tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527793434469415442024-03-13T18:31:25.983-06:00Is that all you got?testing our moxy around the world:
Troy and Nicole FarnNicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-37882056422714900232011-06-05T10:33:00.015-06:002011-06-05T11:26:54.311-06:00Cold Chicken<div align="center">We crammed ourselves into a series of chicken buses (also carrying chickens, naturally, in addition to people, not to mention dogs, bicycles, construction materials, fish, and plantains) as we headed south from Jiquilillo. Eight or nine hours later, we arrived on the shore of Lake Nicaragua in time to catch a ferry over to Ometepe Island, an island impressively formed by two volcanoes rising from the lake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d8BiT6brpCY9w9KB9QjMJfTtqKjHlU1ghaZGbJGjD2sT9CMJa0b8ESZ0hl4bEeiWGOgIA9Xh8F01Aijl1xCZkxZd3nasviNQSRvOMSO39SNtobxvAeGfvJN0WPXWz7n28-f3nV6bBggy/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614777935622369922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d8BiT6brpCY9w9KB9QjMJfTtqKjHlU1ghaZGbJGjD2sT9CMJa0b8ESZ0hl4bEeiWGOgIA9Xh8F01Aijl1xCZkxZd3nasviNQSRvOMSO39SNtobxvAeGfvJN0WPXWz7n28-f3nV6bBggy/s200/IMG_2267.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpHckctZsMebuij1BernAGObK2thazj972sh1lE4w4BsIOy5Ker060yop018jxIMy__7C0Kt7lblPhg0yM-g5jR-ZSAlJCWZqNZc5TUrGK54W-NuUgq-lp3ceWtf6WLcAuRI0i0oEuIJR/s1600/IMG_2274.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614778004383715298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpHckctZsMebuij1BernAGObK2thazj972sh1lE4w4BsIOy5Ker060yop018jxIMy__7C0Kt7lblPhg0yM-g5jR-ZSAlJCWZqNZc5TUrGK54W-NuUgq-lp3ceWtf6WLcAuRI0i0oEuIJR/s200/IMG_2274.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><p align="center">Many people are attracted to Ometepe by the opportunity to relax and explore nature and a good many others are lured by the opportunity to reach the crater of one active volcano and the crater lake of one dormant volcano. Aside from the fact that we had planned to visit here in 2009 and never made it, I am not embarassed to say that our keen interest to visit Ometepe was based largely on the promise of fresh baked bread and homemade peanut butter and nutella. Yep, to satisfy a craving. We had been given the inside scoop from other travelers in Jiquilillo that a certain 'finca' offered these tasty treats. They had actually ended up staying five weeks! Wow, I thought, that must be some seriously good bread.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ5KQ2-WHv1lSGJnU6sf_D593iWpdswL70qEllFxHSmJg7w-w4uTzzxCiyplRKLLjdeuGhpd8E29EtrVG-pYdDGKtuRDoM8D2OTHycsCuBZUnf8TpnhtNCYAuiGyWS0k2EOPb2N3mbR_-/s1600/IMG_2307.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614778532380685842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ5KQ2-WHv1lSGJnU6sf_D593iWpdswL70qEllFxHSmJg7w-w4uTzzxCiyplRKLLjdeuGhpd8E29EtrVG-pYdDGKtuRDoM8D2OTHycsCuBZUnf8TpnhtNCYAuiGyWS0k2EOPb2N3mbR_-/s200/IMG_2307.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUGp3N_sUdSoIvTsTRNyh-sVivoFjgiOPIKRQuGPeG7eIHpmEB8avS0Igx6gvPcp1MpUvuwIv6dJCY3BHVcJDQan4f3hdaICZ2jDBHj222-SLoW_BjdQE6JOgLjoiXvOP11nm-wbvrbkz/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614778660117570818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUGp3N_sUdSoIvTsTRNyh-sVivoFjgiOPIKRQuGPeG7eIHpmEB8avS0Igx6gvPcp1MpUvuwIv6dJCY3BHVcJDQan4f3hdaICZ2jDBHj222-SLoW_BjdQE6JOgLjoiXvOP11nm-wbvrbkz/s200/IMG_2297.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center">We spent two nights at El Zopilote, sharing a rustic hut with some cute little lizards and some terrifying bugs the size of small cats. We met some lovely ladies from Australia and together we spent some time on the deserted beach and climbed Maderas Volcano (the dormant one with the crater lake. Yes, the smaller of the two, but need I remind you that we previously climbed eight volcanoes...?). </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc944WWn-pKnUBEyWu8XR5LUmAgtDc277an2T1UnOKlRTsXGCgNwjJgoiDYVdmfbxTakh3m6XRQ3-10F33mrGLYjruNlpV59VtKHewroKqz_laUoqt1yvRN7i4QRN0AQUhB2lPxv0-L2Bc/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614784921747341650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc944WWn-pKnUBEyWu8XR5LUmAgtDc277an2T1UnOKlRTsXGCgNwjJgoiDYVdmfbxTakh3m6XRQ3-10F33mrGLYjruNlpV59VtKHewroKqz_laUoqt1yvRN7i4QRN0AQUhB2lPxv0-L2Bc/s200/IMG_2289.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux8ieAWGRJztoHBHq7kUrdJ4YtqbZG8ovYnAh1pAhDE566ldFvZXVShQnLjQP-c92FhwTrEqC96tGmEg7v04Ai9-wt-ua0SB_qzw6zgTA5ZpHpJQTbKZq9dY-RU-eJ5UjAmp9qp8MKsaI/s1600/IMG_2295.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614785011290537906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 179px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux8ieAWGRJztoHBHq7kUrdJ4YtqbZG8ovYnAh1pAhDE566ldFvZXVShQnLjQP-c92FhwTrEqC96tGmEg7v04Ai9-wt-ua0SB_qzw6zgTA5ZpHpJQTbKZq9dY-RU-eJ5UjAmp9qp8MKsaI/s200/IMG_2295.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><br />When we weren't eating peanut butter sandwhiches, we enjoyed the fine dining experience offered by the family across the dirt road. It took a couple minutes for my brain to do the translation on the first night when the nice woman told us that she didn't have any 'cold chicken' and that our meals would take 'some time' to prepare but as she walked behind the house and the chickens scattered, it all came together. I was greatful that she turned up the music just a touch.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614785327992395634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTF8D5utjvE3VZkHuzUKxHVWo1_Dn138bfLyMCowBCPSyVbwTcGSVsy_p7pRCK28APixGjlV-TxxsZvbZ-bm3GdzNOuYhZNIucUsKtcBNwSKw8TirpmwNDqPgUnm0JOY5eCC5pMzkcsAS/s200/IMG_2309.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center">Although we had originally planned to stay on the island for one more night, we decided to roll with the punches when we naively assumed that Sunday buses would run on the same schedule as every other day. Because the ferry terminal ended up being the end of the line for the bus we had boarded, we decided to head across the lake and spend some time in Granada instead. We spent our last day in Nicaragua wandering the streets of this colonial town, taking in some culture...and eating ice cream. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614785978363511586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6rGG_SuzCluPGjzhpul4_VBRBAZ28gic1TlbtxHIchBgeR1gTH_4HT-bIDOgbT78PymhuyFH8Ch-36lrrAG2vKWePvi6xJE2Sl4eWm3mLbybv0Pl7V-2NwuwPs4XYMIVKaASlcX2NSOD/s200/IMG_2317.JPG" border="0" /></p>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-27402276128251459062011-05-26T18:58:00.009-06:002011-05-26T19:28:29.143-06:00Chillin´in Jiquilillo<div style="text-align: center;">We sadly said goodbye on Sunday night...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilect3m8EW3Wz3K3ujiuVV0WRk0v4Z0jSy3OCWzuWo2HozXB-Wkf2bNQxBJqvaOfMKPEQBTwytqsoXrNy52SdX71XOQVLN32kt7jX73YepBoxiIB30XqjuVqtTCN6X4fBXzo1XfmhIfbvx/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilect3m8EW3Wz3K3ujiuVV0WRk0v4Z0jSy3OCWzuWo2HozXB-Wkf2bNQxBJqvaOfMKPEQBTwytqsoXrNy52SdX71XOQVLN32kt7jX73YepBoxiIB30XqjuVqtTCN6X4fBXzo1XfmhIfbvx/s200/IMG_2181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611198878201747970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmDP8-hg9_DSrkF5Bg_8Hpz0ruy8KiuasST3jpOl26T5XnkG5iuaaX-bNAbkqEiuiD-9gwOJ5UnLgdFKbkLM-9dA5tY0YEJY4NoUBCo6svyW8gt3lSqLZWU9dK2FL32Dexcolt4bJsnTM/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmDP8-hg9_DSrkF5Bg_8Hpz0ruy8KiuasST3jpOl26T5XnkG5iuaaX-bNAbkqEiuiD-9gwOJ5UnLgdFKbkLM-9dA5tY0YEJY4NoUBCo6svyW8gt3lSqLZWU9dK2FL32Dexcolt4bJsnTM/s200/IMG_2183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611198984310574770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLofyuz0NFy2jGzflpFZ4EjNjDZ1ctJ0h2ajzXVoisrwbTWFsi2sYD0TUbSa0T_Qle_wsx30Jmhocv067aa3kJ_PWFOm5nMU2FnZ3Zgvo2yefP-veKDYRdrmkRn8q2iPibh2V6EiHhQTy9/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLofyuz0NFy2jGzflpFZ4EjNjDZ1ctJ0h2ajzXVoisrwbTWFsi2sYD0TUbSa0T_Qle_wsx30Jmhocv067aa3kJ_PWFOm5nMU2FnZ3Zgvo2yefP-veKDYRdrmkRn8q2iPibh2V6EiHhQTy9/s200/IMG_2179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611199045407851106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...and on Monday morning we headed to a tiny, sleepy, fishing village on the pacific coast in northwest Nicaragua.<br /><br />Here is where we called home for three nights:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFIQzexUbFj-RSVsGe0P6A5QlA1nhUzUg4lBdwbdicIEsjOmCjBr54M5nisE66-sGGDNKNSTT0PvZcuROIbRrLfQ10R_4cLp33mLDHCuWkcDL5qDGBKlIyV5CVMyEtOdqGLgWMnKGhYW7/s1600/IMG_2230.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFIQzexUbFj-RSVsGe0P6A5QlA1nhUzUg4lBdwbdicIEsjOmCjBr54M5nisE66-sGGDNKNSTT0PvZcuROIbRrLfQ10R_4cLp33mLDHCuWkcDL5qDGBKlIyV5CVMyEtOdqGLgWMnKGhYW7/s200/IMG_2230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611195305762095298" border="0" /></a>After fully exploring the place, including a three hour walk on the beach, finding the best place to buy mangos, and checking out the estuary, we did manage to sit still long enough to read a good book in a hammock...<br /><br />Here is the view from my hammock.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzbZ0c9zTOkFJlOFw4jPrxEC0dIXfb0ZssV4JW23Gf6YE16fYpqWhFJ6xoGGKo9D9AHpnkKpSHLZy1LPgLn4ZkSxnI5xnKXXIzesd5P4_EVrkEsiakRto3UzRSeclOnNHxEGtnilgtvPL/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzbZ0c9zTOkFJlOFw4jPrxEC0dIXfb0ZssV4JW23Gf6YE16fYpqWhFJ6xoGGKo9D9AHpnkKpSHLZy1LPgLn4ZkSxnI5xnKXXIzesd5P4_EVrkEsiakRto3UzRSeclOnNHxEGtnilgtvPL/s200/IMG_2253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611194582624272338" border="0" /></a>Here is me in my hammock (no, I am not naked).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgL67l3Sm-dzC3jJzG6fu8IflEEwmcX-hukf_gIr3rj_LjOM_EGbYAUkZYq_cpeumiSYFyYwQhtdYojlaZA3Dyz54T6llyozvARWp4Ovq1eBKDxxipmaNSTw0IOjPeQrsvxMswiOsen78/s1600/IMG_2245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgL67l3Sm-dzC3jJzG6fu8IflEEwmcX-hukf_gIr3rj_LjOM_EGbYAUkZYq_cpeumiSYFyYwQhtdYojlaZA3Dyz54T6llyozvARWp4Ovq1eBKDxxipmaNSTw0IOjPeQrsvxMswiOsen78/s200/IMG_2245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611194702465529026" border="0" /></a>Good times.<br /><br /><br /></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-243545654199630732011-05-26T18:44:00.008-06:002011-05-26T19:14:54.942-06:00Samoto<div style="text-align: center;">Before leaving Estelli for good, we headed north to spend one last day in northern Nicaragua floating through Samoto Canyon. We embraced the rain and our trusty life jackets and scrambled, floated, and cliff jumped our way through the canyon.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkseTesjVt-A2_-_nt87xjHwXsakircFlc8z2aRrC_GlbblwI6QUabdgxJD8pUz0EmP2DoMGgZaCcuIsra0a8-9mkuVEbFbjuCkC69nnStXvVvvyTZbpg2FpBJWEhm3n9uchrrfECHRvJm/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkseTesjVt-A2_-_nt87xjHwXsakircFlc8z2aRrC_GlbblwI6QUabdgxJD8pUz0EmP2DoMGgZaCcuIsra0a8-9mkuVEbFbjuCkC69nnStXvVvvyTZbpg2FpBJWEhm3n9uchrrfECHRvJm/s200/IMG_2211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611193347546715970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFWKHeOFh-50dKQT_ulnFbGb7kEXvYgHco83hz7UPimNUAIMCvrQX6LYlegHhlw0r_1AO4F_WAykjv1pP2p6-QoItdxfykKWogcBWUnNHMBFawXzEt906OVTHCkGY4lx4Ewocch_8fRRn/s1600/IMG_2201.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFWKHeOFh-50dKQT_ulnFbGb7kEXvYgHco83hz7UPimNUAIMCvrQX6LYlegHhlw0r_1AO4F_WAykjv1pP2p6-QoItdxfykKWogcBWUnNHMBFawXzEt906OVTHCkGY4lx4Ewocch_8fRRn/s200/IMG_2201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611193273936049298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Despite an incident on the bus involving a pocket knife and the fact that I am still sporting huge purple bruises on the back of each thigh from my cliff jump (landing in the sitting position is not recommended — ouch!), we lived to tell the tale and would recommend it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D97f4v-6UA5tv_uafqiWdD6E3kg7ebw_pRi69MJ3C5rZsubYOz-WNpvhQz899RhecKRx9mdbQZWUOfkzmjjNXD7RgPLOeP3TfoVQSKCuqeOvD5Kh13WTFz4drIh-G4JAHEnp7Hng9nC_/s1600/IMG_2207.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D97f4v-6UA5tv_uafqiWdD6E3kg7ebw_pRi69MJ3C5rZsubYOz-WNpvhQz899RhecKRx9mdbQZWUOfkzmjjNXD7RgPLOeP3TfoVQSKCuqeOvD5Kh13WTFz4drIh-G4JAHEnp7Hng9nC_/s200/IMG_2207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611193407879443826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHJOKLNJrDZkN6txgnU74mhx5kpk6_L8IG4WwTx_dFOxGu8N2ZioV7gxlIT0Lp9hDfO7PCYswSbT4Kg8hVDj68jHTQoriOzaASjvlak6Grplh8TQJ27ySeV4h3MFQdlLoYHVQo6E65fEq/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHJOKLNJrDZkN6txgnU74mhx5kpk6_L8IG4WwTx_dFOxGu8N2ZioV7gxlIT0Lp9hDfO7PCYswSbT4Kg8hVDj68jHTQoriOzaASjvlak6Grplh8TQJ27ySeV4h3MFQdlLoYHVQo6E65fEq/s200/IMG_2209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611193452840880098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-51157723969517926212011-05-21T11:32:00.023-06:002011-05-26T19:13:36.223-06:00The Reason for The Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">The Volcano Charity Challenge we completed two weeks ago raised over $8,000 dollars for the GVI projects in Nicaragua with mine and Troy´s sponsors alone being almost enough to fund fund the much needed addition to the school in La Chiriza. We cannot thank you enough! Over the past week we have had the pleasure of watching the addition take shape. With close to 100 students in seven grades in only three rooms, the outdoor addition will give 40 preschool children their own space to do what 3-5 year olds do best—make their voices heard!<br /></div><div align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMjfUakSC1PAA0LE-ZKVk3RjPlQ4iSTcQ5PvL2xfR37VruI6EPInSGQXuC4AZmbVBTys8WNV9hvC9NbBqLgMrZAwVPHqXL5H7v_xZFv-4cEcBd_iaWQ8gmfEEG-LcLiSZAWqbhvTCYyx1/s1600/IMG_2014.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMjfUakSC1PAA0LE-ZKVk3RjPlQ4iSTcQ5PvL2xfR37VruI6EPInSGQXuC4AZmbVBTys8WNV9hvC9NbBqLgMrZAwVPHqXL5H7v_xZFv-4cEcBd_iaWQ8gmfEEG-LcLiSZAWqbhvTCYyx1/s200/IMG_2014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609704016322655042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tbWfZWBpUYMwZjpGADfNI8bZIKIUDAXmHoa8PCIrNz-098CV7INS5ep4yWVHilFZ-5_8HHEwuyUpXde8zRNk5PsPYREU6UntgsqHQN2x_2_MfoNgidHI-TvqFG47-_PD5ptKh0yXCrqQ/s1600/IMG_2104.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tbWfZWBpUYMwZjpGADfNI8bZIKIUDAXmHoa8PCIrNz-098CV7INS5ep4yWVHilFZ-5_8HHEwuyUpXde8zRNk5PsPYREU6UntgsqHQN2x_2_MfoNgidHI-TvqFG47-_PD5ptKh0yXCrqQ/s200/IMG_2104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609704150831916418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UpPIRRdT__rj-G5TCpeOJP2kxqRI_ob5cegQisnA6Yj3rP1SFPibOlJ2rABD7vamaZ5smw-lHU1BIEjNM_x69fnhSXxRSwKpphdzqHZlZlzwCiTWKxIleaImhT4E3LdV-FzUBRHVprTE/s1600/IMG_2161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UpPIRRdT__rj-G5TCpeOJP2kxqRI_ob5cegQisnA6Yj3rP1SFPibOlJ2rABD7vamaZ5smw-lHU1BIEjNM_x69fnhSXxRSwKpphdzqHZlZlzwCiTWKxIleaImhT4E3LdV-FzUBRHVprTE/s200/IMG_2161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609704287978538546" border="0" /></a>Our friend Aaron has been overseeing the school project here since its inception a year ago and in that time it has grown from simply chairs and tables set up in the open, to the three room structure that exists today which now boasts a brand new addition. The school, run by two local teachers in addition to volunteers, provides what is best described as a supplemental education. The learning environment of national schools is often less than ideal and depending on cost and location barriers, some parents don´t send their children at all. The volunteer-run school reinforces the national school curriculum at no cost, therby increasing the odds of successful education even for those with little or no means. In addition, adult literacy and english classes are provided twice a week.<br /><br />Ofcourse it was not all business, we had plenty of fun and laughed a lot, especially during recreo!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTAYFKg6INOcunCvP5pYlt2yNT0jZ6u46-lkypLXqhvsqUfsIuX_3eG281enR_NBglz527t2jxI2Qod5qiCwKCBOB9tfAwlPn2KiKkovGLt7Q87JtbssIeeLhf7aoiPb_zABlL4KUfd8d/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTAYFKg6INOcunCvP5pYlt2yNT0jZ6u46-lkypLXqhvsqUfsIuX_3eG281enR_NBglz527t2jxI2Qod5qiCwKCBOB9tfAwlPn2KiKkovGLt7Q87JtbssIeeLhf7aoiPb_zABlL4KUfd8d/s200/IMG_2089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611189858341845554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrMlZdWmz-Oi78LlKBjKUxpIZbmmR3Yx6h2eI2o4FLxvemhT-KCvM_7I0vOBkyIv_ys-FincuzlYJGmzrpJEu_-r3AYI2bpsPHjTjBvY7dsuExO6i0Y95QjCuKIZUQX7-GrbwxD4Q3DN2/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrMlZdWmz-Oi78LlKBjKUxpIZbmmR3Yx6h2eI2o4FLxvemhT-KCvM_7I0vOBkyIv_ys-FincuzlYJGmzrpJEu_-r3AYI2bpsPHjTjBvY7dsuExO6i0Y95QjCuKIZUQX7-GrbwxD4Q3DN2/s200/IMG_2144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611189286566487106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRpgwNZEXxp9zbbGqzLXV2Jd_IaeqVV3mnr_JQXi_HEqGDd76zv6ZoUQyJdGx3VMPO8rhyphenhyphenKEZsLoa20NehT1GlTM7a9DUgGWeM4PF4jfzPUiroghbVs8ogCyDrBjmV-yaybjOc0sDD2Rq/s1600/IMG_2049.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRpgwNZEXxp9zbbGqzLXV2Jd_IaeqVV3mnr_JQXi_HEqGDd76zv6ZoUQyJdGx3VMPO8rhyphenhyphenKEZsLoa20NehT1GlTM7a9DUgGWeM4PF4jfzPUiroghbVs8ogCyDrBjmV-yaybjOc0sDD2Rq/s200/IMG_2049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611189159981161346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarhphwborirHR9F7j9vo9JY5AKJjOCqZXDHSpGw_dRMUcJhbreUy_3ctV0_6s_Wnk-yqU0GmtKer2JpToe7G1Ogd3fH5IAbmSM_UbxA9GbJeEZgn7RZNE0EFfGth2MIm9vW2NJYaUOzMz/s1600/IMG_2038.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarhphwborirHR9F7j9vo9JY5AKJjOCqZXDHSpGw_dRMUcJhbreUy_3ctV0_6s_Wnk-yqU0GmtKer2JpToe7G1Ogd3fH5IAbmSM_UbxA9GbJeEZgn7RZNE0EFfGth2MIm9vW2NJYaUOzMz/s200/IMG_2038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611189373725758994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH2qokhjnqs5mohkchIAW5xkYiVM8p6h2cxcqE9Lc7LJSh_gr7hCICcvY3m4XqGVUhLEyX1E1kug3gXhB6XWst3_9zaV8gd4L_SKqX6FyuaVowg9c5u-inKzrn1uIiehRdfSv0aDlJ_gB/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH2qokhjnqs5mohkchIAW5xkYiVM8p6h2cxcqE9Lc7LJSh_gr7hCICcvY3m4XqGVUhLEyX1E1kug3gXhB6XWst3_9zaV8gd4L_SKqX6FyuaVowg9c5u-inKzrn1uIiehRdfSv0aDlJ_gB/s200/IMG_2149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611189477966550866" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The community of La Chiriza is quite new, only slightly more than a year old. La Chiriza is one of those communities that is all too real; the people are real and the poverty is real. It is a community in which the combination of tarps and scrap wood is a house, an outhouse is a bathroom, a bucket is a shower, and an open fire is a stove. This particular community is best described as a ´squatter´ community where people have travelled from both near and far to stake their claim on available land close enough to Esteli to find work there but with less expense. The community has only recently been legally recognized and it continues to grow. Power lines are currently being strung from plot to plot, though it has yet to be activated, and houses continue to go up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0To9SiLmzgTlr-kiVmQdARDJXQD0yDnA6A-5rXCY0fl96KqtIGZXyffzMEuUJVRMLBSfamAe7JQ-2oIEimDaC5LsMvJBo0Yl1wKnmWp3m_BGDO8MVKDMR3y5Vlraj9jAoG_gI6VPmJze/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0To9SiLmzgTlr-kiVmQdARDJXQD0yDnA6A-5rXCY0fl96KqtIGZXyffzMEuUJVRMLBSfamAe7JQ-2oIEimDaC5LsMvJBo0Yl1wKnmWp3m_BGDO8MVKDMR3y5Vlraj9jAoG_gI6VPmJze/s200/IMG_2006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611188568171784434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVGsNTzQT8beTaJi0W9Uu5uX6XtXbxZjj-LlCMT6iXkZrbsl9AywDc3T7PPTnxW-Dy-BoOK917D5FX0UIao4SbtF1iXP75gQKiAfJILvVk6rXq0Jr4RIY-1W2-4FxQopP928IXY0snzPV/s1600/IMG_2035.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVGsNTzQT8beTaJi0W9Uu5uX6XtXbxZjj-LlCMT6iXkZrbsl9AywDc3T7PPTnxW-Dy-BoOK917D5FX0UIao4SbtF1iXP75gQKiAfJILvVk6rXq0Jr4RIY-1W2-4FxQopP928IXY0snzPV/s200/IMG_2035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611188624162424914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;">After spendiing time in Chiriza, we have no doubts that the challenge and the project it supported was more than a worthwhile endeavor.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-23610781210968203532011-05-17T15:29:00.013-06:002011-05-20T17:33:07.842-06:00Only in Central AmericaHad I been at home this week, I probably (though I can´t say for certain) would not have...