Looking Around in Bali

Written by Karen.

During our stay in Ubud, Bali, we were able to meet up with some Swiss friends of ours - Sabine and Andy.  We originally met them when we were overlanding in our VW Vanagon in 2015 in Oaxaca, Mexico.  We stayed in touch as they went further into South America, and we returned to the USA to assist with my sister’s medical care.  They mentioned to us that they were planning on spending some time in Bali, and since we decided that Southeast Asia was next up for our world tour, we made plans to get together - and Bali was the best place.  

Fire and Rice

Written by Karen.

Back in Ubud, Bali, we were tipping towards feeling a little frustrated as the clock ticked off our fourth hour sitting in traffic in our hired car.   Our well-laid plans of extending our Indonesian travel visa for another month was blowing up all around us.  It is 22 kilometers from Ubud to the capital city of Denpasar;  it is only a short distance on a paper map.  

Monkey Business

Written by Karen.

We were on the fence about going to visit the monkeys in the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in downtown Ubud.  We had heard from other travelers that the monkeys could be a bit impulsive and jump on your head, or tear apart your back pack or unzip zippers in search of food or something shiny.  In both of these cases, you could get scratched or bitten, and immediately our fertile imaginations conceived of all sorts of bad diseases that we could get from a monkey scratch or bite.  

Bali - The Island of the Gods

Written by Karen.

There are certain places on this planet that I have long dreamed of visiting.  Bali - The Island of the Gods - is one of those places.  I have long lusted over colorful pictures of swaying palm trees, rippling green rice fields, tropical birds and monkeys, exquisite foods, elaborate dance and friendly-looking people.  I have watched - and re-watched to the point of memorization - travel shows that featured Bali and the oft-considered conclusion that once you have arrived…that people decide to just never leave.   To simply “Go bamboo.”  That Bali is - could be - the end of the line for those who wander by slowly traveling, just like us.   

Exploring Jakarta, Indonesia

Written by Karen.

Several hundred years ago, Batavia was a walled settlement for the Dutch East India Company that became their dominant hub of a thriving shipping spice trade for centuries to come.  The wooden ships of their day, full of spices as well as other cash crops of coffee, silk, perfume, opium, slaves and tobacco docked in the nearby port of Sunda Kelopa Harbor and were subsequently unloaded for sale.  

Virtual Normality

Written by Adam

“With more than one billion permutations available—from unique textures to clothing, accessories, and more—you can build something that truly represents your own style,” the firm said.

Wow.  I guess the inevitable future has finally arrived, at least according to the firm.

What Oculus (the firm) announced are the initial steps towards people participating in virtual reality, and the major concepts and potential of the burgeoning technology.

Maple Park Tower B, Jakarta, Indonesia

Written by Karen.

The gray clouds are rolling in fairly quickly from the south.  It has been a cooler day today, likely due to the rainstorm yesterday which also seemed to knock down some of the air pollution.  The Java Sea is a few miles from our apartment, but I haven’t been able to see the water for the past few days.  The air pollution is still thick, heavy and impenetrable.  I hear thunder grumbling off in the distance.  Surely, we will have another rainstorm tonight. I welcome the thought of a cleansing rainstorm and another cool day tomorrow.  

Street Food, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Written by Karen 

It was Saturday night and we were headed to the Chiang Mai Gate in the Old City of Chiang Mai.  On our agenda tonight was to walk around a bit and pick up some of the evening ambience.  Also high on my list was to eat some street food. 

Neighborhoods - Bangkok, Chiang Mai

Written by Karen.

We have been in Bangkok for several days now and are ready to settle down in our own space for a bit.  Our first impressions of Thailand are still holding strong: very friendly people, excellent food, and lots to see/do.  In short, we like Bangkok very much.  

Grocery Store Shopping in Bangkok

Written by Adam

Since I am avoiding a prolonged life of gastronomical austerity, I was compelled to visit the Thai version of a grocery store in search of some free range kale, among other things.  In some ways the offerings presented there are quite familiar to all of us, so I will not burden you with those.  I was more interested in the sheer variety of heretofore unknown groceries available in Thailand, and the subtle marketing used to move them off the aisles and directly towards the checkout counters.  

