Annual call for introductions

:: Tuesday, January 24th, 2006 @ 10:10:50 pm

:: Tags: General

Hey, guys! I know I do this repeatedly, but it makes me happy.

If you have a moment, please leave a comment here and let me know who you are, how you found this journal, what you do, etc. A linked photo would really be nice; i’ve found that if I can associate a face with a stranger’s handle, it makes me feel like there’s more of a connection.

Popularity: 7% | New York, NY | link | trackback | Jan 24, 2006 22:10:50

:: 38 comments (rss)

1. posted by William Manning on Tue, January 24, 2006 @ 10:36 pm

   Hey there, I am a good friend of Alex King’s and a former e.piphanite. We passed each other a couple of time at Concar. I have been following your journeys and living vicariously through your fantastic adventures. I really enjoy all your photos and funny commentaries and occasional rants. Keep up the good work and I look forward to more fun and exciting adventures from you. Good luck and keep up the great work.

   photo: My son Liam and I

2. posted by Will on Tue, January 24, 2006 @ 11:32 pm

   Hey Eric. I’ve been following your journal on and off for about 3-4 years. I found your site from a friend of mine who is a singer-songwriter. Her name is Maya Marin and I think she performed at your house years ago with Vienna. I am a Finance Manager for a consulting company in SoCal. I really enjoy your pics and reading about your adventures. Take care.

3. posted by johnson on Tue, January 24, 2006 @ 11:40 pm

   a noob hobby photographer from vancouver, canada. absolutely loves your underwater shots.

   come to know your site from a friend =)

4. posted by Ginny on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 5:24 am

   My name is Ginny and I am 27yrs old. I found your website from the link you provide when you post at Vienna’s website. I am orig. from Pittsburgh, PA but have lived in TX, MD, VA, and LA before moving to North Carolina in 2000. NC is not the most exciting place in the world but I love living here and hope to stay for a long time. I like to travel but don’t do it nearly as frequently as you and I’ve never been under water for more than about 30 seconds at a time. :) I’m an introvert but I enjoy meeting new people–just not in big groups. I have a 4yr old niece in Louisiana whom I adore and alot of nice friends. I’m a trumpet player and play in quintet called Market Street Brass. Ok, you can see my picture at my quintet’s website. The end!

5. posted by Andrew on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 5:29 am

   Contract code monkey, father of two and annoying husband.

   Living way over in Sydney Australia. Great place to live, not so great when you specialise in a programming language thats self destructing.

   Found your journal linked from Adam Tow’s ages ago.

   This is the closest I have to a face shot at the moment.

   http://worldscollide.net/wp-photo.php?id=27

   Thanks for keeping the journal going.

6. posted by Gabe McMillan on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 9:33 am

   Hi Eric,

   I am a fan of your website, love the photos. I am a programmer in Springfield, Missouri. It’s a growing little city with some decent culture. I am also taking cello lessons, so I really enjoy your cultural outings. I am vacationing to New York Feb 18-25, so maybe I will run into you!

   Take care, Gabe McMillan

7. posted by Gabe McMillan on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 9:34 am

   Here’s some pics of my travel. I enjoy culture and architecture.

   http://www.flickr.com/photos/37979585@N00/

8. posted by Rimas on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 12:04 pm

   Hi Eric, I’m Rimas. I landed upon your website about a year ago searching for information on Canon 1dm2 & 1dsm2 cameras. I enjoy your photos, travels and your posts on camera stuff and computers. I’m a patent attorney and live in San Francisco. Thanks for a great website.

9. posted by Rimas on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 12:05 pm

   http://static.flickr.com/5/9958093_71ae5832b2.jpg http://static.flickr.com/7/9958068_7b2dbaecb2.jpg

   oops forgot to add a pic.

10. posted by Gadi Porat on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 5:49 pm

    Hi Eric, its Gadi, after diving together in Bahamas i keep visit your site, great wrok. I am all envy,,,, BTW did you see the email i sent you the other day? Gadi

11. posted by ToORiMa on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 6:14 pm

    Hi! I’m from Los Angeles, and I have been reading ur blog for over a year now, I just love ur photos, and have been coming back to check on the different parts of the (wet and dry) world you travel to. A friend of mine told me about your site.

