We just returned from a few days on Pulau Langkawi. Langkawi is a quiet island located a three hour ferry ride north of Penang. With its larger size and smaller population, it made for a much more laid back and…
The Incredible Indian Festival of Thaipusam, Penang
I went to India today! Thaipusam is a Indian festival that originates with Tamil speaking Hindus. It marks the Hindu month of Thai in the Tamil solar calendar. Currently banned in India, it is only celebrated in a few select…
Penang and The Joy of Homeschooling
I write this from Penang Island, in the northwest part of Malaysia, the 6th country of our trip. We arrived a week ago at our little 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom apartment that we will call home for almost five…
New Families-On-The Move Friends in SE Asia
We got to do something fun this past week that we haven’t done in a long time…. We hosted friends for three days. And, strangely enough, these were very new friends. As a matter of fact, before they showed…
Fourth Month and the Islands of Thailand
It is hard to believe we are already past our four month mark of our journey. As for the past month or so, it has been a very different type of travel than where we started. We started the trip…
Gibbon Rescue On Phuket, Thailand
Gibbons used to be plentiful in Thailand and through SE Asia, but they were poached for use and abuse in the tourist trade and as pets. Used mainly for photo opportunities for tourists who pay for a photo with a…
The Beautiful Khao Sok National Park and Rain Forest
We just left Khao Sok National Park, said to be earth’s oldest rain forest. More biodiverse than even the Amazon Rainforest, we got to see all sort of amazing plant species and even a few animals that we didn’t expect. …
Driving in Koh Phangan – by Nathan!
Today we decided to bite the bullet and rent a vehicle to explore Koh Phangan, Thailand. As you may remember from our time in Vietnam, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian countries we have been in, the ubiquitous “scooter” is the…
Bruises, Scratches, and Fevers, Oh My!
What a day of highs and lows on lovely Koh Phangan! Because it costs quite a bit to hire a taxi on the island, we decide to rent a car and spend a long day exploring on our own. At…
My story as a conflicted tourist in Koh Samui
For the past three days, I have been a tourist. Not just any tourist. One of THOSE tourists. The kind who go to exotic places and spend a whole week lounging by the pool with their beer belly for company…