The heart of Tokyo - Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo is like an octopus. It has many hearts. At its heart of hearts though is the Imperial Palace, covering a massive expanse of open space and shaded paths on perhaps the most valuable land in the world. During the peak of the Japanese boom in the 1980's, the Imperial Palace grounds were valued higher than all of the real estate in California, combined. That was a bubble, but still, fucking crazy.

Nakagin Capsule Tower

The old school new school. The future stillborn in the past. Much of Tokyo has this sort of retro futurism that is cool and disarming. One of the icons that represent this aesthete is the classic Nakagin Capsule Tower, which you can Airbnb now. I will definitely stay there next time I am in Japan. I always pass by it and wonder what the hell is inside. It is very very curious looking.

Akihabra in Tokyo - the digital jungle

A bored maid 

Street Art Amsterdam

I like this pink guy - great pop

Delirium Cafe in Brussels

 Lost of these places are worth skipping, one is definitely not - Delirium Cafe is one of the best spots for beer

A Street Llama in Santiago, Chile

 This guy was just hanging out apparently

Of course as soon as I took the picture, an errant Chilean hopped out to collect, so we made the most of it

The old Delta 747 - second floor business class

It seems like a distant memory now, but working for Delta was pretty cool. As an employee, I would just look for open seats to interesting places, call Kristin from work, and say something like, "The business class seats upstairs are open on the 747 to Tokyo later today, you want to go to Japan?"

Of course everything has a cost and sometimes it is not a number. Traveling completely freely with Delta for about two years will always be something I look back at fondly, no matter how many companies I build or places I go. I took about eight weeks of vacation in a year there, and nobody really gave a shit. That is pretty cool. I got paid great to do pretty cool work that was not hard; that is pretty awesome. But in the end I could do my daily job in about 40 minutes and its impact on the grand scheme was dubious at best. Everything has a cost, time above all else. Don't settle. Even if it comes with free business class flights anywhere in the world.

Kristin enjoying a trip to Japan in the old business class seats upstairs on the 747

Paris at night - golden and quiet

Kristin was sick and sleeping. We had just arrived in Paris. I slipped out with my tripod and sort of just communed with this great city. One of my favorite travel past times is to go out in the middle of the night with my camera and just kind of jog around and catch the city sleeping.

Look Up Tokyo! Shinjuku, Tokyo at Night

Color floors action - The night is Shinjuku Kabukichō

What are these people looking at?

Ginza the heart

Octopi have a few hearts. Japan is like this. It has many hearts of shopping. Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesandō, even Akihabra for the electronos. Ginza is the heart of hearts for Japan shopping though - I give it the crown. Its wide boulevard is always a great walk. And its location is perfect.

Nassau, Bahamas

 A classic Nassau scene 

Tsukiji fish market of Tokyo

The freshest sushi I have ever eaten in my life was in the Rock Islands of Micronesia. A local fisherman pulled the fish out of the sea, and we were eating sashimi within the hour. It was all very simple and perfect. Supply is all about the vertical. It all starts somewhere. I was there.

Catches come from all over the pacific, from countries like Palau that have GDPs the size of Series D balance sheets. The fish are flown to Tokyo for the world's top fish market. Basically, Tsukiji is to fish what Wall Street is to money and finance (or was). Money passes through the markets. Fish passes through Tsukiji.

The place is part circus part aquatic slaughterhouse, with all manner of peculiar vehicles, people, critters, smells, and sights. 

Chasing the devil's wine in Chile

We went down to Chile to explore some wineries and switch seasons. Chile is a sly mix of South America with a twist of Europe. Dash of the devil.

Pizza on the beach

I have, in my life, eaten a lot of meals. Good meals. And There has been sandwiches, lots of sandwiches. There has been glory. I have eaten a 7 course meal at the highest restaurant in the world over the sands of Dubai. I have dined on the finest of Bologna atop the city state of San Marino. The Peninsula in Hong Kong. Ceviche at La Mar in Peru. Bistecca alla Fiorentina. The freshest tuna in the world right off the beach in The Rock Islands of Micronesia. I could go on like this like an asshole for hours. Hell, I kind of did.

But sometimes, you just can't beat some pizza, any beach, and the sunset. We put the world on hold. The life you lead becomes a whisper. The crash of the ocean a distant beat. Even Domino's will do.

Belgian Rooftops

On any square in the world and at any point in your life, do not forget to look up. There is so much more than what is at eye level. What is what in front of you is the biggest distraction for what could be next. 

Sunset in Colonia, Uruguay

An old town at the edge of nowhere. Colonia, Uruguay. Just at dusk, we ambled around a deserted square made pink by the sun's gorgeous retreat.  

