How To Travel Alone

Posted on February 7, 2014 by jaynezak

How To Travel Alone

“All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it.” Cameron Crowe and Alice Mckenna

Just to be clear. If you told me ten years ago I would be writing any blog, I would not have believed you. First of all, I’m not a writer. Second , I didn’t go to a PTA meeting alone or anywhere else. My life and my future were on a safe, secure path . Then everything fell apart. I picked up the pieces of my crumbling life. I didn’t do it willingly, quickly, easily or happily. But after a while, you just get tired of looking at them on the floor. I had to build a new life.

Soon after that, I became an empty nester. I would like to go on record as saying I hate those words. It just creates a sad picture in your head. I’ve seen those nests. They are so cute with the baby birds in them and then you are left with a dry crumbly mess of twigs. I leave them for a while in case the birds come back. When you pick them up, they fall apart in your hands. The nests looked so sturdy with the birds in them. A lot of metaphors arise in my head. I think we need to go into this time in our life with different words. Once you get over the sadness, it is kind of nice to get your house and your life back. In my case, it was a life I never had. I never took the time for myself to create one.

You have four choices as you get older: to go back to adolescence -marry a younger woman get a new sports car etc; to prepare to die and feel that your life is over; to live in the past; or to become wise, check your value system and continue on as a better human being.

I stood on the verge of uncertainty and thought, what kind of life do I want? What do I love? For me it was travel. I traveled as much as I could when I was single and then I spent the next part of my life not traveling.

But now I have a choice. I’m not brave or lucky. I just stopped worrying about what was logical, attainable or expected anymore. It became about how I constructed the possibilities in my life.

At first I traveled with friends. My destinations were based on other people. I went where they were going or visited where they lived. But there were other places that I really wanted to see. The first time I went on a tour alone I cried most of the nights. I was not the cool, young girl anymore but I was now one of those people that I used to make fun of. I was one of the on the bus off the bus older alone women. Meals were traumatic.

On my first tour, a ninety year old man came up to me. My mother told me that people weren’t nice to old people so I tried to be nice and planned my escape. I asked if it was his first trip to Spain. He said “No. The last time I was here, I was working with Reuters and touring the bullfight circuit with Hemingway.” He was trying to write a book on it and this trip went to a lot of the places he had been to. I googled him. It was true. As we walked in Rondo, Spain ( a city on the bullfight circuit ) he remembered everything. “Hemingway called me the kid,” he began and I was right there with them. I learned from that first encounter never to prejudge anyone. I’m not going to say that everyone I meet is as interesting as he was (though Australian author Susanne Gervay and British Peruvian explorer Peter Frost come close) but everyone has a story and I love to hear them.

It was nice to have a tour leader make all the decisions, pick up your luggage, deal with the trains and airlines. There was usually plenty of free time to do what I wanted to do. I learned an awful lot from local tour guides which I hadn’t used before.

It was an easy way to travel alone and not be alone. It was a great option to go wherever I wanted to go. I have now found the kind of small group tour companies that I like to travel with. A week is perfect. I mix it with time alone in a place and with friends before or after. A little of everything is a good trip. You get the taken care of experience and the exploring a city alone and having adventures experience. I’m fine alone in a city but lately I am exploring deserts, rainforests, mountains and villages. It is much easier to do that with a guide.

I learned how to be alone as well. It was really hard at first. I always try to have a book or magazine with me. Reading has probably saved a lot of people from loneliness . I learned how to ask if I could sit with someone on a tour for lunch or dinner. (I admit that I could be better at this). When I am by myself, I use a health spa or gym at night or stay out all day late instead of sitting in a restaurant alone. I hire a local tour guide from the internet if it is a country that I’m not comfortable in by myself. They have all been amazing. .

I’m not going to tell you how to go to bars and restaurants alone . You are either a person who is comfortable sitting at a bar alone or you are not. I am not. It is a different trip than traveling with a mate, family or friends. But lately I have been meeting people. I’m not outgoing – I have to work at it. I’m not adventurous and I don’t take chances or put myself in situations or places that I can’t get out of easily..

