Jeffrey Donenfeld

Category: Travel

  • Costa Rica, 2024

    Costa Rica, 2024

    Exploring the tides of Costa Rica in October of 2024. Serene, wet.

  • Walking Kuwait City

    Walking Kuwait City

    For two nights and a single day, Justin and I walked Kuwait City, Kuwait, Saw lots, met up with a friend, ate burgers.

  • Private Pilot

    Private Pilot

    I got my private pilots license (PPL) flying a Cessna 172S. I primarily trained with Aspen Flying Club at Centennial Airport (KAPA), in addition to a number of training flights originating from Western Air Flight Academy at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport KBJC. My solo cross country training flights were from Centennial KAPA down to Pueblo KPUB then onto LaJunta KLHX and back to Centennial KAPA. I also completed night VFR flights from Centennial KAPA up to Fort Collins KFNL. Also, lots of laps between Centennial KAPA and The Colorado Air and Space Port KCFO.

    Training in the Denver Metro area was certainly interesting. I gained a good amount of experience flying in congested and convoluted airspace, handling the unique mountain and plains weather patterns we have, as well as well as navigating around our many military and other restricted areas.

    Interested in learning to fly? Happy to talk to you about my personal experience with flight training any time!

  • 48 Hours in Shanghai

    48 Hours in Shanghai

    A few quick snaps from a quick ‘visa-free stop in Shanghai, China.

  • Discussing life in Antarctica on REN TV Russia’s “The Riddles of Humanity”

    Discussing life in Antarctica on REN TV Russia’s “The Riddles of Humanity”

    This week, I appeared on REN TV Russia’s adventure show “The Riddles of Humanity”, Episode 255 to discuss life at the South Pole, Antarctica. Skip to minute 12 of the clip for my segment. My part of the segment covers (Google Translated from Russian: “Why is Antarctica called white Mars? How do people survive in super low temperatures? And how much is a ten-day tour to the South Pole?”

     

     

     

     

    Edition 255 – 02/14/2019

    The host of the program, Oleg Shishkin, is a traveler, historian, expert in secret societies, an internationally recognized expert in the field of Eastern religions, author of books on the history of occultism and intelligence. Connoisseur of the closed esoteric archives of the USSR, who proved that Nicholas Roerich and Grigory Rasputin had close ties with intelligence.

    In “The Riddles of Humanity” on REN TV, Oleg Shishkin will find an explanation for all the shocking events. And confirm his version of the facts and documents. The program goes on REN TV 5 times a week, on weekdays. Spectators are waiting for travel to places that are not on the map, the mysteries of dangerous relics and ancient prophecies. Inexplicable facts and historical sensations of different eras will be studied – and they will find a convincing explanation.

  • Exploring Panama – Panama City, Boquete, Bocas Del Toro

    Exploring Panama – Panama City, Boquete, Bocas Del Toro

    This September, I had the opportunity to explore Panama with H. A few pics, and our trip notes.

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    Thu Sept 13

    • Flew Denver to Ft. Lauderdale
    • Tight connection
    • Flew Ft. Lauderdale to Panama City
    • Took Uber to Casco Viejo AirBnB
    • Finally got in bed in AirBnB around 3am. Slept!

    Fri Sept 14

    • Woke up late in Casco Viejo AirBnB
    • Walked around near our airbnb and found Super Gourmet – got good coffee and tasty breakfast.
    • Did big walk around Casco Viejo and then out to the main shopping street in Panama City
    • Learned about Black Weekend shopping deals
    • Got Uber to Obarrio neighborhood to get Venezuelan empanadas and arepas. Watched huge huge rainstorm
    • Walked Obarrio for a while and then got uber under spiral building back to Casco Viejo
    • Got tacos at Tacos Del Nata
    • Had moment of relaxation at AirBnB
    • Went to Jazz place at American Trade Hotel but decided it was too dead
    • Went across street to casco Casa and had a drink on slippery rooftop bar
    • went down to first floor for gold dusted quarto leches desert
    • Back to AirBnB to sleep

    Sat Sept 15

    • Woke up in Casco Viejo AirBnB
    • Had breakfast at SuperGourmet in Casco Viejo
    • Got Uber to Panama Canal Miraflores Locks.
    • Got to locks and realized we were too early to see boats
    • Got back in Uber and took Uber to Metropolitan Park.
    • Did rainforest hike in the metro park to city lookout, and got caught in massive rainstorm.
    • Got scared by roaring animal in trees.
    • Finished hike and got back in Uber to try to get Japanese Ramen for lunch.
    • Got to Ramen restaurant but it was closed.
    • Eventually ended up at Mina Concept store for brunch
    • Got Uber back to Miraflores Locks at Panama Canal
    • Saw lots of boats going through locks
    • Learned a lot about new 2016 mega locks
    • Entertained by boats going through locks.
    • Were unimpressed by museum exhibits.
    • Got Uber back to Casco Viejo.
    • Went for walk around casco viejo and fount sloth chocolate place
    • Went to so-so ramen restaurant for dinner
    • got froyo at super complete froyo place
    • Went back to AirBnB and went to bed.

    Sun Sept 16

    • Woke up at AirBnB in Panama City Casco Viejo
    • Packed up and checked out of AirBnB.
    • Walked to American Trade Hotel Cafe for THE BEST Cafe Americanos we’ve ever had .
    • Got cheap Uber to Albrook Airport, on old Air Force base.
    • Flew small Jet from Panama City to David
    • Met other travel couple on our flight. Shared taxi from David Airport to Boquete. Dropped off couple at their AirBnB and then got dropped off at Casa Azul.
    • Checked in to Casa Azul
    • Got lunch and milkshakes and watermelon water and ginger molasses cookies at Sugar and Spice in town.
    • Found the collective bus depot and got bus up the Three Waterfalls trail.
    • Hiked 3 waterfalls trail
    • Encountered newlywed honeymooning Israeli couple swimming at the top of waterfall number 2.
    • Slipped through lots of mud. Finished waterfall hike
    • Waited a bit for the bus which never came. Hitchiked back to town with two kids in a pickup truck,
    • Got dropped off at the Boquete Brewery
    • Had beers and fries at Boquete Brewery.
    • Went back to Casa Azul to shower and change
    • Walked back into town to get dinner at Retro Gusto restaurant after deciding Boulder 54 was too swanky for town
    • Sleep

    Mon Sept 17

    • Day in Boquete hiking, coffee tour, and hanging out with Franka
    • Quetzal Trail, Coffee Tour, Panamonte Dinner
    • Woke up at Casa Azul and had homecooked breakfast and played with super great doggie Rusty.
    • Took a Collective bus from the supermarket in Boquete up to the top of the loop to get dropped off at the quetzal trail
    • Hiked for an hour and a half on quetzal trail
    • Saw jungle farms and sheep
    • Checked out deep cloud forest, with lots of epiphytes and other huge plants. No quetzals. Found a cool jungle suspension bridge
    • Got bus back to Casa Azul where we met up with B&B-mate Franka. Lan of Wannan tours picked us all up to take us on coffee tour at Finka Elida – recently won most expensive gesha coffee in the world sale at $803/lb.
    • Learned about coffee making and gesha coffee, did coffee cupping and tasting. Saw lots of cool plants, Learned the different between coffee plants. Saw more beautiful cloud forest.
    • Learned about coffee production process, and saw boxes of beans being packaged for China.
    • Went back to to B&B for shower and change.
    • Walked with Franka to Hotel Panamonte. Got a great table on porch.
    • Selected our own wine from the wine cave, and ordered tasty dinner.
    • Got a printout of Panamonte history and hung out in bar lounge while learning the local history.
    • Went to sleep at Casa Azul.