<ul><li>Thought it okay for three people to ride a motorcycle together, one being a tiny baby held by the second passenger</li><li>Seen a man walking the streets each day selling mattresses, with four of his finest strapped to his shoulders </li><li>Greeted Troy when he was dropped off by immigration, having been picked up for not carrying his passport with him</li><li>Spent a day with FUNARTE, a locally run organization that organizes human rights and mural art education workshops for children and young adults with disabilities from some of the poorest neighborhoods around</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAIfXQz_qJoKB59ZV3bpaJaw6eSMe-IOLqVxRGIH8ESyGZH5x4XEwwvE7poCYP6_JdPX5oEQrmuEKm4ORIAZl_Keenv0chOlY_NXlFh7kGwXRl8bNVSb-RhO5oNLuPuqL6JSGc-phYwgS/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAIfXQz_qJoKB59ZV3bpaJaw6eSMe-IOLqVxRGIH8ESyGZH5x4XEwwvE7poCYP6_JdPX5oEQrmuEKm4ORIAZl_Keenv0chOlY_NXlFh7kGwXRl8bNVSb-RhO5oNLuPuqL6JSGc-phYwgS/s200/IMG_2108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608939770707510242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkBHb5hxmO5jxb7uvphZWD5hA7Xcrif5C5KZySvn9ZbW4s66OcffdPKNCumRGZlo0IpalapBzCmuENjsZcrgrCFaMNeCVhINYc1F_mNDxx_OuI-QI3iEpVtgXzM8cFnkAnTOoQgALBpBx/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkBHb5hxmO5jxb7uvphZWD5hA7Xcrif5C5KZySvn9ZbW4s66OcffdPKNCumRGZlo0IpalapBzCmuENjsZcrgrCFaMNeCVhINYc1F_mNDxx_OuI-QI3iEpVtgXzM8cFnkAnTOoQgALBpBx/s200/IMG_2119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608939910016452466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Eaten gallo pinto (rice and beans) three times a day</li><li>Witnessed a fire in a wood stove being started by using plastic bottles as kindling<br /></li><li>Been subjected to music and propaganda blaring from giant speakers affixed to the top of a car</li><li>Skipped rope, danced the hokey pokey, or reviewed my times tables</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarFVI9CgeK054D7KOCymu2_JsN6hjyFe5dZsO19XUrjiaP6kTE5wZ5R-DCpTbTs959jfS8QohnWduJQner6-RDJeFu7txA1cR-M1poOIv6qKhY8mF-s6RjICuir1dW2C_qbgp1fFYt888/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarFVI9CgeK054D7KOCymu2_JsN6hjyFe5dZsO19XUrjiaP6kTE5wZ5R-DCpTbTs959jfS8QohnWduJQner6-RDJeFu7txA1cR-M1poOIv6qKhY8mF-s6RjICuir1dW2C_qbgp1fFYt888/s200/IMG_2089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608940864604530834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmz5uFBQlU6jo_D3Zx-pIh_gA9KQtdadO8TDiA3_Hq8wVUF6_vXGwVM7tngeNlKd93TNnUEuRrG4cj4jC1PAKyz526xrBa34BhnzUrFFHGZMuyxVrXgouE2xvUn1cXbOIFRTOQhhHnxNy/s1600/IMG_2033.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmz5uFBQlU6jo_D3Zx-pIh_gA9KQtdadO8TDiA3_Hq8wVUF6_vXGwVM7tngeNlKd93TNnUEuRrG4cj4jC1PAKyz526xrBa34BhnzUrFFHGZMuyxVrXgouE2xvUn1cXbOIFRTOQhhHnxNy/s200/IMG_2033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608941004085993586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Watched two grown men routinely, and seemingly comfortably, navigate the streets on the same bicycle (one on the seat and one on the top tube)</li><li>Thought it routine for there to be both a toyota and a horse ´parked´ outside my house</li><li>Been intrigued by the work of ERSLA, an NGO working to improve emergency services by bringing much-needed firefighting equipment and first responder education to Nicaragua</li><li>Smiled at the sight of tables and chairs being brought out onto the sidewalk at dinner time as homes are transformed into mini-cafes</li><li>Tried my hand at making paper with las Mujeres Ambientalistas (the association of Women Environmentalists), a local cooperative intent on recycling and composting and who make recycled paper out of food waste such as banana leaves and onions. </li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcZtAdORm7-OZC9XlO6yx0RCObVcBRomkTd6vZHIKYH7qiOn5RZ08xN1Ba6HeThloTM8PI4O8lt9fSYN3b1DfZlL2Nq_XV9cRcD-F7p_sYuYpoHOzgDcBMAMFbUzZmspCJbl8Pz520VbA/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcZtAdORm7-OZC9XlO6yx0RCObVcBRomkTd6vZHIKYH7qiOn5RZ08xN1Ba6HeThloTM8PI4O8lt9fSYN3b1DfZlL2Nq_XV9cRcD-F7p_sYuYpoHOzgDcBMAMFbUzZmspCJbl8Pz520VbA/s200/IMG_2168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608940331889167698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV5QvvXWEw_0qv5leMjdWMJ_vC26AVQ35pMddbqTVcvPhG0y3QsUWaq2q1_LONRu6n5Ag6KAFVKTmLzFStYrLhRQVHx63AZubhCmOSPi3Ys_7EvZm86Bx0e7PqCok-kuyRbJ5tlG8Z9KF/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV5QvvXWEw_0qv5leMjdWMJ_vC26AVQ35pMddbqTVcvPhG0y3QsUWaq2q1_LONRu6n5Ag6KAFVKTmLzFStYrLhRQVHx63AZubhCmOSPi3Ys_7EvZm86Bx0e7PqCok-kuyRbJ5tlG8Z9KF/s200/IMG_2172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608940465552988354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I mean, I can´t say for sure, but I probably would not have done these things.Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-6906279851329822192011-05-15T20:50:00.004-06:002011-05-15T21:15:08.017-06:00The price is right<div style="text-align: center;">This morning I paid 20 cents for the delicious mangos, sliced up and bagged for my convenience by the nice lady on the street, that I snacked on while Troy sipped his 27 cent cup of coffee. I walked two hours to a waterfall outside of town and paid $1 to enter the protected natural area. While there I contributed $3 to a local man who handcarved from stone the mortar and pestle set I purchased. I paid 45 cents for the bus to take me home.<br /><br />As I write this I am spending 50 cents to use the internet for one hour to find out what is going on in the world I am accustomed to where buying a couple of starbucks coffees costs the same as a good night´s sleep and three meals a day prepared by a lovely woman who makes sure I exceed my daily recommended carb intake here in Nicaragua. <br /><br /></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-10367402027742114412011-05-09T20:37:00.039-06:002011-05-11T16:26:28.329-06:00A Challenge Indeed!<div style="text-align: center;">Over the course of four days our team of 14 sweated it out together, nursed our wounds, tended to our sunburns, bandaged our blisters and enjoyed the view from the craters of 8 volcanoes. We arrived at the top of the final volcano, Volcan Momotombo, a little bedraggled, alot dirty, and extremely satisfied with our success.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzaPAfJm0b8A9NAswDuaGHN_sfxDUwk-VInGjIDYzJTyDlECoT50Bes8rBja8prR01g2NEELl5C8watoC29sqC204peK_2TP_AvH_NH3sHXQVaqcMTt8DbCgZ1er4djTXci3XkWGhdIn/s1600/P5080143+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzaPAfJm0b8A9NAswDuaGHN_sfxDUwk-VInGjIDYzJTyDlECoT50Bes8rBja8prR01g2NEELl5C8watoC29sqC204peK_2TP_AvH_NH3sHXQVaqcMTt8DbCgZ1er4djTXci3XkWGhdIn/s200/P5080143+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605575910657947778" border="0" /></a><br />On the first day we were in awe of the first active crater we encountered. We tried to resist getting too close to the edge but tested fate just a little in order to hear the bubbling lava below. Ofcourse Troy threw rocks into the crater to summon the volcano gods but thankfully they ignored him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jmGf92O1PQUeVIq2eAtXGGTfVdPRNllTjyAFgAlmnQ3eqonu_N8rYL8eqLFskwNxrW2zk6Zh_uOOaZoNCb4gMEZ6JRmhRJLsfapLYmrgvzlUMyKMiLJatgomAS2_DTsREoo7H3-o1Cz3/s1600/IMG_1839+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jmGf92O1PQUeVIq2eAtXGGTfVdPRNllTjyAFgAlmnQ3eqonu_N8rYL8eqLFskwNxrW2zk6Zh_uOOaZoNCb4gMEZ6JRmhRJLsfapLYmrgvzlUMyKMiLJatgomAS2_DTsREoo7H3-o1Cz3/s200/IMG_1839+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605576707575651634" border="0" /></a>We then proceeded to walk through fire (literally jumping over flames) to attempt the second volcano (note the smoking volcano in the background of the photo below). We ended up surrendering as we found ourselves surrounded by fire and the winds kept changing. The firefighter among us advocated for a swift descent and thankfully my shorts were the only casualty—I clumsily fell on my butt in my haste to retreat.<br /><br />(We were able to keep the final trip tally 8 volcanoes, however, with an unexpected crater addition to the itinerary on the third day).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wx7VB1gj6s7xKRN8OxcNKTS8mTVdWL0A2hXc4q_Xzbvt6t21xwN2LzxSc4zYSo5V0tKeH3swallG76HO1yc4MnzXoo4AsJ8UCPOYG1C-RrHw_fNCuX0VB2R8UWMvw4olq612k4hsX2lY/s1600/IMG_1852+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wx7VB1gj6s7xKRN8OxcNKTS8mTVdWL0A2hXc4q_Xzbvt6t21xwN2LzxSc4zYSo5V0tKeH3swallG76HO1yc4MnzXoo4AsJ8UCPOYG1C-RrHw_fNCuX0VB2R8UWMvw4olq612k4hsX2lY/s200/IMG_1852+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605579948380684290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITiXZKUPOM-A_fuhgCWJOYzcbCug8FnaPFmnQFF9zsjXa6Bn1VTSUb1b0KnCK4rlBSNBD-1qKN_Je7xeG-Uyp03EfI1CTQbwnxSi9nPlybmIfYlZgTi2C54Pa9pUcrDN0QYYfpRelk0O0/s1600/P5050024+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITiXZKUPOM-A_fuhgCWJOYzcbCug8FnaPFmnQFF9zsjXa6Bn1VTSUb1b0KnCK4rlBSNBD-1qKN_Je7xeG-Uyp03EfI1CTQbwnxSi9nPlybmIfYlZgTi2C54Pa9pUcrDN0QYYfpRelk0O0/s200/P5050024+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605579874576943874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On day two, after having hiked about ten hours, we thought it fitting to climb up Cerro Negro in gale force winds, carrying what amounted to slabs of plywood, to try our hand at volcano boarding. We basically tobogganed 600m down a 43 degree grade and tried not to wipe out. At a cool 42kph I dusted Troy, but I was far from hitting the record of 87kph!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw9nrkNUygY51APFrOqGydecBtiqxWLK2LxVddRO-I5mdUp1GhGTXafHZqUywKxcp0tUU6MZWaU4CJUQuBBNZA9248LzVbPAdVB1KZLTQcsLcM7GBw2HsSq-_GdWSkS1upH8p3_kzbMrA/s1600/IMG_1870+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw9nrkNUygY51APFrOqGydecBtiqxWLK2LxVddRO-I5mdUp1GhGTXafHZqUywKxcp0tUU6MZWaU4CJUQuBBNZA9248LzVbPAdVB1KZLTQcsLcM7GBw2HsSq-_GdWSkS1upH8p3_kzbMrA/s200/IMG_1870+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605580568862251202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jl-K2m3zLFmCHDOgnh0JYIAwmG2BxqoZDDdZXhWnGxnsy5pZcBiOwcNQ30kyHBsNs8ZFygn59Vmqe5kaUgYW2WEJN5B1u0AahCOefgbWTElDUA0lL_hstj912rfIQ-wVySDXqOPFrW3d/s1600/P5060045+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jl-K2m3zLFmCHDOgnh0JYIAwmG2BxqoZDDdZXhWnGxnsy5pZcBiOwcNQ30kyHBsNs8ZFygn59Vmqe5kaUgYW2WEJN5B1u0AahCOefgbWTElDUA0lL_hstj912rfIQ-wVySDXqOPFrW3d/s200/P5060045+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605580687046543986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr98sOFOdOrrRGdgUhUrs_cK3srV-my5PwHuoxYZrdeBoL6K72N9desC3_5I3K-U0_ZE4pFnkbo4nLQrSJy9dEdfVq323FVH4bwlCm3DbBooHW-jB9LsWy0jVsS6x1aSVgBmZNabW60pYY/s1600/P5060062+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr98sOFOdOrrRGdgUhUrs_cK3srV-my5PwHuoxYZrdeBoL6K72N9desC3_5I3K-U0_ZE4pFnkbo4nLQrSJy9dEdfVq323FVH4bwlCm3DbBooHW-jB9LsWy0jVsS6x1aSVgBmZNabW60pYY/s200/P5060062+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605580792897928050" border="0" /></a>Day three was by far the longest and most taxing and had us walking from our third volcano of the day, El Hoyo (The Hole (see pic!)) down to a laguna. As with every destination on the trip, according to our guides the laguna was "about 30 minutes" from El Hoyo. Loosely translated, 30 minutes means anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours... In this case, it may well have been even longer than that but jumping into the cool water at the end made it all worthwhile!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b44VTeBTeXAmdiI4g86Juer-aPoqe5UMjovm5HwZUepnP3eH6RWlS2LvSn_qiX2CtjgXQguFRMkgC1LyzYkndGd7utt-KVXF37cdRdwCGE9oIpRa_1i2kIJuRws5eif0kDpdEPY5jEF3/s1600/IMG_1946+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b44VTeBTeXAmdiI4g86Juer-aPoqe5UMjovm5HwZUepnP3eH6RWlS2LvSn_qiX2CtjgXQguFRMkgC1LyzYkndGd7utt-KVXF37cdRdwCGE9oIpRa_1i2kIJuRws5eif0kDpdEPY5jEF3/s200/IMG_1946+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605584738121101970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dfWiTWfH51Hru9uDn4FJojye13xmJNluFejhosJd2gVVWHeLsKSRDqMG-sx1x4cpnrrXmnE5DQl1n5VaDXfjnf2bFvGd1_oCZwKNsUZiZrapTWqitjtduFmU-gWCQLgaUQCF_lvJRhJC/s1600/IMG_1922+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dfWiTWfH51Hru9uDn4FJojye13xmJNluFejhosJd2gVVWHeLsKSRDqMG-sx1x4cpnrrXmnE5DQl1n5VaDXfjnf2bFvGd1_oCZwKNsUZiZrapTWqitjtduFmU-gWCQLgaUQCF_lvJRhJC/s200/IMG_1922+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605581491864251410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKpXXU68RzTfjVzJxSflI4RYO2pttQm5JkMpXJcJVjGcY_gZwFJWHE4xCtvHfrDEE6XL9z6McqMkcfzISH81ITMHMPy_PAygakTsLMNKVAm6QUCYyDDpzoEBHJyZAMZovDaYRh5i4PDc1/s1600/P5070113+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKpXXU68RzTfjVzJxSflI4RYO2pttQm5JkMpXJcJVjGcY_gZwFJWHE4xCtvHfrDEE6XL9z6McqMkcfzISH81ITMHMPy_PAygakTsLMNKVAm6QUCYyDDpzoEBHJyZAMZovDaYRh5i4PDc1/s200/P5070113+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605581980393501714" border="0" /></a>On the final day, we hiked the open faces of Volcan Momotombo under the 38 degree sun, taking refuge wherever we could behind boulders or single free-standing trees.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymDe8C6HkW4RoEVy4Rs46ImTikCQ4eWwVIK-s79hbBnSlyAcuI9r-cLB0vsX7DZnk4TnOn-dBJ0z98D1pOOIrWUA-p2x0dux9_ciTD7SNeBD_58f8XMMonmGTYSIuF-ui3MSFG93cl-Fn/s1600/IMG_1937+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymDe8C6HkW4RoEVy4Rs46ImTikCQ4eWwVIK-s79hbBnSlyAcuI9r-cLB0vsX7DZnk4TnOn-dBJ0z98D1pOOIrWUA-p2x0dux9_ciTD7SNeBD_58f8XMMonmGTYSIuF-ui3MSFG93cl-Fn/s200/IMG_1937+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605583336678655650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AG16niDFOduKrnlQRpvqHXureehiIXq8HxMaApOpj0vy11NdKiwYRYcm9LxojFTdwNeBr2oZ8_AfrMEJQo_2vuE8jp-5vfzjH_Z-SQ3NmeRENPi9e0xFIOQcWzwPdADm8eNcDV7ErJaY/s1600/P5070093+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AG16niDFOduKrnlQRpvqHXureehiIXq8HxMaApOpj0vy11NdKiwYRYcm9LxojFTdwNeBr2oZ8_AfrMEJQo_2vuE8jp-5vfzjH_Z-SQ3NmeRENPi9e0xFIOQcWzwPdADm8eNcDV7ErJaY/s200/P5070093+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605583264136997298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'd like to say we arrived at the top and relished the fresh air but in reality we gagged and choked on the sulphur and gases that were sputtering up. The view was incredible though and knowing that we were on our way down left us jumping for joy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXulvUAhi1YJL4OifEwksQRUOUfaP64xF9kqd9WmOencHHqEvBLCf6iD9aDF3NAVioa4Qbz8s0-Jpnb5Og00_0JPyCSpvdRUwOUiK2wyjlV43wsEjCVZcJiCvheHzJ1SHrsJ83RqWQ6vO/s1600/IMG_1965+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXulvUAhi1YJL4OifEwksQRUOUfaP64xF9kqd9WmOencHHqEvBLCf6iD9aDF3NAVioa4Qbz8s0-Jpnb5Og00_0JPyCSpvdRUwOUiK2wyjlV43wsEjCVZcJiCvheHzJ1SHrsJ83RqWQ6vO/s200/IMG_1965+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605584218144041026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1f4k3WFebn7sNEOt0csu5RwLTy449ETmX5NOloYUrnfAyKeuEkiM-cST_1OtWmOo2xAB7z_XTGqLrF_rd4C7cXszhei_k3yJ_m0KnTnMsX6pZc-ZUdbQb-xDjjbF_8nKXFE5Urn9vvjvn/s1600/IMG_1962+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1f4k3WFebn7sNEOt0csu5RwLTy449ETmX5NOloYUrnfAyKeuEkiM-cST_1OtWmOo2xAB7z_XTGqLrF_rd4C7cXszhei_k3yJ_m0KnTnMsX6pZc-ZUdbQb-xDjjbF_8nKXFE5Urn9vvjvn/s200/IMG_1962+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605584142304906066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our guides earned major brownie points by greeting the team with cold beer at the bottom. Despite sore feet and tired eyes, the celebration continued in Leon following showers and clean clothes.<br />(And yes, for some reason the celebration included cowboy hats...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2U0qVtpMGrSqK4rAHCTx1tgOwOMBwrm8vC-qe9OWP1SbqIl7_5kVmr-cMdG9kZLH39KSRnS6I3SvrGlCt6ZWKiCdS8bFxpfs8u2D_m97ZZbCQUUfVmbZuDtJxkHBOPgpcTBAQ_XTqJ9q_/s1600/IMG_1977+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2U0qVtpMGrSqK4rAHCTx1tgOwOMBwrm8vC-qe9OWP1SbqIl7_5kVmr-cMdG9kZLH39KSRnS6I3SvrGlCt6ZWKiCdS8bFxpfs8u2D_m97ZZbCQUUfVmbZuDtJxkHBOPgpcTBAQ_XTqJ9q_/s200/IMG_1977+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605586620795069122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32cJT-YUEDs2Uv-JGwXO20HDMQpwmdCk06R4xF-YDK_WcTBbaUhbL-sumw5nyq-Paj4yvywQcUKgRtQZC0ko2Uzu7J28EFxAArRTX6rNmprXjBBvF2TbbpK9nDqogsOOEbd8yrO54Q0jY/s1600/IMG_1995+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32cJT-YUEDs2Uv-JGwXO20HDMQpwmdCk06R4xF-YDK_WcTBbaUhbL-sumw5nyq-Paj4yvywQcUKgRtQZC0ko2Uzu7J28EFxAArRTX6rNmprXjBBvF2TbbpK9nDqogsOOEbd8yrO54Q0jY/s200/IMG_1995+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605585258843033714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As Troy was quick to point out if ever there was any complaining by anyone, the event was not named "Volcano-walk-in-the-Park," it was, as it turns out, quite aptly named "Volcano Challenge" and challenging it was.<br /><br /></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-11983642403469170362011-05-03T00:20:00.007-06:002011-05-11T16:28:21.650-06:00Nicaragua - The land of lakes and volcanoes!<div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center">Plagued by indecisiveness as usual, I have packed and unpacked a dozen times fully recognizing that I will unlikely wear/use at least half of what I am bringing. One would think that packing for a single month should be easy compared to packing for a whole year but one would sadly be mistaken. We will be cramming a lot of different activities into a short amount of time, and I want to be prepared for anything!<br /><br />We will be spending our first night in the capital, Managua, and will head to Leon the next morning to join a group of volunteers raising money in support of GVI's ongoing Phoenix Projects (community education projects) in Nicaragua by participating in the organization's first-ever Nicaraguan Volcano Charity Challenge. We have been sponsored by generous friends and supporters and over the course of 4 days (May 5-8), we will hike 8 volcanoes with all donations going towards a new school building in Chiriza, local teachers' salaries and food for the kids.<br /><br />The last update received from Nicaragua was to suggest appropriate clothing to deal with 10-12 hour hikes in extreme heat and in the midst of, and I quote, "droves of bees!" Um, yikes. But a challenge is supposed to be challenging, right?!<br /><br />And so...we're off!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 391px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602382712949916562" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCvAzlAmRhZb83ONTL-mWmKUYt5iRsjcqnmlXvaSwjC759ILas6fhmlERvBNYpJKnsxl4HmKDEoACqGGpAo5h01aWys1m1WbyYPkGAtSQwrKZ9up50KYaUaSfXDAlyyITfZM00Juse1rL/s400/volcanoes.gif" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The above map identifies four of the eight volcanoes we will be hiking: Telica, Cerro Negro, Las Pilas, and Momotombo (not shown are Santa Clara, Rota, El Hoyo, and Asososca)<br /><br /></span></p>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-26478874615997547392009-12-06T09:00:00.000-07:002009-12-08T08:51:25.352-07:00With My Own Two Hands<div align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rIYtgQcuus4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rIYtgQcuus4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412634793016135666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNcYaDjIleiSkVeBf9dbRZdKeeH6CG_v9enRYDduyyBLpoGv6TNo7vuA6RzLT2vOl_muAXBM3xCMtNzFQ8EfI4hVuNoIiFlwdjA_2zGsUbkmWRpwXES5GuSsU2hbIs1fdBSNfjmIqGGW2/s200/hands.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137488738561042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga20aDEbtK9bhyphenhyphen08tMXUzS9qCGVKtxZXo1zogU6CUNYlBEhIMkf0ImJTls_VHVuZ-Qu-2B4lk2RHIPwA1-ozBzLR7hHuKARuoFf4xISs2UKZ29KQpDBbYZqV_s_vyUNugXl3hdrhsiKpWy/s400/IMG_0370%5B2%5D.