No Lifeguard On Duty!

No Lifeguard on duty, that's the time of year we are in, the summer is over, the tourist are all gone, and one's regular life has taken over. The good part is we are entering my favorite time of the year, the fall season entering into winter. Fall and spring are my most anticipated seasons, because I love the transition from one season into the other, it's mild and exciting to watch Mother Nature in all her glory. These seasons also reminds me of the seasons of our life, a season to prepare, a season to plant, a season to grow, a season to harvest, and It starts again. We have seasons of life with each one being special and different, yet every one just as important as the other. It's our life cycle; it's how you handle every season that defines one's life and legacy. I often reflect on the previous season, I meditate on what did I learn from it, and what must I do to have a more productive season that I’m entering into. It’s a great time for personal reflection and a time to share your experiences with your friends and family, hopefully they learn from your experiences, especially your children, they  are the ones who should benefit from these past seasons, life’s lesions are something truly worth passing down through your families generations. Don’t be silent, don’t hide from your accomplishments, or your mistakes, every experience you have had is what makes you who you are today, the person your family and friends love. You are the result of these seasons you have lived through? Share, share, share, don’t be silent, don’t be too proud, or too embarrassed, be the leader you were born to be, pass it down, and you will find great peace, and blessings for generations to come.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Master of the Nets Garden in Suzhou

The Master of the Nets garden, then called Ten Thousand Volume Hall, was first constructed in 1140 by Shi Zhengzhi the Deputy Civil Service Minster of the Southern Song Dynasty government. When you enter this compound, you are suddenly transformed into an era gone by; it's truly lost in a time warp. The Master of the Nets Garden in Suzhou is among the finest gardens in China. I had no idea that in China they have Garden snobs, like we have wine snobs in the US. The Master of the Nets is particularly regarded among garden connoisseurs for its mastering the techniques of relative dimension, contrast, foil, sequence and depth, and borrowed scenery, really…I say it's God's finest work, nature at its best!

 

Men may have constructed it, but man doesn't own nature, we work with what the creator has supplied us. It doesn't matter how this garden is refereed to, it's truly a work of art, a photographic dream, a magical experience, a must see on your travel to do list.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

The Pumpkin Patch and Halloween

Who as a kid or an adult doesn’t or didn’t love the season of fall, because that meant the start of all the fall harvest festivals, culminating in Trick or Treating! Prior to the big event you experienced haunted houses or hayrides, watched scary movies, told ghost stories, and of course visited the local pumpkin patch. I loved it when I was young and really loved it even more when I had smaller kids. The delight and joy of these family moments are what life’s sweet memories are compiled of, that and countless sleepless nights, but I digress. We did enjoy the close feeling of the neighborhood and our was really into Holidays, which made it great for the kids. Our schools, Churches, malls, even our grocery stores had events for the kids, it was a magical time, the cooler weather really helped set the mood. The tradition of craving the pumpkin, and setting them out for display on the front porch was always a highlight. Of course we had the neighbor who did everything bigger, his carved pumpkins were of the highest level of expertise, his Halloween display complete with animation, sound effects, smoke machines, you would think he worked for Disney, but it did enhance everyone’s experience, and memories.  I hope my kids make the fall season from Halloween, to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and into New Years Eve a time filled with making their family memories; I know they are some of my favorites too. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

My Personal Zen

Whenever life gets stressful and too fast, I can find my place of Zen, by either going to yoga for the total relaxation and meditation, or go to my place of peace, tranquility, and a satisfied soul, and for me that’s the beach. I have been very lucky to have walked along some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and each one has had something of great beauty and enjoyment, and some I have returned to many times. But, the beach I return to quench my thirst, is where I grew up in Southern California. It’s not just my place of origin, it’s what has grounded my soul for decades, and decades, it’s where I go to reconnect and get grounded, the greatness of the Pacific Ocean. Something just clicks when I’m home; it’s a certain rhythm, flow of life, it’s my Zen. I looked at a couple of dictionaries to see what the definition of Zen might be; 1) Zen emphasizes the attainment of enlightenment and personal expression. 2) Zen is a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. That’s pretty close to how I feel when I’m at the ocean, but it’s even deeper than that, it’s a feeling that I’m in the presences of God, I’m a part of something greater than myself, something so massive it’s hard to comprehend, it’s powerful and yet beautiful, it’s the entry point to the universe, it seems infinite, it’s  heavenly.  Sun is warm, the sand is soft, and ocean is blue and true.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Til Death Do Us Part

