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I’m participating in the online adventure travel and photography magazine LetsBeWild.com’s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge for bloggers. This week’s challenge is: Beach! – my entries for other weeks can be found here.

To be fair, who doesn’t want to go to the beach in the summer?  (Even friends in the Southern Hemisphere are probably missing summer right about now.)

As people from all over the world get ready to visit Hawai’i's beaches this summer, I remind myself how grateful I am to live so close to the beach.  Which beach I choose to visit depends on what I plan to do when I arrive, the tide/currents, and if I plan to stay on the sand or get in the water.  Some places are peaceful and good for curling up with a book beneath a swaying palm tree.  Others have interesting shells, broken off pieces of coral, and seaweed strewed across the beach.  O’ahu doesn’t have any black sand beaches, but the beautiful sand that we do have varies in color and texture on different beaches.  The kinds of waves range from the famous gigantic waves surfers love to ride on North Shore, to softly lapping water ideal for snorkeling.

What do you like to do at the beach?

Previous photo – click to read more

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I like (to be updated over the course of the challenge):

• nosteptooloose shares a diverse landscape of beaches in Portugal.
• ronmayhewphotography shows us very serene and colorful beaches in the Bahamas.
• theretiringsort shows beaches from around the world, including some cute bird footprints from nearby Waikiki Beach.
• ceephotography shares multiple gorgeous photos of the Oregon coastline.

Meditation by a waterfall is not only a peaceful and picturesque way to meditate, but the sound of the water itself is one traditional way to enter Samādhi.  It is a powerful way to still the mind.  The most renown figure to enter Samādhi through this method, and therein gain the ability to “hear the cries of the world,” is Guanyin (观音).  The Śūraṅgama Sūtra describes how she disassociates herself from the sense of hearing, and thus gains mastery over it.

“I began with a practice based on the enlightenment nature of hearing.  First I redirected my hearing inward in order to enter the current of the sages.  Then external sounds disappeared.  With the direction of my hearing reversed and with sounds stilled, both sounds and silence cease to arise . . . . Coming into being and ceasing to be themselves ceased to be.  Then the ultimate stillness was revealed . . . . All of a sudden I transcended the worlds of ordinary beings, and I also transcended the worlds of beings who have transcended the ordinary worlds.  Everything in the ten directions was fully illuminated, and . . . . I was then able to go to all lands and appear in thirty-two forms that respond to what beings require.”

~ Guanyin, The Śūraṅgama Sūtra: A New Translation by the Buddhist Text Translation Society, pages 234-235

Many other Buddhists have followed this example throughout the centuries, particularly within Chan Buddhism / Zen Buddhism (禅).  This video clip shows one example at Dharma Drum Mountain (法鼓山), a monastery in Taiwan, and their connection to the nearby streams.  Look for a mention of Guanyin / Avalokiteśvara around 13 minutes in:

Do you meditate?  What kinds of meditation practices do you like to do?

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iPhone 5 cases and more

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Taking photos while riding an elephant through the jungles of Thailand can be an interesting challenge – and just the type of situation that can create unique photographs with good timing.  Motion blur can be a beautiful element in photography.  Since the elephant trainers keep the pace of the elephants, they are relatively in-focus compared to the foliage in the background.  The key comes down to getting a feel for the rhythm of the elephant’s stride.  Each part of the stride will have varying speeds, moving quite fast at some points, and slowing to nearly a stop at others.  By experimenting with different timings and/or shutter speeds, can create unique effects .  For more variation, or if your subject is moving at a different pace than you are, try leaning your body while snapping the picture.  Similar techniques can create motion blur in other situations with rhythmic motion, such as while on a boat, or while riding horses and other animals.

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travel bags and more

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• creativityaroused captures a series of photos of a robin taking a bath.
• mywordwall shares some photos of Canadian Geese, and a tender moment between her two sons.
• heathertyson shares a little moth landing on a flower, and long exposures of the lights of passing cars.
• sillarit catches a large school of fish in perfect formation.
• travelsandtrifles takes us on safari to Botswana to see the beauty of wild Impala.
• christinapictures takes us to the Scanian countryside to see some domestic geese.
• dewetswild shows us a trotting African Wild Dog in Kruger National Park.
• kgphotostudios comes nose-to-nose with some bottlenose dolphins.

Climbing the Great Wall is high on the wish list for many visitors to China, but not everyone realizes just how much of a climb it really is.  China loves its stairs, and the Great Wall is no exception.  However, these stairs are notoriously uneven, with small steps dispersed amongst giant steps, and plenty of steps that are sagging in places from the wear of millions of feet.

The surface of the wall isn’t the same rock that was there over two thousand years ago – it has been rebuilt multiple times, most famously during the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century, right on top of the crumbling ruins of the older sections of the wall.  While scaling the wall today, it is hard to imagine how difficult it would have been for ancient Chinese troops to patrol up and down the mountain.

