Our Top Adventures in Asia

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In Six Days we will be in India.

This past week has been a whirlwind. While we thought that we were very well prepared, there is still so much to do to get ready for an extended trip.  Many things cannot be done until the last few days and we have been scrambling and out of control busy.  While it is drawing closer with every minute, it doesn’t even feel like in less than we week we will be on the other side of the world.  We are too worried about checking everything off of our long to do list.

So instead of complaining we want to share with all of you the adventures that we are most looking forward to in our upcoming travels.  To daydream about what we will be doing over the next few months is exciting and overwhelming.  We may be starting in India, but we have a lot of countries on our itinerary and we can’t wait to visit all of these destinations.

1. Mongolia

Riding a horse through the steps of Genghis Khan

Following the trail of Genghis Khan, we are so excited to ride a horse through his old stomping grounds.  To live as an nomad, riding from Yurt to Yurt is a long time dream of ours.  It is the number 1 adventure on our list, but you are going to have to wait until the end of the trip to hear all about it.

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2. China

Trekking the Great Wall

Trekking the Great Wall of China is on everyone’s bucket list and we are no exception.  We are hoping to visit and trek along some more remote portions of the wall and really explore the walls great history.

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3. India

Yoga Instructors Training Course

India is renowned for its yoga and we plan on taking a month long intensive to study and get ourselves back into shape.  What better way to kick off the trip than to put ourselves through an extreme physical workout.  Not only that, by the end of the month of 10 hour days, we will be certified instructors and be centred, at peace and ready to take on the next leg of our Asian Adventure.

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4. Nepal

Trek to Everest Base Camp

In 1996, we read Into Thin Air Into Thin Air by John Krakauer for the first time and we have wanted to visit Mount Everest Ever since.  There is one adventure that we want to make sure that we do while we are in Nepal and that is to trek to it’s Base Camp.  We just love climbing and trekking through mountain ranges.  There is something about pushing ourselves to our limits that makes us feel alive and to witness the beauty of the Annapurna Range is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

5. Mongolia

Safari in the Gobi Desert

There is something about a desert.  In the most barren of places is where we feel the most alive and find true beauty.  The Gobi Desert in Mongolia is a place of legend and an important stop on the Silk Road.

Can you imagine finding a herd of the rare camels that were featured on Planet Earth with your own two eyes.  We hope that we have that chance.

6. India

Camel Trek – Rajasthan

My friend Angie was in India a couple of years ago and fell in love with the poor misunderstood camel.  One thing that we are looking forward to is trekking through Rajastan on a camel ourselves.  We love camels too and we are looking forward to stepping back in time and living the life of a true Desert Nomad (for a couple of days anyway)

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7. India

White Water Rafting the Ganges

I know what you are thinking.  The Ganges? Why would you want to white water raft that dirty river?  Well up north in the Himalayas the Ganges is pristine and wild.  There is nothing more thrilling than riding rapids down an untamed river and to do it on this legendary body of water is a must for us!

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8. Sri Lanka

Mountain Biking in Sri Lanka

We love to cycle, but we really love to mountain bike.  It is one of our favorite hobbies and when we found out that Sri Lanka has excellent mountain biking, we added it to our list of adventures.  Ride through tea plantations, rubber trees, jungles and mountainous terrains.  This is going to be a blast checking out their trails.

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I know what else you are thinking, there are many other great things to see, like the Taj Mahal, Varanasi, The Three Gorges… the list can go on and on.  These are the adventures that we are looking forward to the most, but I am sure that we will change our list on a regular basis as we explore more, find out about other great things to do and meet other travelers that have experienced awesome travels.

For now, with the limited research and preparations that we have done for our trip, these are our favorite upcoming activities. We love to wing it and I am sure that we will end up off the beaten path traveling to a remote destination taking part in an obscure adventure that we hadn’t even thought of.  Will Dave be wrestling in Mongolia or will we find ourselves taking part in a Pilgrimage?…Most Likely. We just can’t wait to get this adventure started!

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Climbing Gunung Batur, Bali’s Volcano

I didn’t want to climb a volcano. One of my biggest fears is to be burnt alive by lava.  Ever since watching Volcano with Anne Heche and Tommy Lee Jones, I have visions of slowly burning alive. The way that guy from Fargo did during the scene in the subway.