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137247030328866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJCkK_XC1su0KXehfJC9DMAlSz79Fuk1DaHluRlL_IvNF6_4RRco7fo7-f632LkkhWUeLRK-MD1qd_KeXZHRw17lcMGyDF_ykP73bw419ahKXUpICXoanYJ8NfaahD62T_h_As2Igkjmc/s400/DSCN3697%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137673618216818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7-qNDbB9ltUTvbi2vlz01Z1n6dSZ9w1ER5N54mp9W2A9Nvj2j4seKIyHQgQapbcRFTpxg-tW1SR98A9CYdg8lHenxoVMyg-L-1BC0qj_4Iaw_SijAd1XrcaINRuqPSHWk9GEs-UgjA8T/s400/last_day_031%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137236253132866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFS1uMzU8VfLu0XbTUKyq6n2UW45lZa2zmDcGPnMmkuah_pa1NsfjkgiOKS5L1iHwVyY9wXk5BgHIkPKjXchm5EAd51027H_LaU6xSY-bUmuByglIs4xlnXzt32wsQ-H1hkSpH97N3zrSE/s400/DSCN3297%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412637947804540786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewkmYE2P_f_f4C7pmkefTU5hDGcbLI7RgMshkGYtpFs6AjHetXvpAeITcWbAT2-xgJLQL8ZcPkRgAheNr22w6EWhGMV8kspRRWOgWH5z5DFvV2CJLOLIyj-jRj8GWrpRYY4DXUtSg3VMK/s200/dance" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137679137940818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvueLv__GvY8nse8CvVazeqrhZGoeK1IO3Ht8oyhpdXibtzxQ0_Mlo4Y7iibQc-SQ560qf1HhG1JS-XNvurAXoKnKj2vhCXYNkx2fUL8JuWuwMPPfqnAZ_nX3iwKDDr4i454tnOeEmtVdA/s400/P1000837%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137500158139890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_jZisFixFgY96YSY20m4yz2QZWPlotvnuxBtAgutMvsIjG_0swDT_ejucGYop2mikgB1Jk3R3XzwGgo0XWJNT1dPDPlYibnmzBJZoWfHivxhmhPvwSf6uyRcu2xYMZhD1JT-60-OkJ2U/s400/IMG_2050%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137682951519122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfttuChGaU4N6Nouj40h47k3TB4oSyerOzTge5YsWVLc30AZFaikAg3kRocfMJKFTg4ZvR3FojKgnLaU-e-EsLAMPzOI1i-lhvtUGWySLth6bFfp7NQ-3lY-qXbTXMJsUB4_Qo-Ybdkgh/s400/Picture_001%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137689947753954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic96MWdu7ITGVUt2Q7LksV8ww9Zf3shhjYWxgtZZU_yAhq47voDAP98krTpFKLddfutvbxvrvxv7I6ciE6IcM1uXVACw785GQqvXLNF9yKEpq26B2jRA3h2vztx2PFqOia2Q1D5LnjXem5/s400/Picture_012%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137501368639698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozhtR_V8anO9aUeUe1lEZd93ujG9wBxIy1QgIbBFPkaMh7yZKex49kExb-cn4mqKZoU6s7js82vHjsz1ASjATsamqSILUznz4eLvfxlTdxdV08S0kVtiVCcrkYICOS-8ueagt2RaI_fnu/s400/last_day_002%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412136550072055858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1iawVOYwV_nSbE7rA2e1AVly0afowS4z3uuvL2v_5bPCCsKooSmG27nl9U-txnw7g94DrvKT0SSjcjByEYZBZKqwNCz8UR1MpehMTwRqXFKzoNrsmf52caSz9vsb-WwzLCJ9VQNWq4_J/s400/DSCN0379a%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137496365957426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0-OY7MYkIAF1oMLpYncsxRXDz5rXfczeiHRQOp4WR_HUip2LCEnhKGFAooQWU8RDFXV5WjkY-ex9bR-2nDGc0GfKh6foU4gQX4u3ruAmRT6m5QEV5Rdvici0lRY6Z_k4faSswdz5d90i/s400/IMG_1849%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137486161406850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZHOfz1LVltZxgTBvhaMmMsekqM3fFUtCK-6QXsJofuKdHDK1Aczl4gl6YT5kn0qIP1kWU2-P0xRUz0WX8hJc-a-oTllKbMVzsbDYKVqmAnf9JiUK99vWJovRx5JDiyN554ffQZVhgccN/s400/IMG_0226%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7LOOSig-yNogx8j0aNzjlocbuh6vmOPVtVEF2hHOLULiNg5h0kb33PayzaKMN2itIwFxvOavDhhV477I1YB7IJTXL18Sf61XQa3LrffO390DTUp8LYegHBOk7iX1FVFrsWu7pmgHzUxg/s1600-h/IMG_0183%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137251284052386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7LOOSig-yNogx8j0aNzjlocbuh6vmOPVtVEF2hHOLULiNg5h0kb33PayzaKMN2itIwFxvOavDhhV477I1YB7IJTXL18Sf61XQa3LrffO390DTUp8LYegHBOk7iX1FVFrsWu7pmgHzUxg/s400/IMG_0183%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dF_TQ_hL5N3lvssRqbaa2Tdhxn-lHiljQdQG888OgaOeEh_uNApeSDO8O05_h4ohXp00lk-xzTiEbWOMXquUyBfsHn9Yjbfe1Qq4A7yHMPwnDfV46Vo-tDCqsPWlpRdLgveXOjDFoLXq/s1600-h/DSCN3263%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137232274965458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dF_TQ_hL5N3lvssRqbaa2Tdhxn-lHiljQdQG888OgaOeEh_uNApeSDO8O05_h4ohXp00lk-xzTiEbWOMXquUyBfsHn9Yjbfe1Qq4A7yHMPwnDfV46Vo-tDCqsPWlpRdLgveXOjDFoLXq/s400/DSCN3263%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiPfDF4thl2nl2ccVQT8k4K7yl50YkdqhpgvG-4CRxlsJWkECxtHiyHKfj5W7nlL-DBYonvWk5je2yOotlPJymKCPri8YsAAsDVTrEAGUImp9_xa9GltpTwXgeyOm8OpoS1T0JHii8M7y/s1600-h/DSCN2637%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137070731240130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiPfDF4thl2nl2ccVQT8k4K7yl50YkdqhpgvG-4CRxlsJWkECxtHiyHKfj5W7nlL-DBYonvWk5je2yOotlPJymKCPri8YsAAsDVTrEAGUImp9_xa9GltpTwXgeyOm8OpoS1T0JHii8M7y/s400/DSCN2637%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtLD47c97THiqFHXg1j1ArMk0i1ihYPg7YyJkgbo6ru_732CFPBKiWyE4qz1D_QkCeb7ecs1O5_tpZSd8_dymco71BZh0HeSJ5V24vyoGRkOTVtphlCPDrHnTdXwqu3Cgd_9p6-ryqiEp/s1600-h/DSCN2576%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137064873196786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtLD47c97THiqFHXg1j1ArMk0i1ihYPg7YyJkgbo6ru_732CFPBKiWyE4qz1D_QkCeb7ecs1O5_tpZSd8_dymco71BZh0HeSJ5V24vyoGRkOTVtphlCPDrHnTdXwqu3Cgd_9p6-ryqiEp/s400/DSCN2576%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137070868299922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAW8EgAUM29_ZnWO6w9NsIfwytW9bqbq1qvkatvDquLOuTcGCTP0bvdJGqEsqhCwTgUuhXOFx1MzUsXOS864c774KoxHEOnXkfMF-TeGrLRy9rP-zJhGcxGGLq5KqZer9H5-qwaHobfoa/s400/DSCN3235%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYldgb-vxQcfhXjpdkof4-Oupo1RXdK4a8UfODu8l6DLmp133x3iGiX6H8qV6P0fAcBL1pXCuccQufu6c4iKL3swj0SDkQ7gObM0drv4LgkMIOZHQt3wz6z5HDwztZWFyPO26BYF7fzHk-/s1600-h/DSCN2316%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137059641773698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYldgb-vxQcfhXjpdkof4-Oupo1RXdK4a8UfODu8l6DLmp133x3iGiX6H8qV6P0fAcBL1pXCuccQufu6c4iKL3swj0SDkQ7gObM0drv4LgkMIOZHQt3wz6z5HDwztZWFyPO26BYF7fzHk-/s400/DSCN2316%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERcXyAIqUJS6woSPw5cY9uOXRgXtXr5sxf-9YxiMZR3sE2b6vnVkGDkBmBSEK-W3dD7ZZyDrQQQG7pEGxeMbbZmacNmiwnKoDuiKHzSUhtuSbMyYt51BHBc4Cnn690yM-aZL9lQmz-ZDl/s1600-h/DSCN1574%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412137057793162866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERcXyAIqUJS6woSPw5cY9uOXRgXtXr5sxf-9YxiMZR3sE2b6vnVkGDkBmBSEK-W3dD7ZZyDrQQQG7pEGxeMbbZmacNmiwnKoDuiKHzSUhtuSbMyYt51BHBc4Cnn690yM-aZL9lQmz-ZDl/s400/DSCN1574%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Qk4Djf5BEc4H0Xi-h2okkJ74bosPS0z1zBfN3xQ8R9JgHMVtTxrIDZd7oKMkjndSbAnLCKRlA632k3BVihfNG0F3XZNkdOxjfowcZZvRDu5fWeM2AW_WqMBoJI9Qj2HqpTYTwxDrd5Q/s1600-h/DSCN1087%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412136556462200290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Qk4Djf5BEc4H0Xi-h2okkJ74bosPS0z1zBfN3xQ8R9JgHMVtTxrIDZd7oKMkjndSbAnLCKRlA632k3BVihfNG0F3XZNkdOxjfowcZZvRDu5fWeM2AW_WqMBoJI9Qj2HqpTYTwxDrd5Q/s400/DSCN1087%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZbSGMc-Mj9TaQSJinQ-GlrvcYDasL2r_vVdmNImIMWmwZCVLhQfeEMYevd7S3wgdc_HAYba6dETTJgqJeRejc3lNWYWWMmL3GEIJlNX68nJdIAVhtJRIy_z0PMUQ7OS0vVGqrIAhjpsG/s1600-h/DSCN0295%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412136546295538802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZbSGMc-Mj9TaQSJinQ-GlrvcYDasL2r_vVdmNImIMWmwZCVLhQfeEMYevd7S3wgdc_HAYba6dETTJgqJeRejc3lNWYWWMmL3GEIJlNX68nJdIAVhtJRIy_z0PMUQ7OS0vVGqrIAhjpsG/s400/DSCN0295%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9kndSyC7E396jrTb_HK19nccu8Lc0lslqP74tQfQLfXOETtUqrP76HBPOywFdfdMX76gy4hZYMg1r0YG4GpGEk_I4jYcuDNrZf-uxh81bxnM_X2WE-zuTeAS-vbs12hFfe7iRXv68AaM/s1600-h/DSCN0289a%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412136535760856130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9kndSyC7E396jrTb_HK19nccu8Lc0lslqP74tQfQLfXOETtUqrP76HBPOywFdfdMX76gy4hZYMg1r0YG4GpGEk_I4jYcuDNrZf-uxh81bxnM_X2WE-zuTeAS-vbs12hFfe7iRXv68AaM/s400/DSCN0289a%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412637954891408034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEjV5cq0-fS4dEWPdCilDlwHBbZuFhUQvR45KCn_u-aCiSPljihAo9yI4eUgLTJ5jGhwCJa6K4usBa1hVm-z4z_vOAv-qKkEV0QlIwJVpFJ1vhVRTAGPEpjYnWoH6NjeDvarI8R7VrKhE/s200/masks" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><div align="center">The World is so big.<br />We had the opportunity to see parts of it we had only ever imagined and even parts of it we never imagined. We met amazing people. We opened our eyes wide but sometimes had to fight not to close them. We sang our hearts out, cried our eyes out, and laughed until our cheeks hurt. We challenged ourselves to our limits. We experienced things we had only ever heard about and many things brand new. </div><div align="center">The World is so small.<br /><br />Our journey does not end here. Nor does a new one begin.<br />The journey continues.</div><div align="center">Turns out that every step of the journey <em>is</em> the journey.<br /><br />Go ahead, chase that rainbow.<br />And wherever you go, go with all your heart!</div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-24071113446125619732009-12-06T08:13:00.003-07:002009-12-07T18:07:03.788-07:00The happiest place(s) on earth<div align="center">Troy and I learned early on in our relationship that we both loved Disneyland and Christmas and counted them both on the top of our list of favorite things. Troy's list also included ninja movies and football but I was willing to overlook some things. Anyways, it only seemed fitting to cap off our year of travel by celebrating a few of our favorite things...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412141982416984002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZFoDntgeMTy6KWWsxI3NGjFD7lJJwrrxf2pcwwB7PeYqIeVYA8Xekv_Ok0ciWVLbaWVqvtpUxME-d_cVskOc-rX13bJt2jc4EuWEXSov_eqWsU3z3-20qEfyl2jk4vOhAriglX2qkjIm/s200/IMG_0987.jpg" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">First stop, Disneyland! We took advantage of 24 hours in Hong Kong to relish the innocence that I'm convinced, now more than ever, can only be captured within the confines of the Happiest Place on Earth. As we took in the magic of the magic kingdom, we laughed at the cliche of the snow covered Canada in the<em> It's a Small World</em> display. (Little did we know at this point that the joke would be on us upon our return home when we would be assaulted with -30C weather and a foot of snow). <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412629639826872898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxJ0cfHsYF_EkGgP-0_0FXloFRLi1OOHM8kJmds2j1IrkyVjJ4HDN4BqFXE5yKMQsivnPupy1bl42oMGf0tit7S3JjaQh2ZhhRD83H1xMZQKrxKTswdXc-_wiQx03pcdfdSc2eiRXJ3ph/s200/IMG_1023.JPG" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">That evening as the lights of the Disney castle lit up in a spectacular finish, the curtain was also drawn on our 'whole year of awesome'. What had once seemed so far away was now upon us. Filled with excitement, anxiety, nerves and anticipation, it was officially time to go Home.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfyejxLVGLs3vCnyJimGN2yjbYetCrB1dsXHNAWqzU9XlIdB3_xCufCzBdgyznls021Z05fxD_Kybt0WNJaRQ1xt7kne_s9-UMCJhyphenhyphenCbUjQu05EQlVqEPqkAAgzqnroKVUet5xmYRHHul/s1600-h/IMG_1027.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412141990006302130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfyejxLVGLs3vCnyJimGN2yjbYetCrB1dsXHNAWqzU9XlIdB3_xCufCzBdgyznls021Z05fxD_Kybt0WNJaRQ1xt7kne_s9-UMCJhyphenhyphenCbUjQu05EQlVqEPqkAAgzqnroKVUet5xmYRHHul/s200/IMG_1027.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">As we walked (who's kidding who, the picture clearly shows that I ran) through the arrivals gate at the Edmonton airport, it became obvious that not until that moment had we truly found the Happiest Place on Earth! Never had it felt so good to arrive at a destination. Probably had something to do with the familiar faces and the outstretched arms that greeted us despite having arrived home with little more than a day's notice and in terrible weather conditions.<br /></div><br /><div align="center">There is no place like Home. And I don't think it could get much better than Home for the Holidays :). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGPc1vTwLQP3f0D-WKgyOGRc7bry88xEYJwLPY_cI_SOieLST474tLsQRhy3iXs3KExPf0rSR7QcRgJCE5S2xXRHFQ_UpixTEG3MjDQhAKWPEa0hk06_IJpELxRJmoEwlLoxTsup9r7Zg/s1600-h/DSC02029.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 182px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412587606090743682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGPc1vTwLQP3f0D-WKgyOGRc7bry88xEYJwLPY_cI_SOieLST474tLsQRhy3iXs3KExPf0rSR7QcRgJCE5S2xXRHFQ_UpixTEG3MjDQhAKWPEa0hk06_IJpELxRJmoEwlLoxTsup9r7Zg/s200/DSC02029.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWoYdvMN-m3WmZol1YhiChDexvWPVuGyXkc9IULwHNkCqnmskcvXIpU5yNFN7YsihOTEillNgtUlhdqTyAl1gP66GcXq1JihU0qZeBlbLfuHdggwGhMJbKX5MaAGlpAro2jenSALVxofz/s1600-h/DSC02027.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 178px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412587425191449186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWoYdvMN-m3WmZol1YhiChDexvWPVuGyXkc9IULwHNkCqnmskcvXIpU5yNFN7YsihOTEillNgtUlhdqTyAl1gP66GcXq1JihU0qZeBlbLfuHdggwGhMJbKX5MaAGlpAro2jenSALVxofz/s200/DSC02027.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHweoC7yluEhtrwA5e571Gg-5I4a2s_m7Cnukechyl6ua7iy2JZ8N4zvdeiczRCYT5xtwO0LP7XYM-_kx37S_nqKo4A-QoDkE607Tc1uAapRtKQdU2AKepW7HJ9Lhw-ARhN6Mn-D3WAF32/s1600-h/DSC02033.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412587610113223842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHweoC7yluEhtrwA5e571Gg-5I4a2s_m7Cnukechyl6ua7iy2JZ8N4zvdeiczRCYT5xtwO0LP7XYM-_kx37S_nqKo4A-QoDkE607Tc1uAapRtKQdU2AKepW7HJ9Lhw-ARhN6Mn-D3WAF32/s200/DSC02033.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbtcinj6FFJ4FVtsxTFoC_4ZXwH-T9QvEO8-KMmlC0JkNeLUdLdEcHnGwjgtx-LD3UTUZMGSramvJ1auNcfWfh5CEXyGeIuWwZIW8AgtqXF6ubsE3ws5Wy_gbMIAP2XWo-CylqEmcLCDY/s1600-h/DSC02028.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412587431949068338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbtcinj6FFJ4FVtsxTFoC_4ZXwH-T9QvEO8-KMmlC0JkNeLUdLdEcHnGwjgtx-LD3UTUZMGSramvJ1auNcfWfh5CEXyGeIuWwZIW8AgtqXF6ubsE3ws5Wy_gbMIAP2XWo-CylqEmcLCDY/s200/DSC02028.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /> </div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412587756790535010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWssPdQb5euoLbWRyj1zNrKmeSiyPVNL_aiOgxpt6pcDi_a_Z0uhYJQ8zEhYfC7tLxwq0o5jRo8bcXqHGCJfCUmTrYlbPbpjCPNe9ff__C2HNoere0jrN7FlnEhvrhcGeTy-zc8Drou-f/s200/DSC02032.JPG" /> We count our blessings having arrived home safely after 49 weeks of travel including visits to 11 countries! Home now for less than 48 hours, it seems a bit surreal. I am trying not to let myself think about What Next? Not yet anyway. After a year of constantly planning our next move, I can honestly say that I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. With our calendars cleared until the new year, don't be surprised if we show up unannounced on a doorstep near you!<br /><br />Big hugs and thanks to everyone who sent us smiles over the internet this year and to everyone who took time out to visit us at thefarnyard to check in on our journey. (Paige and Bree, this most certainly includes you, thanks for following along and can't wait to see ya). </p><p align="center">It was great having everyone along for the ride.<br />Your support and kindness has literally meant The World to us!<br /></p>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-74449516608420227472009-12-06T08:13:00.001-07:002009-12-07T12:49:18.607-07:00Beach 'n Brawn<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHptiegjvaAh3Cl6Sw3uFXN1OQUP-lymoHJD8pI4umIB6yhsbhyphenhyphenztqx6GAtAPjHKQINC8r0B9DEPHfmeeqlxuxVQ3Xs_8YCMBWyWdL_wzNgJswgxE7gV0a3Bfg4_v7ZpYHWxI2JLYN20xN/s1600-h/IMG_0976.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412576811607806994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHptiegjvaAh3Cl6Sw3uFXN1OQUP-lymoHJD8pI4umIB6yhsbhyphenhyphenztqx6GAtAPjHKQINC8r0B9DEPHfmeeqlxuxVQ3Xs_8YCMBWyWdL_wzNgJswgxE7gV0a3Bfg4_v7ZpYHWxI2JLYN20xN/s200/IMG_0976.JPG" /></a> While Troy spent our final week in Thailand healing his aches and pains, showing off his purple leg and stitches, and wearing out the Youtube link to his fight video, I resumed training. <div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxYuN_ZeeXC9Wk8DSnaFd0sahFr-ah3_vmkAbLYJzXnolrgdnPGPkEDM6Qpu8TNIOZuFR0sRVFASOIAYmenZLRNM2ZQCTRgRHd7nMuBTe3J89cNJ9GwkgOSrnauIqZHWl73D7XgQ54_Pk/s1600-h/IMG_0946.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412574476926376626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxYuN_ZeeXC9Wk8DSnaFd0sahFr-ah3_vmkAbLYJzXnolrgdnPGPkEDM6Qpu8TNIOZuFR0sRVFASOIAYmenZLRNM2ZQCTRgRHd7nMuBTe3J89cNJ9GwkgOSrnauIqZHWl73D7XgQ54_Pk/s200/IMG_0946.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MObq5lMJCp9diXVNFaSXQ_eFzjO6gcOnN7vkqDgvn-ZoQtcS466edLk-9EW4SgmsAW1KES8HuA-WgGaCnStt3YAkSV3aFOtF9PrRSLAvsCwcA7wrRD3F7WrR2Ge47Lx7RSmQwUGHDCuU/s1600-h/IMG_0934.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412574344102613282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MObq5lMJCp9diXVNFaSXQ_eFzjO6gcOnN7vkqDgvn-ZoQtcS466edLk-9EW4SgmsAW1KES8HuA-WgGaCnStt3YAkSV3aFOtF9PrRSLAvsCwcA7wrRD3F7WrR2Ge47Lx7RSmQwUGHDCuU/s200/IMG_0934.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MObq5lMJCp9diXVNFaSXQ_eFzjO6gcOnN7vkqDgvn-ZoQtcS466edLk-9EW4SgmsAW1KES8HuA-WgGaCnStt3YAkSV3aFOtF9PrRSLAvsCwcA7wrRD3F7WrR2Ge47Lx7RSmQwUGHDCuU/s1600-h/IMG_0934.JPG"></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">You know, just another day in the life of a muay thai kickboxer... </div><div align="center">Yib (the trainer) continued to encourage me to punch him in the face, convince me to stop smiling and keep my chin down, advise me that there is no squealing in kickboxing (even if I am a girl and that is my immediate response when my legs are kicked out from under me), and inform me that <em>when</em> we return <em>next</em> time he will train me harder and I <em>will</em> fight. I held fast to my position as a lover.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHifjRUuOcmf0FsPcnZhOfWF-WreKyWqFoivpXi-VCTDp-ctR0AjVs3zqVlxBZXUgCsUmyFARjLd5UYdfSQ8FiM8GqnbhEygoJhOM35SoBLsqXJGv1aVTANvkcLQ8sK2WLrG57758xsyc6/s1600-h/IMG_0915.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412576054385258434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHifjRUuOcmf0FsPcnZhOfWF-WreKyWqFoivpXi-VCTDp-ctR0AjVs3zqVlxBZXUgCsUmyFARjLd5UYdfSQ8FiM8GqnbhEygoJhOM35SoBLsqXJGv1aVTANvkcLQ8sK2WLrG57758xsyc6/s200/IMG_0915.JPG" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQhI8rgGCBWTkCfxRkrVjQjKQiZBr_dg7an7Q2V4xhszr2Q-YCkigUHQ2KHRrV-nV4_cCDcM4O2FmL4MFaihf77S7l__6VshLivnfa61KOS6g1LzI0EJ4rP04J2wRrUdYimoY1rqBBYlO/s1600-h/IMG_0903.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412576157404102322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQhI8rgGCBWTkCfxRkrVjQjKQiZBr_dg7an7Q2V4xhszr2Q-YCkigUHQ2KHRrV-nV4_cCDcM4O2FmL4MFaihf77S7l__6VshLivnfa61KOS6g1LzI0EJ4rP04J2wRrUdYimoY1rqBBYlO/s200/IMG_0903.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I embraced my last week of training, came away with my own impressive set of bruises, and after logging a few more hours in the sun and flexing some muscle on the beach (hehe), it was time to say goodbye to Thailand. </div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhkYyAbu1JYTY2rwd_DHTH6sYL2-KZMEc01a2q-TIXJ0XmRrg8i4kDvTVqEwF8frOscUwROP-HeahA1_ImMTuwPEjyHgDf6cSE2jVlCYVDcVTcPosDb0H0b9nI4zQWpa1noSwrhntrKZN/s1600-h/IMG_0953.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 176px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412582617286952562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhkYyAbu1JYTY2rwd_DHTH6sYL2-KZMEc01a2q-TIXJ0XmRrg8i4kDvTVqEwF8frOscUwROP-HeahA1_ImMTuwPEjyHgDf6cSE2jVlCYVDcVTcPosDb0H0b9nI4zQWpa1noSwrhntrKZN/s200/IMG_0953.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4mD5j11gI0OE-CMbg0FujV81rscNVr_mHX6i-blRjjGKDOTWqjW_TeB8JAdtYigeQtkHAhpUZe1QoM8j0iKXtAnzDJNmK8NwZmuhxvE-rMsP6liTtD_B3qcWjwzsUQueHav1DmSEy0OQ/s1600-h/IMG_0965.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 182px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412142455478823362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4mD5j11gI0OE-CMbg0FujV81rscNVr_mHX6i-blRjjGKDOTWqjW_TeB8JAdtYigeQtkHAhpUZe1QoM8j0iKXtAnzDJNmK8NwZmuhxvE-rMsP6liTtD_B3qcWjwzsUQueHav1DmSEy0OQ/s200/IMG_0965.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPxgF2H79n1FtCAAB-1FoD9Drg7_wpPutRNVrI5fWg4unfAOcqSKS0mjiRYcxbOvT1Zy1bjQ5Q7eyqo85WBz1MsN90v20EYl5HehUVTWUTAsu89gkSCOOGKnNlZAiNX73-uG6fSM-Tbu_/s1600-h/IMG_0969.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412142311125020738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPxgF2H79n1FtCAAB-1FoD9Drg7_wpPutRNVrI5fWg4unfAOcqSKS0mjiRYcxbOvT1Zy1bjQ5Q7eyqo85WBz1MsN90v20EYl5HehUVTWUTAsu89gkSCOOGKnNlZAiNX73-uG6fSM-Tbu_/s200/IMG_0969.jpg" /></a></p></div></div></div><br /></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-24317797521531123952009-11-30T06:15:00.000-07:002009-12-01T00:10:10.994-07:00Knock Out!<div style="text-align: center;">Undefeated in Thailand. Has a nice ring to it...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Sunday was spent on a wave of nervous energy. I'm not sure who was more nervous, Troy or I, but we both did a good job trying to hide it.<br /></div><div align="center"> </div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRa-ncadfo4L4GmJxQT-6MAVv1lKn_jB5mUBREewuqSX24bghSCpCLtrvjJ-dr6yhhzCvxgQod7wyjp4qQDTcgs5aNx_dqOmZ0cGU3ExB9DdK-VaM3tW0c40h9Cl3uOC5kf6ERoOjEveW/s1600/Picture+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRa-ncadfo4L4GmJxQT-6MAVv1lKn_jB5mUBREewuqSX24bghSCpCLtrvjJ-dr6yhhzCvxgQod7wyjp4qQDTcgs5aNx_dqOmZ0cGU3ExB9DdK-VaM3tW0c40h9Cl3uOC5kf6ERoOjEveW/s200/Picture+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148225959500578" border="0" /></a><div align="center">We entered the stadium and I was overwhelmed with the smells of sweat and tiger balm. Yep, we had arrived. The little kids were up first and while I watched 7 year olds with boxing gloves the size of their heads and practiced spectating without squirming, Troy got prepared. Or should I say that the pit crew (as i like to call them) prepared him. First was hand taping, then the massage and grease-up, some pep-talking and off to wardrobe!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fPPJ0f581yT913ys7MbLc0OlCgOgNml_5Qa135E8n0MfKqkrYnxnFHrGvSInpl1PPfaCBzMcWM8AgT5ZjY2xOoHtvnNyTTyMd71NaSYbeuFORFiTyz4PcS_UBOm3o6km2YplrlDyCMh9/s1600/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fPPJ0f581yT913ys7MbLc0OlCgOgNml_5Qa135E8n0MfKqkrYnxnFHrGvSInpl1PPfaCBzMcWM8AgT5ZjY2xOoHtvnNyTTyMd71NaSYbeuFORFiTyz4PcS_UBOm3o6km2YplrlDyCMh9/s200/Picture+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148636812249378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5phrfCqQY5beLInbaBqDTT-ya0Ucuyz7opKY3m_nzYK5j3RJMQiNToGE1ZALvpx6N7U-XAyrxEGR8lMf5CJoQ0M46BoeymdmwDBsqvYu3cVcYLocc_uLWt1iJ6h25rnh3ILsLewvZmtP/s1600/Picture+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5phrfCqQY5beLInbaBqDTT-ya0Ucuyz7opKY3m_nzYK5j3RJMQiNToGE1ZALvpx6N7U-XAyrxEGR8lMf5CJoQ0M46BoeymdmwDBsqvYu3cVcYLocc_uLWt1iJ6h25rnh3ILsLewvZmtP/s200/Picture+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148806798898722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicROlEs5HDdEoUN_qcCd1MubKacw2j4CHxRDTNjqrjO_iJxi0Bt08kPUNDzJMTrsKcGWTQLlAjBNI2fRx1XwMUsiDhcG4uMKvQOwR-06NDLUxxjB4anM_WDy_cx61A4yXZ1ZHoUXTaYEeh/s1600/Picture+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicROlEs5HDdEoUN_qcCd1MubKacw2j4CHxRDTNjqrjO_iJxi0Bt08kPUNDzJMTrsKcGWTQLlAjBNI2fRx1XwMUsiDhcG4uMKvQOwR-06NDLUxxjB4anM_WDy_cx61A4yXZ1ZHoUXTaYEeh/s200/Picture+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148644312886258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKeqXzrp-hI2_4BruNB3FiC7E7Yk7sMTCRBUTmg-GJhes-ZL2xgN5r_oj3mm4uugr9qAeNlj8IAwH1b4H2JxSwVZnZTlbOaGQ-fzdgyCp0-NXNblEe1jXWRj2KUpeTh7rr9rRPMkBKHQ6/s1600/Picture+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKeqXzrp-hI2_4BruNB3FiC7E7Yk7sMTCRBUTmg-GJhes-ZL2xgN5r_oj3mm4uugr9qAeNlj8IAwH1b4H2JxSwVZnZTlbOaGQ-fzdgyCp0-NXNblEe1jXWRj2KUpeTh7rr9rRPMkBKHQ6/s200/Picture+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148810829403266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This was the real deal, a professional fight. He looked the part and was the picture of confidence as he climbed into the ring in his silk robe. (Though he later confessed that he almost fell on his face as he negotiated the ropes...)