The weta - it's a large and primitive insect, native to New Zealand. The reason I chose to write about wetas today is so more people know what they are. When I used a weta reference in my book Janaya, my editor didn't know what I was talking about and I had to rewrite...
Tirau is a small New Zealand town. It's pronounced Tee-rau 1. Tirau, originally referred to a hill three miles southwest of the village, is covered with cabbage trees where Maori trapped the keruru (wood pigeon). It was first settled by the Ngati Raukawa, although...
Mt Vesuvius erupted at midday on 24 August in the year 79AD. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed and thousands of Romans died during the eruption. Quite a lot is known about the day and the aftermath since Pliny the Younger witnessed and wrote about...
United States has some beautiful national parks, and this is one of my favorites -- Yosemite National Park. It’s also a favorite with the locals since every time I’ve visited it has been very busy. This is a view of the granite cliffs of El Capitan with summer flowers...
Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand is recognized by Guinness World Records as the steepest street in the world. It is 350 meters in length. The lower end of the street is covered in asphalt while the steepest and top end of the street is concrete instead of...
The Goat Island Marine Reserve is a popular destination with locals, especially during the summer months. It’s north of Auckland and is the closest place for divers and snorkelers to experience marine life. The reserve, which is 518 hectares in size, was created in...
The Thamel area of Kathmandu, the main city in Nepal, is a shopper’s paradise. There are so many interesting things to look at and food to try. It’s a feast for the senses and a real treat for a photographer. We purchased a Gurkha knife, much like one of the selection...
This is a photo of Victoria Falls from the air. During our visit, we saw the magnificent falls from all angles. The flight over was spectacular, but my favorite place to see the falls was from the various view points. You can hear the rumble of the falls from miles...
I’ve always wanted to visit the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Island. It is a mysterious place, full of myths and legends about Finn McCool an Irish giant who was at war with a Scottish giant called Benandonner. Some quick thinking by Finn McCool’s wife...
