The Top 5 Most Important Travel Tools

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Ian Hanson

What do I bring?  Will I ever use this?  What couldn’t I live without once I get away from the comforts of home?

All these questions will be answered, in this must have list of items to take with you on absolutely any trip.  You might just be headed down the street to get groceries.  Bring them.  Perhaps you’re on a one way ticket to Asia.  Bring them along or buy them there.  You’ll be glad you did.  Here’s the list of the Top 5 Most Important Travel Tools ever.

Tool #5:  (It’s best to count down, it builds up the excitement)  A plastic bag.  It sounds simple and boring, but let me explain.  What if you’re riding along on a bumpy mountain road in a Nepalese bus.  Your stomach begins to ache.  Soon, you’re too sick to keep those samosa’s inside.  Where do you turn?  Ah, that precious little plastic bag you brought along!  Just puke and rally, throwing the bag’o'joy out the window.  I saw plenty of locals do it.  The usefulness doesn’t stop there.  Keep your wet clothes away from the dry ones.  Separate little bits and pieces, keeping them organized.  Suffocate your enemies.  The list is endless.  And so are the styles/choices for plastic bags.  Just make sure you bring some.

Tool #4:  A small blanket.  I’ve recently discovered the magic withheld in my recently purchased, yak wool blanket.  This thing goes with me everywhere now.  I can wear it as a dress, a dashing scarf, pillow, seat cushion, the list goes on and on.  Warm or cold this item has really been a lifesaver.  You’ll wish you had one next time you have to lie down on a dirty sleeper train…

Tool #3:  The tiny knife.  Just so you know, I’m basing all of these tools off of the ones I’ve brought with me on this trip.  I found mine in the door of the car I bought this spring, BONUS!  It’s helped me pry open bottles, cut off shoe laces, extract the never ending dirt from under my fingernails, peel/cut fruit and veggies, scare off vagrants…you name it and this little guy can do it!  Of course, the knife is up to you.  Perhaps you’d like more of a Swiss Army Knife with attached bottle opener, or a Gerber for the powerful claw-like pliers.  I’d bring them, but frankly I’m afraid to lose such expensive items.  Plus airlines don’t like you bringing them on planes.

Tool #2:  Getting close to the cream of the crop, but no list of travel tools would be complete without a headlamp.  These little babies are priceless in a dangerous situation.  I’m not even sure where to start, it seems obvious that this would be on any list.  Also note, this is the first item that includes batteries.  When traveling, especially when you’re journey requires packing as light as possible, I avoid items that require constant charging or extra batteries.  When they’re dead they’re no good to anyone.  Except maybe to throw as bait to would-be robbers.  When looking at headlamps, you get what you pay for.  Aim for a quality one that will stand the test of time, and not die every week.  These puppies will let you read in the dark while your friends are sleeping.  Many have strobe modes and when a group of headlamps get together, it’s one rockin’ party.  In die hard bathroom situations in the woods, you’ll want to know if…well…just know it’s handy.

Tool #1:  The moment of truth.  The secret to traveling and having the right tools for every situation.  I think you’ll be surprised to find out that the most important item is…WHATEVER YOU WANT!  That’s right folks, it’s pretty much whatever is going to make you happiest throughout the trip.  This includes but is not limited to, an iPod, watch, altimeter, Gameboy, cellphone, compass, Kindle, etc.  These are all personal choices, but depend on the type of person.  I don’t call home a lot, but enjoy music and videos so I brought my iPod touch.  For someone who wants the latest copy of “Lonely Planet” and a ton of books that fit into a magazine sized space, throw in your Kindle.  I never know what time it is so a watch can often be crucial.

In the end, when all is said and done, you get to bring what ever you want.  It’s your trip.  I’ve just found from experience there are a few basic things that I wouldn’t want to have been without.  Just keep in mind, it’s always advantageous to pack light.  Smaller the better.  Items with high upkeep such as battery powered items can be frustrating, as they seem to break more often, require charging or batteries, and tend to be targets for theft.  It is also hard to leave behind the, “Just In Case” items.  They fill your bag and maybe get used once or twice.  Try to focus on things that will get used all the time, with many purposes.  Most importantly, remember that you’re out to have fun.  The trip shouldn’t be about the gear you bring, but the memories you make while you’re away from home.  So don’t get too caught up in what’s in your bag, but what’s surrounding you.

Hanson Photography – Out.

