kleejourneys

Claus Meyers Æblekage

2011-11-09T21:16:00.002-05:00

Trying to use up the last of the 7kg of apples we picked in September, I tried another Danish recipe: Claus Meyers Æblekage med syrup og cider.

Actually, although some might beg to differ, this cake really is another excuse to continue with my latest interest in food photography, a little harder this time without the brilliant red colour to attract the eye.

Strawberry Mousse Cake

2011-11-03T16:29:00.003-04:00

In Denmark, it is tradition to have "lagkage" or a type of layer cake on your birthday. So with a few birthdays to celebrate this past weekend, I was inspired to make a layered Strawberry Mousse Cake. Generally I do not like baking and attempting something like this is definitely out of norm for me. But I am recently inspired to try my hand at food photography and I must admit, seeing as the cake was quite successful, shooting it was equally pleasing.

Apple Madness

2011-09-29T12:42:00.007-04:00

Fall is the season for apple picking and when presented with the dilemma about what to give my best new friend and her (now) husband for a wedding gift, I thought, " what could be better than a day at Paradis des Fruits in the Eastern Townships picking apples?".

The novice that I am, although having lived in Canada for over 20 years, I have never done this before and after 10 minutes out in the orchards surrounded by many trees, I soon realized three things:

1: that visually we could not tell the difference between the Mackintosh and Lobo apples (none of us wanted Mackintosh)
2: that it was crucial to find the one 'great' lobo tree and pick all our apples from it.
3: that we needed to devise a taste testing strategy to find this tree.

After a half hour where the comments were as follows:

Friend #1 - "This looks like a Lobo. What do you think?"
Friend #2 (while polishing another apple) - "I don't know. Let's compare it to this one."
Friend #3 - "Yours it too shinny. Stop polishing the apples. Makes it harder to tell."
Friend #4 - " Who's got the knife?"
Friend #1 (cuts the apple in question) - "Here you try it."
Friend #4 - "It does look good!" Takes a bite "Oh no, it's terrible! It's a Mackinstosh"
Friend #1 - "Now what do we do with it?"

Friend#1 casually walks away to find another tree. He accidentally trips and drops the Mackintosh along the way.

Nevertheless, the day apple picking was a success and we went home with 30 lbs of Lobo and Gala apples.

Now at home, although there are still many Gala on the roll....

This is the result so far...

Weddings

2011-05-05T15:36:00.005-04:00

Living in multi-cultural Canada, it is interesting to photograph weddings due to the religion and special cultural traditions of the couple. Last year I had the chance to shoot an Italian and a Greek wedding and have now finally gotten around to posting some images from them on my photo blog.

Click on the titles below each photo to see the full set of images.

An Italian Wedding

A Greek Wedding

Train Market

2011-05-05T12:25:00.001-04:00

The Commuter Train No.4382 from Mae Klong to Ban Laem in Maeklong Market, Samut Songkhram, Thailand

Solaroad

2011-01-27T11:56:00.005-05:00

In Canada, we spend our energies on convincing city majors and councilors that bicycle paths are needed and good to have. In Holland, they are focusing on installing solar panels into theirs. Who is sadly lacking in innovative thinking?

Read more about how: DUTCH SOLAR PATH GENERATES ELECTRICITY

Architectural Dilemas 3

2010-08-06T11:05:00.002-04:00

War of the sculptures: After months battling the gods from above, they began to succumb loosing their shape and form.

Architectural Dilemas 2

2010-08-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

As he got closer to the escape hatches panicked about getting caught in the herringbone, it occurred to him that he may not fit through.

Architecture Di lemas 1

2010-08-03T23:45:00.003-04:00

Suddenly they were confused about vertical and horizontal planes.

Spiral

2010-07-30T10:51:00.006-04:00

Location: Perlan, Reykjavik, Iceland

Intersection

2010-07-28T13:43:00.008-04:00

Ferris wheel in Copenhagen's city centre

Conceived by George Ferris, the Ferris Wheel was introduced to the world at the World's Colombian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. It was built to rival the Paris creation of the Eiffel Tower.

Since then, the Ferris wheel has always been a symbol of fun. That which was initially an American expression of freedom, is now spread throughout the world.

For children it is a popular carnival ride, not too fast as some other rides are, nor too slow. They climb into the individual cars without a second thought and smile in delight when the wheel starts to turn. Soaring up higher and higher, they reach the very top where it is possible to see far and yonder. Over city skylines and rural landscapes, their imaginations run free without limits.

As young adults we continue to strive for experiences beyond practicalities. We choose to cross oceans by ship, fly through time zones by plane, or cover vast ground distance by train, bus and car, leaving nothing but a trail of light behind.

The endless travels fair well, as maturity and insight into life is gained. However just like the how ferris wheel is a circle, so is the journey and at some point, the vehicle we were on speeds back to the starting point. Before we know where we are, it intersects the wheel and we are ejected out into the big circular disc once again. Except unlike when we were children, this time the wheel spins non-stop faster than before, we have to squint harder to see the horizon, and we are more fearful to jump off.

Art Deco Montreal

2010-07-25T22:49:00.002-04:00

Montreal is a city full of Art Deco architecture which I will capture and share over the next months.

For starters, this is the Aldred Building, located at Place D'armes in Old Montreal. It was Montreal's first skyscraper, designed by New York architect Ernest Isbell Barott and built in 1931.

I particularly liked the front entrance.

Click here for more information.

Construction Holiday on Place D'armes

2010-07-24T23:08:00.000-04:00

Bank of Montreal, 1847

In Quebec, the last two full weeks of July are called Construction Holiday. It is a time when most construction workers go on vacation. As well, many affected non-construction employees also take the opportunity to take their holiday at the time same time.

This Quebec tradition began 39 years ago and today, as many as 135, 000 residential and commercial construction workers are off until August 2.

Construction holiday time however means that the Surete du Quebec are out on highway patrol more frequently with additional speed traps and drunk driving checkpoints. Sadly while the rest of the province goes to sleep, the number of traffic related deaths increases and the first three days of this period is known to be the deadliest time of the year.

