Picture of the Day
A daily tidbit of where we are and what we're up to!
12/10--Khoa is the only one to catch a squid fishing off the boat in Ha Long Bay
12/9--hanging in Hanoi
12/8--Anne getting off a "grab bike"( a ride share service in Vietnam that also offers motor bikes); great cheap way to see and feel Saigon
12/7--Boats on the Mekong River Delta.
12/6-- Having suits and dresses hand made in the An Dong marketplace in Saigon,VN
Mike and Nick got some great deals on fitted suits while Anne and Kim negotiated price on custom pieces of their own.
Mike and Nick got some great deals on fitted suits while Anne and Kim negotiated price on custom pieces of their own.
12/5--Saw the awesome AO show in Saigon-- a "cirque de soliel" influenced Vietnamese live performance. Tickets for $30 USD.
12/4--Legend has it that these are the exact landlines that Chuck Norris used to catch all of the Pokémon. Ok not really, but this is an accurate representation of the Vietnamese telecom system. Similar to the motorbike traffic, this is another example of controlled chaos. - Mike H. [Guest post]
12/3--phenomenal Banh Mí sandwiches from Banh Mí Ha Noi
12/2--In District One of Saigon you will find the Old Post Office across from Norte Dame Cathedral. Anne and Kim stopped quickly among the madness for a fun Harry Potter-esque photo in the old telephone booths. Strangely, the post office was not air conditioned, but the phone booths were???
12/1--View from our rented Apartment above the Saigon River in District Two. You can see the construction currently taking place in Saigon (the cluster of taller buildings).
11/30--Saigon Outcast is an interesting spot for bohemians who visit. Hard to categorize this is a restaurant/bar/event center with a skate park, walls and spray paint cans for you to graffiti, a DJ stand someone can hook into and start DJing, and random shipping containers if you want to escape for a bit more privacy. We went there for a drink and "Cincy Chilli" Dogs.
11/29--Meanwhile in Saigon... This is going on in the town squares.
11/28--On our flight from Zanzibar to Saigon, Vietnam, we had a long layover and did a fast-paced tour through Istanbul, Turkey.
Kim is in front of the Hagia Sophia. Those who know the history say "Mosques look like Hagia Sophia, and not the other way around" because it has existed from before the founding of Islam. This city is a must for someone who loves history (AKA Dad). [p.s. - At dinner we met a nice Hollywood indy film writer who now lives in Montana.]
Kim is in front of the Hagia Sophia. Those who know the history say "Mosques look like Hagia Sophia, and not the other way around" because it has existed from before the founding of Islam. This city is a must for someone who loves history (AKA Dad). [p.s. - At dinner we met a nice Hollywood indy film writer who now lives in Montana.]
11/27--Sat for almost the entire day thinking under this tree before leaving Zanzibar. Leaving it to catch a flight, I felt like I should have said goodbye to some old friend I met there.
11/25--the "feel" of the old man and the sea...coming back from fishing in the depths of the Indian Ocean, no life vest, no water, just endless ocean as far as you can see
11/24--A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE IN THE U.S.A.! WE MISS YOU ALL.
Picture: This man climbed the trees to get a coconut for you and then chopped the top off so you can drink the goodness. But he did it with song, dance, and panache.
Of the many great people we have met on this trip, this man was special in that he was amazingly positive and happy. He was also an amazing singer. He was an authentic artist who left himself out there for everyone to see. I had much appreciation for this man in the few minutes we met.
Picture: This man climbed the trees to get a coconut for you and then chopped the top off so you can drink the goodness. But he did it with song, dance, and panache.
Of the many great people we have met on this trip, this man was special in that he was amazingly positive and happy. He was also an amazing singer. He was an authentic artist who left himself out there for everyone to see. I had much appreciation for this man in the few minutes we met.
11/23-- the beach house in Zanzibar. Spent some quality time thinking from this viewpoint.
11/22 -- Beach front in Zanzibar [SHOUT OUT TO ANA FLEMING. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!]
11/21 -- All of the doors in Zanzibar seem to be made of wood, each one being a work of art... this one in Stone Town was particularly a favorite because it is the house dedicated to it's most famous son--Queen frontman Freddie Mercury who grew up here.
11/20--This is the awesome propeller plane that we took to Zanzibar taking off from the Serengeti air strip... which basically a dirt track.
11/19--a behind the scenes look at how this safari trip is being documented. In the background of the "ladies of the Serengeti" selfie shot, you can see 1.4 million wildabeast following the rains to eat the lush grass during migration
11/18-- the loneliest lion. I really felt for this loner who was kicked out of his pride and now travels the Serengeti by himself... a though road for a any social animal.
11/17--This was our camp tent with water tank on the outside for shower.
11/16--Kim intently watching a lion enjoy its kill.
11/15--A Maasai guide took our group on a sunrise walk from our lodge to Lake Manyara to check out the storks, pelicans, flamingos, and other water fowl. Also passed by wildebeest and impala!
11/14--An elephant calf nursing from its mother. We learned from our guide that calves will nurse for 5-7 years after they are born!
11/13--We've seen lots of warthogs (or Puumba from The Lion King) and their babies! This one is foraging near a baobab tree, which can live to be 3,000 years old 😮
11/12--A stop for Turkish coffee during our layover in Istanbul. Really thick and really strong ☕️
11/2--Catching up with Kim's cousin Isaac before his AM class!
