can we save the world?

Stephen Petranek makes the unimaginable seem real.  Can we really save the world?

tragically beautiful

Cold weather might scare away the masses and drive them to set up shop in the warmer areas concentrated closer to the globe's equatorial divide.  But for those relative few who either by chance or choice come to dwell in the colder regions closer to the Poles instead, there are some advantages such as the ability to enjoy four distinct seasons every year.  Take, for example, the island nation of Ireland. 

There's hardly a better place on the planet to see such brilliant shades of Autumn colors come to life.

A wonderfully rich history full of Celtic tales and modern-day noteworthies, the Emerald Isle is truly a gem of tourist and historical exploratory delight.

Despite these allures, recent buzz has put Ireland in the limelight with its  notoriety for economic woes and stories of mass emigration in search of work elsewhere.  Perhaps it's these very factors, however, which have helped shape its tragically beautiful charm. With a tiny population of just about 4 million residents, there's plenty of untouched, undeveloped land to roam about and think about the world from a different perspective.

 

let your imagination fly

Nobody likes the beginning of a new week.

(maximize screen for best viewing)

Take a deep breath with Miwa Matreyek and relax as you let your imagination fly.  Let yourself discover things to look forward to this week.

our own discovering

Sightseeing is such a treat in wonderful places such as lovely London town, UK.  It's an incredible thrill as our own eyes feast on some of the classically immortal and iconic sights we've all seen in post cards and magazines.

        

Making plans and itineraries is a must when visiting new lands and wanting to see for yourself what others have been raving about in the tourist guides.  But we can't forget to let ourselves wander freely and make our journey our own.  

There are so many colors, textures and sensations to be experienced by you and only you as you explore new corners of the world.  It's only when we start to wander off the beaten tourist tracks that we can find the classic, immortally iconic sights of our own discovering.

youthfulness

Over the years, a few smart advertising groups have used some of our older counterparts to promote their brands.  why have these campaigns been successful?

(Boost Mobile, USA)

 Because they are different?  Because they make us laugh?

(Shreddies cereal, UK)

Or, maybe because they remind us that, even though we all age, we can still tap into the youthfulness of our hearts if we want to.

a few more smiles

What's so funny?

You know those moments, when you find yourself laughing out loud at awkward moments, out of the blue, when others least anticipate it?  Embarrassed, you compose yourself and keep quiet, locking away those funny thoughts to share with no one.  In Belfast, Northern Ireland, on a chilly Fall's day, this man on the street catches my eye and agrees to be a model for my tourist photos...Out of nowhere, he bursts in to laughter and I can't understand why.  I ask and he tells me he can't believe I am freezing my "arse" off in Belfast as I walk my camera snapping happy ass up and down the streets.  This kinda makes me chuckle too, because, well, he's right.  Only unknowing tourists take interest in what locals consider to be the mundane.

Maybe the next time I start to chuckle on my own, I might share it with others after all.  We could all use a few more smiles these days anyway.

relax

Relax, it's Friday.

Monday is a long ways away.

-Kauai-

(photos courtesy Maggie Merritt)