Uruguay has more than soccer

Before this trip, I had no idea Uruguay is border with Brazil and Argentina, the least corrupt in Latin America, and the first to provide every child a free laptop and internet.
From shop signage, architecture and graffitis around the capital Montevideo, you know this is not a very rich nation but you can see Uruguayan is full of creativity and culture, in their unique way.
Excited to see the volume and quality of preservation works going on.
For a moment, I was thinking..... if I give up my shoes.... and my travel pillow...... maybe I can take it home.
Happened to be there on a saturday flea market. Locals and tourists fill up the park quick.

Lucky weather @ Cape Horn and Puerto Madryn

As a sailor, I was not very proud of the way we get to Cape Horn, Chile. It was equivalent of climbing Mount Everest by helicopter. Also because of "Lucky good weather", we didn't get to experience the usual violence/ extreme sea conditions, which have made this place infamous as sailor's graveyard.
We traveled far on bus to see the wild lives in Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, a popular whale watching destination. We didn't see any whale there, but you can see whale skeleton everywhere. In fact, we saw some other animals on the way, but I was either too slow, too lazy, or my lens not long enough to catch anything worth showing. So, here I borrow someone else's site to show you what I saw (other then the penguin). It almost never rain there, but the day before we arrived, it rained so hard, it washed away the road to see penguins and elephant seals.
The port is also famous as ship graveyard.
Journey back up along the coast. Another day at sea before Uruguay.

Land animals in Ushuaia

They're everywhere inside Tierra del Fuego National Pack, and you can get very close, unlike those at home.
Both of them came out of nowhere, and begged for petting. We name the white one backpack, he is very interested in the backpack.
This one waiting outside a telephone/ internet cafe.
This one think tax free is boring.....
This is during the 3 hrs turned to 4 hrs "little train ride" - a 100 years old convict's logging project. They kept stopping the train and try to fix the PA system, which was broadcasting the story, in many languages.

Ushuaia, fin del mundo

Feb. 18th, right after we left Elephant Island, weather forecast from the research stations further south was not optimistic. Not only stronger head wind, but also zero visibility. As we were still more than one day sail to Paradise Bay, the Captain made a tough decision to turn around and head back north to Argentina. It was a surprise and disappointment for most passengers, especially for those who didn't know that about half of the time, this ship couldn't make all the ports because of weather. Here is as we enter the Beagle channel early in the morning 2 days later. Leaving all the weather behind.

Arrived Ushuaia at full moonset. Never thought about will see his mega Yacht - Octopus (blue and white docked on the right) here, at fin del mundo, the end of the world.
We took a catamaran excursion to see the sea lion colonies. Pups are few months old, and cling to the side of big Mama. Of course, every colony has a big Alpha male.
No, they are not penguin. They are cormorant, maybe penguin's close relatives, but they still can fly.
Lovely waterfront property. Especially the dog house!

Elephant Island, Antarctica

Departing Falkland for Elephant Island, the Infinity encountered 30 feet swells and 40 knots head wind in the Drake Passage. I took a strip of "Zentrip" (A Japanese brand of Meclizine Hydrochloride, actually tastes like bitter tangerine) before I went to bed. I dreamt about Shackleton's ship "Endurance" icebound on my bed......
Here was the forbidding place where Shackleton's crews remained behind, waiting for rescue.
History tells us again, faith is what keeps people alive, especially in the very difficult condition. I used to wonder how much luck was involved for Shackleton to find South Georgia, 800 mile away in a 22 ft open lifeboat under continuous gales and stormy seas, in order to get help. Now I decided it wasn't luck, it was a miracle.

In the last couple of days, seeing all those photos of boats washed ashore in Sendai, people waiting to be rescue. I borrowed a prayer: May all those in Japan be comforted. May all trapped be found. May all injured be helped. May all the frightened be calmed.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

On Feb. 16th, after 2 days at sea, we arrived at our first port of call - Port Stanley. It's interesting to set foot on the Island, the British and Argentina fought over, wasting lives and ships almost 30 years ago.
Share with you the two postcards I came up with, after a brief excursion.
Map of our 14 night cruise route on Celebrity Infinity. It happened to be the last chance for people like me to visit Antarctica. Given that

a. my tendency of seasick on small ship in big sea

b. the expense of smaller ship is beyond reach anyway

c. large cruise ships to Antarctica would be banned as of June 2011.

