[Read more…] about Fab Photos Friday: The beauty of Lake Tahoe!
Fab Photos Friday: The beauty of Lake Tahoe!
Where Should I go Next??
I do have a few trips planned for 2016, but I need to do some more travel planning! Any ideas?
In January, I am headed to Lake Tahoe to see the lake in the snow…and, of course, to gamble. I am hoping my cousin will come along and that my friend from Sacramento will meet me for a day or so. Thank you, Caesar’s Group!
February will take me to the Revillagadoes Islands to dive with Humpback Whales, Giant Mantas, Dolphins, Sharks, and hopefully, a whale shark! The diving there has been incredible as the whale season gets started. 9 days of diving on the Solmar V! I cannot wait!
Early March will take me to Kentucky where my niece is expecting her first baby! Mid-March I am off to California for the Women In Travel Summit in Orange County, California and I plan to stay a while after the conference. Randy and I are planning to drive from Dallas to California, checking out a few sights along the way. I love Orange County and plan to show you why! I’m planning fine dining, luxurious hotels, water sports, and who knows what else? There is always something going on in Orange County.
Late June and July takes me to Australia, Bali, and a Citizen Science dive trip with Marine Megaafauna Foundation‘s Dr Andrea Marshall (Queen of Mantas) in Komodo, Indonesia on the luxurious Arenui! I am so excited for this one…I have never been to Indonesia! I am still trying to figure out where to stay and dive in Bali, and also on the Great Barrier Reef.
So…where else should I go? I would love to go to Europe, and Antarctica. Oh, and Morocco and Israel. And on an African safari. And Japan. Palau. Canada! Can you believe I have never been to Canada? I lived 3 hours from the border until I was twenty, and never went. I still haven’t seen so many of our beautiful national parks! Yosemite and Yellowstone are a must see. Oh, and Alaska! I must go to Alaska. We’d need a small ship though, since my husband’s double lung transplant his immune system isn’t great, so a large ship isn’t possible. Randy definitely wants to see Alaska. Montana? Jackson Hole? I want to see a big Moose. A live one. And a wolf. And a bear.
I want to go to Britain and follow the footsteps of Richard III, the Plantagenet King who was killed in 1485 by Henry Tudor. His remains were found a couple of years ago in Leceister, in a car park. I have been to Leicester and visited the battlefield, but I now want to see the tomb honoring Richard, and also take a Ricardian route through northern England. Scotland, Wales, and Ireland too. And I’d love to dive in Cornwall. I love Cornwall.
In other words, I want to go everywhere. I would love to do a Christmas cruise through Europe for the Christmas markets! I know my readers would love to hear about all of these trips, and I would so love to inform them about the locations. I would be in photographic heaven! Oh! Let’s not forget the Exumas, and Bahamas…I want to dive with sharks! I forgot the Maldives, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. The Amalfi Coast! Lake Como! Venice! Florence! Sienna! And the Alhambra in Spain. The Costa Brava. The French countryside and beaches. Ghosts in Bordeaux.
Where would my readers like to go?? What is your dream trip?
Give Back to Mother Earth this Holiday Season!
Do you love animals? The ocean? Terra Firma? Do you have a conservationist in your family or friend group? If so, consider these gifts which will not only please the recipient, but give a priceless gift to our fellow creatures. Did you watch RACING EXTINCTION last night on Discovery? It premiered, and it has the power to change the terrible outcome that awaits us and future generations. What one thing can YOU do to help? #STARTWITH1THING
It takes one small thing to start a revolution. What will you do to help?
How about adopting something really BIG??? Like a Whale Shark or a Manta Ray? The person it is gifted to can name it as well, and sightings of the animal will be reported to them! check out http://www.marinemegafauna.org/support-us/adopt-a-giant/! The team at Marine Megafauna knows how to give a BIG gift opportunity! Here is my BIG girl! 
Daenerys Targaryen, the Stormborn, Princess of Dragonstone, Queen of the Andals and First Men, Queen of the 7 Kingdoms, the Unburnt, and Mother of Dragons! We just call her Dany for short!
