Jim's Journeys

A Sail on San Francisco Bay

2006-09-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

See the Vlog.
Episode 21 - Quicktime

There is nothing as refreshing as an afternoon of sailing on San Francisco Bay.

It's late September and I should be back as school but we went sailing instead. The challenging waters of S. F. Bay give sailors a chance to feel the power of the wind and the currents.

Bill was nice enough to host us to a little afternoon delight on his boat from Sausalito.

Burma Myanmar

2006-08-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

See the Vlog in quicktime.
Episode 21 - Quicktime

High Sierra Horseback

2006-08-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

Pack trip in the High Sierra near Bishop, California in the first week of August 2006.

Mexico, Mercado and Caesar Salad

2006-07-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

The markets of Mexico are full of the variety and tradition of Mexican cooking.

A table-side made Caesar Salad is as authentic as it gets with raw egg, garlic and romaine lettuce.

Kyoto

2006-07-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

Kyoto city and impressions of Fushimi Inari Shrine with the thousand toris to the summit of a mountain.

Salmon Fishing

2006-07-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Sport fishing for the King Salmon off the coast of Northern California. Early morning departure - out thru the Golden Gate to just off Point Reyes. The sea was calm and the fish were biting.

Rodeo Beach, Marin County, California

2006-06-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

Just on the north side of the Golden Gate, on the open Pacific coast is gravel beach called Rodeo Beach. Located in the Marin Headlands, the beach is visisted by people looking for a little nature and break from the city.

Just a few minutes from Sausalito.

Paku Cave Laos

2006-06-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

Check it out 25 kilometers north of Laung Prabang.

Wilderness Outpost Northern California

2006-05-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

See the Vlog.
Episode 15 - Quicktime

The journey continues to contunue - a "back-to-basics" experience in a wilderness in Northern California.

A Senior's Art Show

2006-05-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

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Episode 14 - Quicktime

The journey continues - - a daughter gets ready to graduate from college with a degree in Art.

Wonderful work, Chelsea.
You make me proud.
Love, Dad

Olompali State Park and Wild Flowers

2006-05-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

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Episode 12 - Quicktime

The journey continues - - state parks are great things, we love ours in California.

Olompali and New Orleans Documentary

2006-05-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

See the Vlog.
Episode 12 - Quicktime

We briefly visit Olompali State Park north of Novato on Highway 101. This will be the subject of the next bog, with a great display of wildflowers. But for this vlog there is a short introduction as I walk along in the state park an introduce the trailer for Hell and High Water the 74 minute documentary on New Orleans that I produced and directed with the help of Pam Bell. The DVD has just been release on May 1st and more details are available at HellandHighWatertTheMovie.com

Boudanath Kathmandu, Nepal

2006-03-22T16:23:00.000-08:00

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Episode 11 - Quicktime

The largest Buddhist stupa in the world is in Kathmandu, Nepal. We take a short walk around the stupa, turn the prayer wheels, and witness the devotees.

May peace prevail on earth.

For those of you following my blog and vlog - sorry for the absence. I have been working on a feature length documentary that hopefully will be released next week on DVD. The subject is New Orleans. My recent trip there inspired me to create it. All else was on hold - but I am back now.

Good traveling!

North to Alaska

2006-02-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

See the Vlog.
Episode 10 - Quicktime

Nothing like the clean water and pure air in Alaska.

A few years back we had a chance to spend about a week in the inlets of Prince William Sound.

It was a humble feeling to witness the power of the glacier.

Quicktime version only.

Tongan Islands

2006-02-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

See the video, visit my vlog - take the time to download.

Choose your file format below.
Episode 9 - Quicktime
Episode 9 - mp4

Jim's Journeys Site

Tongan Island sailing, beachcombing and exploring.

New Orleans starts to Come Marchin' In

2006-02-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

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Episode 8 - Quicktime
Episode 8 - mp4
Episode 8 - iTunes

Jim's Journeys Site

Maybe I'm getting tired of seeing and knowing about the destruction in New Orleans. Maybe so. It has taken a ton of ink and miles of tape to cover the story - - but the story is not over - - not by a long shot! It doesn't matter how tired I am compared to the fatigue and state of limbo that exist for so many. If we have the will to act in the common good, this will work.

Make it so, tell those you vote for to care and act, tell them if they don't, you will vote for someone that will.

It makes me ashamed of my Country to see how New Orleans has been and is being handled by the politicians. Our government appears so weak and careless.

Is all the city will get will be an endless series of squabbles?

New Orleans Destruction and Fried Chicken

2006-01-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

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Episode 7 - Quicktime
Episode 7 - mp4
Episode 7 - iTunes

Jim's Journeys Site

The fabric of the life in New Orleans is torn. No leaders have emerged and all the politicians are nervous, they hope that the anger and frustration that have come from the human and preventable failures is not directed toward them.

What does it take for our government to respond to the fact that a major city in our heartland has been almost destroyed? The people need help. The problem is bigger than the small minds that hold power. We need a leader not a politician.

Is it more important to make war across the oceans than take care of our folks at home? The more it sinks in, the more I realize that this indeed is the fall of an empire. Too bad it's my country and the legacy for my children.

New Orleans continues, the culture there is stronger than the lies. The people are smarter than the media, they saw for themselves the way the story was covered and they know the truth. They know the fear in night, they know it may happen again. So the party goes on...

New Orleans in Contradiction

2006-01-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

Episode 6 - Quicktime
Episode 6 - mp4

Jim's Journeys Site

My illusion of security is shattered after seeing New Orleans

I know now, that any time the forces of nature want me or anything I own, surender is not negoiated. It is a fact.

People there went through the end of the world, city-wide Armageddon. Rich, poor, all races, all ages, all species suffered with equanimity. The beast of the human spirit was awakened, primordial fear struck many hearts.

