Gigantic Sequoia Tree at Yosemite

This picture was taken in September 2007 at Yosemite National Park. Mom and Dad sure look tiny compared to the tree.

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Norway's Midnight Sun

This picture remains to be one of my favorites. I just  recently finished editing conference proceedings about social justice and the multicultural Asia-Pacific region. While doing so, I encountered this cliche which one of the participants kept saying, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." Of course I had heard it said many times before, but then I had never really thought about its true meaning. 

When I looked at this picture just a few minutes ago, the explanation suddenly dawned on me. Looking at it made me realize that I am not particularly fond of the person in this picture (who happens to be my ex-husband of almost seven years now). There is nothing exciting about the low mountains in the background, nor the shrubbery in the foreground. Yet it only took the light of the setting sun suffusing the clouds around it to make this picture greater than the sum of its parts.

In life, there should be no room for nitpicking. Ugly things can be beautiful if hit by the light of the sun in just the right spot. 

Quick Travel Tip: To see the spectacular midnight sun, visit Norway from mid-May till the end of July. 

For more information about the midnight sun, please click here.

Yosemite National Park

The Half Dome is a granite dome that can be found in Yosemite National Park in California. My family and I visited the park in 2007. It was our first trip there, and I must admit, it was wonderful to be one with nature, amidst the countless tourists that were there. The colossal granite crest rises more than 4,737 ft (1,444 m) above the valley floor.

Quick Travel Tip: If you or someone traveling with you needs special assistance or a car to explore the park, you could get a special permit or pass so you can bring your car to some parts of the park which are off limits to unauthorized vehicles. Ask about the pass at the entrance gate.

Fishing Trip in Norway

Once upon another lifetime, I was married to a man who came from a land where nature's beauty abounds - Norway. It is truly one of God's masterpieces, with its mountains and fjords, clear blue lakes and midnight sun. During this part of my life, I made seven trips to Norway, and I experienced a lot of firsts. These pictures were taken during my first (and only) fishing experience. There are no people in the pictures, for the people don't matter. It's about the experience. I took these pictures with my Nokia N90.

The tiny boat we used.

Coffee: a fishing trip essential. Make sure you buy the kind of coffee you can boil. 

Going back to the basics.

I caught 1 fish.

Gorgeous sunset was my reward.

Sandemarka, Norway

Pictures of beautiful Sandemarka, Norway taken in 2007. 

The Midnight Sun

 

I took this picture during my last trip to Norway. It is, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful countries I've been to.

Beautiful San Gimignano

View from the vineyard where my friend and I had lunch with our tour group in San Gimignano. One of the places I will definitely visit again. Picture taken in May 2012.

Solitude in Sweden

She sits in silence, alone with her thoughts, perhaps struggling to forget the events that led to this moment. 

I took this picture in Rörbäck, Sweden in August 2007. I had been invited to a crawfish party, and the woman in the picture was one of the guests.