Timeout

2010-06-15T00:32:00.002-04:00

The fan felt a little out of place in it's timeout position.

Heartbreak

2010-06-13T22:11:00.002-04:00

How long was this branch broken before the new baby growth spurted out?

Biding Time

2010-04-12T22:46:00.001-04:00

No Entry

2010-04-12T09:36:00.002-04:00

Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang (The Penang Supreme Court Building)

Sixteenth Floor

2010-04-06T22:14:00.004-04:00

After three months living on the sixteenth floor on top of a shopping mall surrounded by tall buildings, a dirty river, highways and railroad tracks,there is strangely something I miss about it all.

Impermanence: such has been the state of kleejourneys for the last few years. Alongside came excitement, adventure, tears and pain.

It is now time to pack it all up into a box (maximum allowable weight is 32 kg), label it as "experience", take it down to ground level and relocate to a more permanent location.

Jetlag

2010-03-30T16:24:00.000-04:00

Thaipusam

2010-03-18T10:55:00.012-04:00

Some would call it masochistic, even primitive but for Hindu devotees, THAIPUSAM is an annual Hindu festival which gathers the largest gathering of Malaysia's muti-racial population - over a million people!

In Kuala Lumpur, the festival is celebrated on the eve with a procession starting from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, and ending at Batu Caves just 13 km outside of the city. It began in 1892, with two Tamils who trekked up the difficult ancient limestone hill and planted the`vel' (a metal lance) in the cave which houses a temple dedicated to Lord Murugan.

To many Thaipusam is the day of thanksgiving or atonement for wrongs with traditional rituals:

Several hundred devotees spear their cheeks with long, shiny steel rods (often a meter long) and pierce their chests and backs with small, hook-like needles in penance.

Most carry a small pot of milk up the steps to be poured on the vel.

The really serious endure the task of bearing an enormous circular 'kavadis' (weighing as much as 100 kg) either carried above their heads or pulled, anchored with chains and ropes to the skin.

Some parents carry newborn babies slung in a cloth-cradle hung on a pole shouldered at both ends by the mother and the father as thanks for a safe birth.

Others shave their heads bald as a symbol of humility and atonement.

After a ritual cleansing at a stream at the foothills, devotees walk up the 272 steps into the caves supported by family and friends.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Shooting this event was a physical and mental challenge. Days before Thaipusam, hindu devotees fall into a trance before the spears and hooks are skewered into their skin. Although in this high state of trance during the procession, they are supposedly very much aware of those around them. However when they paused, I was able to place myself into the middle with the lens right up to their faces, as if I was not there. But when they started to walk again, it was more than unnerving to have a red waggling tongue and wide open eyes coming towards me and even more so, be in the way or stuck underneath a kavadi. The atmosphere was one of friendliness and spiritual calmness but mixed with heat, loud music, beating drums and the intoxicating smell of incense, bystanders have been known to fall into a similar state of trance. That being said, I found it was often necessary to step away and breathe.

More about Thaipusam here.

Kampung Life

2010-03-15T23:48:00.008-04:00

A kampung is a Malay hamlet or village in a Malay-speaking country. In Malaysia, a kampung is a locality run under the leadership of a village chief (penghulu) with 10,000 or fewer people. Typically it contains a mosque, paddy or rice fields and Malay houses on stilts.

Janda Baik translated as the "Good Widow", is a Malay kampung in the highlands, with about 1700 people. Being only about 30 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, it was the perfect break for my shopping mall and concrete infected soul. The images below portray the simple and peaceful life lead by the people there.

Zaini's guesthouse

Outdoor dining

River play

Frontyard

Backyard

Closed cafe

Window

Young kampung girl

Pointy

Local gathering

Suspicious stray cat

Very mixed breed cat

A better view

Concrete jungle

2010-03-15T04:25:00.004-04:00

Kuala Lumpur is not only Malaysia's capital city. It is also a dense and highly developed concrete jungle of megashopping malls, office towers and apartment highrises.

Forty-five km away is a natural rainforest at risk of becoming the same due to illegal poaching, cropping and political corruption.

Hidden

2010-03-11T01:29:00.001-05:00

On 2 legs

2010-03-09T04:48:00.000-05:00

Camouflage

2010-03-09T04:37:00.002-05:00

How's life?

2010-03-06T15:17:00.003-05:00

It's been that kind of weekend.

Hello!

2010-03-04T19:51:00.003-05:00

Too bad we are in an era of mobile phones.

Am I in Egypt?

2010-03-01T10:10:00.004-05:00

No, there is no need to visit the Sphinx in Egypt when one can spend a day at the Sunway Pyramid Mall. Open daily from 10am to 10pm and fully air-conditioned, these type of places are a popular retreat for the 7 million people who live in the sweltering hot smog filled city.

How did KL become a concrete jungle shopping hotspot for tourists in Asia with over 60 malls (and growing)?

Fragile

2010-02-10T09:42:00.006-05:00

A sign of rebirth in a barren volcanic area where all organic lifeforms were once destroyed.

Buses in Malaysia

2010-02-03T20:11:00.005-05:00

The bus from Kuala Lumpur to Penang is a "Nice" one.
But for a more luxurious ride, try out the "Super Nice" model!

Two Heads

2010-01-15T05:01:00.001-05:00

More than just volcanoes

2010-01-13T22:37:00.004-05:00

"When Ingolfur Arnarson sighted land on the voyage which would make him the first settler in Iceland, he threw the pillars of his high seat overboard and relied on the gods to direct him to where he should settle. His slaves found them washed ashore in a bay where "smoke" rose out of the ground. Therefore they called it Reykjavik -"Smoky Bay". But the smoke after which Iceland's capital is named was not the result of a fire, but was rather steam rising from hot springs. "
[Source]

In the world today where 'climate' and 'sustainability' are key words in every newspaper or daily conversation, it is necessary to start with a blog posting related to this subject when writing about Iceland. This Nordic Scandinavian country is not just immensely beautiful but also has a prime advantage for generating geothermal energy.

