As people all across the US watch the situation in the gulf (if they haven’t tuned it out already), you can’t help but agree with today’s caption from The Big Caption.

I had the opportunity to head to southern Africa to spend the holidays mostly out in the bush tracking animals and shooting them with my camera. It was beyond anything I had imagined up to that point. The camps we stayed at were rustic “tents” but large with king-sized beds, open showers and double vanities. The people working at the camps, especially in Botswana, were fantastically good natured and had thought of our every want. The trackers and rangers were extremely knowledgabe and seemed to enjoy sharing their time with us whether we were out in the bush or having some after dinner drinks.

And then there were the animals… especially in Botswana, there were animals everywhere. Under every bush, hiding in every tree, roaming every open space. It was continuously breathtaking and sometimes more than just a little frightening. I certainly learned a new respect for elephants. Perhaps “respect” isn’t the right word… it would probably be more honest to say “fear.” Then there were the lions, leopards, cheetah, African wild cats, zebra, giraffe, wild dogs, kudu, tsesabe, servals, caracal, jackals, hippo, wart hogs, baboon, monkeys, monitor lizards, hyena, all the impala, the eagles, the hawks, the vultures, all the tons of other birds in every shape, size and color you could imagine… plus more. All under the most amazing sky.

Specifically, we went to four camps. In Botswana, we went to Chitabe Lediba and Savuti Camp. The latter being based on the Savuti Channel with was running for the first time in 25 years. In South Africa they were Camp Jabulani (not somewhere I would recommend), and Exeter Dulini (pictured).

One final thing was that I managed to geotag all my photos. I should remember that…

They say that once you’ve gotten the sands of Africa in your heart, you can’t help but return. I think it will be pretty easy to remember to head back as soon as possible.

Behold: a galaxy suspended in a glass cube… For $700. I need to remember to put this on my christmas list this year… for no apparent reason.

Via Notcot.org

My woman (and myself to a lesser degree) has been looking for some new plates and stuff, so when I walked by Tart on Melrose and saw these very, very cool plates in the window, I had to take a photo and show them to her. The store was closed at the time, so I couldn’t go in for a closer look, but I figured we could get them online later…

Sure we could… for $80 per plate! Awww damn. A little out of my price range… I mean, even the coffee mug was $70!

I need to remember to get rich so I can have fancy plates one day.

Today feels like the first day I can finally take a moment and ease myself into the new year. The past couple weeks were just so jam packed… even when I was doing nothing. I hope I remember it all:

The driving all over Trinidad to find my long lost granny,

The time spent doing nothing with Flash II on the veranda in Tobago.

The Cris and caviar.

The death of my D80.

The feeling of a brand new D300 in my hands.

The shoot out in LA.

The drive up the Pacific Coast Highway.

The editing in NY.

It’s so much. Now, I just hope I remember to kick some ass in 2008.

As New York Magazine said about The Spa at Mandarin Oriental: “As close to heaven as a New York spa gets, this 35th-floor spot will leave you and your wallet feeling substantially lighter.”

There’s not much else that can really be said about this place. The sex-specific “heat experience” rooms outfitted with very large jacuzzi-ish “vitality” pools with submerged lounge seating, amethyst-crystal steam chambers, and interesting heat showers with colored lights corresponding to water temperatures are only the beginning to your “journey” at this place.

The services provided and products used are both unbelievable.

And ending the whole 3 hour experience with some time spent in the “relaxing” rooms looking blankly out of floor to ceiling windows at the amazing views from their 35th floor location makes you wonder how you can possibly manage trudging through the grime below again.

Expensive is an understatement, but I should remember to try to get into this place again.