    Tue Sept 18

    • Woke up at Casa Azul B&B
    • Had tasty breakfast with Kathy
    • Discovered Avocado Tree and Mint Bush
    • Got picked up by tall dutchman naturalist Hans in his Isuzu SUV
    • Drove all day from Boquete to Almirante
    • Saw military truss bridges
    • Saw super cool long susupension bridge
    • Saw large hydroelectric dam
    • Learned why we were eating Chinese food lunch at bus stop – Jeffrey had kungpow chicken.
    • Went to Ngobe village family Cacao farm where they had recently slaughtered cows for political campaign
    • Head of Family took us on tour of family cacao plantation
    • Family matriarch showed us how to roast, grind, and process cacao
    • Saved some cacao seeds
    • Crossed windy diablo pass with Hans
    • Had coffee by the river with Hans
    • Tried unsuccessfully to get ATM money in Almiante
    • Went on a lot of backroads that were super twisty and steep and investigated funny cars on street signs.
    • Learnedthat hans is responsible for many amyarilis in bouquet
    • Got dropped off in Almirante by Hans
    • Took fast boat from Almirante to Bocas Town on Isla Colon
    • Walked around Bocas Town
    • Stopped in La Buga for a happy hour drink and booked diving trips
    • Took boat from Bocas Town to Bastimentos
    • Found The Firefly and checked in, watched sunset at The Firefly while sipping rum punch.
    • Unpacked and then headed to dinner in Old Bank, Bastimentos at the Sea Monkey. Served by Keith

    Wed Sept 19

    • Woke up at The Firefly
    • Breakfast at The Firefly with passionfruit smoothies
    • Debated about what to do for the day
    • Hung out at the bungalow for a bit and researched stuff to do in the area
    • Met up with Renee and company to go to the docks
    • Got on the bot and went through the mangrove forrest into the rainforest – saw two sloths in the trees!
    • Stopped the boat deep in the Jungle and met up with our barefooted native Ngobe guide.
    • Walked through the jungle to the Nivida Bat Cave
    • Had two puppies following us in the jungle
    • Explored the bat caves
    • Saw a crocodile in the bat cave entrance
    • Saw shrimp
    • Saw a water snake
    • Saw fruit bats
    • Sat insect bats
    • Saw vampire bats
    • Went swimming in a really dark pit of water deeeeeep in the cave, under a beautiful waterfall
    • Hiked back out of the cave and back through the rainforest to the boat. Got bitten by woodcutter ants.
    • Took the boat back out through the mangroves to the Red Frog Beach Dock.
    • Saw another sloth in the tree, saw a boa constrictor in the trees, saw a crocodile
    • Made it red frog beach, had $1 coconuts as a snack
    • Went for a wonderful swim in the waves
    • Got tase tacos at Natcho Mommas
    • Boated back to Bastimentos public dock
    • Hiked up the mountain to the Up The Mountain coco farm
    • sketchy jungle trail descent back to beach and to the Firefly
    • Jeffrey had photo shoot at rock beach and then we watched sunset
    • Finally back at firefly, showered and changed for dinner
    • Had dinner with honeymooning newlyweds Samantha and Adam, from New Jersey. Talked to them about moving to Denver and Israel.

    Thu Sept 20

    • Woke up early in the bungalow at The Firefly and had a nice breakfast on the deck.
    • Drank lots of Duran coffee
    • Got our gear together and walked over to the park on Bastimiento dock, passed renee who walked with us to get a boat. Not sure what he was expecting
    • Took boat to Bocas town and checked in at La Buga for snorkeling and scuba diving.
    • Went on La Bugas trimaran dive boat. Jumped off roof of boat into water.
    • Snorkeling on a shallow reef. Saw eel, squid, beautiful blue reef fish, cool coral, and all sorts of fun stuff.
    • went diving on sunken catamaran
    • Got lunch back on the dock at La Buga.
    • Walked around Bocas town to investigate random stuff
    • Caught collectivo bus to Playa de Las Estrella. Passed lots of angry couples
    • Drank juices and coconuts
    • Swam in warm waters and saw lots of starfish
    • Investigated lobsters in a trap
    • Caught collectivo back to Bocas Town, with lots of kids on SIT study abroad trip
    • Walked around bocas town more. Bought Abuelo Rum at grocery store.
    • Found nice dock on the water and had Rum with Pineapple juice
    • Got dinner at Bocas Brewery. Met german friend Ellen.
    • Listened to Jazz on dock
    • Took boat back to The Firefly as a storm rolled into town.
    • Saw sloth on electrical wire as we were walking back to The Firefly. Super cool!

    Fri Sept 21

    • Woke up in the Bungalow and had breakfast at The Firefly
    • Freaked out when we heard about impending labor strike that might mess up our departure flight transit
    • Got boat to Bocas Town
    • Met up with Captain Jose for Zapatillas Islands Package tour.
    • Got on package tour boat.
    • Saw Dolphins
    • Saw Starfish
    • Stopped at Sloth Island and saw 2 sloths
    • Went snorkeling
    • Stopped at lunch dock to order expensive lunch
    • Went out to Zapatillas Island, explored abandoned boardwalk into the jungle – saw lots of epiphites and mangroves
    • Swam with tourist Chris and hung out on the beach
    • Took boat back to lunch dock for lunch. Captain Jose drank heavily.
    • Boat back to Bocas town for lunch at the end of the day.
    • Wandered around bocas town, ate a churro, checked out schoo and airport, met new yorker in super gourmet
    • Decided to eat dinner at doghouse pizza, met argentinian girls who liked to party at selinas.
    • Tried to go to Bookstore Bar, but instead went to Coco Hostel to meet up with Ellen again for awkward beers
    • Went back to The Firefly

    Sat Sept 22

    • Woke up earlyish at the firefly
    • Debriefed on Firefly issues with Adam and Samantha
    • Got packed up, boated to bocas, and caught our flight to Panama City
    • Forced to land at random airstrip in jungle because of storm in Panama city
    • Finally got back on our flight and made it to Panama city
    • Took Uber to Riande Grand Hotel, dropped bags there.
    • Got lunch at greek food stand recommended by a few prostitutes
    • Ubered to Casco Viejo
    • Realized Canal zone antiques is closed
    • Went to American Trade hotel for tasty coffee
    • Bought Molas from indians on the plaza
    • Walked around Casco Viejo
    • Walked to fish market
    • Walked on the riverfront walk
    • Got uber back to hotel to check in
    • Got bad room at hotel initially, and then changed to better room.
    • Went out for dinner at Hiraku japanese in Sortis Hotel. It was soso.
    • Saw more prostitutes at Sortis
    • Got drink at beer garden
    • Realized we were staying in center of prostitution area
    • Decided against Gamboa

    Sun Sept 23

    • Woke up at Riande hotel
    • Ubered to Lung Fung for Sunday morning Dim Sum.
    • Ubered to Canal Administration building but it was closed
    • Hiked up to top of Cerro Ancon for cool views, with all the other families on Sunday morning exercise route
    • Saw cool lookouts and views around panama canal – saw neopanamax locks
    • Ubered to Biomuseo and soaked up AC at Kotowa Cafe
    • Checked out history of panama exhibit, for free
    • Checked out migrating birds exhibit, for free
    • Ubered to San Francisco neighborhood to Russian owned Leto Coffee Shop – chilled there for a bit
    • Walked around to find dinner spots
    • Ubered back to hotel for shower and rest
    • Ubered back to San Francisco neighborhood for super great dinner at Brutto restaurant
    • Went to Fragela for icecream “Bañado en chocolate”
    • Ubered back to hotel and passed out

    Mon, Sept 24

    • Woke up at Riande hotel and packed
    • Free breakfast and checked out
    • Ubered to Isla Morada map and chart store – largest chart store in latin america. Bought chart of Panama Canal – printed just for us. Chart CP5
    • Ubered to airport to catch flight home.

