It is found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Among others, it is found in southern regions of the Pantanal. It has also been introduced to Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In Brazil, it has been introduced to various places outside its historical range, as in the Tietê Ecological Park in São Paulo, alongside with its close relative, the Red-cowled Cardinal[1].

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and heavily degraded former forest.

(from Wikipedia)

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Let us start with taro fields in the Hanalei Valley. Taro is a Hawaiian potato, it is considered the oldest garnish in history. It is made into a paste called poi, and is served with a variety of sauces to spice it up.

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Wailua waterfall. Wailua river, means "Two rivers", starts near the waterfall of the same name. Ancient times, Ali’i, local chiefs, were jumping from the rock between the streams, to prove their manlishness.

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Aloha from the Po’ipu beach, one of the best beaches on the south shore. When it is raining on the north shore, you can safely drive south and enjoy the sun, golden sand and a little bay, sheltered from the ocean by the coral reef.

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When you are finally tired of the beaches, coctails and other trappings of civilization, take the ancient Kalalau trail, at least a couple of mails. The trail is quite steep in the beginning, then goes down and up again, crest by crest, valley by valley. Small waterfalls cross the trail. The impassible jungles open up to magnificient heart-stopping views…

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There are only two ways to make it to Na Pali coast - by the boat or by helicopter. Real adventurers can try to take the trails following the mountain crests, which are quite dangerous… The place is incredible - solitary beaches, surrounded by impassible cliffs, which look more like vertical jungles. Waterfalls and streams are everywhere…

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Kalalau Valley view from Canyon Waimea Park, Kauai. Long and hard 11 miles of the Kalalau trail guard the pristine beauty of this place. This could not stop the filmmakers though. "King Kong" was shot here, as well as "Jurassic Park", "6 days and 7 nights".

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Na Pali Coast, a view from Polihale Beach. This is the last beach on the road around the island, the westernmost point of it. The road ends here and there are uninhabited Na Pali cliffs from here on. The place is wild and empty, with endless sand dunes and huge waves slamming the beach…

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Wai’ale’ale Crater - the wettest place on Earth, surrounded by myths and the ancient gods are still around in those hills and have a lot of followers…

Us, living on the continent, almost forgot our ancestors completely. Here, on Kauai, it is not the case, the stories are still spoken, the elders keep teaching, and young generation - listen and learn. The ring is not yet broken…This is Kauai, the special island…

Red-Tailed Tropicbird, Kauai

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 October, 2008

Quite recently, after a yet another Space Shuttle launch, we were thinking about it was something out of a science fiction novel and were eager to get closer and watch it with our own eyes.

It turned out to be pretty simple, you just drive up to the booth and the tired-looking security guy will check you out with his piercing stare and let you in to your dream…

In fact, you will need more than one day, since the Florida weather may change the launch plans any minute, especially at the hurricane season.

That is why we booked our hotel for two days and hoped that would be enough to cover for the contingencies. It turned out it was not enough - on the first day there was some sun peeking through the clouds, but Flight Control canceled anyway. On the second day the low clouds and a light drizzle dashed all our hopes. The launch was delayed for two more days and first time in the US history happened on the Independence Day.

On the first day, slightly disappointed but still in high spirits, we did some recon. First - found a good patch of green with a good view and a good spot to land our tripod on. Then, we left to have a look around - Kennedy Space Center, after all, is also a great tourist attraction.

 First on our tour was Space Shuttle Explorer, full size vehicle used for testing but never flown. It was great to walk around the cabin, peek into the giant cargo hold, which is, basically, the most part of the shuttle. At the launch day there is a crowd of tourist swarming it, but it was fun anyway…

Далее мы отправись на автобусную экскурсию. В дни запуска на стартовые площадки не пускают, но нас подвезли в центр Апполон-Сатурн, где находится экпозиция, посвященная лунной программе Апполон. Можно побродить по залу управления полетами, перенесенному из Хьюстона, Техас, «побывать» на первом запуске Сатурна, унесшем космонавтов на Луну.

Next, there was a bus tour. The launch pad was off-limits due to upcoming launch, so they took us to Apollo-Saturn hangar containing, as the name implies, the lunar program museum. One can walk around the Flight Control room, moved from the Houston, Texas, and "watch" the first Saturn launch.

We actually walked under the Saturn-V rocket, it took some time - it is about 350 feet long, and took the famous picture under the giant engines. There are guest seats outside the museum, with a great view of the launch pad. It is usually closed to the public on the launch day, but the launch was canceled and we got there and took a few pictures.

After the tour, after the long box office line, we made it to the giant IMAX theater, running "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D". The impression is - like you actually walking on the Moon. We liked it so much, we went to watch the next feature - "Space Station 3D" - right away.

We wrapped up our day with a walk in the Rocket Garden, the ultimate collection of all the US space program rockets, from the Redstone, which took Alan Shepard to space, to Titan, the Germini main vehicle. We got into the Apollo lunar module - it is very tight, it is hard to imagine how they managed to actually fit into such a space…

The second rainy day was spent in the nice little town of Cocoa beach next to the Cape. We had a walk on the beach, took part in the fishing contest in the local restaurant, as a customers, since the contest catch was served right away.

