Category Archives: Blog

Giverny Impression(ism)…

Posted on August 21, 2016 by admin

Exploring Monet's gardens (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I felt like I was literally walking through a Monet painting, while viewing his beautiful gardens and house in Giverny…

Monet's home (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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Cinematic Ties…

Posted on August 21, 2016 by admin

Third Dhofar Arab Film Forum (Times of Oman)

Since I publish on Iranian film, live in the Sultanate of Oman, and have worked in the film industry, I’m very happy that Iran and Oman are boosting cinematic ties. According to Alireza Tabesh, the director of Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation, “The Islamic world is being threatened by dark extremist and cruel movements of some people. By exploiting the potential of cinema, we can present the human and moral teachings of Islam and the true character of Prophet Muhammad (S) to the world.”

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Tea Time…

Posted on August 21, 2016 by admin

Exploring Xinjiang (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I was happy to come across an article today about my favorite teahouse in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

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Dimaniyyat Islands…

Posted on August 20, 2016 by admin

Exploring Oman (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

Such fun to go snorkeling with scuba diving friends to swim with sea creatures in the Dimaniyyat Islands in Oman…

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Angelina…

Posted on August 19, 2016 by admin

Waking up in Paris (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

My favorite way to wake up in Paris? With truffle eggs, croissants, and café crème at Angelina by the Louvre…

Angelina (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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Get Born…

Posted on August 18, 2016 by admin

Exploring Paris (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I enjoyed running into Bob Dylan this week while taking in the Beat Generation exhibit at Centre Pompidou in Paris…

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Living Color…

Posted on August 13, 2016 by admin

Exploring France (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I enjoyed some delicious mid-afternoon macaroons today while touring Monet’s blooming gardens in Giverny…

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Le Comptoir du Relais…

Posted on August 11, 2016 by admin

Le Comptoir du Relais (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

My first stop to eat after touching down in Paris — Le Comptoir du Relais (their pot de creme chocolat Guanaja is très magnifique).

Dessert heaven (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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White Nights…

Posted on August 9, 2016 by admin

Exploring Russia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

Reading this New York Times travel article on Russia brought back fond memories of my time exploring the canals and White Nights of St. Petersburg while studying Advanced Russian/literature/film at St. Petersburg University (and getting in touch with my Slavic roots).

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Time Travel…

Posted on August 6, 2016 by admin

Exploring Mongolia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

Every summer I get back in touch with the healing spirit and power of nature in magical Mongolia. If you visit Mongolia, you might at times feel like you’ve traveled back in time and wandered into the 13th century…

Life on the steppe (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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Taliban Attack…

Posted on August 5, 2016 by admin

Traveling solo in Afghanistan (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

After reading about the recent Taliban attack on tourists in Afghanistan, I feel grateful that I experienced peace while traveling there on my own (though I did have some unexpected “enemy” encounters and plenty of machine guns pointed in my face at tense checkpoints along the way).

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Fashion Photography…

Posted on August 5, 2016 by admin

Shooting on the streets (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I bought this headband in Cairo, and the photographer who took this photo suggested we use it for one of our fashion shoots in the streets. So it was with interest that I recently read this unique blog post on shooting fashion photography in Egypt and the Middle East.

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Competitive Climbing…

Posted on August 4, 2016 by admin

On the rocks (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

The International Olympic Committee has voted to include climbing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games — along with softball, baseball, karate, skateboarding, and surfing. Since I love rock climbing (as you can see in these photos), I’m excited to see how climbing makes its debut in the Olympic Games in Japan.

Climbing in the Gunks (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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Suffering…

Posted on August 2, 2016 by admin

Exploring Mongolia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

While contemplating suffering yesterday, I thought of this sign that I saw recently at a Buddhist temple in Mongolia…

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