Moonstone Beach
in Photography, Blog
family
Wild and Free
in Photography, Blog
I spent some time over the weekend up on my friends mountain. I usually always see them whenever I'm in California, but I don't always get up to their place. This time, I wanted to make sure that I went up to the mountain!!
These two cousins are best friends!! If you find one you, you will always find the other one close by. I had this photo session in my before coming, and was glad to have the chance to accomplish it.
The boys, along with some other cousins, built this really cool hidden fort. It was made out of mostly dead manzanita trees.
Theron's reaction to this photo: "This. Is. Awesome. He loved it!!
My family and I have known them for over 20 years now, maybe close to 25. We cherish our time together since we don't get out here too often, but always make sure we spend some time hanging out and catching up on life!
Thank you guys for letting me hang out with you over the weekend! Thanks for all the fun together and hope to still see you this week!! Love you guys!
Elfin Forest and beach time.
in Photography, Blog
My Mom and I got to hang out with our dear friend and her family, a couple of times, while in California. The first day we met up, we decided to go to the Elfin Forest in Los Osos, and than over to Morro Bay.
I hadn't been to the Elfin Forest since I was a kid. I would walk through this area when I was kid. The Elfin Forest is pretty cool! It's around 90 acres of beautiful vegetation. Most California Live Oaks grow to be over 50 feet tall, but in the Elfin Forest, they are stunted due to the local environment.
In the Elfin Forest, the oaks can be from 4ft to 20ft tall. We hound a spot to hang out and have a little picnic, underneath some of the stunted oaks.
My Lego building buddy Theron!!
After exploring the Elfin Forest, we ventured over to Morro Bay, near the rock to check out the otters. The little ones also played in the cold ocean water!
Their awesome home! Shot on iPhone 6.
One of the days we were together, we went up to their place, up on a mountain. They seriously have an amazing view, especially at sunset!
View from their home, up on a mountain, in Paso Robles. Shot on iPhone 6.
Thank you so much Kaleen for taking us around, for letting us spend time with you and your family!! I had so much fun and can't wait to hang out again! Love you guys!
Youth of Madagascar
in Photography, Blog
I had this idea for a while now, to write up a blog all about the young adults that I know and love from Madagascar. These young adults are amazing! I have known most of them here since they were very little. It's been amazing to see them grow into such amazing young people. Now you have the chance to get to know them a little bit through this blog!
Sahaza - 18
Sahaza is in her second year of studying English and Law, at the local University.
She loves classic movies (we watched some while I was there). Her English is amazing (it was so much fun to communicate in English with her)! She is an amazing singer! She has a huge love for her family, and helping to take care of her three younger brothers.
Instagram account: @tsanta_sahaza
Languages: Malagasy, French, English
I have known Sahaza since she was around 1 or so. This last trip though, we really connected more and were able to have some amazing, long talks, mostly in English. Talks about life, America, photography, music, movies, etc.
Fitahiana - 16
Fita is a senior in high school.
He is a great artist, drawing sketches (he drew two for me that I love). He enjoys photography. He has an amazing sense of clothing style! He is Sahaza's younger brother.
Instagram account: @tony_yzl
Languages: Malagasy, French
I remember when Fita was just a baby. And as he grew up, he would always follow me around. He loved hanging out with me, and having me play outside with him and his cousins. I enjoyed so much this last time with Fita. We did a lot of photography together. It was great to work with him because he also threw in some great ideas for photos, and his style is really awesome!
Hasina - 17
Hasina just recently finished his senior year of high school.
Languages: Malagasy, French
He loves art, especially photography. The day we met, in Sahaza and Fita's family countryside (Hasina is their cousin), he loved watching me take photos, and had all kinds of questions. I could tell he was eager to learn.
Jenny - 17
Jenny just recently finished her senior year of high school.
She has an amazing love for the Lord. She is leading the children's club that I started back in 2003, which she attended. She has a big heart for little kids. She hopes to study abroad one day. She also enjoys playing the guitar and singing.
Instagram account: @jen_hye_12
Languages: Malagasy, French, English
It really encourages me and makes my heart happy with seeing Jenny leading the kids club. I started it back in 2003, and she and her siblings and cousins would attend it every week. Now she, with the help of others, are leading other kids in their neighborhood. She has such a big heart for others and loves serving.
Miandritiana - 19
He's looking into schools abroad, to further his studies.
He is great musician, singing and playing the guitar. Has an amazing love for his little brother, loving on him and helping to take care of him. He loves football (soccer) and playing it with his brother and cousins.
Instagram: @miandritiana
Languages: Malagasy, French
Ranto - 20
Ranto is in his third year of studying Law at the local University.
He loves music, and enjoys photography. He has an amazing sense of style and a great smile!
I remember when he was little, and he would come over to Jenny and Miandritiana's house (he's their cousin), playing and running around!
Karen - 17
Karen is in her senior year of high school.
Karen's English is amazing! She loves classic movies, and has a great eye for photography. She has an amazing heart and love for her country and the children.