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We Thought We Were Ready

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Ian Hanson

“Sorry sir, we don’t have”

“We just ran out.  Maybe tomorrow.”

A simple nod that said it all. “No.”

Everywhere we went, the response was the same.  Then they would point in another direction and tell me the store up the street would have some.  The next place could help me.  I believed them.  For awhile.  Until I started to realize, “How is it possible that every cell phone store just happens to be out of SIM cards?  Really?”  Something wasn’t right here.

Being a foreigner in India can be tough, especially if you take things personally.  You’re going to stand out like a sore thumb, and the Indians that hassle you for rickshaws, in the market, and even phone carriers won’t bat an eye at denying you what you want or charging you exuberant rates.  This was evident when I finally found a store that had a SIM card.  We didn’t have all the necessary paperwork (copies of passport, miniature passport photos, a local address, etc.) so we purchased the card on the premise we’d come back and finish up.  When we did there was a different man working, and as soon as he heard SIM card he said, “No, we do not have.”  Well, joke’s on you buddy, we already got one!  Seemed to me that the color of my skin was denying me the rights that the locals enjoyed.  This was an eye opener.

The “SIM Experience” has been an analogy for travel in India.  The easiest part about it was crossing the border.  Two simple pieces of paper and a quick jaunt under an archway…and we were in.  No questions asked.  No bags searched.  Man, if India is this simple we’re going to have a great time!  ERRRRRH!  (buzzer sound)  Wrong answer!  Since then we’ve seen hotel owners that operate “Indian Only” hotels, auto-rickshaw drivers that charge 4-5 times the price that locals pay, or even tourist standards like the Taj Mahal.  Here an Indian entry ticket costs 20 rupees…but the foreign price is 750!

Don’t let me give you the wrong impression.  India is a gargantuan country; based on statistics on the CIA’s website, it is second only to China in population.   With well over a billion people, and for traveler’s who stick mainly to the touristy routes, you’re bound to run into the crowd that survives off of tourism.  It’s cutthroat, and they know how to work the system.  Once you find your way off the beaten path (or retreat to the safety of your hotel room) you will find some great times.  Non-touristic camel safari’s, motorcycle rentals in the desert, cheap Indian alcohol, older mothers who take you in as their own, and evenings with Couchsurfers are just a few of the highlights that can be hassle-free.

Tomorrow it’s off to Bollywood to find my way into fame and fortune.  Rumor has it that Westerners are picked up off the street to act as extras in films.  Check back again to hear how this turns out, and to find out more about travels through Nepal, India, and England.  Photos to come once Hanson Photography returns to stable ground.

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The Art of the Barter

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Ian Hanson

Depending on where you’re raised and your understanding of the world, you might wonder why things are the way they are once you’ve left your comfort zone.  Take for example, myself.  I was raised in rural Minnesota.  Some might see it as a slightly backwards place, with strange people whose notions of fun include driving around in mud, shooting each other with paint, sitting in tiny huts over holes cut in the ice, etc.  However, one thing that I believed made sense everywhere, was the idea that purchasing an item should be as simple as paying the price printed on it.  Oh I was so wrong.

You see in other places around the world, such as Nepal, the price quoted or printed is really what I like to refer to as:  A starting place.  You could just take it and walk away.  However, you would never know just how much you’ve been ripped off, and increased the standard price for the guy after you.  A lost art has been resurrected in this seemingly simple culture.  The “Art of the Barter”.

Bartering isn’t simply a way to get the things you want or need.  It’s a way of life.  Need a place to stay tonight?  Gotta barter for it.  Perhaps you’re hungry for some food?  Hope you’re ready to barter for it.  Did you just accidentally step in a foot and a half of fecal water and now you need new boots…well that’s just bad luck.  What did you do to bring on such bad karma?  No matter what it is, nine times out of ten a little simple haggling and debating will get you a better price.

We picked up a few simple techniques that seem to work while bartering:

Suggest a price:  Instead of asking how much something is, suggest the price you think it should be.  Many times they’ll laugh at you and say, “No, no, no…” with a goofy shaking of their head.  Then they’ll give you a higher price.  Just keep alternating till you reach something in the middle.

Get the “Best Price”:  This can be in the morning before they’ve had a sale that day.  ”Morning price, first sale.  I give you good price!”  It can be at the end of the day so that you’re the last sale.  ”End of day price.  Last sale of the day, I give you good price!”  Actually, it can be had whenever.  All day every day is a good time for a deal.  Feel free to make up your own fun sales and suggest it to them.  They’ll get a kick out of it.  Also…I found putting on a fancy hat that makes you look like Michael Jackson and dancing for a video on their camera phone also helps.

