Survivor Beach from TV series

Black Biting Flies prevented the people from sleeping on the beach.  They slept on the boat according to our guide. 

Hiva Oa, Marquesas

Sacred site on the hill.

Gauguin Cultural Center in Atuona is a main attraction.  Gauguin attempted suicide while on this paradise.

Present population 1,986.

Polynesian Genetics in Fatu Hiva

Fatu Hiva is a very remote island in the Marquesas.  There are no fast food restaurants here.
"The population of the Marquesas Islands was 8,632 at the August 2007 census.  It is part of French Polynesia.  The 2007 population of Fatu Hiva was 587." wikipedia.
There are a very few cars.  People walk.  There is a lot of coconut.  

Fakarava, French Polynesia

Fakarava

Location of Fakarava Atoll in the Pacific

Fakarava, Havaiki-te-araro, Havai'i or Farea is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It is the second largest of the Tuamotu atolls. The nearest land is Toau Atoll, which lies 14 km to the northwest.  Fakarava has 701 inhabitants; the main village is called Rotoava. /wikipedia

A Thing of Beauty

Pink's Hot Dogs.    On a low carbohydrate diet, I can eat this without the buns and onion rings.  Ecstasy,  the vegans similar to Catholic priests and sex have vowed to give up.

Palm Springs, CA

This valley has several little towns.   The weather was perfect and the Happy Hours are the best.
This is the Westin Mission Hills Resort.

Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, MN

Large lake sturgeon being feed by volunteer diver.  

Tracy Arm, Alaska

Our cruise was diverted to Tracy Arm because a hurricane had blown in to the north. 

Seattle, Washington

The weather in Seattle was perfect.  Cool and dry, warming up during the day.

Hurricane Irene heading toward Florida

Hurricane hit shore at Cape Hatteras on Aug. 27, 2011.  We were lucky as it passed by us.
I was at the Obesity Society Conference in Orlando when it passed by, it was sunny and warm at the World Marriott.  

Atlantis, Paradise Island

We left Nassau on Aug. 20th, only days before Hurricane Irene hit it hard.
Irene began bearing down on the Bahamas on Wednesday night, August 24th, bringing 115 mph winds to the area.