Last summer I ventured on my first solo road trip. Leaving Zion National Park I took roads less traveled, even driving the whole "loneliest road in America" --yes, it was desolate but also amazing. The only thing directing my travels was my search for water. I headed toward a lake on the map. California. I pulled my car out on the sand next to what seemed to be the only tree in the deserted scene. I set up camp and got my swimming suit on. Something then caught the corner of my eye and when I took a closer look I found this little guy. Not only him but his entire family too. There were so many I couldnt believe I didnt notice them before! They were running in and out and all over their tree. They jumped on my tent and slid right off. They were quite entertaining and seemed as if they were actually excited to see me. After a few days on my own, I was glad to have the company.
Taken on a recent trip to Arches National Park in Utah. This was one of the most breathtaking places I've ever been. Everything from the sky to the sand and rocks was otherworldly in its beauty making this one of my most prized photos from that trip.
It is said that an elephant statue with its trunk raised is good luck. I snapped this photo of a baby elephant in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. I felt very lucky getting the shot because usually the babies were well protected by the older elephants and out of the camera's view.
This photo was taken when a friend and I were visiting Sedona, Arizona. We were looking for a local swimming hole and received directions from a local. We got to the "fork in the road" and took a wrong turn. We were miles and miles up a mountain when we realized our mistake. Agitated and tired we were making our way back when this amazing view caught my eye and ended up being the most magical photo from the entire trip. Moral of the story? Sometimes the road less traveled is the way to go!
During our Mother-Daughter vacation to Europe this past spring, Mom and I spent several days in Venice. One afternoon, thinking it might be too late to go, we set out on the Vaparetto for Murano Island. We were afraid that the shops would be closed by the time we arrived, but found the glass factories to be open still so we were able to see a demonstration which was very interesting. The rest of the shops on the island were closing down for the day but it allowed us time to wander the canals during the warm afternoon light and take photos without many people around. It's simply beautiful and has a very different feel than the crowded streets of Venice. I thought the colors on Murano were spectacular.
For the last 25 years, the California sea lions have made San Francisco's popular Pier 39 their home. While many migrate south to the Channel Islands for breeding season, some remain at the pier, allowing visitors to view these famous marine mammals year round. As shown by this photo, there are many great photo ops to be had while watching the sea lions from the pier.
We stayed at a hotel right on the water in Sanur Beach, in Bali. A celebration of twittering, warbling, chirping songbirds woke us at dawn every morning, and we got into the habit of rising to pad silently past other cottages to greet each sunrise. At that hour in the half-light the outrigger fishing canoes, whether floating in the tranquil sea or hauled out onto the grass, put us in mind of delicate water creatures.
While vacationing in Negril, Jamaica, one of the must-sees (or do's if you're brave) is the cliff jumpers down West End Road. Some jumping points here reach more than 40 feet high - but that doesn't stop many of the locals from performing complicated flips and dives off the cliff's edge. Some, as in this photo, climb to even higher heights and jump off platforms built into the trees. Rick's Cafe is one popular place to watch the cliff jumpers, and perhaps to attempt a lower level jump of your own.
In the small, remote West African village of Tanougou, Benin, most people do not have access to a camera. During my stay there while visiting a friend in the Peace Corps, I had the opportunity to take portraits of many of the villagers. The children always were the most curious and excited, often rushing up close to the camera lens, trying to look inside. They loved posing and smiling for the camera - especially when they realized they could look at the screen and see themselves immediately after. Many of the photos I took were printed and sent back to the villagers, so that they could have snapshots of themselves and their friends and family.
I just HAD to share with everyone our amazing trip to Turkey!
When it came time to plan a vacation with my girlfriend, it seemed like the world was our oyster... until we saw airfares. Yikes. Europe was too costly, Asia was too far...
....and that’s when we found it Istanbul, 'the city in the middle.' No, literally!
Istanbul is situated at the exact point where Europe meets Asia, which gave birth to a city renamed more times than most others... that developed a rich history with a vibrant cultural identity like no other. its a fast-paced city with some of the best food, shopping, nightlife i have ever come across... and I live in NYC!
Simply put - From 'the morning call to prayer' to the 'last call' Istanbul blew us away.
Every travel book and passer-by we met in Istanbul told us - you MUST go to the Grand Bazaar!
This place is one of the largest markets in the world - made up of 60 streets and 5,000 shops. It has everything! (It gives new meaning to the term 'Super Market')
Turkish Rugs? you got it! Turkish tea? Spices? Gold and Silver Jewelry? Ceramics? Antiques? You got it!!
But my FAVORITE part of the Grand Bazaar had to be the lanterns... I took this picture down one of the countless side-streets in the market... with row upon row of twinkling lights, each with dazzling detail. I could see every color under the sun from here - and I just wanted to share!
