Now that I have been to the Galapagos I can tell you it is god's little piece of heaven. I believe that there is a reason why God put these islands far away from society, and for all the geological explanations we got, I still think it was set up that way so that God can take a vacation somewhere away from any human interference....
In any case, I got so many requests through email to share the pictures, so here they are...all stolen from my wife and from Steven Addis - who taught all of us on the boat how to take some serious nature pix.
You all know about the animals you see on the beach, like the friendly Iguanas...
...or the Giant Turtoises...
...but underwater you can find some close relatives, like the magnificant floating sea turtles...
...even better - the only pinguins surfing at the equator...
If you wonder why these pinguins swim so fast (they feel like a torpedo in the water)...well, if this guy was chasing you, wouldn't you run fast?
(They are really cute when they don't chase anything...)
And since we got pictures from the land and underwater, we should not forget the amazing birds you find everywhere...
And the photographers who are chasing them at any time (this is Steven taking a picture of frigates in a picture taken from the deck of our boat by my wife)...
We all lived on the Santa Cruz for the entire week (Thanks to the amazing crew!!!) - our favorite sport on the boat (Thanks to Bill Price, who convinced the captain none of us will do anything stupid) was boat jumping - performed here by Jonathan and his dad...
After which Jonathan and I jumped into the Jacuzzi and watched this amazing sunset...
...and Jonathan said - "Dad, we are finally retired on a boat!"
The best part of this trip was undoubtedly the 90 friends with whom we spent 7 magical days in the "islas Galapagos de Ecuador" - put it very high on your list of places to see before you die!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been checking and checking for photos for days. I so much want to go there with my husband, and I very much appreciate you offering up some wonderful impressions of the Galapagos Islands. Thanks to your family, too, for sharing photos with the rest of us!
Posted by: Elke | August 04, 2007 at 06:41 PM
Thanks. This looks indead like a little heaven.
Posted by: Edwin Khodabakchian | August 04, 2007 at 10:37 PM
Wow... amazing photos. Thanks so much!
Posted by: Paul | August 06, 2007 at 08:19 AM
Beautiful photos!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mary Sid | August 06, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Ganz nett, aber solche Bilder werden auf VOX- TV ständig gesendet.
And now - What is your next challenge, Sir?
/W
Posted by: dr/W/E | August 06, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Awesome...!!! Its so interesting that we need such places and animals to leed a life in the cities.
Posted by: Ananth | August 07, 2007 at 05:40 AM
Hi, I very much agree - it is a piece of heaven on earth (I went myself about 9 years ago), but sadly it is as much under threat from human intrusion, or disruption is probably a better word, as the rest of our planet....
....so as much as it is a place to see and be in awe of, don't forget to make the visit a responsible one!
Great pictures, took me back in time!
Posted by: Kim | August 07, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Looks beautiful and exciting. Funny how we savor the lack of human presence in locations like that, yet we can only enjoy them with our own human presence. Maybe if we can live with non-destructive, ie. not fossil fuel, energy sources we could enjoy these parts of the world for many generations down the road.
Posted by: Ben Bakhshi | August 08, 2007 at 03:46 PM
Absolutely beautiful and breathtaking pictures! Thank you for sharing it with us.
So, any new discovery and thought?
Posted by: Natalia | August 09, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Hello Shai,
lovely pictures, thanks for sharing.
The month of September is just around the corner, and it feels a little bit like "back to school".
I have a bold request to you:
I would like your assessment on the current Turbulences in the Financial Markets. The Central Banks have been extraordinarily active in the last week to stem-off the worst of scenarios.
Because you are active in the VC Arena, I think the question is of particular relevance, also for future investments in Technologies.
Furthermore it seems to me that Software Companies that have been betting on Mergers & Acquisitions, leveraged buy outs and such, will have to change their Business Model drastically if we really get a more serious credit Crunch. And the pobability for that is high.
There is one very big player out there that has spent a lot of money to buy up other Software Companies. I am wondering how the rising Interest Rates, and reluctance to give Credit to M&A's will impact their Business, And the technological Stock Market as a whole.
Kind Regards,
CB
Posted by: CB | August 15, 2007 at 04:39 AM
Shai, any chance I could get the email address you use most often?
Posted by: Larry Barrett | August 16, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Great pictures, Shai. It's a gas to be a minor player in nature's drama, no?
Posted by: Robin Fray Carey | August 17, 2007 at 10:38 AM
I never thought (as your former PR guy) I'd ever see pictures of Shai Agassi in a web suit jumping into the ocean on the Internet!!!!!!! :) The pictures are amazing. Congratulations!
Posted by: Bill Wohl | August 21, 2007 at 08:36 AM
What an incredible adventure to share with your family...
Posted by: Lindsey Held | August 24, 2007 at 01:32 PM
SHAI! MAZAL TOV!
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Israel_Corp_to_invest_100_mn_/articleshow/2312327.cms
Shai Agassi's Electric Car Venture Raises $200 million. The total value of the venture so far is about $300 million. Tesla Motors has thus far raised only $105 million according to one source.
Posted by: Ben Bakhshi | August 29, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Shai, this is very good. I'm your fan.
Posted by: Sorn Toomgasorn | August 29, 2007 at 08:56 PM
hello Shai,
have you gone back to Galapagos Islands..?
I am desperately waiting for you next post.
Cheers,
Ananth
Posted by: Ananth | September 12, 2007 at 10:57 PM