Ordinary/ExtraOrdinary

Small island off the Naples. This beautiful island is famous for standing view of the fisherman’s village. When we got off from the ferry, we only saw average looking village far from what we saw in the Internet. We didn’t give up and decided to go to the other side of the island by foot. No cab and nothing. After 30 min walk across the island we arrived the other side of the island with colorful fisherman’s houses. We decided to have lunch in one of the restaurants by the bay. Yes of course, seafood. With sunshine and dry and nice sea breeze, it just worth to make the one day trip from Isla Ischia which we stayed. After the lunch, the restaurants owner called a cab to take us back to the port. We show the picture of the island we saw in the Internet and asked him to take us up there. Yes finally we got what we wanted. Took bunch of pictures and left this gorgeous island.

I just came back from Cuba last week. And I wanted to reach out to my friend I made over there. Something I didn’t know… Calling to Cuba is super expensive. The government imposes huge taxes on all incoming calls. I didn’t know about it and called my friend and talked more than 1 hour. Next day, I worried a bit and purchased 5 dollar skype credit and called my friend with Skype. From my past experience, skype credit never runs out so quickly, but this time, it ran out in 5 minutes… Seriously I love that country so much and the people. I am hoping there is less boundary so that I can connect with them more often… And now I am hoping my bill is not too bad…

Viequez Island in Puerto Rico is located about 1.5 hour ferry ride from main island. I love this island because of the size, nature, and simplicity. Its not like Waikiki, Miami, or Cancun. Its small village island with 10,000 population. I have no idea why this island is not famous and not so popular like other report destination. Well, that's the reason why I love this island though...There are only 2 main towns in the island. Each town has several restaurants. In the bar, there are always same people hanging. By the beach, there are always same young local boys looking at young girls. My parents used to take me to small village near beach in Japan every summer. We used to go ever summer. This island in Caribbean reminds me of the village. Since I moved to NYC 7 years ago, I have been visiting this island for 5 times already and thinking about visiting there this summer again before moving back to Japan.. 

Scene from J'ourvet which is festival for west indies in the caribbean island. Brooklyn has huge pulation of West Indies. A night before the Annual West Indie Festival on Labor Day Weekend, they start pre-carnival party before dawn and continues after sunrise. Unlike the official carnaval, anyone can join the parade. A part of the tradition involves smearing paint, mud or oil on the bodies of participants known as "Jab Jabs". You will be amazed by　a crowd of people, young and old, in such an unusual time for partying. One of the strong cultural event in Brooklyn. 

During my travel in Guatemala, we found a hostel owned by Japanese in Panajachel. So we decided to knock his door just to speak with the owner since we already had a place to stay in that village. He was about the same age as my mom like 50s. He ended up being there because his son got married with a woman from Guatemala and moved away from Japan. So he quit his work and he and his wife decided to move to Guatemala city, capital of Guatemala, where his son and his daughter-in-law live. Due to the high crime rate in Guatemala city, the old couple moved to Panajachel after couple years which is a village by the lake Atitlan. We had very interesting conversation with him about Guatemala, indigenous culture, tourism, etc. During the conversation, he mentioned about the low awareness about the importance of education by the parents in indigenous community. If the parents are vendor, they think it is the only way to earn money. In order to earn more money, they think it is better to become vendor as early as possible which made their kids stay with them and work with them rather than sending them to school. I grew up in the environment where always education has significant value in life. So it was one of my eye opening experience. 

Colombia has a lot of characteristics. It has own music, colonial architecture, history of slavery, beautiful women. dance etc. All kinds of history built this unique culture. Even just music, there are 3 major types of music in colombia, which is colombian salsa, cumbia, and vallenato. Vallenato might be less popular for non-colombians. Matter of fact, I did now know about it until I saw the performance in Colombia. However, I think valllenato is the one representing the most about the country's history and complexity. There is 3 instruments used in vallenato: 1). la caja vallenata 2) the accordion and 3).la guacharaca. La caja vallenata is drum which was used by Africans and brought by Europeans. The accordion is used and brought by Europeans. And la guacharaca is native indian's instruments. A wooden, ribbed stick similar to a sugar cane, accompanied by a fork that when rubbed together emits a scraping sound.These 3 instruments are representing people in colombia and history of its country.

I traveled to Colombia with my friend from Japan because one of my Colombian friend lives in London is going back there for holiday. I flew from New York, I met up with my friend from Japan in Panama, and flew to Medellin. My impression of Colombia was dangerous, drugs, kidnapping etc. BUT! It was such a beautiful country with beautiful people. Since Asian population in Colombia is low. And much lower in cities other than Bogota, the capital. Locals are looking at us with curiosity and sometimes take picture and video of us. I felt like I became celebrity. This shot was taken in the center of Medellin. They were having concert in the plaza.

2006 Chichicastenango, Guatemala

2012 Summer - La Havana, Cuba

A boy in Panajachel, Guatemala. I backpacked with my mom 6 years ago to Guatemala. My mom is so brave and outgoing and she always wanted to do a trip like I do. So we decided to go on the backpack trip to Guatemala. She wanted to see ruins and indigenous people like Peru since I showed pictures of my trip there. She did own research and brought up the idea to go to Guatemala. She was right. It was one of the most beautiful place I ever seen. The strong indigenous power still remains there. Even though there is only one country, Mexico, between Guatemala and the U.S., it was totally different world. This boy was son of one of the vendor. I played hide and seek with him for almost one hour. 

A scene in Cuba 5

Summer 2012 - Bushwick, Brooklyn

2005 Spring - Isla de Amantani, Peru 

2012 Summer - Havana, Cuba

2012 Summer, Panama City, Panama

2012 Summer - Havana, Cuba