TravelBlog » Stephen Paul

Stephen Paul - o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

I have a debilitating case of wanderlust, which contradicts with my 40 hour a week job in a busy hospital. I love everything related to the outdoors. I usually travel alone so I can do my own thing and meet more locals, but I m never opposed to traveling buddies. My last big trip was to Cambodia in 2008. Recent trips: Kings Canyon N.P., Dana Peak summit, Sonora Pass, Channel Islands and point Lobos SCUBA, the Narrows of Zion, Climbing Mt. Shasta. Coming up is 2 weeks in Japan this June, followed by a week SCUBA diving the Galapagos Islands in August.
I love the Ocean, the Forest and the Mountains!

Where I Have Been

Map Legend: 3%, 10 of 263 Territories

Countries I Have Visited

4 weeks in Chile could never be enough

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only if...
1 Year off: Chile.
6 Months off: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina.
6 weeks off: Australia, India/Nepal, Egypt-->Turkey-->Greece-->Italy.
4 weeks off: China, New Zealand, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico.
2-3 weeks off: Iceland, Tasmania, Swiss/Italian Alps, Spain/Pyrenees, Kilimanjaro, Norway, New Caledonia, England-->Ireland-->Scotland, Namibia/South Africa, Taiwan,
Kamchatka Peninsula / Lake Baikal, Papua New Guinea, Antarctica, South Georgia Island, Kerguelen Islands.
1 week off: Big Island of Hawaii, Mexico City/Acapulco/Pico de Orizaba, Iran/Mt. Damavand.
Local trips: Winter Mountaineering course to Alta Peak, Camping and Hiking the Redwood Forest in winter, Bike Backpack to Kings Canyon, Winter.

Desert Southwest Road Trip
May 5th 2004 -» May 21st 2004 New Zealand- The Grand Tour
March 29th 2006 -» April 1st 2006 Torres del Paine and Chilean Patagonia
April 5th 2007 -» April 19th 2007 Cascades Road Trip
September 20th 2007 -» October 23rd 2007 Cambodia and Thailand
December 19th 2007 -» January 12th 2008

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Joined on: March 4th 2006
Last Login: July 2nd 2009

Blog Entries: 57
Photos: 3026
Recommended by 35, Recommends 66

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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Stephen Paul, order by Date newest first.

By Stephen Paul
March 21st 2009

Mountains, Beaches and Snow: A California Winter North America » United States » California

Bixby Bridge, Big Sur
The iconic landmark of the West, where engineering allowed access to this remote wilderness.

Edward Abbey: "There is science, logic, reason; there is thought verified by experience. And then there is California." Jimmy Carter: “Whatever starts in California unfortunately has an inclination to spread.” Henry Miller: “Big Sur is the California that men dreamed of years ago, this is the Pacific that Balboa looked at from the Peak of Darien, this is the face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look” Arnold Schwarzenegger: "California will not wait for our federal g [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
December 30th 2008

Walking in a Winter Wonderland... North America » United States » California » Yosemite National Park » Yosemite Valley

Enchanting Forest

Yule time is a special time of Christmas trees, carols, cheer, church, family, friends, gifts, candy and Santa Claus. Nearly anyone who lives in the Northern Hemisphere can relate- December 21 is the death of darkness when the days only get longer. Others can relate to the birth of Jesus on December 25. We welcome the light of the world by bringing a conifer tree into the home, singing songs and giving gifts. There's just something about the mystique of the snow and the forest that seems to echo the solitude and splendor of Winter. How fortunate to be able to [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
September 13th 2008

A Summit Trip to Mount Shasta : 4,322 meters of Magical Volcanic Beauty North America » United States » California » Mount Shasta

Basecamp

2133 vertical meters in height and 15 km in length in 30 hours of time, that was the challenge laid out before us. Set in the idyllic mix of pastures and conifer forests of Northern California, Shasta is the second largest Cascade Volcano at 14,179 feet. According to legend, Lemurian aliens are said to live inside. I signed up for the guided trip last April, and for the last 5 months I prepared for the biggest physical challenge of my life. I lost 9 kg (20 lbs) over the course of 6 months to lessen the load on my joints. I [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
September 13th 2008

