Coastal Views

The wonders of food

2007-11-18T21:17:00.000-08:00

I never thought of Turkey as possessing one of the world's great cuisines. Countries like France, Italy, Thailand, Mexico evoke fantasies of rich and delicious food. Imagine our joy when we discovered Turkish cuisine.

Like many great cuisines Turkish food is an amalgamation of many influences. From the Asian steppe that is the original home of the Turkmen, it absorbed Greek, middle eastern, and even French and German elements. Combine this richness with fresh flavourful produce and a real passion for food and a great cuisine was born.

Another surprise was the pride Turks put into the preparation of their food. From the smallest Lokanta to the most expensive restaurant the food was almost uniformly high quality. After a few meals we understood why there weren't a lot of western fast food restaurants.

People have asked us what our favourite food was and we really couldn't answer. Every meal started with a plate of mezzes, appetizers like haidari (yogurt with mint or dill) patlijan (eggplant salad) and the Imam Fainted (stuffed roasted eggplant) followed by a main course kebap or shish and then dessert. Every meal was a wonderful experience.

Istanbul, City of Spires

2007-11-11T22:59:00.000-08:00

Many places are beautiful or magical or 'special' but some just lodge themselves in the memory and grow, infiltrating your dreams and intruding on your waking life. Istanbul is one such place. The spires of is mosques seem to float on a cushion of history and myth, the crowded and bustling streets of he bazaar pulse with life. Istanbul has been many things to many people throughout its storied life, and whether you call it Byzantium, Constatinople, Stanboul or Istanbul, once you see it you will always be drawn back.

Istanbul has been a magnet for artists, writers and dreamers for centuries and it certainly cast its spell on us. We hope to return soon, but if we don't it will live in our dreams for ever.

End of a Long Hiatus

2007-10-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

Well its been a long time since I've posted on this blog, and I mean a long time......For all you regular and long tme readers, if any are left I do appologize. To any new readers, welcome!!!!!

As to why I've revisited this lonely lost ship of a blog, that is complicated. My wife Lorien and I are currently wandering through the wonderful land of Turkey, and Turkey being Muslim, has mosques. Mosques have five calls to prayer every day, one of which is at 5:30 am. Now I am a morning person but some things are excessive even for me and I spend a lt of time lying awake thinking and philosophizing. I guess this blog is now an outlet for all that cogitating.

I have no intention of writing a traveloguem for that you have to visit the Frabjous blog, I make no claims to literary greatness or deep philosophical thought. I just hope you stop by, have some chai and look at the pretty pictures.

The sun slips down

2007-03-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

Well here we are again on my blog. It has been a while. We've been busy as Lorien's blog can attest, but I still get out to take in the sights.

This image is from Snickett Park in Sechelt. It was bitterly cold and windy and I could barely move my hands but it was worth it.

2006-11-26T13:40:00.000-08:00

Before the big snow hit the coast, Lorien and I went for a walk at Snicket Park in Sechelt. The sky was turbulent and dramatic.

[IMG]http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i82/arbutusq/snicketstorm2.jpg[/IMG]

2006-11-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

THis is a vertical frame of Thursday's sun and sea image. Which one is better>

2006-11-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

I love these hidden autumn still life images.

2006-11-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

The sun sinks slowly into the Pacific Ocean, well actually it slides behind Vancouver Island...

2006-11-07T22:35:00.000-08:00

A rare November Sunset. Today was our first dry day after a biblical deluge.

2006-11-02T21:48:00.000-08:00

Autumn colors on the Blueberry Paulson pass going to Kaslo. The autumn in the interior is a rich golden color.

2006-10-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

Sunlight lances through stormy clouds at Davis Bay. It was an unsettled but beautiful sky.

2006-10-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

California Bighorn Sheep grazing by the roadside. Nothing seemed to faze these critters.

2006-10-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Sunrise refleced in Kootenay Lake. I am rapidly falling in love with the town of Kaslo.

2006-10-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

It is always special to see the nation's symbol. This one is chowing down on the beaver equivalent of a donut.

2006-09-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

Ah fog. Its pretty, its damp and it hangs around. Everyone loves it.

2006-09-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

I seem to be obsessed with herons lately. More specifically, this fellow who seems to enjoy hanging out in the local harbour.

Howe Sound Morning

2006-09-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

I just mised the magic light on this shot. When I got up the sky looked like it was on fire. Alas, when I got down to the water the colors had faded. Such is the transience of nature. Changeable ligth and weather condittions are what keeps me interested in the beauty of the outdoors.

2006-09-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

As you can probably guess, I am fascinated by shots of misty coastlines, which is good considering that's all you see on the West Coast Trail. Oh and Lorien's foot is healing up quite well and she'll be able to tackle the trail again in no time....

Heron

2006-08-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

There is something soothing about watching (OK, spying on) a heron doing his/her thing. To know that the bird doesn't share your concerns and worries, but is intently focussed on the task at hand, providing food, grooming, flying, whatever....it is humbling and at the same time empowering.

Despite our geo political conflicts, our environmental crises etc. the heron keeps its watch on the world.

Changing Vision

2006-08-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

My art tends to focus on the Landscape, nature in the raw so to speak. While this is creatively stimulating I am trying to branch out, to adapt more of the works of Humanity to my images. It is quite a radical shift, but I find digital photography is speeding the process somewhat. My vision is always a work in progress, growing and adapting to my enviroenment and moods.

Before I would have to spend countless hours sketching and comparing, now I can take a few shots and view the effects on screen. If an idea works I can incorporate it into a watercolor. Technology can work to artistic advantage. (a hard thing for a pseudo-luddite like me)

The West Coast Trail, My view

2006-08-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

If you have been following this blog for a while you may be aware that there have been lots of pictures of the West Coast trail on my blog over the last year or so. The trail is a unique and challenging adventure through some incredible scenery.

I won't go over the specifics of the hike or our experiences on it, those can be found here. (2005) and here (2006)

I would like to talk about my motivation for doing trails such as this. Putting the love I have for wild nature into words is incredibly difficult. Exploring the wilderness and experiencingthe varied spendour of nature fuels my creativity and spirit. My photographs and paintings attempt to capture at least a small measure of the uniqueness of the world.

Back to the WCT. For two years in a row I have strapped on my backpack and attempted this formidable trek. Why? Because Lorien asked me!!! (and because I love it) The sea and coastline have so many different moods that doing a trail at exactly the same time still yields a radically different experience.

2006-08-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Sea ciffs near Nitinat Narrows. This part of the WCT was very vertigo inducing.

2006-08-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

An expanse of rolling surf in the rocky bay of the Klanawa River.

2006-08-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

Fog, and more fog. Well necessity is the mother of invention so I got creative with shadows and sunlight.

2006-08-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

A foggy sunset at Tsusiat falls. This was my favourite evening on the trail, although I think Lorien was tired....