As I stepped out of the camper, I saw Jim already had a warming fire roaring. Porter, luxuriating in the warmth of his new coat, lay curled up on his camp pad asleep. Aspen inched closer to my chair, ever the lap Lab, wanting to be as close as possible.
Two young kids, longing for adventure, meet up in an abandoned house, the lone members of the “Spirit of Adventure” club. They grow up, marry, and dream of traveling to Paradise Falls in South America. But, reality intervenes, and each time their savings jar is filling, a problem occurs, a broken down car, a hospital visit, you know, adult stuff.
The doors of the world are varied and exotic. I could fill calendar after calendar of photos of them I have taken from all over the world, but many of my favorites belong to India. The one is particularly interesting in that it is both a very large door and a very small one! A predecessor of our modern dog door, perhaps?
We are not shy about proclaiming our great love for off-season camping. Nearly empty campgrounds and open beaches bring a smile to our face and joy to our heart. Add in a full moon, mid-50’s temps and no rain (in Oregon in January!) and we were in. For the first time in nearly two years we were joined by Jim’s sister Wendy, her husband and Jim’s best friend, Ken, and their two furbabies, Jenny and Lexi. Ken had recently returned from his second deployment in two years and also included a few of people in his unit, who joined in with their families.
Although I had heard how utterly massive the temples and ruins of Egypt’s ancient society were, until you are truly standing next to the carvings and pillars, it is impossible to appreciate their magnitude.
Now, in mid-winter, I am feeling housebound and contained, wanting to be out hiking in the wilderness, sitting around a campfire, and sleeping that deep sleep that comes after a day in nature. Here, an inspiring memory of hiking Mt. Cook, New Zealand, surely one of the most beautiful places in the world. I can’t wait for that next “first steps” on the trail feeling.
India, a magical, life changing place. For months, everywhere we went, we were mobbed by Indians wanting to take their photo with us, invite us to dinner, and chat with us while we tried to take in a serene sunset. What to do? Surrender to the power of India and embrace the chaos!
In these dark, damp, long nights of winter, my soul longs for the tropics. Warmth, humidity, exotic flowers, fascinating culture, and inexpensive traveling….. oh Bali, how I miss you!!! Here our fantastic cottage in Ubud.
The Laotian capital of Vientiane is not a city often lauded as a tourist hub. Unlike Bangkok or Saigon, this lazy, tree-lined town is considered boring by many, and to be used only as a transit point for the rest of the country. We loved it.
Lao, one of our favorite countries in SE Asia, is a land of beauty, friendly people, and stunning architecture. Here, a scene from one of our favorite temples in Vientiane.