As a matter a fact, Dave and I had a huge fight the night before. I was blaming with him for wanting to climb Gunung Batur even though I had said that I wanted to as well.  But I wouldn’t admit that I didn’t want to so I was just angry and he couldn’t understand why.  We had come to Bali for many things however, and climbing a volcano was one of them, so I wasn’t about to admit that I was chickening out.

As it turns out, Gunung Batur is not a frightening lava flowing volcano at all.  Yes, it is an active volcano, but you won’t see any lava fields flowing by  as you walk up the trail and you won’t have to worry or fear that you may tumble into molten lava.

I really should have done my research before we climbed and I would have known this.  Instead I lay awake all night fretting and waiting for our 2:00 am wake up call.

It seemed that I had just finally closed my eyes when our driver Anung, met us at our bungalow in Ubud.  He lifted my spirits with his warm smile and breakfasts in hand.  We hopped in the back seat of his shiny SUV and we drove in luxury eating our hard boiled eggs and fresh fruit.

I was pretty stressed out as we approached the base of the mountain and tried to hide it to no avail.  We stopped to get our permits to climb and then with a quick introduction to our guide Nyoman and armed with our boxed lunch, we were off by 4:00 am.

He set a fast pace and there was little talking as we hiked in the dark.  I didn’t enjoy myself at first as I still didn’t know what to expect. I had never seen a volcano before this climb, let alone climb on one.

We stopped to catch our breath.  Climbing a volcano is pretty tiring.  The black rock is loose and the slope is steep.  We had just climbed Mount Kinabalu in Borneo a few weeks earlier so I thought I would be a breeze after that, but I was breathing heavily all the way up.

You can see our video of the climb in our featured videos to the right

Everything ended up being fine and we made it to the lookout with more than enough time to catch the sunrise.  We found a nice spot in a shelter with benches to sit on even.  There were quite a few of us lined up side by side waiting for the sun to come up, and as soon as it crested the horizon we were armed and ready with our cameras and videos.

The sunrise was spectacular.  We were on the top of Bali and the sky was ablaze the sun rose over Lombok and Gunung Rinjani.  It was a slow rise and we had more than enough footage. By the time it was actually daylight we were frozen wrapped in our sarongs.  The climb was a sweaty one and to sit for an hour waiting in the cool and damp darkness took its toll.   The warmth of that sunrise couldn’t have come too soon and now that all of my fears had subsided, I couldn’t wait to move on to see the crater of Gunung Batur.

Our first stop was a deep hole in a cave where we watched a lot of steam rise from the depths of the earth.  Steam was everywhere and Nyoman told us that yearly sacrifices are held each year by the local villagers to appease the volcano Gods.  Live water buffalo, goats and chickens are ceemoniously dropped to their deaths.  This will hopefully stave off another eruption. I just felt bad for the animals and I imagined the sight of the poor buffalo being hoisted by rope and pulley over the deep crater.

Our oven for the Egg

We climbed on after sunrise to the rim of the newest eruption.  After cooking an egg in a steaming hole, yes, it is that hot that one can boil an egg, we went on to view the old lava flows and more smoking cones of sulpher. You could feel the heat all around you and steam rose from everywhere.

Vulcanologist’s are expecting Gunung III to go next and although they monitor regularly, you just never know when it will erupt.  All around you could see rocks that had been thrown into the air from the angry depths of the earth.  They left behind holes with gas spewing from within and I imagined being right there when it happened. There is potential for some serious injury if you happen to find yourself standing next to a spot that is ready to blow.

Steam Rising

I was amazed to think that people can comfortably build homes and businesses at the base of this still active mountain.  Earthquakes occur more frequently and there is a lot of activity.

We hiked through the morning on trails right along the craters edge.  The landscape changed drastically as we walked from black loose sand from the most recent eruption to lush green grass on the older craters.  You could see first hand the strength of Mother Nature, she can rebuild and thrive even after disaster.

Hiking on the Craters Edge

It ended up being a beautiful day. I walked and talked with Nyoman as Dave stopped regularly for photographs.  He was in his element as usual.

