hedialaviglobetrotter

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

#antitrump #dumptrump #impeachtrump #notmypresident #fucktrump #trump #resist #donaldtrump #trumpmemes #impeach #lockhimup #trumpforprison #nowarwithiran

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

The Rocky Mountains with it’s jaw dropping views makes hiking up rocks in 10,000 feet elevation a treat. The terrain changes noticeably from lush to dry in just a few miles, going from bright green grass to rocks. I even passed some snow at the top. Even though the air is thick with the sound of silence, I wanted to hear every tiny sound. The heavy wind as it passed through and moved all the tiny leaves made a deep sound that broke through that silence, mimicking the giant rocks. There is nothing like hiking through vast valleys and skyscraper mountains to make one feel like a tiny human. All in all, it was 10.5 miles of strenuous bliss.

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

Oasis amid the dry desert. This land of contrasts accentuates the alive. The tiny vibrant red desert flowers glow from a far on the blank canvas of the greige boulders and blue skies. The Joshua Tree park is an experience of the senses, where you become aware of nature and it’s beautifully brutal environment. The huge gears and pulleys at the Lost Horse Mine, one of the many left from the gold rush, are intriguingly misplaced; it’s precise placement of industrial parts juxtaposed by the unruly surrounding. It’s one of the only places where you willingly get up at 5 AM to beat the heat on your hike to Palm Oasis. Camp sites are clusters of giant boulders, providing shelter and shade. The stark transition from the scorching orange sun into a soothing blanket of bright stars against the dark sky signals the nocturnal side of the park. Just outside the park are artist communities and various retreats attracting curious visitors. The positive vibes are strong and it makes sense that it has become the trendy hipster getaway. 

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

No story about downtown Los Angeles would be complete without telling the story of the homeless community. To tell the whole story, I sprinkled a few pictures of reality in between trendy hip places and things. Los Angeles is a city of extremes, with extreme poverty and wealth as the obvious extreme. I moved in 12 years ago, trusting that the city streets would clean up miraculously. The nearby neighborhoods to Skid Row have taken it upon themselves to push the homeless out by establishing groups such as BID and the Clean Team, which are funded by local businesses. But wait.. shouldn’t our tax dollars go to cleaning the streets and housing the homeless? DTLA with all notable efforts for it’s revitalization and restoration, from events such as Bring back broadway to pop up events held at the Row DTLA, is still missing the point. You can put lipstick on a pig, but at the end of the day..

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

The long and elaborate journey for getting to the Taj Mahal suits the grandeur of the palace. The entire city of Agra is dedicated to creating an experience for the visit, from the 5 star hotels surrounding the area to the various shops around that sell stones similar to the ones used in Taj Mahal. I signed up for the exclusive tour from Delhi and left at 2:30 AM to beat the ominous traffic. The admiration and respect for the palace was obvious by the cleaning crew sweeping at 5 AM. The entrance grounds were suited for a grand horse and carriage and exciting clues of what we would soon encounter lured me toward the entrance line. The process of entry had been well thought through and extremely systematic and secure. The layered entrances demanded respect and prepared the visitors for the magnificence. The cultural hospitality at the time was designed into the structure and the small rooms built around the courtyard entrance attested to the thought placed on catering to community. The concept of symmetry is the basis of all design and communicates the logic that is the underlying concept for all Islamic design and patterns. The repetitive geometric patterns speak a spiritual language, as they convey the infinite; a single unit that is replicated without limits. All geometric vines, flowers and fruits are abstracted ideas of the real object and do not dare to compete with creation. Circular structures create equality, balance and harmony, and the natural division of the circle into regular divisions represent the primordial symbol of unity and the ultimate source of all diversity in creation. Stemming from Persian Islamic architecture, the joining bodies of water flowing to one centralized source, the lush gardens surrounding the entire area and the scaled marbled onion dome protecting the mausoleum are symbolic elements that represent Taj Mahal as paradise. The rare stones and gems used for hand carved inlays make Taj Mahal a rare jewel in architecture and the immense attention paid to it’s creation represent eternal love. 

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

This piece at The Singapore Art Museum was especially captivating and brought the colorful buttons and beads to life. The juxtaposing of the stop motion animation of real life images with the abstract assembly of the buttons, along with it’s ‘low technique’ depiction of the scenes were the key component that made this piece special for me. Almost like the television show South Park, it is a back to basics visual communication technique that feels refreshingly retro. 'Zsa Zsa Zsu' is a music video produced for the Bandung-based music band, Rock N’ Roll Mafia (RNRM).

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

Singapore is a multicultural mosaic of cultures where diverse places of worship, cuisines and languages co-exist harmoniously, despite their differences. The rich mix of unique architecture of Singapore’s churches, mosques and temples is a hopeful display of respect and congruency. As a citizen of places with impenetrable borders, I felt at home in this welcoming and all inclusive city. The facades of cultural buildings are decorated with vibrant colors, reminding me that no matter how different the skin colors may be, the variation in colors are what unites these structures and ultimately, these people. The city’s cultural fabric resembles a colorful woven quilt, united with mutual regard for various ways of life. 