Instagram: @karen_andrianaivo
Languages: Malagasy, French, English
I remember when Karen would attend the children's club I held back in 2003. It's fun to see her grow up and to spend more time with her, talking about the things we love...Madagascar and photography!
Nancy - 17
Nancy is studying her first year of Law at the local University.
She is a great musician! She loves playing the guitar and drums, especially with her brother Princy.
Languages: Malagasy, French
I remember Nancy when she was just a little thing. She always loved playing with her cousins and singing!
Princy - 22
He is in his 6th year of studying Medicine at the local University, to become a doctor.
He is a great musician, playing the guitar and singing! Ever since I knew him at a young age, he always loved learning. He has a big heart for other people.
Instagram: @pricnyadolf
Languages: Malagasy, French
I remember when I first started living in Madagascar. Princy would come to my room and visit me. At the time I didn't know any Malagasy or French. He would come though, and start speaking French to me, talking about all kinds of things. He would be there for a long time, though I didn't really say much, he still loved hanging out.
Kezia - 22
She is working right now as a recruitment officer at a company in Tana, called OMT (OutreMer Telecom).
Languages: Malagasy, French, English
I was able to visit and hang out a couple times with Kezia this last time I was there. She wanted to hang out and practice her English.
Kezia and her brothers would come to the children's club that I had started, when they were younger.
The photo above was taken back in 2005, of Sahaza, Jenny and Fitahiana. I love this photo of them, and their adorable smiles!
I first met these young adults back when they were babies and toddlers back in 1999. I love how we have been able to keep in touch and still have a good relationship. Since I moved back to the states, we have still been in touch often, more now than before. And I'm thankful for the time I was able to spend with all of them during my last trip. And I look forward to the day I get to hang out with them again.
Misaotra betsaka ianaoreo t@ ny fotoana isika! Tena mahafinaritra be ianareo rehetra sady cool be! Tiako be ianaoreo!
Rock Island
in Photography, Blog
Last week when we ventured out to find Rock Island, we didn't think it was going to be a full day with adventure entailed. Even though we were exhausted, it was worth it!
When we got to the park, we weren't really sure where to head first, or where to find the large waterfall, Twin Falls. Our first destination brought us near the view pictured above.
We hiked a couple of miles, though we were hoping to get down to the water, there was no path.
Since we were determined to get to the bigger waterfalls, we drove to another parking area to see what we could find.
The second spot brought us to this amazing view! There was a pathway to get to the water but it was pretty steep and rugged. Some of us weren't sure if we would be able to make it down there, and get back up afterwards.
As we were enjoying the beauty here, we met up with Park Ranger and asked where to get to the Twin Falls.
Getting here to the Twin Falls wasn't that hard to find, thankfully, and was easy to access. We had to walked down and around some large rocks, but it wasn't too far to get the falls.
We didn't stay a long time here at the Twin Falls, as it was already late in the afternoon by the time we found it. But we spent enough time to vast in God's beauty and take some nice photos.
Though it would be fun to go back here again, not sure if that will ever happen, with it being so far away...but you never know!
If you are in the area though, it's worth it to go at least one time!
the last session.
in Photography, Blog
The last couple of days of being in Madagascar I took some more photos for Sahaza and two of her three brothers, Fita and Manovo. They wanted to have as many photos as they could, and I love taking photos and hanging out with them!
I loved the times hanging out with Sahaza and speaking English. The last time I had time with her, she was little. This time, we were able to share similar interests, laugh, joke, talk about future goals and dreams.
Fita is one amazing guy, with lots of awesome style! Fita is also an amazing artist! He has a great talent of sketching and drawing photos, especially portraits of people. I asked him before I left if he could sketch a picture for me. He gave me two, one of a lady and one of Johnny Depp.
Manovo is one bright and funny kid! I remember when I was living in Madagascar full time, playing with Manovo and carrying him around. I can't do that anymore, but it's great to have conversations with this kid. He's got a big heart and is great to be around!
the color green...part 2
in Photography, Blog
The last weekend of February I was able to go to the countryside again with my friends. I loved visiting the area so much back in January, I told them if I get the chance again, I will definitely go again! I love going on countryside adventures!
Manovo and Mihary in the rice fields.
We left in the morning and went straight to church. After church, some of the kids and I walked down to the rice fields to walk around, explore and get some photos.
My friends church in the countryside.
Manovo
Mihary jumping across the fields.
The boys loved jumping back and forth for the rice fields to the large rocks we were standing on. Though Mihary (in above photo), lost his balance and flew into the muddy rice fields a couple of times.
Manovo jumping across the fields.
My friends and all their family.
After lunch time, we all went out walking and exploring the area. We walked up and down hills, through peanut fields, and through rice fields. We had a lot of fun and the beauty around me was amazing.
My friends sweet parents in the countryside.
This (photo above) is my friends family house in the countryside. They also have a store, as you see in the photo above (the window to the right), where they sells snacks and other little things.
Take by Fita's cousin, Hasina.
The teens had fun either taking my iPhone or my camera at times to get photos of each other. This photo above was taken with my camera by Fita's cousin Hasina.