12. posted by shiz on Wed, January 25, 2006 @ 8:07 pm

    Hey Eric,

    I’ve followed your site since I was in college..which would be back in 1999 or so.. I was looking for saltwater fish info and found your site. I love reading about your travels, photos and love of music - so many like myself have given up performing once “life” took over. Alas, keep up the great work!! Shiz :)

13. posted by kerpal on Thu, January 26, 2006 @ 5:58 am

    Yeah, hi. I was just writing because your daughter come to my house today and she kick my dog.

    I saw her, and, she come to my house and she KICK my dog.

14. posted by Bryn Sadler on Thu, January 26, 2006 @ 12:01 pm

    Hi Eric,

    I’ve been lurking on your site for a goodly while now, I originally came across it while looking for info on climbing Kilimanjaro (your resource was very useful, btw!), which is all going ahead nicely in Sept, fingers crossed. I’ve been checking back regularly as we seem to share a few of the same passions: diving, travel, this Internet-type stuff, though I haven’t quite mastered combining work and travel as you have - one of these days I’ll buy an SLR and up sticks! Great photos and trip commentaries, keep it up!

    Me: http://www.blacktieparty.co.uk.....CF0298.jpg

    B (in sunny England)

    PS - nice work with Wetpixel too!

15. posted by Bb on Thu, January 26, 2006 @ 1:54 pm

    Hi Eric,

    I found your site a year or so ago from the Top 100 list on ricebowljournals.com. You had just taken the shocked turtle pic. I thought the pic was so cool !! From then, I’d been checking out your site regularly.

    To Cool Pics and Great Adventures !! Cheers !!

16. posted by sdyoung on Thu, January 26, 2006 @ 4:39 pm

    Well…seeing how you share bits of your life with the world from time to time, I guess it’s fitting to request the same thing from those who keep tabs on what you’re doing, right? :)

    How’s it going Eric, I found your site in ‘04, after coming across Adam Tow’s web presence. Or maybe it was the other way around…Well, I’ve been checking up with it on and off–each time with a renewed commitment to buy a new digital camera. Hehe. (Still using my Sony Cybershot at the moment)…

    A bit about me:

    Live: Downtown SLC, Utah Time-On: Urban Planner now, Architect later Time-Off: Jump at every chance to travel (so I can brush up on my Mandarin), Mix music on my Mac, swim, play baseball with my boy…

    Here’s my family and I in Taipei, (I’m the one holding the hotty): http://www.brightonopolis.com/.....l/002.html

17. posted by markus on Thu, January 26, 2006 @ 9:23 pm

    since i don’t think i’ve ever replied to an introduction-call, here i am: found your site through my brother, who was looking for information on near-IR-photography, and i couldn’t cease to keep checking your journal from that point on (about 3 years ago). i‘m studying biology, and keep being impressed by your lifestyle and photography.

    (btw: just found an old comment-spam-entry at post #784)

18. posted by Josh K on Fri, January 27, 2006 @ 7:48 am

    Hi Eric - Josh Klein here (Geoff & Livia’s friend). I’m living in DC now, but check your site from time to time to remind myself of the good life to be had in California.

19. posted by paul on Sat, January 28, 2006 @ 12:44 am

    hi, I’ve never actually met you but we have some common friends. I live in sunnyvale and work in mountain view at a network security company.

20. posted by Kurt on Sat, January 28, 2006 @ 8:44 am

    Hi Eric,

    I’m an ex-consultant from Texas currently doing an MBA at Wharton. A friend sent me a link to your site a couple of years ago although I don’t think he or I have ever met you. You do great work - thanks for sharing it!

