FOUR EXPLORE'S TRAVEL BLOG
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Portrait

After maintaining a fast pace on the treadmill of life for many years, we have decided to take a break from commuting to high intensity jobs, shepherding the kids from activity to activity, and thinking wistfully on Sunday nights how nice it would have been to get a chance to read the newspaper that day. We're chucking it all in and going out to see the world. There's never a good time, or an easy time, to leave home for something like this, but now seemed like as good a time as any, and we're very excited about sharing the world with our kids, spending some very focused time with them, and creating a lot of spectacular memories. Our adventure begins on August 23, when we (Christina, Dan, Grayson (age 10) and Abby (age 8)) leave the San Francisco Bay Area for our first stop, Amsterdam. Over the next nine months, we plan to travel through parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, absorbing as much culture as possible, enjoying local cuisines, and hopefully touching others' lives as our own are touched as well. We hope that you will join us from the comfort of your computer, as we regularly post reports of our experiences and impressions, and share photos from the journey.

Four Explore's Travel Blogs and Reviews
Travel Blogs and Reviews  
Title and Date Location  
itinerary
Voyage of Discovery Aug 23 '07 
The World
journal-entry
Orinda, California
journal-entry
Amsterdam, Netherlands
journal-entry
City of de-LIghts Aug 27 '07 
""L'amour, l'amour! L'amour pour la maman!""
Paris, France
journal-entry
Paris, France
journal-entry
Chartres, France
journal-entry
Bayeux, France
journal-entry
Caen, France
journal-entry
Saumur, France
journal-entry
Saumur, France
journal-entry
Sarlat, Aquitaine
journal-entry
Eyes Wide Open Sep 12 '07 
Sarlat, Aquitaine
journal-entry
Take Me to the River Sep 16 '07 
Carcassonne, France
journal-entry
Neece is Nice Sep 17 '07 
Nice, France
journal-entry
Milan, Italy
journal-entry
The World's My Home Sep 19 '07 
Venice, Italy
journal-entry
Poggibonsi, Tuscany
journal-entry
A Word from the Kids... Oct 04 '07 
Poggibonsi, Tuscany
journal-entry
Poggibonsi, Tuscany
journal-entry
The Saints are Coming Oct 05 '07 
Assisi, Italy
journal-entry
Oh No, Another Curse! Oct 07 '07 
Pitigliano, Tuscany
journal-entry
La Dolce Vita Oct 08 '07 
Rome, Italy
journal-entry
Athens, Greece
journal-entry
Island Style Oct 13 '07 
Mykonos, Greece
journal-entry
Paros, Greece
journal-entry
Santorini, Greece
journal-entry
Grayson on Greece Oct 18 '07 
Aegina, Attiki
journal-entry
Abby on Greek Fauna Oct 19 '07 
Athens, Greece
journal-entry
Athens, Greece
journal-entry
Rhodes (Island), Greece
journal-entry
Talkin’ Turkey Oct 26 '07 
Fethiye, Mugla
journal-entry
Kas, Antalya
journal-entry
Livin’ the Dream Oct 29 '07 
Olympos, Turkey
journal-entry
Turkish Delights Oct 31 '07 
Antalya, Turkey
journal-entry
In Hot Water Again Nov 01 '07 
Pamukkale, Denizli
journal-entry
Selcuk, Turkey
journal-entry
On The Heels of Achilles Nov 05 '07 
Canakkale, Canakkale
journal-entry
Fly Me to the Moon Nov 07 '07 
Urgup, Turkey
journal-entry
Istanbul, Turkey
journal-entry
Sultans of Swing Nov 09 '07 
Istanbul, Turkey
journal-entry
Cairo, Egypt
journal-entry
Cairo, Egypt
journal-entry
Alexandria, Egypt
journal-entry
Siwa Oasis, Egypt
journal-entry
Midnight at the Oasis Nov 22 '07 
Bahariya Oasis, Egypt
journal-entry
Luxor, Egypt
journal-entry
Hatshepsut’s Story Nov 30 '07 
Cairo, Egypt
journal-entry
Where It All Began Dec 01 '07 
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
journal-entry
It’s A Hard Knock Life Dec 05 '07 
Bahar Dar, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Africa’s Camelot Dec 07 '07 
Gonder, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Gonder, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Lalibela, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Aksum, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Arba Minch', Ethiopia
journal-entry
The Turmi-nator Dec 14 '07 
Turmi, Ethiopia
journal-entry
If I Had a Hamer Dec 16 '07 
Demeka, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Please Have Mursi Dec 17 '07 
Jinka, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Gazing at Gazelles Dec 19 '07 
Arba Minch', Ethiopia
journal-entry
Take the Long Way Home Dec 20 '07 
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
journal-entry
Bright Lights, Big City Dec 21 '07 
Nairobi, Kenya
journal-entry
