Ocean Folio

When I need to re-boot, the most special place for me is the beach.  The feeling of sand spreading across my toes and cradling my arch is an immediate rush.  The gentle breeze caresses my face while spreading a sensual waft, a scent that inebriates my whole being.  The myriad shades of gray articulate the moodiness of earth’s canvas.  The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular in their vibrancy.

I sit upon the sands and am mesmerized by such magnificence.

Each day, hour and minute are different, each unfolding new treasures that the ocean chooses to share.  Whether it is a spotted, shiny shell, starfish, colorful man-o-war, or simply some flotsam and jetsam kicked back upon the shore, it offers a never-ending menu of life’s pearls or castaways.

The gentle feeling of the shore kicking up while wading in the spume, the suction of the sand refusing to let go of the feet that dare to venture upon the continuously, cleansing shore, lets us know that the ocean is one of power which can choose to be gentle or as violent as a tsunami. What a metaphor for life.

A baby is born, extruded with its own personal amniotic sac reminiscent of the sea nurturing its creatures with its salt and natural healing.  Once cleansed of its sac, it is left naked, exposed to the elements of life as are all castaways--ready to learn the lessons of survival.

Yet, one fears the sea, learns to be wary of what it conceals or chooses to regurgitate upon the innocent earth.

I love to gaze upon the ocean, the beach, the colors and textures of the earth with all of its warmth inviting me to experience quite an extravaganza—yet another day, unlike the day before and the next one forthcoming.  It is ever changing, yet constant in its strength, beauty and mystery.

Nature, and all of its creations is such a wonderful way to refresh one's psyche.

I find that trees, and all of their intricacies--so varied, oftentimes take my breath away.  When I study their roots, leaves and curves, I see the relationship between the entities of nature.  The boughs of the tree seem to reach out to the sun, as an infant stroking his mothers's breast, pleading for sustenance.  The leaves, ever so grateful for the chlorophyll--their elixir for life, are saturated with the brilliant colors designated for that particular species--a multitude of choices that cover the spectrum of colors within the proverbial rainbow.

The symbiotic nature of the roots, entwining themselves around the trunk, seem to be imploring the host to nurture itself.  It then reaches toward the earth to reproduce again and again.

I see varying themes throughout nature: that of a feline dropping a feathered object at her offspring's feet, thereby teaching him what and how to hunt for survival, a bird living off of the insects on a giraffe's head, a small fish cohabiting with its host, web-footed hatchlings scampering across my toes on their way to begin their survival trek into the ominous sea--all brilliant methods of survival instilled within the genomes of each species in order to propel itself into the future.

We see trees that are hundreds of years old--doing what comes naturally to survive.

Respecting trees, our beautiful earth and all of its offerings is paramount to our ability to reboot, renew, refresh--take moments out of our fast paced, media oriented lives so that we can reconnect within ourselves.

Often compared to a grassy, slow-moving river, the Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species-a mixture of exquisite birds as well as frightful, yet captivating ones that crawl, creep and swish in the water.   Among the Everglades' abundant wildlife are the endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther, key deer and West Indian manatee.

Observing this part of Florida takes one back to the simple, untamed, natural beauty of Florida replete with swamps, rivers, lakes and rich landscapes of yesteryear.

A book I highly recommend is A LAND REMEMBERED by Patrick D. Smith.

Cuba is such an amazing country replete with kind, affectionate and joyous people.  The 'bones' of the architecture are exquisite right down to the beautiful tiling, intricate ironwork and intimate staircases leading to rooms one can imagine were once filled with magnificent furniture.  The cars, Cubans are naturally so proud to own, take one back to a different era--visiting the 50's with the multitude of bright colors, shiny chrome work and plush leather interiors.  They are worked on daily by their owners carefully buffing and wiping off any exterior dirt.  One should definitely rent a convertible and take a tour of this beautiful country!  The dawning images were taken just as Havana was awakening.  The people were delighted to have their pictures taken, wanting to depict their lives for all of America to view.  They have so little material goods, yet are so proud of whom they are and of their country.  Some of the people that I was fortunate enough to meet eagerly painted pictures of their lives to me.  Some were past Olympians, writers, scientists, most of all loving and full of a wonderful spirit.  I hope that my images give you a sense of the beauty of the country.

What a gentle, respectful and courteous people are the Japanese.  I loved the spirituality of the sights.  All of the temples and shrines were a great reflection of the history and nature of the peoples. Whether they dress in their native kimonos or adapt to the dress of the western world, they emanate a vibrancy, an ebullience of color that is carried over into many facets of their lives.  Their food is a work of art.  Each morsel is decorated into exquisite patterns and colors. 

