By Natt ( May 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM) · Filed under Review, Art, Beach
There is a saying that I have heard so much ever since I came to Les Roches that is “if we fail to plan then we plan to fail.” I can only partially agree with this statement because in reality there will be problems that came up despite the fact that the “plan” itself has taken month and month to make it flawless.
I, too, plan everything before I taken a step forward. But how much is it that we can actually plan, how much information do we need to gather to plan for something to happen and when are we suppose to stop planning and put that plan in action? If we think about it carefully the reason that we plan is because there are rules that apply to what we are planning. The rules say, you must do this and this for this to happen, you must not do this to prevent this, you must follow the direction carefully to achieve… this and that.But the only rule is that there are no rules!
Planning works for me but only to certain extend. The thing I don’t like about “planning” is that it bring “expectation” and if things failed to go as plan then we get disappointed.
Improvisation, on the other hand, is my best friend. Improvising has taken me to places I haven’t imagine myself to. It has bring so much fun, joy, activities, adventure and life itself. I could be wrong to say that “I plan everything” because the fact is I only set GOALS then start walking toward it. My plan is simple, it is to do whatever it take, be spontaneous and IMPROVISE my way to reach that goals. This way… I don’t have to plan everything in detail but to make sure that I enjoy what I do and keep walking forward to that goals and dreams… make it happen!
I sketched this back in 2003 and you see? I even planned on how to sketch the gravel before I actually sketched it. I was just bored one evening so I started to sketch the gravel photo that I bought from IKEA.
“Life is a lot like jazz… it’s best when you improvise” said George Gershwin
Why, why why why why why why… it’s so hard to find the answer to the “why” question. Today, after getting up at 9 and having done some studies I have found the answer to “all of the why” questions and that is “PERHAPS”. I find the word perhaps to be very powerful as it actually turns around the mentality of confusion and loss of faith and believe that everything that happened, happen, or is happening… is for better. And there, the why why why why why… questions is gone.
It’s the sea, the beach, the wind, and the breeze of the fresh air that always stirs my head to ask all the questions that have no answers to it until now.
This picture was taken yesterday, at Aude’s Birthday party at a restaurant by the beach in Marbella, Spain There are much more pictures from the party that I will post later. For today I find this one to be interesting because it is a picture of a boy and 3 girls which reminded me of my cousins and I when we were little and went to the beach with family and we’d just sit by the beach eating seafood! Yum! Miss the old days.
Once again. Dear Aude, Happy 25th Birthday! and welcome to 25th+ club. ^_^
Day 7… According to our plan, we should be back in Marbella, after a long road-trip, to rest for half a day before the beginning of the end to this journey, at Les Roches.
A lighthouse is meant to guide a ship to arrive at the coast safely and preventing them from running a dangerous path. It will always be there, day and night, hot or cold, calm or windy, storm or clear… it will always shine its light, it will always stand strong and hold it ground to do its job at its best. We always look at things one way, and that way is how “that things” benefit us. We rarely look at how much “that things” has gone thru to provide what it is providing for us. Let’s reflect this back to our life, a very good metaphor of a lighthouse could be our parents. Our parents and families are always there for us, to guide and direct us safely to the shore, but really, how often do we really think about what they must have gone thru in their lives, how much have they suffered when we ignore them, how painful it is to be left behind and yet… they will stand there, waiting… Waiting for us to come back to them and just to be there, accompanying that lighthouse.
Dear Mother, and my Families… Happy (Thai) New Year. I love you and miss all of you. Thank you for never let me fall… and for always being there for me. And this song is for you, Don’t let me fall by Lenka
This is the last schedule post for this holiday, and from Monday on, I should be back on posting on regular basis and I will be sure to post all the pictures taken from the trip as well. It is not easy to schedule posts for days in a roll but hey, one post a day, as promised ^_^
Day 5: By now, I should be missing the beach very much because it is so close to the school. The view of the beach can be seen from a hill next to our school. I think that it is today that we will be going to the Alhambra because it would be too tiring to go on the same day that we drive back from Madrid.
Thinking of the beach, this picture is a great way to express the ideal way of enjoying a day by the beach. The family in the picture seems to be enjoying the warm sun, the breeze of fresh air and the sound of wave crashing to the sand. Life, it just can’t get any simpler.
