Travel

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Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth, Texas

We went for a family outing to the renowned gardens and greenhouse near downtown.

El Cotillo in Fuerteventura, Spain

We escaped from winter in Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands.

Corralejo in Fuerteventura, Spain

We escaped from winter in Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands.

Costa Calma in Fuerteventura, Spain

We escaped from winter in Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands.

Walking around in Copenhagen, Denmark

I went to Copenhagen to help a friend clean out an old storage shed from his university days and we saw a bit of the city too.

Cattle Cove in Coñaripe, Chile

We spent an afternoon hiking to Lago Pellaifa and found a secluded little cove to relax at.

Waterfall tour in Huilo Huilo, Chile

We took a waterfall tour that took us to many points around the seven lakes, including the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve.

Salt Farm near Pichilemu, Chile

We visited a salt farm near Pichilemu to learn about sea salt.

Graffiti in Valparaiso, Chile

We walked the hills of Valparaiso on the first weekend of our trip to Chile, looking at all the street art.

Presidential Lobster in Kennebunkport, Maine

Next stop as I slowly inched my way back to Europe was Maine. I flew into Boston and my old colleague Ian was kind enough to drive all the way down and pick me up to visit this quiet area of the east coast.

BBQ and Friends in Houston, Texas

I spent some time with one of my good Purdue friends in Houston. While I was there he whipped up a special treat — six racks of ribs on his smoker!

Sours and Friends in Dripping Springs, Texas

I wasted no time getting out to my favorite brewery in the world, Jester King! It was thankfully not a release day so we enjoyed short lines, stone-fire pizzas, and farmhouse-style sour ales made right in the Texas Hill Country.

Ciders and Friends near Austin, Texas

We went to a show featuring the very talented David Diers, playing some rock at the Texas Keeper just outside Austin.

Water day in North Richland Hills, Texas

We took a trip to the local water park while I stayed with my family in Texas.

Epic sunset in St. Clair, Missouri

We saw a gorgeous sunset while driving back from Illinois to Texas.

Fun in the Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Illinois

One of our favorite things to do at Grandma's is sunset walks in the nearby cemetery. This time we also made rubbings of the oldest headstones.

Lake time in Crystal Lake, Michigan

We visited our friends Jordan and Annette, spending a relaxing pre-fourth up at their cottage in north Michigan.

Chicago Pride in Chicago, Illinois

We happened to be in Chicago during pride parade day and had a blast participating!

Road trip to Italy via Liechtenstein

We went on a road trip to Italy with my cousin Emily. She suggested that we swing through Liechtenstein on the way.

Four Kitchens around the World

A tribute to my friends and colleagues at Four Kitchens in honor of their 10th anniversary!

Last beach day on Koh Yao Noi, Thailand

Our final beach day — and last day of our trip — was a lazy day near our bungalow on Koh Yao Noi. It was a wonderful way to wind things down before heading home.

Island hopping tour near Koh Yao Noi, Thailand

We went on a private island hopping tour with a Dutch couple we met while arriving. It was a fun day visiting great islands, beaches, and swimming holes near Koh Yao Noi.

Private island on Koh Yao Noi, Thailand

Our last stop in south Thailand was Koh Yao Noi. Recommended to us by a friend in Pai, we wanted to finish our trip somewhere very relaxed and secluded.

Tonsai beach near Krabi, Thailand

Next stop on our mini beach tour was Tonsai Beach near Krabi. It's a fun little jungle community right next to the more well-known Railay beach.

Ending with the beach on Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

We decided to finish our trip off with a relaxing week at the beaches of south Thailand. Our first stop was Koh Phi Phi.

Back again in Pai, Thailand

We made a quick stopover in Pai to visit our Sabai family before finishing our trip.

Kalaw Trekking Day 3 from Part tu, Myanmar

Day 3 of our three-day trek involved a 14km hike within the Inle Lake park zone, followed by a boat ride to our final destination at a town north of the lake.

Kalaw Trekking Day 2 from Kyauk Su, Myanmar

Day 2 of our three-day trek involved a hike along the highlands with a nice long break at a swimming hole. We walked over 18km and slept in a Buddhist monastery.

Walking around in Mandalay, Myanmar

We spent a couple days in Mandalay. We visited some of the most common attractions and did our share of walking to get ready for our upcoming three-day trek.

Bagan Day 2 in Bagan, Myanmar

Our second day in Bagan was just as exciting as the first, criss-crossing sand roads and visiting interesting temples in the area.

