to have sand barged in from places like California).

Tourism is the state's major economy. At around $10 billion a year, Hawai'i is an island gold mine.

I can't stand most forms of tourism. They sell the land, its people, culture and heritage extremely below their value. Not to mention it is devastating on all accounts. Although it brings money to the people of O'ahu, I have a feeling the locals don't like it either.

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa has a beautiful campus. If all goes well, I just might spend some time their. ;)

Center for Korean Studies

That's Troy and I. He was my surf instructor and a very cool guy. He did an awesome job instructing, despite the many people in the water. Surfing at Kuhio Beach was like weaving a bicycle through a Los Angeles traffic jam.

That was my first day in the water. No comments about my NC farmer's tan!!!

Notice the bird? That was a total luck shot. Especially since that was one of the only birds I saw while on the island.

All in all, I had a really great trip. I got to do most of what I planned on doing; hike, surf, snorkle, play capoeira, check out the university, meet really cool locals, see most of the island, eat good food, lay on the beach...yes, I also had a very relaxing time. It was very hard to leave the isalnd, and come back to the working "real" world. Believe me!

Part II on the way...

Early this morning, thieves ripped my scooter while I slept. It's weird, 'cause I didn't feel very upset about it. Maybe I was still half asleep when my resident manager woke me at 6:30 am to tell me it was missing, but I felt very content with the whole thing. I still feel so, as I believe it fulfills some karmic duty I owe.

Unfortunately, this could not come at a worst time. I am amid finals and have a major presentation tomorrow. Along with many other stressful elements recognized last night, including my landlord raising the rent, I am already in a precarious position.

What is most weird is the fact that the thieves cut through my $100 chain. I was almost certain if my bike were to be stolen they would remove the wheel before attempting to cut the chain. Apparently, the chain was my weakest link because they cut through it with ease. They even left it as a sort of testament to my insecurity. And even though the police dusted for prints, no evidence was recovered.

Luckily, the chain/lock is still under warranty. Maybe I can recover some of my losses? I guess for now I will have to walk, or even worse, ride the bus!

A little late, I know. Still, I have some photos I thought you might enjoy. Cheers!

I happened across the Okinawan parade in Waikiki. Lots of music, dancers, and colorful floats.

Diamond Head Crater
(Click for a view of Honolulu)

Hawai'i Hall at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Abraham Lincoln Hall

I stayed here during my 5 day visit. It was a cross between a Motel 6 and a dormitory, only without the vomit. Best of all, it was super cheap.

Ala Moana Beach Park

Maui Pohaku Loa

I spent a day swimming at Hanauma Bay. I swam with fishes, turtles, and Japanese tourists. It was all very exotic. Snorkling there is very commercialized. However, they put a cool preservation spin on everything.

Koko Head Crater

Windward coast

Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park - North Shore, O'ahu

Being September, the swells had not come in yet.

My last day in Hawai'i. What an awesome sunset!

G.W. Bush, Sr. International Airport - Houston, TX

<- Ter'ist-Free Zone ->

Milky Way over Weikersheim (in southern Germany) on the night of July 19, 2006

Photo By: Jens Hackmann
Post Found Here: Summer Milky Way

Gorilla Munch, originally uploaded by carlosluis.

This is how I feel when I get stoned and quest the supermarket. Everything is soo big and delicious!