Travel by Country

About this blog
This blog is not for travel tips or to show off my life. I make no money off this blog (although I’m open to the prospect.)
This blog is simply a recording of my life, something to do on the road, and a place to put some of the thousands of pictures I’ve taken along the way.
I’m a Californian girl in the twilight of her twenties looking for hidden corners of the world.
I’m a traveling yoga teacher and avid member of the ‘slow travel’ movement. I take my time and pause in places long enough to soak up the true beauty and the people that make them so special.
I wander off the beaten paths, discover hidden cervecerias and seek out secret spots.
Ever since I was young I have thought humans are put on Earth for such a short period of time, best get out and see it all.
Christina Helene
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Yoga Bio
Three weeks before Graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a double major in Dance and Global Studies I was in an accident that completely changed the course of my life. Due to the extreme trauma caused by the
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I Quit My Job
I quit my job. I quit my city. I quit my current life. I quit to live out my dream. We each have one great passion in life. Some are lucky enough to have that passion also be their career, the
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Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers… and Secret Beaches
I'd finally made it full circle. I woke up in the van this morning feeling like I'm discovering every little corner of this Island. I've looked at picture books in tourist stores full of breathtaking shots of New Zealand, but
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An Unexpected Oasis
In the morning we drove down the coast to the Catlins. I'd been looking forward to seeing the Catlins for a long time. Ancient cliffs by the Sea on the Southern tip of New Zealand, and island at the end
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A Day in Dunedin
Welcome to the Southland, New Zealand. Being in the Southland is similar to being on the West Coast. Blink while driving by the one street towns and you just might miss the towns entirely. I love it down here. The weather
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Best Camper Van Site in The Catlins
Van life diaries: Purakaunui Bay. This is a DOC campsite, so it's $13 per person to sleep. It has breathtaking views of the bay. If you are on a surf trip, spend a couple days here. At the end of
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A Murder Mystery and a Happy Place
At Mclean Falls there was a sign for a missing person. Jordan and I regarded the sign a curiosity for what happened and a sincere hope that he is found. He looked like a nice guy, an older working class
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Karamea and the Attack of the Sandflies
The day I did the Heaphy Track was probably one of the best days I've had in a while. Jordan and I haven't laughed together like that in a long long time. It was November 2nd, 2017 and Jordan and
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The Wild West Coast
My first drive down the West Coast was in winter. It had been raining in New Zealand since Nushaw and I landed without hope of letting up. As Nushaw slept in the back row of the bus, I was glued
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Finding Your Passion on the Road
I'm twenty eight years old and in the twilight of my twenties. When I was young, I thought I'd be married by 22, have my first kid by 25 and definitely be working on making my third child by now.
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New Years 2018
For New Years 2017 to 2018 I tagged along with Claire, Tiger & Geoff up to Takaka to visit their friend Charlie and his family. This meant the four of us got to take a road trip in the Sugar
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A Kiwi Christmas
Maybe it's from living in Los Angeles too long. Maybe it's from years of depression. Maybe it's from a lack of giving and closing myself off from the world from far too long. But I'm stunned every day here in
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Abel Tasman
My legs are sore. Eva and I did a day walk along the Abel Tasman track yesterday. It was one of those casual nine hour hikes. No big deal. The thing about day walking a great walk is that you are
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Picton to Wellington
Picton is the perfect gateway for people coming into the South Island from the North. It is a small town with two main streets, nestled between mountains and water. Before I came I was picturing a bigger city. When I
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Along the Southern Scenic Route
Invercargill is not much to see, however it does has an airport, if you need. Invercargill is an industrial little port town full of Longshoremen. It seemed everyone was wearing the "Invercargill uniform" of bright orange with reflective strips. We
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Milford Sound
My hostel mate in Te Anau said that she almost did not do Milford Sound until someone told her "No, Milford Sound is why you come to New Zealand." While Lord of the Rings certainly brought a fresh wave of
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What to Pack for a RTW Trip
"How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to feel the straps on your shoulders. Feel 'em? Now I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you
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Tonsai Beach
Nushaw, Amber and I left Phuket ready to lay on secluded beaches and float in crystal blue water. What we weren't ready for was the beauty of the drops of the limestone cliffs and vegetation over the blue blue water.
