M's Big Bad Bangin Chili Recipe

     This blog has MOVED! Check out https://adventuresoffoxintheforest.wordpress.com/ for more adventure and travel ideas!
   
 Fall/winter is one of my favorite cooking seasons for one main reason...crock pot recipes. I'm the kinda gal who can mow down on some chili any time of the year, but there is something special about chili in the cold or during a (Boncos) tailgate. I've included some great substitutions for this basic of all recipes. This one can also easily become paleo perfect as well. Feel free to expand and add your own flavor. Nervous? Just do what feels right...and ya - that's what she said.

These are super detailed instructions - for good reason. If you've never cooked before I promise you that you will be able to make a kick ass chili in several different ways after reading this post.

Recipe after the break

     This blog has MOVED! Check out https://adventuresoffoxintheforest.wordpress.com/ for more adventure and travel ideas!
   
 Fall/winter is one of my favorite cooking seasons for one main reason...crock pot recipes. I'm the kinda gal who can mow down on some chili any time of the year, but there is something special about chili in the cold or during a (Boncos) tailgate. I've included some great substitutions for this basic of all recipes. This one can also easily become paleo perfect as well. Feel free to expand and add your own flavor. Nervous? Just do what feels right...and ya - that's what she said.

These are super detailed instructions - for good reason. If you've never cooked before I promise you that you will be able to make a kick ass chili in several different ways after reading this post.

Recipe after the break

     This blog has MOVED! Check out https://adventuresoffoxintheforest.wordpress.com/ for more adventure and travel ideas!
   
 Fall/winter is one of my favorite cooking seasons for one main reason...crock pot recipes. I'm the kinda gal who can mow down on some chili any time of the year, but there is something special about chili in the cold or during a (Boncos) tailgate. I've included some great substitutions for this basic of all recipes. This one can also easily become paleo perfect as well. Feel free to expand and add your own flavor. Nervous? Just do what feels right...and ya - that's what she said.

These are super detailed instructions - for good reason. If you've never cooked before I promise you that you will be able to make a kick ass chili in several different ways after reading this post.

Recipe after the break

     This blog has MOVED! Check out https://adventuresoffoxintheforest.wordpress.com/ for more adventure and travel ideas!
   
 Fall/winter is one of my favorite cooking seasons for one main reason...crock pot recipes. I'm the kinda gal who can mow down on some chili any time of the year, but there is something special about chili in the cold or during a (Boncos) tailgate. I've included some great substitutions for this basic of all recipes. This one can also easily become paleo perfect as well. Feel free to expand and add your own flavor. Nervous? Just do what feels right...and ya - that's what she said.

These are super detailed instructions - for good reason. If you've never cooked before I promise you that you will be able to make a kick ass chili in several different ways after reading this post.

Recipe after the break

Gift Ideas for the Cook of the House

     As many of you already know, I am a food lover. I believe that food is a great unifier and if you have a kitchen, you have the ability to eat well regardless of income. How? Well giving your food a little TLC goes a long way. When people tell me they can't cook, I believe there is no excuse. Honestly, all you have to do is follow directions and actually give a damn about what you are doing. Sure, there are days when I sloppily put something together, who doesn't? It's no excuse for not knowing how to cook...everyone has the capacity to know how to cook.

     Before I continue to rant on and on, the purpose of this post was to list a few of my favorite cook books that are good for any level of chef-to-be. All of these make great gift ideas whether it be for the food enthusiast, or someone who you know that desperately needs to make an effort.

List after the break

     As many of you already know, I am a food lover. I believe that food is a great unifier and if you have a kitchen, you have the ability to eat well regardless of income. How? Well giving your food a little TLC goes a long way. When people tell me they can't cook, I believe there is no excuse. Honestly, all you have to do is follow directions and actually give a damn about what you are doing. Sure, there are days when I sloppily put something together, who doesn't? It's no excuse for not knowing how to cook...everyone has the capacity to know how to cook.

     Before I continue to rant on and on, the purpose of this post was to list a few of my favorite cook books that are good for any level of chef-to-be. All of these make great gift ideas whether it be for the food enthusiast, or someone who you know that desperately needs to make an effort.

