Lone Ranger

Lone Ranger
Barra Beach - Rio de Janeiro
May 2013

Mother's Day Sunset - Barra Beach - Rio de Janeiro

The Mother of All Sunsets
Mother's Day - 2013
Rio de Janeiro

Forro Dancing at the Feria Sao Cristovao - Rio de Janeiro (Part Two)

Dança do Forró em Campo São Cristóvão - Brasil

Sunset - Barra Beach - Rio de Janeiro

Sunday Storm - Barra Beach - Rio de Janeiro

Buford Lake in early spring - Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Yvwi Gvnahita - Journey to the Long Man in the Sacred Wai of the Hule'ia River

The source of the Hule'ia River
Nawiliwili Valley, Kauai
©March 18, 2013

Today is the vernal equinox, the first day of spring, and to some of my Cherokee friends it is also the day to honor the Long Man by making a visit to a stream or river.  A river or stream is held sacred to many Cherokee and the practice of of going to water for purification was once common among the tribe - especially on the day of the vernal equinox.*  The Long Man is the conscious spirt of a river or stream whose voice can be heard in the sound of a waterfall - "creator has seen in the form of a river."

To Hawaiian ancestors, water was sacred. It was a gift from Kane i ka wai ola (procreator in the water of life), and delivered by Lono makua (the rain provider).

Waterfall on the Waipo'o Falls Trail System
Waimea Canyon, Kauai
©March 19, 2013

I honored the vernal equinox here in Hawaii a few few days early with a visit to the Hule'ia River on the south side of the island of Kauai and also to Waipo'o Falls in the Kokee rainforests of Waimea canyon.  The Ryan side of my family is descended from the House of Luxembourg where legend has it that we worshipped Melusina, the feminine spirit found in fresh water, sacred springs and rivers in European folklore.

So on the auspicious and divine first day of Spring - I celebrate the ancestors and those who keep sacred water traditions alive and honor and respect our rivers and streams as living beings. And I celebrate the Aloha 'aina I have for this beautiful land here in Hawaii.

Tidepools - Shipwreck Beach - Poipu

Tidepools
Shipwreck Beach - Poipu, Kauai
©March 2013

Encounters in the Ancient City of Al-Ula

Under the Desert Sun - We All Look the Same

An eight hour ride across the Saudi desert and one is reminded of two things: Firstly, Mark Twain was right - Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. And secondly - under the desert sun - we all look the same. 

Across the Saudi Desert by Car

Western Saudia Arabia

Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque - Brunei

Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

The Sea Dayaks of Borneo

Modern and Traditional

In the last two centuries, many Ibans (Sea Dayaks) converted to Islam or Christianity. 

An Iban dancer

Traditional Iban attire

Turning 100 in Borneo

Brunei River between Brunei and Malaysian Borneo

We're running the river in one of the ubiquitous long boats toward an Iban longhouse when the local guide non-chalantly mentions that the right bank of the river was Malaysian Borneo.  Little did he know in that moment that he had unwittingly brought me to my 100th* country - Malaysia.  I whipped out my i-phone and marked the occasion with this blurry image that would otherwise never make the blog, then dipped my hand in the water and doused my face with the Malaysian side of the river - just to make it official.  Here's a shout-out to the first five: starting in 1985 with the Bahamas followed in 1987 by England, Japan, Egypt and China; and my last five countries: Czech Republic, Wales, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, and Malaysia.  And here's to all the traveler's tales in-between!

*Following the list of the Traveler's Century Club 

Princesses of Papua

Lynna and Jenny from Papua New Guinea
Photographed in Port Moresby - January 2013
©trryan

Praying in Papua

 Praying Mantis 
Port Moresby, Papau New Guinea
©trryan January 2013

Be Wary of the Cassowary

Cassowary
Port Moresby Nature Park
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
©trryan 2013

The Earth Laughs in Flowers

If the earth laughs in flowers, as Emerson so nicely penned, then the jungles of Papua New Guinea shriek with mirth.  I could linger the entire day in front of these fleshy, odd-shaped jewels.

Racing the Sun, Moon, Stars

Descending
Port Moresby - Papua New Guinea

It's always a kick to go someplace new, someplace exotic - especially in winter.  And it's even better when a client pays for you to go there!  After almost of five months of staying put and working from the home office - I am finally off again - descending to parts of the world I have never been before.

My travels in January and February will take me to Papua New Guinea, Borneo, Saudia Arabia and Morocco.  Let the adventures begin!  It's been great being home for five months - and I have come to anticipate and relish this time with my family and to enjoy exploring my beautiful state by the weekend's back roads.  But my soul is a gypsy soul and I am meant to be out there - moving across the earth - racing the sun, moon and stars to get to the next place.