The annual celebration of Earth Day held special meaning today as the community of San Luis Obispo in Central California stood up in protest against the callous disregard of science in Donald Trump’s Presidential agenda. This was no hippie love fest of rebellious youth in the vein of the 1960s. Serious interest among the mainstream populace of local residents interspersed with respected academicians and lab coated, practitioners from the sciences created an atmosphere of concern about the ominous fate of our planet today.

Yes, these were decent people demanding action today and they enthusiastically welcomed any intelligent explanations, costumed attire, or poster displays to justify their reasoning. A middle school science teacher expressing concern that funding cuts would jeopardize her science class curriculum. A religious call of atheists to question the unproven existence of life and death. A physics instructor admonishing politicians for showing ignorance of the basic tenets in his class curriculum. A community outreach effort pleading for new volunteers to save their precious watersheds and canyons.

Fundamental truths cannot be ignored by state/local politicians today. The Central California coast appears particularly vulnerable to climate change. As the sea levels rise from global warming, farmland and residential coastlines can become inundated with flooding catastrophes. With the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, air pollution will conceivably reach alarming levels. Extreme changes in global weather will likely trigger intense seismic activity along fault zones that lie on or near the mid-state coastline.

Walking amongst this “sea of protest” today, I realized a more immediate concern of this attack on science. Are we becoming a country that reduces our citizens capacity to read, question, and think thoroughly about the future of our planet? Are we dropping the “standard of truth” so low to allow the alternative facts and outright lies that have been consistently used to to defend our President’s actions? To embrace these global challenges, let us remember then the basic, thinking steps of the scientific method: Observe, question, hypothesize, experiment , and draw logical conclusions. Policy does not overrule science: science determines principled action.

Some random impressions of “emotions” provided by my recent tour of New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, India.

1. Bask in the vivid contrast of color.

Feel the feminine beauty of a beautiful sari on a dust-clocked path. Feast your eyes on freshly ripened fruit in the crowded markets of Old Delhi. Marvel at the complexity of hue designs that cover elephant skin. Feel exhilaration at the first sighting of the endless New Delhi skyline as your plane emerges into polluted grayness below the clear stratosphere above.

2. Explore a variety of spiritual meanings from your India experience.

Rise before dawn and feel the mystical callings of the Islamic Muezzin’s call to prayer. Relax in quiet contemplation during the coolness of sunrise as your eyes feast on the first sighting of pale whiteness in the distant Taj Mahal. Accept the love of Hindu spirit from a smiling, Indian stranger as they place a sacred, red dot on your forehead for good fortune. Dare to cover your head, men, and feel respect for the Sikh religion today. Honor their tradition of wearing a turban.

3. Frequent traditional Indian restaurants/local food stands with caution.

Sample foods for excessive spice before you order. When the taste of your meal is in question. rice and bread can be easily substituted. Drink bottled water to avoid bacterial crisis in your stomach. Do not assume salads are healthy for you here. Eat cooked food only when possible.

4. Exhibit patience in matter of security.

Expect long queues at immigration clearance areas of airports. Have all your paperwork ready for agonizingly slow screening by custom officials. Do not expect tour guide will handle your security clearance into India. Avoid taking pictures in any customs area. Be ready to experience separate male and female security lines at major attractions.

5. Imagine you are a personal witness to the storied history of India’s colonial past.

Join an elephant caravan to the heights of Jaipur’s Amber Fort. Hire a Tuk-Tuk driver to arouse your curiosity as you customize your itinerary of forts and monuments. Be curious to understand the rules of cricket as you wonder why each game takes so long. Absorb your mind in the daily interactions of caste society on the streets beyond your hotel. Where would you place yourself in India’s caste society?

6. You must learn to emotionally cope with the incessant presence of souvenir hawkers.

Avoid buying out of pity. In tour-sanctioned shops, wander on your own to avoid high pressure sales. Many stores have extensive back inventory displays for better deals. Deeply contemplate your wants vs. needs when shopping. Be aware of stray animals and snakes used as emotional ploys for spending money. Consider silence as an effective price-bargaining tool.

