One Big Happy

We have many traditions over the Christmas holidays. Most are quite cheesy, like waiting for everyone to come home before we decorate the tree with home-made ornaments spanning over 30 years, and listening to Willie Nelson's Pretty Paper when we open presents. We find steep backroads that aren't yet sanded and race our wooden sleds we brought back from Germany, and when the river is frozen, we meet a group of friends for daily hockey games. But one of our favorites is to put on the cross-country skis and go to the local mountain where we ski up to the dacha, a small hut built by some of the locals. For me, the best part about this is that I get to spend the day with my whole family. This wouldn't be such a big deal if my parents weren't divorced. For those that know my family, they are used to this dynamic, a comfortable dynamic where my parents house sit and dog sit for one another... where my mom and step-mom hug when they see each other, where laughter and stories flow easily... where they choose to be friends. I know that this is not normal. In fact, this is exceptional... and this day of skiing and laughter and cheering each other on as we ski through the snow laden trails is the best Christmas present I could ever ask for. I have four amazing parents that have worked hard and sacrificed over the years to give me the best life they possibly could. They supported me, they supported each other, and they created a space for my brothers and myself that was filled with love and respect. Through their commitment and selflessness, they created a strong, beautiful family.

I cannot begin to thank my family for the part they have played in shaping all that I am. They are my center. And from that, I draw the strength, courage, and love to be the best person I can be and live the life I dream. I love you... xoxo.

Shaun & Kim | Playa Del Carmen

The day before the wedding, I met up with Shaun and Kim to have a short session. It's important to feel comfortable in front of the camera and in return, for me to get a sense of their boundaries. There were so many great places to shoot around Playa Del Carmen, but with the heat, we decided to keep it short. They are such a beautiful couple with a love that shines through in each look, in every touch,... yup, tomorrow's wedding is going to be a cinch! Can't wait... xoxo

LOVE the casual way she sits on his knee, the sandy feet...

Another favorite... sometimes it's all in the body language

Love the lines in this series...

Kim, you are stunning!

32 Days | Surfing Indonesia | Video Series

So... I got my adventure. I wanted it, I asked for it, and I got it. It's so difficult to describe a trip like this; so many incredible experiences, so many amazing moments in between. For me, one of the most important things was to be able to disconnect from my world. It took awhile to let go... of the endless lists in my head, of worrying about work emails piling up, of thinking about projects and events and commitments. It took awhile to become present to where I was and who I was with. And that's when the magic really began. For me, it's not really about the experience itself, but how it makes you feel... that is what stays with you forever. So in being present, I was then able to really feel the land and its people, and that was the real gift of Indonesia.

This is a short video from our trip. Enjoy!

...xoxo

 

 

And the Adventure Begins… The Gili Islands | Day 10

We left Kuta on a whim. “Let’s just leave now and take the night ferry to Lombok”. It seemed like such a good idea at the time, but with an increasingly nauseous feeling in my stomach, I should have known what I was in for. Nothing too terrible, just a half a dozen stops on the hour drive to the ferry, throwing up every last bit of stomach acid, and curled in the fetal position in the back seat in between. We caught the midnight ferry, and it just happened to be the worst that any of us had ever seen in a third world country. For my brother, Jesse, to raise an eyebrow at it, after his coming to Indonesia for the last 7 years, says a lot. Nonetheless, sometimes you just have to grin and bear it, besides, I was in no state to pull the princess card. Travel in Indonesia is far from luxurious, but in the end, it is a small price to pay for uncrowded waves and patches of untouched paradise.
Back to the ferry. Weak and nauseas, I climbed the stairs to the top deck, as we weren’t allowed to stay in the van in case a truck, all of which were dangerously overloaded with supplies, might “tip over”. Words cannot really describe this ferry. It is impossible to accurately express the stench that burned your nostrils and made your stomach churn, the hot, humid air that seemed to permeate your clothing, or the way the layers of built up grime caught a hold of your flip-flops as you walked. It was a 5 1/2 hour ferry ride and I barely had the energy to stand. After haggling with some “employees”, we managed to buy ourselves a small 6’x 6’ room with a bunkbed. I crawled to the top and opened a port-hole, trying desperately to ease my nausea with deep breathes from the somewhat fresher ocean air. My brothers and father all attest that it was best that I was in this half delirious state, in fear I may have been aware of what had been crawling over me while I slept. I awoke slightly better, laughing together at the corner my brothers were forced to sleep in, loving them even more for their sacrifice.  Next came another drive along the western coast of Lombok. Soon, white sand beaches and lush palms came into view. We jumped in a boat, packed to the hilt with locals and fresh fruit and vegetables,  which took us through clear turquoise waters to the spectacular island of Gili Trawangan. With the first step onto the powdery, white sand beach, any memory of previous night’s experience was lost.