Several factors contribute to Iceland as an established leader of the geothermal industry. The country is right on top of very active geological ground (the Mid-Atlantic ridge) and is home to a high concentration of volcanoes. The ground in Iceland is much warmer than nearby countries due to this geological activity, and therefore makes the extraction of geothermal energy much easier and much more effective.

There are 5 main geothermal power station in Iceland. Statistics from 2008 indicate that these plants produce 28% of the nation's energy and geothermal power meets the heating and hot water requirements of approximately 87% of all buildings in Iceland. The remaining 70% of the country's power comes from hydroelectricity and only 2% from fossil fuels which makes Iceland also a leader in renewable energy sources!

Iceland aims to be totally energy independent by 2050. More about Geothermal resources in Iceland here.

2000 and 10

2010-01-04T22:39:00.004-05:00

When traveling on a beautiful silver road, one must simply follow it forward and not fear the mist that may lay ahead. After all, when it clears, a bright sky lies right behind.

Roadtrip

2009-12-27T21:27:00.001-05:00

In August 2009, I went on a roadtrip around Iceland with two friends. This was the car we drove.

House of Cards

2009-12-26T21:09:00.005-05:00

House of Cards (150 x 100cm), photo by Katrina Lee

Currently on display at the Bornholm Kunst Museum in Denmark, as part of the Poetisk Fusion Art and Architecture Installation.

If interested, please contact katrina@leeworkstudio.com for pricing details

Red Stripe

2009-10-11T18:57:00.006-04:00

Red Stripe (150cm x 100cm), photo by Katrina Lee

In conjunction with Poetisk Fusion, an outdoor film, lighting and sound installation at Bornholms Kunst Museum , kleejourneys has the pleasure to present 'Red Stripe', the first of several photos to be displayed at the museum from Oct 13 2009 until January 2010.

Click here to learn more about the project, including a web gallery of more images by project photographers Katrina Lee and Ole Christiansen.

Note: There are 5 copies of Red Stripe(150cm x 100cm) available for purchase. For pricing details, please contact katrina@leeworkstudio.com

Poetisk Fusion

2009-10-10T18:19:00.003-04:00

Press article for Poetisk Fusion, Bornholms Tidende Monday 21 September

Photo by Katrina Lee
(click on the image for a larger readable version)

Poetisk Fusion is an outdoor film, lighting and sound installation at Bornholms Kunst Museum, running from October 9 until 18, 19:00 to 21:00. The project is created by Palle Vedel (Manden med Cameraet/Metropolights) in collaboration with artist Daniel Vestergaard, composer Christian Rønn, and photographers Katrina Lee and Ole Christiansen.

Through specially composed lighting and sound, and the manipulation of Dziga Vertovs legendary film Man with a Movie Camera, the installation aims to challenge the museum's architecture, and in the process, connect the lines that set the agenda for Futurism and Constructivism from Western Art History to the Early 20th century.

Poetic Fusion also uses different forms of communication such as the newly developed 3D virtual gallery which will give museum visitors a look into today's most advanced 3D technology. During the projects' 3 phases, individual still images taken by Katrina Lee and Ole Christiansen will be presented in this virtual gallery, as well as hung in the museum for re-interpretation.

Copenhagen 1953

2009-10-05T10:29:00.003-04:00

A wonderful short film that shows how bicycling has inherently been part of Danish culture since 1953 and until today!

kleejourneys on CBC Metro Morning

2009-10-02T19:46:00.007-04:00

It has come to my attention how special Nørrebrogade is, a street located in Nørrebro, Copenhagen . Not only is this where kleejourneys is based, it is also where many significant events or activities take place.

For instance, both at the beginning and at the end of the summer, hundreds of motorbikes gather and meet on Nørrebrogade before heading off on a group ride to Bakken, an amusement park one hour north of the city. Even though I am a bicycle advocate, I admittedly have a personal fondness for motorbikes and was thrilled when over 300 of them arrived and parked outside my window. Many bicyclists were however less thrilled at the CO2 and noise pollution.

As Nørrebro is the only ethnically diverse area of Copenhagen, Nørrebrogade is also the street for immigrant protests. I blogged back in March about a funeral demonstration that took processed down this street: Ligtog på Nørrebro.

However, demonstrations and gatherings aside, Nørrebrogade is actually a main commuter thoroughfare for cyclists and in October 2008, a decision to restrict vehicle access onto the street for a 3 month trial period was instigated by Klaus Bondham, Copenhagen's Major of Traffic and Environment. Instead of widening roads in order to ease heavy street traffic which is often a solution in North America, the project proposed the closure of Nørrebrogade to vehicular traffic at 2 sections, thereby allowing for the increase of bicycle and bus access. More information can be found by reading about Agenda 21 Grøn Nørrebro (Agenda 21 Green Nørrebro).

September 22nd is World car free day and in conjunction with this event, CBC radio Toronto was eager to speak to an ex-torontonian currently living in Copenhagen. Thanks to Spacing magazine and editor Dylan Reid, it was my pleasure to be selected to speak live from Copenhagen and have the opportunity to be interviewed by Andy Barry on Metro Morning about the recent infrastructure changes on Nørrebrogade.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Roskilde Finale

2009-09-05T04:52:00.009-04:00

Feeling Safe within Humanity

Photo source: Infinite Butterflies

Underlying the spirit
of
festival camaraderie,
colours and fun,

surfaces
the
unexpected,

black and white

If I had
turned around,
would you still have
pulled the trigger and shot me down?

Roskilde Festival part 5

2009-08-31T03:21:00.003-04:00

They come, and they go

They come and they go, hungover, sunburnt, too exhausted to pack, and most, willing to leave all belongings behind.

For others, the last nights' traditional act of camp destruction continues into Monday morning. Eight days of emotional and physical energy can finally be released and a sense of victory and accomplishment felt to the utmost.

There are many who do pack up first thing on Sunday morning, fearing personal safety and theft of valuables. These groups depart the festival grounds by early evening, and so choosing to forfeit the final concert.

For others who stay until Monday, it's a much slower move out. The Environmentally Conscious stay behind to collect batteries or take tents to the donation area; the Scavengers take advantage of the massive hunt lying before them; and the remaining others, not wanting to face the real world, chill for a final drink in the sun .