Japan's Colorful Packaging

Wasbi Nori

Smoke and Temples Japan

Old Edo still lurks in corners of crowded Tokyo

Honor the Past - Tokyo

A woman rests in old Tokyo 

Nassau Conch Salesmen

This guy, battered by the sun on the tourist-rich banks of mega-cruise central Nassau, hawks his wares. Plucked from the sea, the man sells sea stars and conchs and what appears to be a basket of fruits. Keep on keeping on Nassau conch salesman.

Zurich Accordion Player

Caught this guy playing a haunting rhythm in a nook in Zurich

Zurich - just passed dusk

 The waterfront in Zurich, lit up like gold at night

Great place to rent a tuxedo - Menguin

Menguin is an online tuxedo rental company that saves penguins in Patagonia and rents out the coolest tuxedos with 24/7 customer service. They also make it super easy - takes about 5-10 minutes to rent and get fitted online, way easier than going to a store. 

They offer a ton of stuff and if you need to rent a tux, then you should definitely check Menguin out.

A hidden gem - Smith's Beach in Turks and Caicos

We have snorkeled in most Caribbean and Atlantic nations, and I have to say my favorite spot in the Caribbean is Smith's Beach on Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. We stopped here on our way to the airport on our last day in Provo, and I still regret leaving that great aquatic morning experience. It really has three great things going for it:   

1. It is hard to get to and thus abnormally empty relative to the quality of the reef/beach. This also makes it an intrinsically rewarding place to stumble upon.
2. It is a very healthy reef with a ton of aquatic critters.
3. It is located close to world class Grace Bay

Show up with a mask and some fins and have at it. We saw a few turtles and a ton of interesting fish and reef formations. This would be a perfect place to do a mid day picnic with some treats from  Graceway Gourmet. I will give detailed directions at the end of this post.

Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos

First cold day of Fall fell upon Atlanta today, and I could not help but wish I was in Turks and Caicos.  Good lord that place is awesome. Here are some of my shots of Grace Bay by Provo in Turks and Caicos.

Dancing with ghosts at Tikal in Guatemala

In the 19th century, a gum sapper by the name of Ambrosio Tut stumbled upon an ancient city deep in the jungles of Guatemala. The Mayan are on full display here and the ethereal quality of their forgotten and refound ancient glory runs deep. There are temples to explore and the jungle still holds more secrets - there is no doubt. Hidden beneath roots and under soft Guatemalan soil is a forgotten world that has slowly emerged. We can let go of the past, but sometimes the past does not want to let go of us. A gripping place.

Pacaya Volcano Guatemala

Even the Guatemalan volcanic highlands are within Coca Cola's grasp 

Giant robot in Tokyo

Towering over a massive mall, smoking from the shoulder like a badass

The edge of the future, Portugal

Some people stare as the explorers leave.

Antigua, Guatemala - the best place in Guatemala

Guatemala is an incredibly underrated country, often passed over for Belize, Costa Rica, and Mexico. But. There is an immense amount of culture and beauty within Guatemala. Nowhere is this more evident than in Antigua.

Like a town lost in time on a cloud, Antigua feels aloof to the modern age. Impeccably charming, safe, and enticing, every corner brings an excitement with it. Curious buildings and hallowed out ruins and preserved artifacts of colonial brilliance conspire to create an unreal collection of a place in time. It feels like the past effortlessly disregarding the present. It looks like something out of a remembered dream, just passing by as you pass through.

Before the rain

About 3 or 4 years ago, I was reading a book on photography, and this one part in the preface has stuck with me ever since. The author told this story about how he was taking pictures in NYC early in his career and at one point during the day, he suddenly realized he was a photographer. 

Now I like this on a few levels. First, I like the idea of someone having a cathartic realization that they finally "are" something. Like this guy took a ton of pictures for years and years, and finally after taking just one of thousands and thousands of shots, something changed within him. He went from taking pictures to being a photographer. I also like the idea that if you work hard enough, and keep at it, you can eventually become what you want to become. 

It is why we do the things we do, but this realization is rarely so before and after or binary. The realist in me believes it grows slowly like a tree. The romantic in me wants to believe something can just change. That one day, you go one step further and are never the same.

I waited for this moment to happen to me. I wanted to be a photographer, but that shot never came. I wanted to be a writer, but no word pushed me suddenly to realization. But today, while balancing a thousand things, and trying to do a thousand more, it hit me. I am an entrepreneur. It happened on a Friday night, while people were going out and there was a certain excitement in the air on Ponce in Atlanta. I was in the FedEx parking lot wrapping a box in shrink wrap, writing an exec summary in my mind, hoping I would remember to capture the moment somehow. Suddenly things felt different, I was busier, but calmer, and everything slowed down. 

When did Noah build the ark?