This photo I’m drawn to, actually I seem to be drawn to photograph graveyards when ever I travel, it might be the history, it might be the solitude, it might be the story each grave provides, and it might be the unknown of life after death? I struggled to even come up with a title for it; it was between Til Death Do Us Part, No Vacancy, or Gated Community. The picture is of the Tongpanqian Cemetery in Tainan, it is vast and contains some of Taiwan’s oldest and most historic tombs and graves. The tomb of Ceng Chen Yang is the oldest known Ming dynasty tomb in Taiwan that dates back to 1642. The Ming dynasty tombs are marked for tourism, but may not attract much attention form tourists. In Western countries, visiting tombs of historic figures is a large part of tourism and cemeteries can have a National Park feel and look to them. In Taiwan this type of a cemetery or tourist destination would not seem appropriate. Cemeteries are not tourist attractions, and often cemeteries are only visited during Tomb Sweeping Days or when the proper attention can be paid to the grave site. You can visit cemeteries in Taiwan, and you’re free to wonder around as long as you don’t disturb the solemnity of the place. You may find your Taiwanese friends reluctant to accompany you, however. There are many superstitions surrounding cemeteries, and no one wants to risk any negative attention from the ghosts.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

 

Burning Money

When I first went to Asia and saw people burning money I thought man this is crazy! Then they explained that they would use real money to purchase the other money called Joss paper also known as ghost money, or spirit money. The more contemporary or westernized varieties of Joss paper include hell bank notes, paper credit cards, and cheques, these burnt offerings which are common in traditional Chinese religious practices including the veneration of the deceased on holidays and other special occasions. Joss papers, as well as other papier-mâché items, are burned in traditional Chinese funerals, to ensure that the sprit of the deceased has lost of god things in the afterlife. In other words the deceased will have plenty money to burn. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Crazy Looking Tree House

The Anping Tree House in Tainan, Taiwan is a crazy sight. This house is occupied by a giant banyan tree which formed this unique crazy looking scene, which looks like it came out of a Hobbit movie, or a scary movie, it's located in the north side of Anping, Tainan. It's nearly impossible to describe this giant tree growing out of the walls, floor, windows, and ceiling, or is the house growing out of the tree? The tree has been growing in and around this now abandoned structure for over 200 years! This might be a good time to ask the age old question, which came first, the house or the tree? Locals for years thought this was a haunted house, but not so any more; it's been transformed into an education center, and has been very successful. The Taiwan Tree House is a Ripley's Believe It or Not kind of experience, either way it was interesting.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

The True Crown Jewel of California

I’ll be honest with you, I Love Coronado! Also known as Coronado Island, which is actually on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a 10 mile isthmus called the Silver Strand, or as the locals call it the Strand. Coronado is Spanish for “The Crowned One”, and thus the nickname The Crown City was born. This is one of my favorite place just be, hang out, relax, and people watch. It truly has everything a beach lover could want, good surf, a pristine beach, a beautiful Harbour full of picture perfect sailboats, great food, and the best bar and Sunday Brunch is at the Hotel Del Coronado. The town of Coronado was founded in 1885, so if it’s history you love, they have plenty of it. If you’re looking for the perfect time to visit, I love the winter, but for action it’s their famous 4^th of July celebration, it’s amazing! The town of Coronado is a charming and has somehow retained its small beach village feel and vibe. If you can, stay at the Hotel Del, its old time California glamour and its even said to be haunted…

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Ocean Beach Pier is great people watching!

