Hawaii.  In Hilo on the island of Hawaii, I set off with the hostel keeper’s directions for a good place to swim and snorkel. I pulled over to swimming holes reminiscent of my childhood where you walked through the woods…

Costa Rica:  I was off for a 4-mile walk in hope of catching a glimpse of a sloth. The trail was in a wooded area along the beach.  There were Christ Lizards, so called because of their halo-like headpiece. There were…

In the Simien Mountains, the Gelada Baboons roam amidst gorgeous scenery.  It was like looking out over a section of the Grand Canyon.  Closer up, the thick-billed ravens perched amongst abysinth roses; much like a white beach rose but growing on…

Costa Rica:  In the Tortuguero Area, I was in a lovely bungalow on the beach but dizzy from a cold and barely breathing around my incessant cough.  Still, I had heard there would be a guided walk on the beach…

Sabah:  In the Orangutan Sanctuary, I watched the orangutans milling about and eating bananas on the platform erected for the tourists’ easy viewing. We were close up, but it was too much like being at the zoo. So I filed…