Onwards to the Land Down Under: The only country we know of where it is acceptable to eat a national symbol... the kangaroo! We continue our travels in the Southern Hemisphere to be introduced to some fantastic new friends and greeted in certain stops by old friends. This blog will outline our adventures in Australia beginning with our first stop via Darwin to Cairns. Cairns: The highlight of Cairns was our diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Yes, it is as beautiful as you could possibly imagine. Some parts have clearly been over-exposed to tourism and the reef has taken [View Full Entry]

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WELCOME TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE! So, our proclaimed "Southern Hemisphere" Trip didn't technically start until Bali. And what a woooooonderful introduction to the southern hemisphere it has been for us! Per the recommendation of a close relative, we decided to take this part of the trip by land and part by sea. For the land part, we ventured inland to the fabulous and culturally preserved Ubud, and for sea, the quiet fishing village of Amed: Ubud: A destination for all travelers: We stumbled into Ubud after a flight and an hour cab drive to stay at a great littl [View Full Entry]

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A breather in the VERY modern Hong Kong: We spent a quick few days in Hong Kong on our way from India to Indonesia. It was a very welcomed break from the hectic and sweaty third world. First, we had wonderful hosts that have lived there for many years- Steven and Geoff. Not only did they have some stylish modern digs, but they knew the town backwards and forwards - including the best dim sum restaurants and hottest night clubs to show off to us. There's a Chinese temple in the midst of towering condo buildings that was quite a [View Full Entry]

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India, Oh India! What would it take to fully wrap one's arms or mind all the way around India? Several lifetimes, an effective water purifier, a love for Dal Baht, clothing to cover your body in extreme cold or heat and in temples, and a thoughtful patience for a life that is far removed from many western values. From the Mumbai airport to the Himalayas, here is the third leg of our trip through parts of colorful India: Mumbai: An overnight stay at the airport, lots of Lipton dixie-cup sized portions of Cardamon tea and some good reading material. Warning: If [View Full Entry]

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We completed the second leg of our trip after having spent twelve days in Thailand having a wonderful time as well as dodging a few potentially disastrous events. As most of you probably know, Thailand's military threw a coup de etat the week prior to our arrival, and the most devastating flooding to happen in Northern Thailand in 60 years occured two days after we left Chiang Mai. Thankfully, the coup was as peaceful as a coup can be and the flooding hit a little too far north to have affected us anyway. We were absolutely delighted to have Scott's cousin, [View Full Entry]

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First three nights in Tokyo: Khaosan Hostel...perhaps the smallest room on the planet, but in Tokyo, it was a great deal! While here, we spent a full 8 hours at Ryoguko Kokugikan Stadium watching Sumo matches and eating chanko (the stew of Sumo champions), visiting an array of shrines, temples and pagodas (namely the Senso Ji Temple), shopping at the Nakamise-Dori Market and exploring the winding narrow streets and Pachinko parlors. One night in Hiroshima: The simple act of getting to Hiroshima was an exciting part of this destination - we rode our first Shinkansen, or bullet [View Full Entry]

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Family members traveled anywhere from Seattle to New York and India to get to this family reunion at Scott's Boulder Mountain House. We barbequed chicken in the rain and caught passing clouds in glass jars. The landscape is breathtaking in this part of the world. If you get a chance to spend time in the mountains there - we both recommend doing so! [View Full Entry]

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Ever been to the Sonoran Desert? You know, those funny looking cacti with arms that stick out all over the place? Ever so expressive... This trip to Tucson was part of a larger 10 state road trip that Scott and I embarked on this summer. We drove here from Boulder, CO and visited places like the Desert Museum and camped at Mesa Verde. My absolute favorite thing growing in this part of the world is the barrel cactus. It blooms these miniature pineapple-looking fruits and has bright flowers. Someone mentioned that if you took a machete to it in the middle [View Full Entry]

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19th annual Gendron family trip to Lake Chelan for Alyssa. 1st time for Scott. We had a great time on the lake with both sides of the family (Garretts and Gendrons)! Can't wait for next year... [View Full Entry]

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It's always a riot in the Upper Peninsula. Quite exciting, really. We fish, eat, sleep, fish, eat, sleep and listen to my grandpa's war experiences overseas. Every time I visit I kick myself for not bringing a tape recorder. Scott's helping me keep all of the details straight! [View Full Entry]

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