Back to the D

Safe and sound! Be prepared to be bombarded with photos & videos....after I get my other affairs in order! Overall I give VN two thumbs up and would recommend it, we were esp. fortunate that we didn't chose Thailand this time! More later...e

last night in vietnam...ish

okay, a flurry of shopping today to get last-min. request and urges...UGH so done with negotiating...perhaps i'll miss it back in the states...but i'd rather walk away from something without someone chasing me down the street and looking like even though i just pulled a safety pin out of their forehead the will agree to my price...

i did find a few great artists while here though, so hoping to score a couple more prints before flying out.

Kristee and i did get away from the hub of commerce and went on a great bicycle ride to the beach, it's not too far, but for a while it was almost quiet on the ride...

We also found a really wonderful patisserie..not so good for trying to keep any sort of shape, but so yummy. Damn the French invasion...

i should not be allowed in a town of tailors

Okay, for those who don't know, Hoi An is filled with tailors...but not like the old men on Broadway in Detroit, but rows and rows of made to fit clothes shops, with adorable samples, tons and tons of made-to-fit shoes and boots too...did i mention rows and rows along almost every street???...it's easier to find a jacket here than a larue bia (local beer)...but i manage.

Today Kristee and i did the Red Bridge all-day cooking school, there were 2 other couples, one from Canada and one from Sunny Cali. all very nice. We went to an organic farm (nationally subsidized), to market to buy our ingredients and to the school to cook four traditional, crazy yummy dishes, then a boat ride back to downtown...Funny story in the market: We bought monk fish, similar to catfish, which apparently doesn't die quickly. So first the fish jumped out of its bowl in the market and onto Kristee's leg...then, after we bought the sucker, none of the guys wanted to hold the bag, so Kristee being nice held onto it...well that same fish made it's way out of the double-knotted bag and almost jumped out of Kristee's shopping bag!!! She shoved it back in..then ate it later..;o)

We actually had sun today for our first time in Hoi An, which was nice. We had our second fittings for some dresses we had made (i got a few, and a suit) It looks like that weather will hold, so tomorrow we bike to it MySon and perhaps take advantage of our pool.

Hello Hoi An

Well we arrived in Hoi An last night after a 5 hour bus tour back to Siagon and a 1 hour plane ride to Danang. Kristee and i were actually chuckling how we have flown so much, also gave me an idea for a new company...you know, in case this photo thing doesn't work out.

First impressions: it's cold!!! miss the 80 degrees by 8am in Mui Ne...but Kristee's sunburn will be able to heal quicker.

In Mui Ne we took a 2 hour motorbike ride to the salt mines, only to find them closed because of rain...2 hours is a long time on the bike...re:mai tia by the pool for healing.

In Hoi An we hope to see MySon, take cooking classes and take advantage of the tailors, we haven't done any shopping so this stop is it...now off for our free breakfast...and hopefully more dragon fruit.

Arrived in Mui Ne...then crashed by the pool

Our bus to Mui Ne broke down three times, but no big deal...cows slowed us down along with some pot holes that would put Michigan to shame...but we made it, its warm its lovely...On's sister got us the hook up at Bamboo Village...spa day tomorrow...ahhh, the life...
Photos top to bottom: )A little hint:if you are going to get your nails done, check out the color options BEFORE committing...
2)Another Sohn! Grabbed us some shells...we didn't want to buy the larger one, but we got the smaller ones for free 3) Kristee and I for a walk on the beach 4) eggs and dragon fruit...there may be some bread crumbs around too...if i didn't lick them off the plate...

Liking Dalat a lot

Can't even count how much we've walked, since at least 2 hours was just getting lost...with no worries, makes for better photos! Which i regret not bringing my card reader, but perhaps when i get home I'll just recreate the trip with photos...which will be okay ;o)

Yesterday we rode on the back of motorbikes to Elephant falls and other sites around the Dalat country side, my driver Dung (pronounced "YUUNG") was great! VERY SAFE MOM!

Our hotel is so lovely, we have a room with a balcony that overlooks our street, and the morning spread is delish! OH! and sauna and hot tub on the roof...last night today then it's off to Mui Ne in the morning!

crossing the street

Realizing we couldn't stay in one block we braved crossing the street...we're heading back out tonight for video ;o) we have a 3pm flight to Dalat...can't wait to be on a plane for less than an hour! Sorry, still can't figure out how to display vertical videos

arrived in Tokyo

no photos yet, our first day of our adventure started at a night at the Days Inn in Romulus due to airplane issues, whatever, better safe than sorry, we landed in Tokyo earlier,where i'm writing now, and heading out to Nam right now.

flew over Russian air space...no Migs, that was exciting, and beautiful.