*Update via mobile. We are postponing the Alhambra de Granada for now as we agreed to stay longer in Madrid because it is so far away from Marbella. As for Grananda, we will take a trip there later during one of the long weekends because it is about 2 hour drive from the school, so it will allow us to do a day trip. So much to see, so little time!
Day 3: By now, we should be in Madrid with some of our PG buddies. At this point I must have seen so much of this city… perhaps too much? I hope that my camera can hold enough pictures.
I wonder if this gentleman that is fishing in the picture is from Madrid and that he is here fishing in Marbella because he has spent so much of his life in the busy city street, perhaps he is a CEO of a big company that is taking his day off just to do nothing.
Most of the people who are fishing are not really after the fish… but the moment of peace where it is suddenly change into enthusiasm when the caught the fish. It is the feeling not about the fish that we are after when we go fishing, at least that is my reason for fishing.
*update via mobile: today plan is to go to Gran Ville, where the “Loewe” store is located. An interesting incident happened yesterday. After we arrived in Madrid and were trying to look for our friends place, a block from their place… our car died in the middle of the intersection. !!! Unnn Beee Liveeee Aaaa Ble!!! So we had to push the car to the side, with help of a very nice local gentleman that helped push the car. About 30 minutes later… the car came to life again!!! That was just wierd!
**after we gathered up with our friend, we went to a coffeshop, Met Cafe and the rest of the evening we were just resting at their place… guess what we were watching??? Gossip Girl!!! I think we much have watched about 3 episodes! And then we went to Tony Roma’s for a late dinner, my first time eating in Tony Roma’s. After that, back to the apartment and watch more Gossip Girl… then sleep.
On Sunday, I did some studying on the school balcony… bathing in the sun for an hour or so. Then in the afternoon, the weather suddenly changed from sunny to cloudy and windy, from hot to cold and chilly. Talking about the weather here in Marbella, Spain, it is strange !!! Is it really the work of global warming but what happened was that weeks ago it was raining all week long, and then it got hot for another week, and then suddenly we had a hail storm for a day… sigh…
That is how I started looking for picturess taken during New Year’s 09 in Vancouver, Canada because the weather and the clouds resemble the day that I visited Vancouver. Above is the Panorama of Vancouver on the bridge that lead to the “Tertisland” (another photo that I took from the port, below to the left of the picture) In that picture, you would see the bridge that I am standing on to take this picture ^_^
The experience was amazing, as I am standing in between the 2 worlds, one side full of building and its dynamic energy while the other side is more of natural, nice and calm. It’s created the perfect harmony during the moment on the bridge where everything seems to be balanced out with the melody from the sky.
Question: What is it with the sunset, the beach, and the view that make it is such a preferred location for couples, families, or individuals to come and just watch that moment where the sun sets into the sea at the horizon?
Answer: I don’t know… and that is why I have nothing more to say today.
Tip: Close your eyes… Take a Deep Breath… Just Feel… and remember that feeling.
Picture info, Location… San Diego, California. Outside of Museum of Making Music.
There are so many moments in life that I wanted to capture a moment like this. The moment that there is nothing else to worry about, life is just drifted away by the sound of the wave, the breeze of the wind, the smell of the sea, the mist of the wave, the sparkling sound of the bubbles crashing on the sand and the sun reflecting on the surface of the water…
The irony of the beach is that it is like a carpet; it will always get stepped on over and over by people but the difference is that… it is not a carpet. The beach has the sea, the waves, and the wind that will always refresh the sand, polish the stones, and smooth up the beach again. It is there only for the enjoyment of the other, only for the pleasure of the couple, only wanting them to be happy, only wanting the other family to spend time with each other and to have a beautiful memory to remember their visit to this beach.
But, what would it do… when it needs a break from all that?
Last Saturday was cloudy, gloomy, and cold because of that I stayed in. Yet, I looked for an alternative way of traveling. I watched Bourne Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum. Yes, I did watch 3 of them continuously and it wasn’t just the story I was watching, it was the cities the movies were in. Most of the locations are in Europe and are very near Malaga, however, I won’t have the time to travel to any of those places. The classes were just as busy as it could get and the breaks are not long enough for me to plan a decent trip.