Link to more photos.

七佰碗

放下心頭七佰碗 輕裝南遊冰火國

七佰碗 seven hundred bowls

For the last few months, there were several hundred pounds of clay in my mind all the time.

Thanks to a handful of local potters, who spent hours after hours, weekends after weekends in front of the wheel.

Thanks to over a hundred artists who volunteer their talent and passion.

Thanks for everyone who make these possible.

We together, make this year Empty Bowls Project a new record. I feel like lighten by several hundred pounds. Please come get a bowl and soup if you will be in town.

冰火國 Continents of ice and fire

On the other hand, it doesn't seem that long ago (last April) when I sat in front of the computer, planning for the up coming trip (this Friday). I can still remember arguing with a travel agent that there is an inexpensive direct flight from Miami to Buenos Aires by LAN. Yes, that's the Pandora's box of Internet for traveling. So, I end up becoming the travel agent for my group of 3. This will be my first trip to Argentina, Antarctica and Brazil. When I first read about advice for Carnival in Rio, I didn't believe you really have to book hotel a year in advance. Now, I do. I also couldn't believe Brazil charge American $140 for it's visa, but HK passport holder don't need visa. I still have a hard time to believe AA had cancelled our flight home, and wanted to send us to New York. Seems that the only constant is CHANGE.

OK, the last challenge before take off is how to pack light for the ice and fire.

Last regatta of the year

It was very cold in terms of Miami's sailing. I had everything I could put on but still got wet and frozen fingers (even I'm on a small power boat, not a sail boat). I have a lot of respect for all of our young sailors (over 600 of them), bearing the cold and strong breeze, and staying out for hours to finish race after race. The forecast says, it's going to warm up, however, the wind is going to die. Seems that we will get busy in the protest room.

Christmas project

After years of careful planning (aka procrastination), we cleared out a small area in the front yard for this project - "Shade House for Orchid". There are some serious considerations for this kind of project, other than Fung Shui and construction designs. For example, how much resources will be needed after the completion (translation: how many more Orchids, how much money, time and effort to maintain) and willingness to go for permitting process. So far, the project has been under budget (less than $200), on schedule (2 days of work), with no major accident (except digging/breaking into a electric conduit). Other than the shelving and misting system, I just need warmer night temperature.

Notes on Cooking (or Potting)

Another wood kiln opening yesterday. Even it's in the cold rain, people were still very enthusiastic. It's like boxing day comes early. You never know what you will get until it's opened. I was reading a small book about Cooking. Don't confused it with a cook book, this one has no recipe, only principles which can extent to different disciplines.

Here's Page 8:The Cook's Role, I can see some of the parallel to the Potter's role. So, I think I should share with potters friends.

14. Work from your strength. Don't try to master everything. Become known for a few dishes (forms), perhaps even the near perfection of one. Discover your obsession, then make yourself a slave to it: the mastery of a traditional dish (form), the combination of ingredients (glazes and firings) that have never before met, precision in presentation, devotion to a culinary (ceramic) heritage, the introduction of color (surface, texture) where it never before existed…

15. Aim at mastery of craft, not at art. Know the basics. Repeat and practice, and the sublime will rise at rare, unexpected moments. Be open to capturing art when it comes, but craft is your highest daily priority.

16. Don't TRY to be different. You are different. Cook (Pot) from your gut.

17. Embrace the mundane. Do not bemoan the pedestrian tasks. Find pleasure in peeling a carrot (wedging clay), steaming rice (sieving glaze), searing a steak (pulling handle), prepping (sanding), cleaning (Oh yes, cleaning). Your reward is in the work, not around it. Cooking (Potting) is not about convenience, but the pleasure earned through creation and in giving pleasure to others. Shortcuts are tempting, even necessary from time to time. But if you rely on pre-cut vegetables, pre-marinated meats, and canned sauces, you are not cooking. You are assembling. I guess we had all seem some assembled pots before.

