The Naka Phuket By Duangrit Bunnag

Architect Duangrit Bunnag has designed the Naka Phuket resort in Thailand.

Photographer unknown.

   

My Favs of 2012

While trying to find something fun to cap off this year I'm deciding to do my "Favs" of 2012. I'm taking this both seriously and lightly. Hopefully you find something from this post amusing.

We'll start with MUSIC (because that's the first thing that came to mind):

Favorite Album: Seven Swans - Sufjan Stevens. I know it's an oldie, but it really clicked with me this year

Favorite Song: Inspector Norse - Todd Terje. Got my fill of dancing for the next few years with this track

Favorite Artist: Bibio

Top Song to Listen to Under the Stars: Mind Bokeh - Bibio

Favorite Mountain Hiking Song: For the Widows In Paradise, for the Fatherless In Ypsilanti - Sufjan Stevens

Favorite Jazz Album: Invisible Man - Ely Guerra

Favorite 80's Funk Artist: Future World Orchestra

Favorite Dance Album: >album title goes here< - Deadmau5

Favorite Classic Artist: Led Zeppelin 

Favorite Discovered Artist: Peter Broderick

Favorite Music Video: Toro y Moi - So Many Details


VISUAL ARTS

Favorite Film: (I'm cheating with this one since it actually came out in 2011) Tree of Life

Favorite Action Film: Bourne Legacy

Favorite Adventure Film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Most Inspiring Director: Christopher Nolan

Favorite Documentary: SENNA

Favorite Television Show: It's definitely a tie between Arrested Development and Breaking Bad

Favorite Youtube Channel: Jack Vale or Edbassmaster


RANDOM

Favorite Snack: Puppy Chow

Favorite Place to Camp: Moab, Utah

Favorite Hike: Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah

Favorite Purchase: Nikon D800

Favorite Trip: I did a 10 day road trip to California with my good friend Zak Hood over spring break

Favorite State: Utah

Favorite National Park: Big Bend National Park, Texas

Favorite Car: Lamborghini Aventador

Favorite Retail Store: REI

Favorite Online Store: eBay (my life)

Favorite Restaurant: Restaurant Führich, Vienna Austria

Favorite Thing To Do: Drive for hours late into the night

Favorite Memory: My friend Rob and I were able to sneak our way into the Summer Palace in Vienna late at night after the property closed. We explored hundreds of acres of the dark property without a human in sight. I remember climbing on top the famous fountain there after it had turned off. We could see all of Vienna from the top.

Favorite Software: Still and always: Photoshop CS6

Favorite New Thing I'm Trying: Journaling

Favorite Blog: ISO50

Favorite Drink: Schilcher Sturm


I'm trying my best to come up with more, but I guess I'm not as creative as I thought...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from me to you! Thanks for your support and encouragement throughout this year. Here's to another great year to come!

Audio Highlight - Toro y Moi - So Many Details (Remix feat. Hodgy Beats)

  I have a infatuation for Toro y Moi. This track makes me feel like the kid at the party who doesn't quite fit in due to confusion with personal matters. Maybe I feel it because I've been there done that. Lights and stars can't cure your problems. It's the simple certitude that you have the ability to resolve what really matters in life and turn your focus from disturbances. 
  The song covers so many emotions all in one track. Everyone can identify with it in some way or another. The root is that love can evaporate at any second. She can love you in the morning then abandon you by dark. I can relate to this track so well it hurts to listen to it. The feeling of trying to fill a hole without favorable outcome and then conducting yourself satisfactory has to be the most throbbing. 

  Take a look at music video to this brilliant remix. I find it incredibly excellent and moving.

"What has happened to the time we had
I thought you said you wont ever,
Won't ever leave me
What happened to us"

Audio Highlight - Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices (Shigeto Remix)

  For me, this Audio Highlight is a dream to write about. This track integrates two of my all-time favorite artists. I adore Sufjan Stevens for his approach to songwriting. His music assimilates a reason of adventure and freedom so well. He's my go-to for road trips and uncertain escapades. Ironically, Shigeto happens to sit high in my favorites as well. First, he's released under my favorite record label, Ghostly International, and second I love how Shigeto blends his Japanese heritage incredibly melodiously with innovative electronic beats and patterns. 
  To hear this track is a fantasy for me. Shigeto's mangled, twisted low-key beat is a flawless union with Sufjan's relaxed vocals and acoustic piano. 
  I'd love to hear more collaboration between these two brilliant artists. Enjoy the track!

