Scratch that last bit – looks like I’m working through the weekend after all (they’re swamped and I’ve agreed to take some project work home with me) which I’ll add to the UX review I have pending for another client. Plus all kinds of trip details. I think it’ll be a little bit hectic the next couple of weeks – nevermind – it’s a good chance to scrape some last kroners together before our 2 months off…

So in an effort to find the right balance of balls and respect for other people’s privacy – I think I’ve landed on a project that’ll push some of my boundaries: 50 strangers. I’ve seen it in various stages of completion here and there, on blogs, flickr, etc., and I think that taking rather close up photos of 50 strangers (which means I’ll actually have to approach people I don’t know and ask them to tolerate/ participate in something I don’t like myself) – will get me taking the kinds of photos I like very best – which almost always include people. Maybe if I’m comfortable with it – the people in the shot will be too.

I realized that some years ago while looking through some of my travel photos from 1992 – when I was 18 and backpacking through Europe. I remember (and still had the habit of) waiting until the scene through my viewfinder was devoid of people – a fellow tourist had moved out of the way, or a woman on her way to work had walked out of the picture – before pressing click. The result was 100′s of photos of buildings. Buildings, interiors and landscapes – most of which look more or less the same today. Wheren’t there any PEOPLE living in Europe in 1992? You wouldn’t know it from my photos. And for all that waiting to get the right shot – the photos that are by far the most interesting are the ones where people (accidentally or not) were included anyways. Those are the ones that trigger the most memories, bring unexpected smiles (the hairstyles!), and communicate the most about a place and its atmosphere. I have gotten better about it over the years – when I’m out travelling especially – but there’s a ways yet.

Project 50 strangers. Damn the first few (or all 50!) are going to be tough..

This was our weekend: a German outdoor production of Hamlet on Friday in the courtyard at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør – totally mad, with a mud stage, chain link curtains, amazing music and a Hamlet that was totally off his rocker (of course). Saturday – research, bookings and more research (no one feels sorry for us, I know – I don’t either). Sunday – killer spinning class and an afternoon bike ride in the fresh air around Ørestad Syd – a brand new neighbourhood not far from where we live. We’d heard rumours about a great new café out at 8 Tallet (another Bjarke Ingels Group development that’s as impressive now that it’s nearly complete as it was in architectural model format at the Danish Architecture Centre). The café did not disappoint. Neither did the new sports park – it’s all kitted out with basketball court (not many of those here), soccer fields, an urban garden and even a rollerblading rink… might have to strap on the padding (and by padding I mean wrist guards AND pillows front and back) and blow the dust off those rollerblades…

I’ve had trip research and planning up to my eyeballs the last few weeks. Luxury problem I know. This one’s been lurking for a few years – the Oz trip, and it finally feels like the right time to go. The money is finally saved up, the timing with work actually fits (sort of) and all signs point to “GO”.

A big part of this trip will be catching up with my great friend Tanya of 12 years. We met in Vancouver all those years ago where we worked in a bike shop near Stanley Park – she was on a work visa and I was between semesters at university. Man alive we had so much fun. She’s always had this rule about doing something new and boundary-pushing on her birthday – so despite her fear of heights – the 4 of us went sky diving in Abbotsford that September. The plane was too small to hold more than 5 people (the pilot, 2 jumpers and 2 tandem instructors) – so we split into two groups. I won’t ever forget laying on the grass with her sister before it was our turn, the plane so far up that when they jumped out they weren’t more than specks in the sky – and we could hear her. We could hear her screaming from all the way up there. I have to give it to the woman – afraid of heights and jumping out of a plane – she’s got some balls. Whether the instructor got his hearing back after that is another story. I think the last time I saw her was about 6 years ago when she was back in Vancouver on her way up to Alaska. So it’s about bloody time we met up again, and I can’t wait.

There are some (too many) weeks yet till we leave, but we’ll be traveling the east coast of Australia – flying around a bit so that we can work Tanya’s 2 week holiday in with something she’s never seen – The Blue Mountains, and so that we can avoid spending our days behind the wheel of a car (which doesn’t really appeal to either of us). We might give up seeing some of the things in between, but we’ll have more time to enjoy the places we do see – is our thinking. That said – we’ll be renting a car a couple of times- up in Cairns/ Port Douglas for some not too far away day trips into the rainforest at Cape Tribulation, and then in Melbourne so that we can drive the Great Ocean Road for a couple of days as well. Tanya will be showing us the Gold Coast/ Byron Bay, and we’ll be on Fraser Island for some days with a group. Tasmania’s on the list (the planning for which has been delegated to Jan) and then it’s on to New Zealand. We’d originally planned to combine the Oz trip with Vietnam/Cambodia – but we’d hit monsoon season in SE Asia – and that doesn’t sound too brilliant – Angkor Wat or not. So that stays on the list for now. When Jan suggests a weekend in a summer house in Sweden, he says I can add it to the list as number 427.