Their modern  architecture is brilliant.  Their train station boasts the home of the Bullet which races along at a mere 180 mph, is a work of art no matter where you look.  They seem to think of everything.  They have a Skytower with two towers and a connecting bridge just in case there is a fire in one of the towers.  Panasonic has an example of "the home of the future" which is full of trends to make our frenetic life easier and safer.

They lead the world with the highest life expectancy. They are a disciplined country replete with much self-control.  One of the things that amazed us was the fact that there was not a garbage can around on the streets.  About twenty years ago, they had a terrorist attack where the bomb was left in a garbage can on the street. People were killed which resulted in a "no cans on the street" dictum.  No one is permitted to litter and there is a hefty fine imposed upon someone who would dare to breach this law.  Not even a cigarette butt was to be seen!  

Their reverence for animals is also noteworthy.  They boast an island inhabited by cats galore called Aoshima in southern Japan.  The cats outnumber the humans six to one.  There is also a lovely city called Nara where deer are safely harbored.  They are fed and have learned to bow as they receive their food.

Their hospitality is only shadowed by their humility.

Pacific Northwest Trip

 My escapades began in Washington, then on to Oregon and concluded in San Francisco. What a magnificent part of our country is the Pacific Northwest. I had no idea what I was in for as far as hiking and camping through the “wilderness". We began our journey by trekking into a magnificent beach called Shi Shi, a part of the Olympic National Park. It was a four mile trek in through brush and mountainous terrain. Part of the journey was down cliffs with a multitude of fibrous roots just trying to reach out and trip my footing. At one point, there was a rope to hold onto for a certain very steep segment. We set up tents and perused the area for nighttime and early morning photography.  All of my senses were engaged with the magnificent sights, smells, and textures surrounding me. The sea stacks, , foggy mist and muted colors were taken right out of my memory of one of my favorite novels, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.  To balance the peaceful, moorish, zenlike atmosphere, bull whips frequented my pathways creating a kind of futuristic sci-fi landscape.  

The Hoh Rain Forest in Washington's Olympic National Park was replete with unusual spiders, glowing epiphytic mosses, ferns, and spike mosses growing on their trunks and branches. The lighting was a beautiful design by Mother Nature, as were the early morning elk herds.

Also, part of the amazing Olympic National Park is Hurricane Ridge filled with, brilliantly hued moss, maple trees, ridges of snow and deer that quietly took a few minutes to graze right behind me. 

Next were the falls.  Panther Creek is magnificent and very unusual in the fact that there are three levels.  We went to the top level where there is no developed route to the base of the falls and the "path" which is quite sketchy, involving scaling down a nearly vertical cliff of about 15-feet in height. (Best if one slides down on their derriere!)  Once there, it was as if I was deposited into a fairytale!

Then, we were on to Punchbowl Falls in beautiful Oregon where we hiked into an exquisite area with spectacular colors just begging to be painted on the canvas of one’s mind, called Punchbowl Falls.

The sea stacks, lighthouses, rainforests and waterfalls all came together to make so many wondrous visual memories of one of the most diverse and exciting areas of our exquisite planet earth.  America is blessed with a myriad of them!

Florida is such a wondrous part of our beautiful country.  Taking the time to kayak down the beautiful rivers gives one the opportunity to take an hiatus from our busy schedules, deadlines and responsibilities to simply 'be'.  Nature gifts us an explosion of colors that most Floridians are surprised to see in our sub tropical/tropical climate.  We are not devoid of the changing leaves that autumn gives our northern neighbors. Instead, we are blessed with perfect temperatures and exquisite scenery enhanced by watery vistas. We possess some of the most incredible trees with the ability to grow into water and come out eventually from their sojourn beneath the water only to be stronger and more beautiful.  The Spanish Moss which dresses our trees, is in fact a bromeliad,  Certain bromeliad plants oftentimes give birth to incredible blossoms--some edible like our pineapples.  Our swamps, rivers, lakes and ocean provide endless opportunities for pleasures to indulge all of our senses.

"Georgia On My Mind",  runs through my memory as I wander through the lush grasses, studying the live oaks, Spanish Moss, vibrant leaves, unique beaches and beautiful skies.  I am overwhelmed by the sights so I visit them, sit and watch the changes before my eyes.  Little St Simon's Island is replete with old oaks, armadillos scampering across my path, raccoons peaking around bushes and yes, diamond back rattlers hiding in places which I try to bypass.  There are no cars allowed on the island, so we ride bikes or hike along dirt paths, sit in bird blinds overlooking an abundance of roseate spoonbills so close I could reach out and touch them.  Jekyll Island offers more of a contemporary Island filled with history.  The old monied families settled there and built beautiful mansions that are now lovely guest houses ready to receive families interested in taking part in all of Georgia's multifaceted offerings from history, nature, lovely restaurants and places to explore.  