The Walk Away:  This is the best, tried and true method to get the absolute lowest price.  You’ve come to a point where you either don’t want to pay their price or really can’t afford it…and you just walk away.  Sometimes you might say, “No, sorry, I can’t.  Goodbye.”  Alternatively, you might just look sad and frustrated, walking away without a word.  Either way, once the back is turned and you’ve stepped away you’ll most likely hear, “Sir, sir!  Ok, ok, I give you it for (insert best possible price here).”  Usually I buy my wares at this time.

Shopping in Nepal is an ordeal in and of itself.  You’ll learn about yourself as a person, how you deal with stress and handle arguing with people under pressure.  Coming off of a bus into a sea of Nepali’s that all want you to take their jeep and stay at their hotel can be daunting.  You may lose your temper.  You may yell at them.  This will not help you.  Take a breath, view the options, and enjoy the experience.  Once you’re home looking through photos you’ll remember it with great fondness.

Finally, just know that if you’re bargaining is coming down to the wire over a few rupees…just jump on it.  When all is said and done you are probably better off in life than they are and that few extra rupees will mean more to them than it will to you.  It’s also possible that you’re fighting to get the price down lower than what they paid for the item.  In which case you’re doing them a disservice.  All in all, enjoy the ride, live in the moment, and try to grab a few good photos while you’re at it.

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A Tale of Adventure

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Ian Hanson

 

The sheathes of these khukuri's struck fear into the hearts of men...and let you know what country you were in.

Reliable internet is not what Nepal is known for.  Nor should it be.  But let that be my excuse for trying to jam an entire month’s worth of exploring into one simple blog.

It's no mountain top, but at 17769 ft above sea level...It might as well be.

Each step is slightly harder than the last.  The darkness doesn’t help, but your eyes have adjusted to walking by moonlight and it is really quite spectacular.  You legs continue to move, slowly, one foot settling down slightly in front of the other for forward progress.  If only the sun would rise, perhaps those fingers clenched in two pairs of gloves would warm up.  The fact that forty extra pounds of weight are strapped to your back is constantly reminding you of itself by digging into your already sore shoulders.  Short, shallow breaths.  It’s the only way, as you near your goal of 17,769 feet above sea level.  That last, rock hard and un-chewable Snickers…isn’t helping at all.

It’s not all grim and gore though as the Thorong La Pass comes with in reach.  You can’t see it but you know it’s getting closer.  It has to be getting closer!  Finally, and surprisingly, you can see the waiving of prayer flags just on the horizon of the pass.  That’s the finish line.  You whip out your camera (which turns on painfully slowly, it too dislikes this cold) and you film the last few steps as you obtain glory in the mountains.  It’s a celebration, a crowd of people wander around, catching their breath, hugging, high-fiving, fist-pumping with excitement.  Some had to be carried by horse, some without loads due to the hiring of porters, some in just ridiculously good shape with no problems at all.  Together though, you’ve all accomplished a fairly respectable feat.  You’ve essentially beaten the Annapurna Circuit!

Maybe that’s just how I felt about it all.  Honestly, it was one of the most physically trying things I’ve ever done, the last climb to ascend into the pass.  Sure the next mile of downhill on slippery gravel was tough (I only slipped/fell twice), but we’d been hiking for days and gaining elevation the whole way.  That’s probably what I say ever  time I do something strenuous; I prefer to forget the pain of the event and delay the opportunity for it to strike again.  Perhaps after some time has gone by I’ll try a full on mountain next.  Then it can be my new hardest-thing-ever.

Our 3AM wakeup call, yielded a beautiful sunrise.

That was one of the most defining moments of the last month for me, but much else has been experienced.  Nepal has managed to show us a great many things in our time here, and I feel some of them should be mentioned as well.  I’ll give them to you in a relatively chronological order.