“There is nothing that goes wrong with nature. Turn off your mind and float downstream.” George Harrison, 7/24/97 last public interview

Visiting the national parks in the United States has become a high priority for my wife and me in our recent road trip travels. Having spent extensive time in California on our previous car travels west, we had oddly missed visiting on several occasions the vast expanses of Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. Thus, the decision to side-trip from our current base in Morro Bay, Calif. to Sequoia on the Monday after Easter would be a much anticipated event on our 2017 Spring vacation.

Certainly, today did not provide opportune weather to make the arduous trip east across Central California as foggy mist shrouded our view much of the way. Fortunately, the skies would clear as we neared the end of Central Valley leaving us with an awestruck vista of the Sierra Range immediately ahead. Exiting the low-lying plain beyond Visalia, we the began a gradual climb up the Kaweah River Canyon. Stopping at Slide Rock Recreation area, we made time for a brief look
at this tranquil confluence of mountain-fed waters . A few miles further, we would soon pass our sleep destination for tonight; a modest Comfort Inn lying within the rustic town of “Three Rivers”. We we were now within four miles of the southerly entrance to Sequoia National Park.

Anticipating that the weather would not be cooperative on Tuesday, we had earlier made the decision that our afternoon today would likely be the best time to visit the southerly portion of Sequoia. Fortunately, all roads in the park would be open now, traffic appeared light, and clear visibility of the surrounding mountains seemed likely. Gaining free access with our National Park Pass, we would begin our short tour at the Ash Mountain Entrance.

One mile in, we reached the Foothills Visitor Center. This would prove to be an ideal spot for us to picnic lunch and plan our afternoon ride to our main destinations today: towering “Moro Rock” and the secluded forest of the “Sequoia Tree Giants.” There were many factors to consider for sure in completing our goal today. Would we become irritated driving steeply uphill for over 6,000 feet on a narrowly twisting road? Would there be a need to chain up our tires as we reached the snow belt section? Would the seasonable weather hold up throughout the afternoon?

Ultimately deciding we were “up” for such challenges, our drive to the Sequoia Forest worked out well for us today. On this three hour ascent/descent today in non-freezing conditions, we would frequently stop at designated overlooks to gaze at spectacular vistas of secluded valleys below and majestic mountain peaks above. Our senses would be further enhanced in the increasingly thin-air altitudes by the appearance of giant boulder formations, brilliantly-colored,spring vegetation, and towering strands of ancient, Sequoia trees

What had been learned by the “now” experience of silent and undisturbed nature in the land of the tree giants? Life seems too short to waste on endless “monkey-mind” stress when you consider that human days on earth are few compared to these indestructible mammoths of nature. I would thus need to hug a tree today and return my gratitude for giving me such an important insight.

Some random impressions of “creative energy” provided by my recent tour of New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, India.

1. The Namaste greeting in India can teach me to manage my non-verbal signals to others more intelligently. In crowded sitauations, the folded hands ritual can be used to greet several people at one time in a non- threatening way. I might modify the greeting toward either the heart or head of my body to provide a clue of the type of message I am intending.

2. Animals clearly provide comfort to humans in every walk of Indian life. It is time for me to study animal behavior intelligently, not as a source a of egoistic entertainment. Spend get more time observing animal behavior in silence can help detach my mind from worry and stress to enhance my meditative powers in the present moment.

3. Spiritual life in Hindu India seems to emanate from everyday encounters. The ability of the individual to choose their own spiritual icon also intrigues me. From my perspective, a baseball park, concert hall, or quiet beach now enters my world as self-enlightenment mediums at home.

4. The unsanitary and unsightly presence of overpopulation in India deeply disturbs me. Such unchecked growth moves me to become active with grassroots organizations who seek a global solution to such threats to our earth’s survival. India’s human congestion problem is everyone’s problem.

5. The legacy of Mahatma Gandhi remains strong in India. His leadership to inspire peaceful, Indian resistance to the oppressive policies of British colonialism provides some optimism that a new leader will similarly rise to nullify the despotic-minded actions of our President in America today.

6. The caste system in India seems counterproductive to international peace in today’s times. To label people “untouchables”on the basis of a preordained social order perpetuates alienation and ignorance at the lower ends of the social spectrum. The likelihood of joining a fanatical, terrorist group increases in such times of desperate hopelessness.

Here are some random impressions of “positive energy” provided by my recent tour of New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur India

Cupping hands in Namaste everywhere provides a strangely pleasing way to begin my stay.

