Category Archives: Daily Journal

The Glass Bottom Boat in Bora Bora

No, this article has nothing to do with the 1966 movie starring Doris Day and Rod Taylor, although now that I’ve written that, Google will probably link to this article as if it were about the movie. The glass bottom … Continue reading

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Views from Bora Bora

I arrived at Bora Bora at about noon on April 7, 2016. The first view as the ship approached the island was magnificent. It’s no wonder that Bora Bora is such a popular destination in the South Pacific. SOURCE: Bora … Continue reading

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Snorkeling in Rangiroa

Rangiroa is an atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago (not the Society Islands like Moorea or Tahiti). It has no majestic mountains, but it is famed as a great diving destination. I, however, did not have much luck with snorkeling in Rangiroa … Continue reading

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Flowering Plants in Moorea

The islands of French Polynesia are covered in lush vegetation, much of which is not native. The first Polynesians brought with them plants from their native lands, and the Europeans brought with them even more non-native plants. Today, most of the … Continue reading

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More Fish in the Reefs of Moorea

I’m not an experienced snorkeler and I was amazed at the number of different species of fishes I saw in the reefs of Moorea. I’m also not all that skilled at fish taxonomy. If anyone spots an error in identification, … Continue reading

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Snorkeling in Moorea

Moorea is part of the Society Islands archipelago which, in turn, is part of French Polynesia. French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, although I heard residents repeatedly refer to French Polynesia as a country. As an archipelago, the Society Islands … Continue reading

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Views of Moorea

I just returned home from a trip to French Polynesia, my first visit to this part of the world. The first stop on my travels was the island of Moorea, just a short distance from the more familiar island of … Continue reading

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Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore – 1

Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore was originally built in 1821-1822 in honor of Mazu, the goddess of the sea .  The structure was rebuilt in 1839-1842 using traditional methods .  No nails are used in the building. Near the … Continue reading

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A Foggy Morning in Singapore

I arrived in Singapore early on the morning of 29 March 2013, slept for a few hours, and then woke to a hot and foggy morning .  A walk around the area near my hotel revealed that I was close to several … Continue reading

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Breaking Down the Dziurzyński Brickwall with DNA

Way back on 13 June 2006, I wrote about the Dziurzyński brickwall .  My paternal grandmother, Marianna Dziurzyńska, was apparently born in Sielnica in the parish of Dylągowa .  I had previously found two other people who had Dziurzyński ancestors from … Continue reading

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