Sometimes it takes a friendly ‘nudge’ to get you back on track. Being chosen to participate in HostelBooker’s 7 Super Shots was the motivation I needed to resume posting on my dusty travel blog. 
So, I am very pleased and honored that Anja nominated me to take up HostelBooker’s challenge. After all, just because I’m a ‘grounded’ traveler at the moment, doesn’t mean I can’t relive and share wonderful travel memories!

 
1. A photo that takes my breath away.
At dawn, before the sunrise, my husband, Ashton, and I reached this spot overlooking Machu Picchu. I set up my tripod and camera and started shooting away changing the exposure as the light changed. We were at this spot for a couple of hours. Although I have dozens of images focusing right on Machu Picchu, this is the only photo I have of this remarkable view which includes the surrounding mountains right at sunrise. 
It was a unique and magical moment–one that you cherish for a lifetime.
 
2. A photo that makes me laugh or smile.
Several monkeys guided my husband, Ashton, and I through the “Indiana Jones” like environment at the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
A few monkeys stuck around to play with us. I was fortunate to 
capture this cute moment where Ashton is getting ‘groomed’!
 
 
3. A photo that makes me dream.
This was taken in Moorea, French Polynesia, just a short ferry ride away 
from the main island of Tahiti. I’m a sucker for tropical landscapes.
 I dream of returning there someday…soon.
 
4. A photo that makes me think.
Every time I look at this photo, I wonder if these folks are still alive. When I was working as a flight attendant on a private jet, we flew over to Thailand several times. The pilots and I were on ‘standby’ in Phuket for a few days in 2003–hard duty, I know–when I took this photo.  My work was very physical, contributing to an assortment of aches and pains. I always looked forward to flying to Southeast Asia, where I knew I could get wonderful massages. But, on December 26, 2004 the Tsunami wiped out this hotel along with many others. These folks were always in this spot, first thing in the morning, ready for clients. 
There was a good chance that they were there on that day. 

 

 
5. A photo that makes my mouth water.
My old job, as a private flight attendant, took me to some amazing places. One of those places was Bagan, Burma/Myanmar. This photo was taken at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the Ayeyarwaddy River. Our government ‘minder’ was actually a very nice lady who showed us around and ordered this fabulous meal! 

 

 
6. A photo that tells a story.
While walking around with my camera in Aguas Calientes, Peru, just below Machu Picchu, I noticed these girls and quickly shot a couple of photos. I was fortunate to capture this special moment where the  two girls are so completely 
focused on braiding their friend’s hair.

 

7. A photo that I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot).
These are Red and Green Macaws in the Peruvian Amazon at the Manu Wildlife Center area. It took several flights, canoe rides, hiking in the rain, and a lot of patience waiting on a viewing platform, to get this photo. This is why I deem it my “worthy of National Geographic shot”! For more on this adventure please see one of my older posts,
“A Morning at the Macaw Clay Lick.”
So now I guess it’s my turn to nominate 5 bloggers to participate in HostelBooker’s 7 Super Shots, which is not an easy task. I nominate the following travel bloggers:
 
Christina Saull: @MiddleSeatView
Iain Mallory: @MalloryOnTravel
Kymri: @Kymri (Mira Terra Images)
Alexandra Hunter: @alexandraeh (Travel Noodle)
Vitra Sin: @VitraSin (La Dolce Vitra)