A fashion show of colorful saris in motion. Elegant waves of crimson, mauve, and blue provide dignity to the feminine soul

Feel the coolness of white marble in shoeless jaunts around the ancient temple. Examine thoughtfully the precise symbols of Islamic calligraphy. A skyward glance provides the protective nearness of a towering minaret. With each purposeful movement, I sense more deeply the serious pursuit of  prayer.

Gaze down the dusty road to experience a menagerie of pleasing animal surprises and realize that man and beast coexist usefully in daily survival. Proud camels relax proudly in oppressive  heat. Hungry cows munch slowly on their pile of personal garbage. A herd of Water Buffalo walk dutifully to and from their daily grazing area, Painted elephants provide tourists with a feel of the eastern caravan. Loyal dogs  bark nightly to protect their homeless master from personal harm.

The incidence of extreme poverty outside my bus stirs feelings of compassionate benevolence. Old men desperately peddle their trinket wares. Swastikas line doorless hovels expressing hope for prosperity. A hungry child cries in the night for his/her meager share. Think twice before you frivolously discard your paper cup, banana peels, or chicken bones today.

A “white teardrop” appears in the distance now to greet the new day. Admire the perfect symmetry of structural balance and Monet-like glimpses of light and dark. A place of beautiful pilgrimage no doubt. In one’s life, you must find reason to experience Taj Mahal magic.

The precious time of life cast in “Dharma” philosophy
Keep an open eye to the fully blossomed lotus flower.
Make genuine offerings to your individual deity.
Feel the regenerative power of life in surrounding Bougainvillea
Unite with your yogi in the spirit of love
Find one’s self-contentment in meditative reflection

Having sufficient time now to fully reflect on our “Gate One” tour of India from 3/19-3/29, the primary focus of several, upcoming blogs will focus on providing a complete picture of this incomparable experience. I can truly say as an introduction that this journey of New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra could be best described best as a rigorous trip rather than a relaxing vacation given the short amount of time allotted there. Nonetheless, our tour guide challenged us to see “first time India” up close and authentic amidst the bewildering presence of extreme cultural unfamiliarity.

When I taught Gifted Education in Miami, I regularly encouraged my very curious students to “critically examine” new ideas and practical applications about “Social Studies, using several “point of views” The same applies to me in my own travels it seems. Returning to my heavy use of Edward DeBono’s “Thinking Hat” approach to learning mastery in such classes, I feel that I have found a perfect paradigm to reflect deeply about our recent India experience.

What are the most important learnings I have experienced about India to recommended for the curious traveler?

1. Explore the essence of Hindu/Buddhist philosophy in rural areas of India to experience the unique sense of inner serenity.

2. Exhibit kindness toward animals from the perspective of a poverty-stricken, Indian family.

3. Dare to eat spicy food that you have no idea when and how your stomach will react to it.

4. Trust a “Tuk-Tuk”Driver to convey you to non-touristy shops and cafes “off the beaten track.”

5. Rise at sunrise and hear the eerie calls of the Islamic muezzin to daily prayer.

6. Realize your global responsibility to find workable solutions to urban overpopulation, air/ground pollution and “out of control” garbage presence.

As my wife and I conclude the first month of our 2017 Spring travel itinerary, we will now slow down from our day-to- day schedule of traversing vast distances to enjoy a one-month stay in stunningly beautiful Morro Bay, California. I look forward to providing you with a most descriptive written, picture of India accompanied by a multitude of related photographs. Namaste.

Upon wearily arriving in scintillating Las Vegas after enduring a two hour road closure on Route 93 north  from Kingman, Arizona yesterday, I immediately became revitalized. For I sensed the omnipresent aura of human vitality of adesert oasis that has always provided me with stunning, visual stimuli and fun, adult play. While my wife and I would be fortunate to have arrived in the cooler time of late March, this visit to Las Vegas would primarily function as an indoor experience. Hoping to leisurely “hang out” in several casino resorts on or near the strip, I took time to photograph interior scenes from my favorite casino meccas. Accompanying these snapshots are some brief, sensory impressions I experienced in visiting each of them.

