Blogs from Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States, North America

Tonight is my last night sleeping in my own bed. The next time I am in a bed, I will be almost exactly 5000 miles away. I have my bag packed, sitting on the floor ready to go. Three shirts, two t-shirts, two pairs of pants, one pair of shorts, and three pairs of socks and underwear. Tomorrow afternoon I will be sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to Osaka on Asiana Airlines. The first leg will get me to Incheon airport outside of Seoul, where I have a short layover before the second flight into Osaka. I was fortunate enough to get this flight with miles accrued from several years of flying back and forth from Cleveland and a trip to Tokyo a few summers ago. When I get into Osaka, it will ... read more

The Faces and Emotions of Peace BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA - November 12, 2009 Cameron Karsten Photography is a portrait of peace. On Thursday, Nov. 12th from 6 - 8:30PM, an Artist’s Reception at The Upstairs Gallery in The Pavilion commemorates a new display of photography. Captured from around the world, the Bainbridge Island exhibition kicks-off Cameron Karsten’s upcoming adventure to East Africa and is part of the One World Multicultural Festival; an all-day event celebrating world diversity with international foods, cultural music, exotic dance, conceptual art and independent film. Along with partner Lily Brewis, the islanders’ journey will begin in Ethiopia, volunteering at an orphanage and continue for five months traveling and working with non-profit organizations like island-based Global Team for Local Initiatives. Via photography, article writing and HD film... read more

Monday Evening Surrounding me are large pines, oaks and birches. Their leaves dance with the breeze in rhythms of a Fall melody, rustling like sequin designs presenting kaleidoscopic colors of greens, yellows, oranges and reds. Draped along branches swaying in a swooned throng, the arbors tower into a deep cast of infinite blue. “Simone,” I shout. Opening the fence, I step inside his property line and stride across a patch of freshly mowed grass. No response. I call out again. “Simone!” A disturbance swells from the bushes. I direct my attention beyond the reaches of wild brambles and sorrel scrub. “Dude,” Simone shouts. My best friend emerges from the rear of his land garbed in thick work pants and heavy boots. “You’re late.” A couple of weeks ago, Simone and I decided to harvest apples to ... read more