Month: December 2013

An Open Letter to 2013

by

Dear 2013,

Last year around this time I had one request and that was for you not to suck. And you, dear friend, delivered!

You’ve been a great year!

From adventuring in Hong Kong…

Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong
En route to the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong
At Times Square in Hong Kong
Crossing the harbor in Hong Kong
Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong - @michaelvenske
Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong – @michaelvenske
Hong Kong skyline
Signpost at the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong
With Emily at Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong
At the base of the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong,
Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong
Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong
Hong Kong skyline
In Hong Kong with Mike Kneisl

To exploring Beijing and it’s most historic sites…

In front of the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) at the Forbidden City in Beijing
The drums inside the Drum Tower, Beijing
A view of The Great Wall at Badaling
In front of the Drum Tower in Beijing
An entrance sign for The Great Wall at Badaling
A view of the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park
Walking a hutong in Beijing
Entrance to The Great Wall at Badaling
On The Great Wall at Badaling
The Bell Tower in Beijing
In front of the Bell Tower in Beijing
The Gate of Divine Might, the northern gate at the Forbidden City
A view of the Drum Tower from the Bell Tower in Beijing
A marker at Jingshan Park just north of the Forbidden City
A pavilion in Jingshan Park just north of the Forbidden City
A closer shot of Chairman Mao Zedong's portrait hanging on the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) at the Forbidden City in Beijing
The Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) at the Forbidden City in Beijing
A view of The Great Wall at Badaling

And exploring America with my best friend…

South Dakota tunnel
Ruby Beach, Washington
Nude sunbathing in Ponderosa Campground, Big Sur, CA
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Moon and the Buffalo
Wildlife
Katie's haircut with Kristie
Lost in Montana
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Michael's Best Part of Summer
Somewhere in Nevada
On trouble on the road
Katie and Michael on Ruby Beach
Late Night Accident on the 101
A lone canoe at the end of the Gunflint Trail in Minnesota
Wall Drug
Michael and Cicada
Wildlife
Together at Mount Rushmore
Hanging out with Thor
Deadwood Main Street
Michael at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
IMG_20130802_182102
Mount Rushmore
Ruby Beach, Washington
Katie on Ruby Beach
Katie and Michael on the Road
Together at the glacial lake at Glacier National Park
Sunset in South Dakota
Katie's Best Part of Summer
Katie and Michael
Changing the tire
Camping Rain
Buffalo
Panoramic of Ruby Beach
Nevins Tire Center
On the trail leading to the glacial lake at Glacier National Park
Ruby Beach, Washington
Buffalo Moon
Visiting the farm...
South Dakota tunnel
Drive Thru Tree, Klamath, CA
Lookout
Overlooking Deadwood
Katie Driving
Mount Rushmore
Katie on Ruby Beach

It’s been an AMAZING year!

And if you could do me one last favor, 2013, please let 2014 know that I expect all these types of adventures and more.

Thank you for all you’ve done to make things so unforgettable!

Sincerely,

Michael