Just like that in a week, Roskilde Festival comes and goes and all that remain are seagulls and 300 hectares of leftover trash and memories to clean up during the upcoming months, until the next year comes around.

Roskilde Festival 2010 takes place on 1 - 4 July. Warm-up from 27 June.

Roskilde Festival part 4

2009-08-30T08:42:00.005-04:00

The Spirit of Roskilde

A fun time for most, but for some, it is not at all about music or a cozy time with friends. Instead, these people purchased the full week ticket for 1785dkr, approximately 375cdn$, to gain access to the festival grounds and 9 days of hard but profitable work collecting empty cans.

Roskilde Festival part 3

2009-08-29T13:49:00.006-04:00

Roskilde goes green

In 1994, the environment at Roskilde Festival became the object of an environmental survey for the first time. In connection with this, an actual environmental policy containing four main strategies was defined: (source)

. Use of resources must be reduced as much as possible
. Environmental friendly products must be used when technically and financially
possible, and to the extent that they do not represent any health hazard
. The festival must aim at a maximum level of waste recycling
. Utmost consideration must be paid to security - and the audience’s and
volunteers’ health conditions

As the 2009 Climate Conference in Copenhagen draws closer, organized events or activities throughout Denmark have in tandem, developed stronger green conscious campaigns. At Roskilde, Green Footsteps ,a campaign with initiatives that focused upon transport, electricity, food and waste was successfully implemented this year. This included a green community camping area, Odeon, the sustainable stage, a refund collection project, and several activities around the festival grounds.

Roskilde Festival part 2

2009-08-25T19:21:00.011-04:00

Bombetrussel (bomb threat) på Roskilde festival

”We’ve got front row seats to death here”

Our camp was set up at westcamping "C", located right by the festival train station where on day 2, Sunday June 28, a package of 3 tubes and wiring was found and a bomb threat thereby called in.

The train station was shut down and everybody located at camping "C" were quickly evacuated to the other side of the police line.

So with chairs in hand, we crossed over to the safe side and after 6 hours in the sun of close huddling, the threat was called off.

Fortunately there were no explosives to be found. I am otherwise not sure what the outcome could have been considering we were evacuated only a mere few meters away (our camp was setup just behind the tents in the photo) and beer, rather than sunblock was the item we grabbed to take along with us on this very sunny and hot afternoon.

Roskilde Festival part 1

2009-08-25T12:05:00.000-04:00

Roskilde Festival

Attendance: Saturday June 27, 18:00 to Monday July 6, 15:00

10 camping days
12 films screenings, 30 hours work
17 concerts
3 showers
+ 25 degrees celsius and sun
1 over heated 7am tent
3 sets of earplugs
1 hindering blister

and non tallyable Tuborg beer.

Inspired by other festivals such as Woodstock or Thy, Roskilde Festival began in 1971 and is now the largest North European culture and music event. The Festival is also a non profit organization consisting of about 25 full-time employees and thousands of volunteers. Each year, any profits are donated directly to the Roskilde Festival Charity Society which in turn, donates the money to humanitarian or cultural purposes benefiting people all over the world.

Orange stage

The first 1971 festival took place over 2 days, with one only stage located just outside of the city of Roskilde (31 km west of Copenhagen) featuring approximately 20 bands. Today, there are 7 stages, 175 bands, and this year's 2009 festival brought in a total attendance of 67,413 all-week guests and 12,931 one-day guests.

Arena Stage

Partaking in Roskilde Festival in its entirety means than one could be there over an 8 day period, although live concerts only take place during the last 4 days. For many, the camp atmosphere and surrounding activities during the days before the music starts, can contribute as much or sometimes more to the festival experience than the actual time spent listening to the concerts.

Loading in the weeks supply of necessities

In fact this year, impatient festival goers waiting to be let in on Sunday at 08:00 broke down the barricading fence by 20:58 on Saturday evening, and ran in to get to their favorite camp spot before the next came along. In less than 2 hours, there were thousands of colourful tent peaks, white pavilions and camp flags setup and backlit by the glow of the setting sun.

Due to the unexpected breaking down of the fence, I had to fend off festival vultures to save this 12 tent camp area (photo above and below). Meanwhile I waited 3 hours for backup friends to finally arrive from Copenhagen after receiving my emergency call to packup and rush in 8hours before our arranged meeting time.

I was offered a choice of 2 volunteer positions at Roskilde this year: first for NOAH, friends of the Earth, a non-profit environmental organization and second, for the Roskilde festival cinema. Since 10 days was bound to lead to some form of debotchery, I opted against the green friendly position. Instead, as a media volunteer, I knew that I would receive in exchange, not only a free entrance pass, but access to warm showers, cleaner toilets, and a quieter place to retreat on the secure grounds of the cinema. These are all elements that were essential for my survival during those days.

Roskilde cinema tent (capacity of 1000)

Notice the interior metal vertical beam in the closest peak was removed and instead supported by 3 other external beams and cabling.

Shade and shelter is what I found on this piece of grass and
I kept coming here frequently despite the walk ...

from westcamping ...

past the hungover morning lineup at the stinkies ...

up the bridge ....

down the bridge ...

past the dustiest tents...

along the very very long gravel path....

beside the enormous gravel pit right in the center of the campgrounds ...

and finally, through the mess at east camping.
(west camping was clean in comparison)

And so this was my daily excursion, from my camp located at westcamping to the cinema at eastcamping, that took 30 mins each way or 45mins with the fresh new foot blister that resulted.

Sommerferie 2009

2009-08-14T04:54:00.007-04:00

July and August are the months when many Danes take time off from work for ''sommerferier'' or summer holidays. So after a reminder from a friend, that I too have been working hard all year establishing myself in Copenhagen, I realized that I also deserved a break.

So on June 28, my ''sommerferie'' began at Roskilde Music Festival.

West camping grounds at Roskilde Festival

My blue tent

9 days later, sunburnt, exhausted and deafened from camping, 17 concerts, and 67,412 other festival goers, there came an offer to decompress on the Baltic Sea. It was the best kind of music to my ears.