My Solo Trip Around America

  Sunday, October 28th I set out for Orlando, Florida from my hometown of Chicago. I had a job with Sardis Media for a few days there. After that show was complete, I set off for who knows where? I had no agenda. I just knew to be home for Thanksgiving. 

  I followed the Gulf Coast into Texas where I then entered Big Bend National Park. The drive, the stars and the conversations with myself ;) were outstanding. I proceeded to Moab, Utah where I camped out for a night in my 19º snowy tent. The next day was my highlight because I hiked a trail I've heard so much about, Angels Landing in Zion National Park. The trail was such a blast. Anybody want to with me?! That night I stayed in Vegas, extremely soar and tired from the hike. The next day I moved toward Malibu, California to stay with my friends Brandon, Nicole, David and Elias. I stayed two nights there and had a blast hanging with those guys. Then, began my trek home. I went to the Grand Canyon as my last spectacular natural wonder and then headed for Kansas City to stay with my siblings for the weekend. I then rode behind them for my last leg of the journey, making it home just in time for Thanksgiving.

  I'm obviously breezing over this trip on my writing. I mean, I DO have to work here. But seriously, the trip was one of the most freeing escapes I've had. I love not knowing where I'm gonna stay from night to night and not caring. It's a part of "living" only found in pure adventure.

Just north of Panama City, FL

Pensacola, FL with not a single person there (also 75º and sunny)

I ate at an awesome restaurant called Crabs. I highly recommend it.

A Pensacola Pier

A Pensacola Pier

A Pensacola Pier

This shot was taken about 2 miles from the Mexican border in Texas about 90 miles east of Big Bend National Park. I could see the Milky Way with my naked eye. 

I pulled off the road to sleep for the night. This was my night light.

I hiked 23 miles the following day in Big Bend National Park. This photo's a little haunting because it was taken moments after I had an encounter with a mountain lion. I came up to a point in the trail where there were animal droppings everywhere. Immediately I looked up to see if an animal had just laid it. And sure enough, there was this mountain lion starring me in the face approx. 10-15 feet from me. He was in brush similar to that of the above picture. We looked at each other for about 2-3 seconds and then I casually turned around keeping my eyes on his face. He remained looking at me for a few more seconds and then continued with his business. So, this photo was taken about 100 yards back on the trail while I was giving the mountain lion some time before I returned on the trail.

This beautiful trail can be found climbing to Emory Peak.

Sometimes I felt like I was in some tropical climate like Hawaii.

On top of the world

It's fall in November

My friend said this shot looks like the ones you'd see on CNN as "the last taken of him"

This was the outer point of the trail on a cliff overlooking the Mexican border

Lunchtime

Rainstorm in New Mexico

One of my all-time favorite places. This is my trail that I made with Zak Hood at the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park in Moab, Utah

Enjoying the edge

It was snowing during this shot. Not my favorite, but still enjoyable

Such a pretty scene. I love the Rocky's in the background getting a snow storm

Before the snow came

Balancing Rock during the snow

Climbing up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park, Utah

I hate those switchbacks

At the beginning of Angels Landing

Can't say they never warned me

This was too much fun! You just can't get this same feeling in Chicago

I'd love to someday base jump off this cliffside

A slippery slope

Absolutely marvelous!

Notice the snow on the trail. There was ice on there as well

My view from the top, watching the sun go down and wishing I would've packed a flashlight

The feeling can't be beat

My good friends David and Brandon went to beach for some skim boarding. I thought I'd take some pics

The Getty Museum in LA

I can't take enough photos there. It's incredibly beautiful

I loved spending my final day in California with Elias. He's the funniest, most thoughtful man I know

My last major stop on the trip was the Grand Canyon. Can't beat a cigar with that kind of view

This was my third time I drove to The Grand Canyon just this year. It's funny how it doesn't seem so spectacular the third time