Wander with us

Andrea has been given the opportunity to participate in a short study abroad/global exchange program in Bangkok, January through March of next year (2012). While this is a great opportunity for her it also allows me to return to Thailand for a few months and it also means the blog is about to become a little more active with updates from this next journey as well as catching up on this past year's travels.

In our years of living and traveling internationally we have come to realize some things that personify how and where we travel that we feel we are pretty good at including:

Living and being with local community – learning about and observing the issues of the day, the strengths and the challenges facing communities and countries.

Discovering hidden gems – locations, guest houses, people – you have to hold us back from exploring every forest trail, wandering down every narrow street wondering what we will find around the corner. Sometimes we find nothing very unusual. Sometimes we have stumbled upon the kindest of people and places that are just magical and leave us changed forever – a beautiful view for example, but sometimes it is a disturbing, heart breaking reminder of the conditions that many people live. Travel for us is not about avoiding those places that are different than what we may be used to. We believe it is always good to be exposed to the other – to how most of the world lives in dignity and beauty.

Doing this in such a way that is affordable and won’t break the bank but still finding places of rest and refreshment, surrounded by verdant views and vistas - places we are always just a little sad to leave. We look for tranquil settings even in the midst of big bustling cities, places of peace and renewal to rest, read, and enjoy time with each other.

We always want to come back from our wanderings as wiser people with a greater understanding of the world. We hope that our vision and understanding of the cultures and challenges facing the world will be expanded. And we hope to be refreshed and ready to return to life back home.

If this is your style, come wander with us.