I gladly accepted and was soon on the overnight ferry from Køge to the island of Bornholm, and what I initially thought would be a short 4 day trip became the most important days of my summer filled with the five fundamental 'R's of life: rest, relaxation, relation, rejuvenation and re-inspiration. While on Bornholm, time stood still, but while sitting on the bus 10 days later journeying back across Sweden, I knew it had passed too quickly.

Crossing the Öresund Bridge from Sweden to Denmark

With commitments successfully accomplished after 2 days back in Copenhagen, I had no need nor desire to stay put in the big city. Thus when I was asked to join a semi-work weekend in Aalborg, a part of Denmark I had not yet visited, I did not hesitate to accept despite the city's poor reputation.

View of Aalborg from Hotel Hvide Hus

How could I say no to the job or rather, the opportunity to photograph the Aalborg Museum of Modern Art, knowing the images will be used as creative inspiration for an upcoming film and lighting project. This was yet again a perfect way to continue the summer holiday.

Aalborg Museum of Modern Art

Finally, having managed travel all month by ferries, trains and buses, there had to unfortunately be a carbon emitting flight to Scandinavia's volcanic country on the North Atlantic Ocean. After all, what is a ''sommerferie'' without a journey to the glaciers of Iceland?

Next time however, I will take the ferry...

Other life priorities have had to be put forward and Kleejourneys apologizes to her readers for the lack of blog postings recently. However, if you can be patient, an extremely large stock of new ''sommerferie''photos will be shared in the upcoming weeks. So please stay tuned...

Bird Feeding

2009-05-29T05:59:00.004-04:00

The bate

The distraction

The sudden stop

The landing

The temptation

The interruption

"Hey buddy, I ate one of those and now, look at hairs on my head!"

The second thought

The decision

The escape

The next victim

Moral of the story:

To maintain a beautiful natural self and avoid the ruffling of feathers, beware of humans disguised in spikey dead animal fur with dry biscuits in hand.

Help I am alive

2009-05-15T05:04:00.003-04:00

"Help, I'm Alive" Interview, Emily Haines

Sometimes when you feel you are dying, you are actually just scared and more alive than ever

Love Story meets Viva La Vida

2009-05-15T04:44:00.008-04:00

LOVE STORY (Taylor Swift) meets VIVA LA VIDA (Coldplay) - Piano Cello - by Jon Schmidt

This arrangement makes me want to see Coldplay live at Roskilde Festival.

It also makes me want to play the piano again.

Young Rider

2009-04-29T03:42:00.001-04:00

Elephant Gates at the Carlsberg Brewery, Copenhagen

Young Bride

2009-04-07T17:08:00.003-04:00

Self Portrait V - Intersection

2009-03-25T19:20:00.002-04:00

March 26 today, exactly one year since I boarded a KLM flight in Toronto headed for new adventures in Europe. At that time, there was only one runway to choose from for takeoff, with all lines of perspective converging at one point far in the distance.

Today, after one year following arrows and climbing slowly up a ramp, there is bend and the lines no longer converge but instead, intersect in every direction.

Although no longer running a marathon, I have hit a midway marker but cannot see where there is a finishing line.

Ligtog på Nørrebro

2009-03-15T18:44:00.011-04:00

Gun violence due to the drug war between Hells Angels and immigrant groups in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen has been increasing rapidly in the last year. On February 27, 25 year old Mustafa Shakir Hsownay was innocently killed while sitting in his car in a parking lot at the Mjølnerparken Estate.

In commemoration of his death and in protest of the violence, a powerful and dignified demonstration was held on Saturday, March 14. It took place in the form of a funeral procession march from Nørrebro Station to Dronning Louises bridge on Nørrebrogade.

On arrival at the end point, the backhatch of the car was opened to reveal the coffin one last time. A hush of quietness filled the street as friends, family and loved ones rushed forward for one more goodbye. Bystanders stood still on the sidewalk and in the open windows above.

The faces around me blurred in grief. My hands fell to my side, my camera no longer in ready position. I could only hear cries of pain and grief.

The complete set of photos from "Faces, Nørrebro Funeral Procession'' can be viewed by clicking here.

Financial Crisis

2009-03-10T19:55:00.002-04:00

Global Finance has released a list of the worlds 50 safest banks. Click here if you're curious. Nordea has been ranked as 22nd in the world and first in the Nordic region, maybe still not good enough for some....

No, I don't bank at Nordea. I keep my danish kroner under my bed.

Jante's Law

2009-03-03T17:04:00.004-05:00

After 7 months in Copenhagen trying to understand the complexity of living in Denmark, it is time to bring up Jante's law, an unspoken code of ethics in Scandinavian-American culture. This law was created by Norwegian/Danish author Aksel Sandemose in 1933 when he wrote "En flygtning krysser sitt spor", a novel about Jante, a fictitious little village in Denmark where people live by 10 commandments to preserve social stability and uniformity.

Here are the ten rules to the law:

1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.

To summarize, the Law of Jante was the very core of the speech of the people and the result of breaking this social code meant that your neighbors would despise you for your individuality, uniqueness, or an excess show of wealth. Furthermore, according to this website,

"Equality is an important part of Danish culture, so much so that, ‘success’ or what may be seen as a deliberate attempt to distinguish oneself from others may be viewed with hostility. This characteristic is called Janteloven or Jante’s Law by Danes.

Relocating alone to a country with a new culture and language, one experiences looking in the mirror daily, questioning values, prejudices and self definition. With Jante's 10 commandments,living in Denmark comes with a whole set of additional challenges.

Balance and Stability

2009-02-17T16:57:00.003-05:00

If only muscles, bones and tendons could be stacked like concrete blocks to not fall down.

Sadly, after 5 weeks of running and achieving 10.5 km in one hour last Sunday, I must report a setback. The muscles in my left leg are not able to withstand the training regime thus weakening my physical balance and stability. Some careful reconsideration is now necessary with regards my participation in the half marathon.

