North Korean children–

I hope that these children in the performing arts school in Pyongyang, North Korea do not grow up and end up fighting in some sort of war with their neighbors in the south or China or the U.S. or any other country.

The recent news that the DPRK “government” has lobbed rockets into the sea near South Korea causing the south to also lob rockets into the sea in response is troubling.  Pressure is building on the north to open things up just a bit, and their response is to lash out like a little punk pushed into a corner. . .too bad.  There is room for limited and controlled market-type economic development a la Vietnam, but the current leadership knows that if folks there get a taste of individual opportunity and personal financial advancement, then the people will rise and punish those who have held them down so long. . .soooo, look for more rocket lobs in the future and continued repression of the masses.  “Thank you, sir, may I have just a bit more kimchi please?”  “Yes, next month.”

Please join me in sending progressive vibes to the people of North Korea. . .if we send enough of these vibes maybe something good will happen for these folks.

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It’s lovely out there.

North Korean friends–

Wishing all of my friends well in North Korea as the “government” there lobs rockets into the sea near South Korea causing South Korea to lob rockets of their own into the sea. . .aye-yaye-yaye!  Above you see a few hundred of the people I had the honor of hanging out with while in the north. . .they were all sweet and generous with me–if only they could be sweet and generous with their kin on the Korean peninsula.  I know geo-politics and international relations are “complicated,” but hey, we all have a short time on this tiny planet, and I oh-so wish that the paradigm for human existence could shift from competition and hierarchy to collaboration and selfless helpfulness.  Ah well. . .yes, I am a bleeding-heart romantic dreamer. . .mmmm, aaaaahh!

I send you cooperative cross-cultural vibes from Pyongyang, North Korea. . .feel them. . .there has to be some good in them somewhere.

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It’s lovely out there.

Ghosts and hot sauce–

  JAAA!  A ghost-like figure whisks a steaming bowl of goodness to my small plastic table. . .I take it, gaze at it, smell it, prepare to taste it–that is, I gotta add some hot sauce.  One. . .two big spoonfuls. . .mix, mix, mix. . .smell, smell, smell. . .slurp, slurp, slurp. . .gobble, gobble, gobble. . .mmmm, aaaaahh–soooo good!  Enjoying bowls of noodles on desolate late-night street corners in Hanoi, Vietnam is one of the world’s most soothing experiences.  I love eating on the street in Hanoi, and you will too if you ever find yourself feeling a little peckish while wandering around the capital of Vietnam.

I send you meditative vibes from Hanoi. . .feel them. . .they will make you feel real good.

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It’s lovely out there.

Triple yum!

MMMM!  Pho bo, Vietnamese beef noodle soup, is oh-so satisfying.  A light rain is falling, the streets are foggy, the air is still, and we have a moment of zen sipping and slurping away. . .makes me misty with atmospheric euphoria. . .mmmm, aaaahh!  I love eating pho bo on deserted Hanoi street corners in the middle of the night, and you will too if you ever find yourself wandering around in the capital of Vietnam with a 2:00 a.m. hunger.

I send you in-the-moment vibes from Hanoi. . .feel them. . .they are free and easy and alive.

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It’s lovely out there.

Street scenes…Lhasa–

KAZAM!  Above you see views from central Lhasa, the past capital of Tibet.  At the top is Jokhang Monastery–the most important monastery for all Tibetan Buddhists. . .in the middle is another monastery sitting on a hilltip looking over town–can’t remember the name of it. . .and at bottom you see the Potala Palace–this was the central governmental building for Tibet before the Chinese took over, and this is also where the Dalai Lama lived before he escaped capture back in 1959–now it is a museum and still a totally jaw-dropping piece of hilltop design and construction. . .mmmm, aaaahh!  I love Lhasa, Tibet, and you will too if you ever find yourself wandering around in western China, i.e., Tibet.

I send you breathtaking vibes from Lhasa. . .feel them. . .they will make your head spin.

To see more delightful images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .you deserve a virtual trip right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

Street scenes…Venice–

SHAZAM!  Here you see views of the old Jewish section of Venice, Italy.  Way-back-when Venice was one of the places that allowed Jewish folks to settle in as other cities and countries were expelling them. . .in fact, this is the first Jewish “getto” (now ‘ghetto’) according to Simon Schama in his wonderful PBS (Public Broadcasting System in the U.S.) series called “The Story of the Jews.”  More episodes of this series are playing on PBS on Tuesday, April 1 at 8:00 p.m.–I highly recommend it if you have even the slightest interest in human history.  Plus, I love the Jewish section of Venice, in fact, I love all of Venice, and I know you will too if you ever find yourself wandering around on this island city in the northern Adriatic Sea.

I send you historical vibes from Venice. . .feel them. . .they are a part of you and me.

To see more fun images from around our tiny planet simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

Athens rocks!

BAM!  Here we are seeing what’s what in Athens, the capital of Greece.  This town is fabulous. . .super-blue skies, powerfully-puffy clouds, good food, good drink, interesting live music scene, and of course amazing sights to see, contemplate, photograph, and daydream in. . .mmmm, aaaaahh!  What a show this place puts on for you as you make your way through town. . .my jaw drops open just about every time I turn a corner.  As you can imagine, I love Athens, and you will too if you ever find yourself hanging out in one of the world’s truly great cities.  Get over here NOW.

I send you ancient vibes from Athens. . .feel them. . .they have been around for a long time–so they gotta be good.

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It’s lovely out there.

I…love…markets…

…how about you?  Above you see me milling about in a fabulous market in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.  There is every cut of meat you can imagine here. . .there is every kind of seafood you can imagine here too–even several items that you probably can’t imagine–and it is all delicious-looking.  I want to gobble everything in this market. . .mmmm, aaaaahh!  The Filipino market workers are chilled out and always eager to have a little fun as the day wears on, and I am willing to participate in whatever fun we can stir up here.  I love the market scene in Manila, and you will too if you ever find yourself wandering around in the heart of the Philippines.

I send you lively vibes from Manila. . .feel them. . .they are full of joy and exuberance.

To see more wonderful images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it, do it, do it. . .you deserve a virtual trip right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

Zihuatanejo on my mind…

…all of the time. . .mmmm!  Infinity pools, blues players, and super-duper deep-sea fishing. . .Zihua has all of these things and so much more.  Plus, they never get early spring nor’easters here–what a joy!. . .sure, they get the occasional Pacific coast storm, but hey, you just batten down the hatches, grab a cold Corona, and ride it out.  When the storm is over you simply repair the damages and get back to doing what many of us love to do best–hang out and stare at the stars wondering about the mysteries of our fascinating universe. . .all 13.8 billion light years of it and counting.  I love staring at the stars from Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and you will too if you ever find yourself down here killin’ time.

I send you warm vibes from Zihua. . .feel them. . .they feel great against bare skin.

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It’s lovely out there.

Good vibes to you all…

  …from Tibet. . .jaaaa!!  Above you see us making our way to Mt. Kailas, the sacred mountain of Tibetan Buddhism.  The sun is bright, the air is thin, and the breezes are always at our backs. . .mmmm, aaaahh!

I know that this place is now pretty much officially “China,” but really, why not let the folks who live here be who they are and simply collect taxes from them?. . .like the U.S. does with Puerto Rico. . .why not?  I don’t know, things seem to always be more complicated than they need to be. . .but what do I know?  I’m just a wandering dude who loves to eat, drink, and play a little harmonica every now and them.  Hmmm. . .there is great wisdom in simplicity.

I send you delightful vibes from Mt. Kailas. . .feel them. . .they are good for your circulation.

To see more fun images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.