Zen

Anonymous quote:

A university professor once visited a Zen teacher in search of more information about Buddhism. The teacher offered him a cup of tea, which the professor willingly accepted. Then the teacher started pouring tea in the cup, continuing to pour even after the tea started overflowing. “Why don’t you stop when the tea is overflowing?” The professor asked, worried. The teacher answered: “Your mind is just like this cup – overflowing with your expectations and opinions. I can’t give you new information until you come with an empty cup”

Cambodia

By Marla Laine Brown:

I admit we had reservations about visiting Cambodia, a country with a tragic past. The Khmer Rouge 1975-1979 wasn’t that long ago and I felt sorrow with the realization that while I was in high school fretting over my inconsequential adolescence, the Cambodian people were being massacred and an entire culture destroyed.

Elephant Sanctuary

By Marla Laine Brown:

Just outside of Phuket is the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary where we had an opportunity to dedicate our time in the caring of these gentle beasts. There are about 9 of these retirement parks in Thailand.

Humility

Anthony Bourdain quote:

“For all of human history, there have been people who have burrowed into their well-known holes, hewing close to family, tribe, culture, race or nationality. And there have been the notable few who struck out, not to own or conquer or take or evangelize, but to see, experience, absorb, and enjoy, with all the discomfort and exhilaration and great humility that entails.”

The Mystery Vacation

By Allan Brown:

Marla had planned a mystery vacation for us and I hadn’t a clue of where we were going. Our kids and her co-workers knew her plans and they all kept it a secret.

I finally got some clues like being told to buy a hat, pack a swimsuit and bring sun screen. Later I was to purchase some bug spray followed by her telling me that the initial flight would be five hours yet it wouldn’t be our final destination….

Glacier Bay

By Allan Brown:

Today was a day at sea as they say with no port of call other than cruising around Glacier Bay. That in of itself was a port of call. 

We cruised up the fjord as the temperature got colder and the fog was hanging over the shore. Eventually little chunks of ice appeared in the water floating by like pieces of a styrofoam cooler. Ice! Ice in the water! We approached the glacier as the chunks of styrofoam increased in size big enough to park a car on. How cool, or how cold.

About

By Allan Brown:

Back in January of this year I received an email from a dear friend’s wife. Kathie was planning a surprise 50th Birthday and a Half party for her husband Kevin and this was to take place in July. His birthday was in January but they wanted to celebrate in July and have a BBQ. We exchanged emails for our surprise visit and we made plans for a Plymouth, Provence Town and Boston visit….

Scotland in February

By Allan Brown:

Hello everyone!

Who goes to Scotland in February? We did, and let us explain.

Marla has a co-worker who met a Scottish fellow in California, who works as a stuntman on the show Vikings. The filming of Vikings is done in Scotland. So when there was a break in February, that was when they got married. That was all the excuse we needed to go!

Is Elvis Home?

By Allan Brown:

We parked and walked towards the ticket window when we were intercepted by a member of a motorcycle gang, but not to worry he was a mid aged soccer dad in motorcycle gear. He had two extra tickets to sell due to a no-show within their group. He offered us the largest inclusive ticket packet offered for the price of a combo. Cash was exchanged, the deal was done and the gang, apologies the “club” promised not to hurt us.

We were ushered onto a small shuttle bus by an IPad wielding yet friendly employee and off we went. The bus ride literally takes you about 100 yards across the road though the gates and then up the driveway to the front door. We made it safely without jaywalking. Elvis would have laughed at this degree of safety. Oddly the famous gate so often photographed with “Graceland” in wrought iron script, is no longer open for use and is closed. People still flowers and cards next to it.

Metro Madness and the Cemetery

By Allan Brown:

After arriving in Red Square We merged back into Moscow morning traffic and grid lock. It was the kind where only one car per traffic signal was getting through as we clawed our way towards our first stop the Novodevich’ye cemetery. The Novodevich’ye cemetery is the Who’s Who of the Russian dead. The plots are not very big in size so the tombstones over compensate for that. The tombstones are essentially sculptures depicting the achievements and life of the Russian elite. There were past presidents, generals, artists, poets, builders of aircraft and actors side by side. The rain was light and it was chilly enough for us native Southern Californians to wear gloves and scarves. Our guide, who sounded like Borat, guilt tripped us into not using the bathrooms and after 45 minutes we boarded the bus.