Monday, August 6, 2007
Marimba!
My day chasing Marimbas in Puntarenas with ethno-musicologist Max Brandt (a Maynard by the way) was perhaps the most fun I've had shooting a story on this entire trip. Wish we could be following him back in his early days in Venezuela.
C.R. Redux
Time’s flying. Hard to believe this adventure has been going on for more than 3 weeks.
A little trip south to Manuel Antonio Beach and National Park and were able to check one-thing off the list of 1,000 places you need to see before you die.
So far we have followed some of the more adventurous Lifelong Learners into the rain forest, trekked through the canopy on a skywalk, and ventured about 3 hours south to Manuel Antonio Beach with Lillian (our most senior Lifelong Learner). It’s very different from Chile and Peru, which offered us a metropolitan base of operations amidst huge cargo ships and tons of activity 24/7.
Here we are nestled against a quiet dock in the town of Punterenas. And while the cuisine and architecture are much more limited than our previous ports, the culture, color, and peacefulness of beach life is being welcomed by all.
Each morning welcomes us with sunshine, but by mid-afternoon tall thunderheads soar across the mountains, threatening the late afternoon and evening hours. We have been witness to some torrential rains and fairly good lightning shows.
Costa Rica is the closest we’ve come to a “vacation” setting. We are the only ship docked in Putanrenas and finally are in a port where you can just walk off the ship and get a bite to eat or sit and read by the beach.
Of course, we’re doing none of that.. Today, our final day in port before setting sail for Nicaragua, we’re off to follow Ethno-Musicologist Max Brandt on his search for a local Marimba player to see what the status of the music and people who play it are. More on this later.
A little trip south to Manuel Antonio Beach and National Park and were able to check one-thing off the list of 1,000 places you need to see before you die.
So far we have followed some of the more adventurous Lifelong Learners into the rain forest, trekked through the canopy on a skywalk, and ventured about 3 hours south to Manuel Antonio Beach with Lillian (our most senior Lifelong Learner). It’s very different from Chile and Peru, which offered us a metropolitan base of operations amidst huge cargo ships and tons of activity 24/7.
Here we are nestled against a quiet dock in the town of Punterenas. And while the cuisine and architecture are much more limited than our previous ports, the culture, color, and peacefulness of beach life is being welcomed by all.
Each morning welcomes us with sunshine, but by mid-afternoon tall thunderheads soar across the mountains, threatening the late afternoon and evening hours. We have been witness to some torrential rains and fairly good lightning shows.
Costa Rica is the closest we’ve come to a “vacation” setting. We are the only ship docked in Putanrenas and finally are in a port where you can just walk off the ship and get a bite to eat or sit and read by the beach.
Of course, we’re doing none of that.. Today, our final day in port before setting sail for Nicaragua, we’re off to follow Ethno-Musicologist Max Brandt on his search for a local Marimba player to see what the status of the music and people who play it are. More on this later.
Hit & Run
All my life, I’ve wanted to see a whale. Ever since my first National Geographic Kids, their grace and the baffling contradiction of a mammal swimming the oceans for millions of years, glimpsing a whale has hovered at or near the top of my life’s goals. Being at sea these last 3 weeks, I searched the horizon for any sign of the mighty peaceful giants every chance I got. No Luck.
Then, on a relatively calm day, we were in middle of an interview, “Thud!” My cameraman, Marlin Darrah, joked that we had just gone over the speed bump at the Equator. Funny stuff, until our utility guy John Nichols, who had been sleeping on the aft deck trying to rid himself of the nasty bug that hit half the ship in Peru, told us that he had been jarred awake only to see a whale fin turn over in the water surrounded by lots of blood.
I don’t know how, but we managed to hit one of the most gentle, graceful animals in the world in the middle of the freaking ocean. I can’t help but feel responsible, having prayed to the ocean gods to catch a glimpse of my childhood fantasy.
Almost as sad – I still haven’t seen a whale.
Then, on a relatively calm day, we were in middle of an interview, “Thud!” My cameraman, Marlin Darrah, joked that we had just gone over the speed bump at the Equator. Funny stuff, until our utility guy John Nichols, who had been sleeping on the aft deck trying to rid himself of the nasty bug that hit half the ship in Peru, told us that he had been jarred awake only to see a whale fin turn over in the water surrounded by lots of blood.