Bagan Day 1 in Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan is one of the must-see attractions in Burma. Comparable only to Angkor Wat, it is a sprawling area of temple ruins that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Circular railway in Yangon, Myanmar

The Yangon circular railway is a local train that makes a large loop around the city. It's great for people-watching and seeing parts of Yangon that aren't polished for tourism.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar

Our second night in Yangon we visited the biggest temple in Myanmar. It has a long history dating back to the 11th century and houses many relics.

Walking downtown in Yangon, Myanmar

Our first days in Burma were spent walking through downtown. Here are a few things we saw as we wandered around aimlessly.

Immigration process in Yangon, Myanmar

The immigration process for Burma is relatively hassle-free if you're prepared ahead of time. Learn from our experience!

Sunrise to sunset on Koh Lipe, Thailand

Koh Lipe is a small, gorgeous postcard of an island offering many beaches and beautiful views of both sunrise and sunset.

SkyBridge in Langkawi, Malaysia

We waited until the weekend was over to visit one of the main tourist attractions: SkyBridge, a suspension bridge between two mountain peaks.

Skull beach in Langkawi, Malaysia

Another picture-perfect beach! This time on the north coast of Langkawi called Skull beach.

360° viewpoint in Langkawi, Malaysia

We moved more north into Langkawi and visited the highest peak to watch the sunset from a 360-degree viewpoint.

Night market in Langkawi, Malaysia

We visited the Kedah night market and had loads of delicious eats for mere cents per item.

Visa overstay in Indonesia

We misunderstood Indonesian visa-on-arrival policy and ended up paying a one-day overstay fee on our way out.

Monumen Nasional in Jakarta, Java

We made a quick stop in Jakarta before flying out of the country and visited a well-known national monument in the city center.

Borobudur in Yogyakarta, Java

We rode out to Borobudur, a large temple complex outside of Yogyakarta. It was an impressive area quite different than the other temples we've seen on this trip.

Luweng Sampang in Yogyakarta, Java

Our first day in Yogyakarta we took a nice motorbike ride through the jungle-covered mountains to a waterfall.

Scam city at Bromo National Park

We tried going to Bromo to do another sunrise volcano hike, but weather, volcanic activity, and scams got the best of us.

Blue Fire in Kawah Ijen, Java

We made a treacherous night hike up to Mount Ijen and into a crater that is home to a sulfur volcano with blue flames!

Air Panas Banjar in Banjar, Bali

We stopped in Lovina on the way to Java and found a nice thermal bath to complement the relentless rainy season.

Snorkeling in Blue Lagoon

Returning from Gili Air back to Padang Bay, we went snorkeling again in Blue Lagoon a few times. This time we were armed with our friend's camera and caught some great glimpes of underwater sea life.

Snorkeling in Gili Air, Indonesia

Our host at Goodtimes Bungalows took me snorkeling in the coral reef around Gili Air. It was one of the most incredible displays of nature I've ever seen!

Good times in Gili Air, Indonesia

Instead of going to the main island of Lombok, we chose a tiny paradise just off the coast called Gili Air. It is a 1km-wide island with quaint bungalows and charming restaurants.

Tirta Gangga & Pura Lempuyang in Bali, Indonesia

We went to a water palace called Taman Tirta Gangga, and then to a mountain temple called Pura Lempuyang. Both places featured old, impressive stone work.

White sand beach in Padang Bay, Bali

Padang Bay is a "pass-through" town with a beautiful gem of a beach. It's not a secret beach or anything, but both days we went there were max 15 people during the day.

Kuta beach in Kuta, Bali

Our hostel was quite close to a beach that was just down the coast from the main tourist strip. It was empty during the day but swelled with people as the sun set.

Balangan Beach in Kuta, Bali

Balangan Beach is a gorgeous surfing beach a little off the beaten path in Kuta, Bali.

Beach time in Bali, Indonesia

Finally after several major changes of plans, we made it to Indonesia! This was our original inspiration for taking the trip and we're excited to spend some lazy days in the sun.

Long layover in Singapore

Due to a minor flight complication we were only in Singapore for 18 hours and did not get to explore as much as we wanted. It was nice to use fast internet, drink tap water, and throw our TP in the toilet for one night though.

Back again in Bangkok, Thailand

We made the best of our two days in Bangkok before flying to Singapore and Indonesia. Star Wars and massage, the good life!

Back again in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Instead of staying in Bangkok we went back to visit Ya in Ayutthaya. We had a nice time singing songs and just relaxing at his wonderful guest house.

Hot Air Balloon in Vang Vieng, Laos

We got a bit of gift money from my mom with clear instructions: do something extraordinary so we could share the memories.

Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos

We did one of the most popular activities on New Years' Eve in Vang Vieng — tubing down the river!

Grill Buffet in Luang Prabang, Laos

We got to Luang Prabang late, but immediately found a great type of food stand that should be everywhere.