What happened is bigger than the loss of property and life. It is of a realm larger than our buildings, larger than our presumptions about nature and technology. All systems failed and the power revealed itself. We were remineded of how fragile we really are.

I can't tell the story of New Orleans and Katrina, it is too big for me. I can tell my story while I was there and that's what y'all get.

Next week is more from New Orleans.

New Orleans overwhelmed me - no vlog this week.

2006-01-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

I am still in New Orleans and this Wednesday's vlog is postponed untill next week.

Both Pam and I are in a state of shock after seeing even a small part of the extent of the damage that New Orleans has sustained. Mile after mile of houses that cannot be lived in, abandoned cars by the thousands, piles of garbage in front of houses that represent people's lives - everyone here says how much better it is now than before - I cannot imagine.

Next Wednesday I will be sharing some of the footage taken in the last few days here, along with interviews of people here. We heard stories that the mainstream news never carried and never will carry.

All for now.

Jim

Mani Rimdu - Nepal - Fire Puga

2006-01-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

Episode 5 - Quicktime
Episode 5 - mp4

Jim's Journeys Site

I wanted to start the year off with a clean slate, with the cleasing aspect of the purification ritual. And the footage I shot 10 years ago in Nepal symbolically portrays, with ritual, closure and conclusion, the end before a beginning.

The Chiwong Gompa hosts the annual Mani Rimdu Festival. The Buddhist monks re-in act the establishment of the Dharma in Tibet in 770 by Guru Rimpoche. Located in the Solu-Khumbu District of Nepal the ritual is held during the first full moon in November.

Jim's Journeys is Weekly at Noon on Wednesday

France and Food

2005-12-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

Jim's Journeys Site

Episode 4 - Quicktime
Episode 4 - mp4

This week we go to France, dine and listen to street music.

I have decieded to make this a weekly vlog - watch for it every Wednesday at 12:noon.

Mescalito Mexico and Marin

2005-12-21T13:33:00.001-08:00

Jims Journeys

Episode 3 - Quicktime
Episode 3 - mp4

Vlogs are just the beginning.
Who knows - maybe communication will begin anew.
Take a 3 minute break and come along.

Winter solstice.
Thinking back to July and Mexico.
Thanks to Pam
and to Bob and Lolita for making it so much fun.

Mescal is like brandy.
We went to where they make it for a "wine tasting." Good fun.

Vlogs - San Francisco, Burma and Himalayan Portraits

2005-12-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

Jim's Journeys Site

Episode 2 - Quicktime
Episode 2 - mp4

Vlogs, these video blogs, are doing George Orwell one better. The more I do it, the more I begin to understand that this is not just an exercise in technology. Orwell would have had to crack a smile if he could see how things are shaking out.

Not only is Big Brother out there watching, pumping his message to the masses, but the masses are now able to broadcast their messages, their shows and their worlds - via the internet - without Brother's network or permission or editorial control. I don't need no stinkin' network, I can be my own station. A concept that is just beginning to take root.

May ten thousand times ten thousand voices arise. May a new sound well up from humanity that is authentic, free and true.

Take less than five minutes and watch my humble show hear my one sound, my stories of the road and see the pictures. Then clear your throat and speak yourself, all our voices matter.

Today's Episode 2 travels across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco for a little sightseeing. There's a detour along the way to the Union of Myanmar (Burma) and a slide show of portraits I took of the people of Nepal.

4 minutes 42 seconds, 10.2 mg. Original score.

Japan and Nepal

2005-12-07T14:34:00.000-08:00

Episode 1

Jim's Journeys Site

Episode 1 - Quicktime
Episode 1 - mp4

The first episode of Jim's Journeys is here.

Please link to see the Quicktime, 7.7 mg, 3 min 15 sec video with material from Japan, Nepal, Napa Valley and my kitchen.

Original score.

Testing now...Vlog linked

2005-12-01T11:17:00.000-08:00

VLOG TEST
Please see my new video blog, a vlog.

To continue from the last blog...

I answered the door and two members of the volunteer fire department were there saying "Onayashi-san insignificance," meaning, or at least as far as I knew

"May we please see Mr. Onayashi?"

to what I replied in my basic Japanese,

"I am Jim, Mr. Onayashi doesn't live here,"

This went back and forth for a number of volleys. Them shouting almost and bowing at the same time

"Onagshi-san or ononoshi, or origami-san, insignificance."

And me trying harded and harder to say Mr. Onagahi doesn't live here, I am Jim.

Later I found out the fire department was going house to house in a friendly way reminding people to be careful with fire. The story had circulated in the village rumor mill, that the crazy foreigner (me) had gone on and on about not wanting anything to do with fire safety - he was Jim! Good laughs all around.

Living for that winter in the old farmhouse with paper walls and kerosene heaters, taught me many thing and let fine memories. I know the memories are probably better than the real thing was, I am sure of that! But I learned community, care and acceptance from my Japanese hosts and friends.

Watch for more!

The First Blog

2005-11-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

Pictured are the fall colors of the North Japanese Alps in October.

Everyone has to start somewhere and this is my first blog. Not my first time with computers though. I have been at the keyboard for two decades now.

My first modem was an acoustic coupler connecting to a Japanese rotary handset at 300 baud to the Venus-P network in 1984. I can remember staying up late at night sending a message to the States and how the Tatami matted floors were so cold in that old Japanese farmhouse.

Shin-shimashima village near the city of Matsumoto had never seen a foreign visitor, not to mention three residents, and the adjustment was going along fine until complications started with the Fire Department and me raving on about Mr. Onobashi not living here ...

This is a blog of my travels and this is both a test and a start.

More on the Fire Brigade next week.