Travelin’ 

What do visits with family, drinking beer with 2,000 friends, and seeing Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, and Komodo Dragons have in common? They are all part of our next vacation! Cath and I are flying halfway around the world to visit New Zealand, Singapore, Borneo, and Indonesia.

 Honestly, we are doing too much in the time allotted, but when you fly that far, and aren’t sure when you will be back again, you do what you can.

 The trip starts in New Zealand, when we link up with Cathy’s sister Bonnie and our niece, Lana, for a little over a week on the North Island. They moved there last fall and we look forward to seeing them. It is only a short visit, but whenever the Sisters of No Mercy come together, you know it is going to be a blast.

 Then, after a long 10-hour flight for a short two day stop in Singapore, we head to Borneo. There we will go on “safari” and see Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, Flying Squirrels, Monkeys, Crocodiles, and a host of other bird and water life. Fortunately, headhunting disappeared from Borneo sometime during the 1900s. 

 Next up, we are joining a couple thousand of our closest friends from over 34 countries for the World Interhash in Prambanan-Mendut, Indonesia. Members of the Hash House Harriers (motto: beer drinkers with a running problem) from around the world are gathering for a few days of running, walking, eating, and beer drinking. The key: pace yourself in all activities. 😉

 For the final leg of the trip, we travel to the Indonesian Island of Labuan Bajo for a final few days of relaxation and recovery on a sailboat. In addition to (hopefully) seeing Komodo Dragons, wild boars, cockatoos, and other wildlife, we’ll do some snorkeling, and see the famed Pink Beach at Pantai Merah.

As I finish writing this blog, it is the night before our departure. Sometimes, I think the best part of a vacation is the day before you leave. The whole trip is stretched out in front of you. All of the anticipation and perfectness of it, before it actually begins.

We are psyched and look forward to leaving the madness of the world behind for a while. A little rest and recuperation never hurt anyone. Stay tuned for photos and maybe a post or two from the road. Or maybe not. The doing is always the best part.