100 Waterfalls in Nong Khiaw, Laos

We took a tour to the 100 Waterfalls. It was a moderate hike with a beautiful reward: seemingly endless cascades of springs and waterfalls.

Phadeng Peak in Nong Khiaw, Laos

Phadeng Peak is a steep, moderate hike that ends with a great view of Nong Khiaw and the upstream river toward Muang Ngoy.

Kayaking to Nong Khiaw from Muang Ngoy, Laos

We kayaked to Nong Khiaw instead of taking a boat. It was a nice four hour trip and we got to really enjoy the sights and sounds of the Ou River.

Hiking in Muang Ngoy, Laos

Our only full day in Muang Ngoy was spent hiking. We hiked to a nearby cave and village, then went on a separate hike to see the sunset.

Slow boat to Muang Ngoy from Muang Khua, Laos

We went on a four hour ride for our first slow boat trip, which took us down the Ou River from Muang Khua to Muang Ngoy.

Markets in Muang Khua, Laos

A few glimpses into the markets of Muang Khua. It's a rural town with some unusual choices of cuisine. Content warning, strange dead animals in this post!

Sabaidee in Muang Khua, Laos

After our crazy bus ride into Laos, the first stop was luckily the small, laid-back town of Muang Khua. We stayed here several days to recharge and relax.

Bus to Laos from Hanoi, Vietnam

We survived an epic chain of transport from Cat Ba to Laos, and even enjoyed it despite the madness that ensued.

Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

We went kayaking in the ocean around Cat Ba Island! We kayaked around some of the islands, stopped at one of the beaches on Monkey Island, and went through a fishing village.

Caves and Parks in Cat Ba, Vietnam

Our first day exploring Cat Ba Island we did the easy tourist sights — the Hospital Cave and the National Park.

Boat tour in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

We kinda got scammed into a tour through Ha Long Bay, but it's a pretty nice place to be tricked into staying all afternoon.

Stopover in Dong Hoi, Vietnam

We stopped in Dong Hoi because we had the time and wanted to break up the bus ride to Hanoi.

Downtime in Nha Trang, Vietnam

After our motorbike tour we took it easy in Nha Trang for a couple days. It's a touristy city which is clearly dominated by Russians.

Dalat Easy Riders Day 3 in Krong Kmar, Vietnam

Day 3 of our Easy Rider tour took us through the mountains to visit the highlanders, more farmers growing bamboo, black pepper, rubber and honey, and a fair bit of rain thrown in to make it interesting before arriving in Nha Trang to end our journey.

Dalat Easy Riders Day 2 in Lak Lake, Vietnam

Day 2 of our Easy Rider tour brought us to many stages of the coffee production process, a waterfall, and an unexpected Thanksgiving feast!

Sunrise tour in Mui Ne, Vietnam

We went on a sunrise tour in Mui Ne. We saw the white and red sand dunes, as well as the mysterious Fairy Stream.

Sandcastles at Longson Mui Ne

We had a sandcastle contest one night. Such a blast! Karin and I were declared the winners based on our excellent teamwork 💗

Longson in Mui Ne, Vietnam

With my leg almost healed, it was finally time to hit the beach! We chose Mui Ne and had a great time at an awesome resort. The people there are great and the staff are dedicated to showing us how to have a good time.

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City was quite the change of pace after our slow weeks in Thailand. It's a crazy, pulsing city that is no place for a newbie traveler. We had a blast checking it out and acting young for a few days.

Walking around in Chiang Mai, Thailand

After a relaxing time in Pai, our Vietnamese visa date quickly came upon us. We went back to Chiang Mai for two nights before grabbing a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Sabai Garden in Pai, Thailand

Sabai Garden was our home for two weeks during my recovery. It was such a peaceful, relaxing place filled with lovely people.

Cooking class in Pai, Thailand

Once of the only things we'd planned for Pai was a cooking class. We picked a good one including a trip to the market, and had lots of fun making common Thai dishes from scratch.

Mr. Christopher in Pai, Thailand

Lessons learned from getting medical treatment for a moderately infected wound in Pai, Thailand.

Books in Pai, Thailand

My reading list in Pai. See last entry.

Chillin' in Pai, Thailand

After our adventures at Cave Lodge we stopped in Pai to just relax a bit. It's a small town with bustling tourism and a great vibe.

Kayaking at Cave Lodge

We went kayaking twice in a row because it was so much fun! We did a short 2-hour and long 5-hour trip. The long one had a bit of caving thrown in for good measure.

Three Cave Trek at Cave Lodge

Our first big trek was a three-cave hike through the hills and mountains, with some jungle and swimming in between.