<br /><br />Troy went through the motions of the Wai Kru (the traditional 'dance' performed in the ring prior to fighting) and then the inevitable happened. The fight began. I had been hoping the formalities would last a while longer as I sought out an isolated seat in the corner from where I could watch alone with my nerves.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84p_18QmPq0wyJAgCGtCl8XapNW1lyTxSXjm4zeo6uAaoeYAjJRSC8EyB794uEvEwFIW84vL_x1gHY71aINvcIkDKhU_jwt60HMFQQVj3iJfLSZ7YUDTqoqhm_EUDbQEFzxcO0OWXeACB/s1600/Picture+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84p_18QmPq0wyJAgCGtCl8XapNW1lyTxSXjm4zeo6uAaoeYAjJRSC8EyB794uEvEwFIW84vL_x1gHY71aINvcIkDKhU_jwt60HMFQQVj3iJfLSZ7YUDTqoqhm_EUDbQEFzxcO0OWXeACB/s200/Picture+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410149648305867618" border="0" /></a><br />It started out a little tentative, as was expected. This was Troy's first fight. This was not the first fight for his Thai opponent. Troy took a couple of good kicks to the leg in the first round and then I watched the momentum of the fight turn as Troy got, well, pissed off! He found his one-two and got into the game. I didn't need that seat after all as I found myself jumping up and down and yelling like a hockey-mom.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6xn3dWpxwY289OxN1phPqx1QyZAKIJoI0__7ezxKEY62Qbq1efmASMRIh41opbe6mQd-HdWLwelwpKNga7jMSBP9MYWgFSMsyqmaSK-bcs5ntzBL2VhkRfFhFznd9BXPvzI8oI1La7ft/s1600/Picture+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6xn3dWpxwY289OxN1phPqx1QyZAKIJoI0__7ezxKEY62Qbq1efmASMRIh41opbe6mQd-HdWLwelwpKNga7jMSBP9MYWgFSMsyqmaSK-bcs5ntzBL2VhkRfFhFznd9BXPvzI8oI1La7ft/s200/Picture+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148812779018578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYUh5OEXk52wbEWjGeIZ4nPXXqktAd_W0uGVu1LN_2ndM_B4ABlSCCSfYP0dG8d0DPCRxdTpaYJL4vj3-PkKFxalIzExe8dDwWHrYepJt6n3gfBhjlCfGYC_ofjbdBQjymd0CMaf7i8F6/s1600/Picture+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYUh5OEXk52wbEWjGeIZ4nPXXqktAd_W0uGVu1LN_2ndM_B4ABlSCCSfYP0dG8d0DPCRxdTpaYJL4vj3-PkKFxalIzExe8dDwWHrYepJt6n3gfBhjlCfGYC_ofjbdBQjymd0CMaf7i8F6/s200/Picture+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148649672961090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Round 1 seemed to pass in a flash and the team sprung into action!<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLRFuHyTMy3D1Zj1AItlTbMzG0t8Mo3GWv4W-rTg1RRy-Fj1q76zZ9GF8Pyyqg7iPne6cJgeSu2GqesV4E0WCfGPp2klD-VezhsqxQQKl8Koa7lmNklhwk6TvgdjMvx9dgKAW5gLg2CqH/s1600/Picture+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLRFuHyTMy3D1Zj1AItlTbMzG0t8Mo3GWv4W-rTg1RRy-Fj1q76zZ9GF8Pyyqg7iPne6cJgeSu2GqesV4E0WCfGPp2klD-VezhsqxQQKl8Koa7lmNklhwk6TvgdjMvx9dgKAW5gLg2CqH/s200/Picture+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148813335321042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I3FsonZFVqYo1upA-QdshIr1URCAmHGSKtz6mUg-dYkpmPd5dDebywvbMTfFYHlg73GbgvueGDH1oA4tc9jOLU7cpmBu0zRcxdXcPD-tbCOvxAR01lQWLaPJrSqMMuVoPVDdfe9WE4we/s1600/Picture+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I3FsonZFVqYo1upA-QdshIr1URCAmHGSKtz6mUg-dYkpmPd5dDebywvbMTfFYHlg73GbgvueGDH1oA4tc9jOLU7cpmBu0zRcxdXcPD-tbCOvxAR01lQWLaPJrSqMMuVoPVDdfe9WE4we/s200/Picture+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410148653687657250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Round 2 was even shorter. This is a picture of Troy trying not to celebrate prematurely as his opponent, in the bottom right hand corner, lies unmoving on the mat... So proud! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8BRB73vju6kKseH8Z8HnbD2_M6Wdf1EhtamVwWWUf8_E7RnquVYf4gU-8CtPLV0mqtqdFOMengwhbNcZNoiNuHMhi2zjle5XsP7x0FKGh1TdGo4UAJjG1aCutsOkVwtsdOFw6gBTaB2g/s1600/Picture+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8BRB73vju6kKseH8Z8HnbD2_M6Wdf1EhtamVwWWUf8_E7RnquVYf4gU-8CtPLV0mqtqdFOMengwhbNcZNoiNuHMhi2zjle5XsP7x0FKGh1TdGo4UAJjG1aCutsOkVwtsdOFw6gBTaB2g/s200/Picture+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410149652296449794" border="0" /></a>The fight was definitely a crowd pleaser and it was agreed that while it wasn't necessarily a real pretty or technical fight, it didn't matter. A knock-out is a knock-out and the victory tastes just as sweet! He even ended up with a Thai Tattoo (aka stitches, four to be exact) as a souvenir. Who could ask for more?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvW6XGMBcz2wA2QJkrj1-ARM78QqTJS4UJk7Rjangm2KmyyTM1cUlVjvPtEHRb2PShsB0Idn_jEDLmTDABmmrTTBCRoMsLeiltx7GmuymTwE5JIZuJyTOsGISF8pLNOF9SxP18LiHRUaG/s1600/Picture+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvW6XGMBcz2wA2QJkrj1-ARM78QqTJS4UJk7Rjangm2KmyyTM1cUlVjvPtEHRb2PShsB0Idn_jEDLmTDABmmrTTBCRoMsLeiltx7GmuymTwE5JIZuJyTOsGISF8pLNOF9SxP18LiHRUaG/s200/Picture+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410157499099525234" border="0" /></a><br />On the way home, one of the trainers looked at me, nodded his head, pounded his chest, pointed to the box of the truck where Troy was sitting (he couldn't bend his leg to get in the cab) and despite the language barrier, he managed the english to say "Big Heart".<br /><br />Check out the link below to watch the Farn in action :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pub2.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=112235354&frmid=6346&msgid=816649&cmd=show">http://pub2.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=112235354&frmid=6346&msgid=816649&cmd=show</a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ1YGU1KfN8LZwyJmbD4PuZoVOXxBsRs9vbI3QiJTexxXvSS_9sBlaKbnvUfvEBjgPRGD-yqLYr1_WwgEf2E7AQqtBc-RsXzFhrm48k5PqTVBQR1kVRHZiHdT4Ps-v42zeG8g-ZnPR4UZ/s1600/Picture+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ1YGU1KfN8LZwyJmbD4PuZoVOXxBsRs9vbI3QiJTexxXvSS_9sBlaKbnvUfvEBjgPRGD-yqLYr1_WwgEf2E7AQqtBc-RsXzFhrm48k5PqTVBQR1kVRHZiHdT4Ps-v42zeG8g-ZnPR4UZ/s200/Picture+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410157493221345138" border="0" /></a>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-33999618652650907132009-11-25T03:12:00.000-07:002009-11-25T03:19:41.979-07:00Hearing Things<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-AU">Though I had fully intended to attend each training session faithfully, (twice a day, six days a week, for the four weeks we have committed here), I was forced to take a day off on Tuesday of our second week.<span style=""> </span>I knew I should have stayed away from that slimy incline bench.<span style=""> </span>But I didn’t.<span style=""> </span>Surrounded by impossibly toned six pack abs everywhere I turned, it had called to me. Unfortunately, what it didn’t say was ‘Take it easy Nicole, don’t overdo it’.<span style=""> </span>If it had said that, I probably wouldn’t have lost valuable training time due to a pulled abdominal muscle. </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span lang="EN-AU">By the following Tuesday I had also lost a toenail, the ability to turn my head to the left, several layers of skin from the bottom of my toes and feet, maybe a couple of pounds of sweat, the ability to run without a distinct limp, a small amount of dignity having been persuaded to participate in greased pig grappling, and the will to get out of bed.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;" align="center"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span lang="EN-AU">Troy</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-AU"> advised me to listen to my body and acknowledging the fact that it was screaming at me, I decided to give in and take a break.<span style=""> </span>I have traded my remaining two weeks of group training in for one week of one-on-one sessions next week.<span style=""> </span>This week I am concentrating on trying to heal my twisted joints, stretch my tight tendons, and relax my pulled muscles by attending the odd yoga class, receiving Thai massages, reading an embarrassing amount of chick-lit on the beach, and going for runs on flat terrain only.<span style=""> </span>All in preparation to be in fine form to kick some butt next week!<span style=""> </span>I prefer not to think of my need for a body break as wimping out but rather as a consequence of over-enthusiasm! It makes me feel better.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span lang="EN-AU">Troy</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-AU">, on the other hand, has decided not to heed his own advice and is clearly ignoring his body’s cries for help. He, instead, has committed much time to alternating an ice pack between his knee and his ankle and slathering his extremities with tiger balm.<span style=""> </span>I suspect he will soon need earplugs to drown out the screams from his body.<span style=""> </span>This morning I think even I heard little shrieks from his knee as he eased himself ever so gently out of bed and I swear I heard his ankle yelp as he wrapped it up in ice yet again this afternoon.<span style=""> </span>However, with only three days of valuable preparation time left until fight night, I know that any reminders from me to listen to his body will fall on deaf ears.<span style=""> </span>Instead, I am comforted by the words of the trainer this morning reminding me that regardless of the condition of his body, it is the size of his heart that will prove most valuable in the ring.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p>This is good news as, true to form, </o:p></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">the only thing I can hear louder than the cries of </span><st1:city style="font-family: georgia;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Troy</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family:georgia;">’s aching body, is the sound of his heart pounding with excitement, determination, desire, and sheer will. And so, I am not worried. </span><br /></p><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:12;" lang="EN-AU"> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--></span></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-5216334659190036442009-11-18T05:50:00.001-07:002009-11-18T05:55:38.128-07:00Out of my element<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCCiC3Ui6JDDXu21jpDIoTIf-CP2vsygGvJWpOlnH4EPeeX0tP4H8NJHryHtNWr2TVcjjlxw9tVMbRyiIv-vvA2NrozNJMA0h5-66z9G-5vJUmh94xePaqTrH_XMI0DOLjcE8foLLCI7a/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCCiC3Ui6JDDXu21jpDIoTIf-CP2vsygGvJWpOlnH4EPeeX0tP4H8NJHryHtNWr2TVcjjlxw9tVMbRyiIv-vvA2NrozNJMA0h5-66z9G-5vJUmh94xePaqTrH_XMI0DOLjcE8foLLCI7a/s200/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405426447328916290" border="0" /></a><br />A lot of giggling. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center">That’s how I would describe my first day at muay thai training. Is that even allowed in fight training? I guess so. It was tolerated at the very least as I didn’t get kicked out. In my own self-deprecating sort of way, this is how I dealt with my initial awkwardness and embarrassment. If you can’t laugh at yourself… </p> <p align="center">Though Troy has mentioned many times wanting to try his hand at a martial art, I have never been into any sort of contact fighting. I can’t even watch boxing on tv without my face contorting as if in pain and wincing and turning away every time someone gets pummelled. What can I say, I’m a lover not a fighter. Heck, I could barely even pronounce muay thai apparently as when I told my sister where I was, she thought I was at bar tending school. Needless to say, I had no idea what to expect from this training camp, just that it was located 800m from the nearest beach. </p> <p align="center">I watched in horror that first day as people shadow boxed their way up and down the gym, let out guttural sounds with every punch and kick and grappled like greased pigs inside the ring. Will this really be me? I am nervous. I know I will feel ridiculous and conspicuous and like everyone is watching and laughing as I fight, of all things, an invisible opponent. </p> <p align="center">In stark contrast to the gyms of my past, there are no cute little spray bottles of disinfectant or towels to blot sweat from shared surfaces. I share the pink boxing gloves with other gals and ignore the dampness when I put them on. The punching bags are often glistening and the one incline bench that exists is constantly dripping wet and it is not uncommon to see actual puddles on the floor underneath the knee-pit pads. Nope, this is not Club Fit. I am however not deterred, I always thought all that disinfecting was futile anyway. </p> <p align="center"> From the start, I have really enjoyed working with the trainers, learning the moves and punching and kicking their pads. They call out a move, jab, one-two, punch, right knee, front kick, left block, etc., hold up the appropriate pad or make the corresponding offensive move (at a reasonable speed ofcourse) and allow me to respond accordingly. Seeking that satisfying slapping sound of perfect contact with the pads is actually quite addicting. This part of training is called <i>Technique</i>. I could really get into this, I mean throw in a beat, coordinate some movements, paste on some smiles, and we’re practically dancing! </p> <p align="center">And then we move on to <i>Sparring. </i>I do not love this. This is where the trainer actually wants me to punch him. Did I mention I’m a lover not a fighter? This is also the part where, when I’m not doing any punching, I get pummelled by fists from seemingly every which direction (seriously, does this guy have more than two hands??). Blocking requires a certain speed of reflex, which, if you lack, results in being punched in the head and kicked in the abdomen. In frustration with my lack of defensive moves, the trainer drops his gloves altogether and tells me to punch him in the face. Seriously? I wind up and swing, my glove stopping just shy of contact. I wince. I can’t do it. He returns to swinging at me instead and I hear him remind me to keep my eyes open…</p> <p align="center">Though I ache in places I didn’t know I had muscles (or maybe I don’t have and that’s why those places ache?) and I have a distinct limp when I try to get my legs moving after sitting for a while, I am really enjoying myself, feeling a little more confident and, dare I say, a little bit ‘tougher’ after each workout. Now, today, as I shadow box my way across the floor, I am suddenly aware of a faint guttural sound being let loose with my every movement. It is coming from <i>my </i>mouth! Barely audible, it is not intimidating by any stretch, but who would’ve thought? I notice that I no longer compulsively look around to see if anyone is watching me or can hear me. In fact, I no longer care if they are. I have become somewhat comfortable (though I have not yet been asked to participate in the greased pig grappling so this could change) in this new environment so out of my element. </p> <p align="center">Don’t get me wrong, it has not been without missteps. I did have to be told to wear my punching gloves when punching the punching bag (I didn’t know…), I did give the trainer a high five once (and only once) when he raised his hand as a target to be punched, and there was the one time that I may have interfered with his ability to father children when I delivered a front kick that slipped off the waist target I had been directed to aim for. </p> <p align="center">Contrary to my worries of looking stupid or feeling ridiculous, it has occurred to me that, well, nobody cares. As I watch boyz bouncing themselves off the ropes like WWF superstars (I resist the urge to tell them they’ve got the wrong sport because I’ve never actually seen a muay thai fight and maybe this does actually happen), I realize that everybody is too busy livin’ the dream to worry about anybody else. I like that.</p> <p align="center">Now this is my turn to brag. While I am here to embrace the fitness training only, Troy is keen to fight. Troy left me in the beginner ring after the first practice and is rapidly learning how to channel all the ‘power’ he apparently possesses. With hopes that the promoter can arrange a fight for him before we leave here, he has taken on the training full throttle and the trainers are eager to get him into the ring. I often glance over during his one-on-ones or while he is punching the bag or skipping or while we are running together and I wonder if the theme music from Rocky is playing over and over in his head. I suspect it is more often than not <span style="font-family:Wingdings;"></span>. </p></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-67437354443824722962009-11-05T11:52:00.000-07:002009-11-07T06:50:03.692-07:00The smell of success<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Okay, okay, I know I touched on this already but I felt it needed a little more attention.<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br />Let me share something with you: 14 days of trekking, two t-shirts, two sets of socks, and one pair of boots is a recipe for stink. Not to mention the fact that in an effort to reduce backpack weight, deodorant did not make it onto the packing list, coupled with the fact that we were too cheap to pay for warm water for washing let alone a hot shower, to say we were ripe would be an understatement.<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_H-BORYuStvNOFs-oBsSkpjP4B4tGLu-5qfjroxUth0LOOe2NjYIQeknmmaS8k5nChLPSfyU9-D5VFZrRigib4Yckuou23gsOptzDlRFcU2ol9WJjvP_53fC37z9z3KvzfZPMwmRs8f1v/s1600-h/IMG_0738.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400495969297139506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_H-BORYuStvNOFs-oBsSkpjP4B4tGLu-5qfjroxUth0LOOe2NjYIQeknmmaS8k5nChLPSfyU9-D5VFZrRigib4Yckuou23gsOptzDlRFcU2ol9WJjvP_53fC37z9z3KvzfZPMwmRs8f1v/s200/IMG_0738.jpg" /></a>In our defense though, check out this example of the hot shower 'contraptions', as I like to call them, that were available to us. Does it really look like a recipe for clean to you? I don't even know how you were supposed to see your body to clean it as this little gem of a shower shed doesn't even have windows.<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXj1dhBsTyaRkU_V4P_slA4FLH3ZfHXrK569z09WEdGvz028WswuXDklNs8kaAXJoTSw9ztxcXOtIhNuuP4QR2CIlaq4sLHluIjnnU55NoFzRk7Tk91TEsUJ_qTWRJurcvozvDJNYR4Wr/s1600-h/IMG_0507.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400648539615105090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXj1dhBsTyaRkU_V4P_slA4FLH3ZfHXrK569z09WEdGvz028WswuXDklNs8kaAXJoTSw9ztxcXOtIhNuuP4QR2CIlaq4sLHluIjnnU55NoFzRk7Tk91TEsUJ_qTWRJurcvozvDJNYR4Wr/s200/IMG_0507.jpg" /></a>Seriously though, have you ever gone for 14 days without showering? Now to be fair, Troy claims he did splash his armpits a couple of times and stuck his feet in a river once (as I recall, his voice was a few octaves higher afterward). So if you want to judge someone, judge me. I just couldn't rationalize the use of freezing cold water to clean any body part that was going to immediately be clothed with dirty laundry.<br /><br />You come up with little systems to make yourself at least feel less dirty. For Troy, it was the little celebration he had every 4(!) days when he allowed himself a fresh pair of ginch, I myself ceremoniously pulled my second t-shirt out of reserves after we crossed the Chola Pass, and a hat or tuque became a no-brainer after Troy inquired one day why my hair was wet (it wasn't, ewww.).<br /><br />Seriously though, think back, what's the longest you've gone without a shower? Not that this is a competition but I think I could have this one all wrapped up. I have a cousin (not to name names, Scott) who went through a phase when we were growing up of wearing the same clothes every day, even to bed, so he wouldn't have to get dressed in the morning. He might be able to give me a run for my money but other than that, I'm pretty confident about holding the title. Notice I didn't say <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">proud</span>...just confident.<br /><br />Anyways, not to dwell... just had lots of time to think about how disgusting we were as we passed all the sparkling clean people just heading out on their treks. I smiled inside and thought, just you wait...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXj1dhBsTyaRkU_V4P_slA4FLH3ZfHXrK569z09WEdGvz028WswuXDklNs8kaAXJoTSw9ztxcXOtIhNuuP4QR2CIlaq4sLHluIjnnU55NoFzRk7Tk91TEsUJ_qTWRJurcvozvDJNYR4Wr/s1600-h/IMG_0507.jpg"><br /></a>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-19081039377875364622009-11-04T21:53:00.000-07:002009-11-05T19:43:46.229-07:00One foot in front of the other<div style="text-align: center;">As I understand it, October is high season for trekking in the Himalayas. Based on this, a person would expect that flights in and out of Kathmandu's domestic terminal would be routine, after all they do this every day, right? The chaos we encountered however told a different story. Somehow, we weaved our way through the crowd of frustrated people clearly as confused as we were by the lack of signage and/or willingness of anyone to answer questions, and found our way onto a plane. As I looked out my window at the baggage cart, I was relieved by the confirmation that I would, by some minor miracle, indeed be on the same plane as our backpacks.