2012 was a year of great travels.
It’s barely February, and 2013 is already catching up to it— and I’m absolutely in no position to complain. ツ
So before I trek over to the other side of the world and leave the Californian winter behind, I leave you with a delightful dip into Oregon in July.
☞ Keeping Portland Weird via Tripcolor
♪ We both got the sun to follow—
Hold on, hold on
The future’s not that far away ♫
Travel Track 01 : Thunder Down Under
➢ 19:30 to Sydneytown
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“When we pulverize words, what is left is neither mere noise nor arbitrary, pure elements, but still other words, reflection of an invisible and yet indelible representation: this is the myth in which we now transcribe the most obscure and real powers of language.”
After an incredibly delectable brunch of a warm egg and cheese croissant with broccoli on the side from Neil’s, I was more than ready to start my first full day out here and set out to one of my most awaited NYC destinations— The Museum of Modern Art.
Note to self and future MoMA visitors: Save a few bucks by purchasing your tickets online. Save even more with a student ID (which they don’t really check at the door).
First Subway Ride Alone, Ever
Successful!
I walked in the wrong direction on my way to the station the first two blocks, but this proved to be an advantage since this is how I discovered Jim’s Organic Coffee where I got my first cup of [Cinnamon Apple] tea for the day. The subway experience in itself was quite an adventure. I never really commute via public transit, much less on my own, so this was an exciting change. Los Angeles needs to improve and reconstruct our public transportation system, STAT. Not only will that help with the horrendous traffic, but it’ll make many an excursion much more convenient, attendable, and affordable! 7-day Unlimited Metro Card: $29. Includes bus rides, so it’s definitely worth it.
The Museum of Modern Art
To quote my check-in notes, “revisiting all the art I have recently studied so intensively in person is quite surreal.” It was such a dreamy experience; I didn’t want to leave. I remember going to the MoMA once when I was much younger, but the entire experience was so much more exciting and significant now that I know a lot more about the exhibiting artists and designers that I hold so high in regard and look up to. It was a most inspiring treat; one which I encourage every creative mind to experience for themselves.
Even Mickey S. Galactica agrees! Here he is taking a quick Homemade Hot Chocolate Break at MoMA’s Café 2:
Weather // Sunny and beautiful, much less chilly than yesterday.
@Midtown NYC
First NYC Cab Ride Alone
Traffic wasn’t bad at all. Then again, it’s a Sunday.
Best part: beautiful skeletons of grandiose trees backlit across the orange skies. #sunset
Arrived at Coleman Tower in less than 45 minutes. Really nice apartment in the Upper East Side with the friendliest bell hops and receptionists. The tower is surrounded by all the essential establishments— coffee shops, banks (all practically next to each other), convenience stores, mini art galleries, photo shops, among others. This week is going to be great. ツ
Drinks, Round 1
• AA Flight attendants are not capable of warming milk up: Thus had to slowly and carefully sip my milk to make sure Judas (the stomach) doesn’t act up. Organic? I hardly think so. Didn’t have the choice.
• Water, adequate.
Drinks, Round 2
• Unidentifiable “black tea,” 1.5/5
Note to self: bring own tea bags next time and just ask for hot water. [Unless they’re also incapable of doing that.]
• Water, status quo.
Breakfast
• Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods ~ The Original Breakfast Cookie (Morning Glory), 4/5 = not bad. Reminds me of Cosi cookies.
Seatmate
• No complaints.
• Update: Mild Severe case of halitosis. O__o
Touchdown
• 3.5/5
• Nothing will ever compare to CX pilot skills, but this wasn’t bad at all.
@Several thousand feet above sea level / AA 767 Aircraft / AA 118
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Travel buddies— Mickey S. Galactica & Willem Z. Icebat— settling in and getting ready for take off!
IN-FLIGHT ESSENTIALS
• warm knit|cashmere scarf
• boarding pass
• writing materials: notebook + calligraphy pen
• beautifully written piece of literature: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman — c/o Kenneth Azurin
PRE-BOARDING SHENANIGANS
• Got to the airport a tad too late and had to be put on stand by for a 7:00am flight (originally 6:00am)
• Worked out even better since the new flight no longer had a one hour Chicago layover, which means an earlier arrival in NYC
• New ETA: 3:25pm (from 4:10pm)
@LAX (Los Angeles International Airport)
Los Angeles, CA
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The Holy Crapola that was once my 199 idea pool has now officially metamorphosed into an active log of my adventitious peregrinations.
Bartholomew Twinkletoes and I are all packed up and ready to go!
Estimated Time to Departure: T-minus 0006 hours.
/excited ✈ #NYC
Not since John Cage didn’t play his piano has sound been so highly regarded as an art form all its own (or so worthy of scientific attention). As the creation and manipulation of sound gradually gains footing as an accepted craft, artists, musicians and writers alike are exploring new ways to connect with audiences at ear level.
The media has an undoubtedly strong social and cultural impact upon society. This is predicated upon their ability to reach a wide audience with a strong and influential message. Marshall McLuhan uses the phrase “the medium is the message” as a means of explaining how the distribution of a message can often be more important than content of the message itself.