List after the break

     As many of you already know, I am a food lover. I believe that food is a great unifier and if you have a kitchen, you have the ability to eat well regardless of income. How? Well giving your food a little TLC goes a long way. When people tell me they can't cook, I believe there is no excuse. Honestly, all you have to do is follow directions and actually give a damn about what you are doing. Sure, there are days when I sloppily put something together, who doesn't? It's no excuse for not knowing how to cook...everyone has the capacity to know how to cook.

     Before I continue to rant on and on, the purpose of this post was to list a few of my favorite cook books that are good for any level of chef-to-be. All of these make great gift ideas whether it be for the food enthusiast, or someone who you know that desperately needs to make an effort.

List after the break

     As many of you already know, I am a food lover. I believe that food is a great unifier and if you have a kitchen, you have the ability to eat well regardless of income. How? Well giving your food a little TLC goes a long way. When people tell me they can't cook, I believe there is no excuse. Honestly, all you have to do is follow directions and actually give a damn about what you are doing. Sure, there are days when I sloppily put something together, who doesn't? It's no excuse for not knowing how to cook...everyone has the capacity to know how to cook.

     Before I continue to rant on and on, the purpose of this post was to list a few of my favorite cook books that are good for any level of chef-to-be. All of these make great gift ideas whether it be for the food enthusiast, or someone who you know that desperately needs to make an effort.

List after the break

DIY Obsession

     After coming to the realization that I won't be going on any 6 week epic trips anytime soon, I thought I would start writing about other things I am up to. Without jumping on the soap box too much, I'm a strong proponent of DIY. Honestly anyone can do such things if they want to, and the result is something more unique than anything you can find in the store; in fact, it's often times better. Since I have a lot of time on my hands (only so long one can troll the internet and harass contacts for work) I've gotten back into making things. Ah the idle hands of the architecture student can only go un-used for so long. Sounds kinda dirty, but you get what I mean.

     Hopefully I can inspire some of you as well. Re-use is easy, simply take something that is still useful, but you may not use and find a better use for it. In the case of jewelry deconstruct it and use your favorite pieces elsewhere, if it's an old candle, buy some new wicks and melt down the rest of it and re-use it (just don't make some of the mistakes I've made, described below).

     My current obsession has been wrapping things. Wrapping things quickly re-vamps things or add an extra something to a new project and it's easy to do, making it a perfect beginner project. The actual process can seem somewhat tedious, but you can just put on some of your favorite tunes or a TV show to help you pass the time. I have lots of hemp and embroidery floss left over from my friendship bracelet days, and my mom has an extensive under-used collection that I've happily taken advantage of.

A few examples of some projects after the break!

     After coming to the realization that I won't be going on any 6 week epic trips anytime soon, I thought I would start writing about other things I am up to. Without jumping on the soap box too much, I'm a strong proponent of DIY. Honestly anyone can do such things if they want to, and the result is something more unique than anything you can find in the store; in fact, it's often times better. Since I have a lot of time on my hands (only so long one can troll the internet and harass contacts for work) I've gotten back into making things. Ah the idle hands of the architecture student can only go un-used for so long. Sounds kinda dirty, but you get what I mean.

     Hopefully I can inspire some of you as well. Re-use is easy, simply take something that is still useful, but you may not use and find a better use for it. In the case of jewelry deconstruct it and use your favorite pieces elsewhere, if it's an old candle, buy some new wicks and melt down the rest of it and re-use it (just don't make some of the mistakes I've made, described below).

     My current obsession has been wrapping things. Wrapping things quickly re-vamps things or add an extra something to a new project and it's easy to do, making it a perfect beginner project. The actual process can seem somewhat tedious, but you can just put on some of your favorite tunes or a TV show to help you pass the time. I have lots of hemp and embroidery floss left over from my friendship bracelet days, and my mom has an extensive under-used collection that I've happily taken advantage of.

A few examples of some projects after the break!

     After coming to the realization that I won't be going on any 6 week epic trips anytime soon, I thought I would start writing about other things I am up to. Without jumping on the soap box too much, I'm a strong proponent of DIY. Honestly anyone can do such things if they want to, and the result is something more unique than anything you can find in the store; in fact, it's often times better. Since I have a lot of time on my hands (only so long one can troll the internet and harass contacts for work) I've gotten back into making things. Ah the idle hands of the architecture student can only go un-used for so long. Sounds kinda dirty, but you get what I mean.