The climb, although not for the faint of heart, is very rewarding (and for more than the “I Climbed the Great Wall” t-shirts sold halfway up the mountain).  The views are spectacular, as is the sense of accomplishment. Visitors aiming to reach “the top” are often surprised to discover that upon reaching what they thought was the highest point, that the wall really continues up and up beyond what they had previously been able to see.  But all the little old ladies zooming past the young “in shape” tourists probably aren’t laughing at them (too much).

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messenger bags and more

Available at my Bamboo Scroll Zazzle store.

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• patriciaddrury has a beautiful purple-hued photo looking up at a palm tree against some dramatic clouds.
• mikehardisty looks straight up a tree while still capturing the detail of the bark’s texture.
• suellewellyn2011 gets up close and personal with a dragonfly and a chicken.
• evilnymphstuff shares some up-lifting words while gazing past the blades of tall grass to the sun overhead.
• dewetswild catches some glimpses of the nocturnal galago.

Inside the Grand Palace of Bangkok, Thailand, the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country gleams in the mid-morning sunlight.  On the left is the library Phra Mondop, and behind it is the Royal Pantheon Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn.  One of the Twelve Small Open Pavilions is on the right.

When possible, I like taking photos with both interesting clouds foregrounds, ideally with a sense of connection between the two.  During post-production, I remember how it felt to be at that place when I took the photo, and imbibe that energy into the final photo.  The awe of discovery.  The profoundness of the spiritual.  The hot sun on my skin on a breeze-less day.  The smell of the nearby river and market.  The stunningly beautiful and grandiose palace grounds.  The intense reverence of the Thai people (and many foreigners) for this special place.  My increased respect for the generations of Thai royals, as I learned more about them in the museum exhibits.  I felt very uplifted that day, in multiple ways.

These memories remain fresh, even for a photo taken 6 years ago.  I guess you could say that my memory hasn’t gotten cloudy ;D

Do your photos also bring back such strong memories?

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Here are a few of my other favorite cloud photos from previous entries – click to see a larger view and read more:

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messenger bags and more

Available at my Inner Bodhisattva Zazzle store.

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• janeluriephotography shows sunsets and back-lit clouds over the forests and canyons of Utah.
• salmonfishingqueen was the only person this week to catch a rainbow with her clouds.
• abstractlucidity focused on the sunbeams coming out of the clouds,
• creativityaroused shows stormy but striking clouds that give off the feeling that something is about to happen.
• memoriesaremadeofthisblog shares both beautiful ocean sunrises and a stunning ocean sunset.
• graciebinoya shows a beautiful Cape Cod sunset.
• panduadnyana captures the power of the waves under stormy skies, and the majesty of an ocean sunset in Bali.

At dusk along the northern shore of West Lake in Hangzhou China there is a beautiful water show lit up by an array of colored lights.  Right at the waterline there are dozens of little fountain heads that shoot the water high into the air – sometimes 50 feet or more.  The fountains of water change angles as well in a coordinated fashion, making the mist seem to dance across the lake.

Hangzhou is one of my favorite cities in China.  It’s a city that has modernized quite eloquently without loosing its charm or cultural heritage, and while still upholding the beautiful natural landscape that surrounds the city.  Even when venturing into the main parts of the city, Hangzhou never quite feels like the large metropolis of over 8 million people that it is – which is part of why I like it.  After spending the day peacefully meandering around West Lake, or exploring temples, tea fields, and museums, the light show is a nice finale.  I easily become memorized by pretty lights.

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pillows and more

Available at my Bamboo Scroll Zazzle store.

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• mylifeafterglow has a beautiful collage of photos with bright warm colors that look like they came from all over the world.
• suellewellyn2011 reminds of how much color and texture are found in rust.
• dewetswild shows us the very vividly colored face of a Bateleur eagle.
• evilnymphstuff shares her watercolors and rainbow-colored objects.
• humanrightswarrior takes us on a journey through the bright colors of Cameroon.
• ceephotography shares the beauty of the Pacific Ocean at different times.
• iamontherun experiences the important Ogoh-ogoh festival in Bali.

Moms are always multitasking, and Mama Cat’s Little Helper wants to “help” with bath time.  Are the playful little kitten’s antics ever overlooked by Mom?  Absolutely not – moms always have eyes in the back of their heads.  She patiently lets the kitten play with her tail, all the while making plans to pounce on the little kitten and give her a bath too in due time.  Multiple kittens have a way of keeping anyone’s paws full, yet moms somehow rise to the challenge with amazing grace.

Stray cats are some of the most overlooked members of our society.  But a cat lover like me can’t help but notice such cute little kittens.  These cats from a small town in central China seemed pretty healthy, so maybe some of the locals were feeding them.  Canned cat food isn’t as common in China, but I’ve seen many Chinese people donate part of their lunch to hungry kitties.