I was given the wonderful gift of naming this beautiful Manta in the Revillagigadoes Islands. The Manta had not been seen since 2003 until I photographed it in 2012 and turned put it in the database for the Pacific Manta Research Group. I decided on JEDI with the help of Karey Kumli at the Pacific Manta Research Group! I had two names, and Karey said “I like Jedi, it has a positive and powerful message. Keepers of Peace & Justice in the galaxy.” Isn’t that what we are trying for? Peace and Justice for the creatures that populate the earth?
JEDI
Manatees and Dugongs are endangered by humans and their boats. They are such sweet, friendly creatures. Remember them this holiday season! Donate here: https://secure3.4agoodcause.com/save-the-manatee-club/gift.aspx?id=2 or adopt one!
A Little Fun Rolling in Crystal River, FL
Join the fight for a healthy ocean and ecosystem! Join the Ocean Conservancy! http://www.oceanconservancy.org/the-ocean-matters/
Let’s not forget our other friends: African animals http://www.africanwildlifeconservationfund.org/
With the death of Cecil and so many other lions, they have become critically endangered. Can you imagine a world without Big Cats? I can’t. Help by High Five Give Five! http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats-initiative/get-involved/
Black Rhinos are almost extinct in the wild…and the Northern White Rhino is on the verge. There are three left in the wild. Yes, only three. They are in such desperate shape. They truly need all the help they can get. http://www.savetherhino.org/
and don’t forget Pelagic Life, http://www.pelagiclife.org. From studying animals to assisting sharks who have been “hooked”, this group is always active in the cause of saving our Pelagic Life. Nurture YOUR soul in the open ocean!
Give a gift of life and conservation for the holidays, and help humans preserve not only wildlife, but ourselves.
PS: Please don’t forget when you travel, fly airlines that do not carry endangered species cargo. American Airlines just announced it will no longer carry shark fins as cargo! They join, just to name a few, Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways, and United Airlines. Many, many carriers are joining the crusade to stop transporting ivory, rhino horns, shark fins, manta fins, sea turtles and other endangered species parts. Choose your airlines and hotels and even shipping companies based on this kind of criteria. If they contribute to the shark fin trade, do not fly them. And let them know why you won’t fly them. Use social media to chastise any transport of these endangered species parts!
Happy Holidays to one and all! Let’s all help make this a friendlier planet!
Fab Photo Friday: Camera Gifts for People on the Go!
I LOVE cameras. I love to play with cameras. After I get to know a camera, I like to buy accessories for my cameras! The camera becomes my friend, so to speak. I know so many people with huge cameras, DSLRs, expensive housings for underwater and for photography on the go (hiking, kayaking, gliding, boating, etc), and they take amazing photographs. Professional level photographs. The problem with these fabulous cameras and housings? Most people cannot afford them. Not being able to spend thousands of dollars on professional camera equipment is certainly not unusual, and those who cannot spend that kind of money still want to capture great images. If this describes you or someone you know, here are my two favorite lower cost cameras for both land and underwater.
GOPRO cameras are awesome. They aren’t perfect, but they are awesome. I just purchased a GOPRO Hero+ with an LCD screen. The GOPROs that come with an LCD screen are necessary for me…I’ve spent many years using GOPROs without LCD screens and I usually miss what I am trying to film! So completely aggravating! I either hold the camera up too high, or too low. So, I bought the Hero+ with an LCD screen, and I love it. It is not the top of the line GOPRO camera, but so far I’ve had pretty good luck with it. And the best thing? All GOPRO cameras come with cool accessories! The GOPRO can go anywhere…parasailing, diving, climbing, skiing, hiking…just any activity at all! There are chest mounts, head mounts, and mounts you can put on a surf board! There is no end to where these little GOPROs will go. If you are a beginner, I highly recommend the Hero+ with an LCD screen and wifi. Yes, they are wifi enabled! There are accessories for anything you can imagine! Whether you want a beginning camera or a higher level GOPRO, you can check it out through these links to Amazon. Amazon even sells used GOPROs! Many of them have barely been used because the owner has just “traded up” the GOPRO line. You absolutely cannot beat it for the price.
