CALIFORNIA COASTING
I've forgotten how thrilling and free it is to ride as I coast the newly paved roads on Highway 1, I'm reminded how infrequent we inspire our senses. We spend our days in closed boxes. I miss the rich, delicate, earthy smells. The wet gravel from the rain. The sweet oceanic air. The salty seasoning it leaves on your lips. I am free from windows. Free from doors. The Solidarity. The Freedom. I miss the acoustics caused by ther wind, the road and earth harmonizing. I wish you heard it. I hope one day you will. The joy of riding.
Trip Itinerary :
a. Highway 1 - Pacifica Pier
b. Highway 1 - Devils Slide Trail
c. Highway 1 - Devils Slide Bunker
Life After Death by Terry Dang
We were both born in '87, four months apart, so for four months I lived without you. We are Cousins, you are like a brother. Of those four months we were blips, atoms, too young to understand the concept of separation. We've done everything together since, from our first steps, to our first drink, and the first Marlboro. Whether good or frowned upon we experienced it together. When you left in May, I felt how real the concept of separation is. A large part of me withered away that day, leaving me to only feel robbed of those memories, as if my childhood, our childhood never existed.
It is a bit odd, how life has now come full circle. I'm back at square one, but instead of four blank months I'm facing a whole lifetime without you. It is extremely challenging and very painful, but it took your death for me to realize how much you can really love a person. We all have our own reasons why we don't express our emotions more often. Personally, with you, I wish i did more...
"Live good, keep those that matter close, love often, and love hard." - Hoang Nguyen
Huy, here's to your first birthday without you, I LOVE YOU. #takeashotforwee.
Astronaut Dreams
I really like the Gringo w/ the amber bubble shield combination. Its the closes I'll get as far as astronaut dreams go. From here on out, all my space travelling aspirations will, and shall be contained in this beautiful helmet. To space travelling everyone...
Light House and the misguided ship
Out towards Point Reyes National Shores. 38.0667° N, 122.8833° W
Trip Itinerary :
a. Iverness CA. Point Reyes Shipwreck
b. Iverness CA. Point Reyes Lighthouse
c. Alamere Falls. It started to rain too hard so we have to come back another day.
d. Cafe Reyes for Pizza and Oysters
UKE LIFE
Look what I just got. A ukelele. No, I don't know how to play it, but i'm familiar with the guitar. Hopefully that will help. I'm not very good at guitar either though. HAHA
I figured I should learn a new skill this year. The last two years I picked up photography and videography. I'm now at a place where I'm quite confident in my ability to operate a camera and edit. So now for something new.
Peep the embarrassing video. So far I know a few chords, two strumming pattern, and trying to switch between chords smoothly.
MUST HAVE GOPRO DOME
Now this is something else. Ever since I saw photos taken with a GoPro dome accessory. I knew I needed it in my life. I ordered mine off Ebay, it comes with the waterproof housing built on. I intended to have it for Puerto Vallarta, but it didn't arrive in time. If you're planning to a vacation and need this ASAP. This took a month to arrive. So order yours early, as it is coming from China and will take forever!
Note: The dome adds distances between the camera lens and the water. By offsetting the water against the dome, you achieve this nice split between whats under water and above.
As I can't wait to use the dome in Hawaii this May. For now enjoy the photos taken at the pool on the roof of the Standard Hotel.
Rouge Roshé
Once again. Shout out to my brother from another mother Terry for these red Nike Roshe. My red shoe collection is growing fast, I've been switching out my sneaker wardrobe to all red kicks. Its a conscious branding element I've made. Steve jobs is to black turtle necks, like Hoang is to red shoes.
Into The Fog
With all this rain in the Bay I figured we're bound to see some beautiful waterfalls around the Marin Headlands. So we took a day trip to Cataract Falls.
We started our Saturday early. Grabbed some Banh Mi's from Saigon Sandwich on Turk & Eddy. If you've never had their sandwiches. Please go there today and try their meatball banh mi. Its AMAZING. On our way we dropped by the infamous "Muir Beach Overlook." to snap a few photos of the Pacific encompassing the skinny dirt walk way down. I bet this place is beautiful in the summer time. Today It was cold, low 40's, overcast and foggy. I thoroughly enjoyed the cold, crisp air. It's different seeing this area during the winter versus the summer.
