Life Through My Lens - Hawaiian Wedding

A bit of fun employment and nice weather has allowed me to take some lovely photos over the last few months. I also have someone very special to thank for fixing my 50mm 1.4 lens. Seriously, there's nothing more annoying than being a photographer in a very photogenic environment without a lens that works. A Youtube video, a few tools and lots of patience on his part saved me a few hundred dollars and my creative sanity.So I'll be posting my life of the last few months through my lens.

First, a trip down a very green, gorgeous memory lane. I went to Hawaii's Oahu a few months ago for my friend's wedding. The talk of Hawaii's beauty is not just hype. The island is green and lush, reminding you of a pre-historic oasis - perhaps because Jurassic Park was filmed there? Despite technically being in the United States, you feel like you're in a different country, surrounded by Polynesians who come from the other side of the world - or at least the other side from New York City. We stayed in the Turtle Bay Resort on the North shore. There is something priceless about being able to stroll from the beach to the pool, to your hotel room, and then back to the beach for a wedding. It's hard to decide what I loved more - the pristine, uncrowded beaches of Tulum or hearing the loud waves lull us to sleep in our Hawaii hotel room. I split a room with a couple which worked out fine because the rooms were huge and we all got along perfectly. Plus it helped that my friends and I have the same traveling desires - mainly those that revolve around food, relaxation, water and minor exploration.

Oh. So I caught the bouquet. I've never caught the bouquet before. Usually I duck in horror like a typical single, career woman living in New York City. But this time I was surrounded by single, career women living in New York City who all ducked and consequently, the bouquet went flying into my face. I caught it perfectly, in self defense. My roommate took a picture to document the moment. Truth be told she had to take about five photos because I had trouble mustering a genuine smile when shock and anxiety were my first emotions. But months of the bouquet drying nicely in my apartment has helped me happily embrace this possibility.

Tulum Travels

I really lucked out with my resort choices on the beaches of Tulum. The resorts along the beach are much more expensive than those in town and need to be booked in advance during key vacation times. On my first night, I stayed in Uno Astro Lodge, at the advice of some random girl I met in Playa Del Carmen. It's not well known by the cab drivers and I wasn't even able to find it on Google Maps, but for those trying to find it - it's one resort North of Ahau Tulum. Aside from the location being absolutely stunning, I got a fantastic deal - they put me in one of the artists' tents because everything else was booked. I didn't have electricity and had to share a bathroom that was outside - but for $70 a night, that was a small price to pay for such a special place.

The hotel is perfect for yoga, meditation, or anyone interested in a having a bit more spiritual self-reflection while sunning themselves on the beach. The crowd was a mix of hippie artists, yoga instructors, New Yorkers, a young student on an extended trip, German families.. quite a range but generally those who are fairly zen and free-spirited.

I only spent one night there but felt my entire being shift to a more relaxed state during my stay. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's a magical place. There's a peacock named Phoenix who likes looking at himself in the mirror regularly (self reflection?), free-spirited children running around - enthralled by the ocean rather than their electronic devices, and regular meditation sessions led by the resort.

I met two women, both named Alison and both living in Williamsburg (weird) but otherwise, kept to myself. There was really no pressure to become part of any of the activities or talk to those around you. And the actual beach was equally free-spirited. Technically, it's illegal to go topless or skinny dip in Mexico (Catholic country), but according to the internet, rules along the Tulum beaches have relaxed with an influx of Italian tourists over the years, accustomed to topless bathing. Along the beach near my resort, there were a few who went topless (me included), and one guy who jumped into the water naked but had his bathing suit nearby. I still regret not doing the same.

While I felt off the grid, I didn't feel lonely or disconnected. Rather than stress over figuring out life's meaning or my high purpose, I was able to just be. Feel the white sand under my feet, the sun on my body, hear nothing other than the waves. Ironically, my wifi connection was excellent - better than any other place I stayed. There's something surreal about checking Facebook while in a candle-lit tent, listening to the guy next to you play his guitar. Of course at some point, I turned my computer off and read a book.

But if I was there longer, I could see myself finally tackling the better part of my novel. Their breakfast is well-known and according to the manager, Nicole Kidman once ate there. I took a yoga class in the morning which turned into a private lesson for only $15.

