There’s just something about taking two photos back-to-back, but with different focus points, that just fascinates me to no end.

The two photos above were taken in October 2009 at the hotel I was staying at in Abu Simble, Egypt. :)

Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt

When you reboot, might as well kick some ass in the process :)
(And yes, those who’ve asked/complained…I am working on the rest of the images :) )

Engrish: The funny / incorrect way English is used in ads and on products in Japan.

Example: Introducing the highest in hat fashion in Harajuku (or maybe it was Ueno…)

(Yes. Chip Chip MotherFucker!)

For more gems of f’ed English, check out the classic Engrish website.

Addendum: Looks like DSquared is a Canadian company. So, the hat only has the smell of Engrish, not the reality. ^^

…and it’s just as magnificient on the right side too. :)

It’s so beautiful for miles around…even during the drive up to 6,000+ feet. And you can even walk about on the same stage that the Beatles, U2, and Stevie Ray Vaughan have performed on many times.

And did I mention that if there’s no show that day, entrance is completely free?

Mother Nature is an artisan beyond reproach… :)

Everyone’s the same shade and the only thing that matters is the view…

With all of the insanity, intolerance, use of scripture for one’s own selfish benefit, and general lack of giving a fuck about one’s fellow man…

I found myself in the presence of a gentleman of great respect…and massive chillin…simply Da Buddha…

We chatted for a while. We enjoyed the smell of the incense and the sound of the koi in the pond nearby. Laughed for a while…brutha has a unique joke about how he saved money on his car insurance.

Didn’t try to convert me…just gave some advice to settle my mind, and told me to enjoy the peaceful surroundings as long as I wished. And so I did…

If you’re ever on the island of Oahu and can make it outside of Waikiki/Honolulu (dear god, please do), drive to the Valley of the Temples on the Windward side of the island. You’ll find Buddha chillin’ in a gorgeous replica of Kyoto’s famous Byodo-in Temple.

Tell ‘em Tanny sent ya…

Or…a BYU of Hawaii student who paints his face everyday in order to pay for his college fees…

In either case, this Polynesian Cultural Center employee is certainly guaranteed one thing: *Plethora-O-Babes* ;)

(If you’re gonna go tattoo, go off ALL THE WAY!)

You know…the heinous shiz that would need to be thrown out of the window within 10 seconds before half of the school landed on the Wonder Bread factory next door. You know…the heinous shiz you wrote down for later…just in case you needed to take out a really big mutha…

There are such combinations out in there in real life too. Or so they say…
Unlike those high school chemicals, I don’t think some things that seem at times to be so caustic together, need to be forever separated.

I had two such items of historical significance sitting in my bookshelf, so I decided to bring them together for tea and crumpets….

I was initially surprised when I placed them together…no explosions! The skin didn’t melt off of my face. I wasn’t blinded the competing glories of whatever and whathaveyou. The milk in my fridge didn’t even go sour.
(Tho, throught it all, I did have my fire extinguisher nearby…)

What fascinated me most was what happened between the two test participants. They talked…they laughed. They shared stories of Abraham and Jesus. They compared publisher and agents. They made top ten lists of the biggest assholes who’ve used them for their own personal gain. They even realized that they have the same favorite movie: “Dodgeball”.

They left a comment to be placed in this report: “Please read us both. Don’t let sound bites and what your friend thought they heard guide your learning. Actually pick us up to see the unfiltered story…you’d be stunned what we both have in common.”

Qur’an and Bible have retired back to the bookshelf. They invited the Bhagavad-Gita over a few beers and to read through my dirty limerick book…

I love clouds :)
(Picture: Tall skyscapers near the Rotterdam Central Station)

Now for today’s EuroTrip moment:

The situation: A weekend trip to Antwerp, Belgium.

As we investigated streets at semi-random, we came across a sign that spoke the ultimate truth: Amadeus is the Place for Ribs!

Y’all heard me: AMADEUS IS THE PLACE FOR RIBS!
(Testify!)