I don’t know how, but we managed to hit one of the most gentle, graceful animals in the world in the middle of the freaking ocean. I can’t help but feel responsible, having prayed to the ocean gods to catch a glimpse of my childhood fantasy.
Almost as sad – I still haven’t seen a whale.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Costa Rica!
Somewhere between Peru and Costa Rica, we shook off winter and instead welcomed in the heat and humidity of rainy season. A little trip south to Manuel Antonio Beach and National Park and I was able to check one-thing off the list of 1,000 places you need to see before you die. Pretty tremendous, but very unsatisfactory when you can't really hang out and veg for a few days.
The shoots still going well, but the last few days have been sullied by lawyers in the states. Finally worked it out today and hope to never actually need one of these rats ever again.
The shoots still going well, but the last few days have been sullied by lawyers in the states. Finally worked it out today and hope to never actually need one of these rats ever again.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Callao Nights
Playing with the crummy little digital camera RLTV gave me produced some interesting things. Very surprised at the range the little thing has.
Mistaken Identity
So, I was about ready to adopt this kid from the orphanage, when I asked the woman who ran the place what his story was and she said, "he's my son." Ooops.
The Gang
Can't say enough about these folks. Had an incredible chill lunch, many drinks, and life was good.
Service in a Foreign Land
While my crew ventured to Cusco, Machu Pichu, and the Amazon, I followed a couple of lifelong learners to what are known as "Service Visits." First one was to a home for young mothers (really, really young...like 12-14 years old). So many of them with little cuties, some suffering from genetic defects, others from obvious learning disabilities. I would say that it was sad, but their faces lit up when 50 S@S students showed up with toys and bright eyes.
Callao Port at Night
Sketchy port, but port life is an education in itself. Met a guy named Eduardo who gave me his own port history for the last 30 years, from dealing drugs to how to sneak liquor onto the Japanese ships, to his times in Seattle, San Diego, and Tampa. It's really a different world. They have a church, a bar, Christian "hookers", the works.
Threesome?
Tried to get in on the action at Lovers Park, but they were a little stoic in my presence. The good news was that it kept me from a bad case of VD (the artist' initials).
Monday, July 30, 2007
It's Been Such a Long Time...
...since I've been blogging.
I know. I know. It's coming I swear. Have to blog for the people paying for this trip first and then I'll get down to the nitty gritty. Takes some time, ya know.
I know. I know. It's coming I swear. Have to blog for the people paying for this trip first and then I'll get down to the nitty gritty. Takes some time, ya know.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Pick Me a Good One
I asked this sweetheart to pick out something to bring back to Adam. Hope he likes it.
Intllectual Curiosity
Spent the last few days in around Lima tagging along with a couple of lifelong learners as they tried to give a gift of goodwill to abused kids and young mothers (average age was 14). Very powerful stuff.
At the same time, Sarah Robbin (camerawoman/editor extraordinaire from Portland, OR) and I have had an opportunity to explore a little of the nightlife and had a blast drinking and dancing in an off the beaten path little club in Miraflores. We've been trying to convince the Musicology professor onboard to go back there with us tonight, but to no avail.
Hung out with a group of RD's, Sarah, and a professor last night and found that I miss the intellectual stimulation of a university setting. These wonderful people have PhD's, drink with a passion, and educated in casual conversation. I was so pleased to note that so many were familiar with Italo Calvino's work (one of the tests of intellecutal curiousity that I often administer when meeting new people).
Last nights' drinking seminar concerned the trip to recently discovered (10 yrs ago is recent in archealogical terms) pyramids from (I'm going to mispell this, so just bear with me) Mesopetamian times. Little is known about what happened to their society, but these people constructed a pyramid for each family around a series of fire pits. They were smart enough not to build on the fertile lands closer to the sea, and instead settled on the land right next to the fertile lands. I'm getting photos from someone who went and will get more detailed notes on the civilization up, but just a fascinating conversation that couldn't have happened anywhere else in the world.
At the same time, Sarah Robbin (camerawoman/editor extraordinaire from Portland, OR) and I have had an opportunity to explore a little of the nightlife and had a blast drinking and dancing in an off the beaten path little club in Miraflores. We've been trying to convince the Musicology professor onboard to go back there with us tonight, but to no avail.
Hung out with a group of RD's, Sarah, and a professor last night and found that I miss the intellectual stimulation of a university setting. These wonderful people have PhD's, drink with a passion, and educated in casual conversation. I was so pleased to note that so many were familiar with Italo Calvino's work (one of the tests of intellecutal curiousity that I often administer when meeting new people).
Last nights' drinking seminar concerned the trip to recently discovered (10 yrs ago is recent in archealogical terms) pyramids from (I'm going to mispell this, so just bear with me) Mesopetamian times. Little is known about what happened to their society, but these people constructed a pyramid for each family around a series of fire pits. They were smart enough not to build on the fertile lands closer to the sea, and instead settled on the land right next to the fertile lands. I'm getting photos from someone who went and will get more detailed notes on the civilization up, but just a fascinating conversation that couldn't have happened anywhere else in the world.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Reflections on Pablo's Country
Now that I'm in Peru, let me reflect back on Chile. I can truly understand Neruda's love for Chile and its coastline. Our adventures took us to the West, North and South of Santiago - always in the shadows of the Andes and always surrounded by the stunning and varied landscape. The week was rough in terms of work, but such a great introduction to the Chilean people as well as the SAS people.
The highlights of the week were definitely our hike at La Campana National Park and the tour of Pablo's house in Isla Negre (not an island by the way) and Valparaiso. Just to give an example of the diversity of this longggg-country, the coast around Valparaiso is much like Redondo, CA, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, sandy beaches and much beach life. Just an hour or so north, it's like the coast of Oregon - rocky chilly, wet, green and beautiful. Even though Neruda wasn't a very strong sailor per se, he did find that an artist could be a great seaside sailor with the right house.
I barely touched the wonders of this country, but my new friend Werner has invited me back to stay with him and his family and to check out both the desert and the lake country for skiing whenever I want -- not sure he understands how quickly I'm going to take him up on that offer
Bienvenidos,
J
The highlights of the week were definitely our hike at La Campana National Park and the tour of Pablo's house in Isla Negre (not an island by the way) and Valparaiso. Just to give an example of the diversity of this longggg-country, the coast around Valparaiso is much like Redondo, CA, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, sandy beaches and much beach life. Just an hour or so north, it's like the coast of Oregon - rocky chilly, wet, green and beautiful. Even though Neruda wasn't a very strong sailor per se, he did find that an artist could be a great seaside sailor with the right house.
I barely touched the wonders of this country, but my new friend Werner has invited me back to stay with him and his family and to check out both the desert and the lake country for skiing whenever I want -- not sure he understands how quickly I'm going to take him up on that offer
Bienvenidos,
J
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
La Campana National Park - 5 miles up
We didn't know what we were getting into, but what a view -- exactly the same as Darwin saw it 250 years ago.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Captain Jon
Nice to know I'm the only one if my lifeboat...plenty of room for all my friends and the two seemingly lost seals we passed in the middle of the pacific earlier today.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Day 2 aboard the MV Explorer
Somewhere in between Valparaiso, CHILE and Callao, Peru, I'm chilling in the faculty staff lounge of the MV Explorer. Things are constantly moving here and as usual I'm way, way, way behind on everything I want to say and barely have time to process. Just a thought for the moment.
As the infamous Raybo screamed to the crowd after winning a demolition derby a few summers ago, "dreams does come true." Cross-eyed alcoholic that he was (with many cross-eyed kids and grandkids), Raybo was on to something. The years had weathered him to the point that at 43, he looked 65, he was on to something. Dream big, live big.
As the infamous Raybo screamed to the crowd after winning a demolition derby a few summers ago, "dreams does come true." Cross-eyed alcoholic that he was (with many cross-eyed kids and grandkids), Raybo was on to something. The years had weathered him to the point that at 43, he looked 65, he was on to something. Dream big, live big.
a little SASsy
There's so much to tell that it's impossible to start right at this moment. Much more later tonight. For now, know that I'm safe on the MV Explorer (pictures to follow) in the middle of the pacific ocean, somewhere between Chile and Callao, Peru. Such an incredible week with so many interesting "lifelong learners" and crazy, interesting students from across the U.S., including many many Badgers of all ages. I'm off to another meeting and have some shooting to do, but I'll be back in a matter of hours.
Cheers and love to all,
J
Cheers and love to all,
J
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