The Life of Gill

My Photography Dream Assignment - VOTE NOW!!!

2009-03-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

We all have dreams. Want to help make mine a reality? Please take a minute to vote for my photography dream assignment here.

http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/kristengill/dance-around-the-world/

“My dream assignment is to use my camera and video camera to document the traditions, celebrations, joys, sorrows, and passion of people through their respective dances, showing the unique power of the human spirit to triumph via dance.

From the whirling dervishes of Turkey to the tribal war dances of Uganda, from the devil dances of Sri Lanka, to the break dancing of young Americans, my photography will examine the place of traditional dance in contemporary world cultures through the stunning forms of movement, the vivid colors of costumes, and the emotion, integrity, and power of the dancer.

My passion for photography, dance, travel, and learning about new cultures is matched only by my compassion for my subjects. As a result, I have the insight and intuition to capture unique images that would otherwise elude the camera.”

Judging is based on how many votes a user receives, so please feel free to forward this on to your family and friends!

This has been a dream of mine for a long time. Thanks for helping me bring it a step closer to coming true!

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2009-02-27T16:25:00.001-08:00

I made this photo collage of Brazil, one of my favorite countries that I’ve visited so far. I really need to go back there. Love it!

Todo bem!

Adventure on,

Kristen

Concert Review: Lisa Hannigan

2009-02-16T23:44:00.000-08:00

Lovely Lisa

Irish singer Lisa Hannigan transports you to another world with her surreal voice that is two parts angelic, one part sass. This duality is reflected in her clothing, as tonight she outfits herself in bold red tights and boots on bottom, with a soft blue and white flowered dress on top.

She has a softer sound and attitude compared to her female counterparts Feist or Cat Power, and plays diverse instruments, such as an old harmonium (bought in NYC, and which desperately needs some love "Is there a harmonium doctor in the house?") and a mouth piano. Her voice, quite literally, puts you at ease.

Lisa is accompanied by 4 other band members (Gavin Glass, who had a well-received opening act, Donagh Malloy, Shane Fitzsimmons, and TomO), who play guitar, stand up bass, drums, banjo, horns, and mouth piano, amongst other instruments. At one point, the tour manager came out to play the xylophone.

At times I could close my eyes and feel like I was on the corner of a Parisien street, with the sounds of accordion and Lisa's sweet, sweet voice like a birdsong. In "An Ocean And A Rock" when she sings "Let's get lost, me and you" you want to take her up on the offer.

Other favorites were "Pistachio" and "Lille", and my own personal favorite "I Don't Know". They ended the night with an encore of an Iron & Wine cover, "Until They Cut Me Down", which started slow but crescendoed to a rocking high.

After the show, the entire band came out to talk to their fans, who were most appreciative. Every now and then a band comes along that is truly able to take advantage of the ambience and play to the good sound quality of the Triple Door. This was one of those bands.

Lisa Hannigan can lull me with her lullabies anytime.

Check out:
http://www.myspace.com/lisahannigan
http://www.thetripledoor.net/

~Kristen

Happy S.A.D.

2009-02-15T14:34:00.001-08:00

Happy Singles Awareness Day (S.A.D.), Valentine's Day, or, as I like to call it, Doomsday!

Every year for Valentine's Day I like to send out a picture of "LOVE".

I took this picture in December, after disembarking a train from Brussels to Gent, Belgium. It got me thinking about how disconnected our brain can be from our heart, and how illogical love can be. And, yes, wouldn't it be nice if we all had a map! Of course, I would also need a compass, since, even with a map, I'm sure I'd still find a way to get lost. Love is hard to find, after all!

To see last year's picture of "Love", click here.

Adventure On…Love, and Be Loved!

Kristen

2/52

2009-02-15T14:19:00.001-08:00

I write this blog today, as London and the rest of the UK is being beseiged by snow! My sister was supposed to fly into Poole today, but after 8 hours at the airport, had to drive back home in a blizzard and try again for tomorrow. We here in Seattle can appreciate how "not snow ready" a place can be! I only wish I was there in London to take photographs in the snow!

Anyways, I thought I'd post this photograph of The "London Eye", London's most paid-for tourist destination, attracting over 3.5 million visitors a year. Each caspule can weighs ten tons! I did not take the ride...prefered to photograph from below!

Happy 800th Anniversary, Cambridge!

2009-01-17T15:26:00.000-08:00

Now that is OLD. Makes my upcoming milestone birthday seem like fiddlesticks in comparison!