    Panama Trip Notes and Recommendations

    Panama City

    • American Trade hotel is a must stop – coffee in their Cafe Unidos cofee shop, chilling at the bar
    • Papaya Bookstore cafe in Casco Viejo looks nice
    • Explore SanFrancisco neighborhood for restaurants and coffee off the tourist track
    • Walk by the fish market but dont get sucked in
    • Do a hike in the metro park
    • Check canal ship transit schedule before going to miraflores locks – time locks visit with ship transit
    • Strongly consider pre-booking smithsonian gamboa visit ahead of time and staying in Gamboa for 2 nights one full day
    • Check out Brutto in San Francisco
    • Get chocolate dipped icecream at Fragela in San Francisco
    • Don’t stay in El Cangrejo or Obarrio
    • Stay in Casco viejo or San Francisco
    • Use Uber to get around easily and cheaply
    • Don’t pay for Biomueso – check their free exhibits and walk around the facility
    • Get early rooftop drinks at Casa Casco, and order 4 Leches Dessert
    • Buy Molas from indias setup in tents on plaza – they have the best prices and the money goes straight back to the indian tribes

    Bocas Del Toro

    • Don’t stay at The Firefly in Bocas del Toro Bastimento
    • Stay at Palomar Hostel private room on Bocas Del Toro Bastimento Red Frog Beach
    • Zapatillas package tour is nice, but bring your own lunch and don’t expect secluded beach to yourself
    • Do the Bat Caves tour, even better if you can do it as a private tour.
    • For scuba, go with La Buga. Ask them to give you good flippers with booties instead of slip ons.
    • Get food at La Buga after diving
    • Get beer at Bocas Brewery. Get pizza at The Doghouse
    • Soak up a/c at SuperGourmet
    • Don’t try to bike to starfish beach. Take the collectivo
    • Keep your eyes open for sloths in the trees
    • Prepare yourself for immersion deep in the backpacker vibe – even if staying at a hotel or nicer resort, you’ll still be deep in backpacker land and island time casual zone

    Boquete

    • Stay at Casa Azul b&b for a homey experience
    • If you want an all day hike, find a transfer from David that drops you off in Cero Punto for the quetzal trail and then takes your luggage to your hotel in Boquete, leaving you to do the quetzal trail the whole day
    • Doublecheck the collectivo busses schedule and pickup points if you’re going hiking in the mountains
    • Do the 3 Waterfalls trail and be ready for a refreshing swim
    • Do a coffee plantation tour – Lan at iWanna tours was great.  Ours was at Finca Elida, and was great! Be sure to try a tree tomato.
    • Get lunch snacks and ginger molasse cookies at Sugar and Spice
    • Get tasty beers at Boquete Brewery
    • Don’t go to RetroGusto
    • Get a drink at hotel Panamonte Bar, but don’t stress getting an entire meal there. A relaxed drink would be great there.
    • Try the popsicles on the main street.
    • Consider the gelateria
    • If transiting from Boquete to Bocas, consider an all day tour with transfer, rather than just a bus transfer. There’s lots of cool stuff to check out in between. Hans of Tinamou Cottage/Coffee Adventure Tours

     

  • Cyprus: Divided

    Cyprus: Divided

    In June of this year (2017), I explored Cyprus – both the southern Cypriot side, as well as the northern Turkish-controlled side. A few videoclips and photos from my discovery of the border areas, mountains, and other interesting quirks.

    • Exploring Larnaca
    • Scuba Diving the Wreck of the Zenobia
    • Attending Larnaca’s Summer Festival
    • Exploring southern Nicosia
    • Crossing the border into northern Turkish-controlled Nicosia
    • Exploring Famagusta
    • Climbing and exploring Saint Hilarion Castle and walking around Girne
    • Lunching in Ayia Napa
    • Crossing through British Overseas Territory in the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
    • Catching up with Boomtown program friends!
  • Panoramas from Israel

    Panoramas from Israel

    This summer I spent a few days visiting Israel as part of my University of Denver MBA program. A few panoramas and a video clip.

  • Exploring Prague

    Exploring Prague

    This past summer in the end of May, I visited Prague, Czech Republic with my University of Denver Daniels MBA program class. This was right after my trip to Saudi Arabia and Austria, and was the start of our MBA Program International Business Segment. We had a great time meeting with local businesses and exploring the town. Prague is an incredibly well preserved, beautiful town, with rich history, incredible architecture, and interesting culture. Although it’s very touristy, it’s that way for a reason – it really is worth visiting, and should be on everybody’s list. After Prague, we continued onto Israel…

     

    A few snapshots from Prague…

  • A Day in Vienna, Austria

    A Day in Vienna, Austria

    A few quick snaps from a day of walking around Vienna, Austria – 2017-05-23

     

  • Building Startups and Collaboration at the Innovation to Impact Forum, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Building Startups and Collaboration at the Innovation to Impact Forum, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    This week I was honored to attend the Innovation to Impact for at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Innovation to Impact is a one-day roundtable event that was hosted by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEA) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), on May 19, 2017. The event in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia on the campus of KAUST, brought together academic institutions and private industry thought leaders from the United States and Saudi Arabia to discuss innovative academic and strategic commercial opportunities for both countries, in addition to new methods of collaboration and a deepened commitment to partnership.

    Landing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The city is chaotic, but divided by major avenues.
    Religious pilgrims arriving in Jeddah, on their way to Mecca
    A billboard in downtown Jeddah announcing the meeting of King Salman and President Trump.
    KAUST is a beautiful and architectually striking campus.
    KAUST is a beautiful and architectually striking campus.
    KAUST is a beautiful and architectually striking campus.
    The Beacon at KAUST
    Inside the beacon at KAUST.
    People from all over the globe arriving at King Abdullaziz University of Science and Technology.
    Discussing innovation, entrepreneurship, funding, and mentorship between US and Saudi startups at Innovation to Impact at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. I spoke to the group about the importance of building community, engaging with involved mentors, and “big idea” thinking.
    Extravagant food was the norm at the conference.
    The floating mosque in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    Exploring the Old City of Jedda, Saudi Arabia
    Exploring the Old City of Jedda, Saudi Arabia
    Exploring the Old City of Jedda, Saudi Arabia
    Exploring the Old City of Jedda, Saudi Arabia
    Dates while exploring the Old City of Jedda, Saudi Arabia
    Exploring the Old City of Jedda, Saudi Arabia
    Exploring the Old City of Jedda, Saudi Arabia
    A textile vendor in the old city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Exploring Brussels and Bruges, Belgium

    Exploring Brussels and Bruges, Belgium

    A few pics from a recent trip to explore Brussels and Bruges, Belgium.

    Flowers in Bruges, Belgium
    Beer in Brussels!
    Exploring Bruges – beautiful
    Sampling tasty beers in Brussels
    Lots of bikes in Brussels
    Canal in Bruges
    Quick walking tour of Brussels – a good way to intro to a new city, and make a few friends.
    Belgian waffles in Bruges!

  • Discovering Cuba

    Discovering Cuba

    During November 2015, I traveled with my family to discover Cuba. We explored Havana, and then got out of the city to travel to the southern coast and around a variety of towns, farm villages, beaches, mountains, and monuments. Here’s how it went…

    Itinerary

    Our itinerary took us through Havana, Trinidad, Las Terrazas, Remedios, Santa Clara, and Viñales. It was great seeing a wide range of places within Cuba, especially since we had a little more than a week to do it. The full daily log is below.

    Getting in to and around Cuba

    To get to Cuba, we flew Xtra Airways, a charter airline, from Miami, Florida direct to Havana, Cuba. The flight was great, and very straightforward. For visas, we each got a slightly different visa – my visa listed me as a reporter, since I was taking photos to write this story.

    To travel around Cuba, we took a variety of Taxis within Havana, and then hired a private driver and van for the out of town sections. Since we were a group of 5 with limited time, it was very very convenient to have a dedicated, local driver to get us around. Had I done it with a single partner and had more time, it would have been fun to do it backpacker style with public transportation etc. But for our group and time constraints, the way in which we did it was great.

    Photo Gear

    While in cuba, I shot with four cameras. The Apple iPhone 6S, Sony RX100m3, GoPro Hero4 Silver, and Lytro Illum. All four were interesting cameras to shoot with, and allowed me to be flexible in both capturing the shot I wanted, and in being mobile and unencumbered most of the time. For more on the innovative Lytro Illum Lightfield Camera, click over to my full review. Although all four cameras are great for their own purpose, by far my favorite is the Sony RX100m3. It’s small and lightweight, is relatively easy to use for its size, and takes absolutely amazing photos. I love the flexibility of being able to shoot from waist level, as well as the bounce flash trick, and smooth video.

    Photos

    Here’s Cuba through my lens….