     Hopefully I can inspire some of you as well. Re-use is easy, simply take something that is still useful, but you may not use and find a better use for it. In the case of jewelry deconstruct it and use your favorite pieces elsewhere, if it's an old candle, buy some new wicks and melt down the rest of it and re-use it (just don't make some of the mistakes I've made, described below).

     My current obsession has been wrapping things. Wrapping things quickly re-vamps things or add an extra something to a new project and it's easy to do, making it a perfect beginner project. The actual process can seem somewhat tedious, but you can just put on some of your favorite tunes or a TV show to help you pass the time. I have lots of hemp and embroidery floss left over from my friendship bracelet days, and my mom has an extensive under-used collection that I've happily taken advantage of.

A few examples of some projects after the break!

     After coming to the realization that I won't be going on any 6 week epic trips anytime soon, I thought I would start writing about other things I am up to. Without jumping on the soap box too much, I'm a strong proponent of DIY. Honestly anyone can do such things if they want to, and the result is something more unique than anything you can find in the store; in fact, it's often times better. Since I have a lot of time on my hands (only so long one can troll the internet and harass contacts for work) I've gotten back into making things. Ah the idle hands of the architecture student can only go un-used for so long. Sounds kinda dirty, but you get what I mean.

     Hopefully I can inspire some of you as well. Re-use is easy, simply take something that is still useful, but you may not use and find a better use for it. In the case of jewelry deconstruct it and use your favorite pieces elsewhere, if it's an old candle, buy some new wicks and melt down the rest of it and re-use it (just don't make some of the mistakes I've made, described below).

     My current obsession has been wrapping things. Wrapping things quickly re-vamps things or add an extra something to a new project and it's easy to do, making it a perfect beginner project. The actual process can seem somewhat tedious, but you can just put on some of your favorite tunes or a TV show to help you pass the time. I have lots of hemp and embroidery floss left over from my friendship bracelet days, and my mom has an extensive under-used collection that I've happily taken advantage of.

A few examples of some projects after the break!

Groove, Jams, ADD, COOKIES!!!

    Well, my finger is healing up nicely, thanks for asking. However, I have recently encountered another problem. Working out while recovering from a cold/mangled digit. In fact, I was much looking forward to getting back to my routine at L'Ru Studios. I was going to buy classes with my newfound birthday money until last Friday happened. Instead I am stuck with a very limited amount of movement make it difficult to even visit the gym upstairs. Oh, but fear not my friends, I didn't sign up to be in the creative industry for nothing...

   When a practical solution doesn't exist, invent one. I have been battling ADD most of my life - oh....look at the sky!! - making things like housework nearly unbearable without some type of distraction, namely music. While MB studied for the bar, this habit translated over to cooking as well; replacing the "family-friendly" cooking conversation into a full fledged dance party complete with headphones.

   Today I spent the day baking various things and cleaning the house - wifey I know. While I'd love to go on about the awesomeness of my oatmeal cookies (recipe found here) I think I'll share some tracks that are essential for what I like to call cook-aerobics-fantasmic-dance-off. NOTE: if you have hard wood floors socks are highly encouraged...the more slide in your step the better.

    I fully endorse any shameless music choices found beyond the break. I spit on musical elitists because I can, I used to be one. Everyone is entitled to their own playlist and anyone who pretends to be above anyone else always has skeletons hidden in their iTunes...don't kid yourselves.

Thank me later....more after the break.

    Well, my finger is healing up nicely, thanks for asking. However, I have recently encountered another problem. Working out while recovering from a cold/mangled digit. In fact, I was much looking forward to getting back to my routine at L'Ru Studios. I was going to buy classes with my newfound birthday money until last Friday happened. Instead I am stuck with a very limited amount of movement make it difficult to even visit the gym upstairs. Oh, but fear not my friends, I didn't sign up to be in the creative industry for nothing...

   When a practical solution doesn't exist, invent one. I have been battling ADD most of my life - oh....look at the sky!! - making things like housework nearly unbearable without some type of distraction, namely music. While MB studied for the bar, this habit translated over to cooking as well; replacing the "family-friendly" cooking conversation into a full fledged dance party complete with headphones.