In honor of the anniversary, I thought I'd share some photos that I took from a fairly recent trip there (2006), and also point out some interesting facts.

Established in 1209 A.D., Cambridge is the 2nd oldest university in the English-speaking world (after Oxford). Affiliates of Cambridge have won a total of 83 Noble laureate prizes, a record. Notable alums include everyone from Lord Mountbatton to Sacha Baron-Cohen (Ali G), Jane Goodall to Nick Hornby, and Desiderius Erasmus to Hugh Laurie.

It was where Charles Darwin developed his theory of natural selection, where they discovered DNA, and developed in vitro fertilization (IVF).

What I loved about the university was how everyone there bikes to/from class, and how every public place (pubs, cafes, restaurants) is full of people studying and conversing. Another thing I learned is that in Cambridge, the punters (as seen in the picture below) push the flat boats from the back end, whereas their colleagues over at Oxford pull the boats from the front end. It is hotly debated which way is better!

On a different trip, I got to attend the famous Boat Race Day in London, which is a crew race between Oxford and Cambridge that's held every spring. While I can't actually remember who won (there was drinking starting very early in the day!), it was quite a spectacle on the Thames!

And, yes...my brain is full of useless and random information, which is why they probably didn't accept me at Cambridge. Humph!

Adventure on,

Kristen

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2009-01-15T16:36:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats near the Utah-Nevada border. The faint black line in the background that cuts the photo in half is actually Hwy I-80. Flat and barren, this view during the day is white. I waited for a few hours until sunset, when the colors really came out.

52 (photos)

2009-01-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

A new idea for my blog is the "52 (photos)" project, where I will post one photograph for each week of the year.

I will hand pick random photos from my travels, accompanied with a description, or maybe a quiz, or perhaps even some poetry. Who knows? It will be whatever that picture inspires.

I realize I'm already off to a late start (hey, you can't teach an old dog new tricks!), so I will be squeezing in 2 photos for this first segment of 2009. I hope you enjoy.

Happy new year!!!

Wishing you many adventures in 2009,

Kristen

Back in Seattle - Brief Update

2009-01-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've last posted. My apologies!

Last time I checked in, I was journeying on a USA Road Trip that brought me from Seattle to Las Vegas (and all around the south/west).

My two-month journey continued when I took a flight from Los Angeles to Dublin, Ireland, where I lived for just over a month with my sister. From there I took short side trips to Madrid, Spain, and then to Gent, Belgium.

Lots of Guinness, tapas, Belgian beer and chocolate!

Was back in Seattle briefly for two weeks, before heading out to Chicago to visit my family/friends for the holidays.

During my trip to my hometown, I thoroughly enjoyed eating deep dish pizza, touring the Irish pubs (made it to at least 8 or 9 of them!), and catching up with everyone.

In addition to Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities (where all 4 Gill kids attended the same party...talk about the stars being aligned!), I also got to be with my grandpa for his 93rd birthday!

Another tradition (for the past 15+ years ) is to meet with my friends to do our new year's resolutions. This year's theme (given to us by one friend's daughter) is "Let's Go!" Hey, I'm always up for "Go-ing!"

So, now that I'm back in Seattle, I shall update you on all my latest adventures, as well as share a few new ideas for my blog this year.

Wishing you all the best in 2009!

Adventure on, my friends, and "Let's Go!"

Kristen

Brazil Highlights

2009-01-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

Highlights from my 2007 trip to Brazil. I need to go back to this country. Love it!

Sweet Relief in the Methow Valley

2008-10-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a slideshow of the scenic Methow Valley, in eastern Washington state. A lovely area, where I mountain biked, hiked (and ran into a pack of mules!), and took lots of photos. A nice retreat from my hectic life in Seattle.

Aloha!

2008-06-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

The trip to Hawaii was fantastic! I got to hang out with all of my favorite people: my oldest friend from Chicago, Eileen, Kelly, Tracy, my middle sister Colleen, and my college roomate Anna (who came all the way from Geneva, Switzerland). It was great to all be in one place.

Highlights from Oahu included:

Hiking up to Diamond Head (we walked there all the way from our hotel, which added another hour each way)

Snorkeling on the North Shore

Seeing turtles coming in to rest on the beach

Surfing Waikiki beach (my new surfer buddy friend even has video of me!)

Going on an eco-tour and learning about all of the history, flora, fauna, and folklore of the island

Partying until the wee hours (bars stay open until 4am here!) pretty much every night

Here are some pics:

On the way to Diamond Head

Sea turtle resting

The lovely ladies

Cubs fans...we're everywhere!

