Majestic Yosemite, with its sheer granite cliffs and roaring waterfalls, is beautiful at any time of year, even when the weather does not exactly cooperate. However, this year’s snowless January yielded many benefits at the beloved national park – less-crowded roads and easy access to evergreen groves and sleepy meadows with grazing deer and mouse-hunting coyote.

The massive granite mountains, spectacular waterfalls, groves, lakes, and meadows of Yosemite National Park in Northern California attract hikers, rock-climbers, skiers, and other happy campers all year round.

For a spoiled Californian softened by the temperate climate of San Francisco, Hong Kong can be too hot and humid, but it’s also cool, just like the City by the Bay. Behold a slow yellow boat cruising Victoria Harbour between Wan Chai and Kowloon, as bright as a flower against a hazy backdrop of Hong Kong hills and man-made structures.

I could never imagine that an empty room with a two-minute recording of a court proceeding would become a memory so powerful. Every time I think about it, my eyes tear up.