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Plane Rides & Phuket
Nushaw, Amber and I arrived in Phuket exhausted but on a high. This was the first time in four years I've travelled to another country besides our yearly 4th of July surf trip in Baja, Mexico. Everything was exiting to
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Tongariro Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit goes around Mount. Ngurahoe, or Mt. Doom to some. The Circuit is 46ks. Most people do it in four days, but Jordan and I only had two. Mt. Ngauruhoe is my favorite of the three mountains in middle
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Ho’okipa Beach
Want to see turtles in their natural environment? Ho'okipa Beach on Maui is the place to go! Aloha!
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Wailuku
The thing about traveling is you make new friends. Within the first ten minutes Nushaw and I were in Maui, our friend Michelle hooked us up with her friend, Supriya. Priya is a traveling Occupational Therapist and part time tour
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Cliff Jumping in Maui
Nushaw and I went cliff jumping a couple times while we were in Maui. Both times we were brought by a local, and we never would have found these spots alone. Cliff House is a place our friends used to go
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Na’ili’ili-haele
This post is a mixture of Nushaw and my excursion through a bamboo forest along the Road to Hana, and a secret locals only waterfall hike we took with Supriya and Michelle.
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Three Tiered Pools
In a beautiful secluded setting, Supriya led Nushaw and I to the hidden Three Tiered Pools. Michelle was jealous when she heard she missed out on this one
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La Perouse
All drone shots in this post were taken by the pilot @nushrose // @queenofdrones
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Santa Barbara Pier
These are shots from downtown Santa Barbara. I went to University of California, Santa Barbara 2008-2011. At that time I lived in a small, university town called Isla Vista. After I graduated, I moved to downtown Santa Barbara
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Old Zealand – The Seaview Asylum
High on the hill above Hokitika sits the remains of the Seaview Asylum. Sixty years ago Hokitika was the capital of New Zealand for a brief two years. At this time, the Seaview Asylum was in full swing, housing 600
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Wine in New Zealand
The old man uncorked the Montana Riesling, and the three of us "kids" stared in amazement at these crystals that had formed on the underbelly of the cork. The Crystals came from years of sitting in wait to be drunk. I
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Old Zealand – Hidden in the Hills of Punakaiki
There's a house hidden in the lush, tropical mountains of New Zealand's West Coast that has been in the care of a Kiwi since before the land became Punakaiki National Park. The man who owns the house shows as much
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Drifting Sands
Why intern at Drifting Sands, Hokitia? Why work on holiday? This answer to this question is as simple as making bread. Do you travel to take good pictures for Instagram, or do you travel to meet people from around the
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Pounamu
Pounamu. Or greenstone, as the Kiwis say. Some of it is jade of various forms and colors, some of it is serpentine. To them, it is all the same. It is the stone that holds sacred power of the native
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Hokitika – The Coolest Little Town
Hoki Hoki Hoki. You are as wild and rugged as the people who grace your land. Your black sand beaches are covered in driftwood that has journeyed far, ending their journey on the beach as firewood for bonfires late into
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A Moment in Auckland
Brunch this morning on Richmont St. - Claire was parking the car and a girl passed by us on a scooter. She glanced at us briefly as she looked for parking too. As Claire pulled the car around, out my
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The Northlands
Journal entry from May 7th, 2018 The Northlands offer a splendor of untouched coasts next to towering cliffs alive with flora. Russell is a cute little town that was once the first European settlement (possibly in this area, you can never
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Ocean’s Beach, Northlands
Journal entry from May 3, 2018 I'm at a beautiful camp spot by the pacific. We spent last night sitting on a dune watching dogs run into the waves. The locals here live in beautiful houses by the ocean with large
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A Kiwi Dictionary
Food A meal - A feed Bell pepper - Capsicum Candy - Lollies Cilantro - Coriander Chips - Crisps Counter top - Bench Eggplant - Aubergine Fries - Chips Lemonade - Lemon squash Napkin - Serviette Pit - Pip Silverware - Cutlery Sprite - Lemonade Zucchini - Courgette Fashion Bathing suit - Togs Braids - Plait Flip flops
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Overcoming Fear in Bali
I've been doing one thing a day that scares me since the day I left Claire in that car at the airport drop off in New Zealand with tears unexpectedly welling in my eyes and uncontrollably falling down my cheeks.
