Flowers Bloom in the Eastern Hills

- Another day in California

From the crest of the South Rim Trail in Alum Rock Park, this is the view.

It was a day full of sun, breezes, deer, squirrels, and alligator lizards.

Sunset, Dear

- Photography = Light Writing

The better the light, the better the writing.

This is a photo of a deer at sunset in Alum Rock Park in San Jose, California.

Boiling Over -

 Aerial View of Kilauea Eruption

I'm not sure what it is about volcanoes that captures my imagination.

Sometimes, it's the thought of witnessing the continuous birth of our planet.

Sometimes, it's the danger involved in walking on unstable earth.

Sometimes, it's the romantic notion that the goddess Pele might actually exist.

Sometimes, it's just the fun of poking around and playing with lava.

Whatever it is - I love the idea that there are volcanoes...

A Boat with Character:

 Fishing Boat, Bali, Indonesia

Found this boat along the beach in Sanur, on the south coast of Bali.

It just looks like a boat I would trust. How about you?

Staredown with a Gray Fox:

 Hello Mr. Fox

I went for a hike at Alum Rock Park in the hills of East San Jose today.

On my way down the hillside, I heard a rustling in the bushes.

It took me about 5 minutes to pick out the tips of two furry ears - backlit by the sun - poking up over the tall grass.

I moved down the trail and found a clear view. 

At first, I thought the ears belonged to a bobcat, but I quickly saw that it was a fox.

We had a staring contest for about 10 minutes, then he turned his head.

I closed in for this shot. He then went under a bush, so I moved on.

A ranger confirmed it was a gray fox. They are present in the area, but seen infrequently.

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) X:

Death Valley Sand Dunes

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) IX:

 Devil's Golf Course

Standing at 200 feet below sea level while looking at an 11,000 foot snow-capped mountain.

Only in Death Valley...

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) VIII:

 Natural Bridge Canyon

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) VII:

 Bighorn Sheep Petroglyph

We found this petroglyph pecked into a large boulder in Titus Canyon.

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) VI:

 An Artists Palette

Angie hikes through the geological wonderland that is known as Artists Palette.

Thinking about the Trona Pinnacles

Wait... I'm thinking...

On our way back from Death Valley, we stopped off to look at the Trona Pinnacles.

The pinnacle on the right reminded me of 'Thinking Man', which is kind of cool.

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) V:

 Desert Flower

I love surprise. I love juxtaposition. I love contrast.

Whether it's an outburst of life in an inhospitable environment, sudden silence in a world that's become way too loud, or a taste of coconut in a meat dish (thanks for the beef rendang, Alissa!) - these moments are why I explore. 

For me, travel is a search... a search for moments to be strung together in a necklace of beauty.

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) IV:

 Wave your hands in the air, like you don't care...

Wow... I had no idea that Joshua Trees like get jiggy with it when no one is looking.

I caught these Joshua Trees in the Mojave desert. They look like they're groovin' to a silent version of  "Word Up" - which gets my vote for best dance floor tune ever, whether it's by Cameo, Gun, or Korn. 

I wish someone had taken a picture of my face when I first heard that Korn covered "Word Up". The only thing that's more strange than them covering the song, is the video they shot for it...