Turkey wasn’t on our 'top 10' places to visit before we started this journey... but it should have been. This trip was one of the most memorable vacations I have ever been on.
It's funny, My 'Budget Travel profile' asked me the next place I hope to visit... I think it might be back to Istanbul!
The Saturday Night Market is enormous, encompassing many square blocks of barricaded streets in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We arrived in the late afternoon, before the evening crowd of browsers, earnest shoppers, food samplers and serious diners would press in on us as we strolled past stalls and tables filled or laden with crafts, silks, artwork, gemstones, silver- and gold-work, copies of designer clothing and name-brand watches - plus every imaginable kind of exotic foodstuff, offered for a fraction of its cost in the U.S. (If you could buy it here!) This grinning woman was standing in the road, holding out a tray of caged birds as though offering up a delicacy. We paused, taken aback, when we spied her sign. Once we'd recovered from the shock of seeing captured birds being, in essence, offered for ransom to soft-hearted patrons, we turned our attention to the passing flow of humanity. It appeared at first that no one noticed, or at least understood, what this woman was about. Then we realized that most everyone had indeed caught sight of the caged birds, and were looking everywhere except at them. What, we wondered, should we do? The cost to set them free amounted to just a few American dollars - the price of a meal at the market - but, since no one else was stepping up to liberate the birds, wouldn't this act of kindness encourage her to capture more birds? As we stood discussing our quandary, this fine gentleman rolled up in his wheelchair, pulled out his wallet, and paid her to set the birds free! Nowadays, whenever I look at this photo, I am reminded of the folly of allowing my "thinking" to interfere too much with the ways of the heart.
The magic of Yosemite National Park can surprise you and sometimes take unexpected forms. This shot is a perfect example of that. On a late afternoon in January as I was leaving the park, mist seemed to magically appear and shroud the forest in an eerie yet beautiful silence.
Yosemite National Park is one of my most favorite places to visit. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to capture that one special and unexpected photo I've been craving and this is one of them.
On our way from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay we notice a lot of motorbikes carrying passengers, merchandise and supplies.
However, when we saw this motorbike's passenger we were really shocked! Especially when we saw the bull raise his head and his tail and we realized he was still alive!!!!!
We went to Ubud, in Bali, because friends told us it is the arts center of Bali. And they were right! The town is encircled by villages which specialize in exotic batik work, paintings, finely crafted silver and gold jewelry, colorful ceramics, mask making, stonework and wood carvings. We enjoyed strolling past mom-and-pop shops on the narrow streets, pausing often to admire a wondrous choice of locally made offerings. It seemed like everyone in this charming, friendly town had creativity coursing through their veins. But the best - by far - was yet to come.
We inquired about museums, and were directed to ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art) at the edge of town. There we saw many of Bali's finest paintings and sculptures, by their greatest artists, past and present. It happened that the Kecak Rina Fire Dance, which is performed just twice a month, on a full or new moon, would take place that evening, on the museum grounds. We were early, and got to sit up front. If you are ever lucky enough to be in Ubud on either of those nights, you MUST attend the fire dance! Over a hundred men of all ages, led by Rina, the man who created this exciting performance, chant themselves into a trance, which ends with them picking up firebrands with their bare hands and tossing them back and forth. The dance became truly magical for us at the finale, with bolts of flame shooting around, when Rina jumped off the stage and ran up to give ME, as if I were a visiting dignitary, a bouquet of flowers! Then the clouds opened up, and rain came down in torrents to extinguish the fire.
We are speeding northbound on the Mekong river, bound for the famous (and notorious!) GoldenTriangle, which is the common juncture of Thailand with Laos and Myanmar (formerly called Burma). We put in below the enormous golden Buddha you see off to the right. I say "notorious" in regard to the Golden Triangle because, decades ago, a sandbar at the common border was considered No Man's Land by all three governments. Drug dealers did a brisk, profitable business here, and the universal currency was gold. While one might indeed call the sandbar a "lawless" place, I'd guess there also was honor among thieves. (This in the time of the Vietnam Conflict, when heads of state bartered souls to profit from an ideological war.) Today the huge golden Buddha is only a tourist attraction, as is the Golden Triangle. Even so, it was a thrilling experience to be skimming the waters of the Mekong in a fast boat with the wind in our faces, in pursuit of a nefarious legend.
Photos with the Most Comments
Desert lizard
Last summer I ventured on my first solo road trip. Leaving Zion National Park I took roads less traveled, even driving the whole "loneliest road in America" --yes, it was desolate but also amazing. The only thing directing my travels was my search for water. I headed toward a lake on the map. California. I pulled my car out on the sand next to what seemed to be the only tree in the deserted scene. I set up camp and got my swimming suit on. Something then caught the corner of my eye and when I took a closer look I found this little guy. Not only him but his entire family too. There were so many I couldnt believe I didnt notice them before! They were running in and out and all over their tree. They jumped on my tent and slid right off. They were quite entertaining and seemed as if they were actually excited to see me. After a few days on my own, I was glad to have the company.