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Ubud Monkey Forest
Ubud's Sacred Monkey Forest No, the monkeys aren't sacred to the Balinese Hindus,but the temple grounds are. The monkeys figured out to not get bothered by the Balinese, they could live on the temple grounds in peace. The monkeys will play
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Magic Moments in Bali
Journal entry July 4, 2018 It makes me laugh to think I was once so afraid the world would be too much like Disney World's Epcot and therefore be such a disappointment. Even with globalization, where we can have food from
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Canggu Bali
Select journal entry July 14 The energy is different here than in Ubud. Here, it is more chillax. I'm sitting on the beach watching Jordan surf. This place has so many Westerners, expats and dogs. Our neighbors do a call to
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Food in Bali
It's time to eat, Bali style! On the left: Gado Gado (cooked vegetables, tempe and boiled egg in peanut sauce) 30k IDR, $2.07 USD On the right: Nasi goreng (nasi means rice and goreng means fried) 30k IDR, $2.07 USD Location: Sweet Orange Warung, Ubud,
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Food in Java
Breakfast Our air bnb host went to the market every morning to get us breakfast. In java they eat soup for breakfast. My favorite was the chicken soup. The items on the side were different kinds of dumplings, potato cakes and
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Getting Around Bangkok via Public Transportation
We spent two days in Bangkok and then another 24 hours on a layover. We used public transportation and kept it cheap and local. From the airport, get the A4 public bus from gate 7 to get to Kho San Road.
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Java Impressions
"What the actual fuck," I said out loud while standing on the side of the road with no sidewalk waiting for the train to pass - a train straight out of Darjeeling Unlimited, in the light of the bright red
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Rice Terraces in Bali
Campuhan Ridge Walk This is a relatively easy walk to find in Ubud, Bali. Being easy, it was definitely very crowded. Still extremely beautiful. Kajeng Rice Fields Walk This was by far my favorite rice field walk in Ubud. I didn't spring for
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Hike Up Merbabu
"Where the fuck are we?" I found myself saying countless times in disbelief and amazement. Over and over again I had to mentally pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. If I was dreaming, I had no idea I
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Riding the Train in Java
Like almost everything else in Java, riding the train was an experience. A very small portion of people in Java speak English and there are very few tourists from around the world. By this time, Jordan and I were used
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Food in Vietnam & Singapore
I can't start a food in Asia post without rice. The picture above is from the rice fields in Sapa. But more on that later. The food in Vietnam was great. It's definitely a street food culture, but in a different way than
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After 14 Months of Travel
All I want to do with my life is travel. It is my passion and fuels my engine. I think everyone can benefit from traveling. Travel opens doors of the mind to other ways of living, just as language does. But
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Borobudur Temple
Java - who goes to Java? Jordan and I decided to go to Java one day while we were in New Zealand. We were reading a lonely planet book that listed this amazing Buddhist temple in Borobudur that we decided
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Vietnam Impressions
Vietnam Impressions (Journal entry August 13, 2018) Whoa. This country is
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London Layover – A glance at the West
London Layover - Diary Aug 28, 2018 There was too much entertainment on the plane to write. I remember a time we all had to watch the same movie on the plane and head sets were passed out - for free.
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Two Days in Singapore
Singapore - Diary entry Aug 25, 2018 Almost out of Asia. Aaaaaasia. I'm actually a bit sad. It's cheap, really good food. For the most part, friendly people. I am tired of sticking out though. I do think I'll fit in
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Buenos Aires
I finally made it to the land of the Portenos! Here is a taste of each neighborhood I went to. San Telmo Best known for tango dancing in the street, San Telmo was our favorite neighborhood. There is a wonderful indoor market
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The Argentina Diary Entries
Buenos Aires, September 3 2018 Argentina, in a weird way, already feels like home. The Spanish spoken in Buenos Aires is the most beautiful Spanish I've ever heard. It's like the people are singing to each other. It's nice to be
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Food in Argentina
Color is the only way to describe food in Argentina. Color, and meat. Lots and lots of meat. Buenos Aires is known for its deep dish pizzas, empanadas, dulce de leche and choripan. Jordan and I easily ate our way
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Cordoba
The hip university town of Cordoba. There is always something to do, somewhere to eat or drink, or some steps to sit on and drink some mate. For us, we enjoyed the craft fairs, free art gallery and a picnic
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DIY Wine Tasting in Mendoza
If there is one word to describe Mendoza, Argentina, it's wine. More specifically, Malbec. So what did Jordan and I do when our hostel cancelled the half day wine tasting tour due to a little rain? We gathered up some
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Salta
We hiked to the top of the mountain in town. The hike included the seven stations of the cross and an outdoor temple at the top. There was also a gondola, artisan booths and beautiful man made waterfalls.