Reflections on Deep Geologic Time North America » United States » Utah

The Majestic Splendor of Bryce Canyon

Would we believe the truth if it came from a squirrel? Some believe that Dolphins posses higher intelligence and awareness of their own mortality like humans. They have no hands to create tools and alter their environment. They have no competition for resources to wage Dolphin pod wars. Their ultrasound language of clicks and squeaks might be as complex as our own, but there is no translation for it. Because we can't communicate, we can't be sure of their intelligence. This is the human situation, even the animals that are likely as intelligent as we are can not prove it to [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
September 11th 2008

The Sierra Nevada of California, 2008 North America » United States » California

Rock Glacier, Sonora Pass

I took 5 trips to the Sierra Nevada Mountains this past summer, partly in preperation to climb Mt. Shasta, but mostly to experience their beauty and majesty. Here's about 10 pictures from each trip, with blurbs about each picture in the caption. Let's go to the mountains! See some full screen versions here: *My Flickr: Sierra Nevada Mountains 2008 *My Flickr: Sierra Nevada Mountains --Steve [url=http://www.sph [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
July 4th 2008

Oops...we did it again! SCUBA diving Channel Islands National Park North America » United States » California » Channel Islands National Park

easy living, San Clemente

Once you go on one live-aboard SCUBA trip to the Channel Islands, you will make sure that you don't miss another! It's been for 3 years in a row now that on July 4, myself and 25 others embark on a journey across the great expanse of ocean wilderness off the coast of Southern California. Next to the Sierra Nevada, the Channel Islands are the next best exp [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
May 21st 2008

The Greatest Meeting of Land and Sea, Point Lobos State Reserve North America » United States » California » Monterey

Harbor Seal and pup!

After being at Pt. Lobos for only a short period of time, one quickly realizes the beauty and character of this place is found nowhere else on earth. Endemic species abound in California, and Pt. Lobos is no exception. Like a microcosm of the unique character that comprises the California Floristic Province, this biological hotspot is teeming with diversity. Speckeled Granite cliffs inhabited by Cormorants; Lichens that cover the conifer forest like icing; Harbor Seals swimming through a kelp forest. We find three keystone species here that are cherished throughout the world- The Monterey [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
January 11th 2008

Flying Over Cambodia Asia » Cambodia » East

Phnom Penh panorama

A flight from Ban Lung in Ratanakiri Province to Sen Monoram in Mondulkiri Province, then on to Phnom Penh. total time was 1.5 hours! Impressive considering it takes 13 hours by bus. These are the aerial pictures from the flight. There's a lot of them, but I moved the best ones to the first page. Full disclosure, most have been cleaned up in Photoshop, it was very hazy that day. I included so many pictures with the hope that someone, somwhere will find them useful... * NOTE * -I've recently discovered the key to getting the best clarity out of posting [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
January 10th 2008

The Rivers are Alive, and So are the Graves Asia » Cambodia » East » Banlung

Kachon Culture

What I expected was to see a society totally different from Cambodian culture, known for their carved totems of deceased family members. What I got was an amazing river trip on a unique boat, views of Vietnam, a $1.50 ramen meal and also a glimpse at a Chinese village over 100 years old! It was hot, the river was cool. I bought a hat that barely fit my head. We were exhausted on the drive back to Ban Lung, as the sweltering heat, tropical sunshine and 120 decibell boat engines deafened us the entire way. It was an amazing trip and [View Full Entry]

By Stephen Paul
January 5th 2008

13 Hours to Ratanakiri by Bus, 45 minutes by Plane Asia » Cambodia » East » Banlung

Gliding through the Rubber Tree Forest

The bus ride from Phnom Penh to Ratanakiri started out simply enough. It was a cool, almost chilly morning for the short motodop ride to the bus station near Olympic Stadium. At 6am, we were definitely short on sleep considering it was New Years Day and we spent the better part of the night before eating food, ice cream and watching fireworks until after midnight. Fortunately we were given the best seats on the small bus, and off we went. We crossed the Tonle San River, then the Mekong. We stopped at small villages for breakfast and hour by hour the [View Full Entry]

Yeak Lom lakeshore with people at the overlook

TravelBlog » Stephen Paul

Stephen Paul | o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o | Travel Blog

Stephen Paul - o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Where I Have Been

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