Arches Red Rock
Taken on a recent trip to Arches National Park in Utah. This was one of the most breathtaking places I've ever been. Everything from the sky to the sand and rocks was otherworldly in its beauty making this one of my most prized photos from that trip.
Lucky Elephant
It is said that an elephant statue with its trunk raised is good luck. I snapped this photo of a baby elephant in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. I felt very lucky getting the shot because usually the babies were well protected by the older elephants and out of the camera's view.
Sedona's Road Less Traveled
This photo was taken when a friend and I were visiting Sedona, Arizona. We were looking for a local swimming hole and received directions from a local. We got to the "fork in the road" and took a wrong turn. We were miles and miles up a mountain when we realized our mistake. Agitated and tired we were making our way back when this amazing view caught my eye and ended up being the most magical photo from the entire trip. Moral of the story? Sometimes the road less traveled is the way to go!
St. Mary Lake, Glacier Nationa
Orphanage
Murano Island, Italy
During our Mother-Daughter vacation to Europe this past spring, Mom and I spent several days in Venice. One afternoon, thinking it might be too late to go, we set out on the Vaparetto for Murano Island. We were afraid that the shops would be closed by the time we arrived, but found the glass factories to be open still so we were able to see a demonstration which was very interesting. The rest of the shops on the island were closing down for the day but it allowed us time to wander the canals during the warm afternoon light and take photos without many people around. It's simply beautiful and has a very different feel than the crowded streets of Venice. I thought the colors on Murano were spectacular.
'Kissing' sea lions on the fam
For the last 25 years, the California sea lions have made San Francisco's popular Pier 39 their home. While many migrate south to the Channel Islands for breeding season, some remain at the pier, allowing visitors to view these famous marine mammals year round. As shown by this photo, there are many great photo ops to be had while watching the sea lions from the pier.
Sunrise at Sanur Beach, Bali
We stayed at a hotel right on the water in Sanur Beach, in Bali. A celebration of twittering, warbling, chirping songbirds woke us at dawn every morning, and we got into the habit of rising to pad silently past other cottages to greet each sunrise. At that hour in the half-light the outrigger fishing canoes, whether floating in the tranquil sea or hauled out onto the grass, put us in mind of delicate water creatures.
A cliff diver diving at sunset
While vacationing in Negril, Jamaica, one of the must-sees (or do's if you're brave) is the cliff jumpers down West End Road. Some jumping points here reach more than 40 feet high - but that doesn't stop many of the locals from performing complicated flips and dives off the cliff's edge. Some, as in this photo, climb to even higher heights and jump off platforms built into the trees. Rick's Cafe is one popular place to watch the cliff jumpers, and perhaps to attempt a lower level jump of your own.
A local boy giving a big smile
In the small, remote West African village of Tanougou, Benin, most people do not have access to a camera. During my stay there while visiting a friend in the Peace Corps, I had the opportunity to take portraits of many of the villagers. The children always were the most curious and excited, often rushing up close to the camera lens, trying to look inside. They loved posing and smiling for the camera - especially when they realized they could look at the screen and see themselves immediately after. Many of the photos I took were printed and sent back to the villagers, so that they could have snapshots of themselves and their friends and family.
Mieu Island Fishing Harbor
While visiting Nha Trang, Vietnam we took a boat out to Mieu Island to visit the fishing village on the island and to paddle a basket boat.
As we arrived, the port was very busy and we saw this view of the harbor with the basket boats and colorful fishing boats anchored safely in the bay.
I give you... the Grand Bazaa
I just HAD to share with everyone our amazing trip to Turkey!
When it came time to plan a vacation with my girlfriend, it seemed like the world was our oyster... until we saw airfares. Yikes. Europe was too costly, Asia was too far...
....and that’s when we found it Istanbul, 'the city in the middle.' No, literally!
Istanbul is situated at the exact point where Europe meets Asia, which gave birth to a city renamed more times than most others... that developed a rich history with a vibrant cultural identity like no other. its a fast-paced city with some of the best food, shopping, nightlife i have ever come across... and I live in NYC!
Simply put - From 'the morning call to prayer' to the 'last call' Istanbul blew us away.
Every travel book and passer-by we met in Istanbul told us - you MUST go to the Grand Bazaar!
This place is one of the largest markets in the world - made up of 60 streets and 5,000 shops. It has everything! (It gives new meaning to the term 'Super Market')
Turkish Rugs? you got it! Turkish tea? Spices? Gold and Silver Jewelry? Ceramics? Antiques? You got it!!