Ohhh, the way those city light shadows fall...

you would think walking on the river walk at sunset i would have found a picture on the river...damn those trees, always calling out to me...even in the darkness

because if your backyard is a parking lot...

Someone had recently said Detroit has a meloncholy optimism...i was reminded of this when i found a couple using their pingpong table on a parking lot, since they didn't really have a back yard...amazingly the parking attendant didn't charge...

how do you impress a photographer?

get her access to one of the most coveted photo spots in the city....and loan her your hard hat when she forgets hers... (a few months behind, shot in March...)

It's John Martin!!!

oh, and Jon Bon Jovi...who apparently didn't recognize me from 1989 Phoenix concert...i mean i was only 100 rows back from the stage!!!!

a band i use to like, but not so much anymore...

so when we shoot bands you only get three songs, i use to like this band...but i was also 18...so 1/2 way through the first song i was done...but hung around anyway...i'd disclose the name of the band, but i was unsure of their contract whether or not i can...

evidence my job can sometimes be okay...

when trying to impress hockey players...

Detroit from Canada

Eyes cast down looking away from the city, the other country across the river...Maybe it's time to go she thinks, leave it all, i've been here as long as i can remember, my feet grounded in cement on this pier. i see so much, but for years now, i just seem to be focused on the same thing...i know it changes, people, great people, come and go out of my view, but i wonder, what if someone turned me the other way...if i could chose to focus on myself, what would i see?
...more fun stuff soon...happier stuff even...

more grrls

i need to stop uploading these backwards...

waxing & such...

Sarna shared her sugar wax with Melanie...with one leg done, Melanie called it quits...

Girls getting crafty..and such

Girls crafting weekend for a spring gathering of all that we lost over the winter...Good food, amazing womyn and a sauna...honestly, what better way to prepare for spring growth?
TJ having happier times with the sewing machine...

SEEDS PEEPS

Here's the cool people who are amongst the many who are willing to make the world a better place...although right now we are chilling bonding and drinking...



top pics:
Heather and Tim enjoying beverages at D'Mongo's


middle:
Barton taking in some lovely songs,

bottom photo;
sarna, joey, me, pete and tim...



living everywhere, but presently living the moment...

..how do i describe Cafe D'Mongo

Let's pretend i'm posting this March 15th, and i'm on time with all my following posts...
Cafe D'Mongo Speakeasy is this amazing jewel in Detroit, which actually, i think all the great places in Detroit are that much better because it is in the D, and there's something about it, stuff that isn't just there for marketing...seeing how marketers don't try to target the Detroit audience...which explains the growth of Applebees across the country...and the lack of Starbucks in Detroit (5 or 4 i think...) photos never due the place justice, but i really can't resist, especially when the SEEDS group is in town...oh! and CDM is only open on Fridays..

Dirty Show Prep

You can't take photos in the Dirty Show, so we just took a few before...photos featuring artist Melonie, Todd the amazing farmer/potterer/belly dancer, Kristee the beautiful and me, just trying to keep my dress from ripping, with little success...

Silly thing that lil camera does @ Firehouse #1

So after working a 14+ hour day, and before sleeping 3 hours to hit the road again for another 10+ hour day at the North American International Auto Show, we eat, drink (and drink) and be merry at the Firehouse, a rented out fire station across the street from Cobo...After shooting a series of car unveilings and press conferences, i was eager to show off the completely useless thing my lil Samsung camera does...

Bob and Dave trying on new hair do's (or don'ts). 

I like this "scene" titled, "my memory" i seem to use it on photos i forgot i had taken...(Ankur, RB and me)

I love you beer...

Brandy, and her brother, Chris Farina...(hmmm)

the silly thing my camera does @ firehouse #2

I think Paul is a pretty sparkle-shine princess, must be the fact he's not in Iowa...

Lovely Mears is princess of the firehouse...

yes, Perez, it is a beautiful life, now get over it and get happy dammit!

Dan giving Eddie a lil photog/editor love.

Photo Night 2008!

Photo night break break by David G. This photo has two strikes against it, i didn't shoot it and it shows my post-holiday stomache...however, i couldn't resist! After 5 hours of looking over end-of-year photos i thought things would look better upside down, not to be outdone, Dan joined in with a chair. (Yes, it was shot upside down, but Dan is amazing nonetheless!)