Tony and Carrie's Around the World Adventure
In and around World
The preparation has begun . . . plane ticktets have been bought, vacinations are almost complete and the stress level is lowering each day. Our goal is to travel all the way around the world (west to east) in 16 months at a cost of less than $90,000 (which is about $200 per day).
Countries on our itinerary include China (including Tibet), Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda (to see the gorillas), Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nambia, South Africa and the US.
Our first flight leaves on Monday, August 20 to Beijing, China. But before we go, we are enjoying some vacation time in our beautiful state and in the south.
We will do our best to post locations, pictures and stories as often as possible and would love to hear from you along the way. So drop us a note whenever you get a chance!
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler VanderWoodzanden
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1
Quading on the Oregon Sand Dunes
The weather was exceptionally great for our annual sand dune quad riding. Everyone had a blast both hanging around in camp and riding out on... Continue reading »
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2
Learning to Surf
It had been a long drive up the coast from Reedsport to Manzanita but that didn't stop Tony. From riding quads in the am to surfing in the pm... Continue reading »
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3
Tony's First Trip to Crater Lake
Crater Lake was beautiful as always. The dark blue water contrasted by the steep rock sides. The narrow winding roads with numerous opp... Continue reading »
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4
TennAbamOrida
First, we need to clear up the title 'TennAbamOrida". You see, in Southern States, towns that are near the border of another state are often named... Continue reading »
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5
Forbidden City and HuTong in Beijing
We arrived in Beijing after traveling for 15+ hours and being awake for 20+ hours. Even at 10:00 pm in Beijing it was 80+ degrees outsid... Continue reading »
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6
Great Wall
The Secret Wall trip was worth the wait. Words cannot describe how absolutely beautiful and breathtaking it was to see the Great Wall for the... Continue reading »
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7
Mmmmmmm Chinese Food.
Well, I guess the question on everyone's mind is: Do you think that they would really eat dog?
The answer: (Todd, don't read any fur... Continue reading »
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8
Terra Cotta Soldiers
The Terra Cotta Soldiers are affectionately known as the Eighth Wonder of the World or so the entrance sign proclaimed. Actually they are pre... Continue reading »
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9
Mt. Hua
We were so excited to be leaving the city behind us and heading for the moutains. Mt. Hua to be exact. One of the five Taoist sacred mo... Continue reading »
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10
The roof of the world. Lhasa
We arrived safely in Lhasa by train. The trip took 48 hours and after the first night on the train we awoke to solid white outside. It had sn... Continue reading »
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11
Overland Trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu
Well as we mentioned we found two people from Portland, Oregon -- John and Kirsten -- to share a jeep ride with from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal.... Continue reading » -
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Overland Trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu
Well as we mentioned we found two people from Portland, Oregon -- John and Kirsten -- to share a jeep ride with from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal.... Continue reading » -
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Annapurna Circuit
Its hard to put a 18 day trekking adventure into a short story. There are so many things to describe. For myself I kept daily journey entries so h... Continue reading » -
14
Go jump off a mountain
Well, the story begins on the Annapurna trek. Two friends (Pablo and Johnny)star talking out going para gliding (I'll get to the description... Continue reading »
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15
Kayaking and Safari
Well after spending several days relaxing and recooperating in style after the Annapurna Circuit trek, we decided we were ready for another adven... Continue reading »
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16
Cambodia - Angkor Wat, Battambang and Killing Fields
ANGKOR WAT - Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples were built in the 15th century before our country was even discovered by Christopher Columbus.&... Continue reading »
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17
Fear of guns.
