Author Archives: Bri Duncan

Rustic Arbor in The Queen’s Hamlet, Versailles, France

Posted on May 7th, 2015 by

Old Arbor in Fall

This arbor is located in The Queen’s Hamlet in a far off corner of the Palace of Versailles. A place of extreme indulgence, an escape of Marie Antoinette. The small space on the vast expanse that is the Palace of Versailles quickly became my favorite area and one of my favorite historic sites we visited in France. It seems silly really, that a queen would dream for the “Providential Life“, but then her dreams weren’t based in reality, but rather a farcical version wholly indicative of the excess of Versailles. It was fall when we visited and the arbor vines were almost completely dormant for winter, but no doubt, they will be resurgent in the spring.

Rustic Arbor in The Queen’s Hamlet, Versailles, France
Rustic Arbor in The Queen’s Hamlet, Versailles, France

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Blue Moroccan Skylight, Marrakech, Morocco

Posted on May 4th, 2015 by

Mystery, Majesty…Marrakech

I don’t know what I expected in Morocco, but it was completely different. It’s always the same story with me. I travel to some far off land and despite knowing I should not have any preconceived notions, I always do and they are ALWAYS wrong. Morocco is the second predominantly Muslim country (though most of that time was in Bali, a mostly Hindu island) I have visited this year and people are as they are all over, helpful, kind and genuinely good. This is not unexpected…I learned long ago the basic kindness of others. It is the overwhelming nature of Marrakech that was so surprising. I have not had a greater assault on my senses anywhere I liken it to a casino, a three ring circus and 1000 hawkers, storytellers, fortune tellers actors and more…ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

The Art, OH THE ART

Islamic art stands by itself. It’s logical, mathematical, repeating, infinite…impossible to describe as its muse. The more I experience the art of the Middle East, the more and more I fall in love with it. My first real experience was at the Doris Duke Foundation in Honolulu, but this trip to Marakech deepened my understanding and love of this geometric representation of divinity.

Blue Moroccan Skylight, Marrakech, Morocco
Blue Moroccan Skylight, Marrakech, Morocco

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A Tree in the Grand Canyon

Posted on April 30th, 2015 by

Hole in the Ground

I expected The Grand Canyon to be less the exciting. I pictured that scene from Guilt Trip…”How long are we supposed to look at it?”. In reality I was blown away! I love hiking and one day would love to hike all the way down and spend the night, though I would NOT relish hiking back up with a pack. Even the fit hikers looked tired that were headed up from the bottom of the canyon! This was one of the many scenes from our hike down…we made it to the first rest stop before making the trek back up.

A Tree in the Grand Canyon
A Tree in the Grand Canyon

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Island in the Columbia River

Posted on April 27th, 2015 by

Foggy Island

I sat in a car, riding through the fog. I would have preferred to fly…I always prefer to fly, but my colleague insisted. It was a long trek, but in the end I got to see part of the country I had never knew existed. The diverse landscape of Washington and Oregon is vast, it changes abruptly and in surprising ways. This stretch along the Columbia River was enshrouded in dense wisps of fog…not completely obstructing your view, only adding mystery.

Fog
By Carl Sandburg
The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Island in the Columbia River
Island in the Columbia River

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Sedona Airport Road at Sunset

Posted on April 23rd, 2015 by

Perhaps the Most Beautiful Place

I have a hard times with picking favorites. I recently alluded that ONE of the most beautiful places I have been is Lago Como in Italy. It now has a contender…Sedona, Arizona. I will admit when I first rolled into town I got a “Branson” vibe. It’s not that I don’t like Branson, it’s just fake. It’s a place for tourists. I actually texted a friend from Arizona and asked if Sedona was Arizona’s Branson. He corrected me that Sedona, Arizona is one of the most healing places in the world…and he was right.

What is There!?

I don’t know what is there, in Sedona, but it’s ancient and powerful. You can feel it in the Earth. You can hear it speak to you on the wind. I felt more connected here, more powerfully than anyplace I can recall. We hiked through Red Rock State Park for about an hour, and even my mother in law was energized. We went to Airport Road for sunset and I hiked down to this vista near the Airport Vortex. I will return to Arizona…soon.

