Happy Holidaze
Hello Everyone,
I hope you are enjoying this winter and the Holy Days, turning inward and reaching for the comfort and warmth of friends and family. There are a lot of cool things in here to peruse. Feel free to save this email for later. With the help of my friend Ariel, I just redid my website. Check it out- footlooseforays.com
A little business to start - The Birds, Birds, Birds trips are all full, sorry. I have room for one male on the Baja Adventure in March (petting gray whales and snorkeling with sea lions and other delights). Brazil/Pantanal next June is almost full. I now have the dates for February 2024 Tanzania Safaris. (The trips this January and February 2023 are full sorry). A return trip back to Bhutan is in the works for May 2024.
After writing for Bay Nature Magazine since its inception in 2001, here is my last column. I am a little sad about it but time marches on…
But I still get to create these Perspectives for KQED, NPR. Ground Zero in the Sierra for these super cute rodents.
And here’s the Perspective that played last month on the Amazon troubles.
Anybody want to join us on a mountain bike trip via Aquarius huts - August 1 to 6? Escalante!!!! Check this out.
And now for more fun stuff.
2019, Black Rock City
What a song and what a voice from Lorena McKennit: Caravanserais
Caravanserais were roadside inns along major trade routes like the ancient Silk Road, that doubled as hubs for the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture.
Ever wonder how sound effects are created? I do. Foley artists are uber creative and cannot be replaced by a computer. watch here.
From Anu Garg’s Word of the Day.
"The Mughal king Shah Jahan (1592-1666) built the Taj Mahal in Agra, a mausoleum of white marble, in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631). Khurram was his real name, Shah Jahan was the title, literally, the king of the world. When Shah Jahan became ill, his sons did what their father had done to become The King of the World -- they fought amongst themselves in a war of succession. Aurangzeb, the third son, defeated his brothers and put his father Shah Jahan (The King of the World) in a prison where he died eight years later. Aurangzeb’s title was Alamgir, literally, conqueror of the world. He too built a mausoleum in memory of his favorite wife. Now you can guess what his sons did when it was time for succession. Much time has passed but not much has changed. Look anywhere in the world or closer to home to see the lengths some go to to become the king of the world for a few moments."
This was my first view of the Taj Mahal in 2017; I burst into tears overwhelmed by the beauty of the most magnificent man-made creation. Notice the house crow flying.
Book (or audio) recommending again - The Dawn of Everything
Diversions for the TUBE - The White Lotus (HBO), The Godfather I and II (on everyone’s Top 5 list) , The Princess Bride (classic), Yak in the Classroom (set in Bhutan), Unorthodox (Jewish). These are all so different.
This short video is a DMT aka God Molecule journey. Please do not watch on your phone. On your desktop with full attention. It is only 2 minutes of your life but is timeless
“Sometimes the need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.” — Ken Kesey
Speaking of which, here is an idea for your next holiday dinner.
From my friend Doug and I so do love the Blues. Some of the videos and music are a little rough but some are great and do capture the clubs. Chicago Blues in and around clubs in Chicago, Illinois
"The flower is full of everything -- the sunshine, the cloud, the soil, time, space, the gardener, everything, including your own consciousness…
The flower is full of the cosmos.The flower is only empty of one thing, that is: a separate existence, a separate being, self-nature.
Because a flower cannot be by herself alone, a flower has to inter-be with the whole cosmos... So the same thing is true with a person…"
-Thich Nhat Hanh
