We spent holiday break on a 3 week journey with 3 friends from CAC. We literally took every from of transportation known to man. We were on 15 flights, two 10 hour trains, scooters, mini-vans, water taxis, rickshaws, bike, and on foot.

Our first stop; Ethiopia for 3 days. A great chance to see some of the most beautiful people on earth. We even got to see Lucy, the 3.2 million year old first something or other homo-sapien.

We then spent 2 weeks traveling through northern Vietnam, we trekked through the Sapa rice patties and crashed at their homes. The food was incredible, wok'd right over an open fire. Christmas night was spent playing cards and drinking rice wine. For new years we spoiled ourselves at a 5 star resort on the South China Sea. 

A few more planes, trains, buses, scooters, and autos later we hit Thailand. We road an Elephant up the mountain, attended a Tai cooking class, spent to much money and finally crashed out on the beaches in the South. Thailand was capped off by meeting up with some friends in Bangkok who happened to be traveling in the area as well. It was nice to hear stories of home and just catch up.

An amazing trip all around. We certainly missed being home for the holidays, but could not pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity to see a new area and culture.

peace!
 

Days 1-3 : Ethiopia

Steve with some kids outside the museum where Lucy lives.

I'd be the tall one in the middle.

Days 4-14 : Vietnam

 
The group on a 3 day trek through Sapa. Steve's sick now.

That's:
Deb, Lana, Jamie, Chan, Steve

PS. Deb, far left, is the one who knew what to do and where to go. Our fearless leader!

 
Words cannot describe.

You see the edge of those rice patties, in about 60 seconds we're walking on them balancing as we go.

Days 15-21 : Thailand

Dad's Birkebeiner medal from 1975, now serving as a good luck charm, shopping in Chang Mai, Thailand.

Four of those lamps behind Chan came home with us.

Day 22 : Return

peace!