After the two unremarkable working days we are on the road again and driving down the crowded freeway - it is Fourth of July… The ticket booth and that patch of the green again. And then again the anticipation, the rumors of a possible delay due to the technical glitch…

And, the final 30-min countdown. Last time the countdown was canceled on the 9th minute. Now the 9th minute passed - then 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - and, start - the earth is shaking, the roaring sound of the engines, and here it is - Discovery goes up over the trees,

 … goes up and up on the pillar of fire

 … now it is a ball of fire,

 … and now it is a little spark

And it disappears, leaving behind the hanging smoke trail, marking the moment we left Earth…

July, 2006

Spanish traders and settlers stain around 1700s, gradually pushing native people out. Quite a lot happened since - US-Mexican war, landowners fighting for the land, until the last owners - Sepulveda family - started selling the property lots for new development.

Red roofs, white stucco walls, green hills, blue sky and the mighty ocean with white sails below… Palos Verdes Peninsula. It is almost impossible to focus on driving there, you are always distracted by the view… 

So, we pull over, get out of the car and inhale the view of Portuguese Point and Inspiration Point, Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Is it so nice to live there, under those red roofs, next to the cliff,  just a few minutes from the ocean? Light breeze blows in, cooling you down in the summer, cold and dump and fog in the winter, it is hard to believe when you look at this sun-flooded view…

A view from the  Rocky Point, you can see the beach town of, well, Redondo Beach on the horizon. A couple years age you could see the Black Pearl and the film crew shooting Pirates of the Caribbean…

See oats, white tails and sun…

Someone’s black dog, on the edge of  the sky… Rocky Point

 Ocean Trails  - the luxury golf club built by Donald Trump - the pinnacle of landscape design with its 18th hole, destroyed by the Pacific ocean and needed a complete reconstruction. The golf lovers are proudly playing on the most expensive field, the rest of the people are just walking around, enjoing the great views, warm California sun, and  occassional dolphins or even whales playing in the water…

…but, all we got were white sails and container ships shadows headed for San Pedro port. 

The beach - some sand, gentle waves, sunny day - you really want to dive in, but the water is not exactly warm here, and you stay out of it, just sitting down and enjoying the view…

It is hard to believe now, but the first Spanish explorers called this place palos verdes - green sticks - because these hills were covered with quite a forest. Sic transit gloria mundi…

Next to flamingoes - the white peacock, quite a camera-weary creature, folding its great tail the moment you take your Canon out.

We got to gorillas right before the sunset. This guy was behind the glass with his back turned to us, and ignored all our efforts to get his attention, like tapping on the glass. At sunset, this creature checks his watch (well, he got no watch, but the gesture was quite authentic), and went inside. He looked back on his way out…

Hyenas are also spending most of their time in the shadow, and all you can see during the day are the little heaps of fur. They will start moving around after the sunset.

Piton roller-coaster - one of the oldest in the park, was closed in October 2006 and dismantlen afterwards. One of the last runs…

SheiKra - the newest coaster, the vertical drop here is about 180 feet (60 meters). The name comes from Shikra, the african falcon, known for dropping onto his prey from high up in the sky.

Finally, a few shots from the Serengeti safari, wher you come really close to the beasts… 

… and see the long giraffe’s tongue right in front of your eyes.

Since then the constant steam of travelers from the entire world lining up to see this splendid place and photographers are the majority of them… Until today the Yosemite park - one of the most heavily photographed places in the world. Between more than four million visitors per year it is hard to find at least one clutching the camera, everyone feels like being next Ansel Adams…

Moonrise over El Capitan with the last beam of the setting sun, taken from Tunnel View. Bridalveil Fall is on the right.

Almost frozen Bridalveil Fall, from the Tunnel View. Small fog cloudlet rises up from the Valley and disappears in a whiff of wind.

Rainbow over the Lower Yosemite Waterfall. It is almost impossible to avoid seeing a rainbow in the Valley, it shows over at least one of the waterfalls, given the right time. Some people are lucky to catch the hard to imagine moon rainbow.

Half Dome from the Mirror Lake.

Finally, we know where floats are coming from - they grow on trees…

Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall are reflecting in the still water of Merced river.

It is almost impossible to meet a bear face-to-face these days (they are more attracted by food left in unattended cars), but deer are everywhere. They are peacefully grazing on the roadside, sometimes jumping across. They usually turn their heads when people approach them, but do not react at all if you have a camera, no amount of effort to attract their attention would help you…

Half Dome view from Sentinel Bridge. You can make it to the top of Half Dome and feel like you rule the world.

Upper Yosemite Fall and Merced River from Swinging Bridge. The bridge is actually swinging when you walk over it - with an added thrill of frozen walkway and gusting winds adds to the excitement.

All photos from Albuquerque & Santa Fe, New Mexico

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