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Another camera that is fantastic for the money is the Canon Point and Shoot. I use the Canon Powershot G15 as both underwater camera and land camera. There is a newer version out, the G16, but I haven’t traded up yet because I have been so happy with the G15. The day when I trade up is coming though, because unlike the Canon Powershot G15, the G16 is wifi enabled. There are a few underwater housings that will house the Powershots, from the Canon housing to the Recsea housing. It depends on how serious you are about taking underwater photos. If you are wanting a land only camera, it is small yet powerful, with a lot of accessories such as macro lenses, telephoto lenses, and great filters. Again, Amazon has terrific prices for Canon cameras, whether you are looking for a Powershot Point and Shoot, or a DSLR.
Over the years I have used a lot of still cameras from Sony to SeaLife to Sea & Sea and Canon. The Canon G15 has been my favorite. One of these days, I tell myself, I am going to buy an amazing DSLR with a huge housing…but so far, the Canon Powershot G15 and the GOPRO Hero+ has kept me entertained. I have several friends who are professional level photographers who use Nikon and Olympus and are extremely happy with them. I’ve never tried those brands, though I would certainly like to! Strictly from my own experience, to beginners and intermediate photographers, I can happily recommend the GOPROs and Canon Powershots.
Happy shopping!
The Amazing Dame Jane Goodall on Bill Maher’s show!
How I love Jane Goodall! She is such an amazing woman, a role model for generations of women, and an iconic figure in the world of conservation. I have blogged about her before in my series, “Amazing Women Wednesday”, and have urged younger generations to venerate Dame Jane. As of Friday night, she has truly found her way into my heart.
On September 25 Jane made an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher (possibly my favorite show on television). Bill, that incisive, sardonic, and unforgiving comic, had a discussion with Jane about Cecil the Lion. Dame Jane admitted she can’t get into the mind of a hunter who will actually go out and shoot a beautiful animal (especially an endangered animal). “It actually makes me sick,” she said. Maher remarked that the reason these hunters did it was because they have a small penis. Jane replied, “They must have a very small penis.” Check out the video!
In addition, Donald Trump and his lawsuit against Bill Maher came up. Did you know that the Donald sued Bill for suggesting that Donald Trump’s father was an orange orangutan with the same color hair? Jane remarked that it was an unkind comparison…to the orangutan!
Dame Jane and Bill, you made my day. I actually had to watch it three times because I was laughing so hard. (You probably realize by now that if you aren’t fairly liberal or moderate, you might not want to read this.) Living in Dallas I am surrounded by Conservatives (well meaning, I am sure) and I look forward all week to getting my dose of progressive politics via @billmaher. I did enjoy all the Pope and John Boehner talk last night, but Dame Jane, you were the best.
Oh yes, my “red” friends (funny how that has such a different meaning now than it did 30 years ago!) Bill may be blasphemous and wicked and bring up taboo subjects, but underneath the comedy is social commentary which is first rate. I love me some Bill, and some Dame Jane, too. They are keeping it real.
Fab Photo Friday: White Water Rafting in Aspen!
Thank you to Blazing Adventures in Aspen, CO for a fabulous white water raft trip! We had a great time, as you can see! The guide, Mike, was super, and we not only had fun, but we learned quite a bit about the canyon and the Colorado River. Next time you are in Aspen, be sure to call on them! The Ritz Carlton recommended them, and they are the best. (They also take great photos and video, I’m sure you will agree! It is so wonderful to be able to buy photos of your group rafting!) We also had a terrific Jeep adventure with Blazing Adventures! 
It was so wonderful to see Randy enjoy himself on the water…while we were in Aspen we celebrated his 2 year post double lung transplant anniversary! 2 years, and here’s to many more!
