Soothed By The City- Sleep Story

A sleep story that takes you on a week-long journey with a travelling photographer as he visits 4 cities over 3 continents in just 7 days. It's a busy trip that is so tiring the protagonist focuses on his sleep pattern to overcome jetlag and exhaustion.

Transcript

Welcome to tonight's story.

This time we follow a week in the life of a travelling photographer.

This snapshot of a modern career emphasises the quiet moments of peace to be found anywhere in the world.

Take a moment to notice the ambient sounds around you.

Recognise what they are without placing any importance in it.

Breathe slowly as you take in the chirping of insects or the whoosh of passing cars.

Rest easy as you float into the story.

This is Soothed by the City by Carina Ortiz.

Tonight the city streets are alive.

Fragments of conversations occasionally float through the windows as people stroll past.

The rhythmic hum of passing cars swells and ebbs with the flow of traffic.

Snatches of familiar music last only a few seconds before going on their way.

As the warm summer evening draws to a close,

A slight breeze rustles the curtains.

A fan hums along in the background,

A steady white noise.

Golden light illuminates the room as I prepare to sleep.

I sink into soft lemongrass scented sheets and close my eyes.

And my thoughts begin to wonder.

Over the next week I would find myself in four cities,

Spread over three continents,

For an urban photo series.

In order to capture the pulse of the locations I was visiting,

I wanted to photograph the raw energy of local architecture and culture.

In order to avoid the worst of jet lag in quickly changing time zones,

I always follow the same routine to prepare for bed.

After washing off the stress of the day,

I change into comfortable clothes and stretch to relax.

Inhale deeply,

Hold it,

Hold it,

And release.

The sensation of gentle exertion gives rise to a warmth that washes over my body.

Pleasant tiredness sweeps over me,

Drawing me to bed as if pulled by an invisible rope.

I take a deep breath and exhale through my nose as I rest my head on the pillows.

There would be time to plan the details of the shoots on my many long plane rides I would take in the next few days.

My flight to Hawaii departs at 6am,

Meaning a very early start to the morning.

To lull myself to sleep,

I turned to my favorite method of counting backwards from 100,

99,

98,

97,

96,

95,

94,

93,

92,

91,

90.

After what felt like the blink of an eye,

The sun arose.

Birds chirping outside of my window signaled the beginning of another day.

Few cars passed by at this hour,

And the city is sleepy still.

I begin to ready myself for the flight,

Beginning my week of travel.

Luggage in hand,

I arrive at the airport early.

As places between places,

Airports often make me feel like I'm dreaming.

The liminal space seems to take on the character of the travelers within.

Then I board the plane we are flying.

High up in the sky,

The world below seems tiny and quiet.

It sounds like a fairy tale that humans have fashioned enormous metal birds in which we soar above the clouds.

Yet,

Here I am,

Traveling the world in a matter of hours.

Soon enough,

The plane lands,

And I emerge into the humid warmth of Hawaii.

The airport itself reflects the natural beauty of the island,

With open spaces filled with trees and flowers.

As I collect my luggage,

I take in the character of the place,

The warm sunlight,

Fresh breeze,

And the sound of many languages being spoken in close proximity.

As I travel to my hotel,

I see the vast expanse of ocean which surrounds the island.

Air smells different here,

Full of the scents of tropical plants and nature.

Even though the temperature is warm,

Darkish clouds overhead hold the promise of rain.

Small shops line the streets,

Many selling brightly decorated clothes and trinkets.

The view of mountains and the ocean from the hotel room is beautiful and emphasizes the complexity of Hawaii's environment.

I lower the blinds and begin to unpack what I needed.

After enjoying a shower to freshen up after the plane ride,

I slide onto the covers of the soft bed.

The room was quiet,

Dimmed by the blinds,

And the white sheets very cozy.

I realize after laying down how tired I am.

The chirping of brightly colored birds and rhythm of waves lapping at the beach nearby linger in my imagination.

Though it is still early,

I drift off to sleep easily.

I wake up later in the evening feeling refreshed and eager to explore the island.

Crisp air greets me as I emerge from the hotel,

But the temperature is still comfortably warm.

In the soft evening light,

The city is less crowded than during the day,

But not silent.

People still populate the beaches and restaurants,

Lending the area a relaxed atmosphere.

Walking along the road parallel to the sand gives me the opportunity to begin taking photographs.

Large mountains rising up beyond the city and impressive island plants imbue the scenery with a tropical flair.

Natural beauty meets human design on Hawaii,

As both skyscrapers and small wooden buildings have taken root amongst groves and hills.

Most of the smaller establishments are humble and inviting,

Rather than imposing,

Creating a friendly atmosphere.

The picture captures joy and a richness of life in hues of green and blue.

I'm in my hotel room to sleep once again.

The tranquility of the island lingers with me,

Putting my mind at ease.

All of my troubles seem to be an ocean away.

Now in the soft sleeping clothes I find my gaze wandering to the view once more.

The vastness of the scenery fills me with contentment.

To ease myself into rest,

I prepare a cup of chamomile tea and inhale the rich floral aroma.

Tendrils of steam from the hot liquid fill my lungs with warmth.

Sip by sip,

I draw closer to my dreams.

As I reach the bottom of the cup,

I feel as if I'm already asleep.

The hazy state between unconsciousness and wakefulness lingers as the sunlight creeps into the room.

My dreams had been filled with stars and the scent of the ocean,

Leaving them felt like floating to the surface of a wide lake.

Eventually,

I open my eyes and stretch.

Despite the early hour,

I feel rested,

Ready to get on an aeroplane once more,

This time to Tokyo.

I was leaving one island paradise for another,

Much different one.

The flight is long,

But well worth the time.

Tokyo has a special place in my heart.

The bustling metropolis is brimming with light,

Colour and sound.

It's a grand symphony conducted by the people who live in and travel to the famous city.

As I arrive,

I'm once again awestruck by the scale of Tokyo.

My hotel is one of the countless tall buildings which create an impressive skyline.

You can't help but feel small when so many people fill the sidewalks,

Sound and colour,

Coming from every angle.

It's late evening and the city is humming with activity.

I take the opportunity to capture a few snapshots of brightly lit signs and the unique fashion of Tokyo nightlife.

In this hotel,

The view primarily consists of the lights and shapes which create the cityscape.

I feel as if I'm flying still,

High above the streets,

Watching people bustling around.

Turning back towards the room,

My gaze settles on the bed.

After a long day of travel,

I'm ready for some quality sleep.

I get ready for bed slowly,

Almost automatically.

Brushing my teeth slowly,

I get lost in the familiar rituals.

I finally turn back the covers and lay down.

The bed feels divine after a long day.

I take a deep breath and begin the familiar countdown.

100 99 98 97 96 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 I dream of high towers that are tall enough to touch the clouds.

Coloured lights play over shimmering glass as the trees grow quickly amongst the buildings.

Multicolour flowers bloom out of the greenery which is beginning to overtake the spaces in between.

Everything is silent in the dream,

But the air feels alive.

While I wander amongst the overgrown city,

The shifting clouds begin to form recognisable shapes.

First,

I see a dragon,

Which melts into a butterfly.

A fish joins it in the sky,

And then an elephant.

The menagerie in the sky continues to grow until creatures of every type float overhead.

In the span of a moment,

I am back in bed,

With sunlight just beginning to brighten the room.

With a yawn,

I sit up,

Still sleep warm and relaxed.

Time to start another day.

After breakfast and coffee,

I set off to explore Tokyo.

I find the grand scale of skyscrapers reminiscent of ancient pyramids and monuments that humans go to such lengths for massive constructions speaks to an unquenchable desire to be bigger and better than ever.

Places like this require devotion,

Both in creation and living.

As I travel the streets,

Certain angles offered fascinating compositions for black and white photographs.

The sharp lines and interesting shapes seem abstract,

Almost symbolic.

The contrast between vast buildings and the fine details of the local culture come together in a rich tapestry of activity.

Before I know it,

The day goes by in a blur.

As the night falls,

The neon lights shine brighter,

And the pace of city life changes.

People spill out from bars and restaurants,

Filling the sidewalk with dozens of overlapping stories.

Eventually,

I make my way back to the hotel to turn in for the night.

In order to wind down from the day,

I begin to stretch and practice breathing exercises.

Breathing deeply,

I fill my lungs as I hold my position.

After a few minutes,

I lay down,

Still concentrating on the rhythm of my breath.

My favourite pattern is the 4-7-8.

With one hand resting over my stomach,

I inhale through my nose for 1,

2,

3,

4 seconds.

And I hold it,

And hold it for 1,

2,

3,

4,

5,

6,

7.

Then I exhale through my mouth for 1,

2,

3,

4,

5,

6,

7,

8 seconds,

Until my lungs are empty.

Repeating that a few times is sure to send me into blissful sleep.

My next flight is not until late the next day,

So I sleep in to be as well rested as possible.

After a few more hours soaking up Tokyo,

I'm in another airport.

I still feel as if in some hazy dream while waiting for my departure.

Waves of people flow back and forth in the large waiting area.

Many take the opportunity to catch a nap before the flight,

Though I was never one for sleeping in a chair.

After a relatively brief wait,

The plane takes off for Singapore.

We pass over cities,

Farmland and the ocean on our journey.

Scenery rolls by quickly,

And I get lost in the meditative repetition.

Staring out of the window,

Watching the world go by,

I wonder how old explorers felt when reaching unheard of places after laborious journeys.

Travelling is so much easier now that the whole globe feels connected by invisible strings.

Arriving in Singapore is like returning to an old friend.

I have friends in the city,

And one of them meets me at the airport and takes me to my destination an hour's drive away.

Thankfully,

The time zone in Singapore is only an hour behind Tokyo.

My goal here is to do more than take pictures.

I'm helping a local charity build affordable and sustainable housing to improve conditions in less developed areas.

Though I am sure there will be plenty of opportunity to snap photographs during the project,

It will be hard work.

But I've always found satisfaction in working with my hands.

My first task is helping to build the volunteer housing,

As we would be sleeping on site.

The goal is to build a dozen houses over the course of two days,

Including our temporary residence.

Temperatures are warm,

But not sweltering.

Insects cheerfully buzz around the breeze,

Enjoying the summer day.

As the day continues,

I fall into the pace of the labor.

Everyone is feeling the exertion,

But glad for it.

With such obvious indications of progress,

The work is satisfying.

I take a few photographs around midday and again at golden hour to document the effort.

Eventually,

Evening falls and the work is done for the day.

A small stream nearby serves as a source of water to wash up in.

The soft murmur of flowing water and the rustle of the breeze provides a soothing backdrop as I unwind for the night.

Weariness makes my limbs heavy and slow.

As soon as I lay down,

I fall into a dreamless sleep.

We start early the next day for a full day's work.

After a few hours,

The work began to feel natural and the day passed in a blur.

Returning to the stream that night,

I linger near the water,

Taking in the serenity.

I stroll a little way along the water until I stumble upon a small moonlit pond.

Reeds and flowers dot its bank and tiny ripples distort the moon's reflection on the surface.

Time seems to stand still as I watch the small movements,

Noticing a snail on a nearby rock.

The tiny insect moves slowly but determinedly along the damp surface.

I find myself transfixed by the tiny yet heroic journey.

Eventually,

The slow progress took the snail out of sight and I made my way back to camp.

Though we were several people to a room,

Sleeping on bunk beds,

I was comfortable.

A day's hard work soothes the soul and I was at peace.

Listening to the gentle breeze around me,

I slowly drift off.

In my dream,

I'm floating through space amongst glittering stars.

Each one has a story,

A history.

I'm weightless and uninhibited,

Feeling as if I'm walking on water.

A particular bright blue star draws me closer as if it were a magnet.

Light shines brighter and brighter as I get close and then I wake up.

Low murmurs and the sounds of nature provide the backdrop as I wake from my much-needed rest.

Today is the day of my last flight before I return home,

This time to Copenhagen,

Denmark.

Having arrived early to the airport as usual,

I begin to examine some of the photographs of the past few days.

Hundreds of images fill the screen,

Each one saying something different about the city it was taken in.

The photographs want to tell stories and whisper their secrets to the viewer.

Simple objects seem larger than life when crystallised into a single image,

Transforming from mundane to divine.

Once more,

I rise above the clouds.

The opportunity to sit still is welcome as the days of constant travel linger in my bones.

Flying from Singapore to Denmark takes quite some time,

So I settle in and bring out a book to read.

About 30 pages in,

However,

And I am asleep again.

I wake just before the plane begins to land in a new country on a new continent,

Copenhagen at last.

It is early afternoon in local time and the airport is active.

As I make my way into the city,

A more relaxed atmosphere develops.

The city is beautiful and inviting,

Almost idyllic despite its modernity.

A major reason to visit Denmark on this trip was to attend a party hosted by a well-known Swedish DJ as part of a piece on up-and-coming female musicians.

I also want to get some nice shots of the Scandinavian architecture and the juxtaposition of the city and the river running through it.

In all,

The day proves long but rewarding.

Having photographed both the city itself and a vibrant part of its culture,

I feel accomplished and satisfied.

This hotel is particularly inviting.

The rooms are warm and the light is soft.

Thick blankets make the bed cosy and I gratefully lay down.

Due to the late night activity,

My mind still wonders as I get comfortable.

My body is exhausted but I'm still feeling energetic.

In the dark room,

I start to count.

100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 93 94 91 90 One more flight early the next day and I am home.

After several days away,

I had missed my own bed,

My bookshelves,

The basil growing on the windowsill.

Returning home after a journey makes you realise what you truly appreciate.

Something on the top of my list is my own bed and a good night's sleep.

I lay down once more,

Resting my head on the pillows.

My breath evens out as I inhale the familiar scent of lemongrass and vanilla.

Sleep is quick to come and I fall into a deep,

Quiet,

Well-deserved slumber.

Reviews

I didn't hear all of the story because I fell asleep. I think he was in Hawaii when I fell asleep. So original and easy to listen to