<br /><br />The 14 passenger plane spit us out on the air strip in Lukla and, much to the horror of my mother, we turned down the many offers of guide and porter service as we left the airport.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF1QeQjzIy_tfR9xxljVUFMQwxXPr3urPRkuAyjGsRQV1Hf_F65WXZakkIm0VdKW_GW3LGB1vZ2j8vhVSoRxcQrdS7o1CLRZ_zOla0aw9K80A2tJGgkUSpkA5se1BBh3-4vAdUieAYwAJ/s1600-h/khumbu_everest_region_map.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF1QeQjzIy_tfR9xxljVUFMQwxXPr3urPRkuAyjGsRQV1Hf_F65WXZakkIm0VdKW_GW3LGB1vZ2j8vhVSoRxcQrdS7o1CLRZ_zOla0aw9K80A2tJGgkUSpkA5se1BBh3-4vAdUieAYwAJ/s400/khumbu_everest_region_map.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400481225803754226" border="0" /></a>With plans to head up the western valley to Gokyo, go east over the Chola Pass, north up the eastern valley to Everest Base Camp, and back down the eastern valley, we hit the trail; Map in hand and backpack securely fastened!<br /><br />We shared the trail with donkeys, cows and yaks, all earning their keep...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwIK0u7LuOaUeMoqo6kVuyOLpHFFeUobLVvLcvF78tA2bT7kCf2OYracPAH1io4RT3ETBZ3lYWEuZ-qp7T8qpUiDpF5FOaYTuE0IyS5e87kLu7l1DLVtLSdQe-yfbU4Iq7nYqXBzvkYmV/s1600-h/IMG_0329.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwIK0u7LuOaUeMoqo6kVuyOLpHFFeUobLVvLcvF78tA2bT7kCf2OYracPAH1io4RT3ETBZ3lYWEuZ-qp7T8qpUiDpF5FOaYTuE0IyS5e87kLu7l1DLVtLSdQe-yfbU4Iq7nYqXBzvkYmV/s200/IMG_0329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400484141443568594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2w9WEP14vHOyy1d_4wEeEiB0o_AjpMP-GRCAkrvz0I0dLbaGDW9E48LGvFS9zHRNBPFN4UxWVr6CWH2ETUvUWLSwpwaZ_OOHd2btva8g0VZHN15w70d2oF13hVBQUqxjAV7abPrhF-fA/s1600-h/IMG_0270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2w9WEP14vHOyy1d_4wEeEiB0o_AjpMP-GRCAkrvz0I0dLbaGDW9E48LGvFS9zHRNBPFN4UxWVr6CWH2ETUvUWLSwpwaZ_OOHd2btva8g0VZHN15w70d2oF13hVBQUqxjAV7abPrhF-fA/s200/IMG_0270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400484580898135618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our packs were dwarfed by the loads carried by porters which were at least twice their size, carrying not only individuals' belongings but also supplies to the villages and towns along the trail. It was not uncommon to see loads including such 'staples' as cases of beer, coca-cola, and even entire cows (butchered and soaking up the hot sun) being hauled up into the mountains<br />in baskets on backs supported by straps across foreheads.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ_jtKfL4T5q_ntGBbjkpk6mwOI8suAg0vTQE2iryem868xs1D_p_nuvR6PfacJUJ-GpL-G9jGL_WGTRbl-Zc330mAsQKjjAZDFmLtPK_QLFzenh18DfO3HzmznB7Gv9745WOYyuQcSE9/s1600-h/IMG_0266.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ_jtKfL4T5q_ntGBbjkpk6mwOI8suAg0vTQE2iryem868xs1D_p_nuvR6PfacJUJ-GpL-G9jGL_WGTRbl-Zc330mAsQKjjAZDFmLtPK_QLFzenh18DfO3HzmznB7Gv9745WOYyuQcSE9/s200/IMG_0266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400484146594348514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pQf5bBNQTZ1U5jzI0OoJXowcMPywJA8NcH5O0lyp3NBcHEAL3ynfwjgs_GxrV_HjipHMxgmpFpcfYb85VZ4kqjzg1TXDCD8fi290ZRqFweFjEfwUoFeBUa6iwmsqPMdr_NTDRuIfCcK4/s1600-h/IMG_0267.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pQf5bBNQTZ1U5jzI0OoJXowcMPywJA8NcH5O0lyp3NBcHEAL3ynfwjgs_GxrV_HjipHMxgmpFpcfYb85VZ4kqjzg1TXDCD8fi290ZRqFweFjEfwUoFeBUa6iwmsqPMdr_NTDRuIfCcK4/s200/IMG_0267.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400484579283002642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Every day, the sights along the trail provided something new to look at.<br /><br />We soaked in some culture,...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwECYvwWDDYf7uqkImaeaO2gs8H-ogrxt7LXjh_ReGmZTPuGTyPXFN0362yCPclGCZ9sP98fBCoitymKUzEeciz5vv-IwLIhcYQhuCOCO4B6lDqQddUVvNXHpxlOpJCvx1C8yb6vjxBKX2/s1600-h/IMG_0262.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwECYvwWDDYf7uqkImaeaO2gs8H-ogrxt7LXjh_ReGmZTPuGTyPXFN0362yCPclGCZ9sP98fBCoitymKUzEeciz5vv-IwLIhcYQhuCOCO4B6lDqQddUVvNXHpxlOpJCvx1C8yb6vjxBKX2/s200/IMG_0262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400643218010573810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWT-rLxeXFU4mtbvVZJgvJMkBynjFfxJQ5k1P2Mae8xbmu3ueI0oBZ3_jEyZyD8331Mak65VNhi2gGCSCi67Z3B8aWLy5x_asLfAOy3lNA__bVNdMiIfLUEC4rv-k456X8JA8ojTNy6fD/s1600-h/IMG_0370.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWT-rLxeXFU4mtbvVZJgvJMkBynjFfxJQ5k1P2Mae8xbmu3ueI0oBZ3_jEyZyD8331Mak65VNhi2gGCSCi67Z3B8aWLy5x_asLfAOy3lNA__bVNdMiIfLUEC4rv-k456X8JA8ojTNy6fD/s200/IMG_0370.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400643398445624770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />...we negotiated mountain side trails, and followed streams through the forest, ...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj090-rS6ZL5jX5kmih1cYHnOmzccwVU39849Q0RymGV92GZgexhN7LRuem1TR-C0seZ5n0sAuUZPAsp1VgW5Gwq0vu7ThhbLY81NG_DeqOOeX_CGhAp95HWeqkYntvrnbIrgLN1aspUkoG/s1600-h/IMG_0343.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj090-rS6ZL5jX5kmih1cYHnOmzccwVU39849Q0RymGV92GZgexhN7LRuem1TR-C0seZ5n0sAuUZPAsp1VgW5Gwq0vu7ThhbLY81NG_DeqOOeX_CGhAp95HWeqkYntvrnbIrgLN1aspUkoG/s200/IMG_0343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400486911447009362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNc1yQDsGE_eZj8tprCbCGAs8LvkX_gbR-IdXKwVH2oS8kHHvNmB5uT1PpXQG6j9KYPEdeXsQhZtDEKXdwBWP-qiVhQtxUR_8-n7avQhrk0nYrL5ZLvjKmNFiYirk44qtX66FkvCRksU5/s1600-h/IMG_0448.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNc1yQDsGE_eZj8tprCbCGAs8LvkX_gbR-IdXKwVH2oS8kHHvNmB5uT1PpXQG6j9KYPEdeXsQhZtDEKXdwBWP-qiVhQtxUR_8-n7avQhrk0nYrL5ZLvjKmNFiYirk44qtX66FkvCRksU5/s200/IMG_0448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400484987869418642" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...we crossed bridges, and even enjoyed some solitude.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTHN7dKQDLo3eLyiQcOcVf24K9Wiixhofm2aXmh7KgtQEDY09Bu02gzz64rDBKsLtfLpPQhmsaMN3Hlc6trcpFWMHek94Zk1i8N2LApsgBheyWTO59M-U7p7XfVgt0qZh35-JPB_M1EPq/s1600-h/IMG_0339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTHN7dKQDLo3eLyiQcOcVf24K9Wiixhofm2aXmh7KgtQEDY09Bu02gzz64rDBKsLtfLpPQhmsaMN3Hlc6trcpFWMHek94Zk1i8N2LApsgBheyWTO59M-U7p7XfVgt0qZh35-JPB_M1EPq/s200/IMG_0339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400484994565500418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOEz7NooFjBF0-xXJfFzv4nx8zfeo15M9uCUvJ-Q5R3Zq7heML5pMl8mqokUUrp6u2LLwk2brGZ31rhzInHbUS4L8g3H7qnQCrcNZ2Zfovu-T9e7hTXKGg8jINnvPvBKDU1HSq3m0WEFv/s1600-h/IMG_0303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOEz7NooFjBF0-xXJfFzv4nx8zfeo15M9uCUvJ-Q5R3Zq7heML5pMl8mqokUUrp6u2LLwk2brGZ31rhzInHbUS4L8g3H7qnQCrcNZ2Zfovu-T9e7hTXKGg8jINnvPvBKDU1HSq3m0WEFv/s200/IMG_0303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400489507504870882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />We trekked through tiny communities,...<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRbUcvOEl5YSh-NlwQeu3vrkGznboEgSu-Em8ErG4rf3iHslCzQ5s2k26K2PF1gQHNRAEBeMmQaXgrokbkUWvsxhuQi-ZuJ6e-kp3XllQuT-vGNi2J77mtSyX9trd9Ak8IUN9NItwPv6Q/s1600-h/IMG_0427.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRbUcvOEl5YSh-NlwQeu3vrkGznboEgSu-Em8ErG4rf3iHslCzQ5s2k26K2PF1gQHNRAEBeMmQaXgrokbkUWvsxhuQi-ZuJ6e-kp3XllQuT-vGNi2J77mtSyX9trd9Ak8IUN9NItwPv6Q/s200/IMG_0427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400644226690485458" border="0" /></a><br />...small, quaint villages, and some not-so small villages.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5636V5c6CEEyih-TsxXX_zB10ULAYlfuMcljoz2ix0_86DHCTzMpCTF7c7ffKnAqfq5qoUeLa6rZOGcgC9_l9GaF7WN6DINZgAet5q58gDYNjBLMbC5qEOs9TH89uqUKYS1e505QXdyKx/s1600-h/IMG_0635.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5636V5c6CEEyih-TsxXX_zB10ULAYlfuMcljoz2ix0_86DHCTzMpCTF7c7ffKnAqfq5qoUeLa6rZOGcgC9_l9GaF7WN6DINZgAet5q58gDYNjBLMbC5qEOs9TH89uqUKYS1e505QXdyKx/s200/IMG_0635.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400642360308592642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bR4PUOEwm3V070d8FcYx3LptDYNyKxzqeNRSVP8Ka90DE_PhfGKpvTFPAZ-rwTI5dPCoU0rFj7iiMnfEdXEtORSAlNadH62ihTBdbAxaIgBvuj8xA8gEY9MASykVPJjLnSnsS0A_ZKXS/s1600-h/IMG_0366.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bR4PUOEwm3V070d8FcYx3LptDYNyKxzqeNRSVP8Ka90DE_PhfGKpvTFPAZ-rwTI5dPCoU0rFj7iiMnfEdXEtORSAlNadH62ihTBdbAxaIgBvuj8xA8gEY9MASykVPJjLnSnsS0A_ZKXS/s200/IMG_0366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400642606497554850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Each promised lodging with an impressive view (even if the message did lose a little in the translation).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbVegNXCylIIXJWKgGf4t44ZhXkiiq1T6M5Z7vmxzmZoBCpO_IGtR0Uihyphenhyphenxu5VuxKvxxP8P3uBY4IlX9ohZWUIgjB7uGDp8aOGWNdifpqRxTHW4cawZaZKk1tGJncEfzmHZ8-nySjeHtT/s1600-h/IMG_0465.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbVegNXCylIIXJWKgGf4t44ZhXkiiq1T6M5Z7vmxzmZoBCpO_IGtR0Uihyphenhyphenxu5VuxKvxxP8P3uBY4IlX9ohZWUIgjB7uGDp8aOGWNdifpqRxTHW4cawZaZKk1tGJncEfzmHZ8-nySjeHtT/s200/IMG_0465.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400646984678751522" border="0" /></a><br />Our first glimpse of Mt. Everest was met with a flurry of photo taking which required Troy to scale up the side of a hill, perch ever-so acrobatically on a stump, hold on to a tree with one hand and steady the camera with the other to get just the right shot of the very tip of Mt. Everest through some tree branches. Nevertheless, that first sighting, albeit just a teaser really, provided the rush we needed to propel us up the uphill section of trail we found ourselves on which led, naturally, to a lookout point where photos could be taken with no perching required. What fun is that?!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vmiPubGH3Fp86FZXegmTBP0P0ctEn6nELTWDdEmhsVPTsr6McwsOuIHgvwD6wnqE3Sl0q-a-fsI0tRajM5K0ZYDnKulUtjBWpLtY7u5oSz6sO9Urc3fsQwt7WmR5brLzJHtP0Rah5j4D/s1600-h/IMG_0350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vmiPubGH3Fp86FZXegmTBP0P0ctEn6nELTWDdEmhsVPTsr6McwsOuIHgvwD6wnqE3Sl0q-a-fsI0tRajM5K0ZYDnKulUtjBWpLtY7u5oSz6sO9Urc3fsQwt7WmR5brLzJHtP0Rah5j4D/s200/IMG_0350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400489759734095298" border="0" /></a><br />We spent an acclimatization day exploring the countryside and enjoying the mountains before heading on to Gokyo where we were promised our first panoramic 360 degree view of the Himalayas.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1QPsLgORI6xG_SCksa0m4_qINBwn10DA6JLvOdqTjdXM3k5_xNoUu9-TV-PlRRwSekH0EWDBb7Oox3t8N1jWExyq5iFCKYWcK_C33GRgUyqEPY-sAE_20ZCn4esetGEAQd7Xmc2MuWy2/s1600-h/IMG_0393.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1QPsLgORI6xG_SCksa0m4_qINBwn10DA6JLvOdqTjdXM3k5_xNoUu9-TV-PlRRwSekH0EWDBb7Oox3t8N1jWExyq5iFCKYWcK_C33GRgUyqEPY-sAE_20ZCn4esetGEAQd7Xmc2MuWy2/s200/IMG_0393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400490177144174466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOCekZomvdD7jbjfPqesXNhhQBizOTQFXdlFn8uO74Hd1cIrjGhSufOus9_EiiUIOhCa2AqRxfMENFkcGNZvujSGsTsmP81-bV-_1fCGDhpPVaaB2fRQ2TBCjoh_TZ2w_8_sJKmP-ciAV/s1600-h/IMG_0443.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOCekZomvdD7jbjfPqesXNhhQBizOTQFXdlFn8uO74Hd1cIrjGhSufOus9_EiiUIOhCa2AqRxfMENFkcGNZvujSGsTsmP81-bV-_1fCGDhpPVaaB2fRQ2TBCjoh_TZ2w_8_sJKmP-ciAV/s200/IMG_0443.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400490246345913090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We arrived in Gokyo, assessed the trail up Gokyo Ri and after our ascent to 5,400m, were not disappointed in the least.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTFNkTjA0Qg5bxScFNqTgeU6GBx_boOsC3wMBmry4h0drwKAHFaaaeMgRlWfnH6OnULKVXiyAS2nA89Wbh6-MfWoax4uBZQg_9wHx2uQQO_WAZuzZ9HDC_giwLHIr2XrZshD1YRDa0sLj/s1600-h/IMG_0544.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTFNkTjA0Qg5bxScFNqTgeU6GBx_boOsC3wMBmry4h0drwKAHFaaaeMgRlWfnH6OnULKVXiyAS2nA89Wbh6-MfWoax4uBZQg_9wHx2uQQO_WAZuzZ9HDC_giwLHIr2XrZshD1YRDa0sLj/s200/IMG_0544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400645179897955074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-eIOwHTtYusPwkwGWLV0Cy1ZxnfFLI3R_Cmp3aGpZeky7GCmZfAEZ4N1nLz6e1cShCJ-0kxyV1i0JD5SdpU4WzRUBve-L7hqnxoOiNWjnjL5A9v94A0KxCSxYTby6Nc8YUyLWC9992hF/s1600-h/IMG_0542.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-eIOwHTtYusPwkwGWLV0Cy1ZxnfFLI3R_Cmp3aGpZeky7GCmZfAEZ4N1nLz6e1cShCJ-0kxyV1i0JD5SdpU4WzRUBve-L7hqnxoOiNWjnjL5A9v94A0KxCSxYTby6Nc8YUyLWC9992hF/s200/IMG_0542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400646295874227666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We were rewarded with beautiful blue skies (with only one cloud, naturally right behind Mt. Everest) and we celebrated at the top, having reached the first of our goal destinations. Our first glimpse of Everest, through the pine trees, obviously paled in comparison to this new view of The Big One!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UfAD0C0s__3XkcPE-sc-z_xRLI6mvnv3_lvpOw6GBsqQwfOuTapetfmKba0vgK8NTzSXdz7WD6xpwiQZJXgOQ96Pel14MlSjKTaH0kwtKpYlWWs6n9ND9NoVlhG8ZPS2q6MFYdgRNXbY/s1600-h/IMG_0584.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UfAD0C0s__3XkcPE-sc-z_xRLI6mvnv3_lvpOw6GBsqQwfOuTapetfmKba0vgK8NTzSXdz7WD6xpwiQZJXgOQ96Pel14MlSjKTaH0kwtKpYlWWs6n9ND9NoVlhG8ZPS2q6MFYdgRNXbY/s200/IMG_0584.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400491194707432178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD5j2VCgklz2CCfvHKgqFY3Mjuxop8I2nCHQFnHk9TmkCn8ygD8r4dcsSsahSGA5nsW_n-1Tuwv13j7QxIR_xJf-kZsfLUCzXJX_QtxfOaAj_pcnTJqwKlGy2zp3PKaC3Se9m0wROB1HY/s1600-h/IMG_0576.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD5j2VCgklz2CCfvHKgqFY3Mjuxop8I2nCHQFnHk9TmkCn8ygD8r4dcsSsahSGA5nsW_n-1Tuwv13j7QxIR_xJf-kZsfLUCzXJX_QtxfOaAj_pcnTJqwKlGy2zp3PKaC3Se9m0wROB1HY/s200/IMG_0576.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400490711599573778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJY_wwizQsYcnJhe8A3SuwnJL2TsWpoQ_dDWmQ5muVLcWt07_VbSDeW9ULuIhJvPH6-ULQj8fer-yWlXNCSH-F5LY3uGfChRK2ijsqI66yyY_xe700FfFXujiNQXHZ4U0dLbvwRhtKNgJ/s1600-h/IMG_0585.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJY_wwizQsYcnJhe8A3SuwnJL2TsWpoQ_dDWmQ5muVLcWt07_VbSDeW9ULuIhJvPH6-ULQj8fer-yWlXNCSH-F5LY3uGfChRK2ijsqI66yyY_xe700FfFXujiNQXHZ4U0dLbvwRhtKNgJ/s200/IMG_0585.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400491327856161602" border="0" /></a>The Chola Pass held our next challenge and at 5am we bundled up, not enough in retrospect as I quickly lost feeling in my fingers and toes, and headed out with headlamps blazing. This was the first of many occasions that I remember vowing to never again leave my sleeping bag before the mountains were cloaked in sunshine. Call me a slow learner. In this case however, leaving early was important as we wanted to be across the glacier, which was waiting on the other side of the pass, before the sun had warmed the surface too much, making it more difficult and dangerous to cross.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjPnHLIgCcESWbhriMgvFW5Cf7OB9AWvyk9BwNDGhwwixP1wSoakxxwcX0-FxinQB3SuGj37HiDKSdKjOyT4RMs9aVIwXMOCOEHi2KRfq3gFH2CpBDp2rNJF40-a2wkIq1zxPOV5zoOB0/s1600-h/IMG_0608.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjPnHLIgCcESWbhriMgvFW5Cf7OB9AWvyk9BwNDGhwwixP1wSoakxxwcX0-FxinQB3SuGj37HiDKSdKjOyT4RMs9aVIwXMOCOEHi2KRfq3gFH2CpBDp2rNJF40-a2wkIq1zxPOV5zoOB0/s200/IMG_0608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400491762154259010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKWSqgFrfsFGwMX70wGC8kYNdNuH4QviFDIMzFvvVTj8NMuc3bUs2Kh6aWis6ckLwfNpcPxjffkEUzcKDvyQL1j4jdEib67zYinR-eeeEz6VV3dU_5zY1akylmop06tRZaU5EqiTnT0e2/s1600-h/IMG_0607.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKWSqgFrfsFGwMX70wGC8kYNdNuH4QviFDIMzFvvVTj8NMuc3bUs2Kh6aWis6ckLwfNpcPxjffkEUzcKDvyQL1j4jdEib67zYinR-eeeEz6VV3dU_5zY1akylmop06tRZaU5EqiTnT0e2/s200/IMG_0607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400649540316920450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was a slow scramble up and over the pass (the photo does not do justice to the gradient) and I had to make sure I kept the weight of my pack on the right side of vertical so as not to go 'ass over teakettle'. Half way up I passed a 74 year old man, 'supported' shall we say (some might say 'being dragged') on either side by two guides. He quipped to me that the website he had booked his tour with had claimed that this would be a moderate to challenging ascent. He felt quite comfortable in declaring it to be on the challenging side of things. He was in great spirits though and I was grateful that he made me laugh, especially since I think that helped kickstart circulation into my fingertips.<br /><br />Up and over the pass, we were greeted by a winter wonderland!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur4YgA9_eluMi3s2WeZJ_9VvCrlXHyF4CxL1QXQXG9wYz5izECUFNoeDVgRTX0SS4QmzzGDp0d3bda_nr-hhHBtPXO85p7qQw2Qg0SuW4nq___lvyHYZsILcoe9p6F8ClCFChx-4_u5Im/s1600-h/IMG_0623.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur4YgA9_eluMi3s2WeZJ_9VvCrlXHyF4CxL1QXQXG9wYz5izECUFNoeDVgRTX0SS4QmzzGDp0d3bda_nr-hhHBtPXO85p7qQw2Qg0SuW4nq___lvyHYZsILcoe9p6F8ClCFChx-4_u5Im/s200/IMG_0623.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400491766739016930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWb9mPx04iNr4NSScqMWqaTjtLvvWrQXxiDWG5RvLaWzWoff3Zv-KZk93LlKY8aPTqO5O9CRjenbPy7JuMV90dqQ48NXEwA3cMIv4LhWQRNzumedvmWAzUKbzQLfWoUDZHmtDEmGFbtqp/s1600-h/IMG_0612.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWb9mPx04iNr4NSScqMWqaTjtLvvWrQXxiDWG5RvLaWzWoff3Zv-KZk93LlKY8aPTqO5O9CRjenbPy7JuMV90dqQ48NXEwA3cMIv4LhWQRNzumedvmWAzUKbzQLfWoUDZHmtDEmGFbtqp/s200/IMG_0612.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400491936861326594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Having cleared the pass, we eventually found ourselves in Gorak Shep at about 5100m. From here we would trek first to Everest Base Camp and then up Kala Patthar the following day.<br /><br />We had been advised many times not to bother with going to Base Camp as it was described as a 'wasteland' with no views, not even of Everest itself, but we were glad not to have heeded this advice. It proved to be a highlight as it provided a visual of the scene we have so often envisioned in our minds when reading about Everest expeditions.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINymubqxuBe47y1w_CHDbdbU3b_ABqWvgoDjp427fEdwaRZL9Lwqy3rCeB47dAd_jjWQwgN4MZM9XDHfgnPqRce7yUdUBH8k3rg6uyscJnuV6tGvbMp66fCvbw5ZMqk_4Z5BbSAvQO74H/s1600-h/IMG_0664.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINymubqxuBe47y1w_CHDbdbU3b_ABqWvgoDjp427fEdwaRZL9Lwqy3rCeB47dAd_jjWQwgN4MZM9XDHfgnPqRce7yUdUBH8k3rg6uyscJnuV6tGvbMp66fCvbw5ZMqk_4Z5BbSAvQO74H/s200/IMG_0664.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400492785697058994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcweMyUgWNpXFHmmDWdy173FdE9Nr8v9WP6HPXvYLEXeYXtGrvm-dpCbG6_9vw5KzTMdbmrQtZ9wYmdwYe37qfSkIaue4Md8Fpl-Fp1HOFIy0vfKz8U4bK6zsiZCXe9ZWlOo-HINInFaCK/s1600-h/IMG_0644.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcweMyUgWNpXFHmmDWdy173FdE9Nr8v9WP6HPXvYLEXeYXtGrvm-dpCbG6_9vw5KzTMdbmrQtZ9wYmdwYe37qfSkIaue4Md8Fpl-Fp1HOFIy0vfKz8U4bK6zsiZCXe9ZWlOo-HINInFaCK/s200/IMG_0644.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400493276234664578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was fun, though a bit eery, to walk across the glacier upon which Base Camp sits. On approach, it looks so unassuming, largely covered in rocks, it is easy to forget that you are actually on ice at all. That is until it gives off a grown or a creak, sending pieces of ice and rock falling down the sides. Looking out into (not to mention climbing on) the shear magnitude of the icefall, described as the first obstacle heading out of Base Camp on Mt. Everest expeditions, put the grandeur of our surroundings into perspective.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkaYoUoD5G-OVsjn4dPIINRXhE4iMdCs3RJembSbXasVNiy1It5ryiQVLIkx2M6kSa1fA9hSnBj-7oZSLRa9PtRdD-6Fz8sj1OahqgYC_hdslIolGrexuKYWqkGQT5C9IApay_U83CvWF/s1600-h/IMG_0650.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkaYoUoD5G-OVsjn4dPIINRXhE4iMdCs3RJembSbXasVNiy1It5ryiQVLIkx2M6kSa1fA9hSnBj-7oZSLRa9PtRdD-6Fz8sj1OahqgYC_hdslIolGrexuKYWqkGQT5C9IApay_U83CvWF/s200/IMG_0650.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400493277822170082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vhTOyR7f61RpUVqOZ6LcJvHDSueaPRb_wMccSxyKdowOGopCPgcO3RxIAsu-5kokPdCTqUm_ayNRt4OiRjbVFkzUrKW4VfG71XyWj0htVq_tbrdepWS58huW0NI_Am58Wf6eDG-3tvUl/s1600-h/IMG_0646.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vhTOyR7f61RpUVqOZ6LcJvHDSueaPRb_wMccSxyKdowOGopCPgcO3RxIAsu-5kokPdCTqUm_ayNRt4OiRjbVFkzUrKW4VfG71XyWj0htVq_tbrdepWS58huW0NI_Am58Wf6eDG-3tvUl/s200/IMG_0646.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400492790071142898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Reluctant to spend yet another sleepless night at altitude, we were eager to start our descent. The body has a way of waking up when it thinks it's not getting enough oxygen and many nights of sleep interrupted by waking up to take deep breaths were starting to wear on us. We climbed up Kala Patthar (5550m) (a little too early in the morning and again I remember repeating the vow of sunshine worship as we paused so I could warm my fingers in Troy's armpits. Don't judge me.), and began our descent into the valley.