Patriotic in Okoboji

Lake Okoboji in Arnold's Park, Iowa is a classic scene for the American summer by the lake, fourth of July cookouts and booze-ridden boat trips. Lake Okoboji is an ideal place for Midwest city mongers to leave their worries with concrete and indulge in the simplicity of lake life.

A Lesser Known Capitol

While in grade school, American students are expected to learn/memorize the capitol cities of all fifty states and generally regurgitate the information on an exam. So, for many American adults later asked to recall the capitol city of a particular, more obscure state, the information has often been left behind on their fifth grade test paper. Missouri is one of these obscure states. The capitol of Missouri is neither of the state's major cities -Kansas City or St. Louis- nor is it referenced in news and media very often. During my trip around Missouri, I thought it only necessary to stop in the quaint Jefferson City and pay tribute to the obscure capitol city of a particularly beautiful state. Finished in 1917, it is the third capitol building in Jefferson City. Notably, a bronze fixture on the top represents Ceres, the Roman goddess of Agriculture. And at the building's entrance, standing tall and ready to greet you, dutifully frozen in time, is Thomas Jefferson.

Missouri's Little Treasure: Wine!

Just a little over an hour from Columbia, MO off the Interstate and along the windy back roads of the Missouri countryside nestles an old German town touting original brick architecture and several local wineries. Historic Hermann, Missouri is perched along the Missouri River and serves as a spectacular place to revel in Missouri's natural environment while getting a quick history lesson and sampling a wine or two. There are B&Bs to stay in, or just pitch a tent in the city park and hit the trolley for your local wine tour. Kevin, a former ostrich farm owner, gives a personalized tour of the area while explaining his love for giraffes, life as a farmer and much much more!

Modern Malaysia

Having only spent two days in Kuala Lumpur I cannot say too much about it. It's a clean, contemporary, fast functioning city. Famous for the architecture, the Petronas Twin Towers notably highlight the city's skyline and illuminate an otherwise blackened night.




Malaysian sweets, girls evening out, tower illumination

Full Moon Ceremony: A time to cleanse

Tirtha Empul is one of Bali's sacred Hindu temples attracting locals island-wide. Holy water flows from the sacred springs filling pools for bathing and purifying. According to local belief, the spring was created by Warrior God Indra who pierced the earth and created a fountain of immortality to revive her poisoned army. Thus, the waters now serve as a source for purification, ridding oneself of bad luck and helping to succeed in the future.





Freshly bathed, lining up in the holy pools, leaving prayer time, traditional instruments

Mt. Rinjani; 3,726 meters above sea level

Mount Rinjani, located on Lombok Island, is Indonesia's second highest volcanic peak. While the base of the volcano is warm and occasionally sunny, the top is cool and smug. Thick clouds line the rim and pluming ash flakes regularly fall like snow. Part of the caldera is filled with water creating a crater lake, which is regarded as sacred by the local villagers. Unable to get close to the lake due to drastic amounts of sulfur filling the valley of the volcano, I was only allowed to view it from atop. A powerful presence, one can only admire the skills of mother nature to create such a natural wonder.





Active ash, Segara Anak lake, waking up on top of the world, farming at the base

Let's Go Fly A Kite; Kuta, Lombok

kuta sunset, rice inspired sweets, local children flying kites, dearest annie and her garment shop

Lakey Peak, Sumbawa

growing up by the sea, fishing/surfing trip, lakey sunset (by dave), caught in the wave (by anonymous brit)

Same Country, Different Path

Featuring more than 17,500 islands it’s no wonder that multiple trips to Indonesia are necessary when attempting to travel this remarkable country. Home to more than 300 different ethnic groups and 250 different languages, each island seems a country in itself though they’re just ferry rides apart. The national language, Bahasa Indonesia, was established by the government in the 1920s as a means for national unification and today serves as the primary method of communication between islanders (and an essential tool for we island hoppers).

The diverse nature of Indonesia plays a big role in drawing a plethora of travelers. The sands, the waters, the jungles, the histories, the temples, the religions, the wildlife, the food, the alcohol, the traditions, and so on all vary from island to island. Thus, people jaunt from all over the globe for a variety of different reasons. Backpackers, divers, partiers and loungers hit their islands of choice searching for whatever it is that brought them. But one particular group of people that revels in a specific naturalness of Indonesia are the surfers. Jumping from island to island, chasing waves, the surfers are on a mystical mission for the perfect right-handers and barrels, while embracing an Indonesia of their own.

Having ventured through Indonesia before following the inner island roads, I have found myself a year later on a new venture: following the water…

Shadow on the Wall

When's the last time you went dancing?

"Colors of the Desert" by Mother Nature

Just when I’ve had enough of the heat, the flies, the red sand everywhere and the missing beach, I’ll catch a sunset and all of my woes are instantly frozen in time. The sun never fails to transform the sky and the distant horizon into hues of amazing color. The sun itself is typically an intense orange as a mist of red and pink permeate and accentuate the blues and purples of the evening sky. When the clouds are plentiful, the colors swirl together into a techni-color blanket that stretches from Uluru to Kata Tjuta. The twilight hour remains as magical, if not more, when a layer of peachy orange is sandwiched between the dark landscape and the violet night clouds. It's as though my window is a perpetually changing painting for the sun always varies but never forgets to set…

Desert Holidays

A red Christmas and paper Christmas trees...

Kata Tjuta, meaning "heads", is another natural wonder that sits just 50 kilometers from Yulara. Also known as the Olgas (named by explorer Ernest Giles after Queen Olga), Kata Tjuta is an arrangement of large rocks formed from millions of years of geological crunching and faulting. Its highest point, Mount Olga, is 500 meters and its symbolism is rooted deeply in Aboriginal culture. Serving as another primary meeting point, it is reserved primarily for men to conclude various rites of passage. Crushed stone powder is used to draw on the red stones as messages to those coming to the “heads"

A Giant Rock in the Middle of Nowhere

Uluru, meaning “meeting place,” traditionally served as a gathering point for various Aboriginal tribes in the Northern Territory. Because of its enormous stature, the rock is easily viewed from far distances making it a facile destination for many to find and reach. Around the rock, separate quarters were appointed for men and women with one central eating site where women left the berries and bush picked during the day, while the men would leave the meat they hunted. These specific areas are regarded as sacred today and tourists are not allowed to take photographs. In saying that, the rock itself still serves as a very sacred and culturally revered structure, and although it is currently open to the public for climbing, the Aboriginals and supporters urge visitors not to do so. Climbing the rock has become an ongoing controversy in Australia as Aboriginal support groups are working to get the climb permanently closed. Recent news announced, however, the state government’s decision to keep the climb open for at least the next few years…

Lyrical Wisdom

"Everlasting daisies and a beautiful desert rose
Where does their beauty come from heaven knows.
I could ask the wedge-tail but he's away too high,
I wonder if he understands it's wonderful to fly.

And it's raining on the Rock,
In a beautiful country,
And I'm proud to travel this big land,
As an Aborigine.
And it's raining on the Rock
What an almighty sight to see,
And I'm wishing and I'm dreaming that you were here with me."

~John Williamson (The John Denver of Australia)