Brasil v Canada futbol game

2008-06-03T01:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome the Newest Member of the EU...ME!!!

2008-03-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

Just recently I received my Irish Citizenship, which means I can now become a member of the European Union. This has been quite a journey for me. I first tried applying for dual citizenship back when I was studying in Ireland during college. Since then, it has been well over 10 years of gathering paperwork, working with the Chicago office of records, getting things notarized in dingy Dublin offices, obtaining letters from country priests in the west of Ireland, and submitting everything, including an ugly mug shot, to the San Francisco Consulate. I have to give credit to my younger sister, who currently lives in Galway, for helping to round up the necessary paperwork from her end.

Next stop: applying for my Irish passport. No more waiting for that last-minute, expensive Brazilian visa! :-)

Now...I can't wait to inform my boss that I'd like to be paid in Euros. Hahahahaha!

Adventure On,
Kristen

Love from Seattle

2008-02-28T00:34:00.000-08:00

Every year on Valentine’s Day I like to send out an image of “love”, that elusive word that means so many things to so many people.

I came across this window display while walking down a street in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, and I knew immediately that this would be my picture.

The poet in me loves this image of the old-fashioned type-writer. I also love the juxtaposition of the thorny stand that supports the heart of flowers, and the Pro/Con sheet that lies just below, graphically displaying the yin and yang of love.

We may not ever be able to define it, but we know that we cannot survive without it.

Adventure On…Love, and Be Loved!

Kristen

Croatian Food

2007-11-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

Sampling the fine Croatian food was one of the highlights of my visit. The cuisine is absolutely delicious. Because of their long coastline, seafood is prominent. But, meats and cheeses are also plentiful. Fresh figs and pomegranates, ruby red ripe tomatoes, basil. I really liked this black risotto dish made with squid ink. And...I cannot say more about how divine their olives and olive oil are. If it weren't for the airline restrictions on liquids, I would have packed my carry-on full of the stuff!

Here are some of my favorites, along with some pictures to get you salivating:

prosciutto, cheese, tomatoes, olives

shrimp with olive oil and garlic

Palacinke (pronounced "pala chink eh"): pancakes filled with chocolate and walnuts

gelato

Would you like to try your hand at some Croatian cooking? Check out this site for some free recipes!

http://www.croatiatraveller.com/Recipes/Recipes.htm

Eat up, and adventure on!

Kristen

Croatia - Top 5 Essentials

2007-11-18T01:24:00.000-08:00

Here are my top recommendations for Croatia:

* Walk the walls of the old town of Dubrovnik, getting an eagle-eye's view of the inner city, the outer islands, and the open sea

Walking the walls on a rare rainy day.

* Stop for a break at the "Hole in the Wall" where, once you literally walk through a small hole in the fortress wall, you'll find a pleasant spot to enjoy a beer and view the sailboats, nearby islands, and cliff jumpers

Look...a hole in the wall!

And the view from the other side.

* Buy fresh lavender, figs, olive oil, or handmade lace from any of the many stands selling local goods

Garlands of fresh figs and homemade brandies.

* Visit the Sponza Palace Historic Archives for a history of the city of Dubrovnik, and view photos of all the men and young boys who lost their lives while defending their hometown

* Try some of the local wines (Croatia is well-known for their wines)

* Take a dip in the cool Adriatic sea

Take a dip! Clothing optional.

* Walk the Placa-Stradun (main street) at night, from Big Onofrio's fountain at one end, to the Bell Tower at the other, stopping along the way for a slice of pizza and people-watching

Walking the centuries old stradun (main street).

Greetings from Hrvatska!

2007-11-16T01:23:00.000-08:00

WHERE, you might ask? It's what we call Croatia. Officially known as the Republic of Croatia, it was once a part of the former Yugoslavia after WW2, declared its independence in 1991, and is currently a candidate for membership in the European Union.

Capitol: Zagreb
Official Language: Croatian
Population: 4.43 million

The majority of the population are Croats. National minorities include Serbs, Muslims, Slovenes, Italians, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and others. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic. In addition there are Orthodox, Muslims, and Christians of other denominations.

Croatia sits on a fault line that lies between Western and Eastern Europe. Because of its location, it has Venetian, Latin, Hapsburg, Hungarian, and Slavic influences. It is home to Roman ruins, cobblestone fishing villages, medieval walled cities, forested national parks with amazing waterfalls, and over 1,185 islands (more than Greece).