The pier at Ocean Beach or OB in San Diego California is a great place for people watching, no only can you watch the surfing action from the pier, but the locals who fish off the pier are just as interesting. The Ocean Beach Pier was built in 1966, it's the longest concerte pier on the West Coast at 1,971 feet. The OB pier supports a restaurant and bait shop that's open 24 hrs a day. OB was once known as the Haight-Ashbury of San Diego, thus explains why the community as a magnet for hippies! The locals of Ocean Beach often refer the themselves as "OBceans," which is pronounced "oh-BEE-shun." Now you can see why OB is a great place to observe people, the mix of culture, artisans, business professionals, tourist, other unique individuals makes this a prime place to wonder around soaking up this cool beach community. Ocean Beach has a unique vibe that's enjoyable for anyone who loves the beach life.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Beach, Babes & Boogie Boarding

The Beach, Babes, and Boogie Boarders this is living the dream, even if it's just for a day. It's funny how we can live this life all year with family, work, school, the day to day stress of just living, and we can take a day or a few days off and spend it at a beach and all of a sudden we are kids again, we are alive, we are living our fantasy! We will enjoy this life of leisure, a life with no obligations, no commitments, no hassles, no demands, and we shall soak up this perfect life where we suspend all reality, even if it’s for a day or even a few hours. The awesome power of nature for a short time and we are magically recharged, re energized, reconnected with the universe once again, just like when we were kids, before life took over and we had to become grown ups. For a while the world is right again and our soul is at peace. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Man vs Wave...

This skimboarder was fun, he was aggressive in his approaches, and I enjoyed his "Go For It" attitude. Skimboarding or skimming is a board sport, where the skimboard is the smaller counterpart to the surfboard without the fins. A skimboarder inters the wave from the shoreline and glides across the water's surface. This was an interesting angle, I was on the bluff looking slightly down towards the action. It was a good day for waves and a good day for people watching, all the tourist were covered in oil and in full beach mode. This is my paradise on earth!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

BIG TEX Pt.2

Big Tex the 55 ft tall statue and iconic symbol of the state fair of Texas has been greeting guest since 1952. The State Fair of Texas is the largest State Fair in America with an estimated annual guest count of around 3,000,000, no wonder Big Tex has such a loyal following, he even has his own website BigTex.com. On October 19, 2012 the very last weekend of the Fair, Big Tex was destroyed by an electoral fire that started in his jaw; by the way Big Tex greets the guest with this booming baritone voice.  SRO Associates and Texas Scenic were commissioned to create the new and improved Big Tex that made his first public appearance on September 26, 2013, thus the moniker Big Tex Pt.2, Big Tex 2.0, Big Tex Re-Loaded, Big Tex Dos, Big Tex Part Deux, etc.... Big Tex the marketing legend is now and always will be at his proper place every year at the main entrance of the State Fair of Texas at Dallas Fair Park. Can you imagine No corn dogs, No cotton candy, No deep fried junk foods, and No Big Tex, that would not be right? The Fair would not be the same with him; Big Tex is kind of the Fair. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Texas Star Ferris Wheel

 The Texas Star Ferris Wheel is a landmark inside the Dallas Fair Park which is where the State Fair of Texas resides. In 1985 the 212 ft Texas Star opens as the largest Ferris wheel in North America. The State Fair of Texas opened 1886 was originally charted as a private corporation by local businessmen. It was an immediate success. In 1904 the businessmen sold it to the city of Dallas due to financial concerns. Currently the fair brings in an estimated $350 million to the local economy with nearly 3,000,000 visitors annually. The Texas State Fair is the biggest state fair in the country and the only fair to have a full blown auto show. The Fair grounds are also home to the Cotton Bowl, and the most outrageous fried foods on the planet like; Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich, Deep Fried Margarita, and Deep Fried Butter, just to name a few. The Fair runs for 24 days every mid September to October mid. If you love fairs, you need this one on your bucket list!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

A Beach Lovers Dream

La Jolla Shores California is a north San Diego neighborhood with seven miles of winding coastline; it is a beach lovers dream. I grew up in San Diego before trying to find myself and ending up in Dallas Texas. That's ironic, living the California Dream with nothing but great beaches in my backyard; to being land locked God defiantly has a sense of humor. For all you travel planners, La Jolla is surrounded on three sides by ocean bluffs and beaches and is located 12 miles north of Downtown San Diego and 40 miles south of my other home Orange County. La Jolla is a dream for many reasons more than a prime location; clean beaches, the greatness of the Pacific Ocean, great people watching (beach babes), an abundant of really good restaurants, good waves, the highest home prices in America, etc. There are many close by places to check out too, La Jolla Cove, Torrey Pines, Blacks Beach a de facto nude beach, Mt. Soledad, Pacific Beach, to many just a few. In summery, it's a great place to play in the sun and have a lot of fun!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Wipe Out Dude!

