Friends...

(Photo by Tavarua)

“Faithful friends are gifts from heaven - Whoever finds one has found a treasure.”

Desert Sun - Riyadh (The Gardens), Saudi Arabia...

(All Photos by Tavarua)

It is March and I am in the Arabian Peninsula. Riyadh is located in the center and one of the wealthiest districts in the Middle East.

Arabia has been of interest and written about in numeral journals and books.  A land with tribal traditions from the once populated arid deserts and rugged mountains regions of this continent.  

There were great travellers and explorers during the last centuries Wilfred Thesieger, Freya Stark, Sir Richard Francis Burton, Philby, Charles Montague Doughty, Lady Blunt (Lord Byrons niece.) 

Our curiosity and interest increased through their stories and tales. Most of them found their travels from private means, and many of these men and women were rather eccentric.

 Not to forget the music brought to us by composers like Nikoli Rimsky-Korsakov -Scheherazede written in 1888 or Francois-Adrian Boieldieu - Le Calife de Bagdad written in 1800 and of course Carl Maria v. Weber - Abu Hassan written in 1811. 

And once Upon a Time...

Below Photos - Photographer Unknown

The Barber and the Dentist - Priceless Photo

Experience...

(Photo by Tavarua)

“Experience is never limited, and it is never complete; it is an immense sensibility, a kind of huge spider-web of the finest silken threads suspended in the chamber of consciousness, and catching every air-borne particle in its tissue.”

 - Henry James

Where You'd Rather Be...

Cigars: Cain - Straight Ligero - Nub - Nicaragua

(All Photos by Tavarua)

A perfect sized short smoke by the Oliva family. A medium to full strength cigar with its origin from Nicaragua. This is a blend consisting of three fermented Nicaraguan tobaccos.

 A dark Maduro (or Habano) wrapper, a spicy binder, and a ligero long-filler blend from Nicaragua.

Smooth and well balanced. 

With a creamy, woody and herbal taste. 

"A pleasant experience - you will very likely get a few more"

It might find a place in your travel humidor.

Bon Voyage...

Swiss Adventurer, Traveller, Writer, and Photographer - Ella Maillart...

Ella Maillart  -  February 20, 1903 to March 27, 1997

I always respected the rebel in strong, independent, intellectual women who does not conform. 

Ella Maillart, Jour de foire à Weichang, dans l’ancienne province de Jehol, découverte de la lanterne magique, Manchourie, 1934 © Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne

She started exploring the Orient/Asia in the 1930s. She got to be famous for her travels, photography and books. 

Photo by Ella Maillart 

She wrote for Le Petit Parisien during the Japanese occupation in Manchuria as well as later when she was traveling in Afghanistan, Turkey and Persia. 

Photo by Ella Maillart 

She went on a 7 months journey from Peking to Srinagar with Peter Fleming crossing the Himalayas. She studied Hindu philosophy in India and continued travel during her life. From 1957 to 1987 she organized cultural tours into Asia.

A few of her books to read:

Turkestan Solo - One Woman's Expedition from the Tien Shan to the Kizil Kum - 1932

Forbidden Journey - From Peking to Cashmir  - 1935

Gypsy Afloat - Her years at Sea

The Land of the Sherpas - Nepal - 1951

Surfing...

Rob Machado - The Drifter

Peace and Left 2

The North Shore - Hawaii...January 2013

(All Photos by Tavarua)

"Pipeline"

The North Shore - Consider - The Surfing Mecca of the World...