the colors of samburu

world elephant day

gift from the sea

Crescent Beach, Salt Creek Recreation Area
Port Angeles, Washington
June 2018

"The Sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach -- waiting for a gift from the sea."
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

market day in ashgabat

The Altyn Asyr Bazaar on the outskirts of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan is the largest open market in Central Asia. 

Snapshot: Pilgrims at the Tomb of Hoja Yusuf Hamadani, Merv, Turkmenistan

Snapshot: A Night at the Opera in Muscat

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Snapshot: Elliott Bay Park, Seattle

Elliott Bay Park
Seattle, Washington
November 12, 2017

golden elephant safari - seattle

Golden Elephant Safari
Discovery Park, Seattle, WA
October 2017

of thicket, grace and light

Nara Temple - Kyoto, Japan - May 2017

Suddenly you flare in my sight,
a wild rose looming at the edge
of thicket, grace, and light.
where yesterday was only shade,
and once again I am blessed....
-Wendell Berry

the color purple

Lower Mountain Fork River
Broken Bow, Oklahoma
June 2017

"Listen, God love everything you love - and a mess of stuff you don't. But more than anything else, God love admiration.

You saying God vain? I ast.

Naw, she say. Not vain, just wanting to share a good thing. I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.

What it do when it passed off. I ast.

Oh, it make something else. People think pleasing God is all God care about But any fool living n the world can see it always trying to please us back."

- Alice Walker, The Color Purple

while there in the valley, after the storm (Jordan)

Looking down into Wadi Dana from Dana Village in Dana Biosphere and Nature Reserve, southwestern Jordan
December 2016

"We were penned in verminous houses of cold stone; lacking fuel, lacking food; storm-bound in streets like sewers, amid blizzards of sleep and an icy wind: while there in the valley was sunshine among spring grass, deep with flowers, upon flux in milk and air so warm that men went uncloaked."
-TE Lawrence, from Seven Pillars of Wisdom, describing Wadi Dana.

crossing borders

Crossing the Red River with Lake Texhoma in the distance
Oklahoma/Texas State Line
September 2016

What a spectacular send-off this morning as I make my way to Orlando to meet the crew and guests for TCS World Travel's Around the World by Private Jet Expedition. I'll join two other expedition staff and 80 guests for an eight-country journey around the world - ending back in Orlando 23 days later. This expedition marks TCS's 250th jet trip. Stay tuned as the destinations are unveiled one at a time.

Somewhere in Texas

time to go home

Lake Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
September 2016

Fall arrives to this part of the world without much fanfare. A warm autumn wind whips the water into a frenzy. Clouds move like passing freight trains bound for more distant places - parting at just the right moment for a blazing sun to cast copper shadows at days end. The pine trees sigh as the temperature cools. How do I bottle this and bring it home to my cast iron forest still battling hot days and jungle heat despite what the calendar says? Where I live, its a waiting game. Every living thing is seemingly lifeless and immobile - refusing to move until summer moves on - waiting for that freight train of clouds to pass through delivering the cool breezes and damp skies that will bring life back to the prairies. Summer is now an unwelcome guest who has overstayed his visit. It's time to go home.

world rhino day 2016

In celebration of World Rhino Day 2016 here is one of my favorite rhinoceros encounters (well, one which did not include having to run for my life...twice) taken in Kenya while working as a citizen scientist for Earthwatch. 

My god these are magnificent beasts - and it is hard to imagine that they will most likely no longer exist in the wild in my lifetime. This is a real tragedy. Click here, World Rhino Day 2016, to follow the WRD celebrations around the world and meet the protective organizations in need of contributions. #poaching #rhino #extinctionisforever #Earthwatch #citizenscientist

the bandit of settlers creek

Bandit 
Australian Shepherd
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
16 September, 2016

This is Bandit - a very serious Australian shepherd that guards the farmstead at Settlers Creek outside of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. His business is not so much with humans as it is with the deer, elk, bear and porcupines that might trespass his territory at any moment. I was allowed a two-second pat on the head and nothing more! "Can't you see I've got a job to do"! Hey, I'll take my dog fix any way I can get it when I am traveling.

the man who fell in love with the moon

Moon Set
Lake Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - September 16

the early bird gets the wave - copacabana beach - rio de janeiro

The Early Bird Gets the Wave
Copacabana Beach - Rio de Janeiro
August 2016

uluru finally

Ayers Rock - Uluru
Red Centre, Northern Territory, Australia
April 2016

A major bucket-list moment - I have waited years to get here. And none too soon! As beautiful as she is from a distance - she is most spectacular up close. As ancient and magical as the legends would suggest. Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation (the Olgas) are of sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu people.

Interesting to note that this sacred red rock and the sacred pink granite mountains of the Wichitas in Oklahoma are the same age (550 million years old) and about the same height above sea level (2600 and 2800 feet respectively).

how to pull off dinner in a cave in china

Reed Flute Cave
Guilin, China
March 2016

How to pull off dinner in a cave: 23 chefs and 100+ catering staff. An incredible night at the iconic Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, China. Records of travelers visiting the caves go back 2500 years. Normally reserved for state visits, National Geographic Expeditions was the first private group to get approval for a private evening event in 40 years. In the background, members of the Guangxi Symphony prepare to take the stage.

li river cruise - guilin china

Li River
Guilin, China
March 2016

We spent an incredible day today cruising through the other-worldly karst formations on the Li River near Guilin, China. This is stop number 7 of 8 on the National Geographic Wonders of the Natural World by private jet tour. Next up: Japan.