Thursday, April 29, 2010

Thoughts at Toronto Pearson Airport

And here I find myself at the airport bar again. come three hours before international flights, what garbage. Now I have three hours to kill.

There are three classes for Korean Air: Economy, Prestige, and Morning Calm.

The Korean Air desks are right next to KLM's desk for Amsterdam Schipol. More of my past/future juxtapositioning.

Haven't eaten any dinner because I've been too busy packing. I should probably grab my last chance at western food in a while (cheeeeeeeeese!).

Oh my, tell me that screaming baby isn't going to be on the same plane as me...

today i leave for korea!



a punk version of 애국가, the national anthem.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

tomorrow, korea. today, another bathroom self portrait.

Just ate an Asian-style croquette at Toronto's best Japanese restaurant. This makes me simultaneously nostalgic about my past (Netherlands, kroket country) and excited about my future (Asia! Tomorrow!).

until then, i'm back with BATHROOM SELF PORTRAITS. since i am feeling a bit nostalgic about the Netherlands, here are some Dutch bathroom shots:



my apartment, Diemen, the Netherlands.

this isn't a particularly unique bathroom (except for the bizarre shower) but i figured i have to include one picture of the bathroom in my apartment in Holland. it was a pretty awful apartment; there were cockroaches, i had no heater, and i was paying far too much money for what i was getting, even if there was a housing shortage in Amsterdam. still, i woke up every morning to a view of the Dutch countryside, and four little black horses grazing in the farm field nearby.

the Dutch are a tall people; my feet don't reach the ground.




if you could see my face, you'd be able to see the look of utter confusion, pondering the existence of this female urinal in the women's washroom at my school.

Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam




residence on weesperstraat, Amsterdam.

no offense to my friends that live here, but parts of this building really look like a dump. i was intrigued by this bathroom, which had two tiny strategically placed mirrors that allowed you to see: 1. that creepy dude on that poster 2. your modesty, while you pee.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

moving again

apologies to everyone that it's been such a long time since i updated. my main reason is that i haven't been traveling at all, save for the distance between the library and my home. but now that school is over, gloria is on the move again! this thursday, i will be heading for Korea (south, not north...don't think they'd let me out again if i got in) and you can be assured that there will be many more blog updates then.

in the meantime, i've decided to use this blog as a venue for a photography series that i've been working on, called Bathroom Self-Portraits. because i love traveling, and i love bathrooms, and i especially love searching the world for interesting bathrooms. two rules:

1. it's in a bathroom

2. it's a self-portrait

here's the first one:



Isabella's Chocolate Cafe, Oshawa. April 16, 2010

i play banjo for a band called gatesgatesgates and we were invited to play a special show at this Oshawa venue. The owners, who were a big part in supporting the arts community in Oshawa, were packing up and leaving for the East Coast, so a special thank you concert was held for them.