    Kurt

21. posted by Thomas on Sat, January 28, 2006 @ 6:50 pm

    Hey Eric,

    I can’t remember how I stumbled onto your site. Maybe it was thru Adam Tow? Can’t remember now. Anyways, I’m a s/w engr working at NASA in Mountain View. Love your shark pics (and all the other ones too)

22. posted by Alex on Sun, January 29, 2006 @ 1:57 am

    Since you hooked up your redirect for your feed, I’ll be your huckleberry. :-)

    I started reading your site back at E. and your trip journals were one of the main motivations for me to start blogging. I think I said this last time you asked, but since I can’t remember and I’m too lazy to look - there it was again. Cheers!

23. posted by Blog Jens Kuhfs on Sun, January 29, 2006 @ 2:41 am

    Eric Cheng Journal - Annual call for introductions (General)…

    I found your name via Seacam, and it was then not hard to find your website etc. It is always informative, as well as an experience to look at your journal and Wetpixel. You can find photographs I have made and mush mor on my websites. I am in any cas…

24. posted by Ilan Ben Tov on Sun, January 29, 2006 @ 4:02 am

    I’m following your site/journal for several years! keep the good work!

25. posted by Stanley on Mon, January 30, 2006 @ 12:19 am

    Hi Eric,

    I’m still lurking about your journal, since we met at our parent’s reunion dinner in Cupertino. Just thought I’d say something for once. ;)

26. posted by inimini on Mon, January 30, 2006 @ 10:44 am

    I’m from Toronto, Canada (originally from Hong Kong). I stumbled onto your site thru some photosite about infrared photos many years ago. I’ve been reading your blog for a while now. I still remember the older version of your site with your teenage looking evil portrait in the dark: http://echeng.com/me/images/4......_small.JPG hmmm and now your over the big 30!!! Time flies…

    I used to admire how brave you are sharing your whole life online with the world. Great job!! Thanks for sharing. I used to love reading your thoughtful entries as they make me think about things too but since your made them private I didn’t bother registering cuz I can’t see why you want a stranger reading your thoughts. (If you don’t mind though, I would still be interested in reading them!)

    Sent you a link to my pbase site.

    Do you really read all the replies you get???

27. posted by kevin on Mon, January 30, 2006 @ 10:47 pm

    Hi Eric, I am a fan of Vienna’s. I was wondering who the “Eric’s Song” was for and somehow landed here. Liked your journey and adventures.. hope can go dive with you one day.

28. posted by echeng on Tue, January 31, 2006 @ 12:51 pm

    Imini - I read all the replies I get. They get sent to me by e-mail. :) Diving with me is easy! Join my travel list, and you’ll be notified of new trips. All of the trips are for advanced divers only.

29. posted by mike on Tue, January 31, 2006 @ 9:36 pm

    Hey Eric - I’ve been reading your website for a while after seeing some of your shots. It’s good to know that a talented photog like you is not afraid to be a geek too! Also good to see someone who kicked the corporate world before it took them over …

    Resident across the bay, maybe at some point I’ll see you at open studios or COBA events, etc.

    Cheers.

30. posted by MerrillH on Tue, January 31, 2006 @ 9:51 pm

    Hi Eric, I came across your website about two years ago via starkdavingmad.com, and that site was introduced to me via a college friend. I’m originally from the LA area and went back east for college. I’m now back home in LA, working in knowledge management for a law firm. What’s interesting is that a guy I dated once knows you- small world, huh? He’s involved in the music world. But I do like your entries tremendously, especially when you travel. You go to so many out of the way locations! Am I jealous? You bet! ;) Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us!

31. posted by Christine on Wed, February 01, 2006 @ 10:26 am

    Oh…okay…coming out of lurkdom.

    My husband Toli and I were introduced to you by Vienna at one of her concerts in Austin. I fell in love with your sea turtle picture and your cats and continue to visit them here.

    Here’s a recent Halloween picture: http://umlaufsculpture.org/xin.....herman.jpg

32. posted by Emily on Wed, February 01, 2006 @ 4:25 pm

    Hi Eric, it’s Emily Chang. I met you a few times back when you were working at Epiphany. I enjoy reading your journal when I’m sick of programming. :)

33. posted by Jauder Ho on Wed, February 01, 2006 @ 11:31 pm

    I came to your site via Adam Tow whom I’ve met at a COBA meeting as well as known of from his work with Newtons.

34. posted by LeeAnn Suen on Sun, February 05, 2006 @ 12:32 am

    A while back I interviewed you for the Torrey Pines High School Falconer. Naturally, I googled you to find out more about you, and then I found that you were good friends with Vienna Teng, a musician I had randomly downloaded and liked very much; Kenny Liu, my friend David Liu’s older brother; and that you were on Rice Bowl Journals, which I was a part of for a while when I had my own blog. You talk of random coincidences? I was baffled by all of the coincidences since I had signed up for the story without knowing anything about who you were.

    I’ve since graduated from Torrey Pines High School and sometimes visit your blog when I’m procrastinating. Tonight I happened to visit only because my roommate and I were googling her name “Cindy Liu,” and your page came up because you had Cindy ___ and Kenny Liu listed on your friends page. More strange coincidences. You seem to be integrated into my life in the most remote ways. And you just won’t go away!

    Just kidding, like all the rest, I really enjoy your journal and your photos.

35. posted by Eileen Thai on Sat, April 08, 2006 @ 5:45 pm

    Hi Eric, I came across your website in a photography book that I was perusing in a bookstore. You are such a talented guy. How do you find time for all the things that you do? And keeping the website so up to the minute, it’s amazing to me.

    In many ways, my husband and I share a lot of your experiences. We were in the computer field and we like to take pictures and do videos, but nothing as professional as yours. You are our inspiration.

    We have lived on a boat for 5 years cruising up and down the East Coast. And yes, it’s a small small world, as we run into the same people lots of times. Back in 2003, we cruised the Abacos (NE Bahamas) for a month. We had gone from W. Palm Beach to West End, and island hopped all the way to Little Harbor. If you dive the Bahamas again, may I suggest Lynyard Cay and Manjack Cay. They have some excellent diving there. We only snorkeled.

    Keep up the good work!

36. posted by Simon on Sun, July 23, 2006 @ 5:28 pm

    hallo,

    I can’t remember how i came across this site. It’s neat to get a glimpse into someone else’s world though.

    happy trails,

    Si

37. posted by Steven Chan on Thu, August 10, 2006 @ 10:02 am

    Stumbled upon your website while day dreaming about visiting the French Polynesian Islands. Browsed through your blogs and journals for about 1.5hrs, wondering who is this guy who takes photos and travels around the world as a career? Who am I? I have followed the ideals of the Asian community and have found myself in Medical School in Toronto. While browsing your website, I start to question the path that I have taken. What if I had choosen to persue the more risky and less secure route of an artistic profession? Actually, I admit I’ve been pondering this question for a while now. It seems to be some sort of quarter-life crises. I also ask what ever happened to my artsy friends? Did I ever have any artsy friends?
    I had read your comments that you were tired of strangers envying your life and thinking that it must be the greatest and a non-stop vacation. You make a mention that ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’. How true that is. I often meet people who envy my position and ponder how great it must be to be a doctor. But if they only knew the struggles that came along with the ‘big pay check’ and ‘prestige’. Which gets me thinking, perhaps I should post a blog about my experiences in medical training so that I could get random readers to comment “WOW, I envy you.”

    There is a pro and con to every path taken.

    Steven

38. posted by Andrew on Tue, October 24, 2006 @ 12:45 am

    I’d stumbled on your site a few years ago and was invited to a couple of your in-house recitals performed by your friends. By not taking advantage of the RSS feed, I subsequently lost touch with the blog. I spent a year overseas teaching English in Vietnam. Having recently returned, I’m slowly re-discovering what I’d missed of the bay area.

    I was reminded of your site by friends who have recently picked up diving; their last diving adventure was in Belize I believe (or in the Bahamas) on some underwater caving expedition.

    I hope you won’t mind if I forward them this site and to WetPixel (I’m unsure of the capitalization).

    I have a subset of photos from Vietnam here

    http://pekkle.keeba.com under Photo gallery | ESI Vietnam

    Cheers!

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