I am very glad to have sucked it up and climbed Gunung Batur. It wasn’t the big bad scary experience that I was expecting. It was an invigorating climb with spectacular views and a leisurely hike down to end in early afternoon.

Changing Landscapes

We said goodbye to Nyoman after tipping generously. He earned it.  At first he was quiet and probably didn’t know what to expect from us, but as the day went on we talked openly and frequently.  We talked about family and friends and life in Bali.  We enjoyed his company but knew full well that we would never see him again.  And it ended with a wave goodbye as we caught our air-conditioned van back to Ubud.

Tips for the Trek

1. Bring something warm to keep yourself warm while waiting for sunrise.

2. Book your trek in Ubud it is cheaper and always remember to haggle on the price.

3. Drink lots of Water.

4. Tip your guide. They work hard and make most of their money from your tips.

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Travel as a Couple,The Survival Guide

On The Nile River in Ethiopia

Traveling as a couple can be difficult. Many people will say that it can make or break a relationship.
Dave and I have traveled for months at a time together on several occasions, and we have always found that we bond even more while we are on the road. We influence and inspire each other to try new things.  We share in unique experiences and talk about them together for years to come.
We find that traveling as a couple has turned us into more well-rounded human beings than traveling alone. By keeping our minds open to each others suggestions, we end up exploring things that we never would have tried in the first place. And we end up liking things that we never thought possible.

That is not to say that being together 24/7 is easy, but we have found that if we follow a few of these simple rules, we can survive and thrive when we travel together as a couple.

Mud Baths, Nha Trang Vietnam

1) Compromise - This is our number one recommendation.  We have found that a lot of couples are not willing to do this on a short vacation or in their every day lives even. How will they survive and get along traveling for months at a time without compromise? It may sound stereotypical, but I have found that most couples are pretty much the same when it comes to what men like and women like. Men will normally go for the high adventure and sports related activities while women enjoy exploring culture, hitting the spa or shopping.  Well guess what, even Dave and I are the same way. I enjoy a good massage and great deals on clothes and hand bags and Dave loves jumping off of cliffs and catching waves.
Over the years however, we have both learned to enjoy both activities. We plan and discuss what each person wants to do, and then we compromise.  “I will do this if you will do that.”   We will go off and climb a mountain together and bond over the incredible experience. Our relationship is so much stronger because we have just survived something extraordinary together. Once we have done the crazy extreme adrenaline filled activity we celebrate by splurging on a nice hotel and massage to really relax and enjoy the moment.
When we first started traveling, I didn’t want to spend all of my time trekking through the jungle and Dave didn’t want to spend all of his time looking at local art. Now after several years of being on the road together, we both love it all.  I can’t wait to climb my next volcano, and Dave loves bartering with the toughest salesmen for the perfect deal.

Mount Kinabalu, Borneo

2) Communication – This really is the key to a surviving in a relationship at anytime. I think that the success of our relationship is how well we communicate. We never play mind games and we talk about everything.  People always point out how difficult it is for men to understand women and vice versa, but I can never understand why they think that.
Dave and I know exactly when the other one is angry or upset.  It is pretty easy to read each other.  Sure, we could play dumb and ignore the signs, but really, we are all open books if you pay attention.
Lets face it, we all react differently to situations and while one of you may be completely enjoying an experience, the other may be hating every minute of it. The key is to not ignore how the other person is feeling. If you are at a festival or religious ceremony that is maybe uncomfortable or upsetting to your spouse, make sure to be aware of that persons feelings even if you are completely fascinated by it.  If you talk about it, you will understand where they are coming from and be more sympathetic, while you can persuade them to enjoy the moment and accept that it is something different.  No matter what, that person will feel better because you took the time to listen, and like everything in life, by talking about things, they probably won’t be so uncomfortable or upset anymore.

If you ignore how each other feels however, you will both come out of it angry; One of you for feeling that the other person ruined the moment for you, and the other for thinking that you didn’t care about their feelings.  Just save yourself the hassle and communicate. Then you can move on.

Which is a perfect segue to my next point.

