This is a representative sample of the kind of photographs
Find old diners, visit new countries, experience nature, discover used bookstores, take the back roads, walk a labyrinth, look out over a beach at sunrise, see Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, drive across the USA, just sit and do nothing.
Here are some places to explore ...
explore ...
Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes/buildings in Wisconsin and the Chicago area (September, 2009) - I took a quick break from my day-job to pay homage to the genius of FLLW. Visiting so many places I've only seen pictures of since I was a kid: Taliesin, the Madison Unitarian Meeting House, the Johnson Wax Administration Building, Wingspread, Oak Park (home, studio and neighborhood, including a tiny house that is considered a prototype for Fallingwater), Hyde Park and several other communities where his buildings were located. An incredible, thought-provoking journey. Click here to see pictures from this trip.
Drive across the USA (June-July, 2010) - This was an 11,000 mile loop around the country which began as a dream 30-years ago when I hopped on a bus from L.A. to begin a summer job at Yellowstone Park. While there, I worked with other kids from all over the USA and visitors from all over the world. Since then I've lived in 5 countries, visited over 40, and with this trip have now seen 46 of the 50 United States (only Alaska, Alabama, North Dakota and Oklahoma remain on the list).
Copyright 2007-2011 Michael R. Balin. All rights reserved.
White Mountains, New Hampshire (July, 2010) - I went on another "Manly Man" hike along King Ravine with several buddies. But this time didn't feel well prior to the hike, and along the way became very nauseous, then dizzy. So I told the group I'm turning back and strongly encouraged them to keep going. They ended up having an incredible hike up Mt. Adams and repeatedly called to make sure I was OK. In turn, I had the most extraordinary, mediative walk back down the same trail I came up on. This time I felt I was in a completely new world. It ended up being one of the most wonderful experiences I can remember. Click to see pictures.
West Coast of Ireland (August, 2010) - These photos are from a business trip I took to Ireland. The country roads we saw going from Shannon to Galway, along with the world-famous Cliffs of Moher, are some of the most beautiful places I've visited. The people I met there were very kind and funny, which helped make the business part of the trip go by quickly. This was my first opportunity to explore more of Ireland than the snack bars and gift shops at the Dublin Airport terminal, as I've changed planes there several times over the years. Click to see pictures.