Kathmandu.  Is crazy.  But I’ve heard India is worse.  Let me explain.  Upon landing it was already after 10pm so we didn’t see much coming into town.  The streets were empty as we wound our way to the hotel.  I wondered silently to myself, “Where are the roads?”  We were traversing the city through what seemed like a maze of back alleys and shady streets that were so narrow we certainly didn’t belong there in a vehicle.  Turns out that’s just the way it is.  Power lines criss-cross each other and converge on rebar-enforced cement poles.  When you see the pictures you’ll understand my concern…a rat’s nest doesn’t have as many separate pieces.  The traffic is impossible to explain.  I’m glad to say we were only in one car accident, a rear-ending of a motorcycle.  No damage, no exchange of information, no problems.  Just a quick back up of traffic, accented by an explosion of car/motorcycle/bike horns just in case we didn’t realize we had stopped in the middle of the street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course there was the trek.  We started by leaving our unnecessary gear in Pokhara, and proceeding to the trail head in Besisahar.  It wasn’t long and we were engaged with our environment.  We walked alongside the Marysgandi River to start, finding strange squirming bugs and walking sticks in the road.  The spiders scared the men in our troupe, but Kim just laughed at us.  We jumped right into rustic living that first night by sleeping in a “hotel” that was more of a barn.  With beds in it.

The trek would take Kim and I twenty days to complete.  We had many adventures and hiked many miles.  To date I have not compiled the total numbers in kilometers or miles…but it is extremely safe to say we walked over one hundred miles on the circuit.  In an attempt to skip some walking we took a mountain bus, only to find ourselves on two wheels tipping towards the  Kali Gandaki River below us.  Hundreds of feet, below us.  We walk whenever we can now.  It may have been our original plan to also complete the Annapurna Base Camp hike, but sickness and a desire to leave the mountains behind left Eric hiking alone.  Kim and I returned to Pokhara.

Lay Low, Down Wind, Or Get Run Over

Here we again split, Kim would stay in town and I would head out on a pilgrimage to Bardia National Park and Bhojpur.  My quest brought me into the jungle of the Terai, the flat part of Nepal that was home to it’s most desirable wildlife.  I sought the Royal Bengal tiger here, following prints from the night before.  We walked through tall grass that also hid rhino’s, stalking over rocks and through water.  None were sighted, but the thought of catching up to one on foot in the jungle or grass was enough to make the trip worth the fourteen hour bus ride.  Here I would also learn of Lonely Planet’s map labeling mistake…that this town of Bhojpur (where I would find the most authentic of the legendary Khukari knives) was actually on the eastern side of the country.  There was no way I was going that far for a souvenir, so I returned to Pokhara.

Sadly, this is a completely abridged version lacking a majority of the detail and story that really describes the last month.  Feel free to take the account of my travel partner Kim as well, her blog includes more photos.  This can be found at www.curiouskim.blogspot.com

Until next time, stay classy.  World.

I guess yak heads are lucky. Just not for yaks.

Everything you'd ever needGharials won't bite ya...stick your finger in and find out?Those dots ain't cheap. Beware the Holy Man.

Another early morning, we bolted up the path for a Poon Hill sunrise.

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Doctor’s, Pills and Pushups

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Ian Hanson

“Can you please roll up your sleeves?  We’ll do two in each arm.  These could hurt a little.  Wow, no blood.  You might feel those tomorrow or later on…when I last got my flu shot all the sudden a couple weeks later my arm hurt and I couldn’t figure out why…”

“Alright, we’ll get you in shape.  Have to get those legs ready for climbing, we’ll do some workouts so that we can increase your lung capacity for the elevation.  Build some muscle and have you ready to go for Nepal!  Let’s have you do a 5k today…”

“Those pills…let’s see.  I’m not sure what your insurance will cover…let’s say you pay thirty percent.  Ninety malaria pills in a three month prescription, you purchase them through our pharmacy, that’ll be about one hundred dollars.  You’ll also need some Ciprofloxacin, something for altitude sickness…”

Trekking abroad and doing so comfortably will include a lot more than just having the right gear.  This will not be a trip for the weak of heart, the weak of mind, the weakly immunized, or frankly; the weak.   Knowing this, I utilized my unemployed time to pick up a new part-time job.  Hitting up Viterbo’s Mathy Center.

I knew I wasn’t in the best of shape, not really any shape at all.  So I made up my mind to get in every day and take part in Viterbo’s group fitness classes.  I also made it a point to sign up for the physical trainers they provide.  Free of charge.  After the $25/semester fee for alums.  Not a bad deal right?  It was a good enough deal that even after subleasing my apartment I would stay with a friend for three weeks to get the most out of it.  I took Zumba, Boot Camp, Kick Boxing, and Yoga Stretch.  I met with my trainer on Mondays, and he would give me a different workout every week.  For more information visit Viterbo’s Mathy Center website.

