Sculpted by Nature

The terrain between Las Vegas and Denver is interesting to look at. It ranges from the deserts to the snow capped mountains. There are hardly any towns.

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Clear Sky Over Sin City

I have never been to Las Vegas, but know several friends that have. Other than for the culinary variety, I don't think Las Vegas is that appealing to me. I am also open to being wrong about that.

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Farms in the Middle of the Desert

This is somewhere between LA and Las Vegas. We flew on top of several farms in the middle of nowhere in the desert. I wonder what kind of crops they grow down there.

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Just Over Hollywood

The Hollywood sign is on the left of the photo. I think it was the closest to Hollywood I've ever been so far. I have consumed lots of their products throughout the years.

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Beverly Hills from Afar

I had to use the landmarks to figure out the area, after the fact. I knew it was LA and that was about it. Thanks to Google Earth, I know It is Beverly Hills.

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LAX, Terminal 8, Gate 85

The first leg of the domestic flight. My first United flight ever. No missed flight, missing luggage, or long delay.

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So Many Things, So Little Time

It was a quick visit to the Gardens by the Bay. It was so cool both visually and technically. Between the garden and the Marina Bay Sands, it was a sensory overload. The 15 minutes or so time we spent there was not enough, but at least I am glad I could spend it there.

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Seeing MBS in Person

I saw many photos of this building and read many articles about it. Finally, I see it in person for the very first time. The lighting was not perfect; the blue hour had come and gone. I definitely need to spend more time in Singapore.

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That One Short Evening in Singapore

On my way back to the US, I made a longer layover in Singapore to meet with a friend. He showed me around Marina Bay area. Singapore has changed a lot since my last true visit in 1993.

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Advanced Yoga Pose

It might look easy, but it was actually hard to do. It needs the dedication to learn and to practice.

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Yoga Instructor

It was my first time making photos for a yoga instructor. I enjoyed the process and learned a bit more about yoga.

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Morning Smoke for Two

We were at the public park early in the morning to make some photos. It was our secondary location. We couldn't access the first one. For some people, the day won't start without a smoke.

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Lunch With the Ladies

It was from another farewell lunch and at a different mall. Thank you, friends.

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The Group Got Bigger

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Thankful for Friendship

These only represent a small group of my friends. I can say that they are friends I have known the longest. I am blessed with friends from around the world. For whoever and where ever you are, I am truly thankful.

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Daily Fashion

I met with a small of group of friends for my farewell lunch. We made some videos and photos for the promotion materials of the 25-year high school reunion next year.

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Wanna and Westana

In the previous week, my friends and I took some test shots for today's maternity photos. She is due in about 3 months. They seemed had a good time.

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Zigzag Web

I found another garden spider. This time it has not only an awesome web, but the web has a zigzag pattern, known as stabilimentum.

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Young Caterpillar

I found out there are actually quite a few caterpillars and spiders in the garden. I haven't gotten any butterfly photos, though. They are around, but it is impossible to approach them.

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I See You With My Six Eyes

I had stalked this spider for awhile before finally satisfied with this photo. It is definitely not easy to make a macro photo of a live subject.

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Caterpillar on a Lime Plant

In order to survive from potential predators, this caterpillar mimics the color scheme of a birds' droppings.

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Patrolling the Nest

This probably a mature jumping spider, based on its size. Behind the fold is the nest. You can see it has six eyes around its head.

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Green Beetle

I was looking around this particular papaya tree for any subjects that I haven't seen before and found a beetle. It was upside down, underneath a leaf.

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Waiting for Some Eggs

I don't think those eggs belong to the tiny insect hiding behind them. My guess it is waiting for the eggs to hatch.

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Long Legged Fly

A long-legged fly on a papaya leaf. It took an extra minute to let the fly settled down and I slowly stalked it.

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Black Jumping Spider

The nail is about 1/8" (about 3 mm) in diameter, for comparison. The spider is tiny and was running away from me.

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Hanging Out and Waiting

This could be a male garden spider since it is significantly smaller. The web is made crossing a walk path, about chest-high. It was probably built overnight.

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Six Legged Garden Spider

It lost its two front left legs somehow but still able to weave this majestic web.

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Farmer Weaver Ants

Besides foraging, some ants do farm for their food. Here are a couple of weaver ants farming some larvae.

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Yellow Garden Spider

It looks menacing, but it was not aggressive at all. There were two other spiders nearby; This one had the best position to photograph.

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Tiny Brown Beetle

It was so tiny I almost walked by without even noticing it. I cannot identify what kind it is though.

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Access to the Nest

I found a weaver ants nest. It wasn't big, but it's low to the ground so I have easier access to it. The colony has probably about a few hundred ants. I am sure it's not the only nest around.

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I Think It's a Spider

I am not sure if this is a spider. I saw it walked up and down on the web the day prior. It doesn't look anything like a spider and its color is the opposite of its surroundings. It was hard not to notice it.

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Fly in Black and White

An experiment with macro and black and white. Back lit the fly with a diffused light.

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Metallic Fly

It looks like the fly wears a metal armor. The most settled fly I have encountered.

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Flesh Fly

The fly was harder to photograph because it was more sensitive than the other flies. It moved around more often and flew away with a hint of sudden movements.

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White Jumping Spider

I was chasing this spider around its nest to get a better angle. I think it finally realized that I wasn't trying to harm it.

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Oh, Hi There!

The baby mantis was curious enough to pose, while I took some pictures.

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Unknown Insect

It might be a nymph or something. Please let me know if you can identify it.

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Leaf Surfer

I have no idea what kind of beetle this is. I am not sure if it's a ladybug.

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Stripy Wings Fly

A different kind of fly that I didn't notice before.

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Mosquito on a Plate

The mosquito, Aedes aegypti, that can carry yellow fever, dengue fever, zika fever, and other diseases. As long there's no active case in the area, they're just like any other mosquitos.

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Tiny Weed, Tiny Flower

This flower of a tiny weed looks like a miniature orchid flower.

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Death Benefits Others

I don't think the ants just trimming the fly's hair here. I didn't see the tiny hairs on the leaf at first until I processed the photo.

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Tiny Pale Moth

The moth looks like a fish stuck on a tree.

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Adolescent Praying Mantis

The tiny mantis was seeking refuge from the rain, upside down, under a guava leaf.

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Rain Washed It Clean

Green and wet; It started raining and I kept shooting.

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Imitating Spiderman

Do you know that scene from Spiderman, the movie? You know, the Spiderman and Mary Jane upside down kiss? This spider tried to make things happen, I think.

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