For those of you who don't know, I have a fear of guns. I am not sure why and frankly never cared. I am also the type of person who does not like t... Continue reading »
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18
Children's Orphanage
While in Phnom Phen, Cambodia, Tony and I had the opportunity to visit a local children's orphanage. We asked our driver (who had a friend th... Continue reading »
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20
Mekong Delta
Its amazing how a border (essentially an invisible line) can create such a division. A difference in scenery and cultures. We came from... Continue reading »
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21
Ho Chi Mihn City - A Thrill A Minute
The guide book described Ho Chi Mihn City (HCMC) as a town which provides a thrill a minute and they weren't kidding. On the bus ride into HC... Continue reading »
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22
Halong Bay
After the excitement of Ho Chi Mihn City, we decided to fly to Hanoi and relax for a few days aboard a junk boat in Halong Bay. In Hanoi we w... Continue reading »
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23
Drinking with the locals
So the plan was: We leave Hulong Bay, where the weather was sunny and warm, and head south along the coast where we hoped the weather was sunny and... Continue reading »
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24
REI Mis-Adventures -- A Bicycle Trip Across Vietnam
Let me preface this blog by saying that neither Tony or I will ever take an REI Adventure trip again. So if you suspect some underlying tones... Continue reading »
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25
Motorcycle Diaries -- Laos
Road Trip? Sure why not and Laos is the perfect place since even their main highway throughout the country is only a two lane paved road. Plus th... Continue reading »
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26
A Week in Paradise
Vang Vieng is a small town between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. It makes a great "stop-over" on the 12 hour bus journey. However, we fe... Continue reading »
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27
Elephant Mahouts
What an amazing experience to ride on the back (actually closer to the head) of an elephant and just trek through the jungle. We couldn't pas... Continue reading »
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28
Giving of Alms
The giving of alms in Luang Prabang is an amazing site. Luang Prabang is one of the largest cities in Laos and it is listed on the UNESCO as... Continue reading »
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29
Happy Holidays
Spending the holidays away from home is exciting but never easy. We certainly miss all of you very much. But its the people and time sp... Continue reading »
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30
Markets and Cooking Laos Style
If you have a squimish stomach, you might want to avoid the pictures in this post. The text is fine but the pictures . . . well you can judge... Continue reading »
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31
Village Life
You always hear statistics like 1/6 of the world's population lives on less than $1 per day or 1/3 of the world has no electricity, but to actually... Continue reading »
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32
Northern Thailand Road Trip
After the motorcycle trip around central Laos, we decided that the best way to see Northern Thailand was to rent a car and drive ourselves. Allowin... Continue reading »
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33
Northern Thailand Road Trip
After the motorcycle trip around central Laos, we decided that the best way to see Northern Thailand was to rent a car and drive ourselves. Allowin... Continue reading »
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34
Highland Farm Gibbon Sanctuary
There were tears in my eyes as we said our goodbyes and drove away. I had no idea I would become so attached to or feel so strongly for the g... Continue reading »
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35
Southern Laos
Dad and Jen are coming! Dad and Jen are coming! They wanted to experience the type of traveling we are doing. Not only the places... Continue reading »
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36
Tropical Paradise or Tourist Hell
Southern Thailand is a beach lovers paradise and it seems as though the Thai people have capitalized on square inch. I think I would have a d... Continue reading »
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37
Dive, Eat, Relax -- REPEAT
The title just about sums up our liveabord diving experience in the Similan Islands in Thailand. The boat left in the evening so that they co... Continue reading »
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38
New Zealand Homestay
Well we finally arrived in a first world country and I have to admit, it was a little shocking. Luckily we had Robyn and Colin (the couple we... Continue reading »
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39
New Zealand Souviner
The preparation for this road trip was extraordinary, but it ended with one of the coolest souveniers ever . . . a New Zealand driver's license.&nb... Continue reading »
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40
Northland Adventures
I was sitting on the beach watching Tony surf when it hit me. We had been experiencing all these amazing adventures (sand boarding, surfing,... Continue reading »
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41
Better Luck Next Time
I'm not sure what I think about luck, but I did make an observation the other day. Why is it people seem to notice bad luck more than good luck.... Continue reading » -
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Geothermal Activity
New Zealand is certainly land of the volcanos and that results in one of our favorite past times . . . relaxing in a natural hot spring. Its... Continue reading »
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43
Other North Island Adventures
Our adventures continued throughout the North Island of New Zealand. Even though we spent a few days relaxing in geothermal country, neither... Continue reading »
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44
Waitomo Caves
This blog is directly out of my daily journal. I thought I would share some of what I record on a daily basis . . . at least here in New Zealand... Continue reading » -
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Abel Tasman National Park
We are now on the South Island of New Zealand. Of course, we crossed on a day where the skies were gray and it was raining. This did ma... Continue reading »
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46
Rugged West Coast
The Kiwi's kept saying "Wait till you get to the South Island". Our reply, "Okay, but we think the North Island is pretty terrific." Now t... Continue reading » -
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Heli-Biking
On my list of things that I wanted to try before I die was Heli-Biking. This is what I would consider the luxury version of being dropped at the to... Continue reading »
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48
Milford Track
The Milford Track is famous because of its beautiful scenery. Even if your not a Kiwi, you've probably heard of the Milford Track. ... Continue reading »
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49
Yellow-Eyed Penguins
Many of you know that I have a passion for wildlife and to experience true "wild" life you have to view an animal in its natural environment. ... Continue reading »
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50
Central Otago Rail Trail
A couple we met at a holiday park in Te Anau before beginning the Milford Trek told us about the Central Otago Rail Trail -- a 150 kilometer bicycl... Continue reading »
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51
Sydney
Originally we had no plans to go to Australia. Its not that we didn't want to see Australia, but Australia is a big and expensive country which... Continue reading »
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