Sometimes I would take a break from indoor workouts and took it outside.  Knowing that I would need to carry extra weight I figured I should do some backpacking in the bluffs to practice.  One Wednesday night, I filled the backpack I had chosen to use with as much stuff as I could, hiked through town and into Hixon Forest.  Perhaps you saw me and wondered who that strange person was.  I hiked and hiked; straight up the TNT trail.  My legs were burning and I looked forward to the ground to level out a little.  It finally did…and in less than half an hour I had walked from in town, down the highway, into Hixon, and to the top of the bluffs with my huge bag on.  Pretty short workout.

Aside from preparing my body to work, I had to shield it from the massive attacks it will see from disease, bacteria, and viruses.  This came through discussions with a friend who’d been seeing a travel clinician, reading precautions on US CDC website, and visiting with my local doctor.  It took a combination of the three, a couple visits and quite a few phone calls to get it all ironed out.  In the end I finished with immunizations of the Flu, Polio, Hep A, DTP, one of three Rabies shots (cut short after finding the price was $350 a pop, series of three), and Typhoid.

I now feel immune to the world.  I could walk barefoot through a field of used needles, fending off rabid monkeys while drinking untreated water downstream from a dirty factory without any repercussions if I wanted to.  Perhaps not, but if I get sick I’m going to be pretty bummed out about it.  I’m starting to feel prepared.

No time left to waste at this point.  Tomorrow we leave on this great adventure, Eric, Kim, and myself.  If you’re at all interested in a second point of view (and why wouldn’t you be?) I encourage you to enjoy Kim’s first attempt at blogging  on her website.  Together we hope to meet up with friends of friends, assist in the teaching of Nepal’s youth, volunteer with India’s organic farms, climb to ridiculous altitudes, provide locals with American perfumes (no joke), experience new food, bungee jump, tour jungles by elephant and deserts by camel.  There’s an amazing amount of this world that one can find outside your backyard.  I challenge you to go out and find it, and I challenge myself to bring some of it back for you.

Be back in February.

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Early Preparations

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Ian Hanson

I could probably write you a mini-novel describing all the things that go into organizing a trip like this.  Every aspect has to be looked at, from what shoes you’re going to wear to what shots will be needed to protect you.  I’ve trained my body, looked at (not learned sadly) the different languages, prepared documents, purchased equipment, arranged finances and there’s still more to do.

It all started on May 27th; I received a message on Facebook from a friend.  It was this very article that culminated a desire in both of us to attempt Annapurna’s trek before it was “destroyed”.  I was immediately intrigued, but uncertain whether I would be able to go.  It took a random evening of contemplation and clarity for me to realize…why not.

The single most important issue for me would be funding.  Ironically that’s also the first question raised when I discuss new travel plans.  ”Ian, how do you keep paying for all of these trips?”  My strategy for this endeavor would be different than all those that came before.  I decided to let go of the extraneous belongings I had and essentially “pawn” them off.  This would be an attempt at clearing the clutter of my life and provide the essential cash flow needed for the trip.

To illustrate just how serious and diligent I have been on this, look at the items I got rid of.  My beautiful, 46″ LED tv, the 250 gb Xbox 360, my HP Mini laptop, my entire Magic The Gathering collection, my swords, and the Star Wars Trading Card Game collection.  That’s just the short list of items that were actually sold.  To put the icing on the cake, my camera gear is currently being quoted for sale to Adorama.  I will plan on upgrading equipment when I return next year.  Alas, what is all this cash good for without something to spend it on?

Much of one’s comfort while traveling can be attributed to their gear.  Can you imagine, a long mountainous trek with a heavy bag that doesn’t sit right?  A flashlight that just never seems bright enough?  Also, oftentimes gear can be large and bulky.  When everything you have for three months is going to be carried on your back, you’ve got to get the stuff that packs down small and light.  Oddly, one of the smallest items for this trek would also be one of the most complicated for me to purchase.

I had gone to the mall in La Crosse in search of a journal to document my travels.  I knew that Barnes and Noble would have some, so I meandered in.  It had been suggested that I get some Moleskine’s.  When I found their display, I was at a loss.  There were rows, upon rows of choices.  Not only different colors, but hard/soft covered, ruled, graphs, some with straps, folders, music staves, address books, etc.  Not to mention, each style came in a variety of sizes.  Dumbfounded, I stared for fifteen minutes, until I realized I was in public and others might be starting to wonder about my sanity.  Then I walked around to the other side of the display to find even more!  A full half hour slipped by while I flipped through notebooks, tried them out in my pockets, and imagined situations where I would use them.  Bewildered, I took a break…to look at the entire wall of non-Moleskine journals to see what was offered there.

