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| K a n n i k 's T r i p s |
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D R E A M V O Y A G E S ...
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Ahhh, trips. Escape, leasure and discovery, all at once. These are dream trips, travels that I hope someday to take. Some are simple affairs of indulgance of hedonism, others
are more directed towards following my interests and desires for experience and knowledge. When or whether I will be able to take these trips, who knows... but I hope.
I also hope I could share these trips with someone who would enjoy them for their intrinsic value, as well as enjoy travelling with me. Worst comes to worst, I could (and likely would)
do these trips alone, but that certainly would not be my first choice.
Onward to the trips...
The Canadian
I have a facination with trains. I like them a lot, no secret }:) I also have not yet seen much of this great country of mine. Putting those two together, a nice dream
trip for me is to go coast-to-coast, on the rails. Now, true, you can't actaully take the Canadian in one swoop, but from Halifax to Montreal, LRC from Montreal to Toronto, then Toronto all the way to Vancouver.
First class, all the way, with a sleeper berth. See the rockies in all their glory from the Dome Car at the end of the Canadian... bliss.
Spending some nights with someone on the rails would be fantastic. (Appropriatly enough, as I write this, an add for CP comes on TV }:)
Cathedral Tour of Europe
For those who know me a little bit, they may find it odd that I happen to like cathedrals, but I like them for their spirituality, even if not who built them.
Actually, this trip could be classified also as get your ass back to Europe as well. -grin- Paris and I got along _very_ well, (not to mention the company was very nice too)
and there are many things I would like to visit. But cathedrals are one of the highlights of this tour plan, seeing Notre Dame de Paris (again), Reims (again), Chartres, Beauvais, Amiens,
and Mont Ste-Michelle, along with Cant. and Sals. in England, Colonge in Germany. Now that I am armed with a properly and decidely wicked lens (28-200mm), I'm ready to go back. Oh yes,
I forgot to mention Ronchamp, one of the only two buildings by Le Corbusier I actually like. And speaking of which, there are plenty of other buildings as I said I'd like to visit,
and that includes some of the more recent and modern ones. So architecture does take a forefront. That does not mean that I leave the other aspects behind, though...
the TGV in France (there's that Railroad connection again :P), and food, food, food. MMMmmmmm....
UPDATE! -- I have returned to France! Over a year ago now, mind you :P August of 1999. Back to Paris... ahhh. But, still doesn't equal the cathedral tour of Europe. And all the other fantastic architecture.
And, quite frankly, Paris will always be a welcome place to visit. }:)
UPDATE part 2 -- Now I'm starting to think about moving to Paris to live and work for a few years... }:)
Return to the Maya
A few years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of spending two weeks in Mexico. While there, I got to see two Maya (Chichen Itza, Uxmal), one Aztec (Tenochitlan) and one super-influential site
(none other than Teotiquacan). As those hwo know me know, I have a great interest in the Maya, even did a thesis on them...
so returning to see even more Maya sites would be tres keen. Return to Chichen-Itza and Uxmal, also see Tikal, Piedras Neigras, Yaxilan, Copan, Palenque. Mexico City could be neat to return
to visit again, it was a most interesting place. And the cheezy but enticing beaches of Cancun would be something not to miss again. Once again, now that I have that wicked lens... (no more
28mm shots where you wonder just what the focal point of the picture was supposed to be)
Japan
There are plenty of reasons I would like to visit Japan. The culture. The people. The FOOD. The trains. Did I mention the food? And, of course, the architecture. Lots of architecture.
From the gardens of the Katsura Estate and the simplicity of the Buddhist Monestaries of yesterday and today, to the modern works of such architects as Takamashi and Tadao Ando. Ooooo, to see Ando's works
in person--he has used the same palate and the same vocabulary for many years, but each building is totally different, and so sensitive and sublime. MMMmmm. Many things here I would like to see, do,
and experience. But the cost would likely be phenomenal; the thing that's holding me back at the moment (that, and I don't know Japanese). Just hurdles to overcome.
See what the below-49 has to offer
That's not to say there isn't some architecture to see just south of the border too. From the works of Frank Lloyd Wright to many, many, many others, there are plenty of neat spaces and places to visit,
a little closer to home. Just browse through a few textbooks and the latest magazines, plot a course, and go... }:)
Ste Benoit du Lac
Now this place, I really want to see. And it lies but 3 hours away from here, by car. (Too bad I don't have a car right now) Saint Benoit du Lac,
a small Benedictine monestary near Magog, in the Eastern Townships. I first heard about this place from an arch prof of mine, and what he described sounded magical.
Quite the interesting history, and quite the interesting resolution. The october issue of Architectural Record had an article on the monestary, and to see it leap up
from the page at me caused me to just freeze in my tracks (I wasn't expecting it), and make me want to go visit all the more. I will try to get a picture scanned soon.
A most interesting space and interpretation, that I really wish to see. And the area, the Eastern Townships, is nice all-round. (and I guess I would have to visit my relatives :P)
Wind in your Sails...
This one simply falls into the hedonistic realm. A cruise, yes, a cruise, preferrably on the Club Med monster-computer-controlled-sail ship. Quiet and luxurious.
'nuff said. }:>
Days of Training - UPDATED AND NEW for 2002!
It does appear that my first trip to Asia will not be to Japan, as noted above, but instead I will be headed to China! There, over the course of 2 weeks, I will train at Shaolin Temple (Shaolin KungFu), train and meditate at Wudan Mountain (internal training)
and then train in Beijing with Grandmaster Sun Jianyun, the daughter of the founder of Sun Style Taichi (Bagua, Sun Style Taichi)! Of course, there will also be some sight seeing, some
shopping (for weapons et al), and plenty of travel to get to China and across it by train and by bus. This should be quite the fantastic trip, and I'm very looking forward to it. Especially since it is being lead
by the Sifu of my kwoon, Wing Lam. Wooowoo! But I'll still make it to Japan someday... }:)
More?
I'm sure there will be... but this is a start. }:) Any sound interesting to anyone? Care to let me know?
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