   Today I spent the day baking various things and cleaning the house - wifey I know. While I'd love to go on about the awesomeness of my oatmeal cookies (recipe found here) I think I'll share some tracks that are essential for what I like to call cook-aerobics-fantasmic-dance-off. NOTE: if you have hard wood floors socks are highly encouraged...the more slide in your step the better.

    I fully endorse any shameless music choices found beyond the break. I spit on musical elitists because I can, I used to be one. Everyone is entitled to their own playlist and anyone who pretends to be above anyone else always has skeletons hidden in their iTunes...don't kid yourselves.

Thank me later....more after the break.

    Well, my finger is healing up nicely, thanks for asking. However, I have recently encountered another problem. Working out while recovering from a cold/mangled digit. In fact, I was much looking forward to getting back to my routine at L'Ru Studios. I was going to buy classes with my newfound birthday money until last Friday happened. Instead I am stuck with a very limited amount of movement make it difficult to even visit the gym upstairs. Oh, but fear not my friends, I didn't sign up to be in the creative industry for nothing...

   When a practical solution doesn't exist, invent one. I have been battling ADD most of my life - oh....look at the sky!! - making things like housework nearly unbearable without some type of distraction, namely music. While MB studied for the bar, this habit translated over to cooking as well; replacing the "family-friendly" cooking conversation into a full fledged dance party complete with headphones.

   Today I spent the day baking various things and cleaning the house - wifey I know. While I'd love to go on about the awesomeness of my oatmeal cookies (recipe found here) I think I'll share some tracks that are essential for what I like to call cook-aerobics-fantasmic-dance-off. NOTE: if you have hard wood floors socks are highly encouraged...the more slide in your step the better.

    I fully endorse any shameless music choices found beyond the break. I spit on musical elitists because I can, I used to be one. Everyone is entitled to their own playlist and anyone who pretends to be above anyone else always has skeletons hidden in their iTunes...don't kid yourselves.

Thank me later....more after the break.

    Well, my finger is healing up nicely, thanks for asking. However, I have recently encountered another problem. Working out while recovering from a cold/mangled digit. In fact, I was much looking forward to getting back to my routine at L'Ru Studios. I was going to buy classes with my newfound birthday money until last Friday happened. Instead I am stuck with a very limited amount of movement make it difficult to even visit the gym upstairs. Oh, but fear not my friends, I didn't sign up to be in the creative industry for nothing...

   When a practical solution doesn't exist, invent one. I have been battling ADD most of my life - oh....look at the sky!! - making things like housework nearly unbearable without some type of distraction, namely music. While MB studied for the bar, this habit translated over to cooking as well; replacing the "family-friendly" cooking conversation into a full fledged dance party complete with headphones.

   Today I spent the day baking various things and cleaning the house - wifey I know. While I'd love to go on about the awesomeness of my oatmeal cookies (recipe found here) I think I'll share some tracks that are essential for what I like to call cook-aerobics-fantasmic-dance-off. NOTE: if you have hard wood floors socks are highly encouraged...the more slide in your step the better.

    I fully endorse any shameless music choices found beyond the break. I spit on musical elitists because I can, I used to be one. Everyone is entitled to their own playlist and anyone who pretends to be above anyone else always has skeletons hidden in their iTunes...don't kid yourselves.

Thank me later....more after the break.

Finger Socks

     Oh hello world. I am feeling oh so cheery today...mmmm sarcasm. I was thinking lately about a post on my recent travels, my refreshing visit to Kansas to visit my dear friend C whom you have all read about during my great Malaysian adventure. I was going to say something about how awesome it feels to see someone who you not only met across the world, but hails from yet another world and now inhabits your own country. Or perhaps I should blog about turning another year older and how I have this false feeling, at the ripe age of 26, of getting old. Maybe even talk about the "awesome" celebration I had...which didn't exist because I spent the day delusional and sick in bed. During that discussion of bodily illness I could just divulge in how I had to run home and take care of my dog that now is on an uber-expensive diet because she could develop bladder stones. No...that doesn't seem to fit either.