When I started traveling, I wrote funny things to my friends and family about my trips. The thing about traveling alone is that you observe a lot more of the world around you. It turns out that writing is something you do best alone. I was encouraged to write a travel blog. My computer skills included email and google. I had no idea how to blog and worse, I had no idea about social media. I make a lot of mistakes. At first no one but my friends and family read my blog because I didn’t know that I was supposed to “put it out there”. But little my little I am learning.

I don’t have to worry anymore that I’m not good enough or talented enough or smart enough. I’ve already failed at what I thought I was good at. I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. I have no more personal limitations or restrictions and not a lot of time to do all the things I really want to do. I have no more if onlys.

I love writing about a subject that I love. It’s great if people read it. But even better is the moment when it comes together and I think – this doesn’t suck. I can put it out there now. It is a blog so it doesn’t have to be perfect. There is no stress.

When you are a kid, everyone encourages you to follow your dreams. When you are older, you don’t get that kind of support. Don’t let the people who didn’t have the courage to follow their own dreams discourage you. Maybe it doesn’t matter anymore which way you go. It just matters that you go somewhere.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Hob-ART, Tasmania

Posted on February 4, 2014 by jaynezak

Hob–ART, Tasmania

“Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. … It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see.” Ann Patchett

I don’t know why I was surprised. Art can be everywhere. When I thought about Tasmania, I thought of the clean air and water, rugged coastlines, interesting wildlife and incredible views.

I started to do some research. I found MONA – Museum Of Old And New Art ( blog https://travelwellflysafe.com/2013/12/09/mona-roma-to-mona-hobart-tasmania-australia/ ) a boat ride away. MONA is a “deliberately underwhelming” gallery of old and new art. It is an art Disneyland experience with all of your senses engaged – not what I was expecting in Tasmania at all.

On the grounds of MONA (The old Moorilla Wine Estate), there is also a bar, café, restaurant, accommodations, a winery and a brewery. The outdoor areas are interesting and inviting.

Moo Brew’s original brewery was located on the site of the Museum of Old and New Art. I was there on the last day of Moo Brew brewery and had a private tour. They produce five core beers: a Pilsner, a German-style Hefeweizen, a Belgian Pale Ale, an American Pale Ale and an American Dark Ale. Due to the continued expansion of MONA, all brewery operations are now carried out at their second brewery.

I was looking for a hotel and came upon the Henry Jones Art Hotel. I began to be more curious about Hobart and decided to stay longer than I planned. The hotel is housed in the H. Jones and Co. Jam Factory . The architect has fused the traditional structure with modern design. I rarely talk about hotels but I really liked this one.

I was in this cool loft room. I found my room easily because I knew it was near the pink pig.

They have a wonderful art tour given by the fun, knowledgeable and pretty Christine Scott. The Hotel has over 300 original and contemporary works of art which are exhibited throughout the property. These works showcase Tasmania’s leading and emerging artists. Most of the art is for sale.

Even if you aren’t staying at the hotel, you should come and have a drink and and take the tour.

Christine told us about the artists of Hobart and I was curious. On my last day in Hobart, I took an art walking tour of with Christine. (Art from film slides, Patrick Hall . He has some great pieces art MONA also)

Christine knows everything that is going on in the art world in Hobart. She has an extensive network of artists, galleries and friends .

Christine is up on the latest exhibitions and reviews and knows exactly where to go. Whether you want to buy or look, she will take you to the best galleries. (Christine www.hobARTwalks.com )

Writing about art is hard for me. It is translating the visual into language . They are two very different mediums. You have to go to Hobart and take the art tour with Christine to experience it for yourself.

I loved Tasmania and I loved seeing all the unexpected art. The best thing about traveling is finding a place that you had no idea was just where you wanted to go.

