10 movies that left lasting impression

1. Apocalypse Now (1979). Dir. Francis Ford Coppola

2. Blade Runner (1982). Dir. Ridley Scott

3. Blow Up (1966). Dir. Michelangelo Antonioni

4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). Dir. Terry Gilliam

5. Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972). Dir. Werner Herzog

6. Fitzcarraldo (1982). Dir. Werner Herzog

7. Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma (1975). Dir. Pier Paolo Pasolini

8. Diva (1981). Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix

9. The Sheltering Sky (1990). Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci

10. Easy Rider (1969). Dir. Dennis Hopper

Liberated goods

Something eternal in the eyes and actions of individuals caught in irrational behavior of crowd, when goods are freely available and waiting to be liberated.

God Is Not Great

Yesterday I stumbled on book signing event at Barnes & Noble, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens. Author takes on insanity of religion and faith in this, the 21st century. Haven't heard person who doesn't afraid to say what he thinks and makes sense for long time. Christopher Hitchens writes on number subjects and topics. He is master of word, his writing has great flow and life. Very prolific author, I need to take a look to his other stuff.

Tea with Gilbert & George

I walked in to Lehmann Maupin Gallery in Chelsea last Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. Two fine English gentlemen, Gilbert & George were hosting tea party and signing books. Event was very low key and had pleasant feel. Exclusive British tea was served in beautiful white china cups and poured from shiny silver teapots. Plenty tasty Scones with Jams and Marmalade. I was impressed how humble and well mannered Gilbert & George are. Very fine gentlemen, indeed.

End of Coney Island as we know it

I'm not very big fan of Coney Island's old and rusty rides, dive bars, junk food and dirty beach, but place has its own flavor. Neighborhood been in a constant state of flux, ups and downs. City and real estate developers has some nice plans for the area, to turn it into fashionable and civilized ocean front Condoland. Some lots already fenced up and demolition of what remains of Coney Island as we know it is on the way. New York is a city for the rich. Rich=Boring. I will be heading to Mexico for fun.

Dumpsters of NY

Somewhere between 1993-2000 while walking on NYC streets, if I saw intresting looking garbage dumpster, I took a picture. I ended up with collection of around 200 images of places and streets which looks very different now.
I'm rarely see good looking dumpster lately.

Knife in the Water

Roman Polanski's first feature film Knife in the Water (Noz w Wodzie) is perfect example how with the modest material resources and a good story talented director can create something wonderful. Just three actors, sailboat, lake, perfectly composed black & white cinematography and cool jazz soundtrack on the top forms timeless piece of art cinema. Story set in 1962 Poland, but same archetipical characters can be easily found in any Western society today. Probably even more now than then.

Kurt Vonnegut 1922-2007

Last Sunday I was looking for something to read on my long train ride to Brighton Beach. For no reason picked Kurt Vonnegut's Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons. Last time I read his book, was may be 16 years ago. I went half through the book over the weekend, stopping at the part about Madame Blavatsky and her Theosophical Society. Kurt Vonnegut liked and respected spiritualism. Little I new that distinguished author cracked his coconut around the same time. Homeless soul must be drifting around New York City. I feel honored that it visited my place not long before leaving spaceship Earth.
So it goes.

Ballad of a Soldier

One of the best Russian films, true classic. Main character Aliosha personifies better side of Russian Soul: kindheartedness, selflessness and nobility. This is a story about universality of humanity during most horrible time - war. Story about youthful innocence and first love crushed by cruel twists of history.

Getaway car

American cars from 80's were big low quality clunkers, but still had more character and look than today's look alike blobs. Less and less them on the roads. I'm starting to miss these sofas on wheels. I remember, my friend and I hit cemetery wall with one like this. We stepped out of wreck like nothing happen.
Another piece of America(ana) gone.

Sawtooth Catalan bread

Food should look good in order to taste good. This sawtooth shaped Catalan bread from small bakery in Ascó village is perfect example. It has maximum crust, breaks and stuffs easy. Just perfect.

Chinatown of NYC

One of a few places with character left in New York is Chinatown. Actually there are three chinese neighborhoods in New York. The main one in Downtown Manhattan around Canal street, more touristy and hectic, but has the best Asian food in town. Flushing in Queens and Brooklyn Chinatown are a bit cheaper, but restaurants not always as good due lack of competition and less demanding customers. Either one Chinatown is a place to shop for Asian groceries and vegetables. You can see live crabs, frogs and turtles for sale. More exotic species are in dried goods stores. Most products so strange, only Chinese know what to do with them. Every time when I'm in Chinatown is great I feel like l lost in some kind of movie set or different country.

Burmese Nights

Blackouts in Burma (Myanmar) are common and daily experience. As night sets in, Burma’s 50 million people just slips into the darkness for a minute until neon and low wattage lights powered by private generators and car batteries kicks in. It's dark, but not so bad. Streets lit by cooking fire from food stands creates unique mediaeval like atmosphere. People adjusted their life to this daily routine by now. Restaurants. hotels and business able run without disruption, even have air conditioning on.

Sintra - town from fairy tale

Sintra is small town on Atlantic coast of Portugal just short trip by train from Lisbon. It looks and feels like fairy tale set. Town and area was favorite hunting ground for King of Portugal, later popular retreat for English and European nobility. Great old palaces, churches and mansions used as summer houses discreetly hidden by ancient forest. Two highest mountain peaks of Sintra adorned with ruins Castelo dos Mouros, a fort built by Arabs the 8th Century and 19th Century Royal castle Palácio da Pena.