    Needless to say, this week was not kind to me. Oh no not at all. Granted, I know my little complaints are nothing compared to what a majority of the population faces every day. However, I wouldn't call being sick on one's birthday, dealing with an ailing pet, or visiting a good friend don't really fall under the umbrella of 'first world problems.' I would consider these things more universal in nature. Now that I've gotten them out there on the "cloud" one would think it would be time to close this post. Boy do I hate the word "cloud" it makes the internet feel quite douchey to be honest. Ah, I digress, yet again, I am really going to write about this fine Friday morning/afternoon. Because there is quite the tale to tell...behold: The Tale of the Exploding Lightbulb.

     Oh hello world. I am feeling oh so cheery today...mmmm sarcasm. I was thinking lately about a post on my recent travels, my refreshing visit to Kansas to visit my dear friend C whom you have all read about during my great Malaysian adventure. I was going to say something about how awesome it feels to see someone who you not only met across the world, but hails from yet another world and now inhabits your own country. Or perhaps I should blog about turning another year older and how I have this false feeling, at the ripe age of 26, of getting old. Maybe even talk about the "awesome" celebration I had...which didn't exist because I spent the day delusional and sick in bed. During that discussion of bodily illness I could just divulge in how I had to run home and take care of my dog that now is on an uber-expensive diet because she could develop bladder stones. No...that doesn't seem to fit either.

    Needless to say, this week was not kind to me. Oh no not at all. Granted, I know my little complaints are nothing compared to what a majority of the population faces every day. However, I wouldn't call being sick on one's birthday, dealing with an ailing pet, or visiting a good friend don't really fall under the umbrella of 'first world problems.' I would consider these things more universal in nature. Now that I've gotten them out there on the "cloud" one would think it would be time to close this post. Boy do I hate the word "cloud" it makes the internet feel quite douchey to be honest. Ah, I digress, yet again, I am really going to write about this fine Friday morning/afternoon. Because there is quite the tale to tell...behold: The Tale of the Exploding Lightbulb.

     Oh hello world. I am feeling oh so cheery today...mmmm sarcasm. I was thinking lately about a post on my recent travels, my refreshing visit to Kansas to visit my dear friend C whom you have all read about during my great Malaysian adventure. I was going to say something about how awesome it feels to see someone who you not only met across the world, but hails from yet another world and now inhabits your own country. Or perhaps I should blog about turning another year older and how I have this false feeling, at the ripe age of 26, of getting old. Maybe even talk about the "awesome" celebration I had...which didn't exist because I spent the day delusional and sick in bed. During that discussion of bodily illness I could just divulge in how I had to run home and take care of my dog that now is on an uber-expensive diet because she could develop bladder stones. No...that doesn't seem to fit either.

    Needless to say, this week was not kind to me. Oh no not at all. Granted, I know my little complaints are nothing compared to what a majority of the population faces every day. However, I wouldn't call being sick on one's birthday, dealing with an ailing pet, or visiting a good friend don't really fall under the umbrella of 'first world problems.' I would consider these things more universal in nature. Now that I've gotten them out there on the "cloud" one would think it would be time to close this post. Boy do I hate the word "cloud" it makes the internet feel quite douchey to be honest. Ah, I digress, yet again, I am really going to write about this fine Friday morning/afternoon. Because there is quite the tale to tell...behold: The Tale of the Exploding Lightbulb.

     Oh hello world. I am feeling oh so cheery today...mmmm sarcasm. I was thinking lately about a post on my recent travels, my refreshing visit to Kansas to visit my dear friend C whom you have all read about during my great Malaysian adventure. I was going to say something about how awesome it feels to see someone who you not only met across the world, but hails from yet another world and now inhabits your own country. Or perhaps I should blog about turning another year older and how I have this false feeling, at the ripe age of 26, of getting old. Maybe even talk about the "awesome" celebration I had...which didn't exist because I spent the day delusional and sick in bed. During that discussion of bodily illness I could just divulge in how I had to run home and take care of my dog that now is on an uber-expensive diet because she could develop bladder stones. No...that doesn't seem to fit either.

