AWESOME NATURE

Road side flowers, Ottawa, Canada

I found it cool that nature managed to find its way around man

made structures. These flowers above managed to push themselves

between the cracks in the concrete shoulder of the highway - creating

a pleasant scenery from the otherwise drab grey stretch.

Iguana, Cancun, Mexico

Sand Dollar, Morro Bay, Pacific Coast, CA

These are sand dollars on the Pacific coast of California.

They are related to sea urchins, sea stars and other echinoderms.

They are quite fun to watch scootering around slowly and burying

themselves in the sand during low tide, preventing desiccation.

Although they seem quite abundant here, many places are seeing

massive decline due to pollution and over collection. So, if you see

one of these critters, please just enjoy them with your eyes and leave

them be.

Hairy Scorpion, Rhyolite Ghost town, NV

The Scorpion is often associated with fear and viewed with

so much contempt. It is just one of natures unloved creatures

that need to be further understood by the mainstream populace.

Its numbers are being decimated by over collection in the wild for

pet trade and gift shop souvenirs. Please do not support this industry.

Spout, Cancun, Mexico

Green Sea Turtle, Big Island, Hawaii

Turtles are highly protected and should not be approached too closely.

Encounters with it is a magical and a wonderful gift. Contrary to popular

belief, they do not enjoy human hitch-hikers on their backs. Fines are up

to $10,000 in Hawaii for harassing these animals. They are also on the

Tiger Shark menu, so please be very aware when around these creatures

as there might be the possibility that these sharks are around. Having

written this however, please understand that sharks should be revered,

not feared. Education is key to losing fear :-)

Haleakala Volcano, Maui

Baby ghost crab, Anini, Kauai

Big Sur, CA

Horned Side-winder rattle snake, Red Rock Canyon, NV

Every creature, no matter how small, scraggly or squirmy looking,

is here for the purpose of keeping the planet healthy and bountiful

for us to live in. These Horned Side-winders are often collected, killed,

stuffed and preserved to be sold as souvenirs, and I have witnessed

motorists purposely running them over on the road. Despite their ferocious

appearance, they are quite shy and it will take quite a bit of provocation for

an attack to occur. Please resist the instinct to hurt or kill them.

Moss and Beetle, Sequoia National Park, CA

Side-blotch lizard & bugs, Valley of Fire, NV

Mittens, Monument Valley, AZ/UT Border

Monument Valley is a wonderful place with rock spires and

towers that have mystical auras and captivating vistas. More

and more people come here every year, promoted largely through

films and photographs and tourism. This high volume of visitation,

however, has increased the amount of less than respectful visitors

who recklessly drive off the road, destroying desert flora and shifting

the ground. Please report such incidences to the appropriate authority

immediately.

750 feet below the surface - Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

Step back in time and day dream of dinosaurs peeking behind giant

stalagtites and stalagmites. Above is a sample of what the Carlsbad

caverns look like. There are numerous places on earth that have caverns

with very similar structures, but this is the most impressive that I have seen

so far. My wife and I hiked down to 750 feet below the earth's surface and

we were immediately transported to prehistoric times.

Horned Lizard, Mojave Desert, CA & NV

Speaking of prehistoric, check out this lizard above. This critter hid in

my camera bag and when I opened the trunk of the car when I got home,

it was on top of the bag. It stood on its toes and hissed at me. After 3 days

of living in a cardboard box, I finally got around to drop it off in the Nevada

desert as I made my way to Utah. This lizard squirts blood out of its eyes to

deter capture, I learned this the hard way.

Tree growing out of a rock, Lake Tahoe, CA

Tower of Silence - Wahwheap Hoodoos, Near Kanab, UT

These hoodoos above are alive. My wife and I somehow managed

a long 7 hour hike with one bottle of water in the desert heat following

a hand drawn picture map. It was concerning, but it was all worth it to

be in the presence of this structure. The stalk or spire is a shimmering

powder white with a gathering of red stones that formed the bulbous tip.

This hoodoo, as they are referred to by the locals, roughly stood close to

20 feet. Underneath them, we felt as if they were breathing and watching

us, not in a creepy way, but rather, in a protective manner.

Please give them the same respect, watch them and protect them from

others who wish them harm through vandalism.

Goblin Valley, UT

Above is the Goblin Valley. This is such an alien looking landscape.

It is so surreal, yet very beautiful and peaceful. When here, please

do not be tempted to push off the rocks from top of the spires. It is

dangerous for you and for others and it destroys the sanctity of the

place for others to enjoy. Unfortunately, I have seen this happen.

California Kingsnake, Calico Springs, Nevada

Feared for no good reason, the Kingsnake is not venomous and it is

quite docile. Its range used to be quite wide, but now, due to collection

and habitat destruction, their numbers are falling and its distribution is

shrinking. They are called King snakes as they are immune to other

snake venom and they have the habit of eating other snakes.