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magnets and more

Available at my Glimmering Glade Zazzle store.

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• lagottocattleya shares a gorgeous photo of the morning dew, eloquently paralleled by the bokeh in the background.
• salmonfishingqueen has a nice close up photo of a bee collecting pollen from broccoli.
• the-serenity-space catches sight of a few animals out basking in the sun at the park.
• pommepal reminds us of some of the many beautiful textures and colors in nature that are often overlooked.
• journeyingwithjoy shares macro photos from a slew of angles of some beautiful iris flowers.
• sianakdesa shares a close-up of an adorable newly-hatched baby sea turtle heading for the ocean, in a beautifully lit scene that inspires hope.
• antonzeuthen takes us on a journey of the details on the seacoast of Panama, and you can practically smell the salty air as you gaze at the seaweed and tiny shells.

Located on a small island not far from Hiroshima, Miyajima seems worlds away from the modern concrete and steel grid of Hiroshima.  One can spend hours leisurely winding through the peaceful streets surrounded by traditional style buildings and historical sites.  Two such places can be seen on the horizon from this scenic overlook – Gojunoto Pagoda and Senjokaku Shrine.

Although it was overcast and rainy for part of the day that I was there, the sun did come out a little and bask the village in its warmth.  The aptly nicknamed “shrine island” has a very cozy feel to it, aided by the rolling hills next to the beautiful sea, the traditional architecture, multiple shrines and temples within easy walking distance, and even plentiful tame and friendly deer roaming the streets.

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jigsaw puzzles and more

Available at my NEW Bamboo Scroll Zazzle store.

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• travelsandtrifles shows multiple spectacular photos including morning mists in Cambodia, rainbows on a beach in Canada, and a sunrise in North Carolina.
• max510 shares a black and white photo of a bird heading in for a landing on some sea cliffs.
• lagottocattleya shows detail in the chunks of ice washing up on the beach in the foreground, and a harbor off in the distance.
• the-serenity-space shows some unusually shaped distant hills on a drive through Queensland.
• dewetswild shows a cute pair of hadeda by a river in South Africa.
• milkapejovic zooms up for a closer look at some birds and a dragonfly.

Click on photo for a larger view!

On a peaceful day in Wuhan, China, the still waters of a pond perfectly reflect the many arches of a bridge.  In the shallow parts of the pond there are so many lotus plants growing that the lotus leaves completely cover the water.  A few pink lotus blossoms rise up proud and strong, transcending the pond and the canopy of leaves, but not the scene itself.  The same still waters that allow for such a nice reflection are also what allows the thin stem of the lotus to grow straight up, unhindered by currents.

Are the conditions for inner reflections the same as that which we need to fully bloom?

Here are a few of my other favorite reflection photos from previous entries – click to see a larger view and read more:

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jigsaw puzzles and more

Available at my Inner Bodhisattva Zazzle store.

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• vackrare shows a stunning photo from Norway where city hall is very clearly reflected in a puddle.
• dewetswild offers a spin on a “bird’s eye view” by showing the world reflected in a bird’s eye!
• abstractlucidity captures old vs new in a new way when she captures some of Boston’s buildings with traditional in the reflections of the windows of modern skyscrapers.
• maireadkahn shares a union of reflection and an intertwining black and white pattern in this simple but powerful photo of a chair.
• janeluriephotography catches the first rays of sun on a new day in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
• elleturner4 shares a swan pondering its own reflection!
• happyandsimple takes us from a Yellowstone sunset to distorted reflections of buildings in the urban jungle.
• the-serenity-space shares a quiet day at a lagoon full of wildlife.
• pommepal reflects on India and New Zealand.
• salmonfishingqueen captures the beauty of not only the reflections, but the place that creates and frames the reflection.

Two female mallards are checking out a passing male mallard.  One of the females is preening her feathers, as if hoping the male will notice her.  Even the water seems to reflect their mood, with the red reflections of all the koi in the lake.

Whenever I think of spring, two of the things I always think about are birds and new beginnings. These ducks seem like they are at the start of something, and there may be cute little ducklings in their future.  Spring may not be as distinct here in Hawai’i as it is in temperate regions, but there is still the feeling of something special in the air, and all the twitterpated birds add to that effect.

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stickers and more

Available at my Glimmering Glade Zazzle store.

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A few shout-outs to some other entries that I liked:

• dewetswild shares a cute swallow from South Africa.
• salmonfishingqueen shares photos of close-ups of blossoms from different trees in her orchard (with a variety to be envied!)
• the-serenity-space captures close-ups of flowers, birds, and insects.
• humantriumphant takes us from an empty nest, to a “not-so-empty nest”
• antonzeuthen shares a stunning reflection photo of a small piece of spring amongst the icy winter of Denmark.
• milkapejovic shows a San Diego springtime walk through wild flowers.
• abstractlucidity shares more of the birds, flowers, and rainbows here on O’ahu.