Wipe Out at Newport Beach California. This was fun not because I wish failure on anyone, but because I caught it on my camera :) He was doing very well for several runs, and then Mother Nature showed him who's really in control, the law of average's, etc. Whenever you spending the day at the beach in the surf, it's a great day!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Beach Baby Boogie

This is a small pint size group of boogie boarders in La Jolla California. Now, what struck me as so funny is I can just imagine this little boy with the big star on his shirt, can we probably agree he's the ring leader. I envision him giving the group a pep talk that would sound something like this; "OK, if they can do it, so can we! Let's go out there and show these grown ups how it's done, are ya with me? “Maybe that's not the exact words but you get where I'm going with it... Nothing is gonna stop this little guy in life :) Photography is great because every photograph has a tale, a story, and a history. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

California Boogie

Its funny most people don't know the difference between Boogie Boards (Bodyboards) and Skimboards, this pic is a Skimboarder but “California Boogie” made a better caption :) The best So Cal Skimboard beaches are in and around Laguna Beach, but this was taken at Newport Beach. This guy on the next run wiped out, big! That photo I'll post at a later date. Skimboards are fun because you attack or launch into the wave from the shoreline. All surfing is fun from Surfboards, Skimboards, to Bodyboards, heck you don’t even need a board, body surfing is also a blast. Anytime you’re having fun in the surf, it’s a Great Day!  

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

West Lake at Sunset!

West Lake is a freshwater lake located in the historic area of Hangzhou the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China, not far from Shanghai. West Lake is enormous and beautiful, it has an open ocean feel to it. West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout the ages for its natural beauty and it has been among the most important sources of inspiration for Chinese garden designers thought the centuries. Hangzhou is an area of great natural beauty and art. Even though Hangzhou is a big city, it maintains this out in the country feel, very relaxed, and slow paced. I would much rather spend time here than in Shanghai, but that is my opinion only.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Alaskan Graveyard

This was taken at a cemetery in Bethel Alaska; it was off the main road near a school. What did catch my eye was all the white wooden crosses, that's something I imagined back in the early days of our counties birth or maybe even in the Wild West days. It was beautiful and very peaceful. Of course with a backdrop of cold air and snow, it does have a certain eerie and frigged appeal. The phrase, may the peace of the Lord be with you always, does have a different meaning out here, amongst the resting occupants in this isolated frozen tundra. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Taiwan High Speed Train...

 Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) system runs approximately 345 km (214 mi) along the west coast of Taiwan from the national capital Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung. In it's first three years in business the THSR carried its first 100 million passengers and in the follow two years broke the 200 million mark.

The THSR runs at a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) from Taipei to Zuoying in as little as 96 minutes, reaching almost 90% of Taiwan's population. These trains are very smooth, when I road it, the experience was more like air travel, the service is similar, and I loved it! If we had High Speed Rail in the USA; I would be a passenger, no doubt about it. If you want a cool experience, try the THSR for yourself.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

The Ancient Gardens of Suzhou China

 Suzhou China built in 514BC...

The ancient city of Suzhou has an enviable location and trading history that has resulted in a unique level of prosperity and fortune through the ages.  Perhaps the greatest result of this can be seen in the breathtaking and historical Suzhou classical gardens.  It is little wonder that people say South China is the most beautiful, and Suzhou is the most beautiful in South China. They are truly amazing too see, the attention to detail is breathtaking! 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images ©2000-2013 Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Man's Best Friend

Man's Best Friend, of course!

Dogs are great, no doubt about it! With that said here are my favorite quotes about dogs;
“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”- Charles De Gaull
 "The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants."- Johnny Depp

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images ©2000-2013 Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.