The Carolinas

The Smokies offers an abundance of beauty.  The first morning that I awakened, I opened my eyes and found the mountains enshrouded with a mystifying fog.  (A dream for photographers!) We went for a hike up Mount Mitchell picking blueberries on the way.   The view was mesmerizing-the wild flowers at their peak of loveliness. The air was fresh and crisp. There were many vistas to rest our eyes upon, many forests through which to wander.  One could not help to feel the solitude, the spirituality of one's life upon the ascent through the clouds feeling the mist upon our faces, with not a sound but the birds and the whooshing of the trees.

Hawaii has magnificent beaches, vistas and ever changing terrain. Maui, is the second largest island in Hawaii with the highest point being Haleakala Volcano rising to 10,023 feet. It has a gradual incline enabling one to go to the top without feeling uncomfortable effects from the altitude. The volcano from sunrise to sunset is ever-changing. One visit, we had snow—very unusual for Hawaii. It was about 20 degrees at the top with a beautiful cloud cover nesting upon the crown. The beaches, with their volcanic accoutrements, were wonderful to experience. The sea turtles swam freely, coming up on shore to take a sun bath. The topography is so very lush, especially as seen from a zip lining experience.

Kauai, nicknamed The Garden Island, is the fourth largest island with its highest point being 5,243 feet. We took the opportunity to see the vistas first hand in a doorless helicopter. It was truly a magnificent experience. We flew over the jagged cliffs examining the verdant landscape and hearing the history of Kauai, as we were transported through weather, clouds and the misting coming from the multitude of waterfalls.

ICELAND: The Land Of Fire And Ice

This land is by far, the most diverse topography that I have had the pleasure of exploring.  The lava beds are black as coal with sparkling diamond like rocks and stones.  The greens and yellows are florescent and beautifully contrasted against the richness of the earth.  The skies are equal to none other that I have witnessed.  The clouds are diverse and plentiful.  The temperatures range (in September) from highs in the mid fifties on the plains, and on the mountains, the winds can be profuse and chill one to the bone with temperatures in the 30's.  The horses are magnificent outfitted with long, thick manes and winter coats to protect them from the bitterness of the cold and dampness.  Much of the farmland has houses built into the mountains with grass roofs.  The beauty is unadulterated-just simple, rural geography with an undertone of "look at me, I need nothing else!".  The calving of the glaciers creates structures that rival Lalique, the glaciers appear to be untouched and a bit foreboding.  Such diversity and splendor come together to beckon one to return to The Land Of Fire And Ice.

SCOTLAND

Scotland, the most rural country, was a lovely place to visit.  The animals roamed freely to the point where we waited for hundreds to cross in front of us on their way to their chosen spots-some jumping the fences!  They were very wooly and took me back to my childhood of 'counting sheep' to ensure a restful sleep!  The topography was verdant-inviting both the animals and humans to explore via hiking or simply sitting and just being!  What an experience to be atop a mountain hearing bagpipes coming round and seeing them in full regalia.  The Isle of Skye was exquisite.  The weather was chilled with a lot of mist, drizzle and fog resembling what I had romanticized about from novels such as Wuthering Heights with settings encompassing the moors, heaths of the UK.  There were beautiful castles, some were ready to be explored, others mere remnants of years gone by.  The rock formations such as The Old Man Of Storr, were incredible as well-albeit difficult hiking in such weather and tough terrain but well worth the effort! The foods were delicious as was the mead. A definite place to which to return.

SICILY

I love to use my senses to commit to memory all of the wonderful sights, sounds and fragrances of an area. One of the most delightful scents I have ever encountered thrives here in Sicily. It is called the ginestra flower. They are bright yellow and exude a sweet, seductive scent.

As we perused seemingly every inch of Taormina with the interest of eating incredibly delicious foods, drinking the fine wines of Mt. Etna’s fertle soil, and seeing the magnificent landscapes, we were humbled by the natural beauty and visible history that Sicily has to offer. It is an island full of contrasts. The ruins, some in total disarray, some still very inviting, the delectable very fresh fish (so fresh that they brought you the whole fish from which to choose ), the gelato that tasted as if they just finished whipping it up by hand, and natural charm to the villages and land/seascapes whispered to us to “stay, stay, stay”.