    Cuba Diary

    We did LOTS in Cuba. Here’s a quick daily log of our activities – far from complete, but a good overview:

    Day 1 – 2016-11-24

    • woke up at 3am to get to airport early for xtra airways flight Miami > Havana
    • taxi, easy, cuc30 airport to airbnb- airbnb checkin and late breakfast – omelettes and fresh guava juice and strong coffee
    • walked around looking for bank and internet cards
    • met up with dads friends from ingrnius
    • went to grand hotel havana for views, cambio.
    • lunch at paladar – shredded pork
    • passed ice cream park
    • nap at airbnb
    • got evening snack at next door bakery
    • jason and jill arrived
    • family dinner at paladar cafe laurent
    • early sleep

    Day 2

    • breakfast at bnb
    • explore hotel nacional
    • sent postcards to mihi and wukate
    • walked across the center of town through callejon de hamel
    • walked through chinatown
    • walked into floridita restaurant
    • walked through obispo walking street
    • got lunch at ivan chef justo
    • walked around old havana some more, discovered central csthedral square
    • hired driver in old red car and went up hill to castle
    • saw worlds longest cigar
    • checked out nuclear missiles
    • cruised down to to jazz club
    • got confused by multiple buena vista social clubs
    • taxi’d back to airbnb
    • walked to sarao’s nightclub, then to dinner at 11th floor block building paladar
    • walked back to sarao and saw mana-like band
    • sleep

    Day 3

    • woke up late had breakfast
    • chatted with travel agent ti work out plans
    • got taxi to jaimanitas
    • bought gifts at art area
    • had lunch next to canal – sushi with cuban rice
    • taxi to the beach along miramar near copacabana
    • taxi to beach hotel
    • taxi to revolution plaza
    • walked to rosenberg memorial and performing arts center
    • found santeria worship dance and danced with them
    • walked to ice cream park
    • checked email at cuba libre hotel
    • had an amazing dinner at paladar la quardia
    • taxi to fabrica de artes
    • sleep

    Day 4

    • woke up early to have breakfast at airbnb
    • met eric our driver
    • stopped at airport
    • hit the road for Vinñales
    • stopped for lunch at Las terrazas
    • walked around las terrazas, found flamingos, found coffee plantation
    • had wifi session at las terrazas cafe
    • got back on road for viñales
    • arrived in vibales at family home
    • stopped at overlook hotel in vinales
    • went in cave hike and boat ride
    • stopped at tobacco farm and discovered cinnamon tree, fighting cocks, etc
    • went to homestay – jason and i stayed on roof
    • had dinner at family house – great chx and lobster
    • walked around town and saw live music at cafe
    • went to bed early
    • sketch showerhead

    Day 5

    • woke up early for home cooked breakfast
    • took morning stroll with jason
    • drove to house owners farm
    • saw farm with corn tobacco chickens pigs goats water pump
    • hit road for cien fuegos
    • stopped in At a few gas stations for gas and food
    • arrived in cien fuegos and walked around for an hour
    • saw pier, art galleries, town square, grocery store
    • drove to palace at punta gorda
    • got on road for trinidad
    • arrived at dennis homestay in trinidad
    • walked around town and found restaurant el medico

    Day 6

    • woke up for home cooked breakfast in back porch
    • cruised out to exclusive beach resort for relaxing afternoon on beach
    • walked to end of beach for fresh fisherman lunch
    • drove to la boca beach at end of river to explore
    • returned to Trinidad
    • walked around town with dennis and learned about history if trinidad
    • grabbed dinner at la botija and listened to snazzy jazz band

    Day 7

    • got in van and started drive to santa clara
    • stopped at che monument
    • drove to santa clara
    • went to beach on cay las brujas
    • drove to remedios and walked around town – first place with internet and also a pretty hotel
    • had a nice dinner at the casa particular
    • “the help”
    • slept late, woke up at 8 and walked to coffee mans house

    Shots from the Lytro Illum

    Throughout the trip, I shot a series of lightfield photos with the Lytro Illum Camera. I was testing and reviewing it on behalf of Lytro, and had a great time learning about lightfield photography. If you’re interested in more about the Lytro, check out the full review: Shooting Lightfield Photos in Cuba with the Lytro Illum.

    View the full Lytro Lightfield Cuba Gallery

  • Watch My DPRK Documentary: An American Tourist in North Korea

    Watch My DPRK Documentary: An American Tourist in North Korea

    Today I’m excited to publish the documentary I shot last April 2015 in North Korea with Filmmaker Justin Martell and Uri Tours Owner Andrea Lee. We’ve been working hard for the past few months to assemble everything, and here’s the result.

    More on my exploration of North Korea are on the main blog post: Exploring North Korea and Running the Pyongyang Marathon

     

    Voiceover transcript, for reference:

    Act 1 INTRO/ARRIVAL
    JEFF I’m Jeffrey Donenfeld, and I am an adventure travel consultant, interactive technology strategist, and expedition photographer.
    The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, also known North Korea, has always seemed mysterious. In April, I decided to check it out for myself – and to run the 2015 Pyongyang Marathon in the process.
    To get into North Korea as a tourist, it’s necessary to join a tour group. I traveled with expert tour operator Uri Tours, and specifically did their Pyongyang Marathon Beijing Departure Long Tour option.
    Our initial meeting as a group was the night before at a restaurant in Beijing, and then most people stayed together that night in Beijing in a hotel.
    The next morning, we departing Beijing for the DPRK via the country’s official airline, Air Koyo, on a Russian-made Antonov AN-148.
    The ride was smooth; refreshments included sandwiches and beer, and the entertainment consisted of a concert DVD of the Moranbong Band.
    After landing in Pyongyang, we were greeting by our guides from the Korean International Tour Company and boarded a coach bus to the the capital of the DPRK, Pyongyang.
    We checked in at the Yanggakdo Hotel in the center of the city, on the Taedong River.
    After dinner with our tour group in the hotel’s dining room, it was off to bed to get some rest for the Pyongyang Marathon.
    ACT 2 DAY TWO – MARATHON/WAR MUSEUM
    JEFF After the marathon, my group returned to the hotel to clean up and have lunch in the rotating restaurant atop of the Yanggakdo Hotel. The view from the top is spectacular, with Pyongyang stretching into the distance.
    At the Mansu Hill Grand Monument, the huge statues of leaders Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung dominate, surrounded by memorials to the Japanese Occupation of Korea and the Korean War.
    At the Pyongyang Victorious War Museum, our tour guide wore a military uniform, showed our group relics from the Korean War, and took us aboard the captured US Navy Ship Pueblo.
    Afterward, we had dinner at a restaurant on the other side of town – traditional korean hot pot! And, of course, lots of beer.
    Next we checked into Koryo Hotel, the second largest hotel in the DPRK. The lobby was grand, and with leader Kim Il Sung’s birthday approaching, it was full of Kimjongilia and Kimilsungia.
    The rooms are soviet-style kitsch replete with a smoking lounge, comfortable beds and a tv with 3 channels running your favorite DPRK music videos and soap operas.
    ACT 3 DMZ
    JEFF The next morning we had breakfast and headed south to Kaesong, a city right on the border with South Korea.
    As we approached the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, there were giant, colorful posters promoting unification of North and South Korea.
    We were bused down a long, isolated road and entered the Joint Security Area.
    We were also shown the armistice agreements, one in Korean, the other in English, preserved under glass.
    There were also numerous displays chronicling the many visits the DPRK’s leaders have made to the DMZ to inspect the front line.
    Our KPA guide lead us to the actual Military Demarcation Line. The feeling was light and jovial – but with the undertone that it could turn serious quickly.
    After exiting the JSA, we visited the Koryo History Museum which is located in the city’s former Confucian academy, and contains priceless Goryeo relics and cultural artifacts.
    Next to the museum is the Koryo Stamp Shop, where you can purchase DPRK themed posters, along with postcards and stamps so you can send a one of a kind keepsake to your friends back home.
    Before leaving, we enjoyed traditional Kaesong cuisine at the Janamsan Hotel.
    The subway cars are soviet built, and, though vintage, they run well.
    The Pyongyang metro stations are grand, and each one having its own artistic motif and elaborate mosaics depicting the leadership as well as life in North Korea
    In the station, there are central displays with the day’s newspaper.
    The annual Kimilsungia flower show is held in honor of Kim Il Sung’s birthday – and featured an entire hall filled with some of the most intensely arranged and ornate flowers I’ve ever seen.
    That night we enjoyed some of the best beer in town at the Taedonggang Craft Brewery bar. There are seven different beers available, conveniently numbered 1-7, from lightest to darkest. Of course, the bar also has a healthy supply of Korea’s most popular liquor, Soju.
    ACT 4 MOUNTAIN/NAMPO/BOAT
    JEFF The next morning we checked out of the Koryo Hotel and southwest to Mount Myohyangsan. It is a beautiful mountain, and I had a great time hiking it with the group.
    After our hike, we enjoyed seafood and fresh clams at a restaurant in the port city of Nampo. After serving the food, the staff changed into costumes, and performed an entertaining song and dance routine.
    After lunch, we chartered a private boat and cruised 15 kilometers down the Taedong River to the West Sea Barrage, a sprawling 8-kilometer long system of dams which blocks off the Taedong river from the yellow sea.
    After a day on the water, we arrived at the remote Ryonggang Hot Springs Resort in Onchon, outside of Nampo. The bathtubs in our rooms filled up with water from the hot springs, which was advertised as “healing” and “therapeutic.”
    ACT 5 DAY OF THE SUN
    JEFF We took a beautiful early morning ride through Onchon, passing many cooperative farms, we passed through Nampo and arrived back in Pyongyang where citizens were enjoying The Day of The Sun, birthday of the country’s founder Kim Il Sung, and the biggest Holiday in North Korea.
    First we visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum where leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state.
    After a lunch that consisted of North Korea’s signature dish, cold noodle soup, one member of group jumped into a soccer game with the locals, while I made some new friends.
    Next we took a stroll through the iconic Moranbong Park, where we were greeted by the locals and even invited to dance with them.
    We went across town to Mangyondae, Kim Il Sung’s birthplace, and toured a nostalgic recreation of the hut where he lived as a boy under Japanese occupation. We toured the site alongside a large group of boys who looked to be the DPRK’s version of the boy scouts.
    All week we had been seeing the locals practicing dance routines, and finally we got to see what they had been working on; an extravagant, choreographed dance routine in the center of Pyongyang.
    ACT 6 WRAP UP
    JEFF The DPRK is a place like no other; an enigmatic socialist time warp, filled with beauty and intrigue. I have traveled extensively, but my trip to North Korea with Uri Tours will remain by far of my most amazing travel experiences.