Fly Safe,

JAZ

The Last Things That I Did When Traveling

Posted on January 30, 2014 by jaynezak

The Last Things That I Did When Traveling

“it can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression”as pretty as an airport” Doug McAdams

People magazine thinks that I want to know the last things celebrities did before that interview. I think that you must want to know about the last things I did when traveling .

The last piece of gum that I chewed on a plane before landing – Trident Peppermint I prefer the Bubblegum flavor for flying but I didn’t see it in Sydney airport.

The last trashy magazine that I bought in an airport and the last trashy article I read in it – Australian OK magazine – I only buy gossip magazines when I fly and then I buy all of them like they are crack cocaine. The last article was some Kardashian story like the hem on Kim’s dress was falling down creating yet another fashion faux pas. Her publicity hungry “mum” was happy. Khloe was jealous and doing something outrageous like divorcing her cheating, drug addict husband for attention. Kourtney was whining.

The last presents that I bought in an airport – Tim Tams, Crocodile and Kangaroo Jerky.

The last room service meal I had in a hotel – The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart Tasmania. I believe it was fish .

The last movie I saw on a plane – Identity Thief and half of the Great Gatsby

The last book I read on a plane – In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson . It is published under the name Down Under in Australia and everywhere that is not Canada or the US.

The last thing I took from a hotel room – It is always the baby soaps, lotions, shower caps and tea. I have a whole collection. I think that I might be a hoarder. In Japan there are a lot more “giveaways” as I call them – hairbrush, razor, toothbrush toothpaste, nailbrush, pajamas, kimonos etc.

The last souvenir I bought for myself – It’s always a Starbucks mug from a country with Starbucks. I don’t even like the coffee anymore but I like the collection of mugs.

The last time I used hand motions to communicate – Kaiseri, Turkey. At the airport, I was trying to explain that my friend was given the wrong thing in the coffee shop. I was saved by someone who spoke Turkish and English.

The last song I listened to on the plane with my iPod – “Ways To Go” Grouplove. It is also the last song I listened to in my car today.

The last time I got lost in an airport – It is always Miami. I went to school there and it was a cute little airport. Now it is a big confusing airport. it is easier to find my way in downtown Tokyo where I don’t speak or read the language.

The last time I cursed at Customs in my head – It is always Miami (except when it is Chicago or summer in any major airport) It is always a mess unless you arrive at 4AM when they open.

The last selfie I took with my Iphone – Misiones, Argentina. It was terrible and reminiscent of Picasso. I havent attempted it since.

The last flight I missed. – Sydney to Melbourne. There was a computer glitch. The airline I booked with (Delta) had a record of the Virgin Australia flight to Melbourne but Virgin did not. They were dealing with other people’s problems and by the time they got to mine it was too late to board the plane. It is a once in a while thing that happens. If you are booking with two different airlines, it is a good idea to call the second airline to make sure they got the flight reservation. Don’t assume because you got the email with both flights on it that the second airline knows about it. Always bring the email –if I didn’t have it, they would have made me get another ticket. Who knew?

The last time something was stolen from my luggage – Moscow, Russia . All my luggage tags (Is that a big black market item?), and all my dirty underwear and sox which I keep in the outside zipper compartment. My thinking of who would steal dirty underwear and twice worn sox did not apply to people working in the airport in Moscow.

The last time I lost my luggage – JFK in NY. There were a couple of years after 9/11 that AA was constantly losing luggage. It happened numerous times in NY and Chicago. The suitcase always arrived early in the morning. I now fly with a change of underwear, big t shirt., medicines makeup and a toothbrush in my carry on.

The last time my luggage was overweight – always.

I hope this was as interesting for you as reading about Don Cheadle’s last things he did before that interview was for me.

