Author: Allan and Marla

Exploring Thailand and Cambodia

A university professor once visited a Zen teacher in search of more information about Buddhism. The teacher offered him a cup of tea, which the professor willingly accepted. Then the teacher started pouring tea in the cup, continuing to pour even after the tea started overflowing. “Why don’t you stop when the tea is overflowing?” The professor asked, worried. The teacher answered: “Your mind is just like this cup – overflowing with your expectations and opinions. I can’t give you new information until you come with an empty cup”

~ Unknown

Cambodia (Seeking Siam Sept. 2019)

I admit we had reservations about visiting Cambodia; a country with a tragic past.  

The Khmer Rouge 1975-1979 wasn’t that long ago. I felt sorrow with the realization that while I was in high school fretting over my inconsequential adolescent youth, the Cambodian people were being massacred and an entire culture destroyed.

Our local tour guide Soh did not or could not dwell on the topic. Soh had lost family like many of the Cambodian people and expressed hope that maybe some of his loved ones had made it to safety. He then changed the subject by expressing that the Cambodian people don’t dwell on the past but live in the present and look towards the future.

~ Marla

A Visit to Singapore and Phuket

Shortly after being seated we began our immersion into what I dubbed “Elephant Handling 101” and were educated about the 8,000 remaining elephants out of the 100,00 that once roamed Thailand. We also discussed the abuse of these animals for the benefit of tourism, such as the circuses and riding camps, as well as the purpose of this camp which is to rescue these elephants and place them in sanctuary. Today more people visit these rescue sanctuaries then riding camps.

~ Marla

Travels in the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea

“For all of human history, there have been people who have burrowed into their well-known holes, hewing close to family, tribe, culture, race or nationality. And there have been the notable fewer who struck out, not to own or conquer or take or evangelize, but to see, experience, absorb, and enjoy, with all the discomfort and exhilaration and great humility that entails.”

~ Anthony Bourdain

Alaska and the Canadian Rockies

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.

~ Izaak Walton

We cruised up the fjord as the temperature got colder and the fog was hanging over the shore. Eventually little chunks of ice appeared in the water floating by like pieces of a styrofoam cooler. Ice! Ice in the water! We approached the glacier as the chunks of styrofoam increased in size big enough to park a car on. How cool, or how cold.

~ Allan

A trip to the eastern US

Back in January of this year I received an email from a dear friend’s wife. Kathie was planning a surprise 50th Birthday and a Half party for her husband Kevin and this was to take place in July. His birthday was in January but they wanted to celebrate in July and have a BBQ. We exchanged emails for our surprise visit and we made plans for a Plymouth, Provence Town and Boston visit.

~ Allan

Seven days and a Wedding

Hello everyone!

Who goes to Scotland in February? We did, and let us explain.

Marla has a co-worker who met a Scottish fellow in California, who works as a stuntman on the show Vikings. The filming of Vikings is done in Scotland. So when there was a break in February, that was when they got married. That was all the excuse we needed to go!

~ Allan

Cruising through Russia plus Ferry Tales of Finland and Sweden

If you are new to our blogs let us introduce ourselves. If not welcome back! My husband and I are some 50’ish year olds who love to write and travel! Typically our adventures involve hiking and/or cycling through countries such as Spain, Morocco, Portugal and France. We are budget nomads who like to explore places off the beaten path. This time however, we’ve been offered a unique opportunity to cruise through Russia on a Uniworld river boat. Allan’s mother had wanted to go to Russia for years and offered to take us, Allan’s brother and his wife. This will be quite a different experience from our usual travels. So please join us as we coauthor our voyage through Russia and a few of the Baltic countries!

~Marla

Cycling adventures in France from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean

After cycling a section of the Spanish Meseta on mountain bikes, we arranged to rent cruising bikes for France. Our next goal? …. To transverse France via the Canal des Deux Mers. This waterway, also known as the Canal of Two Seas, connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea by way of two man made canals. Our adventure will begin in Bordeaux France as we head southeast toward the Mediterranean.

~ Marla

A cycling journey on the Camino de Santiago

The Spanish Meseta is a section of the Camino France that lies between Lagrano and Astorga, Spain. This central plateau is considered the “Spanish Heartland” in Spain’s Castile region. It is known for its flat dry areas and lack of shade. It is also known to pilgrims as a place for quiet reflection while crossing this area. The Meseta is approximately 200km or 8 stages.

~ Marla

Traveling from Santiago to Morocco with an Andalusian twist

Allan and I had just completed our hike on the Portuguese Camino when we decided to explore the Andalusian region of Spain.  In order to do so we limited our time in Santiago and purchased train passes southeast. Our first stop would be in Madrid. From there we would head south to Seville and Malaga …… and on a whim Morocco!

~ Marla

Hiking the Portuguese Camino

The Portuguese Camino is one of many pilgrimage routes that cross through Europe to converge in Santiago de Compostela, the presumed burial site of the Apostle St. James. This Camino traditionally begins in Lisbon which continues north into Spain with a distance of approximately 610 km. Due to limited time we instead began the “Portuguese Way” in Porto where we had a choice of one of two routes, both a distance of approximately 227 km. We decided on the inland path known as the “Central Way” versus hiking along the “Camino da Costa” on Portugal’s coast. At the time we believed it to be better signed, but after comparing notes with some coastal walkers we learned both routes were well marked and fairly easy hikes.

~ Marla

Hiking across Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela

El Camino de Santiago or The Way of Saint James is a pilgrimage across northern Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino has existed for well over a thousand years. The Way of Saint James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the medieval times. Legend has it that the remains of Saint James lie at the Cathedral in Santiago Spain. There is evidence of a pre-Christian route as well.  El Camino de Santiago is now considered a main European cultural route as well as a World Heritage site. Other major pilgrimages include the Via Francigena toward Rome to the Tomb of Saint Peter and the pilgrimage route to Jerusalem which leads to the Holy Sepulcher of Christ.

~ Marla