Big Knob at Cave Lodge

Our first activity at Cave Lodge was an easy local spot called Big Knob. It's a short hike, no guide needed, and it can be done in about two hours.

Cave Lodge in Soppong, Thailand

Cave Lodge is an absolutely beautiful place to stay in north Thailand offering more adventures than we thought possible. Anyone passing through should make a stop here for at least a few nights!

City life in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is the biggest city in the north, offering plenty of sights and activities. We had fun checking it out for a few days.

Temple Ruins in Ayutthaya, Thailand

The temples in Ayutthaya are almost all ruins due to the Burmese sacking this former capital city in the late 18th century. The ruins were beautiful and mysterious due to their condition.

Walking around in Bangkok, Thailand

We did a lot of walking around in Bangkok. Here are some of the things we saw over the course of a few days.

Wat Pho in Bangkok, Thailand

We accidentally stumbled upon Wat Pho, the most beautiful place we have seen so far in Bangkok. The amount of care and craft put into these temples is truly magnificent.

Arriving in Bangkok, Thailand

Our first stop in Southeast Asia was Bangkok, the bustling capitol of Thailand. Bangkok is a busy, dirty city but it is filled with very friendly people who always greet you with a smile.

The Palace in Versailles, France

We went to Versailles on our last day in Paris. Aside from the insane amount of tourists, it was pretty neat.

Visiting Emily in Paris, France

The first stop on our trip to Asia was actually Paris! My cousin Emily had just moved there and we wanted to get a visit in before leaving for 6 months.

Parc Güell in Barcelona, Spain

Parc Güell is an expansive, hilly park in the middle of town offering great views of the city and fun experiences with musicians of all types.

La Mercè in Barcelona, Spain

By coincidence, DrupalCon was exactly the same week as La Mercè, an annual festival in Barcelona. We were treated to extraordinary nightlife almost the entire time we were there.

Visitors in Freiburg, Germany

Before DrupalCon Barcelona three of my dear colleagues from Four Kitchens came to visit Freiburg. It was fun being the tour guide and showing them around the town I call home.

Cowtown in Fort Worth, Texas

My mom and I showed Karin around the Fort Worth Stockyards when we visited her before our trip to S.E. Asia. She had a blast checking out all them there Texans.

Visiting Friends in Ann Arbor, Michigan

We visited Jordan and Annette in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We had a fun week of hiking, canoeing, and furniture-building.

Buccaneers in Cintsa Bay, South Africa

Our stop at Buccaneers was our last of the trip because it was so great! We stayed several days longer than we planned. It's a beautiful community situated across the entire side of a mountain facing the coast of Cintsa Bay.

Amakhala Game Reserve at Addo Elephant National Park

We enjoyed a luxurious, thrilling safari on the Amakhala Game Reserve. We saw four of the Big 5 in their natural habitats, living freely under the protection of the game park we visited.

J-Bay in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

Jeffreys Bay is a popular surfing spot with great beaches. We took it easy here and just enjoyed the scenery.

Relaxing on the beach in Mossel Bay, South Africa

Mossel Bay is the east bookend of the Garden Route, offering a relaxing string of beaches. It's great for a private getaway.

Lion's Head in Cape Town, South Africa

Lion's Head is an easy hike for people of all skill levels. We easily made the top in about an hour, and we heard it's a good spot for night hiking too.

Salt Flats in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Our second day in San Pedro we took a tour to the salt flats. We swam in the Ojos del Salar and watched the sunset at Salares themselves.

Downtown in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

The town of San Pedro is quite small, but full of interesting sights. I expected it to be less modern given how remote it is, but the bustling tourism supports their economy very well.

Bus to San Pedro in Salta, Argentina

The bus ride from Mendoza to San Pedro is long but the scenery is absolutely stunning. We stopped overnight in Salta, Argentina. Otherwise we just enjoyed the earth rolling by, slowly turning from lush green into arid desert as we approached San Pedro.

Don't cry for me in Mendoza, Argentina

We spent an extra day in Mendoza due to bus strikes. We used it well, finding a beautiful hotel and exploring more of the downtown area.

Cerro Aconcagua in Mendoza, Argentina

Starting from Mendoza, we took a day trip to see Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas.

Visiting Karin in Santiago de Chile

After meeting Karin in Freiburg, I decided to visit her in Chile where she was taking time off work to travel. My first destination was Santiago, where she lived at the time.

Mussels in Brussels in Brussels, Belgium

Thinking of Brussels two things come to mind: the best beer in the world, and great food to soak it up.

First trip to Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany

Freiburg was my first stop after DrupalCon Munich. Little did I know it would be the best place on my trip through Europe! This day was the catalyst for my moving to Europe to be with Karin.

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