Day 12– Transfer to the airport this morning for the short flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check in. Hanoi’s rich history is closely tied to French colonialism as well as the Chinese era, both evident in the city’s architecture, cuisine, and culture. You will have lunch at KOTO (Know One…
Hoi An Sunset
The sunset did not disappoint on our last day in Hoi An. This was shot from the beach, steps from the resort on Day 11.
Champa Kingdom
Day 11– Part 2: My Son, Champa Kingdom I’m so glad we signed up for this optional excursion (why wouldn’t we go?). Enjoy an optional half day trip to visit the capital and religious center of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An in a lush green valley, are dozens of…
Hoi An
Day 11– Part 1: Hoi An Central Market + Phuoc Kien Pagoda + Japanese Covered Bridge This was one of my favorite days. The markets in Hoi An are full of color and energy that bring life to the streets. There are tons of fresh produce, noodles and fish, not to mention many foods I’ve never seen before. It’s…
Hue & Hoi An
Day 10– Thank you Friendly Planet for doing the heavy lifting with the descriptions. I’m going to continue to chime in, in bold. The rest is all you: This morning, visit the walled Citadel containing the Imperial City, modeled on the Forbidden City of Beijing, and the Purple Forbidden City within, former home of the…
Hue at Night
View from our hotel room balcony in Hue. The morning light reveals a different tone– it will be the first image in the next post.
Da Nang, Hue & The Perfume River
Day 9– You will notice a break in the description below, with my casual thoughts included in bold. The rest of the description came from the Friendly Planet itinerary. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang on the coast of the South China Sea. I threw up on the plane…
Mekong Delta
Day 8- Part 2 Friendly Planet Itinerary: Continue to Cai Be and embark on a private cruise to the colorful Cai Be floating market. Transfer to smaller boats for a ride through the beautiful canals of Tan Phong island, and then enjoy lunch at Anh Kiet ancient house. Continue by boat to visit a handicraft…
Cao Dai Temple
Day 8– Part 1 This temple was so vibrant and beautiful, I needed to give it it’s own post. From the itinerary: Depart this morning for Cai Be, deep in the heart of the Mekong Delta. En route, stop at Cao Dai Temple to witness firsthand a fascinating fusion of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, native Vietnamese spiritualism,…
Cu Chi Tunnels
Day 7– Flying back in time to Spring 2013. More accurate itinerary, thanks to the folks at Friendly Planet: After breakfast, drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, begun by the Viet Minh in the 1940’s. The incredible network of tunnels once stretched for 210 miles and contained extensive Viet Cong infrastructure including tactical quarters, storage…
John Muir Trail
Six friends. 170 miles. Charged a bear. Avoided the plague. Pushed physical limitations. Experienced my first blister within a blister. Saw some of the most gorgeous wilderness in the world. We set out to tackle 220 miles of the John Muir Trail, which was unfortunately cut short due to the Rough Fire. Thank you Sarah for…
Backpacking to Upper Lewis Lake and Granite Dome in Emigrant Wilderness
Second annual backpacking trip up to Emigrant Wilderness for the 4th of July. Explored new territory off trail. Thank you to my 3 friends who got me through the first day. The elevation gain was not particularly kind to me. Thanks for your patience with me moving at the speed of an 80-year old grandma…
Blood Moon
Back in April, shot from my backyard.
Anza Borrego
While California is experiencing a terrible draught, we took an off-roading and camping adventure to the heart of the desert in Anza Borrego.
Siem Reap, Tonle Sap and Ho Chi Minh City
Made it to Day 6! Last day in Cambodia. First day in Vietnam. From the itinerary: Depart Siem Reap to visit Lake Tonle Sap, South East Asia’s largest freshwater lake. During the dry season the lake is roughly 2500 square kilometers, swelling to about 4 times its size during the wet season. Board a boat and…
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