But the real question is, what's up with that creepy poster of the baby???

The Gili Islands consist of a trio of spectacular, coral-fringed islands off the northwestern coast of Lombok. With no electricity, and the only mode of transport being horse-drawn carts and bicycles, everything seems to slow down to its own ‘island time’. And it truly is paradise. Literally meters off the beach, the crystal clear water is teaming with a plethora of exotic reef fish and sea turtles. One day we rented bikes and rode around the island, finding the beach easier than the sand swollen roads. Another day we kayaked to the next island, almost completely deserted, and snorkeled the clear waters in solitude. But I think hands down, my favorite memory will be midnight swims in phosphorescent drenched water under a sky filled with more stars I’ve seen in a lifetime…

Ok, it is really hard riding in the sand with no hands... harder than it looks, I swear!

 

Finding the Beauty in the Chaos of Kuta | Day 3

Kuta is chaos. There is no way around it. The maze of alleys will suck you in like a black hole. Always staying longer than you planned, you will leave having consumed more alcohol than you ever thought possible, be wearing cheap knock-offs, and have at least one injury from a motorcycle accident. However, on the positive, you will feel a freedom like never before.  Kuta doesn’t judge. Here, the crazier the better. I see people arrive wearing their hesitation on their sleeve, and within days, they are different, or moreso, they are no longer afraid to be themselves.  With parents and friends on the other side of the world, it is a place to find yourself, or reinvent yourself… and if you don’t like what you find, you can then be whatever you want… whomever you want. 

But in the end, it is chaos, and after a time, it must be escaped. The exhaust, the noise, the partying, the constant harassment from vendors… I start to crave the real Indonesia… the one of black sand beaches and rice paddies, of jungles and small villages. So in my search for authenticity, I walked Kuta at sunrise, and to my surprise, was able to find simplicity in her chaos, patches of beauty among the tourist façade.

 

 

Indonesia | Day 1

For the last few years, I've been lucky enough to take a trip with my brothers and father. By that, I mean we drive 38 hrs to our property in Baja Sur where we camp in the desert and surf every day. It is desolate, to say the least, and it is quite extreme. There are rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas, black widows and coyotes... just to name a few. But there is something so beautiful about this barren land. Each morning, I watch a huge orange ball rise out of the ocean, silhouetted by hundreds of birds on their daily migration. We surf in warm, turquoise water with sea turtles and dolphins. The locals from the nearby village have adopted us; we are no longer 'gringos' but locals ourselves, and are invited to all the family gatherings where we try to speak each other's languages, mostly just laughing and using a lot of body language. This is all such a gift...

But more important than all of this is the time we spend as a family. No distractions of work and computers or phones. We talk. We talk about our lives and what we haven't had time to say to each other over the phone as we maneuver through our busy days. We talk and we laugh and we enjoy each other's company, getting to know the year we all lived since our last trip together, and how we are changed from it. 

But we're not doing that this year. Instead, we are heading to Indonesia. I'll admit I am a little sad we aren't returning to our haven in Baja... it has become a pilgrimage of sorts that my spirit yearns for. But it's time for an adventure, one wrapped tightly in a blanket of the unknown. We have no set plan, and perhaps that is the best way for us. I know that at some point we will be visiting our property, a slice of paradise on the beach with our own break out front. I'm quite positive there will be travel by van, by small aircraft, by rickety boats, and loud motor-bikes. I envision waves, some that I will be comfortable riding, some that will scare me and challenge me in a way I can't imagine, and some that will force me to sit and stare at the sheer power at a safe distance away on the beach. But the one thing I can say with complete certainty is that this trip, this adventure with my family we are about to embark on, will change each one of us forever.

 

This is a short video I put together from blackberry phone clips from our trip last year...