19. Justify your food (works) in at least two ways. A dish (piece of work) must taste (function) good and be seasonal (stylish), or look good (good form) and be healthful (be safe or be inspiring). Having dual objectives raises your standard of execution. Plus when a single purpose falls short, you have provided yourself a safety net.

Elbow above shoulder

For 6 months, I could hardly raise my left elbow over the shoulder because of a stupid move involving the bicycle. ;> OK,OK, the truth is I was sitting in the front of the mini-van, and try to pull the water bottle out from the bicycle in the back. See, it doesn't sound as cool.

I lost about 30% range of movement mostly to the back and up. Couldn't play swing monkey or windsurf. Sudden movement sent electric shock pain right down the arm. But, most of the time, I was fine with normal daily routine. So, my belief was just take it easy and let it resolve gradually without intervention. No doctor, no medicine, just simple exercises.

Maybe because of the cold weather lately, the shoulder started to cramp up during sleep, losing even more range of motion. Friends advised me to get treatment before it become a frozen shoulder.

Before the first visit to Ron (my acupuncturist), I planned carefully what to wear, so it's easy to show the bare shoulder and have needle inserted. Surprised by his request: "Can you take off your shoes and sock? Just the left one.", I wasn't sure I heard it right. It is the left foot acupuncture points he wants to focus on. He didn't look at or touch my shoulder at all.

During the 2nd visit today (I do remember clean socks!), the shoulder loosen up. Even with hand on the shoulder, the elbow can raise above shoulder. It's like an evil claw has been lifted from me. No more shock pain, even outside range, only dull pain.

It's a pleasure to be able to pull ones shirt off over head with BOTH hands.

Sexy orchid make lousy lovers

In fact, it's the title of a recent book about nature. It happened that some orchids in the backyard are in boom lately. And here's what the title refers to: From some orchid's perspective, "All is fair in love and cross pollination". They will put on great effort into luring a male insect by undulating with striking colors in the breeze or mimicking the form and smell of female insect, even though one-third of these ancient flowers have no nectar to offer potential pollinators. If a bee encounters this kind of orchid, he will eventually have to leave hungry, nevertheless help spreading the pollen. So, If you've never thought of orchid as a lover, you may want to think again. Exquisite, exotic, elegant but deceiving.

It has been freezing cold a few mornings this week. I have been moving orchid pots in at night, out when it's warm, and in again…… thinking, some lovers can be high maintenance too.

But, who can resist?

You must go where I can not

"The Secret of Kells" is one of the most beautiful animation I had seen.

Irish poetic , like a dream, simply timeless. Again it proves - in my eyes, simple line drawing can be as powerful as 3D animation. I always prefer this - almost every frame is an Art kind of cartoon.

You must go where I cannot. Pangur Ban, Pangur Ban (name of the cat)

It’s a misty old world,and we are only in it for a short, sharp while.

Didn't you have dream like this before? Try to fight the beast with something ridiculous, like a piece of chalk, or a piece of chocolate. I just love it.

P.S. If you've netflix account, you can watch it online for no extra cost.

現在誰都不敢愛

幾天前, 自己在千挑萬選後, 拋棄多年的舊愛, 重金選了新Mac情人。

蘋果昨天發布新的MacBook Air

心中即時聽到一峰的聲音 ---

"最怕挑剔篩選好情人　辛苦揀好才驚覺

最稱心的一位終於趕到　現在誰都不敢愛"

只好乖乖的, 不去多看一眼, 但是漂亮稱心的東西, 總是有他們的魔力。

真的, 蘋果又做魔鬼了。

October Backyard Happening

I found her while waiting for the appearance of river otters.
Anybody likes star fruits??
This reminded me of Rousseau's wild animal in the jungle, but this tiger doesn't look surprised at all.