    Needless to say, this week was not kind to me. Oh no not at all. Granted, I know my little complaints are nothing compared to what a majority of the population faces every day. However, I wouldn't call being sick on one's birthday, dealing with an ailing pet, or visiting a good friend don't really fall under the umbrella of 'first world problems.' I would consider these things more universal in nature. Now that I've gotten them out there on the "cloud" one would think it would be time to close this post. Boy do I hate the word "cloud" it makes the internet feel quite douchey to be honest. Ah, I digress, yet again, I am really going to write about this fine Friday morning/afternoon. Because there is quite the tale to tell...behold: The Tale of the Exploding Lightbulb.

Funemployment Adventures

     Well I suppose I would like to think I am going on adventures, but alas, life has caught up with me and it is time to get back to business. There is really nothing too 'fun' about funemployment, now that my money has dwindled down to a few pennies and my travel days are over. However, I've chosen to use the word in order to make what is going to be inevitably painful less so.

     Well I suppose I would like to think I am going on adventures, but alas, life has caught up with me and it is time to get back to business. There is really nothing too 'fun' about funemployment, now that my money has dwindled down to a few pennies and my travel days are over. However, I've chosen to use the word in order to make what is going to be inevitably painful less so.

     Well I suppose I would like to think I am going on adventures, but alas, life has caught up with me and it is time to get back to business. There is really nothing too 'fun' about funemployment, now that my money has dwindled down to a few pennies and my travel days are over. However, I've chosen to use the word in order to make what is going to be inevitably painful less so.

     Well I suppose I would like to think I am going on adventures, but alas, life has caught up with me and it is time to get back to business. There is really nothing too 'fun' about funemployment, now that my money has dwindled down to a few pennies and my travel days are over. However, I've chosen to use the word in order to make what is going to be inevitably painful less so.

A few notes post-Asia adventure

     We are finally back on some type of normal schedule. Our current HQ is at my folk's house in Tahoe and we've been here for about a week. Aside from re-teaching our bodies the difference between night and day, we've also been trolling the internet for a place to live back in Denver. I had figured we would be getting ready to leave for good at this point, but alas, a buyer's market means us renters have to put in some extra hours in the housing hunt. We'll be visiting Denver to look at places mid next week. Aside from mission-housing, I came down with a mild cold. Sweet...

     The initial culture shock wasn't anything to write home about. I don't really think we were gone long enough, or the 24hrs of layovers in a comparatively tame Singapore and Hong Kong made the transition back to the west a bit easier. Either that or I'm just not fazed by anything anymore.

     Before I get into the meat of this post, I'd like to give some monetary logistics out there for anyone who may be following this blog and plans on doing a similar trip. All in all, from leaving Tahoe to arriving back 43 days later the trip costed around $3K USD. Airfare was a significant chunk, taking up about 2/3 of the cost. Almost 1/3 of that was the trans-world flight. Food, lodging, activities, overland transport, drinking, and shopping cost around $1250 USD each for 6 weeks. We splurged minimally, and in comparison to US prices, didn't splurge at all. In terms of lodging, we didn't stay in complete shit holes or shared dorms (usually between $10-15), but we never paid over $30 a night either (and $30 was expensive!). Keep in mind that this route involved a significant amount of island hopping where 99% of the time a ferry was simply unavailable or completely un-economical in terms of time. If we had stuck to the more traditional overland routes (ie gone to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia) the cost could have been lower. However, the other factor that kept us using flights is time. It takes a LOT of time to get around in some of these places, especially if roads aren't in the best condition or if it's anywhere close to monsoon season. For example, the route from Denpasar, Bali to Jogjakarta, Indonesia is roughly 370 miles. Tack on a few more if you just look at roads, so to be fair let's say 450 miles. This is about 90 miles over the distance between where I used to live in Los Angeles and where my parents live in Lake Tahoe. That journey, let's say on a snowy day where there is road trouble, can take anywhere between 10 to 12 hours. In Indonesia that distance takes about 24 hours of actual travel time (excluding overnights and 'layovers'). Keep in mind that Bali doesn't have awful roads, and Java's roads and train systems are significantly better than one would expect. The difference is the speed limit, public transport's affinity for countless stops, and never really running on any type of schedule that makes travel particularly difficult. If you have the money or are sick of 'adventure,' just book a tourist bus between places as they tend to stop less, but keep in mind you will be overcharged way over 200% of what it could cost, which, over time, will add up quickly.

