New notebook

New baby!  327g. 

Working with such a thickness took me a few days of adjusting details. A few imperfections, more than usual. I had to do some parts of the process in two steps. But I reached the goal of much bigger spine compared with the pages (+29%). This will help to balance the thickness once the notebook is eating notes, experiences and sticked alien stuff. The pages will get about 54% bigger. Now it looks a little ugly in his initial trapezoidal shape.

Some photos show it together with his great grandfather (n-4) notebook. New one will be 21% thicker than it when finished!

A fat notebook has some problems I experienced before: It’s heavier to carry, difficult to write near the edges and higher risk if it’s lost/stolen when travelling since there are many more memories and hours of work. Of course I can’t call it “pocket” anymore. However the final shape is magnificent, and this only point makes up for everything before. At least I think so now. Maybe myself from the future will think different but anyways he has the duty to carry it and finish it from now on.

Mr. Robot

3 scenes of the great show Mr. Robot with my trusted mechanical pencil Pentel 205.

Style of note taking

A few days before I was drawing tropical fruits and Banana Boat sunscreen. Suddenly I come back to Winter in Europe, drawing a scarf and taking medicine for the cold. Not good deal.

This style of note taking is fascinating. Quite different from my regular way to fill a page (too organised). It's more fun and open to improvisation. The result is difficult to see in advance because each note impacts a lot in the final composition. I want to think if the ingredients are solid and real and the process is made with passion, the result will show that. Maybe one day I will move fully to this way of documenting.

Simple hut in Koh Lanta

I realize I don’t need ruler to draw little house this since every line is organic and natural. Same for its construction. Just nearby resources, simplicity, easy and can be made in a few days with help of family and friends. 

The result is something in harmony with the place. I guess this is real wisdom.

I saw that giant lizard around my hut most of the days there. Quite scary when it appears just a few meters away.

Koh Lipe

I think it’s my new favourite Thai island. Not easy to reach in comparison with other islands since wake up early is mandatory to take the first morning flight from BKK and then a chain of bus and boats. 

It’s tropical and tropical is always good. Small, no bikes needed and extremely beautiful place.

 

Recent trip route in Thailand

Thailand has many layers to be unveiled and the more I discover, the more fascinating everything becomes. These are new islands for me, all of them amazing, specially Koh Lipe. I had great day in Koh Santa, in low season, my favourite season.

This map style is slightly different from others and I like it a lot. I think it will be my map style by default  (until I start experimenting in the next attempt because I know myself).

Giant Thai stamp, self portrait and important lesson

Mixed notes: One note emphasizes, "The important thing is the tone" when it comes to storytelling or any creative endeavor. Understanding this key aspect took me years, but once I did, many doubts and decisions resolved quickly and effortlessly. Consequently, the story itself, its accuracy, and even aesthetics come later.

Applying this insight is the next challenge, but that's another matter.

 

Finding Inspiration in Satoshi Kon's wisdom

Satoshi Kon was a true master of his craft, weaving delicate images with deep emotions. His words recently helped me resolve a dilemma that had lingered in my mind for months while crafting the 2050 cards project.

I had placed excessive emphasis on the story, thinking it was the foremost element of any narrative. Some renowned film directors even delete a well-shot scene if it doesn't enhance the story. This mindset, while practical for business/profit related activities as cinema or Netflix, may stifle free creativity.

Satoshi Kon's perspective was refreshingly different: he painted mesmerizing images overflowing with creativity and then ingeniously find the way to match them with the story. The result might sometimes feel disjointed, but the emotion and, more importantly, the tone, were paramount.

This is my tiny tribute to him, etched into a small page of my small notebook. I hope it resonates with your soul and introduces you to his magnificent universe if you haven't ventured there yet. Let's embrace the beauty of creativity and the magic of storytelling, just as Satoshi Kon did.

 

Mixed notes including Thai coins and Lady Gaga

First time I see that Thai coins table. I’d like to see one of those Chang coins! I imagine them like 1kg oreo cookies each.

Sun direction in Bangkok

It's a little confusing when coming from Europe. In Bangkok Sun could be in the South or in the North depending of the time, which is extremely weird for orientation. It’s also a key factor when choosing accommodation since light quality changes a lot.

A room facing North is not so bad here! The magic of tropical places. 

 

The moustache

Take care if you eat wine and khachapuri in Georgia while displaying a bushy moustache.

Crazy Mary bookshop

What a great time talking about notebooks with nice people in Crazy Mary bookshop. A cozy and made with love place in Madrid city center (C/ Echegaray, 32).

If you go there you will find both my Nautilus and Orange manuscripts for sale in real, touchable version.

I took with me some original journals for people to have a look. For some reason I noticed they always have a kind of magnetic effect. They trap the observer and hypnotize him :)

Thank you all for coming!

Here I am holding Manuscript Chang, the thickest one up to know.

 

A triangular man

Mixed notes. A triangular shaped man, F-35 Lightning II and other irrelevant annotations not worth mentioning but somehow they deserve to spend time writing them.

What’s in my travel bag? Version 2023

These are all the items. Therefore I’m taking the photo naked.
Not very different from last years.
Full bag weights 8,2kg, 32 liters (bag alone 1kg) once some clothes are on.
Key here is the laptop: 16”, 2,3kg with charger.
Only possible in tropical places where no Winter clothes needed.

Still abundance of orange color, and that's good.

Mixed notes from Yerevan, Armenia

Beer chosen by label design and this one was the best on the shelf. Someone told me it's not an Armenian beer. Aesthetic rule over everything else (sometimes). At least it's an easy way to take decisions.

Old Soviet stamps

I found great soviet style stamps in Tbilisi flea market. They really did the high level design. I also love stamps from UK, USA and Japan.