Monday, April 21, 2025

Giggling about the possibility of getting Tik Tok famous

 

That time when the ladies at the restaurant were looking over my shoulder checking out the pictures on my phone and giggling, then asked me to take a picture of them and when I did they giggled more I heard Tik Tok amidst their Turkmen words. If only I could make them Tik Tok famous.

Sunday, April 06, 2025

Daily Life is Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

 

The irony of Defying Gravity coming up on my phone as I look at a group young Turkmen college aged women and ponder their totally controlled unfree lives.

Feeling New York love in Turkmenistan


When I travel I definitely like being from New York City! I love when people ask where I’m from I can just say that and don’t event need to say America/United States, especially when saying my country’s name is almost an ugly word these days. Then one night in Ashgabat when I said New York the waiter’s face lit up and he mumbled something that made me think that maybe bar had some NYC connection. Later I noticed Broadway musical wall paper and other little details like this mural. Yes, the greatest city in the world…

Friday, April 04, 2025

NYC fans in Turkmenistan

Spotted this t-shirt on a woman waiting for the bus in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, asked to take a picture, which led to a lovely conversation. She had just gotten back from 6 months visiting her daughter in NYC. Her daughter left Turkmenistan after college to teach in China. Next stop she headed to the States and now is a NYC public school principal in a primarily Chinese district and loves it there. Also the two pictures she showed me from her trip to NY were of her trip to the Statue of Liberty and when she went skydiving! Yay America! Yay immigrants!

Wednesday, April 02, 2025

Visiting the American Center in Turkmenistan


I went to this American Center in Ashgabat, that the Embassy must run. It’s a library and a place with full internet. I guess it builds good American feelings. Anyhow when I walked in they were doing a program for a room of mostly high school kids with the finance guy from the US Embassy. They invited me to join and sitting their listing to America the Beautiful and reading the inspiring words on the walls made me suddenly burst into tears. The Turkmen people there look to America as an alternative to their authoritarian country, and I just felt so sad that I’m not sure we really stand for that stuff right now.

A guy closer to my age wanted to talk with me after. He was so down on his fellow countryman for not caring and just wanted to talk news with people. It was pretty interesting and moving. I felt bad having nothing good to say about the US these days.

Sunday, March 23, 2025

 

Got my first proposal (I think???) The guy in the back wants to come to America and needs a Green Card. As you can see, the guy in the front thought it was hilarious. It’s amazing how much can be conveyed even when you don’t speak the same language.

New Yorkers meeting each other in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

😍🍎 Yup, this guy must have heard Rhoda and I talking, because he came up to tell us he lived in New York City. Brooklyn to be exact. He grew up here and was home visiting. NYC has a big Uzbek population and many people here have been telling us they have family there.

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Third times a charm in Istanbul, Turkey

This was my third trip to Istanbul. My last one was only two years ago, so memories were still fresh, but the thing about a big, energetic, fun, exciting, spread out over two continents, city is there is always more to see and new things to discover. I walked 30k steps a day up and down the hills gathering new insights and also enjoying some favorites. 

Things I love. 

  • Call to prayer ringing out all over from 3000 mosques around the city. 
  • The cats who are everywhere and so affectionate because everyone feeds them, including me. 
  • The incredible fashionable residents. 
  • The ferries and other boats buzzing around in every direction in the rivers. 
  • That just about every restaurant has outdoor seating, which makes street life feel so vibrant. 
  • The hammam baths and scrubs. So luxurious and perfect for after a long flight! 
  • Fresh pomagranate juice. 
  • The food, where there is so much flavor, but not scary hot spices. 

My stepfather told me once when I was little that Istanbul was the most beautiful city in the world and I think he is right. I’m glad those words inspired me to go and now that I’ve been able to get to know it. Bye bye and hope to see you soon.


Click HERE to see my full set of pictures


Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Farewell 2024, Its been Grand!


Cutting it to the wire for my annual photo collage highlighting big moments in my year. All in all 2024 was a decent year. A few things could have worked out better. President Harris??? But when I look back I spent lots of time with friends, got to continue to do good fulfilling work in NoHo and continued to keep my mind open and try new things.
Happy New Year! May good things lie ahead for us all!

