Bonjour! From Le Tour de France 2014
“I was joined by Jen, an ex-pro who works with Bikestyle Tours, for the last few switchbacks and was barely able to make conversation. To give you an idea about … Read More
Countries
Dubai and Abu Dhabi – All That Glitters…
The last stop on our 2014 Around The World trip was the United Arab Emirates (UAE), specifically Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE is the result of a union of … Read More
Singapore Slinging
Modern Singapore was founded when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, a British statesman, landed in the area in 1819 and negotiated a treaty with a previously banished sultan to establish Singapore as … Read More
Bangkok in a Day
“Red shirts warn of civil war.” Normally a headline that would keep one out of ‘red shirt’ territory. But since we’re safely in Singapore now, we’ll admit that we did … Read More
Everest from the Air
Our lucky monkeys worked again. On our very last morning in Nepal, the weather cleared and we were able to take a mountain flight along the Himalayas. We got clear … Read More
K-k-k-k-k-k-Kathmandu
Nepal is a land-locked country the size of Iowa, with a population of 28 million. 2.5 million live in the capital, Kathmandu. Kathmandu gained notoriety in the 1960s when its Freak … Read More
In The Shadow of Mt. Everest
Weather is the ruler of life and activity in the Everest region. On April 18, weather caused catastrophe on Everest. An avalanche on the Khumbu Icefields killed 16 sherpas, the … Read More
Hiking the Foothills of the Himalayas – The Annapurnas
Hiking in the foothills of the Himalayas was on Mark’s bucket when I met him 14 years ago, before a bucket list was a thing. Sometimes a long anticipation of … Read More
Tiger’s Nest: The Cultural Icon of Bhutan
As the grand finale to our trip in Bhutan, we climbed to Tiger’s Nest monastery (Taktshang) near Paro. Tiger’s Nest is by far the most photographed site in Bhutan. It … Read More
Thimphu – Bhutan’s “Big Apple”
Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is by far the largest city at about 100,000 people. It is home to the Royal family, the parliament, international aid organizations, the Bhutan Eleven … Read More