Photos

In search of an opportunity to experience another way of life, teach at an orphanage, and immerse ourselves in a vastly different culture, we boarded a plane in Boston and four stops, twelve time zones, and 28 hours later we emerged in the tropical heat of Denpasar, Bali. Please have a look at some great captioned photos and share in our experience. As any good Balinese would do, we offer thanks for your curiosity and friendship.

View this Travel Page

Photo Page

Steaming Craters

Location: North Island, New Zealand

After enjoying another round of fun in the Whanganui River Valley, we head north to tackle the infamous Tongariro Crossing, our toughest hike yet.

24 Mar 2007, 11:29AM

Emily... we love every moment with her.

23 Mar 2007, 2:36PM

Canoeing the Whanganui...looks easy...is not.

25 Mar 2007, 11:13AM

At the top is the red crater and down below the evidence of the lava flow from the last eruption.

24 Mar 2007, 1:46PM

Mt. Rapehu in the distance viewed on the way to the Tongariro Crossing, our first view of what we were up against the next day.

25 Mar 2007, 12:20PM

The steaming vents warmed EVERYONE right up! Notice the guy on the right in a New Zealand fashion trend we noticed over and over: gumboots, short shorts and a bush hat.

25 Mar 2007, 11:53AM

Hours before our arrival at the red crater, a fellow hiker had to be airlifted out when he fell down inside and (miraculously) suffered only a broken ankle. I'm sure my voice sounded more shrill with each "Be Careful!" that I yelled out to the kids. How would I ever explain to their grandparents that we'd allowed them to be swallowed up by a volcano!?

25 Mar 2007, 1:20PM

Nothing glamorous here... No posed smiles, just dusty trailblazers wolfing down their chow.

25 Mar 2007, 12:34PM

Loose, rocky soil and a steep grade combined to make this section of the trail a true challenge. Thank goodness I had Jennifer as my performance coach and the Emerald Lakes beckoning to me from below.

26 Mar 2007, 3:12PM

It took seventeen kilometers to reach it, but the views across to the Tama Lakes were worth every step.

25 Mar 2007, 4:50PM

After eight hours on the trail, we all got a little punchy and ordinary things start to seem really hilarious. In retrospect, that is the only logical explanation for our decision to emerge from the woods with leaves on our heads.