Leephotostudio

2009-02-11T17:30:00.006-05:00

The time has come to launch a website just for my photography in hopes that a professional career may unravel and spiral to the top. Thank you to all who have been dedicated readers of kleejourneys. I hope that you will also visit leephotostudio as often and invite many of your friends as well.

visit

Katrina Lee Photography

www.leephotostudio.blogspot.com

Celebration

2009-02-06T18:29:00.004-05:00

The Other Side

There is this place sometimes
in your most unconscious dreams
Where the mind has no boundaries
nor your body, or so it seems

There, you float down a path
where the trees lead the way
Their arms pulling you forward
down here, as if to say

Maybe you soar up in the air
towards the unknown plight
Fighting every twist and turn
Through cloud patterns in sight

Then silently down you come
landing on the grass below
There is a light on the other side
So through the tunnel you must go

But don't worry, for you should know
Your footprint can always be seen
That many love you just so, and
walk with you within your dream

Today is one of those days when I wish I could be in Toronto, to join my film comrades at a memorial celebrating the life of Chris Howard. So instead, here is something from Denmark, inspired by the unbelievable amount of love and support that has poured out from the film industry and more since his passing.

Paris finale

2009-02-04T18:10:00.003-05:00

Compared to tiny Copenhagen, Paris is a huge, dense and vibrant city buzzing with life. How nice that for 5 days, I could clear my mind and fulfill my needs...

...at anytime and anywhere

with the virtual world left behind

À bientôt!

In memory of Chris Howard

2009-02-02T11:19:00.007-05:00

In the last week, memories of my days in the film business have been awaken. Today I am again brought back to those days but sadly, through the discovery of the recent accident and passing of one of my favorite crew members and friend Chris Howard.

The film industry is an exciting business, but also one that is harsh with many emotional highs and lows. To survive, I had to grow a thick skin. But sometimes when those layers wore down, it was the support and kindness from people like Chris who made it possible for me to work a show until the end without falling apart.

Thank you Chris for your smiling face, positive energy and patience with my neverending senseless AD demands on "Bride of Chucky", "Dirty Work" and "Bulletproof Monk". My thoughts are with you and your family.

First day of my life

2009-01-31T12:41:00.007-05:00

Bright Eyes, First Day of my life from the album, I'm Awake, it's morning. Video by John Cameron Mitchell

Back in October, I posted a blog entry titled For better or for worse with the song "First day of my life". The lyrics of this song portray the simplicity, reality and truth of relationships. More so, I really like them for the reminder of what being in love is all about.

John Cameron Mitchell is a film director that I had the pleasure to work with in 2001 on the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. This was his first film as writer, director and lead actor and he excelled in all 3 roles. His energies resulted in an excellent film, a dynamic set environment with high morale, and what is probably my best professional film experience out of 30 or more productions.

So having just discovered this sweet little music video of one of my favorite songs and directed by one of my favorite directors, I wish to share it with you. Now, click 'play'.

Goodbye Nørrebro

2009-01-29T18:57:00.004-05:00

Since arriving in Denmark, kleejourneys has happily based within you, my haven of an apartment in Nørrebro. Nørrebro is an area of Copenhagen often described as being: an extremely dangerous neighbourhood by locals from Jutland, Western Denmark; in a part of the city where as many as 17 drug related shootings were reported in one month last fall; 2 minutes from Jagtvej 69, the riot site of the Ungdomshuset or Peoples House 2 years ago; and just a few blocks from Jægersbrogade, the street where one can find substances that fulfill one's addictive needs.

However, having never felt in danger at anytime day or night in this neighbourhood, this retrospective focuses on the positive aspects that made you such a special place to retreat to and me, nostalgic about relocating kleejourneys west to Østerbro.

The street Jægersbrogade was certainly where I could feed my addictions, but with produce from the best organic suppliers such as the Coffee Collective. There, locals met daily at 7am before work and me, on Sunday afternoons for the takeout latte I needed to keep warm while on my quiet walk around the block. Next door was Kates, the bakery with the best homemade chocolate croissants in the city, many which I enjoyed during mornings on the balcony. And finally, gofood for quality meals at VERY reasonable prices when I just didn't want to cook.

The Assistens Kirkegård or cemetery was once described to me as a Garden of Eden, a place one could cycle through before hitting the chaos of traffic on Nørrebrogade, or where one could be seen relaxing and daydreaming in a hammock, while pretending to work. How nice that the Kirkegård was conveniently across the street, and where I found solace amongst beautiful trees, experienced a stunning sunlit day for photography, and played in snow and leaves at 3am with recklessness and innocent bliss.

(see more cemetery images here,here,here and here)

Basing kleejourneys within your friendly and safe spot in Nørrebro, I was able to be part of 'Human' Copenhagen where at least 50% of the inhabitants are immigrants and where many shops are owned by Middle Easterners or South Asians. Having lived in Canada, a country whose people are primarily made up of immigrants and being one myself, I had a true appreciation of the cultural diversity around me. And as a non-dane banana (as my grandfather used to call me) with Chinese Malaysian yellow skin on the outside but Canadian white on the inside, the immigrant population never hesitated to speak to me, offering jobs, friendships, cheap bicycle repairs, but most interesting, their political, social and cultural views about life in Denmark.

Six months in your neighbourhood also resulted in many good social memories. Not only were they full of colourful cultural experiences, the extensive night scene in your immediate surroundings always ensured for a fun and hyggeligt (cozy) night out with friends. Perhaps it was the first summer picnic in Nørrebroparken followed by beers and pool at Stefanshus that I remember best. Or maybe it was the mojitos at Apparatet or Oak room. Actually there was also the excellent dinner at Wascator, julefrokost at Ryesgade 19A, as well as my first danish conversation at the Copenhagen Green Drinks gathering at Ølbaren. I have not forgotten the live music concert at Rust Natklub, nor the strange people at Louises. Then there was Props, the unnamed cafe on Blågårdsagade where I tasted my first elderflower drink. Nevertheless, the night often ended at Saxons where one had to be careful not to poke someone in the eye or at the Rock Bar (some call it Gauss), where young danish boys were very friendly until they dared to ask my age. The best part was not so much the bars and clubs but instead, that I could easily get a tasty late night sharwarma, and that the journey back to you wobbling on my bicycle was not a long one. I always refused to live up to my "no balance" nickname and managed to get home safe and sound.

