Friday, February 27, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Golfin' in the Gobi

Happy Friday!!

When I went to Mongolia, I thought it would be cool to get some photos of myself golfing...No, there were not any golf courses in Mongolia, but wouldn't it be cool to have photos playing golf there? So, I carried a couple of clubs and balls, and when we got to the sand dunes in the Gobi Desert, we took some shots pretending to be in the world's largest sand trap...

Yea, I am nuts....but, it was sure fun, and we all had a good laugh...

Be sure to check out all the other skywatch blogs...it is fun traveling around the world through other's blogs...

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Small Nudibranch That Tried to Look Tough

I guess if you were the size of my thumbnail, this guy would look pretty intimidating...

Like a dragon climbing on the hill in your back yard...

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Tiny Fish Hide in the Fan

Sometimes, when taking photos underwater, you don't notice what you are really taking a photo of...when I took this photo, I remember trying to capture the patterns and texture of this fan coral...I didn't even notice the small opaque fish...

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Trekking in Korea

When people think of Korea, they don't really think of trekking, but Korea is really a mountainous country with beautiful hiking trails...

Monday, February 23, 2009

Wild Horses at Sunrise

It was one of those magical mornings in Mongolia...I woke up early, climbed out of my yurt, and saw these wild horses eating near the stream...magical.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Mongolia

Happy Friday!!

If you read below, you will know what kind of serious internet problems I have been having lately...please don't think I am a snob when I don't come visit your blog...I really want to, I do...

BUT, don't let that stop YOU from visiting all over the world at Skywatch Friday (click on "Skywatch Friday")

Have a great weekend!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

My Internet Is Driving Me Crazy

So, there I was last night, trying to post to my blog...I have one of those USB hook-ups that connects with some tower, that connects to some satellite in space....you have to "dial-up" to get a connection, and then just hope that the connection is kept connected while you are on-line. Well, it took me 31 tries to connect (22 minutes)....yes, finally, got connected....then, I tried to get to my homepage (this blog)...took 15 minutes to load my page...then, I had to sign-in to blogger...another 10 minutes for that (got disconnected while trying, then another 10 attempts to get back on-line)...then I had to wait another 15 minutes to open the "create a new post" window. THEN, I tried 22 times to load a photo...no go, kept watching that insane "loading circle" spin for hours, and then a message that the signal was disrupted...

After yelling many obsenities at my compute screen and banging my desk in disgust, I gave up....

Hence, no blog entry last night...

I am now at work where the connection is not bad....but, I really don't have much time at work to play....but will post a photo now in case I have the same problem tonight (you can bet on that)...


Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Twenty Five Things on Facebook

If you are on Facebook, you probably have seen this "Twenty Five Things" thing...I was tagged by my cousin's husband, and since then, I have seen many of my friends write their own "twenty five things"...you are supposed to write 25 things about yourself that perhaps people don't know about yourself...well, I have been thinking of my list all day today, and will probably write something when I get the time...I keep getting these ideas popping into my head...I should write them down when I think of them....I will let you know when I write my own "Twenty Five Things"...

I have no idea what this photo has to do with "Twenty Five Things", but it is one of the shots I got of Bromo at sunrise last year...I don't think I have ever posted this one before...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Balloons Over Hanoi

It's my birthday today, and this kinda looks like "candles in the wind"....except these count for about 17 candles each...well not that many, but I am inching towards the big Five-0...trying to hold onto my forties the best I can...

25 Things about Me...From Facebook

I promised awhile back to post what I wrote on Facebook 25 things about myself...

It was actually kind of fun to write, and it is brutally honest...


Twenty Five Things…

1. I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. I keep thinking my current job is only temporary and something better will come along next year.

2. I am a wanderer. I have lived in 4 different countries, 9 different states or territories of the United States, and have traveled to all 50 states, and 110 countries.

3. I used to fly a 45-foot long helicopter, weighing over 17,000 pounds carrying 25 passengers, landing on ships at sea. My call sign was “Hobo” because of my constant 5:00 shadow on my face.

4. My favorite place I ever lived was Kauai, Hawaii. My job was scuba diving, and I lived in paradise….too bad Hurricane Iniki ripped through the island in 1992 or I would still be there.

5. My favorite place to be is underwater with a camera.

6. I have over 4000 logged scuba dives. That is about 500 8-hour “work days” underwater...or 2.7 school years underwater.

7. I once was eye-to-eye with two 50-foot Humpback Whales in Kauai. It is an experience that I will never forget, and is the best dive I ever had.

8. My wife, Tika, and my daughters, Kayla, Kelly and Carissa are my life….they are who I live for. Family is everything.

9. I work only so that I can play.

10. Yes, I love kids and love teaching….but really, I teach because of the vacation time….don’t tell anyone though.

11. Nothing really bothers me. I like all people and I have no enemies. The only thing I hate is traffic and a bad internet connection….unfortunately, I live in a place with the worst traffic in the world, and my internet connection sucks.