They have a beautiful covered, outdoor space which they use for various classes, ranging from meditation to African dance. The yoga instructor was excellent and the setting might have ruined me for all future yoga classes in New York City. I also explored other hotels and shops within a ten minute walk from the resort. There's one, long road which features shops, trendy restaurants and other resorts. While they mostly featured clothing and gifts native to Mexico, there were also a few upscale stores reminiscent of Nolita in their selection and clientele.

There is no question that I will visit Uno Astro Lodge again.

On Mexican Time

According to my mother, my first word was "Hola." I have a long history with Mexico, despite the fact that my skin practically glows in the sun and I barely learned any more Spanish than the above. My grandparents retired in San Miguel de Allende and every year for ten years, my family would make the 10-plus hour journey to San Miguel. First a 5-6 hour plane ride to Mexico City, and then a 3 hour car ride from there. While I was always jealous of friends whose grandparents were a short car ride or flight away, the experience of visiting Mexico was truly priceless. I remember the smell, the tastes (sour tamarinds), the feel of walking on cobblestones. The site of donkeys walking alongside old VW Bugs. Walking underneath the covered outdoor walkway that separated my grandparent's kitchen and living room - and the thrill of doing that during a thunderstorm.

So when I arrived in Tulum after Playa Del Carmen, I finally started feeling like I was in Mexico. I got off the bus and dragged my suitcase across a two-lane road towards a cafe sign that said wifi. The coffee and company was good but the wifi was not. Twenty minutes into my arrival, Mike, an expat from Florida and recent owner of a clothing-optional resort, introduced himself to me and offered to help me find a hostel for the night. And then I met Cody, another expat, who called himself a treasure-hunter-pirate, a horticulturist, wise in the medicinal properties of plants. He proudly listed the various children he had living in the States, one being a porn star, and gave me a number if I wanted to reach him.

At the advice of Mike, I walked a few blocks to the nearest hostel, which might be so new that I still can't find the website. For $40, I had my own room and bathroom and two beds - more than I needed and at a price I didn't mind paying. I showered and set off into the town.

Tulum is incredibly easy to navigate. It's one long strip with most shops on one side and I can imagine side streets that will continue to get built up as the town gains popularity. Perpendicular to the main street is the road to the beach – which is either a ten-minute cab ride or twenty to thirty minute bike ride depending on which beach you’re headed to. Tulum is definitely a hippie enclave, a stark contrast from Cancun and the outdoor American mall that Playa Del Carmen has become. On the main street, you’ll find plenty of inexpensive trinkets from woven and beaded bracelets to hats and sarongs. I didn’t do any research on food before heading out and could have probably found cheaper, better choices but the portions were satisfying, and food was both fresh and affordable.

 While exploring the town, I ran into Cody and a young Mexican woman who according to Cody, was from the mountains. He proclaimed, in English, that he wanted to put a baby in her because she was so beautiful, but couldn’t because she already has one growing inside her. After letting me photograph her, she asked for my name so she could find me on Facebook. Facebook isn’t going away anytime soon and we should be glad. It’s truly a gift to be able to connect with people from all over the world with such ease and get a glimpse into someone else’s life – even if that just means only browsing their feed occasionally.

I spent the rest of the evening hanging out in the lounge area in my hostel, searching for hotels near the beach. While there, I met a Canadian couple who advised me to stay in town and bike to the beach to save money, but I had my heart set on having a more relaxing vacation. After an hour or so of searching with no luck, I finally typed in the name of a resort that was given to me by a Colombian girl while sitting in Starbucks while in Playa Del Carmen. I was in luck – they had one room left and within my price range.

TRAVEL TIPS:

Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with anyone in a café or hotel-common area. I found throughout my trip that the advice of a stranger regarding where to stay saved me hours of research on the internet.

Most places have fairly reliable wifi but oftentimes only in the common areas because the signal can’t penetrate the thick, Mexican, stone walls. This can be annoying when going outside at night means battling mosquitos but on the bright side, you're likely to meet people.

Bring mosquito repellant – preferably natural, because many parts of the Yucatan, especially Tulum, are extremely eco-conscious, encouraging travelers to bring biodegradable shower products.  

Speaking of eco-conscious, in most parts of Tulum, you can't throw your toilet paper in the toilet and need to put it in the trash. This is weird at first but based on my experience and others through Trip Advisor, it surprisingly doesn't smell since the garbage is taken out daily.

