I am always on the hunt for cool stuff. Check out the work of Dutch artist, Anita Lortije.
Read MoreAloha Life
Just got back from Hawaii and I still have that blissed-out feeling you get after a few days sleeping to the sound of crashing waves and waking up to a killer ocean view.
Read MoreFlea Market Inspiration
"I love going to flea markets especially when I am traveling, because I love seeing the stuff of other cultures, handicrafts and things with historical content."Anna Sui
I am a flea market addict. It's one of my favorite things to do when I travel and even at home in the San Francisco Bay area. The Alameda Antique market is probably my favorite in SF and when I am in SoCal I hit up the Rose Bowl flea market in Pasadena.
It's always a great source of creative inspiration and the key for a successful trip for is to have no expectations. When I go looking for something in particular I never find it and I end up missing some cool stuff. And, of course, i always bring my camera...because you never know what you might find.
Always Bring Your Wingman
The bolted front door was unlocked by a facilities manager, who walked around the first floor with me while telling a tale of WW I amputees, an excess of removed limbs and something about the basement and a concrete burial. It was difficult to listen. My eyes were fixed on the huge 19th century windows casting light on the walls of peeling paint. I could barely wait to explore. Then, he left with a final warning to avoid the basement. I was alone in the three-storied abandoned hospital with no electricity, no flashlight (I was ill-prepared) and a very dark staircase.
It was completely silent except for the gusty winds that rattled the windows and tree branches that banged against the glass. In the distance I could hear the clanging of metal on the flag pole outside the front entrance. This is not a gig best enjoyed solo. The first trip up the stairs was tough - I started up then turned back a couple of times. Finally I felt my way up using the railing. As I explored the upper floors, I was shaky at first but after a while my fear subsided and began to imagine the Pearl Harbor survivors and the 1918 flu epidemic patients who passed through here...so much history. I still want to check out the basement but definitely with a wingman.