Happy New Year’s from Biggar, Scotland

 

Happy New Year’s from Biggar, Scotland.

In many countries, December 31 is known as New Year’s Eve; in Scotland, it’s Hogmanay. The celebration involves torchlight processions, bonfires, bagpipes, fireworks, lively street parties, several.
Historians believe that many fascinating Hogmanay customs and traditions have their roots in pagan festivals such as the Norse Winter Solstice, the Viking Yule, and the Gaelic Samhain.
Also!!! Scotland’s influence on New Year's Eve extends across the world as the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote (in 1788) the famous 'Auld Lang Syne' which is sung with such gusto when the clock strikes midnight, wherever you may be.




Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Political Campaigning in Michigan


Spending a week in Michigan door knocking for Kamala was fantastic! Rhea and I volunteered at 4 offices: Detroit, Southfield, Ann Arbor and Saginaw. It was political tourism at its best. We knocked on 409 doors and got to meet lots of people, hear about local issues and explore the state. We also got to meet lots of other energetic volunteers. Michiganders are friendly and willing to talk no matter what side they were on.

Monday, October 28, 2024

Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum - A Detroit Creative Treasure

Detroit always has sweet little surprises. Today I visited Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum and got a chance to the artist who has spent years creating the art and selling LOTS of beads from around the world.

The story is 23 years ago Olayami Dabls came to the corner of Grand River and West Grand Blvd with a vision to create a space for his community to understand the immense power of their African heritage.

Occupying almost an entire city block, the Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum houses 18 outdoor installations as well as the African Bead Gallery, N'kisi House and African Language Wall.

It all was WOW!

 

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Seattle Pictures

 

I hadn’t been to Seattle since 1991. It was great to come to explore the new parts of the city and visit so many neighborhoods. It’s a great city! Thanks International Downtown Association for having your annual conference there and giving me a chance to visit again.

Photos from Seattle 

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Seattle's Working Waterfront


One thing I thought was really cool about Seattle was its vibrant working waterfront. One activity at the International Downtown Association conference was a boat tour through the ports, which gave a chance to learn more. With cruise terminals on one end, a huge redesign of the waterfront section of center city Seattle and a giant container port, there is A LOT going on there and as the grandchild of a freighter company owner, I soaked it all up. Best fun fact: the largest export out of the port is hay to Asia.



 

Sunday, May 26, 2024

Travels in Japan


I’ve been back for 7 weeks and I still can’t get Japan out of my mind. I keep wondering what it was that grabbed me so hard. While the architecture, history, people, temples and shrines were different and enjoyable to see, they aren’t it. I think it’s that I’m a curious person who is constantly looking for little new to me things. In Japan they were everywhere. The workings of comprehensive transit system was fascinating. One example is that every metro station plays a different jingle before they close the train doors in station. The food was so varied and the little sweets were cute, pretty and unusual and everything was cheap and fresh. I could walk through the food halls for days and never get enough. Quality of life stuff that NY struggles so much with like garbage are organized and practically invisible. I mean, they don’t even put corner cans out and Japanese carry their trash home to dispose of properly!
The fashion scene was top notch and a fun comparison to my NY work neighborhood. Between there being beautiful Asian design and a fascination with the preppy look I grew up with and the endless vintage stores selling things like US college sweatshirts, it all was just wow!
Mostly in general I haven’t thought that much about Japan. It seems from talking to people I know, many have always dreamed of going to Japan. That wasn’t me. Sure I always want to go everywhere, but I thought Japan was so expensive that I really never thought about going. Well, what a surprise to arrive and find out that because of a strong Dollar and weak Yen, Japan actually seemed cheap. That meant I could try everything!
I had three wonderful weeks to soak it all in, but it just left me wanting more. There are so many things I don’t quite understand yet. And so many food items I didn’t get to try. The 13 hour flight and 13 hour time difference probably means I won’t be going back any time soon, but I’m grateful for the time I had. And I’m also having fun seeing Japanese things in NY with my new eyes.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY ENTIRE JAPAN PHOTO ALBUM

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Cherry Blossoms


The cherry blossoms finally started blooming, 15 days late!
giving me a chance to see how locals celebrate Sakura. The tradition is picnicking in the parks under the blossoms. It was also the first warm weather after a long hard winter, so the parks were packed!! It’s quite a scene.



