TRAVELS & ADVENTURES
It's late afternoon, and we've finished seeing the incredible glow worms, stalactites and stalagmites in the Waitomo Caves in Raglan. We're now ready for an excursion to the Tamaki Maori Village in Rotorua to learn about the customs, protocols, and stories, that have been passed down through the generations of the Maori people. This should be interesting!
We've completed the 5-hour flight from Melbourne to Auckland, and as soon as we are out of the airport, it's obvious that New Zealand is quite different than it's huge neighbor 5 hours away. This city is fairly good size, with a population of approximately 1.5 million. Nevertheless, we're about to find out that outside of Auckland, the North and South Islands are quite rural. Our first taste of the bucolic nature of this island-country will happen today, as we head by ferry to Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf to take in some rugged coastline vistas, and to hit a few well-known vineyards.
The sun's coming up in Melbourne, and I'm getting an early start. The goal for the day is to take in as much of the city as I can, by foot or tram. There is a lot of ground to cover, so I have my running shoes tied tight, some Australian dollars in my wallet, and my phone with Google Maps in its holster. I'm ready to roll.
Our seat belts snap shut. I'm sitting shotgun next to the helicopter pilot, while my wife, Lisa, has her iPhone in camera mode in the seat behind us. The chopper blades are rotating, and we have our head phones on.
"G'day mates," says the pilot. "Is everybody ready?"
"Let's do it."
And off we go, rising into the desert sky, first in an upward trajectory, then accelerating forward.
It's Sunday morning, and I've just knocked off an item on my bucket list-diving at the Great Barrier Reef in Port Douglas. Feeling excited about this, we hop in the van and head towards Cairns. On the way, we pass Rex's Outlook with its rugged beach line and mountains in the background. The next stop is the Port Douglas Market, held every Sunday on the waterfront at Anzac Park. This looks like a happening place with many locals and tourists browsing over 100 stalls. I've been to outdoor markets all over the world-one of my favorite past times. Let's see how this one stacks up.
I'm in Sydney, Australia recovering from jet lag after a long flight from LA. This is no time for somnolence. I've heard about, and seen pictures of, the famous Sydney Opera House for many years. Sleep can wait. Off the couch I go to Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour for my first glimpse of this architectural wonder.
We've been hiking in Yosemite National Park now for several days. Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls and El Capitan have been world class. Today, my family and I are going to tackle Half Dome, one of the great granite rock formations in Yosemite Valley.
We appear to have lucked out with the weather-beautiful, sunny and low humidity. There is no need to dress in layers today. The visitor center has been consulted, the trail highlighted in green magic marker, sandwiches packed and camera batteries charged. We're ready to go.
My family and I wake up on Monday morning in Yosemite National Park. Today is the day we are going to see El Capitan, one of the most iconic sites in the entire Yosemite Valley. I look out the window to check the lighting conditions for photography. Dark clouds are in abundance, a rather ominous sign. The decision is made-I'm wearing rain gear today.
Never having been to Yosemite National Park, I decided to start doing research in anticipation of taking a trip there. Being a lover of waterfalls, from what I could tell, this could be one of the coolest places on earth. With this is mind, 2 problems became evident-time of year and drought conditions. Going there in May of 2017 solved both problems!
Lisa and I have finally reached the Maasai Mara in Kenya, after a long drive from Lake Nikuru. The Mara has been a much anticipated part of out trip, an enormous game reserve-a photographer's dream. This said, today we're headed to the Enkutoto Village in the Rift Valley Province where we'll see an incredible Maasai village. Mui Gai, our guide, has arranged for us to experience the people and culture of this area, a truly remarkable opportunity.