View of the azure Adriatic Sea.

Join me as I explore this amazing country.

Adventure On,
Kristen

Bosnia & Hercegovina - Top 5 Essentials

2007-11-09T01:17:00.000-08:00

Here are my top recommendations for Bosnia & Hercegovina:

* Enjoy some rahat lokum (Bosnian sweets, much like Turkish Delight)

* Check out Islamic culture and the Turkish souvenir shops while strolling along the old cobblestone streets of Mostar

Looking for the perfect hookah?

* Drink some Turkish coffee (Move over lattes, this stuff is strong as sh*t!)

* Eat some Bosnian meats, grilled and served up with hot ajvar, a delicious relish made from peppers and eggplant. Milk and meat are Bosnia’s principal agricultural outputs.

Tasty Bosnian grill. Mmmmmmmmmm..eat!

* Drive through the countryside, and marvel at its mountainous backdrop and blue-green rivers

The Neretva River cuts through the countryside around Mostar.

* Watch crazy people jump off a bridge! A local tradition that continues today is to jump off the Old Mostar Bridge. Even after the bridge had been bombed in the 1990s, contestants jumped off of what remained. Brings new meaning to the saying "If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?"Apparently, in Bosnia & Hercegovina, the answer is YES!

Adventurous I am...but not enough to jump off a bridge!

Kristen

Greetings from Bosnia & Hercegovina!

2007-11-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

WHERE?

How did I get here, you might ask? Well, quite literally, it was a crazy journey from Seattle to Chicago, to Galway (Ireland), to Dubrovnik (Croatia), to Serbia & Montenegro, and finally here. Trust me when I say my return journey was just as long!

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting stories from all of the above-mentioned places, but thought I'd start here.

Not many people I know (Americans in particular) have been to Bosnia & Hercegovina. The images we receive from our national media do not portray such a nice place. I would like to share with you what myself, and my sisters who travelled with me, experienced on our trip.

First of all, yes...there are visible signs of recent warfare. Bullet-strewn buildings and blown up bridges are still in a state of disrepair. On the market streets you can buy an interesting array of war-time paraphernalia. However, the country has done much to re-build and grow, and it truly is a beautiful place.

Scars from bullets during the war of the 1990s.

The Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina was formed after the break-up of the former socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and following the wars that took place from 1992 to 1995 among Bosnian Muslims, Croats and Serbs. The country was devastated by three years of violent inter-ethnic fighting.

With aid from the international community, major reconstruction has taken place since the advent of peace in 1995, and despite the problems it continues to face, Bosnia is generally considered a post-conflict success story.

In 2005, The Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Mostar’s Bridge Over the Neretva: A Muslim and Croat symbol of reconciliation

We should all take the time to learn about, and learn from, the history of this fascinating place. And most of all, to not forget.

Piece of shrapnel on a simple memorial.

Adventure on, with an educated mind and respect,

Kristen

Sweet Home...Chicago!

2007-10-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

"The Bean" is cool.

This year I had the fortune to stop and spend time in Chicago en route to my most recent travels. Chicago is my home town, and where most of my family still reside. In addition to watching a Cubs game, a must do for anyone who visits during their season, (a season that ends shortly after the playoffs begins, unfortunately), there are a million adventures to be had in the city.

One of the most recent additions to the downtown area is the Millennium Park. As our infamous Mayor so succinctly describes it:

"Millennium Park honors and builds on several proud Chicago traditions at once - beautiful architecture, landscaped and protected parklands, and the ongoing celebration of the arts." - Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley

One of the favorites of the park is what Chicagoans refer to as "The Bean". It is a coffee bean-shaped silver sculpture that reflects the city from 360 degrees. It is fun to watch kids run up and look at their reflection in the mirror. Here's one of me (arms outstretched) with a view of the north part of the city behind me.

"Me & The Bean".

Another amazing feature is a state-of-the-art music pavilion designed by Frank Gehry, which is the first of its kind in the country designed to mimic the acoustics of an indoor concert hall.

The state-of-the-art music pavilion designed by Frank Gehry.

So, all in all, Chicago is a great place to visit, even if it's just for a quick stopover. And, while you're there, don't forget to eat some Garrett's popcorn and get yourself a deep dish pie.

Oops...my ride is here. Gotta go!

An escort by Chicago's finest.

Adventure On!
Kristen

Good Karma, and Go Cubs!

