Some pics from the start...

Starting to post some pics. I needed to clear stuff with the Navy first and now try to manage the blinding slow speed here on the ship. I am also exhausted and can barely stay awake as the computer churns out the goodness. It is 9:50pm here and I was up at 5:15am.

Enjoy the pics!

PC woes...

Hey there.

Just a morning update. I have been attempting to load up some pics and videos on the lounge PC's but can't seem to get them to work (did I mention I hate PC's?). Spent the last thirty minutes and need to go to plan "b" - find my USB jump drive that is locked away in the hospital admin closet. The closet only one person has a key for on the ship....

I am off to breakfast and then to catch the morning sunrise. the sun seems to rise late and go down early. We cross the equator today and they have some kind of initiation ritual for people who have not crossed on a Navy ship before - sounds fun! (tatoo's and hazing here we come). After you cross on a Navy ship (and perform the "deeds") you are called a "shellback." Anybody have any background info on that? We are also working on fire drills and man over board drills today.

I am also thinking about getting my haircut in the barber shop! What do you think? What some video of me getting my head shaved by a Navy hairstylist?

Let me know what you think - cast your vote and we will see if John gets the chair!

Will work out the posting bugs and have something later today.

Enjoy!

The ship is on the road...

Of course the ship is in the water, but you get the idea. We left port today at 2:00pm and have made our way through the Singapore straights. The good news is that I am in the NGO internet lounge and I have just set-up my locker, which means I have access to my computer for pictures and videos - a brave new world is about to begin! The connection is really slow, but I think I can manage. So get ready for some images and video clips. The down side is once we reach East Timor life will get very busy and not sure how much posting I will be able to do.

So we are on the high seas and begining to settle into the slight rocking of the boat. Last night was a trip into Sinapore for some sightseeing and dinner. I was able to grap a shower (stinky john) and get into some clean clothes.

I will let the pictures do the talking pretty soon, so get ready.

Also, drop me a comment if you are following along. Would love to know who is watching!

Eye Eye Maity (somebidy help me with spelling :-)

Enjoy!

Stuck in Singapore...

Well we just did the airport hostel (yes singapore has everything!). This place has to be my favorite airport. Not really a hostel, but we did manage to get a 4 hour napping slot (darkened room with your own couch like area) and a shower (private of course - rated the best shower I have ever had!) and internet for a bout $41. Well worth it...

So we arrived in Singapore at midnight and never had our ride show up. Around 3:30am we bagged it and tried the hotel airport (did I say Singapore has everything?), it was around $200 a night, so we opted for the "lounge" hotel.

Still can't upload any stills as I am at an internet terminal with no access to ports. Good news is we find out (or checked emails) and we do have a satellite phone number for someone on board the ship. In about two minutes I will try to give them a buzz and hopefully someone from the Navy will swing by.

36 hours traveling and I haven't touched the real world yet. Funny how we look at life through the exterior, eyes see and we judge and understand based on that. Wouldn't life be awful if all we knew of other countries and people was from visiting their airports?

Gotta get to boat...

Enjoy!

Landed in Tokyo...

Just a quick update from an internet terminal in the airport. Pictures will come later, but wanted to catch you up.

I have been traveling 13 hours on a plane from Dulles Airport and now have a 3 hour layover in Tokyo, Japan (Naritia Airport). Will take the 6 hour flight to Singapore and then head right to the Navy ship. Did I say "Navy Ship"? I will be three weeks on-board the Navy hospital ship "Mercy." We will travel to East Timor in Indonesia. I will be doing filmmaking and photography for Project Hope (www.projecthope.org).

Follow along as "I be all I can be" (or is that the villiage people?).

So far no problems except for the lack of sleep (3:30am east coast time as I write).

Hang on - it should be fun!

john

The next adventure starts...

Hi Campers.

Wanted to come back and give you the news - Johns on the run.

I will be leaving this Friday (yes that is the 4th of July Friday) for a 25 day trip... and I am not heading to Woodstock.

This will be the longest trip away for me and my family. No real choice in the matter as it starts and it don't stop till it's done. It will be my longest trip, but my most stationary. I will be on a Navy ship the whole time. I might need therapy after this one (okay, more therapy than I already get).

More details to come. Might switch the blog over to Word Press. I am also finishing up a editing project for International Justice Mission, so time is really tight.

Hang on folks, time to follow the lonely traveler again.

At least this time I won't get lost as much - I hope...

John

NAB fades into black

Well I made it through 4 days of walking and talking. I am so tired I could drop and not move for two days. Never thought standing with camera gear and talking to every stranger that walks by would be so tiring. This is a picture with Danny and his wife Shulimate at the DV TEC booth (which of course my spelling of Shulimate is way off I am sure, so sorry).

Sitting at the Aunties Annie Anne's pretzel store getting ready for a red eye flight back. Sorry about no updates, to tired to run around with the camera. I did have Nate Clarke tell me I made it on a podcast video clip walking in the background. I will post the link when I find it!

Didn't get to see much, but was impressed by Red, DV Multi Rig Pro (where I worked), final Cut Server, Adobe Premier Pro, Panasonic Cameras, people playing back hi-res footage from Macbook Pro Laptops at their booths, J-lab LCD Monitor and Red Rock Micro Matte Box.

Things not so impressive: Wedding shooters (sorry, I just call it as I see it), Japanese and Chinese companies at the show that don't speak english, short people (okay, I am tired and need someone to pick on), people in suits, 8 dollar cheeseburgers and people who have money to actually buy new equipment.

Thanks to Matt at Mcgee Digital for allowing a roommate to tag along (do you get the bill for the midgets?).

Fun time had by all. Now back to work that pays the bills!

John