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TelosianEmbrace
25th December 2013, 21:21
It's time for us to look back on the year that was, our heartaches and our achievements. What did you do in 2013 that you are proud of? What did you do or create that made your soul sing? Also, what events did you experience that took you into and through the flames of transformation? Those events that you would not wish upon yourself, but now that you've survived them have made you a better person?

I'll start by sharing my second international trip for the year. It was an underwater photography trip to Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, with Alex Mustard and Adam Hanlon of Wetpixel. Alex was the tutor and trip leader, and is an internationally acclaimed u/w photographer. www.amustard.com Recently he attained an honourable mention in a category of the NHM wildlife photographer of the year. Another diver, Julian Cohen, was awarded a second place in another category, and flew in from the awards night in London half way through the trip. www.juliancohen.com

We stayed at Lembeh Resort. www.lembehresort.com The service was excellent. I remember asking for a towel for my camera desk. A couple of days later I saw it was missing and shrugged my shoulders. The next day, another clean and folded up towel was at my station. They almost knew what we wanted before we knew ourselves! And they were almost always smiling and happy. The difference between them and us dour westerners was like chalk and cheese. It makes me wonder just how misled we have been in this materialistic endeavour.

I stayed in a top bungalow with Paul, a computer geek from Silicon Valley (I'm pretty sure he would be fine with that term ;) ). There were three anesthesiologists, a freelance film producer, a spattering of rich people, and all over a very talented group. We watched the sun set over the water through the swaying palms from our lofty perch.

There was great camaraderie, great service and great food. Time went by without me even thinking about it. There was no counting down the days, just one day you are diving and the next you are going home.

You can see our group shot and some of our chosen pics here- http://wetpixel.com/full_frame/wetpixel-lembeh-workshop-2013
I am crouching in front, 6th from the left, with my hands in front and glasses on top of my head. My pic. is the bobbit worm and my flicker site is www.flickr.com/souldiver

So what did you guys do?

karelia
25th December 2013, 21:46
Wow. Those pics are amazing! Thank you for sharing!

I mostly reconnected this year. With friends. With Germany. With Austria. With Mozart. What stands out for me personally is an awareness that I had not had before. In a way, it's been amazing year. Even if I can't exactly point at individual events. Though I guess seeing Gustavo Dudamel conduct the Vienna Philharmonic playing Beethoven's 9th in Vienna is a positive highlight.

TelosianEmbrace
25th December 2013, 22:06
Wow! Beethoven's 9th is a special piece of music! In Vienna by the Vienna Philharmonic no less! Whenever I hear classical music I am reminded of how it looks in the astral. Some classical music creates delicate towers and spirals, but not Beethoven's 9th!

karelia
25th December 2013, 22:11
*laughs in delight* No, not Beethoven's 9th, for sure! That's more a force that says "Notice Me" and creates the most beautiful crystal shapes.

GreenGuy
25th December 2013, 23:41
This thread is a wonderful idea. Starting with the end of 2012, I left Facebook and have had ZERO regrets! I upped my volunteer work resulting in a huge boost in my personal happiness. I reconnected with a few old friends, and dumped a couple as well. I saved a life. My wife and I moved out of the person's house where we'd been staying, and found a place of our own. Grew a garden. On the downside, I still haven't found steady work, and I still don't have a car. Overall, a good year. I expect a better one beginning in a week.

TelosianEmbrace
26th December 2013, 03:12
This thread is a wonderful idea. Starting with the end of 2012, I left Facebook and have had ZERO regrets! I upped my volunteer work resulting in a huge boost in my personal happiness. I reconnected with a few old friends, and dumped a couple as well. I saved a life. My wife and I moved out of the person's house where we'd been staying, and found a place of our own. Grew a garden. On the downside, I still haven't found steady work, and I still don't have a car. Overall, a good year. I expect a better one beginning in a week.

Good on you, GreenGuy! I think the value of living in a place of your own is so underestimated in this society. The notion of having your own 'space'. I quit Facebook very early on in the piece. I wonder if there's an FBA (Facebookers Anonymous) page? Best wishes for the new year.

GreenGuy
26th December 2013, 04:28
Good on you, GreenGuy! I think the value of living in a place of your own is so underestimated in this society. The notion of having your own 'space'. I quit Facebook very early on in the piece. I wonder if there's an FBA (Facebookers Anonymous) page? Best wishes for the new year.

Thank you, sir! Having our own space is inestimable. Of course we always had our own space before...but then we moved here....ah, it's a long story. I just feel I'm on an upward path. It's fraught with difficulties and challenges, but why shouldn't it be? I don't want to give it a name, like ascendance or anything like that. It's just a pilgrim's progress. It's like the Shirley Horn song....even though I'm satisfied, I'm hungry still.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOj1JryGj8A