Putting organic side streets, cemeteries, ethnic diversity or night life aside, I think I just became accustomed to the sight of the ugly Fiat car dealership across the road or the car tires laying out in the sun down below. As for the shootings, I learned to deal with these tumultuous events with precautions. During my first oral danish exam learning to talk about my neighbourhood, I recounted to my teacher, 'Alt jeg har brug for er min skudsikkervest' or 'All I need is my bulletproof vest'.

So, dear fourth floor Nørrebro sanctuary, there you have it, a retrospective and only a few paragraphs and photos to describe why I already miss you so. Thank you for enclosing your walls around me on those rainy days and for opening the windows to let the sunrise in during the dark November winter mornings.

Self Portrait IV

2009-01-28T17:48:00.002-05:00

Alter Ego

confronted by

a set of straight lines

The Professional

2009-01-26T02:25:00.000-05:00

Hide and seek

2009-01-25T02:45:00.000-05:00

you can run

but

you can't hide

Ignored

2009-01-24T05:55:00.001-05:00

Streets of Paris

Grande Mosquée de Paris

2009-01-22T18:31:00.000-05:00

The Paris Mosque was built in 1922 to honor the North African countries that had helped France during World War I. A major renovation was completed in 1992.

Made of reinforced concrete, the mosque was decorated with mosaics, wood carvings and wrought iron brought from Morocco. It remains an active place of worship for North Africans living in Paris, especially on Friday, the Muslim holy day, and during the holy month of Ramadan. (Source)

Official website in french.

Wannabe writer

2009-01-21T18:07:00.001-05:00

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris (website)

Run Katrina Run

2009-01-21T05:34:00.010-05:00

No I did not get a marketing job for Adidas.

These are my new ''Løbersko'' or running shoes, in preparation for the half marathon in Berlin (website). Yes, I am already registered!

As a novice runner, my legs currently think that they are wooden sticks and I hope with proper and very fashionable shoes, I can convince them otherwise.

The training program is 10-12 weeks as below.

So hopefully by adhering to this type of schedule, training smartly and carefully, I will be able to run all 21 km successfully on April 5.

PS. I am also accepting donations in aid with the cause titled "How do I afford to extend my stay in Denmark?"

"Hey good looking!"

2009-01-20T01:30:00.001-05:00

Sigh

2009-01-18T18:06:00.000-05:00

Château de Versailles

2009-01-18T17:21:00.004-05:00

When the Château de Versailles was built, Versailles was a country village. Today, it is a suburb about 20km south west of Paris. The Château was originally a hunting lodge, built in 1624, by Louis XIII. It was expanded by Louis XIV at the beginning of 1669. It later became the official residence of the Kings of France and the court, the centre of political power from 1682 until 1790. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but also as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy.

Refusing to wait in line in the cold outside for entrance tickets, we stood gazing at Le Château de Versailles from the outside...

at all the tourists,

posing in front of a fountain I camouflaged into,

and nevertheless, also at some nice old architecture...

and beautiful gardens.

More about the Château de Versailles here.

Yellow VII - Left Behind in Paris

2009-01-14T18:13:00.003-05:00

"You can't bike but you can now certainly walk!"

Acromatic III

2009-01-13T18:41:00.002-05:00

La Défense

2009-01-12T18:01:00.000-05:00

La Grande Arche de la Défense

La Défense was establised in 1951 as the prime high-rise office district of Paris where many of the city's tallest buildings can be found. The initial concept was to have 2 rows of skyscrapers of equal height. In 1964, the approved plan included 20 towers at 25 floors each. But slowly, there was a demand for taller towers and the result is a mix match of cheap buildings of different heights.

The Grande Arche de la Défense (1982-1989) was initiated by the he French president Mitterrand as modern version of the L'Arc de Triomphe. This cube-like design, by Danish architect Otto van Spreckelsen, is a 106 meters (348 ft) concrete, glass and marble white building with the middle part left open. The sides of the cube contain offices.

More about La Défense here and here.

Back to local shopping

2009-01-11T18:16:00.004-05:00

I stumbled upon this fabulous store my first day out in Paris. Had to resist myself from walking out with spices, olives, a lamp and a sword. If only character filled local shops such as this one, selling all one may need, could still exist in large numbers in N. America.

If only Walmart never evolved.

La Seine

2009-01-11T17:53:00.001-05:00

View from Point Nôtre Dame

A bit of Napoleon

2009-01-09T06:18:00.003-05:00

Arc de Triomphe

And the Big Blue Christmas Tree goes "blink, blink blink...."

2009-01-06T17:20:00.005-05:00

Tour Eiffel

At the Charles de Gaulle airport, I found my feet walking out of the terminal towards the RER B train into the city. And so what was initially a flight transfer back to Copenhagen, became a 5 day stopover in Paris.

Bienvenue à Paris!

The two Ss

2009-01-05T17:20:00.004-05:00

While in the tiny village of Escanecrabe, South France....

I soaked up the warm glow of the Sun and the purity of Snow,

two sensations I miss most during dark danish winter months.

Self Portrait III

2008-12-31T14:01:00.002-05:00

2009, Stride to a New Year

If I follow the lines in the road, will I get there?

Christmas table shimmers

2008-12-25T06:39:00.002-05:00

Twas the night before Christmas...

2008-12-24T17:24:00.001-05:00

...in Escanecrabe watching the sun fall behind the Pyrenees mountains

Impermanence

2008-12-22T05:57:00.006-05:00

Sometimes something is so sweet and natural as water droplets after a rainfall, that you want to hang on just a bit longer, despite knowing they will fall anyway.

City Break IV

2008-12-17T17:33:00.000-05:00

Near Egtved Area by Vejle, Jutland

I'm sleeping, stop shaking me

2008-12-16T04:08:00.003-05:00

I was awaken early this morning to a low key rumble which then turned into a constant building shake and rattle lasting for what felt like a long time. Was I dreaming? Has King Kong arrived to Copenhagen?

