Blog
2/20/2017 6:03:47 AM
Article about the heath benefits of coffee is coming out in Expat Life Thailand April 2017, I painted this wall mural for a friend in Luang Prabang, Laos, and decided to use it for the article. Here is a short interesting tid-bit about Coffee Houses in England in the 17th century. I'll add the full article here on my website when it comes out under the Published Articles heading on the navigation bar, hope you check it out!
"In the 17th century of England, there were coffee houses called "penny universities" because with one penny, or should I say pence, one could go to a coffee house and have an interesting stimulating conversation with friends. Expats all over the world always feel at home when they have a good coffee no matter where they are and with the many ways it is prepared these days from expresso to lattes etc., it is a joy when one finds a good coffee café they can return to."
2/15/2017 4:03:54 AM
In Luang Prabang for another 2 wks as I enjoy the art, culture and Mekong River Energy! I feel "in between" places, stages, thoughts, feelings, movement vs stillness, past & future, and enjoy the isolation of stillness within the movement of my journey. Traveling on own allows one to BECOME a part of the surroundings, not associating oneself with who they were or are in their "normal" world...not focusing on a conversation with someone that already knows you and has an "idea" of who you are. Being centered within oneself yet expanding outward to allow the surroundings to become a part of your own being is so necessary for my own growth and I am so grateful to be able to recognize the importance of this and actually enact it...life brings many gifts when one's eye's are open and heart is receptive.
2/11/2017 11:18:38 PM
Every night there is a night market here in LP where the local people lay out there goods, mostly Laos-made products; bags, clothes, trinkets, teas, coffees, sarongs etc...it is an incredible event that stretches about 1 mile long and of course pedestrianized only. I go almost every night and always see something different. I am at the point where I am ready to do some portraits of the local people and change to Sepia for an artist affect. I have about 2 1/2 wks left in LP and am very happy bicycling about and enjoying the days...there is a book/café/gallery shop that has free latest & greatest films for free every night in a chill out lounge area with this futon pads, bean-bag type reclining pillows etc...such a great place for artistic inspiration! Whether lounging around Kiridara Hotel infinity pool, seeing films, biking around the Mekong Peninsula, having local coffees at artsy cafes, shopping at the cheap but good quality shops for some cool clothes/shoes or getting full body massages for $10..."RELAX" is the name of the game!!!
2/8/2017 8:51:16 AM
So exciting to receive Expat Life Thailand Magazine here in Laos while continuing on my journey throughout Asia. I feel like I am such a part of this land here as I also learn about the culture of the people of Laos, the various Hill Tribes and yet enjoy some Western-Style luxuries. Laos grows organic coffee and I have become acquaintances with a variety of coffee house owners that utilize this land's rich coffee beans. Next article will be on the health benefits of coffee and how the people of Asia grow it and work with the beans...looking forward always!
2/7/2017 5:08:45 AM
Back in Luang Prabang but moving on towards different goals, enjoyed my time with the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Gardens and the people there are wonderful. I am being drawn towards Nepal now with visions of Tibetan prayer flags blowing in the blue skies with light pencil sketches of a temple or the Himalayas in the background...will take a few months to make reality for I need to spend the month in LP recouping some finances however will be off for Bangkok to renew passport and to see some old friends. Patience, time, money, love, compassion...they all come into play when traveling...kindness goes a long way and realizing that not even I am perfect...no one is, time marches and so does wisdom as it accumulates.