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEeUZfEnCJxe18VbI2Q-EgnuDyP4qubnOgOZRe8DIm2_6GfR09Eg6Hdlsxl2ItmMV8uALflFtz9xJbm7oWBeDIEHCWsCR0OS-xPYE4qzMxPZaASThbEAcwKSjfqg16II_touxQEGRd-LV/s1600-h/IMG_0674.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEeUZfEnCJxe18VbI2Q-EgnuDyP4qubnOgOZRe8DIm2_6GfR09Eg6Hdlsxl2ItmMV8uALflFtz9xJbm7oWBeDIEHCWsCR0OS-xPYE4qzMxPZaASThbEAcwKSjfqg16II_touxQEGRd-LV/s200/IMG_0674.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400646296524818450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH8ewks9-Yl9r0Uok2AdxX8ID8DWBNsV4FQpMJ6KmYM7wK0i03HsLwo4A-f7kHhIBnv3op55WBX2OX_9p_kreHDWzmME-aOVNuOWfAQoqlkkcwmKmudZMSl9H3fahbv8mzxdfpGYgCVV9/s1600-h/IMG_0633.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH8ewks9-Yl9r0Uok2AdxX8ID8DWBNsV4FQpMJ6KmYM7wK0i03HsLwo4A-f7kHhIBnv3op55WBX2OX_9p_kreHDWzmME-aOVNuOWfAQoqlkkcwmKmudZMSl9H3fahbv8mzxdfpGYgCVV9/s200/IMG_0633.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400646556742410338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Not quite ready to leave the mountains behind, we detoured into the Chukung Valley to take one last hike up to 5550m. Chukung Ri provided an incredible view of Ama Dablam and was our fifth and final goal destination. This would be our last day with Charles, our trekking partner from the Czech Republic whom we had met at the airport, so we made sure to capture the moment.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIgccThxpG7lJ5P_N6Ml0ld3aN4AycrLkafBaMEahMpsNBfJU6DzXTY0yXWBr_NanvQmq2WLtPlF3E9U5RwS7sIN0NNDEK-_BxQdVL4mpaJOPAEtEhZo15tHVM_yXYlfb5rg-WUXXzPGQ/s1600-h/IMG_0711.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIgccThxpG7lJ5P_N6Ml0ld3aN4AycrLkafBaMEahMpsNBfJU6DzXTY0yXWBr_NanvQmq2WLtPlF3E9U5RwS7sIN0NNDEK-_BxQdVL4mpaJOPAEtEhZo15tHVM_yXYlfb5rg-WUXXzPGQ/s200/IMG_0711.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400494282979339938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNSDZiu-CpkkohfPIaP5J_YEd19Ibuc9kQL1XtJANuMTv-PWmA0YTMsAnAxHRPyOqPfPijc9BFY8H-ScLtWUrIRG_Ww2tGYQq_h8V8G5Ih089P0DsVCiMsbDQjVxGPcViVlyX0l_tBSdW/s1600-h/IMG_0723.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNSDZiu-CpkkohfPIaP5J_YEd19Ibuc9kQL1XtJANuMTv-PWmA0YTMsAnAxHRPyOqPfPijc9BFY8H-ScLtWUrIRG_Ww2tGYQq_h8V8G5Ih089P0DsVCiMsbDQjVxGPcViVlyX0l_tBSdW/s200/IMG_0723.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400494407681022146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It felt good to be heading down although, as is usually the case, I hadn't anticipated so much 'uphill' sections to be in the 'downhill'. We decided to take our time though, and just enjoy.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGW81ZtXbZ4kfu4Dxof25AhbozB-qWLbz8PukesfYqElJfew60tbh9_waQvpwdRN9vf7VlyZxXEIX5gi5QYtsIRr770lcJAv2U9PHGKnU03krmDdIF2vpXNrfl6r1V_bpkoIG-sFMXAys/s1600-h/IMG_0690.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGW81ZtXbZ4kfu4Dxof25AhbozB-qWLbz8PukesfYqElJfew60tbh9_waQvpwdRN9vf7VlyZxXEIX5gi5QYtsIRr770lcJAv2U9PHGKnU03krmDdIF2vpXNrfl6r1V_bpkoIG-sFMXAys/s200/IMG_0690.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400494276543871362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPQxw-I3qSf7keaj5Bom98kNgosZmiWykhyphenhyphenpo780i3L2ja5ox2CiC_Roilva7IYlcmWLPw1_ORHrnVLSY1Nb4f8nXI9dPxyqVcR-RdR-_h6wIobw0ZNzKt_OmJ8SJS7Op51vNDcY9IJXG/s1600-h/IMG_0693.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPQxw-I3qSf7keaj5Bom98kNgosZmiWykhyphenhyphenpo780i3L2ja5ox2CiC_Roilva7IYlcmWLPw1_ORHrnVLSY1Nb4f8nXI9dPxyqVcR-RdR-_h6wIobw0ZNzKt_OmJ8SJS7Op51vNDcY9IJXG/s200/IMG_0693.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400494401598643602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />While we did 'try' to take it easy, the call of a hot shower and hamburgers beckoned us and the four short days we had planned to spend on the descent turned into two long days instead with a stop in Namche Bazaar overnight.<br /><br />As we had often met up with random butchered parts of animals in baskets resting on the side of the trail, on their way up the mountains on someone's back to eventually be turned into something gourmet no doubt, we decided to forego the eating of meat for the duration of the trip. When we reached Namche Bazaar however, the temptation of the hamburger and french fries, that out of nowhere once again appeared on menus, was too great and we decided to indulge. Only one day from Lukla, we considered it a calculated risk. Besides, we had missed this traditional feast to mark Dad's birthday and better late than never! <br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNjAxSgNuxeY4dLf05P4h2uOFqN_5qZrMOdkaByWMDI28A-YqqTuUYdO86rthLQcKRl9HlHW2DW2JmV_JQHl_x4rn5DDhF4g2GzZ7iW7l7alVtnfF4snrVjKwGwDVv7IfuBcIe2sCNT3j/s1600-h/IMG_0739.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNjAxSgNuxeY4dLf05P4h2uOFqN_5qZrMOdkaByWMDI28A-YqqTuUYdO86rthLQcKRl9HlHW2DW2JmV_JQHl_x4rn5DDhF4g2GzZ7iW7l7alVtnfF4snrVjKwGwDVv7IfuBcIe2sCNT3j/s200/IMG_0739.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400496189853523666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxyZwjiFPrWom5o96UXLGFacyQiZVXgXqIfXjs5sA0VX1h-v7kZwLp_YU-RVw2FAFN0k_5Q1xE9uTWaUHijovZhsuByy1tkB6cqY7GYQP4Hmz7-ZEDWwBymXYQ7GTaPKwnWCFWxqdYR7F/s1600-h/IMG_0740.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxyZwjiFPrWom5o96UXLGFacyQiZVXgXqIfXjs5sA0VX1h-v7kZwLp_YU-RVw2FAFN0k_5Q1xE9uTWaUHijovZhsuByy1tkB6cqY7GYQP4Hmz7-ZEDWwBymXYQ7GTaPKwnWCFWxqdYR7F/s200/IMG_0740.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400496369652271410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The protein craving out of the way left only one issue to deal with, that of a hot shower. We said goodbye to the himalayas, boarded our plane back to Kathmandu, and rock/paper/scissored for first dibs on the shower upon our arrival (I lost).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrkOpp_pnP-FcmsMy2yt9PizCDREmW5VgDhK1PRZCRsWG72HoOQfDh3L-Dmf7bFmSsOG3CnG_x6n1mas02Rwas_5o8B0JhYht1jw7KJn5W5W6W4Mnh-nyFfEdt-dvL4IrU3TGJflCn87r/s1600-h/IMG_0761.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrkOpp_pnP-FcmsMy2yt9PizCDREmW5VgDhK1PRZCRsWG72HoOQfDh3L-Dmf7bFmSsOG3CnG_x6n1mas02Rwas_5o8B0JhYht1jw7KJn5W5W6W4Mnh-nyFfEdt-dvL4IrU3TGJflCn87r/s200/IMG_0761.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400495974652604770" border="0" /></a><br />I read somewhere that if you don't like walking you shouldn't fool yourself into thinking you may like trekking because trekking is walking but with better scenery. I used to hate walking but these days I am constantly amazed by the places simply putting one foot in front of the other has taken me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGQ5qvVaFt2I5cSbUhaO8S_dkT_PkEWNOoxoSI37dny5w-4AP4V0ikVxIizmQIicBn2SfcqneYeM83QjY55iowJTTczz_UcEUqGTkpdo0NvoJ9A2uxSPrvuetn42XQMRXUjV8gE_JNHk3/s1600-h/IMG_0686.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGQ5qvVaFt2I5cSbUhaO8S_dkT_PkEWNOoxoSI37dny5w-4AP4V0ikVxIizmQIicBn2SfcqneYeM83QjY55iowJTTczz_UcEUqGTkpdo0NvoJ9A2uxSPrvuetn42XQMRXUjV8gE_JNHk3/s200/IMG_0686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400494884831339874" border="0" /></a></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-45467176554742126122009-11-04T03:40:00.000-07:002009-11-04T08:07:55.464-07:00Back up about 3 weeks<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgonIiUdyLqNS67RonrtypH5KezrCFHu4ertaAXCH1iJV7tSJUBqz9pdxaNIxh4rUz_L6KWzBgTT4BY7jgCvRayoZRPaG3cXjbnbsjv9Vb_RIX9GHImWo_pUNNaFU48JCKhHNZlKHLPM_M/s1600-h/last+day+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgonIiUdyLqNS67RonrtypH5KezrCFHu4ertaAXCH1iJV7tSJUBqz9pdxaNIxh4rUz_L6KWzBgTT4BY7jgCvRayoZRPaG3cXjbnbsjv9Vb_RIX9GHImWo_pUNNaFU48JCKhHNZlKHLPM_M/s200/last+day+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203249614423410" border="0" /></a>The front doors of shops and homes alike were transformed with floral garlands, strings of lights were strung from every conceivable hanging place, fireworks from all corners of the City were enjoyed from our rooftop and candles could be seen casting their glow from window ledges and railings, along sidewalks and staircases.<br /><br />We watched as the Tihar Festival (Festival of Lights) unfolded and illuminated the City for five days in October.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlBqWnmTFpHSYRD4K93cZDX5QoC8-a8AejYQqvTtQPR07idnEqBf_TaSw4zIJWk75raPult43ZriJc5HubrxcYyo8xgBi-_rd10dQ6dYgHB7OxDoS5kRkwKEYXbooi2M59l4RpHRcVOW9/s1600-h/last+day+046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlBqWnmTFpHSYRD4K93cZDX5QoC8-a8AejYQqvTtQPR07idnEqBf_TaSw4zIJWk75raPult43ZriJc5HubrxcYyo8xgBi-_rd10dQ6dYgHB7OxDoS5kRkwKEYXbooi2M59l4RpHRcVOW9/s200/last+day+046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400204427014590210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMsKF28rxTEZuwC4mYoE7CMUmDUhlbErnQLszwqBR1BaIMPwcf3_367RTV0elxA7r8pFj5Uq-A0BNxsMtVoaAQL09JZ8AVwvRr7laPdVHj8wtHSlupTyACXjWKcrAMuVOKDslkL5RDeMc/s1600-h/last+day+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMsKF28rxTEZuwC4mYoE7CMUmDUhlbErnQLszwqBR1BaIMPwcf3_367RTV0elxA7r8pFj5Uq-A0BNxsMtVoaAQL09JZ8AVwvRr7laPdVHj8wtHSlupTyACXjWKcrAMuVOKDslkL5RDeMc/s200/last+day+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203888461624466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">During the Festival, the goddess of wealth, Laxmi, is worshipped. She is believed to enter the brightest house and give her blessings ensuring health and prosperity. Elaborate, illuminated designs appeared on the ground outside doorways from which colorful trails radiated, leading inside homes and shops, terminating at an offering for Laxmi. In our home, a trail of flower petals and colored rice painted on the floor led a trail in the front door, through the living room, up three flights of stairs and onto the rooftop, culminating in an offering of money, bread, and fruit surrounding the image of Laxmi.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC8JYkcXiW_SpHSfPmjEC3FLCzBA6dX-Mz24lh_jDveRgi9HVYnMho2oi54z6t5jWnYMuUry-lwB3rac3r3VQ8wwZDfDiAe5fJe99fI-K2epshXgVE1ets9ksQRdyXHq5oWwLEbmCj0K0/s1600-h/last+day+052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC8JYkcXiW_SpHSfPmjEC3FLCzBA6dX-Mz24lh_jDveRgi9HVYnMho2oi54z6t5jWnYMuUry-lwB3rac3r3VQ8wwZDfDiAe5fJe99fI-K2epshXgVE1ets9ksQRdyXHq5oWwLEbmCj0K0/s200/last+day+052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400204072773157234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBe1K8-WuJflXcjpFPA-Hxfp9kqyX2Mp0oPptq3FID7MbM4pO611LRdUY2CF7Yg2Gqz-e_GCW5k0nbWNECxtjio3lJgV4K2drHb3eCMUB1eJczodjpC_uUJFY-Td6quKv3hvFJagfUVwe/s1600-h/last+day+048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBe1K8-WuJflXcjpFPA-Hxfp9kqyX2Mp0oPptq3FID7MbM4pO611LRdUY2CF7Yg2Gqz-e_GCW5k0nbWNECxtjio3lJgV4K2drHb3eCMUB1eJczodjpC_uUJFY-Td6quKv3hvFJagfUVwe/s200/last+day+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400204585910185250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMj5EUYppcYnVuvuGpLa2ZVLUKhe49Q7RkXZ9vUU5rK5UlzgPxAA9hCW-rdaurPN5UX4dGBLAXXzNvAH0GuS1NicE-ua28BSdAJa9faYEpKNgYlYSYmbhGtn6pNd5icGb4Q9OmWJQ8jPD/s1600-h/last+day+053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMj5EUYppcYnVuvuGpLa2ZVLUKhe49Q7RkXZ9vUU5rK5UlzgPxAA9hCW-rdaurPN5UX4dGBLAXXzNvAH0GuS1NicE-ua28BSdAJa9faYEpKNgYlYSYmbhGtn6pNd5icGb4Q9OmWJQ8jPD/s200/last+day+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400253130416739746" border="0" /></a>Animals are also worshipped during Tihar with a day devoted to each of the crow, the cow, the dog, and on the fourth day, depending on your beliefs, either Oxen or cowdung (really).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u4CQrc54rZTxwa6Zr6cfwJcTMhJEdTKMr2Jakas-zVaRV3RV3IHi1ANjNUDIPY8PcorMhAtk8hOAGvMYvW9zyiwQtsnvdEEewRyf1W46S0kvrsm49kiViJ77eKBCYkigHVMNJwZaOn8L/s1600-h/last+day+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u4CQrc54rZTxwa6Zr6cfwJcTMhJEdTKMr2Jakas-zVaRV3RV3IHi1ANjNUDIPY8PcorMhAtk8hOAGvMYvW9zyiwQtsnvdEEewRyf1W46S0kvrsm49kiViJ77eKBCYkigHVMNJwZaOn8L/s200/last+day+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203876179637058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM59RikQ3c5FOcZXJYYmTOtX3Cs3r-JxzkwUJaGqKB6EFvMLydlVVL4b8JoQdSx1JclHGImS_hUVdxvr5KxD79qxKRAm9bzYuitPNRtQr6YyL0dmQqr6V2c-9XL3j8jhNrNp2ojOjDGQB/s1600-h/last+day+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM59RikQ3c5FOcZXJYYmTOtX3Cs3r-JxzkwUJaGqKB6EFvMLydlVVL4b8JoQdSx1JclHGImS_hUVdxvr5KxD79qxKRAm9bzYuitPNRtQr6YyL0dmQqr6V2c-9XL3j8jhNrNp2ojOjDGQB/s200/last+day+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400204403639397554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Troy helped decorate the orphanage for the occasion while I 'helped' with the making of the traditional sel roti bread, some of which would be enjoyed by all and some of which would be saved to present as an offering to the goddess Laxmi.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SouW51VIsXe3wrwech7n-68eHuT8Q9N-2yLSv3yFuBzT3ZCMNGQpOGSAlFSbFgGE2SPANCreMtS7hX17PAyxe76qO_n5jWckm5ulNU-s-Q1DJSgkT43AOjAMBNNLE0-aeoKhLkkRJhYJ/s1600-h/last+day+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SouW51VIsXe3wrwech7n-68eHuT8Q9N-2yLSv3yFuBzT3ZCMNGQpOGSAlFSbFgGE2SPANCreMtS7hX17PAyxe76qO_n5jWckm5ulNU-s-Q1DJSgkT43AOjAMBNNLE0-aeoKhLkkRJhYJ/s200/last+day+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400204409560958770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBaCZqlyGLO-MNnDIW2UVAKB96-pz2ZjQLVLT49Fua1x0U-1YgozYWojsFKD0zU0OAtNTsnOgYyXcr0PLBaGaudxvl3e6MyNntEYRyzqdjYiDLwrXUTsu1JiYWA96-x5YFYL5Z2vPOk5T/s1600-h/last+day+031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBaCZqlyGLO-MNnDIW2UVAKB96-pz2ZjQLVLT49Fua1x0U-1YgozYWojsFKD0zU0OAtNTsnOgYyXcr0PLBaGaudxvl3e6MyNntEYRyzqdjYiDLwrXUTsu1JiYWA96-x5YFYL5Z2vPOk5T/s200/last+day+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400224516278778770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the third and fourth days of Tihar, children visit homes singing traditional songs, and in return are given money, sweets, or bread. The house was alive with excitement and anticipation that reminded me of Christmas Eve! Songs were sung, dances were danced, and we headed out into the neighborhood the way we would on Halloween (without the costumes or treat bags but with way more singing!).<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEoKruJvxkQv5-SZiEDiKtzACzzYydJLPUlt67GjHFFroJpsmBuNEmOzDVhsUgBxMlMq96hj4emrHw7YNLeOpAl_pZHiWhMV-KVdrCNiyuac7hIzv_0ahOCBXoE6RXJqsjX5LqJ9IKhZ2/s1600-h/last+day+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEoKruJvxkQv5-SZiEDiKtzACzzYydJLPUlt67GjHFFroJpsmBuNEmOzDVhsUgBxMlMq96hj4emrHw7YNLeOpAl_pZHiWhMV-KVdrCNiyuac7hIzv_0ahOCBXoE6RXJqsjX5LqJ9IKhZ2/s200/last+day+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400204414759053778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1f5lCH6zs5Ja9FXT0UczoWzhwmDIme8XnXd_Mj-SRdslr2IJElUGqlcfdgBKbFMhzoah_18OTz8_P_cwLbE2oRyBXpPjzYVvPvWFwGH1jXhVSOryxtv_eqipkFyV3lxaVeJWSXeKfecSE/s1600-h/last+day+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1f5lCH6zs5Ja9FXT0UczoWzhwmDIme8XnXd_Mj-SRdslr2IJElUGqlcfdgBKbFMhzoah_18OTz8_P_cwLbE2oRyBXpPjzYVvPvWFwGH1jXhVSOryxtv_eqipkFyV3lxaVeJWSXeKfecSE/s200/last+day+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203883014810370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIg-KjoLcf7ojY8qMQ1P9kigXFp797vEoIy6VLHsFp1nFNKCD4wrrZ42MKooxKAZ2uxVK2oFJg-Ie5u9nKOoZPtPvVs25ThFrHCuAnYyl7WbSlfjbBw2h_RwJKaY8dn_W29uQMVqb80kp/s1600-h/last+day+037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIg-KjoLcf7ojY8qMQ1P9kigXFp797vEoIy6VLHsFp1nFNKCD4wrrZ42MKooxKAZ2uxVK2oFJg-Ie5u9nKOoZPtPvVs25ThFrHCuAnYyl7WbSlfjbBw2h_RwJKaY8dn_W29uQMVqb80kp/s200/last+day+037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203260265681458" border="0" /></a><br />Though we had to say our final goodbyes before the fifth day of Tihar, the day when sisters put tika on the forehead of brothers to ensure long life and when brothers give gifts to sisters, Harimaya blessed us each with tika as Brother and Sister anyway. </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBT4sZsEDCJoP4W0iU5x1B6h3_MnjzD_srwbBtTWbMJHu2WXN4PhzirYRVDNaHefF1ip4VNq3zwm7M4rdMKcx-1FCauCg5Cv6Ak2qPhmI10HyJ6gcDCGw6Xo9pP3GkAO2M-0MsfDIJOrv/s1600-h/last+day+034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBT4sZsEDCJoP4W0iU5x1B6h3_MnjzD_srwbBtTWbMJHu2WXN4PhzirYRVDNaHefF1ip4VNq3zwm7M4rdMKcx-1FCauCg5Cv6Ak2qPhmI10HyJ6gcDCGw6Xo9pP3GkAO2M-0MsfDIJOrv/s200/last+day+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400204422568762882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBreOlCCC8c7FGbM8haNJPUEU-sRKht0sNPNk4agjZxPkpFoSIV6GvmcbGXV0S1CmjpHa-sQ0lr8Bz_Y1M9ZoBZqYW4-qCZchA-NgHtQW9OFACQZEsG3kJjhZaaB5DzoHl1ChkTwN_PMKR/s1600-h/last+day+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBreOlCCC8c7FGbM8haNJPUEU-sRKht0sNPNk4agjZxPkpFoSIV6GvmcbGXV0S1CmjpHa-sQ0lr8Bz_Y1M9ZoBZqYW4-qCZchA-NgHtQW9OFACQZEsG3kJjhZaaB5DzoHl1ChkTwN_PMKR/s200/last+day+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203885408603458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmNxM8WtY__MhxI2AyZEz6YkFAyY2cmPKqYWQRJjaJM1Q71p823DD6t__hrRacf9ksQ1T7fEc6YUMsS8qDBtmzpShne17pvPfF5Vv1cn271oZAkMNzUTEzrVt5q2qFW2AAoVrf53AkB1r/s1600-h/last+day+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmNxM8WtY__MhxI2AyZEz6YkFAyY2cmPKqYWQRJjaJM1Q71p823DD6t__hrRacf9ksQ1T7fEc6YUMsS8qDBtmzpShne17pvPfF5Vv1cn271oZAkMNzUTEzrVt5q2qFW2AAoVrf53AkB1r/s200/last+day+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203251904628338" border="0" /></a>With a big group hug we bid farewell with the realization that the children from the SDC had left their mark on us in a big way and would hold a special spot in our memory bank along with Ruth, Harimaya, and her family that have created such a loving, caring environment. <br /><br />You are all amazing!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vtW_H-OXPS6eovBBdqFdk7jWnzXFaH6F4ZCyKcW7W_jRxZQHOHH047OWgTGF9gvqVRih8SYRg0FXTIQkFU3N9BoH5xslhz6GNW9OLAzqVVLuxT2r8GQ4IkHL_d1XcNbs7-L7SqChj-GT/s1600-h/IMG_0226.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vtW_H-OXPS6eovBBdqFdk7jWnzXFaH6F4ZCyKcW7W_jRxZQHOHH047OWgTGF9gvqVRih8SYRg0FXTIQkFU3N9BoH5xslhz6GNW9OLAzqVVLuxT2r8GQ4IkHL_d1XcNbs7-L7SqChj-GT/s200/IMG_0226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400203243347617266" border="0" /></a>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-12820714075644933662009-11-02T12:01:00.000-07:002009-11-02T12:13:33.106-07:00The Freaking Himalayas...<div style="text-align: center;">Just got back from our amazing Himalayan Expedition and I just had to brag about my wife one more time. Not sure how many mountains they let through customs but yet again, Nicole proved that she "Owns the Mountains". And not just any mountains, the freaking Himalayas...<br /><br />The first 12 days of our trip took us to 5 heights over 5000meters. Not only did we get to those heights but Nic did it while carrying her back pack the entire time that weighed around 25 pounds. We had long hard days and it was me asking Nicole to slow down a little. I was often behind Nic (which by the way is not a bad view at all...) and trying to catch up. Simply put, she was a machine.<br /><br />In a later blog Nicole will share pictures and stories with you that will clearly describe one of the coolest adventures we have been on this year. But for now, I just wanted you guys to know that Nic was amazing and the best trekking partner a guy could ask for. Way to go Nic, I am so proud of you it is sick...<br /><br />love ya,<br /><br />Troy<br /></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-46731824304112646852009-10-18T18:54:00.000-06:002009-10-18T19:05:53.895-06:00Headless chickens<div align="center">We are currently experiencing all the festivities of the Tihar Festival (Festival of Lights) which includes many fascinating traditions including cow worship, fireworks, lots of fried dough, and which feels like a cross somewhere between Christmas, Halloween, and the 4th of July! We also said goodbye to the kids at the Social Development Centre on Saturday (more of a "See you later" really, as goodbyes are hard and seem so final), wrapping up our volunteering commitments for the year. I have much to write about...! </div><div align="center"><br />However, we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off getting ready to set out on a trek to Everest Base Camp...and headless chickens don't type very fast. Will have to, instead, catch up in a couple weeks. <br /><br />Namaste! </div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-65066546137692248962009-10-18T11:20:00.000-06:002009-10-18T19:32:51.489-06:00We Need a Vacation!<div style="text-align: center;">I know it sounds weird to hear 2 people who have had the opportunity to travel around the world for the last 10 months say that they need a vacation, but it's true. We have just finished our 30th week of volunteering (32 if you count the 2 weeks lost to volunteering after we got robbed...) and WE NEED A VACATION.<br /><br />Saturday was our last day at the Orphanage and our last day of volunteering on our trip. The last 8 weeks are going to be spent hiking, biking, trekking and sitting on a beach. And if I might say so myself, I think we've earned a little R and R. We leave in less than 12 hours to head out on our Mt. Everest Base Camp Trek and we are pumped!<br /><br />I think that trekking for the next 2 weeks will allow us the time to reflect on the volunteering experiences we have had and to really soak in what a truly great journey this has been. We have had such wonderful experiences at every place we have been and although we are looking forward to the next 8 weeks of being footloose and fancy free we are also sad knowing that our volunteering has come to an end.