IRELAND

Ever since I was a ‘wee lass,’ I had the desire to visit Ireland. It always intrigued me. Perhaps the history of the beautiful land, replete with lush greenery, faeries, leprechauns, the pot at the end of the rainbow, the four leaf clover, making certain to say “Good morning Mr. Magpie” to ensure a day filled with good luck, and a bit of blarney thrown in, made it very magical for me. The architecture, both the ruins and the newly built homes was breathtaking and maintained in the ‘old world styling’. The gardens were created with a multitude of varieties and colors of exquisite flowers.

I must admit, I love a good ghost story. Kilkea Castle was filled with ghosts, a very beautiful old graveyard and people willing to tell their individual tales of ‘wispy’ creatures running through the rooms. One of the people I met assured me that each day in Ireland consisted of four seasons. That was indeed a truism. We experienced cold temperatures, blustery periods, rain and a bit of sunshine as well during the course of a day. It was a delightful experience to have such cool temperatures in the middle of June as well as lengthy periods of light.

The food was enticing for a ‘foodie’. Each meal was surpassed by the next. I was delighted to taste the most delicious fresh salads as if the restaurateur had just finished picking through her garden. The meats, dairy and desserts were very enticing, as was all of of the Irish oatmeal I could eat!

The arts were well represented there. The dancers performing the jig, the drummers, bagpipers and Irish songs, especially those sung by Connie Cullen, were delightful.

I offer a thanks to Kathy Clark and Connie Cullen, both of Strabo Tours, and of course last, but certainly not least, our amazing company TELECOM CONSULTING GROUP for creating our wonderful experience, and bringing us all to Ireland. What an amazing, delightful and historical experience it was. I left with an Irish ‘twinkle’ in my eye, making a silent promise to return.

I was born and bred in Queens and Long Island, which afforded me the wonderful opportunity to experience ‘The City’ and all of its glories. Being young and learning about life in the City was like being thrown into a novel written by Charles Dickens, JD Salinger and a bit of Philip Roth. I remember it well—a feeling of fright at the realism, gratefulness that I could take the train back to my bit of nirvana in Long Island, yet compelled to return to learn more about the sophisticated, albeit decadent way of life of many ‘city dwellers’.

Returning to ‘The City’ after an hiatus of about ten years was a bit intimidating for me. All of my memories, ghosts from the past, came flooding back to me. This time, I was accompanied by my daughter who was more savvy and comfortable than I seemed to be. (A bit of role reversal.) I retrieved my ‘bucket list’ of things that I wanted to do and see and off we went.

I saw ‘The City’ in a new light, as I hope that my images will unravel—a city with the beauty of the past, the present and the future, one that is multicultural and accepting. The dichotomy of the exquisite gardens on the high line as seen against the brick and mortar behemoths seemed to bridge the gap of what once was and what is to become. It was comforting to be able to embrace the old and the new, the softness and the geometric angles, the warmth of the sun and the beauty and weight of the clouds.

Death Valley is one of the most breathtaking places to visit and photograph. Pages out of an ‘otherworldly’ coloring book would be a great description of this extraordinary place. Driving around, observing the ‘Painter’s Palette,’ taking in the exquisite colors, both neon and delicate, was as if a genie had snapped her fingers with a wish to wow even the most sophisticated, conservative palette

The Joshua Trees were so very entertaining in their anthropomorphic stances. They reminded me of little children playing the game of statues.

Truly, I do not know of anywhere else with such a wide array of colors, textures, or sea levels within a given area.

I am always amazed by the beauty and depth of the colors presented by these wonderful flowers—sometimes overcoming all odds and turning hip in the most unusual of places.

I had always heard so many lovely comments about Maine, but had never had the fortune to visit this beautiful state. I traveled there with a list of places to explore, and to hopefully capture the beauty inherent in the land. I wanted to awaken before dawn and travel to these (what I thought would be) distant paths. What I discovered, was that all of these places were within such close proximity to one another. The mountains were a few minutes away from the sea. The fog encapsulated the island, taunting me to come and explore what was beyond what my eye could see. I accepted the challenge and was mesmerized by the beauty. The rocks, jetties, sailboats and clouds all came together to greet me. Each morning, I attempted to get into my car to explore, but was captured by the mist and fog enveloping the shore, distant islands and boats. I was spellbound by the quietude.

Autumn is such a beautiful time of year in North Carolina. The fall palette is a multitude of shades and hues of brilliant lighting and textures. They all blend together to create an harmonious glow to the earth to soothe the soul and provide an abundance of eye candy. To be sure, especially this year of 2020, we desperately seek balance and peace in our daily lives. To be able to rest our eyes on the beauty of nature and all of its pleasantries is quite a gift, if only we take the time to “smell the roses”…