There were many more options; heavy, small, too girly or maybe too complex.  Eventually I returned to the Moleskines.  Besides, after reading about their grand history, I couldn’t pass them by.

“Moleskine was created as a brand in 1997, bringing back to life the legendary notebook used by artists and thinkers over the past two century: among them Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Bruce Chatwin. A trusted and handy travel companion, the nameless black notebook held invaluable sketches, notes, stories, and ideas that would one day become famous paintings or the pages of beloved books.”

Obviously I had to have one.  I bought five.  They came in packs and were on sale, so I should now have no problems keeping track of my thoughts and doings abroad.  A few days into the trip and I can already tell you I enjoy using them; much more than the last notebook I purchased for this purpose.

With the simplest of gear taken care of, I have gone on to purchase hiking socks, fleece layers, procure an old backpack, re-lace hiking boots and piece together other small bits.  I still need items like a compressible down jacket, convertible pants, moisture wicking base layers and such.  Hence a little stop in Seattle to visit one of REI’s flagship stores for last minute pick ups.

Trekking abroad and doing so comfortably will include a lot more than just having the right gear, and whether you’re interested or not I plan on divulging my secrets of physical fitness preparation.  Currently I am enjoying my first dark and dreary day here in Seattle, and am planning to hit the bike-friendly streets for a little exercise and urban adventure.

More to come, stay tuned, and stay class.  Hanson Photography out.

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The Last Supper

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Ian Hanson

Years had passed since we’d last seen each other.  I find that strange to say, as I’m only twenty five.  In the interim we had finished school and pursued varied careers and adventures.  As many people now do, I would check in on my old friend via Facebook from time to time.  Perhaps I’d leave a quick comment about the Twins, or hear about the latest album he’d gotten into.  Then one day…he wrote me a message.

The island was a beautiful place.  The lodge, Stout’s Island Lodge, had been constructed there over one hundred years before I stepped foot on it.  Being set in the middle of a pristine lake surrounded by woods; it gave you a comforting feeling of isolation as you walked the grounds.  It helped that while I was there the season was all but over with only two accidental guests booked on a Monday night.  Aside from the main lodge, there were a number of cabins on the island for guests.  Each had a different name, one for each Frank Stout’s (the original owner/builder’s) children.

I found myself loading into a small, covered boat.  With my old friend Andrew at the helm, we skirted over the water to the boathouse.  Conversation was sparse at first, as we slowly caught up.  Upon arriving we entered the historic building, and I was shown to my room.  No work was to be done tonight, instead we would relax.  The Brewers were playing to advance to the World Series, and I was given a cocktail.

Andrew is the Executive Chef of the island, and was looking for photos to exemplify the kitchen’s creations.  In addition to that I would be taking a few photos of the rooms to go on their website.  He had asked if I would be interested in helping him out; in exchange for some really good food and board.  I figured, “Why the heck not?”  We ironed out the details and I showed up.  The next day, when the food was cooked and the rooms were ready, we would shoot.

The next day came.  The sun appeared, lighting the island in a most pleasant fall fashion.  I was almost disappointed that I was not brought to take photos of the grounds.  Work had to be done, and we set ourselves to it.  We started with the rooms, moving from cabin to cabin.  I looked and looked until I found what I felt was the best angle in each space.  From there I built up my shots, adjusting as the sun moved back and forth behind the clouds.  Eventually we needed a break so we stepped inside and whipped the kitchen into action mode.

This is what I had been waiting for!  Not only were we photographing the food coming out of the kitchen, but we had to eat it when we were done with it.  Honestly we did HAVE to eat it, this isn’t the kind of food you let go to waste.  I’m not a foodie but I can at least read off the words from the menu.  They are as follows:

Whole Roasted Trout

Fingerling Potato*Mushroom*Spinach*Brown Butter

Duo of Pork

Pork Chop*Crispy Pork Belly*Braised Greens*Pear Mostarda

Braised Chicken

Piedmont Pudding*Butternut Squash Puree*Brussel Sprouts*Brandy Cranberry Sauce

Each dish was photographically accompanied with a glass of wine.  Now this could have gotten messy had we changed the glass with every meal.  Reluctantly we left the same glass of riesling in for every dish.  Then it was time to move on to the desserts!

Poached Pear

 

Shortcake*Vanilla Ice Cream*Chocolate*Creme Anglaise

Pumpkin Creme Brule

S’Mores

 

Cinnamon Shortbread*Maple Marshmallow*Vanilla Ice Cream*Chocolate Sauce

By the time we were finished I was full, and ready to go.  I had come up to help out a friend, and had come away a better person.  Well, at least a more well-fed one.  We stepped back onto the boat that would take us to the mainland.  In less than twenty four hours we accomplished both work and fun.  Through photography, two old Cinemites had been reunited in a common goal.

Perhaps next time, it won’t take so long.

 

This was Hanson Photography’s last photo shoot of the year, until early 2012.  Hanson Photography will be traveling abroad and return early February.  If you are in need of a photographer for Engagement sessions or 2012 weddings, please feel free to contact me with any questions.

 

Stout’s Island Lodge is open from May 27th through October 24th. Additional dates may be available for larger groups.

There are 43 guest rooms available in the historic Main Lodge, Shore Lodge and surrounding cabins. All are comfortably furnished, many with antiques. Each room has a private bath and many have fireplaces and/or screen porches.

For more information, please visit their website:  Stout’s Island Lodge

Posted in Architecture, Food, Personal Work | Leave a comment

Hanson Photography…is heading abroad!

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Ian Hanson

Life is meant to be lived.  Even if it means graduating from college but not moving into any particular career right away.  Even if it means going against the wishes of your parents and ideas of your friends.  Even if it means selling all your possessions and quitting your job to go on a dangerous trip around the world.

What are you talking about Ian?  Get to the point man!  Well here.  It is officially official, on November 4th, Hanson Photography will be flying out of Vancouver and heading to Nepal.  For anyone who might not know, that is a country sandwiched in between the nations of China and India.  The latter is also on the list of places we shall be visiting.

Your brain is now becoming inundated with a cloud of concern.  ”Why are you going?”,  ”That is awfully soon, did this just come up randomly?”,  ”How are you paying for this?”, etc.  These are all very good questions, to which some answers are better than others.

Suffice it to say, the idea for this trip was conceived months ago when I was sent a link to an article online.  One of the focuses of our trip, the “Annapurna Circuit Trek”, is supposedly one of the best treks in the world.  It can take up to three weeks to hike, staying in tea houses along the way and experiencing some of the most majestic views available to the human race.  The focus of the article explained that to accommodate more tourists and make the trek easier/quicker they would be completing more roads, shortening the actual trek and allowing vehicles to be used instead.  The friend who brought this to my attention…wants to enjoy it before they “ruin” it.  Completion for the roads are set to be done by next year.  No time to waste.

So for the next two and a half weeks, I will try to get some more blogs up explaining the buildup of this crazy trip.  What am I hoping to gain?  How am I putting it together?  Am I afraid of getting sick and dying in a jail cell after having someone plant drugs on me?  How will we cope with Hanson Photography being out of the country unavailable all winter?

Your questions will be answered.

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Free

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Ian Hanson

Honestly, I am still learning the art of “the blog”.  Does every post need to monumental in what it puts forth?  Can I (should I) share the little moments with you so you can begin to understand who I am and where I come from?  Does every post need a story to accompany it?

This sunny afternoon on a busy Sunday I found myself wandering in the woods along the water with an old friend.  She’s helped me both on stage and in front of the camera a number of times.  She was about to leave town in the near future and I wanted to fit in one more project.

To be free, to wander, to let your cares fall to your side and to immerse yourself in cleansing waters.  That’s what I had hoped to portray and I think that’s what we got.  Even though it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, we had the area almost solely to ourselves.

May her travels and new life show her a great many things, and allow her to experience something new and wonderful.

May she fly with wings spread, open to whatever comes next.

 

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Field Rockstar

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Ian Hanson

We hadn’t put much thought into it.  We didn’t have a lot of time.  I didn’t know where we would go.

The idea had sounded cool so I figured, “What the hell, let’s do it.”  She loaded her gear into her car that morning and waited for me to arrive.  I hopped in with equipment and we headed out.

The sun was high but we started early enough to get a little bit of an angle on it.  I experimented with my flash in daylight coupled with a reflector.  We trampled the grass down.

She was afraid of bugs…and we were in a field.

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