On this page we we will keep track of
Branan's Trip to Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.

email Branan at branan2asia@yahoo.com

September 15, 2004

Hello Museum School!

I imagine all of you there starting off the school year and how exciting. I miss all of you and really can't wait to be back teaching in January. I am seeing some amazing landscapes and artworks. I have shipped a number of things back to California so that I can bring them into the classroom and use them for inspiration for future art lessons...but that will be a surprise! Lots of creative expression at every turn. I am in Thailand on a small island in the south and today I have my bag packed and am off on a long-tail boat around the coast where I plan to spend a few days on a more secluded part of the island and hike up to some waterfalls visited by the king of Thailand 100 years ago and declared sacred lands. I may do a bit of kayaking today as well. I am craving some activity, although any movement outside in this intense heat feels like a real effort. But, alas, this is all part of the South East Asian tropical experience! I've spied some nice birds with long tails and dangling black feathers and little flittering butterflies with blue and black spots fluttering by the big rocks over the quiet waters of the Gulf of Thailand. I even had a monkey grab four bananas from my porch where I slept a few weeks ago up in the mountains. We saw each other in the early morning light and he froze, looking at me...then he snatched another banana and ran for the hills. Later in the afternoon, after I went to town and had returned, I found that he had also returned for dessert...my mango! Ahh, nice little visitor! Last night I stayed in a little bungalo perched right on the rocks overlooking the waters, situated at the far corner of the island below the lighthouse. In order to get to these bungalos you have to walk down a very rickety bridge over rocks and occasionaly you find a big gap in the patchwork wooden planks as they are arrayed in a make-shift pattern over the rocks and waters and fish and crabs. I took a nice photo of it today...truly a walk of mindfulness and intense awareness of each and every step! So I hope all of you are wonderful and enjoying the new school year! I miss you all and will see you in January...and I'll write again too, of course! Feel free to contact me while I travel:branan2asia@yahoo.com(mailto:branan2asia@yahoo.com).

Take care!Branan

July 18, 2004

Hello everyone at the Museum School!

I am writing from beautiful Bali. I have been here for two weeks now and have been reminded of the school so much. I saw a dozen children perform Legong and other favorite dances at a local library. They were all dressed up in brilliant costumes and makeup....the show was amazing...very talented dancers! I also saw a larger performance of Legong and Barong by adults at the Ubud palace....fantastic creatures made with all sorts of organic materials and vibrant colors! And I have just returned from two nights at Bob Brown's amazing space, where I played gamelon instruments with musicians from Bali and Java. An instructor showed me how to play along with the others! I enjoyed it so much....maybe I can learn more from you students when I return to school. I hope everyone has a fantastic summer!

Congratulations to all of the 6th graders. Come back to the school and visit!!!
I miss you all already ! Take care and write if you have a chance.
Love, Branan

PS Getting lots of good art ideas being in this very creative and beautiful land with such talented artists and inspiring environment!

Students in art class drawing and thinking about some special places that Branan will visit

GLB:9/17/04 .