The second (smaller) half of our trip is to the North Island of New Zealand. There seems to be a lot of debate about what to see if you only have 3 weeks in NZ  (and again – aren’t into driving 8 hours a day), and while a lot of friends and forums have leaned towards the South Island – the North Island looks to have a greater contrast in landscape. By that I mean that it looks less like what I’m used to (the South Island looks – in photos – a LOT like British Columbia, which I LOVE, but which isn’t something super new. But it IS reason to go back… We’ll finish up in Abel Tasman Nation Park though – so we will see just a bit of the SI. Otherwise it’s Bay of Islands, Coromandel Peninsula, Whakatane (White Island), Rotorura, Waitamo, Wellington and then Abel Tasman.

If anyone’s got any suggestions (what you liked best) or tips on what you think we might like to try to see/try/taste/experience while we’re there – let me know!

I sort of take it a year at a time, but I think it’ll be a while yet. It’s a matter of extremes here – with things that I absolutely love (every day) and others that I sometimes can’t stand (some days) – which I suppose isn’t so unusual when where we come from will always be our benchmark. And a visit from home (just ask my expat friends – German, French or Russian) – sets off this whole series of questions about where to call home – every time. But smiling breath out – I’m happy here, and that is (for now) reason enough to stay. I think Jan’s always relieved when I reach that conclusion – that he won’t be dragged off to Canada just yet anyways.

I’m always super curious when someone uproots again and moves back, especially when the person has been living elsewhere for several years  – I wonder what it finally was that was strong enough to pull them away from all the things that drew them to a new city or country in the first place. My guess is that it’s family. Definitely family.

It’s become standard now for us to do a lot of biking as Copenhagen is brilliant for that (if I haven’t raved about that aspect a hundred times already) – and not that you could ever run out of places to bike… but after 3 years and a lot of kms… the thought did enter my head (and I was hard pressed to come up with an answer) – what haven’t they already seen? Both my parents are great for being super active, and open to just about anything. I think retirement is suiting them both better than they’d expected (or maybe it would be more accurate to say than the rest of us had expected – having seen them pull crazy long work days/ weekends for so many years). Having put everything into their business – I can’t think of anyone who better deserves the time now.

This year we biked along the coast and up to Dyrehaven, through the woods and fields in there and back to the city. Fantastic day (plus a flat tire repair rescue from Dad) – and plenty of sunshine despite the forecasts listed on our iPhones (seriously, that weather app is inaccurate way too often). We ate at some of our latest finds/favourites – Les Trois Cochons in Vesterbro, Den Lille Fede on Store Kongensgade and Told og Snaps; spent an afternoon in Dragør, and then a weekend with everyone in Jylland. Saw Opera on Location at Frederiksberg Castle (can’t say enough about that one, we loved it!), and (Tim Rushton’s) Dansk Danseteater at the Politigaard (the police headquarters building of all places – amazing courtyard setting). Got up to Helsingør for a day (so that the guys could golf in Humlebæk) and Mom and I could “sightsee”…. ok, well it starts with “s” anyways (shopping). We did see a bit of Kronborg Castle (used by Shakespear as the setting for Hamlet) – but it was admittedly a quick look to prove that we hadn’t just shopped and talked all day… I’d be spoiling the secret here if I didn’t think that the bags had already given us away…

Thanks for a great great visit. Already looking forward to next year…

And then comes the tricky part. Acknowledging that what matters most are the people in your life, whether you chose them or not – doesn’t make it easier somehow. Why? At first glance it seems like the perfect simplification. Grandparents love you through and through and accept you as you are, and vice-versa. But then you see (or maybe it’s just me?) – that instead of tackling some of those other, tougher, relationships and letting go of past hurts and what you know are probably great misunderstandings – you throw your energy into all sorts of other things like staying on top of the to-do list, meeting new people, this month’s big client project or next month’s little travel excursion. Work has it’s challenges, but people… people are tough. They’re awkward and prickly and raw sometimes and rarely does any of that have anything to do with you. As with the reverse – the way I choose to react (admittedly) probably has more to do with my own ‘stuff’ than what was said or done by someone else. But man alive it’s tough to let go of our assumptions and preconceptions (where familiarity with an opinion often wins out over being open to another perspective) – especially when it has to do with family – why? Do we expect so much more of family? Maybe. Yes. I think we all hope for acceptance – or in other words – that we matter. Seems basic doesn’t it – and yet that somehow gets muddled up in all sorts of complication. But you see what I’m getting at. People aren’t easy.

So what does that mean – that no one (not even me) will remember the extra steam put in to doing a stellar job on that big telecom website come 6 months from now (although I hope that in general I can be happy about being the type of team mate & professional that I am). On the other hand (and far more importantly) – maybe I ought to put some more energy into understanding where people (even sharp-tongued aunts) are coming from, that prickly is sometimes no more than a means of self-protection, and that off-hand comments are sometimes just an awkward way of showing an interest. Tricky, but it matters. And for that I have my grandparents to thank.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately, what with economic crisis highs and lows, and all of us being affected in one way or another. I love the way so many people have made the best out of tighter budgets – by taking inventory and quickly concluding that they already have everything they’ve ever needed. Job loss has meant hustle, finding new approaches, new solutions, and above all – doing everything it takes right now to get by, whether that means working longer hours, taking a job they’re over qualified for or seeing their current situation as an opportunity to plunge into further education – anything, but look for handouts. Crisis or not, it’s inspiring to see people running on their own steam.

Maybe that’s where the wicked sense of humour comes in (ok so maybe there are a few things these dear friends have in common) – a good laugh to keep the molehill from turning into a mountain – or is it the other way round, turning the mountain into a molehill and getting a little perspective. Ladies, you know who you are. We might not be in touch on a daily basis – but I love that we can, time and again, pick up right where we left off, whether it was a week ago or 2 years since we last met. And while I love how technology makes our world a little smaller – oh what I wouldn’t give at times for some fewer kilometers in between.

Ps. love the card Lolo.

We’ve got a pretty interesting schedule coming up (a post for another day) but for today I’m reflecting on some of the places that have really stood out over the last few years.

Camino de Santiago. Spain. July 2007. Experience rich, challenging (well worth every blister) and a few hundred kilometers that will stay with me the rest of my life. The big take away: life is only as complicated as we make it. Fantastic the way a good long walk in the sunshine helps you to see the value of simplicity. I’ve only walked half way (time constraints) – so I still have the last half to look forward to…  Jump to the Camino photo set on flickr

Tomatina Festival. Buñol, Spain. August 2007. Hands down the funnest 2 hours of my life. I can still hear someone screaming “I’m allergic to tomatoes!” And just the screaming in general (hilarious). Found a tomato seed in my ear close to a week later, having received (and given) a thorough tomato pelting. The Camino and the Tomatina festival in one summer – yeah, that was a good couple of months.. Jump to the Tomatina photo set on flickr

Lisbon, Portugal. July 2008. Glorious weather, lovely people, great hiking and custard filled cakes. Need I say more? Jump to the Lisbon photo set on flickr

Reykjavik, Iceland. October 2009. My sister was with us on this trip, which made it extra special. Oh – and riding Icelandic ponies had been a dream for years. The trekking, the Blue Lagoon, the tin houses – all a bonus. Jump to the Reykjavik photo set on flickr

Paris, France. April 2009. We stayed in the Saint Germain de Prés district this time, which couldn’t have been more ideal. And there’s no better weekend than Paris, walking along the Seine, sipping red wine and tasting amazing French cuisine – with the one you love. Aww. Jump to the Paris photo set on flickr

Vienna, Austria. December 2008. A long weekend with my mom (the first time we’ve ever done something like this just us two, and what with 1000′s of km between us now it was great to have the time together). So to be honest it wouldn’t have mattered where we went, it’d have meant a lot to me. As it happens, Vienna during the Christmas season was magical – full of lights, markets, mulled wine, opera, classical music, the Museum Quarter – and of course the Spanish Riding School. Jump to the Vienna photo set on flickr

Florence, Italy. April 2008. The city itself is absolutely beautiful and the Tuscan food is to die for. I was here for the CHI 2008 conference (plus a few extra days) and what sticks out in my mind (this being my second visit) – is how warm, happy and welcoming everyone is in this city (which was even more apparent after a couple of days in Venice). Jump to the Florence photo set on Flickr

Budapest, Hungary. October 2008. Thermal spas, a tough history and the world’s best goulash. We admit to not quite acquiring a taste for Palinka (slam-your-fist-on-the-table-Hungarian brandy), but the festivals at the castle grounds, ordering sausage by the meter, and ice cream in the shape of flowers well made up for it. Jump to the Budapest photo set on flickr

Impossible though, to pick just a few places – as each trip has had its own moments and amazing corners – that perfect little back garden café in Warsaw, New Years Eve under the space needle in Seattle, the brilliant bar in Berlin and the bookstores in London…

And the wish list grows…
Australia
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Back to Greece – maybe Santorini next time?
The North American east coast – from Montreal, to the Martimes and on to New York
More of Sweden
More of Norway
More of Spain
Rome again
More of the Netherlands, absolutely

… I blame the stampede leather.

What’s on your list?