Exploring Bangkok

Written by Karen.

For such a big city, Bangkok awakens slowly.  Perhaps because it is so hot and humid here people take a more chill approach to starting their day.  We’ve been here for a few days exploring our neighborhood, walking the streets, poking into tiny alleys, wandering into markets and shops and only finding respite in the shade or air-conditioned cafes.

Waking Up in Bangkok, Thailand

Written by Karen.

The room was quiet.  It was blessedly cool due to an efficient air conditioner.  The bed was comfortable.  I had awakened just a few moments earlier and instantly wondered what time it was.  I knew it was still early in the morning as the thin wispy curtains that covered the single-paned windows were starting to shimmer with the faintest promise of daylight.

The Way It Was

Written by Karen.
Our blog has been quiet for awhile.  Our last real-time post was on the banks of the flooded Lake Tziscao in Chiapas, Mexico on April 14, 2015.  We were planning to cross over into Guatemala the next day, but our plans suddenly changed.   My sister Julie had her most recent MRI reading on April 15th and it didn’t look good.  Her current brain cancer treatment was no longer working and it was time for a different treatment.  Things for Julie were about to get much more complicated and so it was also time for Adam and I to return to the States and help Julie.   

Flashback: Getting In Tune With Kowloon - January 2014

Written by Adam.

Directly across the harbor from Hong Kong proper, Kowloon is but a short ferry ride away.  But, the contrast between Hong Kong and Kowloon could not be greater.  Kowloon hosts such cultural sites as the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Science Museum, and even the Hong Kong Space Museum.  Other aspects of the waterfront promenade include the Chinese version of an Avenue of the Stars, honoring the rich moviemaking tradition that featured Hong Kong as a home base for the Chinese movie industry that produced entertainment for a broad domestic and global audience.

In Case You Missed It...

Happening now at Lake Tziscao, Chiapas, Mexico.

Oaxaca - Part Deux

Written by Karen.
Change of plans.  Instead of heading further southeast along the Mexican coast and crossing the border into Guatemala as originally planned, we instead turned left back towards Oaxaca. 

Beach Bumming Along the Oaxacan Coast

Written by Karen.

From Oaxaca our small caravan of two headed southwest across the Sierra Madre mountain range to Puerto Escondido on the Oaxacan coast in search of some sun and beach time. According to our paper maps the trip over Highway 175 was less than 200 miles.  According to Google, the trip would take us just over 6 hours driving time.  We have learned from experience to double Google’s driving estimates while in Mexico.  After this trip, we would learn to consider tripling Google’s driving estimates when it entails mountain driving.  We would be going from 5,102 feet in altitude to sea level; a drop of over 5,000 feet.  If you thought that we would be easily coasting downwards on this stretch of road, you would be mistaken. This seemingly quick jaunt of 180 miles to the beach took us two days to finish. 

Ruins in the Sun - Mitla, Oaxaca

Written by Karen.

Approximately 26 miles outside of the city of Oaxaca, in a small town named San Pablo Villa de Mitla, lies the significant pre-Hispanic archeological site of Mitla.  It is considered to be one of the most important religious sites of the Zapotec culture.  It is further believed that Mitla was still occupied and active as the main religious center for the Zapotecs when the Spanish arrived in the early 1520’s. 

Frozen Waterfalls

Written by Karen.
Hierve el Agua - located just outside of Oaxaca - is one of only two places in the world that have natural rock waterfalls made of minerals and calcium carbonate deposits that look like flowing water.

We had heard that the road to reach Hierve el Agua was challenging - with steep drop-offs, no guard rails, narrow, winding, dirt roads, needed four-wheel drive, etc. - and we actually decided against putting Chinook through the trauma of driving up to visit Hierve el Agua. It’s off the beaten path and we’re being a bit conservative with Chinook so that we can go the distance into South America. 

Welcome Back!

Written by Karen.

Hola!  Welcome back!  Hopefully, this post finds all of you well and happy in life.  It’s been awhile, and it’s good to be back writing on ‘This Journey We Call Life’ again.  

Okay, time to get the blog back up and running!