2007-10-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

You heard it here first, kids. The Chicago Cubs are going all the way this year! No more Bartman, no more curses, no more excuses. Let's go, Cubbies!

Spoken like a true Cubs fan...I am ever hopeful. Plus, if it doesn't work out, there's always next year. Or next century. My grandparents (aged 92) have been waiting a lot longer than me to see our team win its first World Series.

Even so...seats at Wrigley Field are hard to come by. It is always with much pleasure (whether a winning season or no) that people stream into one of this country's greatest stadiums. I had the good fortune to run into an ex-boyfriend from days of old who just happened to have received extra tickets to that night's game. I chalk it up to good karma. A bridge unburned was my ticket in! Plus, it's not too difficult to sit next to Chicago's finest Firefighters while watching your home team bring in a WIN!

Of course, no game is complete without a Chicago-style hot dog...complete with Old Style beer. A classic Chi-town meal.

To Lou Pinella and the boys...best of luck!

Kristen

Sailing the San Juans

2007-09-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

Morning view in the San Juans.

Learning to sail has been quite an awesome experience for me. Living in Seattle, being so close to the Puget Sound and all it has to offer, how could I not take to the water?

This Labor Day I was fortunate enough to spend four days onboard my friend Cap'n John's boat. We sailed through the San Juan Islands of Washington, and the Canadian Gulf Islands. Although just a few hours away from Seattle, we were worlds away!

Sunset view from South Pender Island, Canada.

The peace of the water, the hilly islands, some with dry terrain, others with lush forests, the wind whipping through the sails...it was like living in a post card.

I caught my first big fish, and "Norm" (as we named him) provided our meals for the next few days. I broke down crying after catching him, once I realized that we'd have to club the poor fella and filet him. (Hey, I'm a city girl from Chicago! I don't normally indulge in such behavior!) He was quite delicious, though. Thank you, Norm!

The One That Didn’t Get Away! Salmon Slayer Gill

I highly recommend a sailing adventure throughout this beautiful area. There are also ferries that go back and forth to the mainland. For more information, check out:

www.guidetosanjuans.com/

Sail on!

Kristen

Viking Ship Lands in Ireland

2007-08-20T21:16:00.001-07:00

photo credit: Reuters

(Dublin, Ireland) A 65-member team that set sail from Roskilde, Denmark on July 1st, arrived yesterday in Dublin. The team journeyed over 1,000 nautical miles using only oar and sail power. Christened the Havhingsten af Glendalough (The Sea Stallion of Glendalough), this reconstructed viking ship is the largest in the world, say its builders, who built it using the wood of 300 oak trees.

The Sea Stallion's return voyage was 1,000 years in the making. Originally built in Dublin in 1042, it sank 30 years later in the Roskilde fjord, south of Copenhagen. It was not excavated until 1964, and was finally completed in 2004. The aim of this journey was to address questions related to Viking ship-building and travel.

Researchers will examine film and computer data gathered during the voyage, and the vessel will be on display at Dublin's National Museum until next year, when another crew will make the return voyage home.

Now that's what I call an adventure!

Buying a Bikini in Brazil

2007-08-07T01:10:00.000-07:00

Bathing suits in Brazil come in two sizes: small and smaller. I spent a LOT of time looking for the former.

In the place that invented the “Brazilian” wax, a bikini is a staple.

My bathing suit from Seattle just was not going to cut it. But, where to start? Having heard the Brazilian bikinis described as either “fio dental” ( “dental floss”) or “asa delta” (“the hang glider”), I was a bit nervous. A credit card and some courage, and I was off!

One of my favorite shops was BumBum (www.bumbum.com), which is named after a slang word for “butt”, and can be found at several locations near Ipanema and Copacobana beaches, and I also really like the styles at a lovely boutique called Vanina Nemer (http://www.vaninanemer.com.br/). Has anyone else ever heard of a Trikini before?

But…(no pun intended) you don’t have to go into a shop to buy a bathing suit. They sell them just about everywhere: crocheted bikinis on the beach, cardboard boxes full of Lycra on street corners, and even at the Sunday markets.

You’ll see people of all different shapes and sizes wearing them not just at the beach, but while walking along the streets, riding bikes, shopping, and even to the restaurants.

The guys are wearing speedos. Sometimes they’ll wear them under board shorts, but they shed the shorts as soon as they hit the sand. Get used to it!

So, my best advice is to make up with confidence what your bathing suit lacks in material, and strut your stuff!

Photo: Trying on bits and pieces at the hippie fair.

Adventure On!