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(Reis) We pulled up to the outpost in the limos of Longyearbyen (which is not saying much, given that they were 15 year old Ford vans repurposed as shuttles to our destination), and the smell hit us immediately. It was hard to describe but it was something that smelled awfully like 60 unwashed dogs in […]

(Reis) Riding in our 4×4 vehicles on the crazy, bumpy roads of Ethiopia had no shortage of wild and well… bumpy experiences. Important to understanding our long pilgrimages to and from villages is that most of the roads in this country are made of dirt, a substance quite susceptible to the elements. The displacement of […]

(Reis) Camels are generally repulsive mammals. They often sit around, resting in their own feces, chewing their cuds, doing nothing all day. Also, they make the most nauseating, guttural, gurgling sound from the back of their throats.  Camels might not win the “ Little Miss Morocco” pageant; in fact they are tremendously ugly. Not exactly […]

Naya sala mubaraka ho! Feliz Año Nuevo! furaha ya mwaka mpya! Hamingjusamur Nytt Ar! Stastny Novy Rok! Happy New Year!   Which photo do we use for our holiday card? When will the cards get back from the printer? Are all of our addresses up-to-date? Did we buy enough international stamps? This holiday, we decided […]

We made a video of the kids’ feelings about the year before the trip; what they looked forward to, were afraid of and what they most anticipated. That video is in the Preparation section of this site. Now, as we wrestle with re-entry and the rhythm of everyday life, we will try to capture some […]

(Reis) We pulled into a muddy lot in the Middle of Nowhere in the Papua New Guinean Highlands. We climbed out of our private Public Motorized Vehicle (ironic, huh?), and nimbly stepped through the mud to a set of rundown grass/mud/stone stairs. We climbed with great care, not wanting to slip and fall. We entered […]

(Reis) As we boarded the boat in Pangkalan Bun, Borneo, the smell of oil filled the air, and we were off. Along the Aruk River, passing by village upon village and boat upon boat, we raced. We sped by outhouse after outhouse with holes directly into the river. Passing by many logging stations, with gigantic […]

(Reis) As we go through countries in the world, we look for special opportunities to mingle with the people (and culture), to better understand them. When we discovered the chance to go to the annual Dup Chen Puja (Celebration of peace and happiness), in Bumthang, Bhutan, we eagerly agreed. The area of the Kharcchu Monestary […]

(Dana)  Druk Path Trek in Bhutan.  5 days.  63 kilometers (37.8 miles).  32 walking hours.  Elevation from 2200 to 4250M (14,025 feet) and back to 2100, with several ascents and descents in between.  As reference, our peak was over 2.5 times higher than Denver. Camping every night.  No showers. It was supposed to be five days […]

(Reis) There are many things that people need to see to believe are actually real and existing. For instance, a friend buys a new house, and he show you a picture of it. You can’t really comprehend it until you visit it in person and see it with your own eyes. Same with the Indian […]