World Backup Day
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World Backup Day

March 31th is World Backup Day – an annual reminder to all of us to backup and protect our photos, videos and data.  This includes photos on your phone!  If you have ever lost your phone or had a drive fail, you know it can happen, and it is gut-wrenching if you don’t have backups. …

Pumpkin Pie with Pineapple
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Pumpkin Pie with Pineapple

A Tropical Pumpkin Pie Inspired by Tahiti – Mautini Painapo A couple of weeks ago we were at a friend’s house for a birthday part and at the end of a traditional ‘ma’a Tahiti’ –  traditional dishes cooked in a Ahimaa, or underground oven. To finish, they had prepared a typical Tahitian dessert called “po’e”…

Travel in the time of Covid – Tahiti & Bora Bora
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Travel in the time of Covid – Tahiti & Bora Bora

A few countries have re-opened for visitors and tourists, like French Polynesia, without a quarantine. As a place I have often visited over the past 10 years, I bought a ticket to see for myself how travel itself has changed, and what measures are in place for such a dream destination. I booked flights with…

Photography Tips for the Tropics
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Photography Tips for the Tropics

I’m fortunate to travel frequently to French Polynesia. This tiny but vast country of islands spread out across the Pacific Ocean is an overseas country of France.  It is known for its turquoise lagoons, over-water bungalows, white- and black-sand beaches, lush mountains, and towering waterfalls.  The images that come to mind are probably similar to…

Transformation for May

Transformation for May

Happy May ! Tahitian Va’a A Tahitian pirogue, or va’a, returning back before sunfall at Pointe Venus, Tahiti. “Si tu voyages dans le pirogue de quelqu’un, chantes sa chanson.” If you travel in the pirogue of someone, sing his song.   Image from my 2020 Calendar in French/Tahitian.Chicago Mosaic Wishing you a wonderful month! Larissa…

Untouristy Magic – Coixtlahuaca & Huajuapan, Mexico
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Untouristy Magic – Coixtlahuaca & Huajuapan, Mexico

Late December we arrived in Oaxaca, Mexico, to have some warm days from the winter in Chicago. We drove from Oaxaca to San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca about 1.5 hours on the toll road 135D through the mountains. The town of Coixtlahuaca is not far off the toll road (3.5 km). The locals call this place…