Desert Foliage, Bryce Canyon, Utah

Death Valley, CA

This sand dune above, is in Death Valley, CA. At certain periods

of the day, when the wind picks up, there is a sound that the shifting

sand emits, scientists call this "singing". I have not heard this myself - yet.

I have visited this place roughly 10 times and it never ceases to amaze

me how the wind transported all these grains of sand to form these giant

dunes. Tip: When you find yourself here one day and for some reason you

have no place to deposit the wrapping from your snacks or your empty

water bottle, find a place to dig and temporarily place your refuse in the

hole, cover it up and then place a large rock that you can easily identify on

the way back. Dig your refuse back up and bring it back with you to safely

discard it in an appropriate receptacle. Please, please do not forget them.

Gecko, Big Island, Hawaii

This Gecko has become so accustomed to people that it will approach

you bravely to solicit tiny pieces of handouts as you work through your

breakfast. No matter how cute they are, please resist their beckoning for

a small chunk of your pancake.

Anole Lizard - Kauai, Hawaii

This lizard above is popular in the pet trade, it is however, much more

rewarding to observe them in the wild - but not too close.

Acaca Falls, Big Islang, HI

Death Valley CA

Fire Goby

This is a very shy fish and easily gets stressed out in the home aquaria.

I am ashamed to admit that I had such an aquaria at one time and I had

this fish in it. Never again.

Giant land snail, Anini, Kauai

This snail was almost twice the size of my fist. My wife and I

watched over it as it crossed the road to ensure safe passage for it.

Bamboo Forest in Hana, Maui

The Bamboo forest in Hana, Maui is so cathedral like.

The whispering winds and the comforting flutter of the leaves,

augmented by the long sustained creaking of the bamboo trunks,

made me very peaceful inside. I urge everyone to visit it, but

remember - Please leave no trace.

Taro plants, Kauai

Taro is a plant whose roots are harvested and then made

into all sorts of goodies. Poi is one of them. It is my favorite,

especially when mixed with mashed fruits, frozen and served

like a smoothie. It is basically the roots of the taro plant all

mashed up in the consistency of baby food - speaking of which

you can use this to feed your child. Just throw in some cooked

and finely mashed veggies or fruit and your child can have a

healthy and nutritious meal.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Caribbean

Above: Remnants of a pier or dock. Although it is a great

platform to hurl yourself into the crystal clear waters of the

Caribbean, structures like these should be removed to

bring back the scenery to its natural state.

Baker Beach, San Francisco CA

Crocodile, Cancun, Mexico

This poor crocodile is in a lagoon in Cancun by Clubmed. It is a

7 foot long animal who is constantly being harassed by tourists

who throw pebbles at it and even pour beer to get a reaction for

cheap thrills. Please show dismay and call people on their disruptive

and disrespectful behavior.

Tree in the Grand Canyon

Napali Coast, kauai, Hawaii

This is one of the most awe inspiring vistas that I have seen.

The second version of King Kong was filmed here.

Heron, Iguana Island, Caribbean

Bryce Canyon, UT

Above is Bryce Canyon. I took this photo in 2002 and when

I returned in 2008, this structure was no longer there. It had

collapsed. A perfect example that nothing lasts, except experiences.

"Lemon Pools" Princeville, Kauai

Seagull, Point Dume beach, Malibu, CA

Cane toad, Central Maui - being fed with rabbit food pellets.

This Cane toad is originally a native of the Americas. It was then

distributed by man for agricultural pest control in numerous regions

of the world. Soon, the toads themselves became pest-like as they

bred rapidly and produced numerous off-springs. They also fed on

local indigenous animals, decimating populations down to risky

numbers. Many pets have been killed by these toads, not from attacks,

but from cats and dogs playing and nibbling at them. They secrete

toxins from their glands that are powerful enough to kill a human.

Please approach these or any animal with care and lots of caution

for your sake and theirs. This is a perfect example of the human

species tinkering with the balance of nature, then completely tipping

the scale towards a destructive result.

Kalalau view, Kauai

Hanauma Bay, Oahu

Above is just a small area of Hanauma bay. This is a wonderful

marine sanctuary. There are plenty of marine wildlife here, but

many tourists do not give them enough space. I can understand

the excitement when seeing animals in the wild, but please pay

close attention to your distance from them. Also, tourists come

here to sun bathe, using many types of tanning lotions and sun

blocks that eventually find their way into the water. No reports

have been submitted or tests conducted, but I am sure it is causing

something that will definitely leave traces of human activity in the

future. Please look into organic and safer alternatives for skin

protection from the sun - for your own well being and the creatures

that inhabit the reefs.