     So let's get on with it...here is yet another list post on the highlights...and not-my-favorite moments of the trip...after the break of course!

     We are finally back on some type of normal schedule. Our current HQ is at my folk's house in Tahoe and we've been here for about a week. Aside from re-teaching our bodies the difference between night and day, we've also been trolling the internet for a place to live back in Denver. I had figured we would be getting ready to leave for good at this point, but alas, a buyer's market means us renters have to put in some extra hours in the housing hunt. We'll be visiting Denver to look at places mid next week. Aside from mission-housing, I came down with a mild cold. Sweet...

     The initial culture shock wasn't anything to write home about. I don't really think we were gone long enough, or the 24hrs of layovers in a comparatively tame Singapore and Hong Kong made the transition back to the west a bit easier. Either that or I'm just not fazed by anything anymore.

     Before I get into the meat of this post, I'd like to give some monetary logistics out there for anyone who may be following this blog and plans on doing a similar trip. All in all, from leaving Tahoe to arriving back 43 days later the trip costed around $3K USD. Airfare was a significant chunk, taking up about 2/3 of the cost. Almost 1/3 of that was the trans-world flight. Food, lodging, activities, overland transport, drinking, and shopping cost around $1250 USD each for 6 weeks. We splurged minimally, and in comparison to US prices, didn't splurge at all. In terms of lodging, we didn't stay in complete shit holes or shared dorms (usually between $10-15), but we never paid over $30 a night either (and $30 was expensive!). Keep in mind that this route involved a significant amount of island hopping where 99% of the time a ferry was simply unavailable or completely un-economical in terms of time. If we had stuck to the more traditional overland routes (ie gone to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia) the cost could have been lower. However, the other factor that kept us using flights is time. It takes a LOT of time to get around in some of these places, especially if roads aren't in the best condition or if it's anywhere close to monsoon season. For example, the route from Denpasar, Bali to Jogjakarta, Indonesia is roughly 370 miles. Tack on a few more if you just look at roads, so to be fair let's say 450 miles. This is about 90 miles over the distance between where I used to live in Los Angeles and where my parents live in Lake Tahoe. That journey, let's say on a snowy day where there is road trouble, can take anywhere between 10 to 12 hours. In Indonesia that distance takes about 24 hours of actual travel time (excluding overnights and 'layovers'). Keep in mind that Bali doesn't have awful roads, and Java's roads and train systems are significantly better than one would expect. The difference is the speed limit, public transport's affinity for countless stops, and never really running on any type of schedule that makes travel particularly difficult. If you have the money or are sick of 'adventure,' just book a tourist bus between places as they tend to stop less, but keep in mind you will be overcharged way over 200% of what it could cost, which, over time, will add up quickly.

     So let's get on with it...here is yet another list post on the highlights...and not-my-favorite moments of the trip...after the break of course!

     We are finally back on some type of normal schedule. Our current HQ is at my folk's house in Tahoe and we've been here for about a week. Aside from re-teaching our bodies the difference between night and day, we've also been trolling the internet for a place to live back in Denver. I had figured we would be getting ready to leave for good at this point, but alas, a buyer's market means us renters have to put in some extra hours in the housing hunt. We'll be visiting Denver to look at places mid next week. Aside from mission-housing, I came down with a mild cold. Sweet...

     The initial culture shock wasn't anything to write home about. I don't really think we were gone long enough, or the 24hrs of layovers in a comparatively tame Singapore and Hong Kong made the transition back to the west a bit easier. Either that or I'm just not fazed by anything anymore.