12. I love the movies….ALL movies. Tika and I see one or two movies every week.

13. Speaking of movies….I am a “YES MAN”….did you see that?....I have a hard time saying, “No” to just about anything asked of me…sometimes a problem, but like in the movie, saying, “yes” brings opportunity.

14. I love sex. Who doesn’t?

15. I am a photography addict. I am always thinking of photography, and I am rarely without my camera. Life is just one big picture, and I love capturing moments of life. There is nothing that compares to capturing a moment of time that can be shared with others for an endless time.

16. I am a Mac guy and a Nikon guy, and think PC’s and Canon are for those “other” people.

17. I probably spend half my day playing with Photoshop. I will probably be buried with the latest version in my arms.

18. I think life is backwards….it should be: get an education and learn the ropes of life your first 20 years…then, take the next 40 years off and play….then start to work when you turn 60. Now THAT would be the life.

19. Golf is a good walk spoiled. I love the game, but I suck and will probably always suck...but I love the walk with good friends or with my Dad.

20. I am not a city person, but have lived in one of the largest and most polluted cities in the world for over 12 years now.

21. I am a dreamer. I love to dream BIG….sometimes my dreams come true. Even if they don’t come true, it is still so much fun to dream.

22. I love watching people, and can sit in one spot for hours upon hours watching people walk by.

23. I am a sucker for a great beer.

24. I whole heartedly believe that love, friendship, family, travel and adventure is what life is all about. The other stuff is irrelevant.

25. I liked doing this list….kind of puts things in perspective...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Killing Time in the Pool

So what do you do when the traffic is bad outside, the weather is just so-so, and you are bored out of your mind?

You grab your 4-year old daughter, and jump in the pool with your underwater camera, and kill a couple of hours taking photos....then you jump on the computer and play with Photoshop...

A bad day turned into a pretty dang fun day...

Friday, February 13, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Prayer Flags in Nepal

I am a bit late in getting my "skywatch" photo out today...

But, Happy Friday!!

Have fun surfing the net checking out all the other skywatch photos HERE

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Don't Blame Me, It's My Daughter's Fault

I am not a big fan of the color, Pink....why?......Well, because I am a guy...guys are not supposed to like pink....pink is for girls...right?

My daughter, Kayla, was sitting at my desk with me when I was searching for a photo to post tonight....when she saw this one in Lightroom, she immediately yelled, "that one....that one...that one, Daddy...!!". How could I resist?

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Aliens Have Invaded

Sometimes when I am underwater, I can't believe my eyes...
it really is another world down there...

This is a brittle star climbing over a sponge and a crinoid...like a creature from another planet.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Deep In The Jungles Of Cambodia

A thousand years ago, this would probably have been a pretty nice place to live...I find it amazing the actual condition of most of the structures of these ancient buildings near Angkor Wat...and what is even more amazing is that they are still finding these wonderful buildings in the jungle today hidden for over a thousand years...

Monday, February 09, 2009

My Wife and New Daughter, Kelly

I usually save photos of my family for my "Family Blog", but I posted this yesterday on my family blog, and liked it, so thought it had a place on this blog...

Hope you like it...

Sunday, February 08, 2009

For My Sister, Kathleen...Happy BIrthday

I was searching for a photo that made me think of you....and this is what I came up with...

here is my "artistic" thinking....the big tree on the left represents Tyler...big and still in the picture...the small tree represents Megan...still a budding young girl...and the empty beach huts represent Steven and Matthew...leaving an empty nest (soon for Matthew), but also leaving you with a great view on life...and the things you have accomplished as a mother of four!!

Happy Birthday, Kathleen!!

Friday, February 06, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Monas Monument, Jakarta

Happy Friday!!

This week's skywatch photo is from my home (for the past 12 years) in Jakarta. This monument is called Monas, but locals call it "Sukarno's Erection". Sukarno was the first President of Indonesia after independence from the Dutch in 1945...

Have fun visiting blogs from around the world featuring skies in every corner of the globe...CLICK HERE
Please forgive me if I don't visit your blog, however...I am having serious internet problems again!!

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Now Dem Are BIG Tires

These are the biggest trucks in the world...and they are huge. Each one of those tires cost more than the average house...

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

I Was Inspired Today

Scott Kelby had a guest photographer on his blog today named, Joey L. He is a VERY young photographer that has hit it big in the states. He is a good writer as well, and I was inspired by what he wrote and his portraits from Africa.

Since I have not posted a portrait in some time, here is one I took in Papua of a young Komoro watching a bunch of crazy white people eat grubs...

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Oai Town in Santorini

Looking for a place that is romantic, has great food, great people, great weather?...and a great place to take photos??

Santorini is the place for you...

Monday, February 02, 2009

Just a Normal Day at Chobe, Botswana

Seeing Elephants in Chobe is a lot like seeing stray cats in my neighborhood....they are everywhere...but even so, the are just so cool, and I never got tired of watching them...

Sunday, February 01, 2009

A Caribbean Bar in Asia

I like the Chinese characters written above "Mama's"...

Only thing missing is Bob Marley...and people sitting at the boat bar.