Category Archives: Travel

Letter from China: Amateur Anthropology

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: It is hard for the mind to grasp itself since it is inside looking out. Consider the case of that poor neuroscientist I wrote about here, who had to reason through that he was a sociopath on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Leave a comment

Not a Letter from China

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I was going to write about urbanism and bikes in Beijing but it’s been done before. The New Urbanism Blog has a short piece, and a nice picture, of group dancing in front of St. Joseph’s Wangfujing Church, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | 7 Comments

Quiz o’ th’ Day

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: What is it? Hubble image? Detail of painting by Redon? Chimpanzee art? Painting by a schizophrenic? Fan mail from a Flounder? None of the above?

Posted in Art, Travel | 6 Comments

Letter from China: All Chinese Animals Numerous; Some More Numerous Than Others

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: 1. “So Many People” I am at a meeting with a senior official of the provincial education department. We are discussing the state role in higher education. Today, I am more reliant than ever on my translator since … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections, Travel | 2 Comments

Letter from China

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: When I had not yet begun to study Zen thirty years ago, I thought that mountains are mountains and waters are waters. Later when I studied personally with my master, I entered realization and understood that mountains are … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | 6 Comments

Catholics, Carnitas, and Holy Death in Los Angeles

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Yesterday I spent the day walking around downtown Los Angeles with faunafrailty, who has been known to show up in the comments here occasionally. During my leisurely Sunday stroll, my keen observational faculties revealed something that might elude … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, Photography, Travel | Tagged California, carnitas, Catholicism, Dia de los Muertos, Los Angeles, luchadores, Mexican Coke, Mexican nationalism, Olvera Street, paganism, Santa Muerte, white guilt | 13 Comments

Thomas Keller’s Bouchon

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Is Vegas a better food town than New York or L.A.? Very well could be. Celebrity chefs have joints at virtually every hotel. Hell, the Palazzo and Venetian alone have two restaurants from Emeril, three places from Mario Batali, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, Photography, The Good Life, Travel | Tagged Bouchon, celebrity chefs, Emeril Lagasse, Las Vegas, Mario Batali, The Palazzo, The Venetian, Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck | 10 Comments

A Gallery of Vegas Weird

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Alright, so the whole city is bizarro, but here are a few of the odder sights I saw on my trip. First, one of the minibar offerings in my hotel room.

Posted in Photography, Travel | Tagged animation, BDSM, Beauty & the Beast, Bettie Page, Blue Man Group, Caesars Palace Forum Shops, Donny & Marie, Fashion Show, Las Vegas, lingerie, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, monkey suit, mother ship, oxygen bar, pimp fashions, showgirls, singing Mormons, Stoli, The Palazzo Canal Shoppes, The Venetian, vibrators | 13 Comments

Vegas: Land of 1,000,000 Women in Hooker Dresses and Their Shlubby Guyz

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The architecture is great and all (and I’ll return to it), but Vegas is one of the great people-watching destinations. So let’s take a look at the indigenous wildlife, shall we? [1]

Posted in Photography, Sex, Travel | Tagged beta males, Cary Grant, collapsed manhood, crimes against style, Fashion, Game, Heather Graham, hooker dress, hot broads, Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, men and women, photographer as stalker, The Palazzo | 25 Comments

Venice and Lawyers in Vegas

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: When it comes to traveling, my dad would say it’s a waste to spend a lot of money on a hotel room. “What’s the point? You’re gone all day. All you do is sleep there.” Sensible advice, … Continue reading →