Canoeing in Algonquin Park, Canada

3) Be willing to fight – As a couple, if you can’t fight with each other, you can’t survive traveling together.  We have had some epic arguments on the road, but we get over them quickly.  Travel can be frustrating, exhausting and overwhelming.  You are stuck with each other for every single moment of it and when tensions run high, you only have each other to take it out on.  Sometimes you can simply be angry because you have been traveling for 24 hours and you are exhausted.  So you take out your frustrations on the nearest person, which just happens to be your husband.  Of course you are going to fight.  You will blame each other when things go wrong and you will get on each others nerves at times.

The biggest mistake you can make is holding it all in. It will make for a miserable experience.  Have the fight and get it over with, but then move on.  I remember once in Kanchanaburi, Thailand we couldn’t find the place that we wanted to stay at on the river.  We walked forever with our packs in the heat, and we eventually ended up on a lonely road lost in the middle of nowhere.  We were so mad at each other that we had to walk 100 metres apart.  We couldn’t stand to be around each other, but we had to keep each other in sight because we were lost. So we kept our distance and wallowed in our anger silently.  When we finally found our place and settled in, we said to each other, “I don’t feel like fighting anymore do you?” The answer was “No” of course and we went on with our day and had a great time.

Which brings us too…

Namibia, Staying in a hotel after Camping for too long.

4) Knowing each Others boundaries – It is good to know what is too much for one person.  Base jumping out of a hot air balloon is a little too much for me, and even Dave will draw the line at a facial or a manicure.  Don’t force something on each other when you know that there is no way the other is going to give in.  Compromise is one thing, but pushing each other beyond their comfort zone is another.  Over time, you will probably be able to get each other to try almost everything, but take baby steps at first.

When we first started traveling, it was difficult for Dave to get me into a budget hotel.  Now I have camped my way through Africa, I have no qualms with squatting in a pretty awful public toilet and hey, if the bed doesn’t come with sheets, well never fear, I have brought my trusty sarong along for just that occasion.  I was afraid of heights and freaked out doing my first abseil, but now I am an avid rock climber and have even summitted Kilimanjaro. Baby steps have eventually turned me into an extreme adventurer.
And as for Dave, well when we first started traveling, he didn’t care if we ever left Canada. He was fine with the odd vacation to the Caribbean where he could go Para Sailing or scuba diving to get his adrenaline fix. He used to care about cars, gadgets and toys but now, he is a minimalist because “you never know when you will be taking off again and stuffing everything into storage.”  He was a staple “meat and potato man”, but now he loves all exotic foods and the spicier, the better.  Culture, museums and religion? No way. It was sports, bars and beer.  But now he has been to over 30 countries and loves experiencing new festivals, checking out the hottest art gallery and loves observing religious festivals and exploring Pagoda’s, Churches and Stupas.

Now our last point for surviving your travels as a Couple…

Camping our way through Egypt

5) Do Things Together – We love to do everything together. We don’t go our separate ways for the day to do what each individual likes. So often we will come across people in our travels that have gone off without their spouse to fulfill their lifelong dream. I find this hard to understand. They are experiencing the most amazing time of their lives, without the one that they love, because they weren’t willing to try something new.  You will come back from an experience that has profoundly changed you, so how will you be able to relate to your spouse in the same way anymore?  Dave and I have a hard enough time relating to friends and family when we come back from months on the road, I couldn’t imagine trying to reconnect with him as well.  For me, it would be an impossible situation.

It is by doing things together that has made us who we are today.  I didn’t want to surf in Bali, it was Dave’s life long dream, not mine. I tend to be afraid of the water a little bit. But I did it with him and I am so glad that I did.  I had a great time and the feeling of standing up on that board was like no other.  Now I will surf again when the opportunity arises without question.  I am sure that if those people that stayed at home while their spouse was away would have gone along for the ride, they would have  loved the experience just as much.  They just needed to open their mind in the first place.

Travel can profoundly change a person, and to have the chance to change and grow with your spouse, can only strengthen the relationship and create an unshakable bond that will last forever.  If you follow these easy steps when traveling, your relationship will be able to survive any situation and you will come out of it as a happy and thriving couple that are the envy of all of your friends

At the Summit of Kilimanjaro, Together we made it!

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