So from watching all the Bourne movies, I noticed that the ending has to do with him going to see his girl at a very cozy shop by a beach where she owned and operated the place by herself. And that just made me wonder, how life would be like if I were to have a little cozy shop somewhere that I owned and operated along the beach. Just sit there and do nothing, waiting for customers, relaxing in the sun, feeling the breeze, and just wasting my days away day after day. And for that, it reminded me of this shop that I walked by in Puerto Banus. It wasn’t open when I was there but it must have been nice to own something like this, where every day work is a vacation.
Day dreaming is my job… haha (or jaja in Spanish) Well, I am not exactly day dreaming, I am planning my future toward it. The concern isn’t how but “when”. When???… Soon !!!
After walking for hours, I can’t seem to find my Yacht… !!!! Why… is because there are too many Yacht here? No! Because I don’t know where I berthed the Yacht? No! Because I was in the wrong section? No! Actually it’s because… I don’t have a Yacht! Ahhh, that’s why! But hey… one day, I will. There is nothing wrong with dreaming BIG!
There are so many Yachts here at Puerto Banus, they stretch out as far as the eye can see. I don’t feel as if I am living in Marbella, Spain at all because it is such a tourist spot here. I feel as if I was walking in San Pedro, New Port Beach, Huntington Beach or Dana Point. Most of the vendors here speak broken English, just like those vendors along the beach in California. I noticed that Spanglish seems to be very a popular language along the beach.
The picture was taken last Saturday, 14, the same day that I went out for coffee by the beach. One beautiful sunny day, walking, chilling, taking picture and listening to music that was just one simple day.
Oh, yesterday was the first time that I actually made a cake that I started from the beginning to the end. It wasn’t easy but very enjoying.
Back to the first day of the year, January 1, 2009 (duhh) Cold, yes!!! very cold… I wasn’t prepared for this much coldness!!! Anyway, that day was a great walk, I must have spent about 5 hours walking in the snow, brown snow… sometimes yellow snow. Eww. From this location that I took the picture, it took me about 30 minutes or so to get down to the flag because I wasn’t wearing proper shoes, I had tennis shoes on… no waterproofing— nada! Walking to the flag wasn’t easy at all since I keep sinking into the snow that was about knee deep.
Ohh, I posted this picture today because I read an article about the Winter Games 2010 which is going to be in Vancouver. Great place, great choice, and great location for the Olympics. There were so much to see, to do, to eat and to explore here in Vancouver. We were there for only 3 days 2 nights, and it wasn’t long enough for us to do much. Well, we got to countdown in Vancouver… and after that, I got to experience the snow “actually snowing from the sky, real snow (not the man made stuff like in Big Bear, California)” for the first time in my life. And it was literally right after the year started!!! An amazing experience, what a great way to start my year!!!.
Okay, are you ready for Vancouver? Less than 12 months from now, is the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Here is their official website Vancouver 2010.
Back in 2003, us students from SCI_Arc from the Philosophy of Technology course that was taught by Marcos Sanchez went to the US-Mexico border to understand the idea behind the “wall” and the define what is a wall. The interesting thing about the situation at the border is that, there are no residents at all on the US side, while it is highly populated on the Mexico side. The question of the class is why… but my question is… why can’t we all get along? Why must we have a wall to prevent people from entering the space when it is obvious that the wall is not really a wall.
At the location, where I took the picture, we were playing soccer with the kid from Mexico, however… we must remain on our side, and they are on their side because the border patrol are watching. We are not allow to exchange anything with them with the concerns that it could be illegal activities.
So, seriously, why do we need the wall when we know that the wall doesn’t mean anything with out the authority being present at the wall? Why must we distinguish ourselves from the others, what make us different from them, and who is to judge the difference?
A simple wall, can create or nearly create a war because of the differences. ie. the Berlin Wall.
I don’t have the answer as to why a wall matters, but I truly believe that the world with out a wall is the world with out war because there would be no differences, no disagreements, and no hatred.
Okay… that was in 2003, half a decade ago, but… it felt like just yesterday.
All the boys and girls in the picture are now working in many architecture offices; the one behind the camera (me) is back in school. Hey… I’ll catch up!
Try to listen to the music while reading today then, maybe, you might understand the feeling I experienced the moment I took the picture.
