Someone is using my name in an attempt to scam people. I am not now nor have I ever been looking for any kind of assistant. I certainly wouldn't ever ask anyone to cash a check to me or to make a Western Union payment to anyone else (especially not someone in Manilla!). This is a classic Fake Check scam. Learn more about that at www.fakechecks.org. If you've been in contact with this person, please report them ASAP!
 
Flowers in the Point Defiance Rose Garden.
A view of Wallowa Lake from the hill on the East.  The flower in the foreground is the Arrowleaf Balsamroot.  There was some contention about it during our trip.  Some said it was a Black Eyed Susan, others said it was a sunflower.  We were all wrong.
After visiting the hill tribes of northern Thailand, we visited a temple on a hill.  This shot of the two offerings in the distance contrasted with the single offering at the foot of the Buddha statue jumped out at me.
Flowers in the Point Defiance Rose Garden.
Flowers in the Point Defiance Rose Garden.
Flowers in the Point Defiance Rose Garden.
See photo in original gallery.