But my FAVORITE part of the Grand Bazaar had to be the lanterns... I took this picture down one of the countless side-streets in the market... with row upon row of twinkling lights, each with dazzling detail. I could see every color under the sun from here - and I just wanted to share!
Turkey wasn’t on our 'top 10' places to visit before we started this journey... but it should have been. This trip was one of the most memorable vacations I have ever been on.
It's funny, My 'Budget Travel profile' asked me the next place I hope to visit... I think it might be back to Istanbul!
Everyone, please go!
Musicians in Havana
Musicians play in Havana, Cuba.
Ransoming Birds in Thailand
The Saturday Night Market is enormous, encompassing many square blocks of barricaded streets in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We arrived in the late afternoon, before the evening crowd of browsers, earnest shoppers, food samplers and serious diners would press in on us as we strolled past stalls and tables filled or laden with crafts, silks, artwork, gemstones, silver- and gold-work, copies of designer clothing and name-brand watches - plus every imaginable kind of exotic foodstuff, offered for a fraction of its cost in the U.S. (If you could buy it here!) This grinning woman was standing in the road, holding out a tray of caged birds as though offering up a delicacy. We paused, taken aback, when we spied her sign. Once we'd recovered from the shock of seeing captured birds being, in essence, offered for ransom to soft-hearted patrons, we turned our attention to the passing flow of humanity. It appeared at first that no one noticed, or at least understood, what this woman was about. Then we realized that most everyone had indeed caught sight of the caged birds, and were looking everywhere except at them. What, we wondered, should we do? The cost to set them free amounted to just a few American dollars - the price of a meal at the market - but, since no one else was stepping up to liberate the birds, wouldn't this act of kindness encourage her to capture more birds? As we stood discussing our quandary, this fine gentleman rolled up in his wheelchair, pulled out his wallet, and paid her to set the birds free! Nowadays, whenever I look at this photo, I am reminded of the folly of allowing my "thinking" to interfere too much with the ways of the heart.
Ethereal Yosemite Valley
The magic of Yosemite National Park can surprise you and sometimes take unexpected forms. This shot is a perfect example of that. On a late afternoon in January as I was leaving the park, mist seemed to magically appear and shroud the forest in an eerie yet beautiful silence.
Misty Yosemite Falls
Yosemite National Park is one of my most favorite places to visit. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to capture that one special and unexpected photo I've been craving and this is one of them.
Now that IS a Load of Bull!
On our way from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay we notice a lot of motorbikes carrying passengers, merchandise and supplies.
However, when we saw this motorbike's passenger we were really shocked! Especially when we saw the bull raise his head and his tail and we realized he was still alive!!!!!
Balinese Fire Dance
We went to Ubud, in Bali, because friends told us it is the arts center of Bali. And they were right! The town is encircled by villages which specialize in exotic batik work, paintings, finely crafted silver and gold jewelry, colorful ceramics, mask making, stonework and wood carvings. We enjoyed strolling past mom-and-pop shops on the narrow streets, pausing often to admire a wondrous choice of locally made offerings. It seemed like everyone in this charming, friendly town had creativity coursing through their veins. But the best - by far - was yet to come.
We inquired about museums, and were directed to ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art) at the edge of town. There we saw many of Bali's finest paintings and sculptures, by their greatest artists, past and present. It happened that the Kecak Rina Fire Dance, which is performed just twice a month, on a full or new moon, would take place that evening, on the museum grounds. We were early, and got to sit up front. If you are ever lucky enough to be in Ubud on either of those nights, you MUST attend the fire dance! Over a hundred men of all ages, led by Rina, the man who created this exciting performance, chant themselves into a trance, which ends with them picking up firebrands with their bare hands and tossing them back and forth. The dance became truly magical for us at the finale, with bolts of flame shooting around, when Rina jumped off the stage and ran up to give ME, as if I were a visiting dignitary, a bouquet of flowers! Then the clouds opened up, and rain came down in torrents to extinguish the fire.
The Mekong to the Golden Trian
We are speeding northbound on the Mekong river, bound for the famous (and notorious!) GoldenTriangle, which is the common juncture of Thailand with Laos and Myanmar (formerly called Burma). We put in below the enormous golden Buddha you see off to the right. I say "notorious" in regard to the Golden Triangle because, decades ago, a sandbar at the common border was considered No Man's Land by all three governments. Drug dealers did a brisk, profitable business here, and the universal currency was gold. While one might indeed call the sandbar a "lawless" place, I'd guess there also was honor among thieves. (This in the time of the Vietnam Conflict, when heads of state bartered souls to profit from an ideological war.) Today the huge golden Buddha is only a tourist attraction, as is the Golden Triangle. Even so, it was a thrilling experience to be skimming the waters of the Mekong in a fast boat with the wind in our faces, in pursuit of a nefarious legend.