Build on the ruins of the Hieronymite Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena by Dom Fernando II, the German husband of Portuguese Queen Maria II. Revolution of October 4, 1910 forced last King Manuel of Portugal to flee country. Everything in castle left intact, my favorite place was kitchen with number of huge cooper and brass pots and cooking utensils.
Castle surrounded by magnificent and mysterious Jardins de Monserrate - romantic park where local trees mixed with exotic subtropical plants and shrubs that were planted by Sir Francis Cook with the help of his head gardener James Burt.

BBC promo starring iPods

iPod fueled cultural revolution continues. Spot features Brian's Eno Music for Airports.

Wildwood, NJ - town of glorious neon

Looks like 50's, 60's and 70's it was time when States was fun place and filed with cool big cars, funky roadside architecture, great movies and fun fashion. Cars rusted and was replaced with generic bubbles, fashion become trends and uniforms, plus ugly sweatshop made rags. Most period architecture still standing in California ( Palm Springs and surrounding area would be the best place to look).

On the East Coast, New Jersey has quite a few hidden gems. Wildwood, NJ working class sea resort is real museum. The place should be declared landmark and preserved. Here you see architectural manifestation of American imagination expressed in glorious neon, motel sign shapes and names. A whole town somehow managed survive. Really lasting experience and at the same time sad, all that beuty can be wiped away by developers any moment. Visit while is still here.

UFO in the desert

American Southwest is still one of most scenic and less explored places in the world. Just a short walk from the road is like step in time in 230 million years ago to Triassic Period. Blue-black desert sand is mixed with prehistoric sea shells and fossils. Area around Lake Powell on Arizona and Utah border was inland sea that covered the area. Wind shapes soft mountains formed from sand, clay and mud to the strangest surreal shapes. I spotted rock which looked like crashed and burnt down flying saucer. May it was real space ship, who knows.

Tailor of Panama

Most of my trips partially inspired by films. Before I went to Panama I saw "Tailor of Panama".
I arrived to Panama City late at night. I was impressed by old Hotel Central on Plaza de la Independencia featured in the movie and wanted to spent some time here. Taxi driver said that hotel is closed, but I insisted to take me here. He was not very happy about my request. The moment we reached Casco Viejo ( old part of Panama City ) he crossed himself and cursed. Neiborghood looked seedy and dangerous at night. Atmosphere just like in the movie. Unfortunately taxi driver was right, hotel was closed. I revisited area at day time. Casco Viejo has a lot of character and feel of magic realism. It was quite dangerous place in 2001, things probably changed now. Panama City and country itself is on the fast track of gentrification. People was happy to get rid of Noriega. Looks like rare case when American intervention did something good for the country.

Beauties of Casco Viejo

Sticky camera

What camera is the best? For me is the one which sticks to my hand, becomes extension of my body, able to lay roots in my hand.

My favorite camera of all times is Yashica T4. It was was my main camera from 1996 to 2001. Nikon N90 was more back up camera. Then was Contax T3, great camera, but I still like feel of Yashica more. Liked Sony Mavica and CyberShot s75. Now I mostly shoot with Nikon D70, as sticky as SLR can get. I newer liked Canon. Total rejection. Tried Hasseldlad 503, love feel and shutter sound, but unfit for my shooting style. I wish I had Hasselblad Xpan. Wonderful camera, difficult to put down. I own Mamiya 7 instead. Can't tell much about this one yet, need more bonding time. Tried Rolleiflex and Yashica Mat. Sold the last one, but keeping Lubitel. Another Russian made - Gorizont panoramic camera crappy but still lovable. Holga can be fun. Lomo - waste of time and money.
The last acquisition Fuji Natura S Black, I have feeling that it might become my favorite camera.

Orinoco Delta

After Amazon, Orinoco River is considered one of the largest intact wetland areas left on Earth. The Orinoco delta is a vast, intricate labyrinth of waterways weaving through a simmering jungle to carry the waters of the Orinoco to the Atlantic Ocean. Area is home for Warao - "the boat people". They still maintain they own language and life style. Some of them migrate to the bigger cities where they not able adapt to city living and become homeless beggars. Venezuelan government provides monetary help and protection. Number of Cuban teachers and doctors works in the villages. That good, but handouts has some negative effect. People loosing any initiative to work, hunt or grow food. Most fertile land and water resources unused. In the villages built on the river almost hardly anybody fishes. Alcoholism is rampant. Orinoco delta is rich with still untaped oil fields. Soon more drilling and pumping coming to pristine rain forest. Can't expect anything good from that.


Venezuella still unspoiled by mass tourism, full charm and innocence. Looks like eco tourism to Orinoco Delta is picking up. All over I saw construction of jungle lodges. Every village have designated person who will take care of backpackers, show around and provide place to sleep.
Venezuelans are most warm, friendly and hospitable and generous people. I met by chance with area Mayor Selgio Ramírez (Alcalde Pedernales). Very nice and down to earth guy. If Venezuella has more politicians like him, country is in good hands. In general I have not heard any complains about Chavez and his politics. I think country has problem with high crime rate and total absence of police. Only army check posts reminds presence of authority. Military guys very friendly and helpful.