Album: Manoa Falls
<10.23.04> A leisurely hike to Manoa Falls which is easily accessible via the O'ahu suburbs near Waikiki. Not strenuous by any means and the falls aren't nearly as spectacular as in Kaua'i but a must-do when on a short visit. Reza, Monica, and the Ong Sisters (Nicole, Melissa, and Jennifer) were in from SF so I took the liberty of packing the family car chock full for an excursion. Fortunately, there were no mishaps since the tags were expired and I was completely uninsured (seems CA ins. doesn't measure up to Hawai'ian 'no-fault' insurance, FYI). No day is complete without hitting the L&L drive in for some plate lunch. Manoa Falls & L&L, Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Album: Change of Plans
<08.23.04> Missed my flight to London by mere minutes and came back to Brando's flat for another night of madness. Had a spare-no-expense Italian meal and off to Kultiplex one last time for breakbeats. Ate a gift given by a local dude known only as "The Doctor" and proceeded to meet crazy folks and end up in strange flats around town. Budapest, Hungary.

Album: Sir Lancelot
<08.22.04> Sir Lancelot Restaurant, Budapest, Hungary. Medieval- themed eatery complete with heavy wooden tables, more tapestries- shields-swords than you could shake a stick at, and waitstaff dressed in peasant/ Renaissance gear. Eating utensils optional, especially when you order the family sized platters. This was the first place I ate at when I came to Hungary in 2000. To say that the joint became touristy would be a vast understatement: they now have belly dancing and random sword fighting nightly. Occasionally, innocent diners get roped into the action.

Album: Beograd
<08.19-21.04> Weekend trip to Beograd (Belgrade), Serbia. Gene just flew in from NYC (was living in Budapest when I last came in 2000) and we made the most out of 3 days. Together we carried only a tiny backpack, a small burlap sack, and a plastic bag of sandwiches/fruit/drinks. No jacket required during sweltering heat.

Album: Bike Ride
<08.18.04> Local Hungarian fare with Jonathan and Bernadette. Then off to see Budapest via bicycle (JT's silver tank). Happened upon an arty show behind the Modern Art Museum featuring huge billboards done by local artists. Rounded off once again by Mumus Kert. Budapest, Hungary.

Album: Joyride
<08.17.04> Late start on the day with dinner w/ Yusaf and his wife and kiddo(and Brandon, of course). JT was nice enough to take me for a ride in his British Panther (another right-hand-drive roadster like the Morgan, quite the head-turner in Eastern Europe). No night would be complete without stopping it at Mumus Kert. Budapest, Hungary.

Album: Kultiplex
<08.16.04> Every Mon is breakbeat night at Kultiplex, Budapest, Hungary. Pre-kert warmup at Szimpla. Sick breaks. Same bartenders from the Magic Mirror bar at Sziget Fesztival. Bonus drunken arty shots on the way home.

Album: Szobor Park
<08.16.04> Szobor Park(Statue Park), outskirts of Budapest, Hungary. Impressive collection of statues, busts, and plaques. from the Communist era. Plus random touristy shots from around the Citadella on the Buda side of the Danube.

Album: Palatinus
<08.15.04> Palatinus water park on Margit-Sziget(Margaret Island), Budapest, Hungary. Largest set of pools in the city(1 w/ wave action!). Janky waterslides are a new addition and maintained in a typical Eastern European fashion. After 2 runs Brandon and Tamara were heartily scraped and a bit bloodied. When asked what was wrong with the ride the lifeguard sternly replied, "There is nothing wrong." Tamara said, "Then why am I bleeding?" he goes, "It's only you." When she told him that both she, her boyfriend, and countless others were as well he simply said, "It's only you and your friend."

Album: Jailhouse
<08.14.04> Electro night at Jailhouse, another subterranean gig, Budapest, Hungary. Guest dj: Carlo from Berlin. The crazy German guys who stayed at Adrien's "hostel" (his converted flat) came along for kicks. Also note some of the same fools visiting for the Sziget Fest from Spain/Germany.

Album: Flat Party
<08.13.04> Brandon always host an early party at his flat when fools roll into town. Just before the neighbors flip out we hit the kerts and against our better judgement go to Piaf's. Apparently this is the sleaziest subterranean joint similar to the Endup in SF. It's reportedly better to arrive after 5am... District VII, Budapest, Hungary.