    Super special thanks to Mike & Anne from HoneyTrek & RTW Packing List for their support in spreading word of this doc. They rock!

  • Climbing Grays and Torreys Peaks in Early Season Snow – 14,278 feet

    Climbing Grays and Torreys Peaks in Early Season Snow – 14,278 feet

    mRTorr_501Fall colors in Colorado are beautiful – and what better vantage point than the top of 2 Colorado 14ers. This weekend, I did the Fall 14er adventure and  climbed with a group of friends to the tops of Grays and Torreys Peaks. (USGS Topo Quad)

    Wikipedia:

    “Grays Peak is the tenth highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the U.S. state of Colorado. The prominent 14,278-foot (4,352 m) fourteener is the highest summit of the Front Range and the highest point on the Continental Divide in North America. (There are higher summits, such as Mount Elbert, which are near, but not on, the Divide.) Grays Peak is located in Arapahoe National Forest, 3.9 miles (6.2 km) southeast by east (bearing 122°) of Loveland Pass on the Continental Divide between Clear Creek and Summit counties. The peak is the highest point in both counties.”

  • Climbing Mt. Rainier

    Climbing Mt. Rainier

    During one of my high school summers, I climbed Mt. Rainier with Rainier Mountaineering Incorporated (RMI), as part of a larger trip with Wilderness Ventures. Here’s the only photo I can find from the trip, showing me learning to ice climb at the base. Shot with my first compact/waterproof/shockproof camera, the 35mm Canon Sure Shot A-1. I loved that camera.

     

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  • Trekking Across East Asia, Summer 2015

    Trekking Across East Asia, Summer 2015

    This summer, I spent a few months trekking solo across Eastern Asia. On this trek, I visited New Zealand, Australia, The Philippines, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, and the US State of Hawaii. Here’s what I wrote during my trek:

