​After Bhutan, we stopped for a few days in Bangkok to regroup. It was our second trip to Bangkok, it being a major hub to many southeast Asian countries, and we were struck by how comforting it was to be back. After nearly six weeks of traveling to places that were both very foreign to our family and still relatively primitive in many ways, Bangkok offered the needed respite and recharge. 

Before we left on our trip, we vowed to avoid American chains abroad, for our goal was to immerse whenever possible into the local culture, including the lodging (and that we did in Bhutan - be sure to ask Glenn about our Homestay and the Hot Stone Bath where we almost boiled him). I had been forewarned by a friend living in Hong Kong that traveling through Asia is exhausting and that we had a very ambitious agenda. She, of course, was right, so when it came to being in Bangkok, we were looking forward to easy and familiar.

After a brief stop in Bangkok to refresh, reconnect with wifi and get our laundry done, we were off on the second leg of our SE Asian adventure: a trek in Nepal. We were excited for the adventure but wholly unprepared for what was to come. That said, I loved how game everyone was, and we dove in headfirst. 

After a warm welcome at the airport by our guides Jaget and Chandra, they told us that cooler than expected weather conditions meant we would need a few additional items: hiking boots, crampons, -20 degree sleeping bags, insulated hiking pants. Yikes - thank goodness I hadn’t yet seen the movie Everest. The gear list required us to brave the streets of Kathmandu for our purchases...

In this age of oversharing and leaving no stone unturned, it’s rare to stumble upon an area that is yet to be spoilt by the many footsteps of wandering tourists. Even as I write this, I’m hesitant, for I’m doing the exact thing which exploits and overshares. So before I dive into the details on our adventure through the Mergui Archipelago, I make a humble request: if you are ever given an opportunity to visit this wondrous region, please tread lightly and hire a boat that gives back to the local communities, educating their youth and encouraging ecological responsibility. It is a gift for us all, and I hope it will continue to be for generations.

Our anticipation for our sail through the Mergui Archipelago could not have prepared us for what lie ahead. After the endless touring through Bagan, Mandalay, and Yangon, a break was certainly in order, and a sail through a relatively undiscovered set of islands was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Without question, this was a land more beautiful than any place we had yet been...

Myanmar was the first of the Southeast Asian countries we visited after leaving Japan. The country only recently opened its doors to foreigners, and our goal was to try to get a first-hand look at the history and culture before it was diluted down by hordes of tourists. Unsurprisingly, we definitely found it to be a country still maturing as a tourist destination, but it’s kind people, devout beliefs, revered pagodas and ample buddhas made for an interesting visit. Add to that its rich biodiversity, and Myanmar offered the opportunity to visit a beautiful country that retains its heritage and shows unabashed charm in it’s welcoming of foreigners. 

Myanmar was also the start of our own realization of our collective needs as a nomadic family and our individual differences as travelers...

In our first month of travel, we’ve already had more travel mishaps than I would like to admit. We’re seasoned travelers, I figured, how hard could this be? Brady summed it up well while we were sorting out our latest mistake: “Once again, we’re at the airport and there is a problem.” Funny enough (though it wasn’t in the moment) each mishap has gotten progressively worse….I certainly hope that trend doesn’t continue.

When we started planning this trip, we had (and have) a long list of exotic and off the grid countries to visit. Most of these countries are in Asia and Africa, largely because both continents were particularly foreign to us all. However, despite  previous trips to Central America with our children, landing in a third world country in Asia, where everything from the language, alphabet, foods, customs and transportation system were completely foreign seemed a bit daunting. That said, we knew our six months would go quickly and didn't want to dilute our opportunity for cultural immersion. With that, we landed on Japan as a first stop for several reasons. 

I'm supposed to write a post for "school" so i decided to write about my time skiing. It was really fun and the snow was amazing. Our backcountry guide Markus was really cool and he taught me a bunch about avalanche safety, but he made my mom really freaked out about getting in an avalanche. Over all it was one of the most fun things I have ever done. Thanks Mom and Dad.
​-Brady

Of all the responses elicited upon hearing about our grand adventure, the most common was "What about school?!" I had the same question, and if it wasn't for a conversation early on with my friends, Mari and Bill, I'm not sure we would be here today. After all, it's quite common for me to get hair-brained ideas and then seek excuses on why to not to do something. Fortunately, it was hard to ignore their enthusiasm and unfettered encouragement.

​Once I started researching the notion of homeschooling (or unschooling), I found plenty of fodder for what my gut was already telling me: travel is one of the best forms of education and the globe is a wonderful classroom.