Saturday, I went to for a coffee break in Puerto Banus. The coffee shop, La Pesquera, is right on the beach. It is a small hut with coffee tables and beach benches for those that would like to take a sun bath while drinking. Sitting and chilling there for bit and just doing nothing. After the coffee, I just walked around the beach trying to find the right frame to take a picture so that it say something, if not all about “Marbella”. I took quite a few pictures, but in my opinion, I believe that this is it ^_^ “An Orange sandal, a boy, Sierra Blanca (the mountain behind), and the Beach… ” I’ll just let the picture speak for itself because I am bad at expressing what I want to say, duh… if I were good at that, I might as well write a novel too. ^_^
Anyway, does anyone know how to print postcards? What kind of printer (portable if possible) and paper to get? I am interested in trying to make my own postcards ^_^.
“We are so arrogant aren’t we? So afraid to age… we do everything we can to prevent it… we don’t realize what a privilege it is to grow old with someone, someone who doesn’t drive me to commit murder or doesn’t humiliate you beyond repair… sweet!” a quote i found very very… true. It was from the movie “P.S. I LOVE YOU”
After i watched that movie, yesterday it reminded me of this picture that i took on the new year. Actually it is the same day that i took the “First sunset of the year, in Vancouver 01.01.09″. I imagine that, it would have been nice to have someone to sit there, together and just be there for each other, doing nothing, worrying about nothing, just be happy.
I don’t think that it is too much to ask for, or is it?
Do you remember going to a beach with a bucket full of equipment to make a sand castle? Maybe we don’t do that any more because we think that it is childish.
But after I saw this SAND village, I was amazed at the detail of work. Look at the detail of the wall, the stairs, the tree, logs, cave, arch, stone… it is AMAZING!!! I was curious as to who made this… and if this is even real, as in… is it really made by sand or is it just a fake sand castle. To my surprise, 5 minutes later I saw this man working on another sand work. Now… I am speechless. The man… only has a bucket of water, a tool and his Hat.
He creates art from water, sand and his skill. Truly, an amazing person. Unfortunately, my Spanish isn’t well enough to carry a conversation with this guy for longer than 1 minute. There are so many wonders a man can do. Exploring allows me to learn something new everyday… I’m amazed at this little planet of ours.
A long day, a really really long day… and then it just reminded me of another long day I had in San Francisco. However, it was a totally different experience and feeling, because the long day today, I just wanted to get away and go back to one of those long “relaxing” days where I had nothing to think or worry about.
Well, the day is way too exhausting, so much so that I don’t really know what to write about… all I want to do is blank out and look at the picture… the today picture. It was so beautiful, very vivid, very calm, and very very peaceful.
I hope that you guys enjoy today’s pick as much as I do. Just sit back… and relax…
It was the first time that I got to use SLR camera. The camera was in this drawer for years and I have never seen anyone at home in Bangkok use it before. Later I found out that it is my mother’s camera, it was a Nikon F3 SLR Camera. So I took it out from the drawer, spent a few hours to understand how it works and how to open the casing to change the battery and film roll. To be honest, it took me a while to figure out how with the help from internet. Then I took the camera to the shop to get a battery and some film. I then asked the sales representative about the camera. At the store, they were surprise to see the camera because it is really old. Older than me, as it was from 1980. After understanding some concepts and functions about the SLR, I bought with me 4 rolls of 36 picture film.
I used 4 rolls in 2 days during the trip. The unfortunate part of this is that, more than half of the picture from the film were bad due to Under or Over Exposure because I didn’t know how to use SLR camera. Anyways, after much frustration, I decide to get a DSLR, a Canon Rebel Xsi after I graduated from SCI_Arc, Southern California Institute of Architecture. The camera, well half of it because I paid for half of it, was a present for graduation… and because of this present, it accompanies me every where I go, recording pieces of my memory from here and there.
Life is full of distractions, activities, and beautiful memories. Unless we can capture and share all the moments in life with this tiny brain of ours, photography is the only method that I can use to share those moments with everyone.
*The picture was not taken from the SLR nor was it take by me. It was taken with a Sony Ericsson W810i, camera-phone. Thank you to the photographer, for this beautiful moment.
Do you remember going to a beach with a bucket full of equipment to make a sand castle? Maybe we don’t do that any more because we think that it is childish.