Sedona Airport Road at Sunset
Sedona Airport Road at Sunset

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When Mules Pass Sign, Grand Canyon

Posted on April 20th, 2015 by

Sage Signs

This sign telling hikers what to do when mules pass, cracked me up for some reason while hiking down the Grand Canyon. I guess there are people all around and potential to fall. Mules are the sure footed’ist of creatures, but still I guess you need some guidance for hikers who are not quite a used to the mules are as the mules are to the hikers! The Grand Canyon was absolutely amazing as was most of Arizona. There are parts I will definitely be revisiting!

When Mules Pass Sign, Grand Canyon
When Mules Pass Sign, Grand Canyon

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Buick Super Eight Tusayan, Arizona

Posted on April 16th, 2015 by

Road Weary Buick Super Eight

We pulled up to the National Geographic Visitors Center in Tusayan, Arizona and there was this beautiful car. It sat all alone in the lot and I parked right next to her. Our new Ford Focus rental seemed insubstantial next to this solid metal behemoth, it was from another time, but one look and you saw this car was on the trip, perhaps of its life. How many miles had she seen? How many roads had she traveled? How many gallons of gas had she consumed? Soon she would be at the Grand Canyon all but a baby by comparison.

Buick Super Eight Tusayan, Arizona
Buick Super Eight Tusayan, Arizona

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5th Street Art, Phoenix, Arizona

Posted on April 13th, 2015 by

5th Street Art

I love street art and sometimes walking I abruptly stop to take in what is a wonderful work of art. Graffiti to many, but I will say it again…some of the greatest artists work under the cover of night. This mural by ElMac + Kofie is one of those (though I am sure the piece was invited). I know this face! I am still not sure why? She looks familiar…an actress perhaps? Her color and texture is of The Mona Lisa. Her halo/aura blue and surprising. The texture was my favorite…so intricate and wonderful…it was aided by the age! She is reclined and looking at something unseen, perhaps the heavens. What wonderful things are all around for us to see!

5th Street Art, Phoenix, Arizona
5th Street Art, Phoenix, Arizona

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Biter Melon in the Little India Street Market, Singapore

Posted on April 9th, 2015 by

Unknown Fruit

The market was packed tight, pressing out from the store-fronts. Further and further they creeped into the sidewalks as the vendors forced you to walk through their stalls. The space was barely wide enough for two people to pass without turning. In reality most of the time in Singapore’s Little India, you had to turn when passing another shopper. I often just veered into the street for a few steps, then back to the maze. Men sitting at sewing machines tailored shirts, hawkers yammered loudly into Britney Spears mics the newest “sale” of the minute over unseen PA systems. Everywhere…everywhere goods for sale. The crowd was thick, it moved at 1000 speeds and stopped with no pattern. It was vibrant, exciting, chaotic, maddening.

In it, was the fruit market and some of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen or smelled. I had no idea what this fruit was, it was green and alien to me. I had to look it up, but when I showed the photo to Pamela she said…oh Bitter Melon. Perhaps I need to go to The Farmers Market of the Ozarks more with her! It would surely have more space for movement and exploration and perhaps I would learn more names for my unknown fruits.

Biter Melon in the Little India Street Market, Singapore
Biter Melon in the Little India Street Market, Singapore

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/4
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 18 January, 2015
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Location: 1° 18.4265′ 0″ N 103° 51.0142′ 0″ E
  • Shutter speed: 1/200s
  • Title: Biter Melon in the Little India Street Market, Singapore

Party Tent on the Beach in Bali

Posted on April 6th, 2015 by

Warm Quiet Nights

I like to go places in the off season. I generally find solitude the most relaxing of companions, especially when visiting nature. There is something about having around that breaks my moment of zen. There is more vibration, energy, something that prevents connection. I realize cosmically this shouldn’t matter, but I am one easily distracted by all manner of noise. The days on the beach in Bali were some of the most alone I have been on a resort beach (usually I find resorts intolerable). The nights were completely deserted.

Empty Party Tent

This tent was setup at sunset for one lucky couple to dine. It looked terribly romantic, but I didn’t want to disrupt anyone for a photo. Come evening this was lit blue beneath the Moroccan lamps, but nobody seemed to come for the dance party. The music droned for none but the sea. I am sure in the high season its a raucous time, but this night, the party was but me and my friend solitude.

Party Tent on the Beach in Bali
Party Tent on the Beach in Bali

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