Gotta just keep bookin' it...

So my time in Thailand is swiftly winding down and it's off to the next big adventure! Where ever that may be...Will it be Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand or Africa? (Anyone wanna vote?)
I've got to remember to do like a lizard and just keep bookin' it! ;)

 

Introducing the beautiful mammas at Wildflower Home! Each week we head 30mins out of Chiang Mai, down a long pot-holed road (that's usually flooded during the rainy season) to spend some lovely time with these young single mothers to teach them in-come generating workshops. So far we've helped in the leaf printing and seed card production and are continuing with fabric flowers and copper jewelry making! They are phenomenal to work with usually by the end of the day we are holding one of their happy, rolipoly munchkins in our arms!

Mandolyn Sports Portfolio

A big shout out and a happy birthday to Lowell who celebrated her 30th a few days ago! I dragged her out of bed and made her get all gussied up (I know, I'm heartless) for her birthday portrait! (I DID try to stick 30 candles in her hair, but decided the singed look would not be a good one to sport to your birthday party...) In the end, we stuffed ourselves full of sushi and went out later for red wine under the stars (-er clouds;). According to the people we polled, the thirties are the best years of your life, she is in for a treat! ;)

SP#16

Hello crazy world! 

Finally SP#16 is up live, it just took a wee bit longer than expected thanks to the wild ways of life.

But sometimes, little speed bumps come along in your busy world and you get the chance to sift through all the road you've traveled and let all the lessons learned settle around you like dust (Can't tell I'm itching for a road trip now can ya?;) This week the lessons are finally settling and I can't say I've learned them right, but I'm working on it! With a little down time comes inspiration and this idea for self portrait #16 which does well in summing up the past month for me both physically and emotionally. But as it turns out, I'm still in one piece! ;)

I would like to send a shout out to Lowell, thanks for lending your spooky hands girl! ;)

After nearly 5 months of this self portrait craziness, Inge and I are still plugging away here! There may be some speed bumps on our self portrait road thanks to all the new adventures life is throwing our way, but this journey is far from over!

Be sure to check out Inge Kathleen's beautiful journey at her new location in Thailand!

One starry starry night...

We lit a wee bonfire and lounged around its orange flames on fluffy mats, staring at the beautiful night sky as the lake gently rocked our floating house.

Miles away from any city and in the middle of a huge lake, the stars hung so low you felt like if you reached up, you could swirl your fingertips through the milky way.

We all hopped into kayaks and onto paddle boards and made our way out to our own little pockets of the lake. Laying flat on your back, it felt like you were cradled in the arms of the world, rocked back n' forth. The waters shushed you like a soothing mother and the stars twinkles and frogs sang a sweet lullaby.

Hope Home

As Art Director and Volunteer Coordinator at ARI, I get the wonderful opportunity to work with loads of volunteers coming to us from all over the world. Each one brings with them unique skills, talents, ideas and their own special perspective of the world. What fascinates me is the transformation that each one of the volunteers goes through while working with the children at Hope Home. 

Hope Home is a foster home for Thai children with severe Cerebral Palsy. In Thailand, disabilities are largely misunderstood due to the lack of education. Many times the child's inability to walk or talk or interact with the world "normally" only goes to reinforce the believe that they are less than human. 

Each week I watch as our volunteers walk through the Hope Home gates and see these small children largely immobile and silent staring back at them with the most expressive eyes. When we take them into our arms and lean them against our chests so that they can feel the vibrations of our singing and encourage them to move their arms and legs to the songs, their faces break out into the biggest, most beautiful smiles. 

I watch each volunteer transform in their own small way as well, as they work with the children. From fear and uncertainty to love and enjoyment, they walk out with a new love and respect for the endearing spirits of these bright and loving children. With each painting, each art piece, we demonstrate that these children are just as human as you and me. That they feel happiness, sadness, hurt and pain. That a small touch or a song can brighten their worlds and that love goes a long long way!

Let me introduce you to these amazing children!

SP#17

A friend of mine challenged me to do a self portrait that showed the emotion during a particularly dark period in my love life (Don't worry, it was awhile back...I'm perfectly sane now;). He wanted raw and visceral. In response, I shot this, but could never bring myself to post it. The public display of extreme emotion makes me queasy. I like emotion, it's a beautiful part of being human, but I'm not exactly comfortable with EXTREME emotion. Maybe I think it's a weakness, maybe growing up with it helped me develop an aversion to the drama or an aversion to emotional manipulating...regardless, I wasn't keen on this photo. However, through the years I've discovered that whenever my initial reaction is to hide something, it's usually because I'm not being entirely honest with myself and some internal inventory taking is necessary. 

Relationships are a pill. They have the potential to hurt, maim, and dis-empower us, yet we constantly put ourselves back into the same situations over and over again. Most likely we do this because they have equal potential of such beauty, love and companionship. (But until I find those three things in a relationship I maintain that they are a bitch!;)

So I got hurt, yep, in a new and unpredictable way (I thought I had covered all my bases, wrong!). And its embarrassing, because in my head I should have seen it coming (duh!) and protected myself by not believing there is good in humanity (how irresponsible of me!). Instead of experiencing the emotion, I compartmentalized it away and went a wee bit numb. But I've learned that emotion (good or bad) needs to be experienced the whole way through or you continually revisit that chapter of your life. You just have to feel it, you don't have to react or lash out, but you do need to let it run its course. Sometimes that takes a friend flying all the way from South Korea to unlock those stubborn tear ducts...

So here it is...experiencing emotion in all its raw, gory glory. And I'm still uncomfortable looking at it and will probably post again quickly so I don't have to...and you don't either. But it's important for me to remember that life is beautiful BECAUSE it's full of both intensely happy and painful moments and it's about time that I own ALL of these moments!

Does this SP make you feel uncomfortable?

(I hope so!) ;) 

For a little review, the Self Portrait Challenged between myself and my best friend Inge, began months ago when our paths went separate ways after a long traveling stint. To keep us shooting and pushing the limits of photography, portraiture in particular, we devised a monthly self portrait challenge that would push our comfort zones by putting ourselves in front of the lens (escaping this is largely the reason WHY you become a photographer...)  and allowing us to try new techniques and explore new ways of portraying your personal journeys. Take a peek at her beautiful work! Inge Kathleen photography  

Here are more photos from the crazy weekend at the floating houses. Introducing the wild ARI crew! ;)