On the Edge, Literally

Have you ever stood somewhere and wondered “how did I get here?” I mean literally, not metaphysically or spiritually.  I do on a much too regular basis: find myself saying, “Geez. How did you get yourself here?”  Well, this just happened again on the Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park.  Let me first describe the trail…

Picture standing on a trail no more than two feet wide that has been created by blasting a granite face, then consider the wall on one side is fairly smooth with nothing to hold on to, and the other side leads to a 2000 foot drop into a desolate rocky valley below.  Add an unexpected layer of snow which has spent several days melting and compacting, and melting a little more and compacting a little more… forming a wonderfully slippery surface.  Now include further factors such as no ropes, walking stick or crampons, and there you will find yourself in the situation in which I stood only a week ago, saying “Geez…”

And, did I mention that I decided to do this by myself?  Yep, I had the brilliant idea of hiking the 12+ mile Lakes Trail by myself in the chilly, early morn.  This wasn’t one of my smartest moves.  Yet, if the Visitor Center staff had informed me with better knowledge and understanding of the trail, including the 2500 foot vertical climb within the first 3 miles, and that I would reach snow, perhaps I could have prepared myself or found a buddy to go with rather than do it alone and ill-equipped.  Of course, I lived to tell about it so no harm, no foul… but is that really the point?

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Squid Drying Under the Sun

Some years ago I packed my bags, boarded a plane with a visa to work in South Korea for a year, and took a leap of faith.  I didn’t speak the language.  I didn’t know anyone in the town where I was headed.  I’d eaten Korean food in Los Angeles on numerous occasions and liked it.  But, really I had no idea what to expect entering a culture so different from my own, and no idea how that journey would change me and change my life.

I had travelled to foreign countries before my time in Korea, but there had been other Americans around, and people also seemed to speak English whenever I needed assistance or was lost.  Korea was different, and unexpectedly so, as I was told I would be living and working with other foreign teachers.  This wasn’t the case.  I flew into Seoul, and caught another smaller plane to Masan.  I arrived with three other foreigners – one Canadian and two Americans.  As we were standing outside the school, a car drove up and I was instructed to get in.  I really didn’t want to, especially as the other three weren’t.  I was told that I would be taken to a branch of the school in another city, and other teachers were already onsite.  So, I got in the car.

I have to mention it was now around midnight so all the city lights were on and blazing.  As we drove, the lights slowly, but entirely disappeared.  Then there was just darkness, until some lights began to appear again, but not many.  The car stopped outside a three story office building on a dirt road. I couldn’t see much in the darkness except all the signs written of course in Korean, and some chickens crossing the road.  Where was I?

The driver didn’t speak English but pulled my bags out of the trunk so I assumed this was my stop.  He rang a door bell, and a man, woman and young boy appeared in the doorway.  They were all smiles and made me feel at ease… or at least a little at ease.  The man picked up my case and said “follow me” in English… and I felt even more at ease.  I bowed goodnight to his wife and child, after watching them treat me with the same courtesy.  And, up the stairs we went.

Continue reading Squid Drying Under the Sun...

Expedition to Panama

Apologies for the delay in posting.  I've been exploring Panama, including the Darien jungle, and Internet connection has been difficult, and at times, non-existent.

Destination: Darien Gap

Mission: To cross the Darien from Puerto Quimba to Playa Muerto in order to locate lost petroglyphs (ancient stone engravings or carvings) and mark a new route through the jungle

End of the road at Puerto Quimba

Our expedition members ventured from the United States and the United Kingdom to Panama City, to meet our Panamanian guides for trekking the Darien jungle.  I was on board to photograph and document the expedition and its findings.

Carrying our Gear to the Dock at Puerto Quimba

We departed Panama City by private bus, travelling the Pan-American Highway, headed east.  Before the road ended, we turned off to Puerto Quimba where a boat was waiting to carry us up river into the heart of Darien.

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Our boat (on the right with the canvas cover) waiting to take us up stream into Darien

My Life is Based on a True Story. And so it begins...

Today a friend unknowingly posted a wonderful apropos quote from Razzle Dazzle's Blog on FaceBook:

Devote yourself to an idea. Go make it happen. Struggle on it. Overcome your fears. Smile. Don't forget: this is your dream.

Welcome to my travel photo journal, at least that’s what I’m calling it for now, designed to reflect a new phase of my life. This is an exciting journey to cultivate my dream from an idea into a reality, and will be my main venue for sharing travel insights, experiences and photography.

I am sure this journal and the website – xplormor.com – will feel definite growing pains as I labor my way through technical hurdles, and into the world of social media, and beyond.  Please bear with me as I learn and mature through the experience – the outcome should be worth it!  For those of you who have their own websites, blogs, online galleries, you understand the difficulties and the learning curve involved.  Yet, I am committed to make it happen.

I will be adding thoughts, endeavors, destinations and photos on a regular basis unless my travels take me so far out there that I am not able to connect.  As I enjoy “getting out there,” this is a definite possibility.  However, I promise to add updates once back and able to plugin.

I would feel privileged if you bookmark this site, add it to your favorites or subscribe.  I welcome your comments and participation in this new adventure.

Travel. Photograph. Get out There. XplorMor

www.xplormor.com

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