    The outdoor mall in downtown Kuala Lumpur. I’d been here before, but since I only had a few hours and the airport train goes straight here, I decided to stop by.
    Clay pots are heated up on charcoal. Dry rice and water are put in first, and the rice is cooked up fresh.
    Touring in Macau.
    Looking out over Shenzhen, China from the top of the KK100 Building.
    Dressed in anti-static gowns. Trendy!
    Connectors of every shape and size, sold on-site by the bundle, or shipped anywhere in the world.
    Each stall represents a different electronic supplier, factory, or component manufacturer. They’re divided up into sections and floors, depending on what they make or sell.
    Every Wednesday during the hot summer in Hong Kong is Happy Wednesday down at the Happy Valley horse racing track. I went with a group of friends from the Check Inn Hostel, where I stayed during my time in Hong Kong. Owner Wincent is great!
    Running at night in Hong Kong.
    Learning to play Chinese poker with my friends on the train to Hong Kong. This family was traveling to Hong Kong to buy baby formula.
    Riding the overnight train from Shanghai into Hong Kong, I made friends with my cabinmates, and ended up hanging out with them quite a bit during the long train ride. Lots of fun!
    Man Mo Temple
    Exploring the legendary Man Mo Temple, with coils of incense burning everywhere.
    Fish are displayed in large tanks, with dramatic lighting throughout the many many many stalls.
    Admiring modern architecture in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
    Volkswagen has a major plant on the outskirts of Shanghai. Although I didn’t have an appointment or any contact there, I showed up and managed to talk my way into a private tour of the factory.
    On Sundays, a portion of the central park in Shanghai becomes matchmaking central. Here, parents post advertisements for their kids, with hopes that another passing parent will see the ad and connect their kids. Personal ads are put on cards which are pasted to umbrellas for higher visibility, and assembled into large boards. The practice is so huge that there are now even brokers who manage listings for lots of people.
    A hopeful parent holds up information about his kid, hoping that another parent will have a suitable match.
    I got addicted to this pounded, breaded, fried chicken, simply called “big chicken”.
    My timing in Shanghai was perfect for the Shanghai Auto Show -which was horribly overcrowded. I lasted about an hour, and then had to leave – it was madness pushing through the masses to stand in line to see a random crappy car. And no models!
    Couples taking wedding engagement photos are everywhere in Thames Town, a Chinese copy of a traditional British town. How many couples can you count?
    Couples taking wedding engagement photos are everywhere in Thames Town, a Chinese copy of a traditional British town.
    After being the more traditional cities of Beijing and Xi’an for a bit, I was ready to step into the more modern world of Shanghai. In the last few decades, like much of China, Shanghai has been on a building spree, with new buildings popping up everywhere. I took about a week to walk the city, and explore as many interesting places as I could. Arriving in Shanghai, this is the classic shot from the Bund, looking into the main financial district.
    As the sun fades on The Bund of Shanghai, orange lights illuminate the classicically styled buildings. It’s a beautiful sight, enjoyed by masses and masses of people strolling up and down the curved walkway. The bund is beautiful now, but given the speed at which things are being knocked down and rebuilt in China, I’d be surprised if the skyscrapers of Pudong didn;t start to creep into the Bund area and the Concession areas in short time. The Chinese seem to be on such a fast and determined building spree that they’re fine with buldozing away beauty, culture, and history in favor of new soulless office buildings and factories. It’s a sad reality of the new China.
    In the business center of Pudong, skyscrapers are huge, and being built as fast as possible. Looming in the back of this photo is the Shanghai tower, the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world.
    The warriors are in various states of repair, and each face is unique.
    The main hall of Terracotta Warriors. There are actually three excavation sites, but this one was by far the most impressive. The entire site is ringed by a tourist walkway, with lots of photos being taken at all times.
    Terracotta horses, preserved in the musem.
    Girls in the crowd all wearing the same uniforms, with matching allegiance pins.
    A group of kids, with their supposed coaches, about to enter the stadium. These kids had a great energy, and I think they were more interested in my camera than they were interested in me. Everybody in the background is staring in my direction because I was on the side of the tourists – we were all checking each other out.
    Here I am coming around a corner during my run of the 2015 Pyongyang Marathon. Both tourists and professional Korean athletes ran at the same time – so the entire time I was running, I was being passed by the pros!
    With about a week of training, I finished the 2015 Pyongyang Marathon (26.2 Miles) in 3:34:47.
    At the Pyongyang Victorious War Museum, I was led around by a well dressed tour woman, wearing a military-inspired uniform. She gave a tour to my entire group, including a walk through some relics from various wars, and of the US Navy Ship Pueblo.
    AGER-2, the USS Pueblo. From Wikipedia: USS Pueblo (AGER-2) is a Banner-class Environmental Research Ship, attached to Navy intelligence, which was attacked and captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, in what is known today as the Pueblo incident or alternatively, as the Pueblo crisis. The seizure of the U.S. Navy ship and its 83 crew members, one of whom was killed in the attack, came less than a week after President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “State of the Union” address to the United States Congress, just a week before the start of the “Tet Offensive” in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and only three days after 31 men of North Korea’s “KPA Unit 12” had crossed the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and killed 26 South Koreans in an attempt to attack the South Korean “Blue House” (executive mansion) in the capital Seoul. The taking of Pueblo and the abuse and torture of its crew during the subsequent 11-month prisoner drama became a major Cold War incident, raising tensions between the western democracies and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and People’s Republic of China. North Korea stated that the Pueblo deliberately entered their territorial waters 7.6 miles away from Ryo Island, and the logbook shows that they intruded several times.[1] However, the United States maintains that the vessel was in international waters at the time of the incident and that any purported evidence supplied by North Korea to support its statements was fabricated.[2] Pueblo, still held by North Korea today, officially remains a commissioned vessel of the United States Navy.[3] Since early 2013, the ship has been moored along the Botong River in Pyongyang, and used there as a museum ship.[4] Pueblo is the only ship of the U.S. Navy still on the commissioned roster currently being held captive.[5]
    Inside the Pyongyang Military Museum, a giant statue of Kim Jong Un.
    Before going to the the actual line, a guide explains the layout of the “Joint Security Area”, which is the neutral zone which surrounds a particular section of the “Military Demarcation Line” that is the actual border between the north and the south.
    Another interesting propaganda poster, found in the DMZ gift shop.
    Walking back from the MDL back to the north. The two guards facing each other in the background are standing right next to the actual line, a raised concrete strip.
    This photo is of the North Korean guards inside one of the blue buildings. I had been in this exact room a few weeks prior, and in addition to the South Korean guards, there were also North Korean guards. However, the tone was completely different from the Northern guards. When I visited from the south, the North Korean guards wore completely different uniforms, with large korean letters on their helmets, imposing dark RayBan sunglasses, and an extremely stern, tense pose. This time, the guards were upbeat and friendly, and there was no sign of any guards from the south.
    Strolling around the Koryo History Museum.
    These epic paintings of the leaders were everywhere, and displayed proudly.
    A mosaic in the Pyongyang metro of Kim Jong Il standing in a grassy field. Epic.
    Each station has its fare share of epic mosaics, depicting the leaders in a variety of triumphant poses. This one of Kim Il Sung with common people was particularly grand.
    Of course on each train car is the portrait of the dear leaders. Friend Justin Martell poses with them.
    Riding the Pyongyang metro was a great opportunity to interact with some of the locals. Here, I’m sitting next to a group of school girls, who are getting nervous while practicing their english skills.
    A typical scene on the streets in western North Korea. Of note in this picture is a the woman on the right hand side selling flowers on top of a cardboard box. This is a small example of the illegal North Korean Black Market – and although innocuous looking, there’s been lots of talk about private enterprises like this recently.
    Another lunch. This time, after our servers were finished bringing out food, they all went to change into costumes, and then performed a very sweet, very weird song and dance karaoke routine. Entertaining for sure.
    Inside the Nampho Dam (P’i Do) Lighthouse is another great portrait of Kim Jong Il, posing in front of the dam.
    In Pyongyang, I made a stop with my group for lunch at a restaurant right across the street from the giant Ryugyong Hotel. I was scolded for having this picture taken of me, because it shows the shanty village that surrounds the giant uninhabited building.
    Women wait for their bus in front of the iconic Pyongyang Ice Rink.
    In the alleyway where my friend’s apartmen was, there were always these fun kids playing around. Fun making friends! Beijing housing subdivisions, although some more rundown than others, almost always seem like safe, fun, community-oriented places.
    Arriving in Beijing was certianly a wakeup. As soon as I stepped out of the terminal, I was hit with dense, choking smog that could be seen from as little as 20 feet away. The air smelled like burning, and I could taste a fine grit. Certainly not great – but this was a 200 AQI day – mid-levels of pollution for Beijing.
    Hiking all day up and down. Good thing I havd my Salomon XA-Pro-3D-Ultra2-GTX trailrunning shoes, Darn Tough socks, and Black Diamond Modernist Rock Jeans!
    Playing cards in a public park.
    Springtime means lots of beautiful blooming trees.
    Folks playing in the central hutong area of beijing.
    These meat skewers were really great! I’m still not sure what kind of meat, though..
    Orange tiles protecting the roofs of the Forbidden City fro m the afternoon sun.
    Finally, I made it inside the Forbidden City! I remember watching the film “The Last Emperor” in middle school, and seeing shots of this space. (as well as learning about it in history class) Cool to finally be there.
    Entering the Forbidden City
    Biking through the Hutongs of central Beijing. Entire families own blocks of these traditional styled homes. Some of them are actually very old, but lots of other subdivisions, like the one pictured, have been built in recent years to emulate the traditional style. They’re really brand new.
    Descending the steps from the viewing deck of the Seongsan Ilchulbong. Dissapointed, but still had a good early morning hike.
    A lighthouse on the way to Udo Island
    Making it to the end of Gimnyeong Maze Park, Jeju
    The cave is truly amazing. From UNESCO: “The Geomunoreum lava tube system, which is regarded as the finest such cave system in the world, has an outstanding visual impact even for those experienced with such phenomena. It displays the unique spectacle of multi-coloured carbonate decorations adorning the roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls, partially covered by a mural of carbonate deposits. The fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, with its walls rising out of the ocean, is a dramatic landscape feature, and Mount Halla, with its array of textures and colours through the changing seasons, waterfalls, display of multi-shaped rock formations and columnar-jointed cliffs, and the towering summit with its lake-filled crater, further adds to the scenic and aesthetic appeal.”
    The top of Mt. Halasan.
    Inside the meeting room on the MDL Military Demarcation Line, the border officially separating North Korea from South Korea. In this photo I’m physically within the North Korean border, however the entire space of the room is considered a neutral zone, so I’m not officially in either Korea. Next to me is a north korea border guard. Interestingly, during my return visit to this exact room a few weeks later, coming from the North side, the North Korean guards were dressed completely differently, in more standard military outfits, and were much more relaxed and personable. They only put on this steely dress and demeanor when tours from the south are present. Photos of this exact room while i was on my tour of North Korea are coming soon. I would also sit in the seat pictured here during my subsequent tour from the north.
    Hiking up Mt. Halasan, the well-worn trail gives way to slick snow on the higher half of the mountain. Avid Korean hikers are quick to strap on metal mesh grips to their hiking shoes in order to navigate the snowpack.
    Of course, Korean BBQ is a must.
    Walking around Hongdae, Seoul. There are lots and lots of areas in Seoul filled with shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Hongdae is one of the more youthful ones.
    Seoul has magnificent and dramatic architecture. Buildings come in every shape and size, and modern masterpieces are squished right next to ancient heritage sights.
    Lights and shopping everywhere. Never a dull moment in Seoul.
    Seoul at night, seen from the N Seoul Tower. Seoul is electric, with colorful lights stretching off into the smog.
    The statue of King Sejong, sitting outside of the seoul palace.
    Yi Sun-sin looks into modern-day Seoul.
    Saori and I were introduced by a mutual friend, and met up in Tokyo at the main Tokyo train station. To save on time, and have an awesome ride, we took a Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano – fast and comfortable!
    Arrival in Nagano, site of the 1998 Olympic Games. From here, we got another slower train up to Yudanaka, and then walked about 30 minutes to Shibu Onsen.
    Starting the hike up the snowy path leading to the Snow Monkey Onsen.
    Macaque Snow Monkeys relaxing in the snow.
    Snow monkeys love hanging out in the warm onsen. Only for monkeys though!
    Snow monkeys love hanging out in the warm onsen. Only for monkeys though!
    Stamping my 1st onsen.
    After snow monkeys, we went back to our homestay and changed into comfy robes and not so comfy wooden flip flops, grabbed our keys, and went out to hit all 9 Shibu Onsen Onsens. The red pouch I’m holding has my onsen cloth, which has the names of all 9 onesns, and is stamped at each one. Saori is holding her key, attached to a piece of wood with a map of town.
    Vending machines are everywhere, and this one brews fresh coffee on demand.
    What to do after a long day of snow monkeys, onsens, sushi, meat skewers, and beer? Karaoke.
    Coins and papers tied to a tree for luck at the Zenkoji Temple, Nagano, Japan
    Photo courtesy of Photocreate Co.,Ltd at https://tm15eng.allsports.jp/photo/photo_list_tag_search.php?page_id=238626&tag=81479&tag_code=zekken
    I finished in 4:31. It wasn’t my best marathon time, but it felt great to run, and was fun to see lots of neighborhoods of Tokyo.
    Photo courtesy of Photocreate Co.,Ltd at https://tm15eng.allsports.jp/photo/photo_list_tag_search.php?page_id=238626&tag=81479&tag_code=zekken
    Photo courtesy of Photocreate Co.,Ltd at https://tm15eng.allsports.jp/photo/photo_list_tag_search.php?page_id=238626&tag=81479&tag_code=zekken
    I joined the Tokyo Gaijins group on my trip to Shiga Kogen. The group is a snow club, which runs amazing trips to the mountains every weekend in the winter. Bus transportation, lodging, meals, and great times are provided on each trip! Since our group was fairly large, we had an entire hotel to ourselves – complete with dining hall, onsen, and our own rental and gear shop. The base of the mountain was right across the street – perfect!
    Getting ready to go down the mountain on my rental snowboard. Although the terrain at Shiga Kogen is nowhere near as challenging as in Colorado, the snow is great, and runs are wide open.
    Snow Monkey Beer – tasty, especially after a day of snowboarding.
    Making friends on the mountain!
    One of the steeper sections of the mountain – still nothing compared to Colorado, but a fun time nonetheless – snow conditions were absolutely perfect.
    A few of us got together before lunch for some big group runs. Skiing as a group is fun for a run or two, but gets annoying quickly as you spend half your time waiting for everybody.
    With the mascot Okamin!
    Brad, Talitha, and I flew from Manila to El Nido, Palawan on a charters ATR-72 with ITI Air, booked by El Nido Boutique & Artcaf
    Naturally, we had to relax in the pool at the Mahogany Resort, where Brad and Talitha were staying.
    After a day of diving, we decided to get some fresh air on the jeepney ride back to town.
    Getting ready to dive Barracuda Lake, Philippines.
    We had a great dive!
    Triking around Coron.
    Small fish swim in the shallow tidal pools of the hidden coves in El NIdo.
    One of the hidden beaches – this beach is only accessible by swimming through a small underwater tunnel.
    Local kids playing on a dry docked boat on the beach.
    In Coron, we dove with Neptune Dive Center, which was great. Highly recommended!
    Fish at the local market
    The cutest little girl ever, riding with her father as he biked us around El Nido.
    Ready for a day of sailing!
    Sunset in El Nido, with outrigger dive boats anchored in the shallows.
    The tides in Palawan Island are dramatic, and the area outside of where we were staying drained completely during low tide.
    Brad and Talitha strolling on local beach at sundown. The small waves were perfect for bodysurfing.
    Passing through local villages as we discover waterfalls, jungle farmlands, and hidden beaches.

