Dublin - Tripoli - New York - Miami - Dublin

Where do I even begin? I haven't posted since September 2010! Well a lot has happened since then and instead of brushing over it, I might as well tell a story or two and post a couple of pictures.

Last October I spent two weeks in Libya, where my father is from and where my grandparents, 12 uncles, two aunties and 20 baby cousins live in Tripoli. I hadn't been there in five years and before that the only time I had traveled to Libya was when I was six years old, so it was a long overdue trip.

I had the most wonderful time, it was so exciting to see how much Tripoli had changed and developed since the embargo had been lifted; most internationally renowned hotel chains hold a presence in the city, which made it feel a lot more cosmopolitan compared to when I had last been there.

My uncle got married when I was visiting and it was very exciting to experience a Libyan wedding ceremony. I also went to the National Museum, visited my family's farm on the outskirts of Tripoli for a wonderful BBQ, took a day trip to the mountains and experienced a real Souk Medina market in the city (where I took the pictures above and the one of the door below).

The fact I was there for two weeks nearly five months ago and now there is a full blown war unfolding before our eyes is very scary. I was lucky enough to get through to my family there yesterday (the telephone lines and internet have been down for weeks) and thankfully they are all safe and out of harms way. I can only pray they will stay that way and that the conflict will end soon.

As some of you may know, the demise of this blog began last January 2010 when I first traveled with American Apparel (the company I work for) to Miami for three months at the start of the year. Soon after I returned from Libya near the end of the year, I was asked to travel to New York and work on a couple of projects there in the run up to Christmas.

It was my second time in New York (my first being a very touristy trip with my Mom and little brother a couple of years ago, back when Abercrombie was seen as Mecca) and I ended up staying for five weeks and working on fixture development and merchandising at most of the NY locations.

I met some wonderful people there, but didn't get a chance to experience the real New York, as most of my time was spent inside an American Apparel. I did however eat out at some fabulous places, indulged in many a mini-cupcake, bought lots of junk in Uniqlo and Muji and got a chance to visit MoMA on Free Friday, which is sponsored by Target apparently.

Luckily I got out of New York before the snow storm arrived, as I had to travel back down to Miami to work on a couple of projects there over Christmas and New Year's. I was so excited to go back and see all the familiar faces and places and the winter climate in Miami is really quite fabulous.

I ended up staying in Miami for a further seven weeks, so I was away for three months in total. It's always strange to come home after being away for so long, what with new friends made and holiday romances lost, but I was very excited to get back to life in Dublin.

Unfortunately I injured myself a couple of weeks ago and have fractured bones in both my feet, so I'm out of action and back at home down the country in my parents house recuperating. I was freaking out about having to take so much time off work, but I'm enjoying the thought of bringing this blog back from the dead and working on a couple of other creative projects in the meantime.

Photographs taken by me in Libya, New York and Miami.

Currently listening to 'H.A.M.' by Kanye West & Jay-Z.