Fly Safe,

JAZ

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Posted on January 25, 2014 by jaynezak

Unesco World Heritage Sites. (photo above by Emilio White, Iguazu Falls, Argentina)

“The list could surely go on, and there is nothing more wonderful than a list, instrument of wondrous hypotyposis ” Umberto Eco

“And this is a Unesco World Heritage Site”, says the Tour guide proudly at Quebrada de Humahuaca, Iguazu Falls, Dubrovnik, Machu Picchu, Selim Mosque,etc. ( Dubrovnik, Croatia )

I finally did it. I looked it up. I knew it had something to do with the United Nations. I know it was a part of UNESCO. (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) (Machu Picchu, Peru)

In case you don’t know what UNESCO is I took this from the website. “The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication in order to further universal respect for justice and the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion. “ (Great Wall, China)

In my head I check off the places. Oh good another World Heritage Site, I must be near the end of the list. (Ayutthaya, Thailand)

What is it about us and lists? Lists make us feel better. There is a finite number of things to do. There is less time for our brains to process our choices. We know a Unesco World Heritage Site is an important thing to see and we do it. Everyone agrees to do it. Lists help us make sense of the world. ( Venice, Italy)

The World Heritage List includes 981 properties which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. It is ongoing. (Mt. Fuji, Japan)

To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. (Cappadocia, Turkey)

(If you are interested in reading the requirements, this part it is from their website)

“(ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;

(iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

(v) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

(vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);

(vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;

(viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.

Since 1992 significant interactions between people and the natural environment have been recognized as cultural landscapes.

Only countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention, pledging to protect their natural and cultural heritage, can submit nomination proposals for properties on their territory to be considered for inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Like other lists, it requires an extensive nomination process. (St. Ignacio Mission, Argentina)

The World Heritage committee is represented by 21 countries and the elections are held at the General Assembly meeting annually. . Each country can hold a place for six years but some step down voluntary after four to give other countries a chance. (Hiroshima Dome, Japan)

The current 21 Committee Members are: Algeria,Colombia, Croatia, Finland, Germany, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Republic Of Lebanon, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal, Serbia, Turkey and Viet Nam with a third of them leaving this year. (Uluru, Australia)

In my last trip I’ve knocked off the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, The Daintree Rainforest, Tasmania Parklands, Port Arthur and the Sydney Opera House. I only have several hundred more to go …… but they keep adding them, so I will keep traveling.

Fly Safe,

JAZ

Things That I Will No Longer Do On The Computer While I Am Blogging

Posted on January 20, 2014 by jaynezak

Things I Will No Longer Do On The Computer While I am Blogging To Have More Time For Reading Books and Travel Stuff

“It is named the “Web” for good reason.” David Foster Wallace

I will not look up old boyfriends or people that I used to date.

I will not look on facebook at people who are no longer my real friends. This includes people that I was never friends with who happened to go to my elementary school, high school, college and grad school. This also includes people who used to be friends with my kids, parents of my kids’ friends and people their age that they were not friends with.

I will not watch youtube videos of people that I used to know.

I will not google relatives who no longer speak to me. I will not google other people’s relatives.

I will not look up anything that has to do with the Real Housewives franchise. Teresa and Joe will have their trial, Kathy will make her cannolis and the Atlanta housewives will be cray cray without me. I will not look up the American Idol or the Voice contestants.

I will not google every random ailment that comes into my head. This includes the weird spot on my hand, cramp in my left leg and rash on my elbow. Neither one of my kids have blood clots. Hypochondriacs (and I include myself here) stay off the internet!

I will not google every random thought that comes into my head.

I will not try to find every single song I like on the radio and put it on my ipod.

i will not buy anything that I think I need in the middle of the night.

I will not read menus of restaurants I have not been to yet. I will not read menus of restaurants that I have not been to in a long time. I will not read menus of restaurants that I did not like to see if they have changed.

I will not google every “what if” scenario that could happen to me in whatever country I am going to.

