Steam hisses from vents all around us creating clouds that obscure the horizon. The rising fog thickens as it spreads out in the cool morning air. Yellowstone National Park at every hour of the day holds something unique. It contains elements like that of standing on the edge of a volcanic crater combined with an …
Sometimes we are drawn to a place because it is a historical wonder, like Machu Pichu. Sometimes it’s the significance and geological wonder of a place like Uluru. Other times it’s the overwhelming natural majesty of places like Torres del Paine. But with the Whitsundays, it was a photo. The now-seemingly-proverbial Instagram moment when you …
The Daintree rainforest is said to have been the inspiration for the movie Avatar. Walking among its ancient trees that reach high into the sky and navigating in the dense undergrowth, I can see why it could be the inspiration for many mysterious and wonderful things. Not only is it visually pleasing it sounds like …
As we wandered around Raymond Island gazing up into the trees at the Koalas, we couldn’t help but laugh. They look like large teddy bears, but they are not bears as the first European explorers thought, they are marsupials and carry their young in pouches. It was apparent that they were feeling the near 40ºC …
Kangaroo Valley The sun had just pulled away its final rays and the night was quiet, surprisingly quiet given the number of other campers in this park. So we were startled when the entire bus began to rock back and forth accompanied by a loud sawing sound from the back of Lil’ Beaut. Trin and …
The Edge of the World lies on a rocky windswept coast and we were headed to its stormy shore. But first, we made a few stops along the way. Penguin, Tasmania Along the north coast of Tasmania is a town called Penguin, aptly named for the many penguins that nest in the area. The tuxedo-clad …
I watched as the ship pulled away from the dock and I stood in silence as it headed back out to sea. I couldn’t talk about it for two days. Twenty-two days I spent on that ship filled with the beauty of raw nature in all her glory. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. I have fallen …
South Georgia a place beyond my dreams. It is wild and remote a place of rugged beauty.
Jagged mountain peaks line the sky, glaciers cling to the rugged landscape, streams cascade into turquoise lakes. The lakes, at times calm with a surface of mirrors, at other times breaking waves, speak of her changing moods. This is Torres del Paine National Park. A place of extreme weather and beauty that draws people from …
The darkness closed around us like a layer of black oil, not even a little glow from a random piece of electronic equipment appeared. Nothing could be seen in any direction. The silence was complete and the air absolutely still. I found the absence of sensory distraction peaceful. I took a deep breath and relaxed, …