<br /><br />From Guatemala, to Ecuador, Peru, Uganda, Kenya and Nepal, we have met some of the most truly beautiful and inspiring people that we have ever known. We have witnessed courage, strength, love, determination, compassion and humility in places where you wouldn't believe they could exist. It truly has been an honor and the best thing I have ever done in my life...<br /><br />Farn<br /></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-7475860682190143892009-10-12T09:47:00.001-06:002009-10-13T04:32:56.163-06:00Seeking postcard perfection<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">We left the City Sunday morning in search of the postcard perfect views promised from the village of Nagarkot. As quoted from Lonely Planet (they are never wrong are they?), "...between October and March a trip to Nagarkot will nearly always be rewarded with a view over the Himalaya...". We had planned the trip as an overnight outing last weekend but canceled when the forecast was for cloud and rain. The purpose of the trip was, after all, to take in the amazing views.<br /><br /></div><div align="center">The sun returned to us on Thursday and I checked and double checked the forecast for Nagarkot through Monday. All sunshine! No chance of rain. With the promise of 30 degree celcius highs, we set out. In <em>just</em> two and a half hours we reached Nagarkot, a whopping 32km east of Kathmandu, by public bus(es).<br /><br /></div><div align="center">After negotiating the switchbacks to reach this viewpoint village, we walked the strip of lodging in search of the perfect accommodation. Having decided to treat ourselves, the checklist included windows out over the mountain range, maybe a balcony, and what the heck, a rooftop patio would be nice... We found a huge range of accommodation, everything from dingy two dollar dorm room right up to one hundred dollar suites. Most of the accommodation recommended in our trusty Lonely Planet guide however, was accommodating Kathmandu's Narcotics Anonymous conference being held, as chance would have it, this very same weekend.<br /><br />Hungry from our travels, we ended up stumbling across an adorable hillside restaurant that happened to operate two small cabins. Basic, nothing fancy, but adorable and perfect with a view out over the valley. Just what we had been looking for for our overnight retreat from the City!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekzvhFN0f3wmX47-qb4qpp6OTh-i5d1MnqWm8oeEYcQA6ZvFLmVTGFo-_yTXlkHpp4oL085DFrIzG2n6NV1A2SUljadpoBqpfF9ozfbGwQ58NJhVQjsieMXD1LYoEAiF2B4_y_JJ-fcy9/s1600-h/IMG_0054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391967254901986706" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekzvhFN0f3wmX47-qb4qpp6OTh-i5d1MnqWm8oeEYcQA6ZvFLmVTGFo-_yTXlkHpp4oL085DFrIzG2n6NV1A2SUljadpoBqpfF9ozfbGwQ58NJhVQjsieMXD1LYoEAiF2B4_y_JJ-fcy9/s200/IMG_0054.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3VDQmD2zxmoLcmo5eyvyBWcJqttJDzt8GM7JEID_Hq7zFfPkw6ttvgBeAeOBSzmiExB6JpvGfFnEhCF3eGXBHEBHUbyldhAvtzDtWAPhvFZBCRk1FoYxZdhvXVcU-7F6RD7CeefqB9_G/s1600-h/IMG_0026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391966654848279970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3VDQmD2zxmoLcmo5eyvyBWcJqttJDzt8GM7JEID_Hq7zFfPkw6ttvgBeAeOBSzmiExB6JpvGfFnEhCF3eGXBHEBHUbyldhAvtzDtWAPhvFZBCRk1FoYxZdhvXVcU-7F6RD7CeefqB9_G/s200/IMG_0026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aXTyA4by_PkTU61EfBAn-fZNGB1qUNEhNsvD9gbosVhg6dmy2zrb0UTGdV3vCjPUwXhyphenhyphenC_NfCl7dpI9qh3SoiSa0c1I0hwjQxa8I55NWUigmmqOAt71xjpE0mwA4i4bTFH18rQbWZ5_u/s1600-h/IMG_0016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391966657205015954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aXTyA4by_PkTU61EfBAn-fZNGB1qUNEhNsvD9gbosVhg6dmy2zrb0UTGdV3vCjPUwXhyphenhyphenC_NfCl7dpI9qh3SoiSa0c1I0hwjQxa8I55NWUigmmqOAt71xjpE0mwA4i4bTFH18rQbWZ5_u/s200/IMG_0016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y1SYI7jfD-1lqRJlT3Bh3HwWePDALFc_tRu8ZIjCoe_tVO6tJpbal7bSch51e3ZIeCXQzNHjjLFx5FFF8KMNT86TUmxXs4KpLWeoolP-q2___EgmbYf1MHb3JCcIufhfyQhxDjrSxx8f/s1600-h/IMG_0019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391967244372048722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y1SYI7jfD-1lqRJlT3Bh3HwWePDALFc_tRu8ZIjCoe_tVO6tJpbal7bSch51e3ZIeCXQzNHjjLFx5FFF8KMNT86TUmxXs4KpLWeoolP-q2___EgmbYf1MHb3JCcIufhfyQhxDjrSxx8f/s200/IMG_0019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This little gem would cost us but a few bucks so we decided to splurge on a bottle of wine. (We hiked uptown, found the finest of 'blush' wines, got lost making our way back, wound up smack in the middle of the NA meeting, and cut in front of the stage, all eyes on us, with brown bag in hand,... oops). A whole lot chillier than in Kathmandu, we bundled up determined to soak up the peace of the great outdoors and enjoy a glass (mug) of wine by the light of the moon before turning in. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-SfsDTO1fLdhAtdIQvwwvpBuNzQDU-51QB5JiMckEAiip6QrizSLd8YCE3oX4DbKMuPiBvtwi-ZmI6T-J4e_lbDUwCAcMgSGincLYZhK27gBGNKSJ0OQIMnPdYp2ORFqWn0r6T93XJL1/s1600-h/IMG_0043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391969603807116754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-SfsDTO1fLdhAtdIQvwwvpBuNzQDU-51QB5JiMckEAiip6QrizSLd8YCE3oX4DbKMuPiBvtwi-ZmI6T-J4e_lbDUwCAcMgSGincLYZhK27gBGNKSJ0OQIMnPdYp2ORFqWn0r6T93XJL1/s200/IMG_0043.jpg" border="0" /></a>Planning to hike up to the lookout tower to catch the sunrise, we peeked out our window at 5am to see a blanket of clouds. We could barely make out the hillside below let alone an elusive mountain range off in the distance. Realizing that we had experienced several hours of uninterrupted sleep (a rarity in Kathmandu) in this peaceful little paradise, we shrugged off the disappointment and welcomed a few more hours of shuteye. Surely the clouds would clear by late morning, the forecast was for a beautiful day afterall...<br /><br />After breakfast, we hiked up to the lookout tower. The following photos compare my postcard perfection to the view we were actually afforded. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-SjzAqCsW3MrpE-T_FiYIcEb-5EHsIc8_K0M2-Exp2SeFZdtkIydTuskhoYQC3EfUPULfqSej128QzUNpGjDORN_HrBX67e-oh-XLfAkzf7vO3KHrisrkXIqJrNt1XmLASYgrRc66til/s1600-h/IMG_0102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391965466101220178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 188px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 142px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-SjzAqCsW3MrpE-T_FiYIcEb-5EHsIc8_K0M2-Exp2SeFZdtkIydTuskhoYQC3EfUPULfqSej128QzUNpGjDORN_HrBX67e-oh-XLfAkzf7vO3KHrisrkXIqJrNt1XmLASYgrRc66til/s200/IMG_0102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjk2B-hcMvdYKhnWEdFrkatflr_prosunsG7EyaYVNuIQmL9rakbGAtQ_eXonOU8VLKj5VxRHsKQY7H2CJZXx3Fo8GTlw1nfiTtmdP1ypscZI6BNoco_f2__HITtWfeqd-WhDYezyJxzU/s1600-h/IMG_0065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391965553222315618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjk2B-hcMvdYKhnWEdFrkatflr_prosunsG7EyaYVNuIQmL9rakbGAtQ_eXonOU8VLKj5VxRHsKQY7H2CJZXx3Fo8GTlw1nfiTtmdP1ypscZI6BNoco_f2__HITtWfeqd-WhDYezyJxzU/s200/IMG_0065.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We decided to continue our hike down through the countryside from Nagarkot to Banepa, increasing our chances at catching a view of the Himalaya. Surely the clouds would clear by early afternoon, the forecast was for a beautiful day afterall...<br /><br />Standing in the pouring down rain somewhere between Nagarkot and Banepa, I gave in to the fact that, not only had Lonely Planet lied but so had the weatherman! Taking on an optimistic, and somewhat naive, attitude I had decided against packing my raincoat. Though I shivered in the wet and cold, the friendly greetings and smiles from the women that we passed en route (who also were not afforded the luxury of rainwear), carting their huge baskets on their backs and sloshing through the puddles in their barefeet while pointing our way down the hillside, kept us motivated.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1z1YmAjHBXcGb8FwVPw7nVAWu40D51j56BWtQpJ7S-4KRCI3RkYdCs_6kTCaObJORXxvxocV5aDR0mYUJLesJtLxjsYKtVMrq22Xl7y68OJecbkn5njHFsFKkMhQDzbeYMV3Etr9OcGd/s1600-h/IMG_0006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391966140513604498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1z1YmAjHBXcGb8FwVPw7nVAWu40D51j56BWtQpJ7S-4KRCI3RkYdCs_6kTCaObJORXxvxocV5aDR0mYUJLesJtLxjsYKtVMrq22Xl7y68OJecbkn5njHFsFKkMhQDzbeYMV3Etr9OcGd/s200/IMG_0006.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DOrB5aml-vq5bmHacfAz4VqXzf_sUnv8_IxaVcLI1jA8cIgZTkR07Io7g0TZpW43RX2aBT08SkXOuiDm5h0e0a8FPEtwzCNWdE18mMs_ElpWFofW2Bb0ezg9kEh533EqodbSlaWp5JBS/s1600-h/IMG_0090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391966053795090658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DOrB5aml-vq5bmHacfAz4VqXzf_sUnv8_IxaVcLI1jA8cIgZTkR07Io7g0TZpW43RX2aBT08SkXOuiDm5h0e0a8FPEtwzCNWdE18mMs_ElpWFofW2Bb0ezg9kEh533EqodbSlaWp5JBS/s200/IMG_0090.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We eventually found the sunshine and I can't think of a better way to have spent the afternoon than navigating the countryside of the beautiful Kathmandu Valley. Though we still have yet to feast our eyes on the Himalaya, finding the peace and quiet of the hillsides and the beauty of the villages along the way was a more than satisfying alternative.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4jHXytp0eEBgfamCzcEj7XAMeb6mlE5BN7wNPVD7WIByjOuKh2WbbWx-JCnbQgRHTXn8-TmJqTNdvSwmxvsWcAiIVptFLvxbKmdvWO1TZJVU-KGcOS8n0tjfAvuPoDJXrbdLboa0GVwf/s1600-h/IMG_0098.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391967779890058402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4jHXytp0eEBgfamCzcEj7XAMeb6mlE5BN7wNPVD7WIByjOuKh2WbbWx-JCnbQgRHTXn8-TmJqTNdvSwmxvsWcAiIVptFLvxbKmdvWO1TZJVU-KGcOS8n0tjfAvuPoDJXrbdLboa0GVwf/s200/IMG_0098.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-19217150634957132342009-10-12T09:04:00.002-06:002009-10-13T00:17:46.938-06:00Passion<div align="center">As I have mentioned before, I love watching new places wake up in the morning, the ritual of it all as people go about their daily routines. Sadly, however, Kathmandu wakes up a little earlier than I do, or earlier than I used to I should say. The choir of dogs barking does not quite drown out the honking horns of the busses, the bell ringing or the chants being sung by the man who does laps around the neighborhood every morning pushing his bicycle. With the 'when in Rome' mentality, and as an alternative to lying in bed with our pillows over our ears, we have taken to joining in. </div><br /><div align="center">Being out and about in the mornings here in Kathmandu is especially interesting. You don’t have to look very far to witness both Hindu and Buddhist rituals being practiced and prayers being offered. From the grand temples where candles are lit and sacrifices are made, to women collecting jasmine blossoms (the sacred flower of the Hindu love God), to the individual early morning worshippers seemingly alone with their prayers at the park where we run, the passion for spirituality is evidenced everywhere. And ofcourse, not just in the mornings. </div><br /><div align="center">Last weekend Troy and I visited Pashupatinath, Nepal's most important Hindu temple sitting on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, a popular cremation site. Now I'm not talking about a location for funerals per say, or wakes, or even private moments of reflection here. What I'm talking about is very public burning of bodies (for lack of any more tactful description) on the banks of the river. Sure, there is some ritual involved, but remarkably little ceremony by our standards. Logs are laid, a body is lifted on top, and the fire is lit. Some friends and family do attend but this is in addition to dozens of tourists (most with an embarassingly long zoom lens), tour guides, hawkers, and yes, even cotton candy and balloon animal sellers looking on from the opposite bank.<br /><br />As we took in the scene, looking in one direction at flames rising up from a platform and ashes being swept into the water, and looking in the other direction at the children jumping from the footbridge into the very same river below as if emphasizing the very open and calm attitude towards death that we have found in so much of the world, it was impossible not to reflect on our own mortality. Contemplating the contrast of life and death playing out before us left us with an uncomfortable sense of intruding on something very personal on one hand and a comfortable peace with the circle of life being accepted so openly on the other.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />It was definitely an interesting experience but we made an abrupt exit when we suddenly became keenly aware that the smoke we were inhaling was not exactly from a simple campfire. And in case you're wondering, no, I could not muster an appetite for cotton candy either.<br /></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"> </div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-36705717176140910592009-10-03T23:58:00.000-06:002009-10-04T12:24:43.992-06:00Many Hats<div align="center">Over the past week and a half we have taken on many roles. From tourist, to volunteer, to bumper car driver, to hiker, to cook, to personal shopper, to scary ride hand-holder, to sculptor, to reader, to vomit mopper-upper, to card dealer, and a few things in between, we have managed to wear many hats and keep things interesting. </div><br /><div align="center">Sight seeing has taken us to the Kopan Monastery where we admired the Stupha, took in wise words from the Dalai Lama and left some love for Buddha.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddz_oJZriZNSnUByashUdpps_diiIeyO76qPyOV3vcg9mTtRqWC7WnnL14cYBaZQDkwTf99YkA_gi-qSePMiqHZ-GRLe5J0msinraJK_gc_TMj_jsHjNllSdClQlRAs-4zp3XAdHjwDOK/s1600-h/kopan+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388624497108509506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 172px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddz_oJZriZNSnUByashUdpps_diiIeyO76qPyOV3vcg9mTtRqWC7WnnL14cYBaZQDkwTf99YkA_gi-qSePMiqHZ-GRLe5J0msinraJK_gc_TMj_jsHjNllSdClQlRAs-4zp3XAdHjwDOK/s200/kopan+024.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJMnwQE3SK6mz20L2ccYN94IM5rUiROhfFoPhSzqHIfAricVwLVKhmy4sAy1WtVGZd6Ajw2Ub13rFoAv9DvIaHm6_AZg6NVff0pFtIGie_SmrFDsrn8Cc3HYJ8FEyhcuaASpLirU9XPUN/s1600-h/kopan+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388624852854429858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJMnwQE3SK6mz20L2ccYN94IM5rUiROhfFoPhSzqHIfAricVwLVKhmy4sAy1WtVGZd6Ajw2Ub13rFoAv9DvIaHm6_AZg6NVff0pFtIGie_SmrFDsrn8Cc3HYJ8FEyhcuaASpLirU9XPUN/s200/kopan+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388625046033983298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5E1qOFiAFpWHnDeLY6DKUmTp1nGbt985C4RUKmLFMw6sudhDmniWfJZ63axS1sWeRKgOtly8rZpvrqnk3oy6LQdQPmpH8UmsSpld8sCXa0sAplKPpe83RQDvkjbY3cGMaMPdlfHIMGE76/s200/kopan+029.jpg" border="0" /> Hiking took us to the highest point in the Nagarjun Forest Reserve from where we were rewarded with views of the valley and the seemingly never ending stream of prayer flags adorning the treetops.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388625713611828114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UWOPmjghTk_z1wEWsncrSmY2DbYLL5vgAYDvaEwjLajz0szXLqf-ee5iyDOVuPZMivTUrPi49MXdiEJYY3xvXhMykQyraDHQBAOe-rSvuBCKr4tndx7-T4SMBDjTHR-KeDLYwtG4VEN3/s200/IMG_2007.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIAIVeOWph9QnI2rN-ihcdeRF-3W14EfSZxVP07w4mHhe83LUIBLnkqrh2wjp9ga7v0erKMZcc7AynS6yo0NCgW__LqPyNElUeXLVDnfrSVBpGi_uWTSufXXBcVKOqyzwyUarTXZ0gFAi/s1600-h/IMG_1992.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388804789736876178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIAIVeOWph9QnI2rN-ihcdeRF-3W14EfSZxVP07w4mHhe83LUIBLnkqrh2wjp9ga7v0erKMZcc7AynS6yo0NCgW__LqPyNElUeXLVDnfrSVBpGi_uWTSufXXBcVKOqyzwyUarTXZ0gFAi/s200/IMG_1992.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAtgnZPNcoFKmMz5i3O3vebuhMwliWxvpuxOsNswrC0jgQgik15nhnxugT_gNcJoIBQ0lAKRdLu53KOTS-PhClg7a3i6wJZUYx0H1dAh4E3C2ggJ-4a0vAPq_pcwN8g_ZYOn0h3YdFsxo/s1600-h/IMG_1999.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388626075784400834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAtgnZPNcoFKmMz5i3O3vebuhMwliWxvpuxOsNswrC0jgQgik15nhnxugT_gNcJoIBQ0lAKRdLu53KOTS-PhClg7a3i6wJZUYx0H1dAh4E3C2ggJ-4a0vAPq_pcwN8g_ZYOn0h3YdFsxo/s200/IMG_1999.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">We celebrated the Dasain festival and took the kids to one of their favorite places, the Children's Fun Park!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388629260462968962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF-Veby5Yuqa0Re5sh4DJne8rDD6dLXn-SjVT1diTLO-ja9keC3qHUaX7sC7TfzmI5SZmGRXIm-aLa7ghKaTgypiWXPGkvTPZ2n7S6mIMA7TqiLJrD1eETtqS__OLOSEWDr69_k2EQcMB/s200/funpark+017.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">From bumper cars to the ferris wheel, it was your typical carnival. Without the safety restraints, seat belts, or the 'You must be this tall to ride' signs ofcourse. Without these restrictions, the littlest of kids tested their moxy on the biggest of rides and so, yes, in this picture Troy is in fact physically restraining a six year old to keep her in her seat on the big boat ride!<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388628005722214514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nKQLQ8UpMRRi4D3LA-Ys4jcervphvGcCJEvo0IxFQ_2nUADeVbQ5WipSfAx3uJJmr9rfJH3WLtn4mnwBCFCaC8wSOsd-p9J_raq4heMzdKmpO_kfb3u2uW-wRycib_ALTJIQIZi-QpVh/s320/funpark+044.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">We watched their faces fill with excitement as they experienced the thrills that were on offer and kept watching as their faces turned varius shades of green after said moxy tests. When the ice cream could no longer be held inside tummies, we called it a day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWKnTPcYojVpfL9nEaMQIqNlbAOhS7rgOGnhPKWkErw7ZOPuD29WNrWIlB4f3-5-tFuPuVBjkvhy8bd4uOn7M0iT_lREBzLoOBYxZkMDAMgCUjXrdtj91LW9DpMuf76pugoyxVjkV92Nn/s1600-h/funpark+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388629596257341138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWKnTPcYojVpfL9nEaMQIqNlbAOhS7rgOGnhPKWkErw7ZOPuD29WNrWIlB4f3-5-tFuPuVBjkvhy8bd4uOn7M0iT_lREBzLoOBYxZkMDAMgCUjXrdtj91LW9DpMuf76pugoyxVjkV92Nn/s200/funpark+060.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9sp9cyjzbZe0HSMTXy_JvHcCBni1SZ37RL7098CJ6asSQooydP3CiVGl2rChoSFSXmes6Wo9itDOdga6coZgRM9_ZASucMzT1NqnGbtijzCsKMsxgZCWoMFWCB2HnHAFHU5bTMUqLC06/s1600-h/funpark+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388629667937110258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 168px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9sp9cyjzbZe0HSMTXy_JvHcCBni1SZ37RL7098CJ6asSQooydP3CiVGl2rChoSFSXmes6Wo9itDOdga6coZgRM9_ZASucMzT1NqnGbtijzCsKMsxgZCWoMFWCB2HnHAFHU5bTMUqLC06/s200/funpark+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388630179703139570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpkPvruA7_7FQPiIX0iiCkTEY6f9etvt2HVeFUht5UJk-z2lz7A2ux-bokPYH-VvElgTCa48RwTrwJZhGIhqwRMDFVuCCfgkp4U3nwkAxr0KvbO-jGodLIcB9zeR9g7UUzYEokqv4gUKa/s200/funpark+052.jpg" border="0" /> At the house we honed our UNO playing skills and have learned to hide our hands to avoid being duped by strategy orchestrated around the table in Nepali. We have also learned the favorite local card game and are subjected to wild group cheers, finger pointing and 'Loser!' chants when we are beat. Aren't kids great? Troy has started playing them for money, insisting that this is okay because he has only just broken even... </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388635938134414274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs_723wWmhxqv3kokZxTWOlyHFpoU10KzaT_HkzyeHKeaR5LjuPhcaUFuNr7P-Gz0CkwCX-TbBGWQ4GJz7z51otLC1Yaf32_ISCRCySiBw84z45lm1_B0C6zOi4wq5L-TrOB4-RmbsURf/s200/IMG_2053.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">We have been sculptors, creating plasticine masterpieces while also discovering that it is equally fun to throw it in the air and have it stick to the ceiling. We have giggled and wrestled, entertained budding magicians...</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388636025808499090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEAGqM0qb11wC6jeleRqSGpIZSFw0mmCX0su1FDa94pu0IloX-QrJEIY0YEoTjI88i5gSivmwA-kQbaHm6v48CeY4HNbK8D6SsDYLjvnkFlvlntI959fw-R_3P6Kn13kuRcaakAk0E8Rb/s200/IMG_2050.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">We even put on chefs hats for a day and were taught how to make momos, a traditional nepali steamed dumpling. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388640689361854562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqOymVzASvrl24UNKlMd9wKq1TrWfIAPLiSdfiG1Ov9-wfYQ85CzEO4cgP_u1FQo5LvYXVN9We9frEtSy4YoO_vYH61Envx6w_Akw8A_lLAYTbgBIFGa7LpzN4cjQ3jFPYTDh3v1nN8ml/s200/IMG_2114.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">It was kind of like making perogies. Many hands required and hours of preparation to cut, roll, and pinch hundreds of perfect little momos. And all of this followed by complete consumption in a single meal!