I think we had a lot more time before computers.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Packing For Eighty Days

Posted on January 7, 2014 by jaynezak

Packing for Eighty Days

“Bly had decided that she would take but a single bag, a small leather gripsack into which she would pack everything, from clothing to writing implements to toilet articles, that she might require for her journey; being able to carry her own bag would help prevent any delays that might arise from the interference or incompetence of porters and customs officials.”

In 1889 journalist Nellie Bly made a decision after reading Jules Verne’s book Around The World In Eighty Days. She would take a trip around the world like Phineas Fogg and write about it. She would do it in eighty days or less. She suggested the idea to her editor at the New York World. A year later, at 9:40 a.m. on November 14, 1889, Nellie boarded the Augusta Victoria and began her 24,899-mile journey.

“As her traveling dress she had selected a snugly fitted two-piece garment of dark blue broadcloth trimmed with camel’s hair. For warmth she was taking a long black-and-white plaid Scotch ulster coat, with twin rows of buttons running down the front, that covered her from neck to ankles; and rather than the hat and veil worn by most of the fashionable oceangoing women of the time, she would wear a jaunty wool ghillie cap – the English-style “fore-and-aft” cap later worn by Sherlock Holmes in the movies – that for the past three years had accompanied her on many of her adventures. The blue dress, the plaid ulster, the ghillie cap: to outward appearances it was not an especially remarkable outfit, but before long it would become the most famous one in all the world.”

Gripsack – a small suitcase or carrying bag that can obviously fit everything one might need. Now remember we are talking the nineteenth century and clothes were bigger. She wasnt bringing leggings and t-shirts.

A two piece traveling garment of dark blue broad cloth – broad cloth is a dense, plain weave woolen cloth which is highly weatherproof and hardy. It was made in several parts of England at the end of the medieval period. Most of my travel clothes are made in China and Pakistan – probably last week.

White Scotch Plaid Ulster Coat –.Ulster is a long loose overcoat of Irish origin made of heavy material. Scotch plaid is one of the original Scottish tartan patterns. There are so many words here that I love. You would have many adventures wearing a coat described like that.

Jaunty wool ghillie cap – The name was derived from gille, the Scottish Gaelic for “servant” or a “lad”] In English. This term was especially used to refer to those assisting in deer hunting or fly fishing expeditions in the Scottish Highlands. Lovat Scouts, a Scottish Highland regiment formed by the British Army during the Second Boer War, is the first known military unit to use ghillie suits.

There is nothing jaunty about my everything proof hat from Adventure 16 but it does keep out sun and bugs and flattens for easy packing. Wearing something jaunty suggests a whole different kind of trip –motoring through the countryside, lunch with the Gatsbys etc. Jaunty is definitely better.

“She carried most of her money (£200 in English bank notes and gold in total as well as some American currency) in a bag tied around her neck.”

Same. I wear that creepy passport holder in the airport around my neck with foreign and American currency. – mostly so I don’t have to fish around in my oversized carry on bag to find it quickly.

“On her travels around the world, Bly went through England, France (where she met Jules Verne in Amiens), Brindisi, the Suez Canal, Colombo (Ceylon), the Straits Settlements of Penang and Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.”

Ceylon is Sri Lanka. Penang is in Malaysia and Singapore is a country. Hong Kong is now China. I have also spent time in Japan, England and France but I have many more countries to go to catch up with Nellie.

“The development of efficient submarine cable networks and the electric telegraph allowed Bly to send short progress reports, though longer dispatches had to travel by regular post and were thus often delayed by several weeks.”

So, one of the first travel blogs?

“Bly traveled using steamships and the existing railroad systems, which caused occasional setbacks, particularly on the Asian leg of her race. During these stops, she visited a leper colony in China and she bought a monkey in Singapore.

I also have experienced delays and setbacks due to the existing aviation systems. I visited a children’s hospital in Cuba and fed a monkey in the Darian rainforest (even though you aren’t supposed to) in Panama.

