Author: melmalinowski

  • Maldives November 2018

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    melmalinowski
    in ,

    Nearly 20 years ago, Judy and I visited the Maldives, an ellipse of atolls south of India. We came to see it as one of the top 10 snorkeling destinations we had visited anywhere. Maldives trip report This year I returned with a friend to visit Vilamendhoo Island, our favorite in the Maldives. When we…

  • Grand Canyon rafting May 2018

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    melmalinowski
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    South Kaibab trail, Grand Canyon I stood on the south rim of the Grand Canyon several years ago, and marveled at its size, complexity and beauty. I decided to see it closer by rafting down the whole length of the canyon, 224 miles. The canyon is so popular now that the National Park Service limits…

  • North Island New Zealand March 2018

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    melmalinowski
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    I have neglected the North Island in favor of hiking down on South Island, so now I’m embarking on 3 weeks touring North Island New Zealand by car. Flying in to Auckland from Queenstown I like the Kiwi attitude towards their natural environment. I love this old downtown Auckland park for its gigantic mature trees…

  • New Zealand March 2018

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    melmalinowski
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    I have come to love New Zealand, and keep coming back. I just returned to do some sailplane gliding and hiking. Previous 12 trip reports for New Zealand As always, I began my visit by stopping to see my Kiwi family in Auckland. Here is a snippet of them from back in 2016:   My…

  • Bangkok, Thailand January 2018

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    melmalinowski
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    Judy and I came to love Thailand, and returned many times. During one stay in Bangkok, I began studying Chen Tai Chi with a club in Bangkok. Tai Chi is very good exercise, and also has a meditative component. Now I have come back to Thailand to practice. I’ve settled into a routine of early…