Akihabara Storm

The neon lights reflected off the wet road. Clear umbrellas shielding and folding against the wind. Waves of rain lashing through the buildings. Echoes of Blade Runner.

Tsjukiji

It was 4:30am and slightly drizzling. We made the 10 minute walk to the market from the Marriott Courtyard Ginza. Glaring lights on boxes of exotic fruits of the sea. The tuna auction begins. Sushi beckons. We take our seats at the small sushi place around the corner. The family from Iowa joins in - me, happily feasting on raw fish variations - you and rocketgirl shaking your heads.

Tears in Rain

The man thanked us for visiting Japan. Memories of tsunami footage came back. He made a slow full bow. You and your mom's beautiful faces reflecting in the window on our way to Ginza.

Great Barrier Reef

Clear azure water beckoning from the seat at the back of the boat. Coral gardens and tropical fish reflecting off the surface.

Diving into paradise.

Mt Buller

Brown, yellow and red snow gums. Brilliant white snow pockets on the branches. Multicolored figures gliding down slope. Victorian Alps stretching to the horizon. Snow flakes against my visor. The hill going into motion beneath the skis.

Total Eclipse

The shadow sweeped in from the West. Silence slowly descended. The black moon moved across the sun disk. It was dark. The diamond appeared on the edge of the disk. Dawn flowed in. Total solar eclipse in Musina in Africa.

Black Stallion

The African savannah started moving towards us reflected on the shining black canvas of the bonnet. Lazy jazz tunes providing a soundtrack to African bushveld and game.

The Black Stallion started to gallop on air towards Skukuza.

Spitfire

It was a cool September afternoon.

We travelled past the Dover cliffs and came to the Battle of Britain memorial, a young aviator staring at the sky, frozen in stone.

Battle of the Brave.

RIP.

Graffiti

The room was small with pale white walls. Sun rays entering the small high window.

In the distance the snow capped Alps.

The cell the Man in the Iron Mask called home.

Graffiti held by the walls.

Ile Ste Marguerite in the dusk of Cannes awakening to the night.

Big Apple

Wandered down 5th Avenue. Horses with their carriages trotting towards the green of Central Park. Yellow cabs hooting.

Two hot dogs with everything on.

Wandered over to the Park.

Skyscraper outlines softened by green brush.

New Yorkers enjoying the Sunday afternoon.

Spring in Gotham.

Windy City

O'Hare disappeared into the distance.

The Windy City skyline started drifting into view.

The twin spikes of the Sears tower piercing the sky disappeared reflected in the water of Lake Michigan.

New York awaited.

Sacre Coeur

We have returned again.

The service was coming to a close. The songs echoed through the church.

You and your mom lighted candles.

Our journey would be safe.

Holy City

The dusk was flowing in. I sat down beside a tree overlooking the Old City walls. The air of history and sense of holiness was tangible anchoring one in place.

David, Solomon, the Crusaders, Knights Templar, Saladin, Marco Polo walked here.

Jesus of Nazareth suffered and triumphed here.

I humbly got up and walked back to the hotel.

Coral Lagoon

The current took me west. Warm Indian Ocean water gently carrying me centimeters over the multi-colored coral sheltering neon colored fish towards the floating platform where I will rest and wave back to you.

Feast

The Landrover stopped next to the pride of six lions. Bones cracked between blood smeared lips as the pride feasted on their morning kill.

The dawn pierced through the bush.

We pulled the blankets closer.

Larvotto

Baby feet making small footprints in the sand. Me and your mother holding your hands and guiding you towards the water. Small feet making friends with the Med at Monte Carlo's Larvotto beach.

Mist over Africa

The rainbows reflected off myriad falling water drops. The gorge snaked through the rugged cliffs being sculpted by millions of tons of well traveled African rains.

African Renaissance mirrored off the Smoke that Thunders.

Isola 2000

We winded up the road to Isola 2000. A 75 km trip from Cannes via Nice that I always looked forward to during the working week in Sophia Antipolis. The melt water river was a blue green brown color.

Snow flakes hitting my face as we glided down the slope towards the valley.

Roma

After the Spanish Steps we wandered into a nearby mall.

Two Italian girls walked over and cooed around your pram - "Bella Bambina, Bella Bambina!"

Two very proud and happy parents and a gurgling daughter bubbled further into beloved Roma.

Ferry

The Hong Kong skyline oscillated slightly. Ship horns echoed. Delicious smells filled the air drifting over from Tsim Sha Tsui. A light rain began to fall.

Central beckoned.

Huitres

The pyramid silhouette of Mont St Michel pierced the flat horizon and disappeared behind us.