Colorado Part 3 - Street Performers, Scenery & Family

So here I go.. my observations. Right now, as I sit in my air conditioned apartment, after having been back in NYC for three days, I contemplate whether or there's a vast conspiracy with New York. I'm sure my sentiments will change back to their usual "I love New York." But I've started to wonder.. is there a conspiracy that brain washes New Yorkers into thinking that New York is the best place to live so we will put up with the living expensive, day to day bs of commuting on the hot, crowded subway, lack of access to real nature, lack of access to actually getting outside the city, seeing beautiful scenery everyday, etc.? It's just a thought. That will hopefully pass soon.. or maybe not. This comes on the heels of having looked at new apartments on the Upper West Side that are smaller than my current 5th floor walk up and pricier, having realized that I'm about to go into freak out mode with the money situation and need to get on the ball with applying to this program. Yeah, all good thoughts.

And in other news, going to Colorado and spending quality time with old family and those that I just met was (perhaps) a life changing experience. To be perfectly honest, I come from a pretty cool family and have some notable family members that have achieved great things on both sides. On my mom's side, I come from writers, store owners, creatives, etc. and on my dad's side, come from pioneers in religion, health, and people who endured a lot of hardships to move their family to a more promising place. It gives me a sense of pride, is encouraging and also makes me realize I have to shape up even more and get my ass in gear whether I decide to get an MBA, etc. Finally, I had a revelation with men as I watched my cousin get married to a great guy, met my other cousin's husband, and hung out and met various family members.. that who ever I marry will become part of MY family. I know that's obvious but it makes me re-evaluate my previous choices and gives me a better idea of who is good for me. If I realized this a while ago, half the guys I dated would have been kicked to the curb early on. And knowing this helps me get over relationships that didn't work out in the long run. Was all for the best.

Performer in Boulder. He was hard to watch.. scary stuff.

8:15 morning hike in Colorado Springs. We are champions. That was sort of some serious stuff. Of course there were people running on the trail.

The Broadmoor

My sister lounging in the Broadmoor like she owns the place.

The coolest "family heirloom." A.O. Aaker - my great grandfather and famous doctor who died in a weird, tragic way, tripping over something and rupturing his spleen.

My sister with two of the most adorable kids ever (well in top 5!) Luke is a genius, as he tells us.. and Marley is the sweetest girl I've ever met. I think she gave each of us about 7 hugs within the 7 hours that we hung out.

As Promised

Some very brave guys in Vermont jumping off a covered bridge into a stream.

check the rest of my flickr page for more shots.

Vermont

Hello! I'm still here. Alive and well. I've spent the past two days on a relaxing vacation in Southern, Vermont with one of my best friends. We're staying at a bed and breakfast that's small and family owned in Londonderry.. more details on that to come when my internet is better. The goal of the trip was to do nothing. Of course that's been impossible given that we're in a wonderfully beautiful and serene area and can't resist a bit of sight seeing. Yesterday we took it easy and our main activity was dinner and of course, the 4 hour drive up. Today, we made the life changing (I kid) decision to check out a beautiful damn about a half hour South - so man made lake.... errr.. just enough nature for us. And went swimming. Beforehand, I did some extensive research on nude beaches/ swimming holes but couldn't find any near our bed and breakfast. Also, my partner in crime wasn't terribly keen on that idea. Boo. Next time.

Stay tuned for some nifty pictures. Oy.. I said nifty. By the way, dudes.. Vermont ain't cheap. Let me tell you. Last night dinner was slightly fancy and we agreed that today we would prefer a cheaper restaurant. Well.. the Vermonters know that toursists don't got no options for restaurants so after a failed internet search, we headed towards Weston, VT in hopes of a wider selection. As sophisticated tri-staters, we headed out at the late hour of 7pm, not realizing that most places stay open until 7:30. So there were only a small handful of restaurants. HA! Our only choice was to hit up a fancy joint with $30 entrees. Dang, what is this crap? Taking money from the rich and hungry New Yorkers. I may be a New Yorker but I ain't no rich tourist.

Okay, I had two glasses of wine.. Savignon Blanc + desert wine / Sherry. Clearly, I talk like a drunken Southerner while full from a fine meal and intoxicated on vino.

Good Night.