Maldives - Beautiful Sunrises

When I went to sleep each night in the Maldives, I purposely left the curtains undone. The villa I stayed in had a great view of the surf spot (Kandooma Right)... but it had an even more beautiful view of the morning sunrise. The light naturally woke me up each morning and the excitement of the great waves encouraged me to get out of bed. These are a few photos I took of those sunrises.

Maldives - Beautiful Sunset II

Around 6PM each evening, guests at the Holiday Inn Resort on Kandooma Island would gather on the roof deck to reflect on the day, drink cocktails, and watch the sky light up. For surfers, it was a time to rest/recover and talk about all the amazing waves they rode. For couples, it was a time to be together and enjoy the last few hours of the day. Regardless of who you were or what you were doing, the free show that Mother Nature put on each night was worth the daily resort fees.

Maldives - Beautiful Sunset I

I took these photos as I was walking to dinner (we had an incredible seafood feast this night)... and I decided to take the scenic route around the island as the sun had just started to go down. It's amazing how much the color of the sky changes over the course of an hour. Miss being able to watch this each evening!

Waking Up in Santa Barbara

This photo kind of summarizes why I enjoy waking up at the crack of dawn to immerse myself in the cold ocean... introducing the Santa Barbara coastline. 

Sunset at Butterfly Beach - Part 4 "La Fin"

Sunset at Butterfly Beach - Part 3 "Seeing Red"

Sunset at Butterfly Beach - Part 2 "The Orange Phase"

Sunset at Butterfly Beach - Part 1 "The Beginning"

La Fin

A sunset to mark the end of lovely long weekend in Santa Barbara. 

One Last Wave

A surfer exits the water after catching one final wave before night settles in. 

Color, Reflections, & Light

Sometimes, those 3 little elements (color, reflections, & light) can come together in just right way. This photo was taken right as the sun had dipped below the horizon. The tide was very low and there was a bit of swell in the water. As shadows slowly crept in, there was a faint glow on the surface of the wet sand. 

A Stroll on the Beach in SB

One More Wave

A lone paddle boarder heads out for one more wave before the sun goes down. I loved the colors of the sky and ocean this evening.

Local Flavor in Cabarete

Beachfront property in Cabarete!

One evening I decided to get dinner in the little beach town of Cabarete (on the Northern Coast of the Dominican). It was a cool little place with nice boutiques, good food, and fun beachfront bars. Before dinner, I took a little walk around the town and tried to capture some of the "local flavor".

The local transportation.

Nice colors/texture.

There's light at the end of the tunnel (and a nice beach as well)

Looking down the row of beach restaurants and bars.

The street scene

Temples at the Shaolin Monastery

The temples at the Shaolin Monastery are very beautiful... bright/vibrant colors, intricate carving details, and textures aged to perfection. Each building has its own unique features, but is in unison with its surroundings. These are a few photos I took while walking around.

Selective Focus

Getting a close up of some of the textures that have been created over the last century. In the top photo, a woman peaks through a narrow passage way.

Early Evening in LKF

If I would have taken this photo about 3 hours later, the streets would have been filled with drunken Americans, Aussies, Brits, some local Hong Kong people, and a few other random tourists. This is a popular party destination for westerners that are visiting or living in Hong Kong... and is known as Lan Kwai Fong. I wasn't up for a late night out on the day that I took these photos (early flight the next morning and had already been on a long trip). However, it's also not a good idea to haul around your camera if you're planning to partake in the festivities (easy to get lost).

Lan Kwai Fong is a "bar street" on Hong Kong Island (next to the Central MTR station). The bars close when the people leave (no set closing time) and you can take your beer wherever you want (no open container laws). Therefore, it's easy to hop from one bar to the next... or you can just hang out in the street. Lan Kwai Fong street is actually on a bit of a hill... so as the night progresses, you will see more and more beer bottles rolling down the street.

The Flower Hat Canopy

Just outside the giant Times Square building in Hong Kong was a hat display. Upon first glance, it looked like you were walking under a canopy of flowers... however, upon closer inspection, I realized that it was all hats.

mmmmmm.... Exotic Food Carts!

mmmmmm.... exotic food carts! (at a popular square in Morocco)

Morocco - "The Sun"

The sun rising over the mountains.

Since I've been living on the east coast for a number of years, I've kind of forgot how nice it is to watch the sunset over the ocean. These are a few images I took from my beachside apartment in Taghazout.

Again, I need to thank Surf Maroc for providing me with such amazing accommodations! (the apartment was 3 times bigger than my current place in Boston) Nothing is better than being able to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of the ocean.

Last light of the evening.