Golden Ratio and the last finished notebook

These are all the pages from my last notebook. Thinking about the number of pages took me really a lot of time. Actually I can be lost in these kind of (irrelevant points) for ever. My goal was all the pages to be linked in a way so they can become something more: a mandala. This is not now as far as I also used in the previous notebook. 

Al together needs to fix into a frame so only a few number of pages could fulfit this condition. I decided to draw Golden Spiral (based on Golden Ratio) along the notebook. Well, there are other elements to link different pages which I maybe explain one day.

The orange circle in the center is the main reference to organize the pages as a puzzle.

It's clear the notebook is full of orange dots in everywhere. When joining dots, Golden Spiral appears.

Also the devil wanted to join the party. He puts his claws in the Earth. Maybe he manages the curve. Or just a coincidence, which is even more intriguing.

At the end of the day...

At the end of the day you are alone with your luggage.
If the luggage contains a laptop, much better.

Test page

The last page of each notebook uses to be a test page. I don't know the reason but it finally becomes one of the best of the whole journal. Maybe it's because random and freedom can swim without rules.

The beauty of patterns

As humans, we can recognize some patterns. When they are (subjectively) beautiful we find pleasure. However nature creates a huge variety of patterns and we are not able to notice most of them. Computers do better.

No computer used in this page. Beauty produced.

China 2.0

I came back to Shanghai recently. The point which surprised me the most since my first visit ten years ago, in 2007, was the massive use of QR codes. Actually when I landed in China, a guy was giving small papers with QR codes. They look a kind of visiting cards to my eyes. Welcome to China 2.0.

They are in everywhere. This together with the use of Wechat creates a digital scenario where nobody uses real money. Even money is not accepted in some shops.

Street vendors use this technology and save a lot of time. It's much more hygienic. Better for everyone.

It's also used for publicity, etc. I suggest placing a QR code in Mao's forehead, in his official portrait, linked to his red book or whatever other lectures.

Views from my window in Shanghai

Humans can build scenarios which were unimaginable some decades ago. How could it be in 10 years? 50 years? This crowded view shows a kind of cold concrete feeling, no people (only if you close up).

A kind of poetry.

Seen in Seoul

Amazing shop in Korea. Full of style and atmosphere. A kind of hamster surrounded by brushes and stuff from heaven. Congrats, unknown man.

My writing tools for travels

Optimizing the luggage is a never ending task. I do it with pleasure and it gives me great results and a new way of traveling. Regarding the writing tools I remember the days, before discovering so many fountain pens and inks, when all was easier. 

There are some requirements: Full performance, simple and light. I can carry everything with me in any moment and in everywhere. "My atelier is the real world"

Currently I use the following items:

-My handmade notebook.
-MUJI passport notebook for fast notes.
-"Happy Every Day" case. I found it in 7 Eleven in Bangkok.
-Two tiny kits of watercolors.
-Plastic ruler.
-Pencil.
-Brush.
-Two Stabilo markers: orange and turquoise.
-TWSBI 580 EF fountain pen.
-Two Lamy fountain pens.
-Preppy fountain pen.
-Kaweco fountain pen.
-Two disposable Zebra brushes.
-Pigma Micron 005.
-Pilot G-3.
-Rotring mechanical pencil.
-Rotring Isograph 0,10.
-Rotring Isograph 0,18.
-Glue.
-Eraser.
-Airmail masking tape.
-Tiny pencil sand color.

Together with this I carry another case with spares of some of the pens, glue and inks for fountain pens.

Rotring Isograph

I'm using this extrafine tool during the last weeks. Rotring Isograph keeps the best old style in technical pens. Not only the pen itself, also the box, ink bottle, etc show great quality.

When I was studying engineering there were many shops near university dedicated to these technical tools. A kind of heaven shops full of expensive and quality items. I visited them recently in order to find this Rotring and unfortunately either they are gone or they don't have a wide selection of pens. Sad, sad.

