Thailand
21 days in Thailand with Ottilie and Maxine.
Began our journey in Bangkok, visiting the notable temples and the Thai National Museum. Boarded a bus to Mae Sot and from there, hopped on a songthaew headed to Ban Tha Song Yang for a weeklong visit to Safe Haven Orphanage on the banks of the Moei River. Technically visited Myanmar, but only for a moment. Continued on to Chiang Mai for a week, visiting temples there and the nearby elephant sanctuary, before taking a train back to Bangkok and ultimately ending our travels in Phuket, kayaking around the islets of Phang Nga Bay.
South Dakota
3 day visit with Michelle in South Dakota's Black Hills region
Flew Allegiant Airlines from Mesa to Rapid City, then traveled to home base in Spearfish. Spent the weekend visiting Mount Rushmore, historic Deadwood, Black Hills National Park's many lakes, forests, and prairies, Wyoming's Devils Tower, and capped the trip off with a tedious winter hike up Black Elk Peak, the highest point in the world east of the American Rockies and west of the Spanish Pyrenees
Serengeti + Ngorongoro + Lake Manyara Safari
5-Day Private Safari operated by Peak Planet
After descending from Kili, I spent the next five days traveling from Arusha to Lake Manyara (day 1), Ngorongoro Crater (days 2 + 3), and Serengeti National Park (days 4 + 5). My guide was incredibly experienced and managed to spot all of the Big 5, which is quite astonishing considering the rarity of rhinos. Most of time is spent straining through binoculars while swatting tsetse flies, but seeing so much unique flora and fauna is well worth it.
Kilimanjaro
8-Day Group Climb with PeakPlanet.com
Flew KLM to Arusha via Montreal and Amsterdam. Spent two days acclimating in Arusha before bussing up to Londorossi Gate to begin the climb at 7800’. Six days trekking the Lemosho route to Barafu Camp for a final 10 hour midnight hike to Uhuru Peak at 19,341’.
Despite two days of fever and developing pulmonary edema on the summit ascent, the climb was quite a fun experience and worth doing once. Highly recommend Peak Planet or Ultimate Kilimanjaro to anyone thinking about doing a Kili climb.