Fita's cousin Hasina.
I might have mentioned this before, but I love the sibling relationship between Sahaza and her brother Fita. To me, they are like best friends, which they probably are. I can see how much they love each other and how close they are.
Sahaza full of smiles!
Manovo chilling in the bus before we left.
Thank you so much Lalaina and family for letting me come along with you guys both weekends. I had so much fun!
One memory that I will never forget, though it wasn't the best...I was bit by some type of small insect, similar to a bee. It was the most painful bite ever, and had to take off my pants for a minute, to make sure the singer wasn't somewhere in my jeans. It eventually was swollen, itchy and theres still a scar on my leg from the bite.
Beach life.
in Photography, Blog
I have been to the beach a couple times now since I’ve been here. Most was just to bring the kids and play in the sand.
The other evening though I went with my friend Douce and the kids to walk along the shore. It was about sunset, the weather was beautiful, the sun was about to set and I loved hearing the waves crash against the sand. This was the first time I took my camera along. Even though my battery died before We got back home, I still was able to get some great shots of the beach. I look forward to getting back soon and get some more shots.
I could go to the beach every day and not get tired of it. Being in Tennessee we don’t get to the beach as often as we would like, so to have it here so close, I try to go as often as I can.
We had a bit of an adventure though at the end of our walk. I wish that my battery hadn’t died, so I could have gotten it on film (next time I need to check my battery life:).
As we were about to head back home, we noticed a couple of guys that had been walking their small herd of zebu, there on the beach. We weren’t super close to them, but one started getting upset, started jumping around and running away from the guy. As we weren’t sure which direction the zebu was headed, we ran the opposite direction, as fast as our feet could take us.
Photo above: Jo, Ariel, Sharone and Douce
Some of us were laughing, some screaming and some were tripping and falling in the sand. We go far enough away from the zebu to be out of harms way, though we kept looking back every few seconds to make they weren’t coming back in our direction.
We laughed about it all once we got home and were thankful that nobody was hurt.
Another day while I was at the beach, and this time there weren’t any zebu’s running wide this time, but I fell into a booby trap. It was literally a booby trap!!! I was walking in the sand and all of a sudden my right leg fell into a large hole in the sand. It was up past my knee. As I had help getting out of the hole, there were some small pieces of wood in the hole and pieces of plastic as well. Those things were covering the hole, so all you could see was the sand. As I pulled my leg out, my sandal had fallen off and we had to dig to find it.
Fun times at the beach here in Tamatave!
homesick.
in Photography, Blog
Have you ever been to a place, a home, a city, anywhere? And once you left, you wish you could be there again? You wish you could just teleport yourself to that specific place? That's how I've been feeling lately. There are times when I miss a specific place, I miss the smells, I miss the views, I miss the people, I miss my friends...and lately, that place has been Madagascar. More specifically, Tamatave, at the place where I was last year for three months, with my friends Victor and Douce, and their three kids.
Douce (far left) and Victor (far right with Jo) at a small market in one of the villages we visited.
I miss waking up in the morning, having breakfast with them, watching the kids get ready for school, and either getting ready myself for a day in a village, or just staying at the base, working on communication stuff for my friends.
A little boy in one of the villages I visited.
I love the days when I would play for hours outside with the kids around the base. I would teach them some games, and they taught me some as well. They would sing, dance, and they loved having their photos taken, and videos. Pretty much after every photo or video I took, they would run up to me, asking to look at themselves. And of course they loved it!
Sina, Petro, Sharone and Ariel jumping
I remember little Jo, he loved playing with my phone and looking at his photos. Whenever I came into the room, he would ask 'Where's Jo' ('Aiza Jo')? I would sit with him on my lap and go through the videos or photos of him and he would love it! It would always bring a smile to my face. And if for some reason I put my phone away, he would continue asking 'Aiza Jo' until I brought out the phone again.
Little Jo, posing for the camera. He's a natural!
When I was on my flight back to the states, after my time in Madagascar, last year, I wasn't sure if I was able to do it again. I wasn't sure if I could make that long flight again. My flight coming home was longer than normal, but I just wasn't sure if I could make it again like that. But you know what, at the beginning of the year, I couldn't help but think, 'when am I going back to Madagascar'. I don't think too much about the flying, yes, I wish I could teleport myself back there in an instance, but things doing work that way. But my love for this country, for the people, is stronger than my thoughts of having a to take a long travel back. I do plan to go back, and I hope soon. Though the travels may be long, those feelings soon dwindle away once I step onto the big red island and let the adventures begin!
Be ready Madagascar, I will be back!
Me and Petro
'Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive' -H. Thurman
Crossing a bridge, going to a village in Tamatave.
growing up.
in Photography, Blog
I can't believe this little guy is already one year!! I remember when I took his photos when he was just one week old, and than at 6 months old, and now one year. He's not only adorable and cute, but so funny and fun to be around. Yes, he will keep you on your toes (just ask my sister, his nanny), but he is seriously the sweetest and happiest little guy.
He is walking all over the place now!
I love this little guys eyes, so beautiful, so blue!