“As a result of rough weather on her Pacific crossing, she arrived in San Francisco on the Oceanic on January 21, two days behind schedule. However, World owner Pulitzer chartered a private train to bring her home, and she arrived back in New Jersey on January 25, 1890, at 3:51 p.m.”

“Seventy-two days, six hours, eleven minutes and fourteen seconds after her departure” Bly was back in New York. . She had circumnavigated the globe almost unchaperoned.”

So, what are you waiting for?

quotes from Eighty Days by Matthew Goodman.

Fly Safe,

JAZ

Sydney Opera House, Australia

Posted on January 6, 2014 by jaynezak

Sydney Opera House

“The sun did not know how beautiful its light was until it was reflected off this building.” Louis Kahn

In 1956 Danish architect Jorn Utzon sent his drawings along with 221 other architects to the Sydney Opera House Design Competition. At number 218, it was one of the last entries before the competition closed on Dec 3 1956.

It is said that the design had been rejected. One of the judges, Finnish American architect Eero Saarinan, was late and started looking through the discarded designs. He pulled it out and had them take a second look.

On Jan 29, 1957, thirty-eight-year-old Jorn Utzon was awarded first prize and became the design architect to bring the Sydney Opera House to reality. The expected cost was seven million dollars.

–

The design was derided and revered. It was called sculpitecture. The shells were freeform. Nothing about building them would be easy.

The opera house construction story, from beginning to end, is a story of pioneering technology. It was about finding creative new solutions to the many design, technical and construction problems that the building’s unprecedented shape generated.

Many of the innovations introduced in the building of the Opera House have since passed into accepted engineering practice.

The million tiles covering the shell were to have gloss not glare –like clouds or sails on the water. Utzon found the texture in certain Japanese bowls and a tile company in Sweden reproduced the effect.

In 1965 Robin Askin was elected to office with a promise “to get some sense into the opera house” with a business like approach. The new projected amount to finish was now 49 million. Askin appointed Davis Hughes as Minister of Public Works. Hughes began questioning Utzon’s ability, his designs, schedules and cost estimates and eventually refusing to pay running costs. Utzon was forced to quit the project and vowed never to return to Australia. He said, “It is not I , but the Sydney Opera House that has created all the enormous difficulties.”

A team of architects was hired to finish the project. On October 20, 1973 , Queen Elizabeth II placed the inaugural plaque on the Opera House at the Opening ceremonies. Utzon was invited but did not attend. His name was not mentioned in any of the official speeches. The final cost was 102 million dollars.

The lobby of the main theatre has purple carpeting. When Pavarotti sang here he would not walk on the purple carpeting before a performance. He said purple was the color of death. It is used to line the coffins in Italy. So they had to cover the carpeting for him to walk on it in another color. (photo Sean Dirks)

Thanks to Lego, we can all build our own opera houses now.

In 1999 Jorn Utzon accepted the invitation to develop a statement of design principles that would be used for long term management, conservation and any redevelopment of the Opera House. The first of these projects was the Utzon room designed by Utzon, his son Jan and Australian architect Richard Johnson. (Utzon reception room -tapestry designed by Jorn Utzon as well) (photo Sean Dirks)

On June 28, 2007 the Sydney Opera House became a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is the youngest cultural site every to be added to the list and the only one added with the architect still alive at the time. (photo Sean Dirks)

On Nov 29, 2008, Jorn Utzon died in his sleep. He had designed a building that was technologically far ahead of its time and changed the face of Sydney. It could be one of the most important buildings ever designed and he had never returned to see it completed. .

Fly Safe,

JAZ

Thirty Things That I Want To Do In 2014

Posted on January 2, 2014 by jaynezak

Thirty Things That I Want To Do 2014.