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

Crystal Universe, a display at a new permanent exhibition at the ArtScience Museum, aims to let visitors experience the planets, stars and galaxies up close. The artwork uses 170,000 LED lights, which together give the illusion of stars moving in space. The exhibition, Future World, is by Tokyo-based art collective teamLab

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

The pedestrian pathway around the Singapore River is a metropolis with a collection of futuristic structures. Every few feet, there is an optimistic demonstration of a symbiotic relationship between man and nature; effective use of finite resources while increasing the quality of life. The River encourages a healthy lifestyle by having public bikes, walking pathways and affordable public transportation. There are even solar powered giant umbrellas with fans to ease the summer heat. The futuristic city challenges conventional ways of thinking about design and architecture and dares it’s citizens to dream. 

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

A nearly utopian city, it seems the Singaporeans know what it takes to save the world. From the super trees lined by solar cells in the Gardens by the Bay to the lush vegetation of the tropical highlands & a tall waterfall in a soaring, contemporary greenhouse at the Cloud Dome to the gigantic air-conditioned glass greenhouse offering themed gardens with many exotic plants at the Flower Dome, Singapore is turning into a "City in a Garden". Education is the key component in creating awareness of our changing world and climate. The intense attention and care in designing and maintaining these environments demonstrate the sensitivity of the earth’s ecosystem, in which if a single element is discarded, the whole system is affected. Student field trips to places like this are an invaluable real life learning experience that increase the chances of survival for the next generations. 

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

Impressive art communities take over dilapidated industrial spaces, bringing not just creative spaces, but hustling social communities. A cohesive space where high art and hand craft are appreciated all the same. Art galleries with popular exhibits in the likes of Paul Smith and Gaudi make access to culture accessible. The plethora of unique retail stores, coffee shops and restaurants complete the concept of a ‘creative mall’. The revival of these kind of spaces are prevalent in growing Asian cities, such as Shanghai, Beijing and even Hong Kong. With a solid infrastructure and well thought out streets that offer many modes of intuitive transportation systems, a stranger feels quickly at home. The charm of the city lies in the spaces between the facelift-ed buildings, where traditional ways of life are clearly visible. 

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

Santiago, Chile is full of hustle and bustle. With a large young population, the streets and the art scene is vibrant. The large strips of parks in the middle of wide city streets encourages and fulfills the need for a healthy dose of social interaction. The walking and shopping streets begin from what feels like the hearth of the city, Plaza de Armas and is surrounded by museums such as Museo de Arte Sagrado and Museo Histórico Nacional . The city encourages walking and is laid out in a very “European” manner, with promenades and squares and public transportation. The city’s ancient history is dispersed with skyscrapers. The hilly terrain divides the fabric of the city; I stayed close to the  Cerro Santa Lucia , the tall small hill where the city was founded in 1600′s and also, took a tram( Bellavista Funicular )to Cerro San Cristóbal. The views of the city are apparently very encouraged by the natural terrain. I’m also always drawn to the graffiti and the artist communities. 

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

Nothing made me feel closer to nature than witnessing mother nature making land. I got to get up close and personal with the active volcano of Hilo, one of the islands of Hawaii, live in action. At first, the toxic sulfur in the air and the torrential rain during the 5 mile bike ride to the volcano site was intimidating. But remembering that the concept of creation has it’s hardships, I felt privileged to be able to participate. The fresh volcanic grounds, rough and bold, were daring me to climb. At times the brittle surface helped my foot hold and at times, it shattered under my feet. The Hawaiian people celebrate amazing event and are thrilled to give you a little history lesson about their home. They love their land and that love shows vividly through their use of all local and natural materials in everyday objects. Their culture for taking due time, being present and staying in the moment made me feel incredibly relaxed and closer to how every interaction, no matter how brief, could leave it’s mark and be memorable.

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

One more trip to Hong kong. The best description I can find now after my sixth visit is wonder. Curiosity. The feeling that this city invokes is a never ending desire to see and find out more. The garden that is framed by the ornate entrance, the layers of architecture that tell an honest story about history, the vertical high rises that show the need for more even when one runs out of land. The layered city terrain changes quickly and flows and overlaps one purpose to the next. And somehow, it's all so organized and therefore, not overwhelming. Just wonder-filled.

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

The small downtown area of Phuket has a vibrance to it like none other. My excitement about the treasures found in stores alongside Thalang road were childlike. The juxtaposition of the grey and soiled outside made the colorful objects for sale inside more special and more of a novelty. Color changing LED lights lit up the already colorfully painted buildings on this road, making them look like candy and forever changed my idea of painted objects. The graffiti on the streets is actually art, drawn impeccably and is meant to be a permanent part of the street walls, which is the complete opposite of what graffiti usually is. The street food was not something I dared to try but just the sight of deep fried cockroaches made me rethink the idea of food in general also. All in all, some of my ideas for nourishment, such as ‘bugs are not food’, and aesthetics, which have been unquestionable staples, were challenged. Not bad for an afternoon stroll.

[hedialaviglobetrotter]

The closest experience you will have to being on the moon. The landscape at  Mauna Kea feels honest and the extreme effects of the elevation (13,700 feet)  made me aware of how human we really are. To have clouds below my feet exaggerated the feeling of being somewhere alien, which explains why the Hawaiians held this place as a sacred realm for gods, forbidden to all but chiefs and priests. The complete sound of silence, the purity and softness of the dirt, the distinct protrusions of craters formed by volcano abruptions, the brittleness of the lava rocks and the bouquet of desert like plants all have a distinct purity, uniqueness and cohesive unearthly feel. The magnificence of the observatory is overpowering. It’s giant metallic structure visually stand out in the surroundings and implement their presence.