There was an earthquake this morning at 6:20am, the epicenter located 65 kilometers east of Malmö in the Scania region of Sweden, with Copenhagen and other parts of Zealand, Denmark also feeling the effects. The US Geological Survey has recorded the earthquake to measure 4.7 on the Richter scale, not that high in comparison to other quakes, but nevertheless, the strongest in Sweden since 1904 and the first earthquake in Denmark since 1985.

Hmm...time to reconsider my longterm plans for Denmark.

Technical details from the US Geological Survey here.

Rainbow Monday

2008-12-15T13:51:00.005-05:00

"Rainy days and Mondays" by the Carpenters

Assistens Kirkegård

2008-12-15T12:42:00.006-05:00

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Six Feet Under by Thomas Newman

It feels like a long time ago when I was at the Assistens Kirkegård at the most beautiful moment where autumn light fell through trees ever so gently. Actually, it was only a month ago but time does not stand still for me living in Copenhagen. Everyday is a new page turned. Every week is a new chapter. There are already so many words, old ones reconfigured, new ones formed, but right now, a complete jumble of letters begging to find a home on paper.

It was very cloudy today, darker than normal, and being Monday, not a good choice of days to start making sense of the collage of letters, words, pages and chapters.

So instead, here are some cheerier images, revisited after a month, of a day when every breath of air I took in gave me that bit of nudge to carry on.

Twists and turns

2008-12-14T17:52:00.002-05:00

A winding road is a beautiful path to follow, although sometimes deceiving and not as smooth as it looks.

Self Portrait II

2008-12-11T14:38:00.002-05:00

I came across a spiral and got caught in it.

Hvorfor Danmark / Why Denmark?

2008-11-27T17:00:00.002-05:00

Bicycle valet parking at the "Frisør" or hair salon on Nørrebrogade

I am often asked by many Danes, "Why do you choose to live Denmark?". This is not an easy question to answer or rather to put into words, especially as the dark, dreary and cold winter weather approaches. I have to admit that I much prefer Canada's snow to the Danish rain and am, in fact, known for sending text messages such as, "Jeg kommer ikke til skole i dag fordi det regnvejr." (I am not going to school today because it is raining).

Despite this, I still choose Denmark. Why? Perhaps it is the word "hyggeligt", often used to describe a cozy evening with friends or even for a one time interesting and fun street interview with some painters taking an afternoon beer break.

One of my responses to this question relates to the size of Copenhagen. Although it is a small city with a population not much more than one million, it has a big city mentality. But more importantly, it is human scale which lends itself to a bicycling culture and infrastructure that is hard to beat.

Today, I participated as a photographer in a walk/talk tour of 2 areas of Copenhagen that is currently under analysis, commissioned by the municipality. Perhaps my answer is best described in a short story of this experience.

At 9am during temperatures hovering at 5 degree celsius, 6 people, age ranging from mid thirties to early fifties met at Christiansbro. They were two anthropologists (who conducted the tour), the chief of city planning, a consultant city planner, an architect from the municipality and a Canadian photographer. One by one, they arrived at the meeting point, each one punctual, each one, by bicycle. After an hour of walking discussion through the area, they were due to head to their second location, Havnested. After a quick discussion, the bicycles were unlocked, and together, 6 professionals cycled two by two, bracing the wind and sailing through the streets of Copenhagen to their next walk/talk meeting. A taxi had been ordered but not soon enough, canceled. Wonderful!

Now, ask me again...Hvorfor Danmark?

Sigga

2008-11-24T17:47:00.002-05:00

Portrait work for Hausenberg

Achromatic II

2008-11-24T17:42:00.001-05:00

As winter approaches....4pm

2008-11-22T12:42:00.003-05:00

As winter approaches....10am

2008-11-22T12:38:00.003-05:00

Zap

2008-11-18T18:22:00.000-05:00

Hanging on, standing tall, fallen

2008-11-18T17:58:00.002-05:00

Self Portrait I

2008-11-13T18:44:00.003-05:00

I have recently been thinking of doing a self portrait series, so here we go....

Light and dark, life and death, never one without the other.

So, dear Sir, I can't give your any advice but this: to go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which your life flows; at its source you will find the answer to the question of whether you must create. Accept that answer, just as it is given to you, without trying to interpret it. Perhaps you will discover that you are called to be an artist. Then take that destiny upon yourself, and bear it, its burden and its greatness, without ever asking what reward might come from outside. For the creator must be a world for himself and in Nature, to whom his whole life is devoted.

[Letter to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke]

The Great Escape

2008-11-09T18:11:00.004-05:00

A living tree makes it's escape out through the walls of the Assistens Kirkegården towards Jagtvej....

History:

The Assistens Kirkegård or Assistens Cemetary, is the name of many existing cemeteries in Denmark. The name implies an erected shared assisting cemetery for town churches in larger towns. The first one was inaugurated in Nørrebro, Copenhagen in 1760 and is well known, not only because it is the largest cemetery in Copenhagen, but also because it is the burial grounds for Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish author of fairytales.

But this cemetery has a very special function as a peaceful place of retreat for Copenhageners. On a nice summer or fall day, the grounds are fully used by many of all ages who are there to relax quietly, meet with friends, some having picnics, some taking an afternoon stroll or some working on laptops in their hammocks. I once heard someone describe the Assistens Kirkegård as her Garden of Eden and I do honestly agree.

The weather was beautiful on Saturday and the sky was producing some of the nicest lighting I have seen in a while. After some very busy weeks, I decided to spend a much needed afternoon relaxing and wandering around the cemetery, absorbing the smells and colours of autumn with my camera. It was a lovely and cosy time or if translated to 2 of my favourite danish words: "Det var dejligt og hyggeligt!". I hope that in my upcoming blogposts, I will be able to portray these sensations.

(Psst...the red brick building in the background is where kleejourneys is currently based from...how lucky am I to live so close)

Achromatic I

2008-11-09T04:45:00.002-05:00

Stair