Japan Transit is AMAZING!


There were so many interesting aspects of Japan and I’m going to try to share and process my thoughts on here.

One really great thing was the transit system. Tokyo was the biggest and most complex, but all the different systems around the country are connected and worked well together. As a tourist I could buy a rechargeable IC card to use for payment of all the trains and buses in all the cities I went to. This meant I never had to struggle figuring out the fares and could just jump on and off of whatever was around. This is even more incredible with the fact that the different lines are privately owned and run and yet can work together!
Although one of the challenges of Japan is that there isn’t as much English everywhere, the trains have electronic screens and switch between Japanese and English. Signage is clear and SOOOO helpful. I heard that there was a major investment in this before the 2020 Olympics for all the visitors who never came.
Schedules, fares, platforms, train cars, stairs, escalators & elevators, and station exits are all well marked and integrated with Apple and Google Maps, so when you get directions all the details are included. Station exit numbers are clearly marked, so people know where to get out. Genius!!
They also clearly mark the direction the train is going, show the next stops and suggestion how many minutes it will take to get to each station.
The crowds of people using the transit is INSANE, but well mannered Japanese wait patient in marked lines till everyone gets off before they shuffle in.
I don’t have anything extra interesting to say about the bullet trains except they move so fast, but don’t really feel different and the ride is really smooth. And as you would expect they are comfy and plush with lots of legroom.

Yummy Yummy Food in Japan


One of the most incredible things about Japan is FOOD! Whether it’s vending machines on every corner filled with hot and cold drinks and misc snacks. Or endless fine food stalls on the basement level of many buildings and throughout the subway stations. Or cheap, but fresh and delicious food, available at 7-11 and Family Mart convenience stores. And the restaurants… I can’t say enough about the restaurants. The variety was awesome. I mean conveyor belt sushi is high tech, yummy and fun! I even got into ramen, because ordering on a kiosk felt exciting and the efficient serving process felt other worldly.


The Japanese believe in excellence in whatever they do, and that means the cutest viral sweet sensations or the finest service. For me in particular, I like Japanese foods because they have lots of variety and flavor, but aren’t spicy. On this trip I tried to always be trying new things. The US dollar is strong compared to the Yen, so things seemed cheap and it was easy to buy lots of things and only have tastes. One gummy peach, one seasoned pretzel, one onigiri with something new and weird in it, one mini KitKat, which come in seasonal special flavors and it was strawberry time. Delicious! I’d have to go back for a couple months to have enough time to eat everything I wanted to try. Till then I will dream of more egg sandwiches and so many other things I did get to devour.

Talking about trash in Japan


My job includes a lot of thinking about sanitation pick up, so I pay close attention when I go to new places. Well, the Japanese take their trash and recycling very seriously. I was amazed to learn that they have no corner trash baskets on public streets. People are expected to bring their trash home with them and dispose of it correctly. They originally removed the cans because there were a series of bombings using the street cans, but the amazing thing is that the Japan followed the new rules and there is almost no garbage on the streets anywhere.


As you will see from these pictures, unlike most US recycling programs they expect buildings to separate many different items and the garbage room in private buildings has many separate bins for different kinds of thing. For instance there was a bin for broken glass and pottery, one for lightbulbs, and another for batteries. They also sorted out different plastics. I was sad that I never saw everything on the sidewalk for scheduled pick up, because I just can’t visualize the trucks organizing all these pickups and keeping things sorted.



Japan Has The Best Bathrooms!

 


Ok. This might seem like overkill, but I just can’t speak highly enough about Japanese toilets! They are EVERYWHERE! They are CLEAN! And they are mostly high tech. I’ve already sung praises about heated seats. They also have bidet cleaning water spray, hot blowing air to dry you off and some even play a sound track of running water for privacy or inspiration I suppose. There are little public toilets in separate buildings around Tokyo and all the subway stations have them. It’s heavenly!