Trip Itinerary :
a. Mill Valley, CA. Muir Beach Overlook
b. Mill Valley, CA. Muir Woods National Monument - Cateract Fall Trail
La Nebbia Winery
Its been awhile since I took the Bonneville out, and I'm itching to ride. I knew I wouldn't get much riding in when winter comes. The rain and cold weather that's happening lately isn't the conditions you want to ride in. Kuddos to all you brave souls motor-biking as your commuter. I'll just wait until the sun comes out. The next nice day here in the Bay I'm going to head to Santa Cruz or Big Sur to shoot more Bonneville content for the blog. I'm sorry it's been so much travel and holiday shenanigans lately. Pray for good weather for me.
For now here are photos taken at "La Nebbia Winery" Its close enough to feed my riding cravings.
From Heaven at Heavenly Tahoe, CA.
Coldplay Hymn For The Weekend Ft. Beyonce
Bar Amá
Bar Amá with homies over at Matter Global . Post Christmas brunch before headed out to Tahoe for New Years. If you're in LA check it out. Their BLOODY MARY'S are the best I've ever had!! It comes with a slab of pork belly!!!
Cults - Go Outside
Playing W/ Digital Origami
Had a bit of time last night to play around in after effects. Here's my first go at folded paper and the 3d plane. Enjoy.
A WEEKEND IN MEXICO
20.6667° N, 105.2667° W Coordinates provided. Enjoy the video. I wish I could have used all of the 66gigs of footage, but I don't want you to sit through 3 minutes worth of my BULLSHIT. Enjoy. Leave a comment if you like it.
Back from Puerto Vallarta
Here are some instax I took from my trip to Mexico. I'm working on a a video at the moment. Should be sharing it in the next few days.
Chance The Rapper - Sunday Candy
This soundtrack sundae is a little bit of Sunday Candy. Chance the Rapper is one of my favorite rappers out of Chicago. Enjoy.
Made of Art and Science
Thanksgiving eve my mom asked my brother and I to attend mass. Growing up I was raised catholic. Young, innocent, naive. I've come far from that innocent naive young boy. Today, I don't pray as often, I attend mass lesser. I blame it on science.
It's interesting to think about my career as a designer vs my life as a faithful catholic . Good Industrial design to me is the ability to balance, it's orchestrating the right amounts of emotions (art) vs logic an reason (science.)
Today, I would go rounds with someone about art and design. I defend art & rely on practicality, reasoning and logic of science. I defend the emotions that drives me to create. Making objects that push me, that push my feelings . I design to stimulate, to describe an emotion, play with the senses. For what? To bond and relate to others. There is nothing more compromising to the guards we put up than showing people our vulnerability, nothing more relatable, or give a sense of camaraderie than the way design allows me to be.
My life now is designing products that connect to the world, and to people. We are pareidolic, we see hints of people and faces in design. Cars look aggressive or gentle in their design styling. Anthropomorphic in ways. I build empathy into machines. But If emotions, people and art drive me. Then what is the value of science? Science is calculative, its logical to me. Today I wonder why I use art to feel and live. But, use science in the face of the catholic temple that brought me up. To challenge words like: spirit, holy and faith. Aren't these cut from the same emotional fabric as art to me? You have faith because you feel no?
I'm writing this as a confession. That I don't go to mass, not because I don't believe in a god. But I've seen bad people, wear good people masks. I believe in all hierarchy. That one should have some sort of goodness gauge in life . All religion teaches good values. At its core, be good to people, treat others with respect, and dignity.
Thanksgiving eve I lied. I lied to my mom. I said I went to mass.
Why? Science, pride, logic, reasoning.
My mom tells me a story. A man sees a girl crying on the side walk. He approaches her and asked why. She wants to buy her mom flowers for Mother's Day, and missing a few coins. He offers to help and drives her to her mother. They drive for awhile and end up at a cemetery. At this moment the man realizes. "Why do I send flowers to my mother when she's still alive." This girl can't even say hi to her own mother, if she wanted to.
I'd go to mass again to hear these types of stories. To remind me of family and the important things in life.
My group of friends are young and full of energy. Last year it took a death for many of us to realize how delicate life is. Losing a friend, brother, cousin, son at the peak of his career really upsets things. Have whatever faith you want, believe in any god you like. Just live good. Keep those that matter close, love often, and love hard.