11/1--Back to our Alma Mater to visit Jake's sisters, Ana and Izzy! The campus really shines in Autumn 🍁🍂
10/31--Happy Halloween! We are making our way back to the Midwest and broke 100K on the trusty chariot! Been very lucky this trip-no big or expensive issues so far. Just a little farther to go!
10/30--Checking out a cool art piece in downtown Salem - Stickwork by sculptor Patrick Dougherty
10/29--Walking the Heritage Trail, admiring the Colonial architecture, and learning about Salem's history.
10/28--Kicking off Halloween weekend in spooky Salem! Pic of Fred and George, the two finches that live in Wynott's Wand shop.
10/27--Wanted to check out Atlantic Brewing Company's taproom, but the theme of our trip struck again: closed for the season 👎🏼
10/26--Hard not to stop and admire these colorful leaves carpeting the Gorham Mountain Trail path in Acadia National Park
10/25--We found a John Fleming running for office in Montana, but never thought we would see Hoangs in Maine!
10/24--Lunch at Bobby B's Trinidadian roti counter in Bridgeport, Maine. The jerk chicken and veggie roti hit the spot! Still don't know what a "buss up shot" is, but I'm ordering it next time.
10/23--So peaceful watching these koi swim around an exhibit at The Met in New York.
10/22--Meeting up with Anne in NYC. After some amazing ramen, a badly lit selfie in Washington Square Park.
10/21--Our good friend Natalie with her awesome dog McFly!
10/20--Posing in front of the US Capital on the National Mall - the nation's biggest quad!
10/19--Apple pickin' in the hills of Virginia. Highly recommend the Nittany, Cameo and York.
10/18--When traveling the parks in the low season you commonly bump into what the rangers call "Newlywed and Nearly dead" (I.E. Honeymooners and Retirees). Check out this picture of the Golden Girls having a ball at Great Smoky Mountain NP
10/17--Monument at the completion of the "Tail of the Dragon" (in Deals Gap, North Carolina)--a road taken by Bikers and Sports Cars b/c it feels like a windy race track.
[http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160912-the-treacherous-road-with-318-turns]
[http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160912-the-treacherous-road-with-318-turns]
10/16--Does this man look like a super-hero? Well he is. He fixed our flat tire for no charge. I then tipped him $40. Thanks Patrick! He left me with the quote, "Go make some memories kid..."
10/15--Food from vendors at Krog Street Market in Atlanta, GA just off the Beltline. Best Chicken and Waffles ever from Richards. They put collard greens into a sweet potato waffle
10/14--Duy and Khoa playing a game of Southern Skittles
10/13--The Absinthe room in Memphis, TN on Beale Street. Had to go in. [For the HP fans out there, it was a nice Slytherin green...]
10/12-- Yes... the license plate was Texas... and that is the second floor of a building behind it...
10/11-- Chalk sketch behind the bar at Southern Sun in Boulder, CO [impressive as it changes weekly/daily]
Thanks for hanging Mike...this place has phenomenal wings.
Thanks for hanging Mike...this place has phenomenal wings.
10/10-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER ISABEL!!!
Pic = On the road at sunset. Almost to Boulder!
Pic = On the road at sunset. Almost to Boulder!
10/9--Kim eating a bite of Guiness World Record history
10/8--Grand Tetons. [It actually translates to "large breasts" in French. Thanks French Class. :\ ]
10/7--Geyser's DGAF about human being timetables and schedules.
10/6--Kim hangin' with Kathie Lynch of the YNP Wolf team. Kathie shared her time and extensive knowledge of wolves with us while we waited for the pack to make an appearance. We learned a lot about the Yellowstone wolves and also that Swarovski makes the best scopes - who knew?
10/5--Kim at Mammoth Hot Springs on a cold day
10/4/16--Huckleberry Pie. [Huckleberries are indigenous to Montana, and they put them in everything. The Pie was delicious.]
10/3/16 -- Rocks in Lake McDonald (as we wave goodbye to GNP)
10/2/16-- Montana has a great micro-brew scene. We were staying in Whitefish, MT and enjoyed these by the fire. "Good Medicine" is a term used by Native Indians to reference when you go "get away" and heal yourself by taking in the beauty of nature.
10/1/16 --first place we stopped in Glacier NP; every picture is unbelieveable
9/30/16 -- University of Montana Campus (see the 'M' on the mountain); we stopped briefly to grab a bite while making our way north to Glacier
9/29/16 -- Awesomely named bar in down town Billings, MT (although I look like a moron in this picture, if you visit take a peak into the bar); Shout out to Brian Rosh, the only man I know from the "big sky country".
9/28/16 -- Meaningful quote from Black Elk (the peak we hiked is now named after him vs. being formerly named Harney's Peak)
9/27/16 -- Kim eating Ice Cream at Mount Rushmore (note that Thomas Jefferson was the first to document a recipe for Ice Cream)
9/26/16-- Jake riding the famous "Jack-A-lope" at Wall Drug | apparently the Jack-A-Lope is an infamous fabled creature of the West
9/25/16 -- Rock of Ages "hard rocker" made of corn at the SD Corn Palace
9/24/16--Madison WI; Dom's dog Abe wants to join ATW road trip