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Jujuy Road Trip
One does not go up to Salta without doing the classic road trip to Jujuy and La Salina Grande. (Jujuy is pronounced who who e.) Jordan and I reserved a tour with our hostel that was once again cancelled. Salta
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Religion
October 2, 2018 - Salta Omnibus TerminalI'm sitting in the bus terminal having deep thoughts of religion. I've been here five minutes while Jordan tries to print our tickets. There is a shrine to Virgin Mary outside the window I'm
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Argentina to Chile on Bus
The bus from Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago, Chile was 15 hours long. This included a two hour border crossing between the two countries. The landscape changed from rolling vistas of grape vines to mountains of snow. We saw abandoned train
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Food in Chile
Mango and Cheese Empanada Grab and Go The food in Chile was similar to the food in Argentina, except everything in Argentina is supersized. Chile has lots and lots of empanadas like Argentina. People will walk around public parks and lakes selling
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Valparaiso
Valparaiso is the major seaport to Chile and Santiago. In the 19th century, Valpo was a major stop off for ships crossing the Straight of Magellen. The colorful buildings have given the city the nickname The Jewel of the Pacific.
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Santiago
Jordan and I chose to go to Chile after Argentina because the cheapest flight home was from Santiago. If we went out of of Brazil or Bolivia we would have to pay massive visa fees that Jordan and I were
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Work Away Argentina
The best thing we did in Argentina is our Work Away experience. Argentina and Chile in particular are very expensive countries to stay in hostels. Especially compared to the cost of hostels or even hotels in South East Asia.
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Coral Beach
Coral Beach is my favorite day hike in Airlie. It is a ten minute drive from town and a fifteen minute walk through the bush to get to get to paradise. The beach is covered in meters of coral, not
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Koh Tao
Koh Tao is most known around the world for its excellent dive schools. Nushaw and I went to Koh Tao for some chillaxing on a small Thai island. We found a nice resort up the road from the main street
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Koh Samui
Koh Samui is the biggest of the three islands off Thailand's coast of Surat Thani. Nushaw, Amber and I took a long sketchy bus from the Krabi coast to the port town in Surat Thani where we caught a ferry
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Aonang
Aonang is a seemingly random town on the hidden coasts of Krabi. When Nushaw, Amber and I first landed in Thailand, we took a ferry from Phuket to the Krabi Coast. The ferry took us to smaller and smaller boats
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Food in Thailand
The best thing a human can do while traveling is eat. So much of a country's culture and history is literally cooked into their food. There are many ways to eat in Thailand, from night markets to street food to
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Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is not only the biggest city in Northern Thailand, it is also a university town and a cultural hub. There are some tourists here, however most of the people we saw seemed to be locals. The city is
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Chiang Rai
The White Temple (Wat Tong Khun) Chiang Rai is popular in the backpacking world for being the home of the White Temple. The White Temple (or Wat Rong Khun) was created by the artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and opened to the public
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Muay Thai Boxing Match
Let me tell you about the most uncomfortable time I had in Thailand. Jordan and I were in Bangkok for less than 24 hours on a layover. I let Jordan plan our out of the airport excursion (which you can
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Pai
I survived the 762 turns to Pai! Jordan and I arranged to be picked up from our hostel in Chiang Mai by a shuttle bus that would take us to the artsy mountain town of Pai. When our driver arrived, I
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Hanoi
I'll admit, I was a bit ignorant and nervous going into Vietnam. Were these people going to be okay with an American among them? (Has anyone seen Apocalypse Now?) I was not prepared for the smiles and friendliness of the
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chcorbettAnother gorgeous shot from where my heart is. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀...
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chcorbettMissing these mornings on the water 🌊 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀...
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chcorbettMy world is upside down 🌏 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #djispark...
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chcorbettI'd like to say this was an awesome retreat I stayed in....but it's a toilet 🌴...
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chcorbettCoral fringe reef at low tide. 🌊🔆 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀...
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chcorbettBeginnings and endings sometimes look the same in the moment. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀...
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chcorbettGet me back on the water Skip! 🌊🔆 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀...
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chcorbettHere's to the end of days 🔆 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀...