Sand, surf, emerald clear water... and quite a few more...

The eco-centric island of Bohol in the Philippines offers an escape to instant tranquility. A mere hour flight from Manila, the island is discovering how to groom its pristine natural bounty and carve itself into the niche destination urban-dweller escapees and outdoors type adventurers like to specially sneak out to.

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/bohol

Singapore today...

The "Island-City-Republic", second most populous in the world as a country... yet ranks well past 70th in the crowded metropolis category. Indeed, a global leader in urban planning, efficiency and innovation...the sense of "Utopia" is thus what the island nation can so often naturally be attributed with.

Singapore has, as well, always been a major hub in Southeast Asia... a recognition maintained with even more significance now as the region navigates itself fast-forward into becoming an all-important bloc in international trade and finance... and just as importantly... cultivating the exotic travel and cultural destination...the diversity among ASEAN member-nations can only help enrich.

Ah, but yes... be mindful, chewing gum remains a "fine" issue...

Gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/singapore

Door openings...

Life's a series of two doors. Regardless of which one you open.. you'll always be faced with a new set of two doors.... and so forever it goes. The challenge really is.. being willing to only open the new one just as much as you are willing to close the one behind you. Of course, there is always that "third door"... which leads to nowhere but out the same way you went in... in which case, you'll find yourself needing to eventually choose a door from yet another set of two. My thoughts....

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/doors_and_windows

Let the drums roll... it's 2010!

I only wish to share... not "New Year's resolutions" but rather, the continued consideration and thereby understanding of the following:

"Utmost material rewards can only come from hard and earnest work, and never at the expense of others..."

"To never tolerate the nuances of what one would otherwise simply consider as mundane..."

"To refrain from passing any blame... instead, accept the reality of events and take the due share of accountability, as only then can one move rightly forward..."

And..."To let success and triumphs not be dictated other than by self-measured sense of fulfillment..."

Indeed, let's then usher 2010 and the new decade in... as they can only get better. After all, it starts with us... first individually, then as family... graduating to as progressive a circle as it is allowed to buoyantly grow...

Cheers!!!

Milwaukee- Midwestern charm along...

Wisconsin's largest city, now also brews an upwardly spirit... as this quaint metropolitan area nestled along Lake Michigan's southwestern shore slowly reshapes its image through studied urban redevelopment.

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/milwaukee

The Pyramids of Giza... endless monuments to the "Age of Modern Man".

The prowess of man's ingenuity... as we, to this day, continue to be awe-inspired by the time and elements defying existence of the said architectural marvels.

We can only imagine... how daunting and far-flung the idea may have really impressed then... perhaps only the allowed belief in some divine guidance or in the after-life may have inspired these timeless landmarks to eventually exist!

So ancient yet so ahead of its time... indeed, even in terms of today!

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/cairo

Also: http://fly-baby-fly.blogspot.com/2009/09/meanwhile-leonardo-finds-himself-in.html

Beauty and the Bay...

Yes, what San Francisco and the surrounding area is... both

man-made and natural.

Nestled amidst nature's gift of a geographical location... known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, liberal attitudes, the blend of contemporary and Victorian architecture, and being a major gateway to transpacific cultures... this ever pioneering great American metropolis has such an eclectic air... one can't escape the urge to croon a song, to aptly express the charm and essence of the city... many a heart is left captivated by. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1x8W29pDRw&feature=related

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/san_francisco

Boston, the heart of New England's beat...

From its Puritan past to the first wave of Irish immigrants and quite the diversity it now is represented, Massachusetts' capital city and urban sprawl ever remains an influence to wide-ranging interests... from education to politics, from the U.S. patriot Samuel Adams, "The New England Patriots"... to the world-class brew "Samuel Adams".

Boston proper itself is conveniently sized to walkers' delight. It also owns the bragging rights to being the first to develop a subway system in the U.S..

Across the Charles River is Cambridge, the home of Harvard and MIT.

Historically once an all important port city, modern day Boston has also become a pioneer in harbor redevelopment.

Yes, Boston is for anyone, anytime... just don't paint, however nonchanlantly, "The Sox" any color but "Red"!

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/boston

Buenos Aires... where the Bohemian spirit ever thrives!

Never mind the ocean and hemisphere divides... it's European flair, old and new... remaining quite a value for travelers. A city known for expansive boulevards, tree-lined avenues, pedestrian friendly sidewalks and alleys... it offers a visual feast of colonial and carefully expanding contemporary architecture.

Expressively styled Argentine parillas, restaurants, cafes offer food and wine to fit a variety of tastes... then music and dance to suit any moods. Indeed, when visiting Argentina... one needs only bring own "passion" for life!

Photo Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/lenhardt/buenos_aires

The "Old Guard" stubbornly insists on getting older..

Continuing to refuse acknowledgement of a "new and more global minded" international community... attention-hungry "right wing" political pundits are only all too quick to dismiss the Obama administration for the alleged "inaction". This time, Iran.

In their attempt for attention, do they purposely deny to recognize even that the "Obama Factor" was already perhaps a major influence to the catalyst that has now emboldened the emerging new voice gather momentum among Iran's citizenry? For foreign governments,. including the U.S., specially... to become directly involved in the country's internal awakening will only fuel the very same sentiments which led Iran's ruling theocracy to power in the first place. Woudn't it be instead wise to let the power of its own people.... (thankfully, through modern communication technology rather than guns)... dictate the country's own political resolve. And once the resolution becomes eminent... let the government that is eventually formed decide how open they want to participate towards global prosperity and peace for the rest of the world to then respond in kind.

Today is an unprecendented era in world politics for us to give a chance. Indeed, isn't it time we embrace the lessons of recent historical failures? Meanwhile, let's warrant the government of "change" we ourselves voted for... every opportunity to remain true to how it wants to portray U.S. foreign policy leadership... the tarnished image of which is after all... starting to show signs of refurbish within the new and increasingly expanded circle of international influences.