“Every hundred feet, the world changes.” Robert Boitano

1. Go to Colombia.

2. Go to the Grand Canyon.

3. Go To Southeast Asia.

4. Go to Seattle.

5. Read more books on the 1000 Books You Have To Read Before You Die.

6. Go to the theatre with my son.

7. Meditate every day.

8. Do an Urban Art tour in LA.

9. Do a spa day with my daughter.

10. Watch even less Real Housewives.

11. Go to Guatemala.

12. Go To Miami.

13. Have more spiritual friends.

14. Eat less sugar.

15. Go to the Bridge On The River Kwai.

16. Try ten new restaurants in LA.

17. Try ten restaurants in other places.

18. Have ten meals with Kitchensurfing.

19. Go back to Japan.

20. Spend more time at 826 LA.

21. Practice tai chi.

22. Go to a ryokan.

23. Go To Angor Wat,

24. Drink less coffee

25. React less.

26. Go To Agua Dulce.

27. Get more people to read my blog.

28. Do more yoga.

29. Go to Bainbridge Island.

30. Go to a Grouplove concert.

I’ll check in at the end of the year and let you know how well I did. Make your own lists !

Fly safe,

JAZ

Kant’s Three Questions (in travel and life)

Posted on December 29, 2013 by jaynezak

Kant’s Three Questions (In travel and life)

“Have courage to use your own understanding!”–that is the motto of enlightenment.” Immanuel Kant

The philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote that all our questions of human reason and speculation combine into three questions: Was kann ich wissen? What can I know? Was soll ich tun? What ought I to do? Was darf ich hoffen? What may I hope? (Critique of Pure Reason, 1787)

I thought about these questions in terms of what I have learned from traveling and from life. Weirdly, Kant never traveled more than 40 miles outside Königsburg, yet from reading he had an extremely detailed knowledge of other places around the world, to the point that he could fool people who had visited some place into thinking that he had visited there.

What can I know?

People are not all that different.

Bad things happen to good people.

Change is inevitable.

There are certain countries where you don’t drink the water because not everyone has clean water.

Worry doesn’t really work.

The sun rises and sets everyday at different times in different parts of the world.

This too shall pass.

Compared to many countries in the world, America is a great place to live.

No matter how much research I do, when I get to a country I see how little I know.

There are more people who are good in the world than bad.

What ought I to do?

The right thing with honor and integrity.

Reuse, recycle and conserve.

Smile and be kind.

Don’t smoke.

Follow your passion. It may not take you where you want to go but you will end up in the right place.

Volunteer and be charitable.

Don’t take up anything that other people are trying to quit doing.

Don’t lie cheat or steal.

Drink water if you are lucky enough to have clean water.

Eat right, if you are lucky enough to have that choice.

What may I hope?

Things will always get better.

There will be peace and no more violence.

Third world countries will have the same advantages that we do in the United States.

All countries will have fair elections.

All children in the world will have the right to free education, proper medicine and enough food to eat.

Universal human rights.

There will be no prejudice against different ethnic and religious groups.

There will be equality for women in the world.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

That everything and everyone I love will be ok.

Happy and Healthy New Year.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Touching Strangers

Posted on December 21, 2013 by jaynezak

Touching Strangers

“On the late afternoon streets, everyone hurries along, going about their own business. Who is the person walking in front of you on the rain-drenched sidewalk? He is covered with an umbrella, and all you can see is a dark coat and the shoes striking the puddles. And yet this person is the hero of his own life story. He is the love of someone’s life and what he can do may change the world. Imagine being him for a moment. And then continue on your own way.” Vera Nazarian

There is this moment that happens when you are at a tourist attraction anywhere in the world. Someone asks you to take a picture of them in front of it. Sometimes they are alone, a couple , friends or a family. It is often in pantomime because they don’t speak English. Other times, they just hand you a camera and say something you don’t understand – but you do. I usually ask them to take one of me after. I can never have too many pictures in front of monuments or Unesco World Heritage Sites. You share this moment with a stranger who has decided to go to the same place at the same time that you did. You move on, but what if you didn’t?

What happens if you ask complete strangers to pose in a portrait together in ways that are usually reserved for close friends and loved ones?