An Adventure // Sandy River Delta

Now that I'm officially a Portland photographer (woohoo!) I've been trying to get out and 1) enjoy where we live while 2) shooting more personal work. You'd think this would be the first thing on my list, but it's one of the hardest things for me to do. Shoot more digital? Sit in front the computer more to edit them? I'd rather grab my film camera and send them off. But in an effort to challenge myself creatively, I'll be trying to get out and shoot an area at least once a month. To start it off we went out to a local spot on a rainy day with a lens I don't like... and I actually like the results. I know it's been quiet around here, but hopefully I'll be inspired as we settle in more and more into our new home. For now, you can see a piece our rainy Sunday below.

To see more, head over here.

Thailand // January

This was what our January looked like, in no particular order from a mix of iphone and dslr images. We explored the Thailand countryside from the northern tip to the southern beaches, taking a much needed sabbatical from editing and the internet. I put my camera down for most of the trip, which I'm trying not to regret. A break is good. Now we're already moved up to Portland and getting settled back into the gray, rainy drizzle of the Pacific NW. Pretty happy to be here.

For anyone wanting recommendations for Thailand, here are a few:

When taking the sleeper train to Bangkok to Chiang Mai (which is an awesome way to do it) choose a train number that's higher than 10. These are newer, and less cockroach infested. If you're even luckier to get on one that has the disco diner car, get your ass out of your bed and go drink some Chang beer in my honor as you ramble through the countryside. Also, don't freak out in the morning when you realize you've been peeing directly on the railway tracks, just be thankful you didn't drop anything as you tried to use the squatty potty and keep your balance at the same time in a room that felt like a simulator ride.

If you have experience riding motorcycles (or minimal experience, like me), take the minibus from Chiang Mai to Pai and then hop on bike rentals and get your hinnys to Cave Lodge. Epic adventures await. Go explore all those caves I couldn't after a bad cold hit me on day two.

After or before Cave Lodge, go to Elephant Nature Park and spend as much as you can to support that pure overflowing of goodness being put into the world. Please skip any elephant trekking or feeding baby elephants in cities. This is a great place to get educated on the heartbreaking elephant abuse that tourists are unknowingly contributing to. Plus you get play in the river with those giant beautiful dinosaurs, it doesn't get much better than that.

Skip Ton Sai, just trust me. Okay, Evan tells me I'm not allowed to tell anyone to skip a place. If you really want to go, don't drink any ice or eat any little bite of something that wasn't cooked. Lettuce on your tuna sandwich? Toss it. I've never been as sick as I was there and although it's one of the most gorgeous places in the world to climb, I didn't even get to touch a route thanks to the Tonsai Tummy. We decided if we ever go back, it'll be a day trip to climb, in and out. Concrete bungalows, FML. I don't think I could ever do a repeat. I'll save you from the details.

Koh Lanta was beautiful. It didn't disappoint in any way and next time I want to go with the sole purpose of learning how to dive. Stay at Pinky Bungalows, eat as many fresh coconuts as you can, get massages next to the beach, and rent a scooter to explore the southern beaches. Paradise.

Also, always travel with cold medicine (along with antibiotics and food poisoning meds) with extra to give to fellow travelers. Thank you Boston world-traveling family for saving me in my desperate time of need.

And laugh when you end up fighting with your traveling partner, because no matter how hard you try it'll most likely happen. More often than you think it will. Make up over a cold beer and a delicious, thoroughly cooked meal.

See It: Life of Pi

via here

Are you even considering not going? Just go, trust me. You'd be crazy to miss the experience of seeing this story and the beyond incredible imagery on a big screen. My favorite movie of 2012 hands down.

Sending out a happy new years day to all of you from Phoenix! Looking forward to 2013, creating a new life in a place we love, and making the most of everything we've got.

You were onto something Mr. Einstein...

"I fear the day when technology exceeds our humanity. The world will only have a generation of idiots.” 

Now go try to find someone who isn't glued to their iphone. Pretty rare, and a really good reason to make it a point to unplug every now and then. Especially when you're around other people.

Changes

We are:

leaving Wrightwood at the end of the year.

traveling to Thailand for a month in January.

moving to Oregon in February.

finishing a season of 20+ weddings.

dealing with a genetic medical issue.
making big lifestyle changes.

and it's all happening at the same time.

You may not hear much from me on this blog because even in the middle of this I don't have much to say. I'm insanely busy and will be going full bore until the end of the year when we'll both finally be able to breathe. So excited to go back home to Portland. So excited to live life how we want to. Sad about things that are out of our control. Thankful that there's so much good mixed into bad, that there's still nothing I can really complain about. I'm a pretty lucky lady when all is said and done. 

I'll be back blogging more frequently when the new year hits. Until then, I hope all of you stay happy and healthy.

xoxo

3 years.

Can you believe it? Three years already. I find that kind of mind boggling, in a good way. To celebrate we're going camping in the desert with Tucker Blue Ribbon and a bottle of wine, which sounds pretty perfect to this girl. Cheers to another year full of new adventures!

Forward/Return

I just found out that The Album Leaf is launching a new EP in 3 weeks, which is making me ridiculously happy. They've been creating some of my favorite music for years (this song in particular), and I can't wait to have the new album in my ears. You can snag a free downloadable sneak peek here, or listen to it below.

Climbing

Sometimes we go climbing and I film it. And then I don't make anything from it, except capturing screen shots to post on my blog. But I will, someday. Until then, I have these little treasures to watch anytime I'd like and that's worth it right there. Adventures with my boys are the best.

Quit Slackin'

Found here, and as always is the problem on pinterest, is untraceable to the original source.

This is my motto for the week, hope yours has been more productive than mine. Happy 4th!

Glacier

I'm guessing this is either Montana or B.C., but either way I want to go there.