Very happy with this 0,18 needle point and wanting to try 0,10.

Btw, did you know Rotring means Red-Ring (Rot-Ring)? Long live to Rotring.

Aliens shape

Just for fun. Have you ever tried to figure out how the aliens will look like? Hurry up, we are so near to discover them!

Here is my prediction. Actually I did three shots: Worm shape, sphere shape and noodles shape.

About family tree and more

I created a family tree during the last days. Not an easy project.

Fortunately I had the chance to ask to my grandmother and other relatives before they die because they were the only ones who know the name or at least the existence of some branches in the tree. I'm so shocked to see how easy information is lost. Most of the people only remember two or three levels up. And, of course, I'm always pained to see nobody left documents or even just a piece of paper with basic information. Or maybe I'm used to document everything.

I managed to find 351 people and organize a little bit this part of my own history.

Istanbul

Finally the destiny chosen for the experimental trip was Istanbul. Almost no tourists due to bombs and other threats in TV. Great place, amazing food and exotic touch in the atmosphere.

Here some photos:

Experimental trip: Choosing a flight directly in the airport

A dream done! I've always wanted to do this experiment: Go to the airport and choose a flight to anywhere. But I went further and did it directly when I flew back from Amsterdam! Full tired after a few days non stop with no clean clothes, etc. A friend of mine was waiting for me in the airport. It was a stressful but funny experience. Let's open the door to random world. Planning to much leaves out a big part of the journey.

We chose a flight to...

Visit to Cafe Analog in Utrecht

I was invited by Desiree to visit her Cafe Analog.

She has created a space with warm atmosphere and full of love for an analog world. We talked a lot about notebooks and writing in general. She is taking seriously her passion for stationery. Have a look at her website to finde nice items and now also "The Orange Manuscript"! https://www.cafe-analog.nl/ . Thanks Desiree for these great moments!

I tried to explain some details of Donau's Journey there but I'm afraid its secrets are quite hide to see them in a first view.

No need to say Utrecht is a lovely place to visit.

Donau´s Journey explanations. Squares #2, #3, #4, #7 and #8.

Squares #2, #3, #7 and #8 are related iconic places in my travels.

Square #2 shows Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. I made them with a bridge shape in order to allow the river pass through them. Number 2 is linked to gestation and preparation, that's why an egg is waiting there in the beginning of the journey.

Square #3 is dedicated to my all time favorite island: Aitutaki, in Cook Islands, South Pacific. It has triangle shape (number 3) and it's an absolutely amazing place. Here a couple of photos I took there together with a photo from the air.

Photo from Google

Square #4 is dedicated to the power and material wealth, same as in card number IIII in Tarot. 

  

It's the representation of stability like the four legs in a table. A king shows the ambition for power and appearance. He looks back and we can't expect anything new or innovation from him. Red shoes are stylish Stilettos in this case, but clothes don't change the inner essence: Rotten meats of an human with costume to create an illusion of respect.

Square #7 is related to travels and, why not, old travels atmosphere. 

Square #8 contains many numbers 8, that's the Everest (8848 m high). The top of the world. I can see myself walking from the Base Camp at 5200 m high to some kilometers ahead. I can't imagine how is the feeling when climb much higher. Incredible place.

 

Life is itself a journey and places are just temporary scenarios.

Simple writing tools

Back to simple tools: Pencil and paper. I really love this verge paper texture and cream color. For me it provides the perfect atmosphere for writing.

Many times I was worried about waterproof inks or whatever archival quality tools and at the end nothing can beat basic pencils. Keeping the control and feeling the touch is very important.

Donau´s Journey explanations. Geometric links

The whole painting is one thing, this is one of the main ideas behind the project. Universe is one single entity and everything in the Cosmos keep internal links with each other. Nothing is isolated. One way to show that is the creation of references which can be found here and there.

It's easy to read the word "REF" on the Rotring tool I used to draw everything.

That's a geometric reference which links many items. All these things keep the same length: