Travel - Page 2

Pulling Up Stakes: Goodbye USA, Hello Ireland

I’m writing the first half of this while convincing myself to drink two more glasses of water with promise of a nightcap. Dehydration is not my usual game, but I’ve been at my desk for seven solid hours wrapping up a commission, with three more to go in an attempt to complete as many of these as possible this week, because next week marks the beginning of mad preparations for Operation I. Rewind to seven months ago. My steady writing …

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Photo Flurry 121 – Revisiting the Paris Catacombs

The first time I visited the Paris catacombs, it was the summer of 1999 and I was spending one month riding the EuroRail and sleeping in hostels (and on floors, and in parks) while backpacking across six European countries with my best friend. It was the greatest thing we could think to do after my graduation – our goal was to visit as many of the attractions listed in the Weird Europe travel guidebook as we could – so we …

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Photo Flurry 117 – Stone and Steel in Toledo

Europe was lots of fun and Toledo is a place I hope to return to and get lost in for a few days; I’ve never in my life seen such magical light. And speaking of never – I will never post my Eurozoom 2013 photos if I feel obligated to write long accompanying posts – with two weeks to finish three pieces for group shows, well… Ain’t nobody got time for that. I know I owe this place and you …

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Photo Flurry 109 – The Prodigal Cosmonomad Returns

I’ve been back from China for two weeks and the jet lag is finally lifting its sticky film from my brain. Back on LA time, too, though Beijing hours still occasionally wake me up around 3AM – wondering who and where I am. For a few days, all I could do was sloth and sleep, avoiding email and calls to the best of my ability, which is to say not all that well. Duties, outstanding commissions and Kickstarter incentives flopped …

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The Countdown

Good morning, Biorequiem navigators! It’s been one intense month around these parts, as you can probably tell by the radio silence. Thanks to your generous contributions and help in getting the word out about The Secret Guide to Alternative Beijing – it’s HAPPENING. In fact, it’s happening tomorrow. At this moment, I’m in a tornado of packing and tying up loose ends before boarding a plane for a one-month-long journey in China. My hair is freshly dyed to resemble a …

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Summertime Action // Projection

Hello again, my bioluminescent plankton of the cosmos! It is I, your navigatrix, here to tell you that the next two months are going to be so jam-packed that I may have to continue this sporadic manner of posting until Autumn. It always seems to me that SDCC kicks Summer into gear and everything becomes absurd for several months. This is certainly the case this year, and I’m going to do my best to keep you abreast of pertinent goings …

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Photo Flurry 104 – Desert Hedonism

Spent the weekend next to the California/Mexico border, bathed in the light of the largest, lowest moon of the year, at a desert hideaway. Around fifty people drove down from LA to celebrate comrade Alexandra’s birthday amidst mountains, great food and better friends. I’m bursting with impressions and gratitude for the generosity of the property management, the time our friends spend cooking and feeding everyone, the epic 2-hour yoga session that has my legs saying, “Thank you, Mistress, may I have …

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Photo Flurry 099 – Sutro Bath Ruins at Sunset

Why, look at that! Our 99th Photo Flurry. I can’t think of a better way to welcome the approaching triple digits than with a massive  collection of photos from my most recent visit to one of the prettiest places in all of California – San Francisco’s Sutro Baths. Once a lavish private  bath house and museum, it burned down to the ground in the sixties, leaving behind a striking, skeletal carcass of rusty beams and crumbling concrete, with tides eroding its remnants …

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Photo Flurry 073 – Losing Goth Points in Hicksville

Last weekend, a bunch of friends and I packed our finest bikinis, meats and libations to spend a weekend in Hicksville – a desert “trailer palace” in Joshua Tree. Now, Hicksville is my new favorite place for glamping – that’s glamour-camping to you. Why glamping at Hicksville is good: you get the desert, a fire pit, s’mores and cooking under the infinite stars, but you also get a salt water swimming pool, a rooftop jacuzzi, WiFi, plumbing and adorable themed …

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Photo Flurry 071 – EuroZoom Round-up

All of my Europe-related articles from the April supertrip have gone live. To save you the trouble of combing through the Chinashop archives, I’ve created this handy chronological post. Pretend I’m your tour guide, and get ready to marvel, drool, absorb and above all, walk. I walked everywhere on this trip and loved it! Click the images below to see the articles. Rome – Tastes Like Ice Cream Gods and Gladiators – a Brief, Sticky Tour of Rome’s Top Attractions …

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Photo Flurry 066 – EuroZoom 2011, Part 2

These were taken during my first full [and I do mean full] day in Rome, and are but a taste of many, many more, which are coming to ChinaShop soon. Stay tuned for more Coliseum, Vatican Museum, Forum, and the jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica. See also: EuroZoom 2011, Part 1. Morning outside my hotel Coliseum wall Katya 2008 Inside the Coliseum Exploring The Forum An grief-stricken dog inside the Vatican museum The tapestry hall in the Vatican museum is …

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Photo Flurry 065 – EuroZoom 2011, Part 1

I am returned from a flurry of cathedrals, cobblestones, ancient history and art. Evidence bombardment begins. Heathrow A disturbing iPod dock Tea + appetizers + Light Asylum shirt at Gordon Ramsey’s Plane Food restaurant Steak Carpaccio Foie Gras Epic gift from Mom – the Alexander McQueen bee skull ring Mom, being awesome and enjoying the menu Sleepy after the flight, on the way to drop bags off at our hotel Rome, being beautiful at night The best gelato of my …

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Mixed Sack of Wonders

Writing from the heart of the storm, where the dust is swirlin’ and is shows no sign of settling. At least I have new wood-framed glasses from Spex Club, which I dig for light eyebrows days. IPHONE CASES My iPhone cases are coming. I can’t show them to you yet, but these are the featured designs, though they won’t be released at once. TRAVEL Still catching up on freelance while attempting to plan my trip to Europe. It’s a quick …

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Photo Flurry 064 – Wondertrip

I’m in the process of releasing several exciting new merch items into the world, dyeing my hair, planning my trip to Italy and France next week [oh god], and scrambling to catch up on a month worth of work. Still, I’m intent on updating more. First up, a few outtakes from our trip to WonderCon, in San Francisco. I have a couple of related galleries coming to Chinashop sometime next week, as well. Somewhere between LA and SF, nestled in …

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