Album: Kert Action
<08.12.04> A collection of kert(biergartens) outings and token tourist shots. Budapest, Hungary.

Album: Final Sziget Tues
<08.10.04> Sziget Fesztival Tues(final day). Obuda Island, Budapest, Hungary. Tues: Tito & Tarantula(USA-Mex), Faithless(UK), Jeff Mills(USA), Grave Digger(D), Tipper(UK), BAM(Can) +?? www.sziget.hu Apparently these folks love Faithless- they've closed the main stage for the last several years.

Album: Sziget Fesztival Sun
<08.08.04> Sziget Fesztival Sun. Obuda Island, Budapest, Hungary. Sun: Scissor Sisters(USA), Anthrax(USA), Junkie XL(NL), Sugarloaf, Brain of Morbius(UK), etc... Not to mention the sickest breakbeats courtesy of local Hungarian fave Palotai(Tilos/Rewind) in the Cinetrip open-air tent.

Album: Sziget Fesztival Sat
<08.07.04> Sziget Fesztival Sat. Obuda Island, Budapest, Hungary. Sat: Chumbawamba, Talvin Singh & Sangat(UK), DJ Rolando(USA), Stacey Pullen(USA), +many, many more...

Album: Beautiful and the Damned
<08.06.04> Dual bday bash of Brando(30 and Anna (25). Located in one of the local kerts (biergardens) that are operated in the courtyards of abandoned buildings so they tend to change venues as the buildings are purchased. brankru.com/party_bdays.html

Album: Sziget Fesztival Thurs
<08.05.04> Sziget Fesztival, part deux. Obuda Island, Budapest, Hungary. Thurs: Bloodhound Gang(USA), Busta Rhymes(USA), Freestylers(UK), Josh Wink(USA), +lots of other fools...

Album: Sziget Fesztival Wed
<08.04.04> Sziget fesztival: Budapest, Hungary. The most diverse music festival in Europe encompassing various electronic genres, rock, metal, pop, classical, klezmer, hip-hop, gypsy(Roma), folk, blues, world... Located on Obuda Island in the Danube River. www.sziget.hu Wed: Sugarbabes(UK), Pet Shop Boys(UK), The Klezmatics, Cannibal Corpse(USA), Sterbinszky(HU), Paul Oakenfold(UK), +too many to mention...

Album: Michael Harris' Sloppy Bday
<07.16.04> Michael Harris feigns surprise for bday bash @Butter, San Francisco. Sounds by DJ Chas. Additional lighting by Rumpus Room. Booty-grabbin' courtesy of Dr. Grabasski.

Album: Dig Meine Golde Schafte Shanghai
<06.05.04> The Chumps present more house party theme madness at Casa del Maz in the Presidio, San Francisco. Underqualified DJs: The Chaef, Fong, Godar, Sothar. Sound courtesy of Aaron & Kirtley of Hossfest. Lighting by Rumpus Room. Decor by The Chump Corp. Note: the pics are _supposed_ to be that way- most mine shafts aren't camera-friendly...

Album: Fort Mason Luau
<03.20.04> Todd Davis and crew threw down again for the mother of all house parties. Whatever this house may be lacking in electrical power and safety it sure makes up for it in charm and killer views of the Bay and Aquatic Park. Lights and decor by Rumpus Room. General's Quarters, Fort Mason, San Francisco.

Album: Triple Thursday
<05.23.02> Good things come in threes. After tanking up at my pad the gang hits up the Altruity happy hour @Cloud 9, the Paper party @Julip, and finally Badlands in the Castro for poorly mixed Euro pop music videos.

Album: TheFool
<04.19.02> The Fool brings it to the underground. Tunes by Solar, Nikola, Guthrie, Dawn of Sound, Shane One, Nemo One, Lorin, Queen Agnes B. Lighting by Rumpus Room. Hazy pics courtesy of High Humidity, Smoke, and Unsteady Hand. Was so loud inside we hardly noticed the Goodwill's window being shot up in a drive-by next door. Spanganga, San Francisco.

Album: Sweet!
<03.22.02> My first Sweet! just happened to be the last one. Marked my first foray into digital photography. I would later refer to my Olympus D-150 as "no regrets". Studio Z, San Francisco.