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WSbiF1Isi1QATizLroigiXg5__1b2v5AEK_JtFtvqJOpQf40K9CWCsWuJyLsQk3JZz0jcgF6Uw25AFzi1niiC0wyr4CewhMwhfvQ_snrAFvwa1xPckCXBvQOrse_VePtxHCNill0P3c1/s1600-h/IMG_2091.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388639655823591874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WSbiF1Isi1QATizLroigiXg5__1b2v5AEK_JtFtvqJOpQf40K9CWCsWuJyLsQk3JZz0jcgF6Uw25AFzi1niiC0wyr4CewhMwhfvQ_snrAFvwa1xPckCXBvQOrse_VePtxHCNill0P3c1/s200/IMG_2091.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfyeHh9HKUN4K6ctEyBTEW3hzISBbRc72QAbtxfa6cFT63lwP_QeMzhENuVfs05XWe9NAohiQPwt8nUzu15h6vM6GTxKN1YjYFi2nKndC_0ruNm2DxjiV33l3BWhezMiI5xWAXd_okg0H/s1600-h/IMG_2105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388639774239732450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfyeHh9HKUN4K6ctEyBTEW3hzISBbRc72QAbtxfa6cFT63lwP_QeMzhENuVfs05XWe9NAohiQPwt8nUzu15h6vM6GTxKN1YjYFi2nKndC_0ruNm2DxjiV33l3BWhezMiI5xWAXd_okg0H/s200/IMG_2105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnandHA6wrPFh0xaZHmtK0yZlDx9nGKifaJZFvkO8LqkEwLxKJVYzXnK61skdqz17Kt2FEu9LeKyzARmYsccooH_R1oW423dpczTiWmhu68MOH9xpJft8ISvYAYMDlIbu5pWon5uEBZds/s1600-h/IMG_2099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388639658529554162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnandHA6wrPFh0xaZHmtK0yZlDx9nGKifaJZFvkO8LqkEwLxKJVYzXnK61skdqz17Kt2FEu9LeKyzARmYsccooH_R1oW423dpczTiWmhu68MOH9xpJft8ISvYAYMDlIbu5pWon5uEBZds/s200/IMG_2099.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB5J340uYqcMfmrBQ_bBEPXZ4Ory6sTNI1ps1SA7Y41EFWwU_vWpKEmS0hTd43ARF-NiYC2atsbN8LLjUKVdAkgGEdcqDJEOwslvr1K_Mj4lPrm0AyDwiGwvI9VT-rdFsj0fG2qZyLKRQ/s1600-h/IMG_2106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388639779091165954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB5J340uYqcMfmrBQ_bBEPXZ4Ory6sTNI1ps1SA7Y41EFWwU_vWpKEmS0hTd43ARF-NiYC2atsbN8LLjUKVdAkgGEdcqDJEOwslvr1K_Mj4lPrm0AyDwiGwvI9VT-rdFsj0fG2qZyLKRQ/s200/IMG_2106.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB5J340uYqcMfmrBQ_bBEPXZ4Ory6sTNI1ps1SA7Y41EFWwU_vWpKEmS0hTd43ARF-NiYC2atsbN8LLjUKVdAkgGEdcqDJEOwslvr1K_Mj4lPrm0AyDwiGwvI9VT-rdFsj0fG2qZyLKRQ/s1600-h/IMG_2106.jpg"></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB5J340uYqcMfmrBQ_bBEPXZ4Ory6sTNI1ps1SA7Y41EFWwU_vWpKEmS0hTd43ARF-NiYC2atsbN8LLjUKVdAkgGEdcqDJEOwslvr1K_Mj4lPrm0AyDwiGwvI9VT-rdFsj0fG2qZyLKRQ/s1600-h/IMG_2106.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><br /><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">Our culinary teaching in exchange was Worms-in-Dirt (you know, chocolate pudding, cookie crumbs and gummy worms). Although, we had to substitute the worms for these other gummy things that actually looked like larvae because we could seriously not find worms... Gummy dinosaurs, sure. Gummy fish, sharks or bears, easy. Gummy cheeseburgers, gummy spaghetti, and gummy strawberries, no problem. What happened to gummy worms??!!. The mud pies were inhaled however so apparently I was the only one bothered by the lack of worms. </p><p align="center">Thanks to funds raised by the organization <em>ELI Abroad</em>, we were able to take on the role of shoppers as we have been charged with spending donated funds as we see fit to benefit the orphanage. After much discussion with the house mother, we have allocated some money for house needs and some money to be spent directly on the children. </p><p align="center">ELI's generous contribution has allowed us the opportunity to really feel the joy of giving. Though we have not yet exhausted the funds, so far the children have each been decked out in a new pair of clothes, shoes were purchased for those who had outgrown them, individual water bottles were handed out and a new pressure cooker and steemer were added to the kitchen. </p><p align="center">But perhaps the most fulfilling has been to help foster the joy of reading. The selection of reading materials at the house was looking a bit sparse and tired so we set aside a budget to help bring it back to life. We took the kids four and five at a time to a bookstore to pick out some new material. An adventure all on its own! </p><p align="center">The young kids were mesmerized by size (the bigger the better), hard covers, and plastic wrap. Actually being able to read the book came secondary. We had to talk many a six year old down from <em>Harry Potter, The Collector's Edition</em>, to something a little more comfortable and explain that <em>No</em>, we couldn't add plastic wrap to their selections once we left the store. It was fun to watch the agonizing decisions being made by some, surrounded by so many choices, while others walked in and requested specific titles without having to look around. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTAvhlAJkncGJjueYx7uJLTZD-JQt649EJ1tUvazXKuzgwxGW2Xb5qrcP4kv0OjzeVFadvPjwy7lkchRjdeIPdCsDZPVW8zT_jpneqONz3nnQkq3k_kHKOzFLrqmO4ux24hC_bwO82i8E/s1600-h/IMG_2133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388804045626348802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTAvhlAJkncGJjueYx7uJLTZD-JQt649EJ1tUvazXKuzgwxGW2Xb5qrcP4kv0OjzeVFadvPjwy7lkchRjdeIPdCsDZPVW8zT_jpneqONz3nnQkq3k_kHKOzFLrqmO4ux24hC_bwO82i8E/s200/IMG_2133.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC1oKgHF77Wl0dv9NPhyjGtJe356gG7xxuykS5dY5V3q0OYtTQ8VzZzN3H9cDxrBcWnfhTDr9Vpuilw3JuscSdnseoxcUkk29p_U73TJC87Tv5rUbGWJSAi_J7jQbwftguFaCOx7FljFv/s1600-h/IMG_2129.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388803852002347282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC1oKgHF77Wl0dv9NPhyjGtJe356gG7xxuykS5dY5V3q0OYtTQ8VzZzN3H9cDxrBcWnfhTDr9Vpuilw3JuscSdnseoxcUkk29p_U73TJC87Tv5rUbGWJSAi_J7jQbwftguFaCOx7FljFv/s200/IMG_2129.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Although, two days later, young Chek's book, <em>My first 1000 words</em>, is still tucked away securely in it's vacuum packaging, most of the kids have delved into their new books and each time we visit they announce proudly the number of pages they have read in our absence. From <em>Mr. Happy</em> to <em>Nancy Drew</em> to <em>The Alchemist</em>, the new library includes almost forty books, covers all reading levels, and promises to keep them busy for a while :). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUDsGkS4hnqPcS2ycrou_nbwCe1cQ6DcVPzmXIZw_H1OH7Jo6k98ROE_ZYuzxSYWIso-8rACgI9UiO5XPhxJLBK2BnW2yN2MgnK_TLEYBEkP7jfz2M6I-7sYYvlfBmixm_gLm2aOqSQXV/s1600-h/IMG_2131.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388804042303834466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUDsGkS4hnqPcS2ycrou_nbwCe1cQ6DcVPzmXIZw_H1OH7Jo6k98ROE_ZYuzxSYWIso-8rACgI9UiO5XPhxJLBK2BnW2yN2MgnK_TLEYBEkP7jfz2M6I-7sYYvlfBmixm_gLm2aOqSQXV/s200/IMG_2131.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Z1ewwx1fcRznYj7aGKviL0-GjRSF_d_Y8TtOpmQ3ebLOU_fQVkQGvVjZGYmgFBjdBBJcvAuN_3ZEAS6La8YdSU-_OErb9eYesw0wJ-0e2CToRFrH-m-qoXU_1fVAv2CxtNNlJyLkDI0/s1600-h/IMG_2132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388803858417205698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Z1ewwx1fcRznYj7aGKviL0-GjRSF_d_Y8TtOpmQ3ebLOU_fQVkQGvVjZGYmgFBjdBBJcvAuN_3ZEAS6La8YdSU-_OErb9eYesw0wJ-0e2CToRFrH-m-qoXU_1fVAv2CxtNNlJyLkDI0/s200/IMG_2132.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hats off to you ELI! </div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-40038757725670259592009-09-23T09:34:00.000-06:002009-09-25T10:04:14.381-06:00Swingin'<div align="center">Longing for some fresh air after watching one too many cartoon movies on a perfectly sunny afternoon, we decided to take the kids on a field trip to <em>The Garden of Dreams.</em> This beautifully manicured garden with benches and goldfish ponds, flower gardens and trees, terraces and high walls, makes it possible to escape the noise of the City while providing a relaxing atmosphere and many peaceful shady spots for people to come and relax and read a good book. It also happens to be the only significant patch of grass I have seen in Kathmandu so far.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385419697183869746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeQmfRX0x907vQCXf7EgFSypoFhtGNjI1lv1PQVL5Fn5-OTwB-tXXcvYD_Uan5rj4p88IcglwlpJY1CBLN02FICybfZy7Y-IHiQZKBhjkTrzDm1jpirh4hnznXmEX7G3Fs2Yos3IsuvYc/s200/IMG_1713.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Much to the dismay, i'm sure, of those seeking just such a quiet spot on Wednesday afternoon, we unleashed 13 kids into this 'playground' of sorts. </p><div align="center">The cylindrical pillows and cushions layed out in the grassy areas for resting on became weapons for sword fighting and logs for rolling down hills. The outer benches of the picture perfect white gazebo became a platform from which to jump into the 'wrestling pit' below and the goldfish became pawns for the amusement of children as they narrowly escaped their clutches.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFw3zBLl2fdr4icmRY8a-iP6-3xOc1cOd-5DTpuX8pee2vJFBJ2Hemw4oWZZMJUChvv8Lc-Taw9m7-0CNFFXM9ftiapiaprfc1uBfw7GMxoCKnpFlk8uEwN_bab_QwQ4citIEfH7cIhedO/s1600-h/IMG_1827.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385416824333247378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFw3zBLl2fdr4icmRY8a-iP6-3xOc1cOd-5DTpuX8pee2vJFBJ2Hemw4oWZZMJUChvv8Lc-Taw9m7-0CNFFXM9ftiapiaprfc1uBfw7GMxoCKnpFlk8uEwN_bab_QwQ4citIEfH7cIhedO/s200/IMG_1827.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe747zcvLa7STDSYTYrZECPGgUelAkGWc5zFcGNN3li0NJlPo_yaX41QX1_T4TyvSprrE-cav8nQIP_XkcHJt3ZOoi1uqwuYLjgIGr6m_RCZJeZ3xYX_jWQYT5TDi5_9grPhxpW9tZmHRk/s1600-h/IMG_1741.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385416710670757570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe747zcvLa7STDSYTYrZECPGgUelAkGWc5zFcGNN3li0NJlPo_yaX41QX1_T4TyvSprrE-cav8nQIP_XkcHJt3ZOoi1uqwuYLjgIGr6m_RCZJeZ3xYX_jWQYT5TDi5_9grPhxpW9tZmHRk/s200/IMG_1741.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I'm sure you can imagine how these elephant statues (aka climbing structures) and pretty much every other lawn ornament or fixture for that matter, became jungle gyms and acrobatic training obstacles. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385418336448048050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlYtib7wAs0qBTp9BF4ieHkg7cxGNGlwD4_IBO6V3xUVGncPz_FjHQBkC_SPqTugzNDiDMw0uloSH8MN5WMEjf_D9pwgA047Msq1qYAAZqA7jxbkCyISI2nTEssk4ZQpEz5tTPzmbVS7x/s200/IMG_1711.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduJT3RHcHZ8Zrb-XtPCUeOrqDxsDb8poXaxpzjWJxbC9UDUA6dkQ6yJQa_-43deZXhaZEIOkqQ34qBFAhAtVxSz7xWJSoAjVX5DBUad4ngBIhmY3bOZL9gq4yBBZSUpA0Iluv59yVJ7_o/s1600-h/IMG_1834.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385418965027932210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduJT3RHcHZ8Zrb-XtPCUeOrqDxsDb8poXaxpzjWJxbC9UDUA6dkQ6yJQa_-43deZXhaZEIOkqQ34qBFAhAtVxSz7xWJSoAjVX5DBUad4ngBIhmY3bOZL9gq4yBBZSUpA0Iluv59yVJ7_o/s200/IMG_1834.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVF-_F2a9qX03vznkuSQNzjk3S3DW1aZulqIKXLVB9eS1sw5bAmiTqmNE1JOpuXzNlTry4HJNqA9bYzYGU4WmitU4vZX_wPwg0NgGo4fdyoxSCHzb64gsJRUJAcH3ctMNBqMET6__Uhkd/s1600-h/IMG_1826.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385419036107311650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVF-_F2a9qX03vznkuSQNzjk3S3DW1aZulqIKXLVB9eS1sw5bAmiTqmNE1JOpuXzNlTry4HJNqA9bYzYGU4WmitU4vZX_wPwg0NgGo4fdyoxSCHzb64gsJRUJAcH3ctMNBqMET6__Uhkd/s200/IMG_1826.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The peaceful moat waters became the scene of many a shipwreck as many small hands claimed ownership of a single vessel and flowers became bouquets as they were plucked from their stems despite the false sense of security the rules forbidding this provided them.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPu_tqNqeCp55DGILpSlhtjSq5xixbVxBmu9F_z_ktRT0WUFTSbtOjJBwJBslDjNIJoxtPI8sqTWu4ZJEgiVtIzM2ApZ6_Jgb8kmOSJT8XuAYbwqpM76Srg7mptp28ySL20bUysZbFLTVf/s1600-h/IMG_1699.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385421425251181138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 187px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPu_tqNqeCp55DGILpSlhtjSq5xixbVxBmu9F_z_ktRT0WUFTSbtOjJBwJBslDjNIJoxtPI8sqTWu4ZJEgiVtIzM2ApZ6_Jgb8kmOSJT8XuAYbwqpM76Srg7mptp28ySL20bUysZbFLTVf/s200/IMG_1699.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVfB0kOiBwVDMTTOirEDcchpojsnYUiT4zXoDP0AWMiGo7dZ7BUUXKhawBKG9A3CHWv0xaFbzlgfNvZ2etXEOnVMbIhfIdjmyZGOjw1SH_zOj5UlEH_6uaQbsT7vG9MB_bzJ5eqpIyzD5/s1600-h/IMG_1805.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385421504317653154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVfB0kOiBwVDMTTOirEDcchpojsnYUiT4zXoDP0AWMiGo7dZ7BUUXKhawBKG9A3CHWv0xaFbzlgfNvZ2etXEOnVMbIhfIdjmyZGOjw1SH_zOj5UlEH_6uaQbsT7vG9MB_bzJ5eqpIyzD5/s200/IMG_1805.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">And then there was the swing. The swing was adorable, supported by four equidistant bamboo poles gathered together at the top, teepee style. The swing itself was made from bamboo chutes, strung together and it hung at the bottom of two thick ropes. It was set in its own peaceful little area, almost decoratively. To be honest, at first I didn't think it was actually to be used as a swing but instead that it was there simply to provide some ambience. I was proved wrong.<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Over and over again the kids lined up to experience the ultimate in underducks. Chants requesting "Higher, higher" would quickly turn to screams of "Stop, too high!". The turn would be over all too soon and they would jump off and rejoin the line for "More, more!". </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385427963777830498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRWYOdAMi6BEFb1QOyK5HhPC3WsomM5QjX3lV2eKpLeCf1f-qnmh-I6qbCd57hAW4TF6CPlUm2ASPH_InKYVAPduS_a0BStdtIs3Tw6WrrJ_iTlEu7piG-fPVKrfNKCaqdFF8tnIlybYx/s200/IMG_1849.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Remember how much fun it is to swing? The faces in these photos helped remind me. Most are smiling, but I think some are showing sure signs of fear....</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384687935629026530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiI8HRKIp6SYbWwINm_7YTUNRh3pvbww35W926vuZtNixDdLt2tmTyXV3yl2uYG4iHZtqx6dq5tVy1pFS-g-9W1MAvxRXCa4v-z52ejWqHgBLyVjkLLNYkEdf7j4HTGS3XgKAAfBj5Cum/s200/IMG_1811.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRpbbNAnl7zpwHuY_3EyPOEF4RO8C6vmhi-ha51PaTXPUmeA_0egi7nrzXgFKT4lr4JvFmxFrVwgyH5_dCDAn7EtNABAAAbjWcEboWp3FwxlMVsW0YkgE_S-XcX9RsNkFoyI9JweKyoS7/s1600-h/IMG_1843.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384689029779279650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRpbbNAnl7zpwHuY_3EyPOEF4RO8C6vmhi-ha51PaTXPUmeA_0egi7nrzXgFKT4lr4JvFmxFrVwgyH5_dCDAn7EtNABAAAbjWcEboWp3FwxlMVsW0YkgE_S-XcX9RsNkFoyI9JweKyoS7/s200/IMG_1843.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIv9EM_Tmi6GDhKFCOjNqt7Ff2viLIV0xVKRPspVuKTeEPUAFjNl9TM8tlvdOXTk9BUD1WNCSWShdr1HyVZDM4AuMd9a4GU1slRMxPpYjBMLM6hXKZT3mpkv3YrgtWAkmoyvSU50kUByi/s1600-h/IMG_1842.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384689120673909330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIv9EM_Tmi6GDhKFCOjNqt7Ff2viLIV0xVKRPspVuKTeEPUAFjNl9TM8tlvdOXTk9BUD1WNCSWShdr1HyVZDM4AuMd9a4GU1slRMxPpYjBMLM6hXKZT3mpkv3YrgtWAkmoyvSU50kUByi/s200/IMG_1842.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384689616322141874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7XY65-uXEiWn6Rt8J7MUE4v21TDkpsnkafpX_7PuZj2ySIYyCnIi7jvYjh3Z5iVT13_36A6PfwFzTPclcrY88A_C4iKKMsv2Jg6oxNYGfAs9qBCCGJRjnksPVHJEMD2YmDhsg20tRHym/s200/IMG_1851.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuGy48XfLXsj-cKlqfzfnPSAUsU1d3ODCAYy34sGUubI8hAANuEZQ6ShpqltTh4XgReOHKsjVRGIyOAnOIMVETSrtXbbS58tyPHKwwoV158zq1h02wkPT_66rMx5U6siowhyOmk7L6ALD/s1600-h/IMG_1814.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384688096038684482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuGy48XfLXsj-cKlqfzfnPSAUsU1d3ODCAYy34sGUubI8hAANuEZQ6ShpqltTh4XgReOHKsjVRGIyOAnOIMVETSrtXbbS58tyPHKwwoV158zq1h02wkPT_66rMx5U6siowhyOmk7L6ALD/s200/IMG_1814.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnTAulGQ4HghbyeeIFvatV_JgfCxA-cvTwXEmutAGSGwQ_ymKJ1QPu93y-3-2WTKjS_wufKMrbR_DnKDm6CvQbNsdNUcFT5sTFP8TegMxvOwGXW-V6wEmNwd9smloFIy0xFyJTJT37l1X/s1600-h/IMG_1824.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384688224223624322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnTAulGQ4HghbyeeIFvatV_JgfCxA-cvTwXEmutAGSGwQ_ymKJ1QPu93y-3-2WTKjS_wufKMrbR_DnKDm6CvQbNsdNUcFT5sTFP8TegMxvOwGXW-V6wEmNwd9smloFIy0xFyJTJT37l1X/s200/IMG_1824.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384688553848365970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZR5fF7KI1bCs3BP7zxG3QpWN0OzDanmkZjvwSB3u86sVr1k_NaFmKea4V7kYGoKzbyBVtGqM8YuPy2_Cg6VIVql8VU8tHgSFjHEebXpXgsAVmFnV8LEgHx6hNUV0eaMMDAdm5A10Br-W/s200/IMG_1816.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center">Our camera changed hands all afternoon while budding photographers captured the magic. They did a great job and I can honestly say that from the fish to the flowers, I have a picture of each and every living thing in the Garden of Dreams! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-UvXq_Xy8KyPg82PGdTFViR8giziQzjOeFgpNygLwRD3veOVz2fObB75fWz145wIoEZM6JUhhORueFGvvMUHEaVsaTMsoKB5DyviZFCBeTT7XY_0WTt1fiddSqyDjjZdtrBG1kwaFpje/s1600-h/IMG_1751.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385431455752469506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 183px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-UvXq_Xy8KyPg82PGdTFViR8giziQzjOeFgpNygLwRD3veOVz2fObB75fWz145wIoEZM6JUhhORueFGvvMUHEaVsaTMsoKB5DyviZFCBeTT7XY_0WTt1fiddSqyDjjZdtrBG1kwaFpje/s200/IMG_1751.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHDQRehgFX7bUXSK45TSKO16ugsgg5mpkL_RKawImIMNkUrhWGCNPf0M-JPmeX9Ixvg8Irxhy4qoZvleV9c1rgOFI6rZegKnxl9_gfose3eXyVBhKhuDbjrWKL6TLCcaS7lkkvjvK0fyQ/s1600-h/IMG_1792.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385431526643942434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHDQRehgFX7bUXSK45TSKO16ugsgg5mpkL_RKawImIMNkUrhWGCNPf0M-JPmeX9Ixvg8Irxhy4qoZvleV9c1rgOFI6rZegKnxl9_gfose3eXyVBhKhuDbjrWKL6TLCcaS7lkkvjvK0fyQ/s200/IMG_1792.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">While I did notice that a few people relocated upon our arrival, and a few gave us raised eyebrows over the tops of their books, there were a few parents trying to entertain toddlers without disturbing the peace who actually looked quite relieved that we had replaced them as the noisy ones. It was our pleasure. </div><p align="center">Though we were skeptical at first and a little nervous about getting tossed out, there was room for everyone at this 'playground' afterall, those that wanted peace and those that wanted to play. (And, we managed to leave without having been asked to or being escorted out to boot). </p>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252779343446941544.post-42406458492918252792009-09-23T09:21:00.000-06:002009-09-25T08:10:10.602-06:00Going up?<p align="center">We decided to switch things up last weekend and instead of climbing <em>up</em>, fighting gravity with the promise of a view at the end of the day, we decided to embrace gravity and focus on climbing <em>down</em>. We made our way north of Kathmandu, to a beautiful spot about 10km south of the Tibet border. It was here that we would try our hands at canyoning.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384685192249969474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j2ll8_QQuBjbIELA3IigPI6FtAF25ZKYn4CroZWoVMAevymQQePndnwmwNWXqo2RLXlnseF8T72UePGO9LbSrgHjUhmFsE91QEnyLtKWEDa_sb9lFK5Z5Rle0pgxDugKBi6663w0Ck6Q/s200/canyon+095.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center">Decked out in wetsuits that fit a little too big (pulled down over the tops of our shoes in yet another feeble attempt at combatting leeches), our harnesses snugged up (perhaps a little too tight), and donning bright blue helmets designed to make us feel like conspicuous rookies, we scrambled, slid, and abseiled our way down the canyon's waterfalls. </div><div align="center"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3Wj5iU1Tp7E8b1W-yVE2aHcz0SVuFDkUMeANasVa02CrVFt9hcgUoiuy9JfIxBvKN_QUqfe6O0X-2Ld7Vol_5gVs4L5rTaw-rQJ1C5rJBx5KpvwjugUWZPN6v1iaJbd8ba_RSmmqhME4/s1600-h/canyon+089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384685401303593106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3Wj5iU1Tp7E8b1W-yVE2aHcz0SVuFDkUMeANasVa02CrVFt9hcgUoiuy9JfIxBvKN_QUqfe6O0X-2Ld7Vol_5gVs4L5rTaw-rQJ1C5rJBx5KpvwjugUWZPN6v1iaJbd8ba_RSmmqhME4/s200/canyon+089.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfN4jKwHASLNuNqXDLo9gsnUuBrkQCC-2G8uKS9GbvcZfCxUlgT11RPRBYuxUfs-aiKqtDV3f0qJtm_qkGA80112J_DD37KtJPaVzvE82Xmd8xG6c8qQEgkPEigDmXZe8hLRyBAN_GfdJ/s1600-h/canyon+138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384685481039322402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfN4jKwHASLNuNqXDLo9gsnUuBrkQCC-2G8uKS9GbvcZfCxUlgT11RPRBYuxUfs-aiKqtDV3f0qJtm_qkGA80112J_DD37KtJPaVzvE82Xmd8xG6c8qQEgkPEigDmXZe8hLRyBAN_GfdJ/s200/canyon+138.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><br /><div align="center">While similar to repelling in rock climbing, which we <em>have</em> done, the added element of rushing water over the rock faces and the 'showers' pelting us from above, made it something new and exciting, not to mention slippery and, at times, even a bit scary!<br /><br />We made it out with only a couple blisters and one high fever and discovered that, as it turns out, climbing down <em>is </em>pretty fun, despite the lack of view from the bottom. </div>Nicole and Troyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235522574875256193noreply@blogger.com1