The Plan - Colleen's Post

Only one month until we head out...it is really still unbelievable to both Chuck and I that this is going to happen.  We've been planning this since Kenna was born - 1999!  Both Chuck and I received 6 month unpaid leaves from our employers (thank you Interior Health) and the inheritance from good old Uncle Per made it all possible.  We have done our homework - we know which countries we want to visit and what we would like to see so we have a general plan but we are keeping it flexible.  The plan is...

• Indonesia - Bali and Gili Trawenga for 3 weeks  - with my sister and her family - Karen, Tom and son Jordan.  Beach, snorkeling, yoga, temples, volcanoes, dancing, carving, cooking lessons, and giving out the 14 soccer balls Cole got for his birthday . 

Australia - Sydney and Brisbane and surrounding areas for about a month - visit with Chuck's brother Peter and his wife Gail.  Beach, koalas, kangaroos, Aussie Rules football, fossiking, and snorkeling.

• Vietnam - for about 4 - 6 weeks - we will be visiting the new Gibbon rehabilitation centre in the jungle as well as temples, beaches, eating pho and shopping for tailored clothes (Kenna can hardly wait for the clothes shopping!).

• Cambodia - about 2 weeks.  Temple gawking in Angkor Wat, eating fried tarantulas (uggh), and boat cruising.

• Nepal - a few weeks for some trekking.  We are waiting to see how the kids are doing before we make a decision on this one as we don't want to overwhelm them and hear from them - 'are we there yet?' for 10 days of trekking.

• India - 1 to 4 weeks.  I can hardly wait for India but am wondering if it will be too much for the kids.  Plan to see Delhi, Taj Mahal, and then beaches if it all works out.

• Myanmar (Burma) - 2 to 3 weeks.  Save the best for last!!  This is my #1 destination.  I plan to stand outside of Aung San Suu Kyi's house and drink it all in.  This is an amazing time to visit the country as it struggles towards democracy.  What a history lesson for all of us.  We tried to visit Burma 20+ years ago but the restrictions were too tight for us to manage so here we are years later trying again - I guess some times you just have to be patient!

• Hong Kong - 5 days to fill up our backpacks with Christmas presents!

 

 Colleen