     Before I get into the meat of this post, I'd like to give some monetary logistics out there for anyone who may be following this blog and plans on doing a similar trip. All in all, from leaving Tahoe to arriving back 43 days later the trip costed around $3K USD. Airfare was a significant chunk, taking up about 2/3 of the cost. Almost 1/3 of that was the trans-world flight. Food, lodging, activities, overland transport, drinking, and shopping cost around $1250 USD each for 6 weeks. We splurged minimally, and in comparison to US prices, didn't splurge at all. In terms of lodging, we didn't stay in complete shit holes or shared dorms (usually between $10-15), but we never paid over $30 a night either (and $30 was expensive!). Keep in mind that this route involved a significant amount of island hopping where 99% of the time a ferry was simply unavailable or completely un-economical in terms of time. If we had stuck to the more traditional overland routes (ie gone to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia) the cost could have been lower. However, the other factor that kept us using flights is time. It takes a LOT of time to get around in some of these places, especially if roads aren't in the best condition or if it's anywhere close to monsoon season. For example, the route from Denpasar, Bali to Jogjakarta, Indonesia is roughly 370 miles. Tack on a few more if you just look at roads, so to be fair let's say 450 miles. This is about 90 miles over the distance between where I used to live in Los Angeles and where my parents live in Lake Tahoe. That journey, let's say on a snowy day where there is road trouble, can take anywhere between 10 to 12 hours. In Indonesia that distance takes about 24 hours of actual travel time (excluding overnights and 'layovers'). Keep in mind that Bali doesn't have awful roads, and Java's roads and train systems are significantly better than one would expect. The difference is the speed limit, public transport's affinity for countless stops, and never really running on any type of schedule that makes travel particularly difficult. If you have the money or are sick of 'adventure,' just book a tourist bus between places as they tend to stop less, but keep in mind you will be overcharged way over 200% of what it could cost, which, over time, will add up quickly.

     So let's get on with it...here is yet another list post on the highlights...and not-my-favorite moments of the trip...after the break of course!

     We are finally back on some type of normal schedule. Our current HQ is at my folk's house in Tahoe and we've been here for about a week. Aside from re-teaching our bodies the difference between night and day, we've also been trolling the internet for a place to live back in Denver. I had figured we would be getting ready to leave for good at this point, but alas, a buyer's market means us renters have to put in some extra hours in the housing hunt. We'll be visiting Denver to look at places mid next week. Aside from mission-housing, I came down with a mild cold. Sweet...

     The initial culture shock wasn't anything to write home about. I don't really think we were gone long enough, or the 24hrs of layovers in a comparatively tame Singapore and Hong Kong made the transition back to the west a bit easier. Either that or I'm just not fazed by anything anymore.

     Before I get into the meat of this post, I'd like to give some monetary logistics out there for anyone who may be following this blog and plans on doing a similar trip. All in all, from leaving Tahoe to arriving back 43 days later the trip costed around $3K USD. Airfare was a significant chunk, taking up about 2/3 of the cost. Almost 1/3 of that was the trans-world flight. Food, lodging, activities, overland transport, drinking, and shopping cost around $1250 USD each for 6 weeks. We splurged minimally, and in comparison to US prices, didn't splurge at all. In terms of lodging, we didn't stay in complete shit holes or shared dorms (usually between $10-15), but we never paid over $30 a night either (and $30 was expensive!). Keep in mind that this route involved a significant amount of island hopping where 99% of the time a ferry was simply unavailable or completely un-economical in terms of time. If we had stuck to the more traditional overland routes (ie gone to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia) the cost could have been lower. However, the other factor that kept us using flights is time. It takes a LOT of time to get around in some of these places, especially if roads aren't in the best condition or if it's anywhere close to monsoon season. For example, the route from Denpasar, Bali to Jogjakarta, Indonesia is roughly 370 miles. Tack on a few more if you just look at roads, so to be fair let's say 450 miles. This is about 90 miles over the distance between where I used to live in Los Angeles and where my parents live in Lake Tahoe. That journey, let's say on a snowy day where there is road trouble, can take anywhere between 10 to 12 hours. In Indonesia that distance takes about 24 hours of actual travel time (excluding overnights and 'layovers'). Keep in mind that Bali doesn't have awful roads, and Java's roads and train systems are significantly better than one would expect. The difference is the speed limit, public transport's affinity for countless stops, and never really running on any type of schedule that makes travel particularly difficult. If you have the money or are sick of 'adventure,' just book a tourist bus between places as they tend to stop less, but keep in mind you will be overcharged way over 200% of what it could cost, which, over time, will add up quickly.

     So let's get on with it...here is yet another list post on the highlights...and not-my-favorite moments of the trip...after the break of course!