  • Sailing the Sea of Cortez, Mexico

    Sailing the Sea of Cortez, Mexico

    At the end of June, I embarked with my longtime crew on a sailing expedition to explore the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. This was another epic adventure in a long series of sailing adventures that we’ve been doing as a group, in one form or another, for nine or ten years now.

    Although we’ve sailed the Sea of Cortez on a previous trip, we decided to return to rediscover the unrelenting beauty, serenity, and dramatic contrasts of sailing surrounding by the hot, crushing desert.

    The expedition ended up being wonderful. We had a great time sailing, fishing, scuba diving, cooking, relaxing, swimming, hiking, and exploring the Sea of Cortez, and surrounding desert. Here are a few photos from our adventure.  Video clips and other related media are coming asap.

    The sailing trip began by assembling everyone in Cabo San Lucas, on the southern tip of the Baja Penninsula. From there, we rented a suburban, and the 6 of us drove north to La Paz. La Paz is a larger city in Baja, and is the center of operations. During the northward drive, naturally we had to stop for some delicious roadside tacos. It’s good to be in Mexico!
    Delicious tacos and drinks, on the way up to La Paz. Sean drove the massive suburban, and did a great job of getting us to the marina. All six of us fit in the car, with all of our gear.
    On our way north, we were stopped by a few small inspection stations. Enough said.
    Arrival at the Dream Yachts marina. This marina was shared by a few different charter companies, and was located just outside of La Paz. Our boat was ready and waiting for us when we arrived in the late afternoon.
    After loading our gear onto the boat, we walked across the street from the marina and took a refreshing dip in the 5 star resort pool, which we had access to since we were living on one of their sailboats.
    Naturally, we had to take traditional beginning of the trip tequila shots before we did anything else. It was good to be back together as a crew!
    On the evening of the first night, we drove into La Paz to watch sunset over the water, and have a tasty mexican dinner on a rooftop.
    First dinner! In downtown La Paz, Mexico.
    After dinner, we went straight to the grocery store, where we bough about $600 of groceries – enough to feed 6 people for ten days. Not so bad when you divide it out. Here we are deliberating on what to get.
    Dyana had a bit of a shopping plan, and doled out responsibilities accordingly. Sean was on hot sauce and fruit juice patrol.
    I was on checkout duty, and managed to keep the checkout girl calm as she scanned $600 of groceries at closing time.
    Loading provisions onto our boat. Every space on a sailboat is used, and there are endless pockets and storage areas behind the cushions, under panels, and beneath the floor. I love this aspect of sailboats – every bit of space is thought out and used.
    Sean reviewing the Baja cruising guide, the night before our departure. Sean is sitting at the nav table, with all of the electrical controls and instrumentation. Under the table is emergency gear, and inside the table are charts and guides.
    Breakfast at the beach club, shortly before our departuer from the marina.
    And one last swim in the luxurious infinity pool.
    We rented deep sea fishing gear, and had a great time catching a few dinners.
    Our first catch – a Bonito that we later ate for dinner.
    Zac filleting the Bonito. Tasty!
    One of the anchorages we stopped at, from the midpoint of our desert hike. Our boat is on the left.
    Dried cactus found in the desert – this makes pretty good kindling for a fire, as we later found out when making a beach fire to cook clams.
    Shower time at the end of each day. On the boat, we take “navy showers” – jump in the water to get wet, soap up on the transom, jump back in the water to wash off the soap, and then rinse with fresh water from the hose. It’s effective, fun, and saves on fresh water. And you get to do it with friends – here’s Dyana giving Zac a scrub.
    Dyana relaxing on deck with a sunset drink. This is what it’s all about.
    Zac adding a little beer to the ground beef, to give our tacos an extra little kick. Cooking on the boat is always fun!
    Dinner in the cockpit – this was taco night, with lots of hot sauce.
    Evan and Kaitie right before Scuba Diviing with the sea lions.
    Me and Sean before diving.
    Swimming through a narrow passage into a swirling school of fish.
    Evan checking out schools of fish.
    Wildlife abounds in the Sea of Cortez – here we saw a whale and her calf.
    Our crew, minus Kaitie, at the end of our second dive.
    Evan walking onto the shore to enjoy some post-dive lunch and refreshments.
    This particular sailboat had a motorized winch, so in order to raise the main sail, we just had to push a button. Here, I’m steering us into the wind while we watch the sail raise. Shorly affter this I steered the boat to “fall off” and catch the wind in the sail.
    Under sail. It’s peaceful and quiet while sailing, with just the wind whistling and the waves splashing around the boat.
    Evan reeling in a Mahi Mahi.
    Zac with our first Mahi Mahi – dinner!
    Two girls from another boat standing up on their twin kayak at sundown.
    Dyana dives off the bow for a late afternoon swim.
    Evan brought along an inflatable donut to lounge in. Perfect!!!
    Dyana and Evan float in the nearly still water, while our boat floats anchored just off shore.
    Sean hikes a ridge on one of the small anchorages we stopped at. Sunset hikes are great.
    We had a small grill on the boat, and used it to cook burgers, fish, and veggies. An essential accessory on any sailing trip.
    More hikes in the desert with the full group.
    Isla Coyote, one of the small fishing villages we encoutered. We bought fish and clams here.
    Chocolate Clams, fresh from the sea and very tasty.
    Towing Evan behind the boat in his donut. Mmmmm
    Approaching another one of our anchorages, at the mouth of a beautiful valley.
    Sean and I went exploring the valley at sundown, and found lots of animal bones – and animals!
    Relaxing while underway.
    At one of our anchorages, we found the remains of an abandoned hotel.
    Cactus flowers in the hot desert.
    Hiking through the desert back to the sea. The contrast is extreme.
    A dried puffer fish found on the hot, dry beach.
    Our peaceful beach fire spot, where we cooked and ate lots and lots of clams.
    Dyana and Evan checking out the first stars of the evening, as our fire burns down to cooking coals.
    Kaitie and Dyana selecting fresh clams, while Sean, Zac and Evan supervise the fire.
    We cooked clams directly on the fire, as well as by boiling them.
    Eating fresh cooked clams by the fire, under an almost full moon.
    Anchored.
    Dolphins frequently swam with our boat.
    The full moon, rising over the desert peaks.
    Naturally, there are always always minor disasters on every trip – completely expected, and we can ususally deal with whatever we need to. This small engine issue was a quick fix.
    Dyana reeling in.. a shark!
    Hot dogs for lunch.
    Sean made himself a swing from the boom.
    I got hoisted up the mast on the emergency halyard. A spectacular view!
    Under way.
    Sean driving the Dinghy through a small mangrove forest. This was on our last day of sailing. After this, we returned the boat to La Paz, and then got in the car to head back down to Cabo.
    On our way back to Cabo, we witnessed a large drug bust.
    Our last night in Mexico was in Cabo San Lucas, and it was the 4th of July! We checked out lots of lively, trashy parties on the beach, and had lots of fun watching fireworlks from afar.
    Entering spring break zone at El Squid Roe.
    End of the trip drinks at El Squid Roe. For our final night in Cabo, we stayed at a generic hotel on the main strip. Comfy and easy.
  • La La Land.. and Disneyland!