“The Bellagio”

On this stay in Las Vegas, we made it a priority to re-experience the floral elegance of the Bellagio Botanical Gardens. The current “Chinese New Year” Exhibition displayed a captivating exhibition of birds, butterflies, and human warriors intricately designed primarily from roses, bromeliads, and orchids. We found this garden sanctuary to be a wonderful respite from the human chaos of the bustling casino area. Gazing upward at the ceiling as we slowly made our way through the lobby, my attention focused intently on the colorful, Chihuly glass sculptures adjacent to the guest registration desk. This short excursion to the Bellagio would end pleasantly as we leisurely made our way to the resort’s man-made lake to await the captivating “Dance of the Water Fountain”show.

“The Rio”

We have opted to stay at the Rio Resort several times in the past due to its location off the chaos of the surrounding strip.So the decision was logically made to book three nights there at a lower weekday rate on our present adventure. Making the long walk from the self-park area through the casino to the Hotel Registration desk, a distinctive atmosphere of “Mardi Gras” carnivality invited us to indulge in hedonistic pleasure. For slot machine diversion, there were scantily clad dancers descending on floats from the ceiling to perform the popular “Masquerade Show in the Sky.” For adult entertainment, the “Chippendales” Club advertised the sexy thrill of watching scantly- clad “hunks” dancing for tourist pleasure. At the romantic “Voodoo Club”, there existed the options of ordering  a popular “Witch Doctor” drink, dancing to pulsating, electronic music, or simply admiring the spectacular view from the rooftop lounge area. Looking forward to a break from our long, road trip travel days, however, we opted for the simple alternative of window shopping and casual lounging in our oversized bedroom suite for now.

“The Luxor”

As we ascended to the second floor lobby area today, this unique pyramid-shaped casino hotel provided a myriad of visual pleasures for us today. For me, there was the illusion that I was entering an ancient Egyptian time of secret passages guarded by towering pharaohs and fierce-looking animals. Scanning the pictorial hieroglyphics of nearby obelisks, I also envisioned learning something interesting about the culture of this ancient era in my brief walkabout today. As we exited the hotel to have a glance at the massive. pyramid exterior, I envisioned this impressive pyramid as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”

I’ve traveled to casino sites all over the country but have found none of them able  to duplicate the ultimate escape feeling that a Vegas experience provides. Slot machines frantically ring in the background. Serious roulette/blackjack game enthusiasts crowd smoke-filled tables.Suitcases dizzily come and go by my side. Yet here I stand, gazing at the kaleidoscope of a perfect moment portraying astounding beauty of a desired place and time.

NOTE: I will be in hiatus from Word Press until April 1. My wife and I are taking a ten day tour of India. I am looking forward  to sharing some new blogs about this exciting experience after I return.

Today I take notice of March 12, 1933 as the date when the first “Fireside Chat” of Franklin D. Roosevelt was nationally broadcast by radio into American living rooms across the country. In this telecast, FDR expressed sincere warmth and concern for the American family at a time of great, economic crisis. In honor of this historic event, I imagine myself giving a similar, informal speech as FDR did at that time to discuss the idea of Western land conservation. For this speech, I am inspired by the awe-struck feeling of sitting before dusk in an intimate campfire setting amidst the fading red rock canyons of Sedona, Arizona today.

-My friends, I want to talk for a few minutes with the people of the United States about why we should appreciate our Western lands today. As I stand amongst the majestic red rocks of Sedona Arizona today, I see the impressive work of nature that should be dear to every American’s heart. Let me tell you three reasons why.-

-First, turn up the volume on your radio. Do you hear the silence? Imagine a place as I have that allows you to clear your mind from confusions of your modern day life. You might savor a blue bird pass by or hear a brief rustle of wind.You might breathe deeply. then and appreciate the purity of the clean air as I have. You might even savor the crystalline sparkle of a nearby rock.-

-Now imagine you are standing on a sacred land as I am. You must realize that our Native American ancestors worshiped the beauty of their western homelands as a sacred place to survive in the presence of their Gods. How else would they have found food, water, and shelter? They knew no other way. Do we not take our own, natural surroundings for granted beyond our private domain?

-Gaze out your living room window and imagine your yard or nearby street as an artist would. Would shades of color and nuances of shapes astound your mind then? I want you to imagine feeling such artistries of nature in the curvatures of each passing mountain as I do in Sedona today.-

-The urgent call to preserve nature my friends, is not your problem but ours together. As your leader, I can reassure you that I will supply the machinery to help restore conservation of our western lands. Let us work together and carry on with confidence and courage to carry out our plan.-