Samsara's Worlds

Montreal - Paris of North America

2009-07-26T19:22:00.005-04:00

I just recently returned to New York from a short break in Montreal. After my last trip to Canada in the autumn of 2008, it made such an impression on me that I promised myself I'd try to see more of the country as soon as I could. This time took me to Eastern Canada and to city environs, very much the opposite of my previous visit. Montreal has long been a high priority on my endless list of

Recording at Lofish Studios, NYC

2009-07-13T14:42:00.006-04:00

Last week I was asked by a friend of mine if I would be interested in recording some piano backing to a song he has just written. I said, "Of course, I'd love to!", thinking he just wanted an amateur recording made by myself after I'd had a bit of time to learn the music. In the true style of this particular friend though, he landed in New York, booked a recording studio for the next evening at

Manhattanhenge 2009

2009-07-12T20:49:00.011-04:00

We're all familiar with Stonehenge and the significance of the summer solstice right? But how many of us have heard of "Manhattanhenge"? I would wager not many unless you happen to be a Manhattanite! Today, 12th July, was one of two days this year when the Sun sets in exact alignment with the city grid, illuminating every cross street on the island as the sun sinks onto the horizon. As the sun

Some Fireworks

2009-07-11T15:08:00.013-04:00

Unlike last year, this 4th July I found myself staying in Manhattan for the weekend and decided to make an effort to go along and watch the annual firework display. Usually, these are held over the East River. This year, however, officially marks the 400th year anniversary of Dutch explorer Henry Hudson's sailing up the river west of Manhattan, thereafter known, of course, as The Hudson, and so

Another Sunset

2009-07-09T15:31:00.004-04:00

I took these shots late in the evening at my home in Ireland. I love watching the sun set behind my favourite childhood tree. Click on the photos to enlarge.

NYIP - Picture of the Month - Sunset

2009-07-01T16:07:00.008-04:00

NYIP - Picture of the Month - SunsetPosted using ShareThisGreat piece of criticism on a spectacular sunset shot. Check it out!

Storm

2009-06-29T17:16:00.021-04:00

On Friday night, I witnessed something I had never seen before, and when that happens, I don't know about you, but I immediately want to share that with everyone!! Friday was a really nice day weatherwise here in NYC, after what seems like weeks of incessant rain now. After work, I arranged to meet a friend for a couple of drinks, sit outside and soak up the evening sun. No sooner were we seated

A Life Unlived....

2009-01-28T22:48:00.007-05:00

One of the books that I am reading at the moment is the mystic John O'Donoghue's Anam Cara. Well, I say reading, but it's more of a book that one can dip in and out of for inspiration when the mood fits. I came across these pages last night and I thought them worth sharing with you...."[O]ne of the greatest sins is the unlived life. We are sent into the world to live to the full everything that

NYC - Cultural Capital of the World?

2009-01-25T13:20:00.007-05:00

On my way downtown on the subway the other day, I overheard one middle-aged woman remark to another "Well, aren't we lucky. We live in the cultural capital of the world". I hadn't really been listening to the context of the conversation, as you find when you live in a city of this many million people, you often have to tune out what's going on around you in order to be kind to your ears. In the

Obama Ushering in a New Age of Hope

2009-01-24T23:25:00.007-05:00

It's been something of an eventful few months recently here in the US. Banks are toppling, Wall Street is see-sawing schizophrenically, and not least the country has been waiting, literally with bated breath, to watch the baton of power being passed from George Bush to Barrack Obama. Tuesday, Inauguration Day, felt like one of the most significant days in my life so far, and now four days later,

Food for Thought in Canada

2009-01-24T21:36:00.012-05:00

Another year is upon us. 2008 ended up being a very busy year for me, and I found myself in the final months of the year with little or no time to devote to blogging. In the true spirit of Resolution Season, I have vowed to set aside time once again when the interesting escapades in my life are worth recording. One thing I have been meaning to record for many months now was my trip to Canada in

Meeting Pope Benedict

2008-10-14T23:02:00.002-04:00

In January of this year, I made yet another journey to Rome, this time with my mother - a few days away post Christmas mayhem to relax and soak up once again the beauty and timelessness of this great European city. Only there for four days, we didn't really plan on doing very much. Having done the tourist thing on numerous occasions in the past, this trip was really more about just spending time

Bringing It All Back Home

2008-09-21T14:25:00.004-04:00

Being an active member on the discussion forums of Travellerspoint.com, I notice many popular topics resurfacing all the time. One that seems to be a more serious or troublesome one for the longterm backpacker is the problem of "coming home" again, calling it a day with the travels for a while and reassimilating back into the way of life they closed the door on all those months or years ago. It's

Untitled

2008-09-14T23:49:00.004-04:00