The small bay of Cancale appeared. Oyster heaven. We stopped the Avis rental on our way back to St Malo and had a feast of two dozen "huitres".

Normandy coast treasures.

Traffic Jam

The traffic was backed up.
The green leaves were lightly swaying in the early spring Pennsylvania air.
We were traveling no faster than the Amish horse drawn cart in front of us.

The cars behind hooted their impatience.

Bull Fight

The tension was palpable. There was a sense of fear and excitement.

The matador waved the bull passed and arched over with his swords.

Ole! echoed into the warm Barcelona afternoon.

The smell of blood was in the air.

Pamplona

Red neck scarves piercing the air. Dancing until 2am. South Africa, Germany, US and Spain passing the Pastis until morning.

The black shadows were ready to run.

Tiger Tiger

The cigar smoke lifted slowly. Another round, ladies and gentlemen?

Celebrating another successful project.

Tiger Tiger, London, burning bright.

Jump

The green valley appeared blurry in the air rush.

My foot on the step. 3,2,1. Jump.

The canopy filled with air and silence accompanied me to the green field below.

Cape Kennedy

The Alamo rental cruised gently past the repeating pattern of Taco Bells, KFC's and McDonalds.

A Florida radio station twining away.

Cape Kennedy appeared - Apollo beckoned.

Land of the brave.

Arlington

The snow started falling gently.

White crosses softly moving past me in the green grass.

Back to the subway.

Boeing

Everett.

At last, after the three hours from Vancouver.

A tail-fin moving over the highway.

The Boeing tour starts.

Made it.

Rocket Girl

You lay in the portable carrier grinning and kicking. Toothless and happy.

Rocket Girl.

Watch out World.

KL

The Petronas towers shimmered in the after thunderstorm late afternoon light framed in the 23 floor windows of the Prince Hotel. Multicolored umbrellas flitted between buildings avoiding the last drops.

CNN in the background.

Just had our Skype videonference.

Missed you both.

Chamonix

The Chamonix valley stretched out far below shimmering in the summer blue air. The footpath was narrow. The Japanese tourist group was approaching. Twenty bows and Hai's later the glacier appeared - blue cracks in ice white - eye candy. Mont Blanc stood guard in the background. Multi colored paragliders caressed the white clouds.

I was looking forward to the fondue in the evening.

Como

The room overlooked the piazza. Thought I was in a Fellini movie.

Strolled down to the the lake's edge. The Lake Como ferry was waiting. Bellagio next stop.

Sat back and enjoyed the scenery of villas and landscaped gardens passing by reflected in the calm lake waters.

A water plane took off.

Arrived at Belaggio - spring captured in hanging flower pots - Alpine snow-covered peaks in the background.

Blanket

You showed me your Singapore. Rich flavours of food, colors, cultures, tapestry of East and West, faiths intertwined, drinking it in.

I wrapped it around me like a blanket and snuggled next to you.

Mirror

The room overlooked the blue-green bay in Langkawi.

You burned your hand with the iron.

I burned my leg on the scooter returning from town with KFC.

We were happy and free.

Mischief

You sat in her hand. Who is this person? Big brown eyes staring past floppy ears.

I laughed - it was an easy sale.

The Beagle was home.

Autobahn

The pedal was flat against the floor. The Avis Golf GTI just broke past 210 km/h.

Heaven on earth in the far left lane on our way to Stuttgart.

Limousine

We were eight in the limo. Taking our first night out from St Charles to Chicago. The city lights moving along the window. Toasting to our first week of training.

US, Mexico, UK, Saudi Arabia, China, France, South Africa tearing up the town.

First Date

It was raining. You had a white dress on. You smiled nervously nodding hello. I turned around. You were in my heart already.

Turtle

The clear azure water was balmy. My early morning snorkel off Kurumathi in the Maldives had just started. A shadow approached from the right - the turtle was investigating the coral and happily navigating through them.

The two fish were still following behind me in a row.

First Steps

It was a sunny Sunday morning. Our 18th floor Marriott room overlooked Downtown in Philadelphia framed in the large windows. Taxi cabs looked like small baby cars way down below. We just awoke and saw a small head bobbing along the edge of the bed.

Your first steps.

First Crawl

It was a lazy sunny day in Cannes. CNN was flickering in the background on the screen. We just had our usual Saturday morning stroll down to the beach. Boats were heading to Ile Ste Margeurite. Yachts were rocking in the breeze.

You started crawling to me - big smile on your face - faster and faster.

I caught you and swung you around.

You bubbled into the room where your mom was waiting and happily laughing.

Venice

March Venice rain glistening off the slowly swaying gondolas. Peggy Guggenheim Art Museum. Paintings slowly drifting by. Engaging the maelstrom. You at my side.