Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads...

When I got to the Maldives, I couldn't help but think of the Back to the Future quote: "Where we're going, we don't need roads." From the moment my plane landed on the tiny island next to Male, I did not see a car. In place of standard taxi cabs, boats are waiting to transport you to your final destination (recommend learning how to swim before traveling here).

Life in the Maldives revolves around the ocean. Not only does it act as their super highways... but it also provides them with sustenance and is their primary source of income (tourism, fishing, etc..). What's ironic is that the same thing they cannot live without, may someday destroy their way of life. When talking with the locals, there was a consistent concern about global warming and the rising oceans. I hope that such a beautiful place like the Maldives never goes away... but I am glad I was able to visit the islands while they are still afloat.

Vive la République!

One of the best ways to get a quick tour of Paris... and to see all the beautiful bridges, is on the back of a Batobus. The Batobus takes you to the heart of Paris, with stops at all of the main tourist sites (including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre). With 8 stops on the route, you see a different view of Paris and lets you travel around the city the way Parisians originally did. This shot was taking right after we passed the Pont Alexandre III bridge. The French flag was blowing in the warm summer breeze. 

"To Err is Human... To Loaf is Parisian"

Sometimes the best thing to do on a summer afternoon is nothing... these are a few photos I took while "loafing" around in Paris.

Footprints In the Sand...

There is an ancient Greek saying that "the sea can wash away all evils"... and a wide range of cultures have sacralized the sea, trusting in its power to wash away what is dangerous, dirty, and morally contaminating. The sea makes life on land possible by keeping it "pure." In this particular photo, footprints are in the process of slowly washing away with the incoming tide. Shortly after, all traces that a couple walked by will have vanished from sight... only the memory remains. 

Life and Death

An interesting quote I've heard many times is "Graveyards are full of indispensable men/women". It's something that makes me stop and think... especially when someone tells me that it's impossible to do something without a particular person. Yes, it might be more difficult, but it's never impossible. People always find a way.

This shot was taken from inside the Granary Burial Ground in Boston, MA... looking out at an old chapel. Ben Franklin's monument is covered in shadows to the left.