    La La Land.. and Disneyland!

    In June, Miho and I explored LA. A few pics.

    Splash Mountain – 2nd time.
    We got evacuated from Splash Mountain right before the lift up the big hill at the end. It was very very interesting to see the inside of the ride with the lights on and sound off – almost more interesting than doing the actual ride.
    Naturally, I had to try to pull off some sort of photo of the Hollywood Sign.
    We also visited the California Science Center, and got to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor in person.
    Evacuating Splash Mountain.
    Thank goodness!
    An exciting sunset at the Griffith Observatory.
    Space Mountain – second time!
    Space Mountain – first time!
    Riding the carousell was classic and fun.
    I loved this Mariachi Band at Disneyland! They were too cool.
    Disneyland.
    Evacuating Thunder Mountain.
    We didn’t ride the teacups, but they were quite neat to watch at night.
    At Disneyland, I found the secret Club 33, which I had been wanting to visit for ages. I still haven’t been inside, but hopefully someday soon I’ll make it happen.
    Sunset at the Griffith Observatory.
    Nope, I couldn’t do it. Darn.

  • Shooting for the Stars in Hawaii

    Shooting for the Stars in Hawaii

    Miho and I decided to spend a wonderful few weeks exploring Hawaii. It was my first time there, and in order to see a few different areas, and to see a few friends and family, we dedicated to check out Oahu and The Big Island. A few photos from our Hawaiian Adventure.

     

  • Lunch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Claypot Chicken and Rice

    Lunch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Claypot Chicken and Rice

    On my way back from Macau to Sydney, I had a quick 8 hour layover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As soon as I got to the airport, I took the train into the center of town, and spent an afternoon walking around, and grabbing lunch. Here’s my quick trip.

     

    The outdoor mall in downtown Kuala Lumpur. I’d been here before, but since I only had a few hours and the airport train goes straight here, I decided to stop by.
    Downtown Kuala Lumpur
    I had just enough time for lunch, and decided to get the traditional Kuala Lumpur Street-Side Claypot Chicken and Rice. This dish is served all over KL, and is cooked fresh to order,
    Clay pots are heated up on charcoal. Dry rice and water are put in first, and the rice is cooked up fresh.
    Once the rice has been made in the clay pot, marinated bone-in chicken pieces, salted fish, and Chinese waxed sausage is added. Soy sauce, scallions, and a few other seasonings are added in too.
    The entire mixture is cooked together in the clay pot.
    The dish is served with a small bowl of chiles in oil, added to taste.
    Overall, a super satisfying lunch in KL.

  • Rain and Games in Macau

    Rain and Games in Macau

    My final stop in China was in the former Portuguese colony of Macau.

  • Shenzhen – Where The World’s Electronics Are Made

    Shenzhen – Where The World’s Electronics Are Made

    Shenzhen, China – where all of the electronics are made. Or at least it feels like it. For this trip, I was lucky enough to be hosted by an old friend from NYC, and got a view of work life within Shenzhen.

    At SEEED Studio, small custom electronicsn are developed, prototyped, and ushered into mass manufacturing. Here are a few recent products made at Seeed.
    The prototyping and small-run factory production schedule at Seeed.
    A worker monitors a pick-and-place machine at Seeed Studio. This machine automates the production of circuit boards and other electronics.
    A worker hand-solders a circuit board for a small run of eletronics.
    Dressed in anti-static gowns. Trendy!
    Lunch with the gang from Seeed Studio
    Outsize of the Huaqiangbei electronics markets, vendors take a break with some snacks.
    Each stall represents a different electronic supplier, factory, or component manufacturer. They’re divided up into sections and floors, depending on what they make or sell.
    Connectors of every shape and size, sold on-site by the bundle, or shipped anywhere in the world.
    Every imaginable style of flashlight – all available in Shenzhen in quantities from 1 to a million.
    This is where the cases for your hard drives come from.
    LED Lights of any shape and size at Huaqiangbei.
    If you’ve ever ordered small electronics from China, this is probably where it ships from.
    Checking out the Shenzhen 22 art district.
    Checking out the still under construction Pingan Finance Center – when it’s complete, it will be 118 floors and 660m high. When it’s complete, it will be the 4th tallest building in the world.
    Going for a drink at the KK100 Building – Currently the tallest building in Shenzhen.
    Looking out over Shenzhen, China from the top of the KK100 Building.
    Nightly traffic in Shenzhen.

  • Hong Kong is the Place To Be

    Hong Kong is the Place To Be

    After spending a few weeks in Shanghai, I took the overnight train straight to Hong Kong. And I loved it. It was refreshing to be out of China, comforting to be back in a city that felt a lot like NYC, and wonderful to connect with new and old friends. I’m certainly looking forward to returning to Hong Kong as soon as possible. A few photos of my time there.

     

    Learning to play Chinese poker with my friends on the train to Hong Kong. This family was traveling to Hong Kong to buy baby formula.
    Riding the overnight train from Shanghai into Hong Kong, I made friends with my cabinmates, and ended up hanging out with them quite a bit during the long train ride. Lots of fun!