A Lamu Christmas Dec 22 '07 
Lamu, Kenya
journal-entry
Nairobi, Kenya
journal-entry
Lake Manyara, Tanzania
journal-entry
Carrion My Wayward Son Jan 03 '08 
Ngorogoro Crater, Tanzania
journal-entry
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
journal-entry
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
journal-entry
Malaika Jan 09 '08 
Arusha, Tanzania
journal-entry
Arusha, Tanzania
journal-entry
In An Octopus’ Garden Jan 17 '08 
Male, Maldives
journal-entry
Eye of the Tigers Jan 22 '08 
Colombo, Sri Lanka
journal-entry
I Want Kandy Jan 23 '08 
Kandy, Central
journal-entry
Jungle Love Jan 25 '08 
Sigiriya, Southern
journal-entry
Rolling on the River Jan 27 '08 
Kitulgala, Sabaragamuwa
journal-entry
Dikwella, Southern
journal-entry
Workin’ for a Livin’ Feb 01 '08 
Galle, Sri Lanka
journal-entry
Negombo, Sri Lanka
journal-entry
Cochin, India
journal-entry
Bohemian Rhapsody Feb 08 '08 
Mandrem, Goa
journal-entry
New Delhi, India
journal-entry
A Love Supreme Feb 18 '08 
Agra, India
journal-entry
New Delhi, India
journal-entry
Abby's Tabbies Feb 21 '08 
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
journal-entry
Cat Scratch Fever Feb 22 '08 
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
journal-entry
Khajuraho, India
journal-entry
Get Lifted Feb 25 '08 
Varanasi, India
journal-entry
Give Me Novocaine Feb 28 '08 
Siliguri, West Bengal
journal-entry
Gauhati, Assam
journal-entry
Welcome to Paradise Mar 01 '08 
Kaziranga, Assam
journal-entry
O Calcutta! Mar 04 '08 
Kolkata, West Bengal
journal-entry
A Boy Named Sue Mar 07 '08 
Bangkok, Thailand
journal-entry
Banana Pancakes Mar 13 '08 
Chiang Mai, Thailand
journal-entry
Rice, Rice, Baby Mar 14 '08 
Mae Waen, Chiang Mai Province
journal-entry
King for a Day Mar 16 '08 
Chiang Rai, Thailand
journal-entry
Huay Xai, Laos
journal-entry
Fly Like An Eagle Mar 19 '08 
Bokeo Reserve, Laos
journal-entry
Uncomfortably Numb Mar 21 '08 
Pak Beng, Oudomxai
journal-entry
Brothers in Alms Mar 23 '08 
Luang Prabang, Laos
journal-entry
Shiny, Happy People Mar 26 '08 
Vang Vieng, Laos
journal-entry
Vientiane, Laos
journal-entry
Crossroad Blues Mar 28 '08 
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
journal-entry
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
journal-entry
Don’t Fear the Reaper Apr 03 '08 
Siem Reap, Cambodia
journal-entry
Siem Reap, Cambodia
journal-entry
Take It Easy Apr 10 '08 
Ko Samui, Surat Thani Province
journal-entry
Sunday, Bloody Sunday Apr 11 '08 
Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand
journal-entry
On The Road Again Apr 16 '08 
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
journal-entry
Jakarta, Indonesia
journal-entry
Shake, Rattle, and Roll Apr 21 '08 
Jogjakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta
journal-entry
Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, East Java
journal-entry
One Night Only Apr 26 '08 
Surabaja, Indonesia
journal-entry
Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
journal-entry
Give Me Shelter May 03 '08 
Senggigi, Indonesia
journal-entry
Labuanbajo, Nusa Tenggara Timur
journal-entry
Komodo, Nusa Tenggara Timur
journal-entry
Surfin’ Safari May 09 '08 
Bali, Indonesia
journal-entry
Endless Summer May 13 '08 
Seminyak, Bali
journal-entry
Funky Chinatown May 16 '08 
Hong Kong, China
journal-entry
California Dreaming May 17 '08 
Orinda, California
journal-entry
Coming Home May 24 '08 
Orinda, California
Standalone Reviews  
Title and Date Location  
hotel-review
Martas May 01 '08 
"Beautiful Spot on Gili T"
Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
restaurant-review
Cafe Batavia Apr 19 '08 
"Dripping with character, this is a great bar and restaurant in the Old City of Jakarta"
Jakarta, Indonesia
review
The Happy Ranch Horse Farm Apr 05 '08 
"Horseback riding through the fields of Siem Reap"
Siem Reap, Cambodia
hotel-review
Renakse Hotel Mar 28 '08 
"Converted colonial mansion smack in the city center"
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
hotel-review
Villa Namsong Mar 25 '08 
"Beautiful spot away from the craziness of the village center"
Vang Vieng, Laos
hotel-review
Chiangmai Thai House Mar 12 '08 
"Beautiful guesthouse in heart of Chiang Mai"
Chiang Mai, Thailand
hotel-review
Lindsay Hotel Mar 04 '08 
"Watch Calcutta's craziness directly from your window!"
Kolkata, West Bengal
review
White Water Rafting! Jan 26 '08 
"Water was low, but we had a blast!"
Kitulgala, Sabaragamuwa
hotel-review
Fairview Hotel Dec 21 '07 
"Not Cheap, but oh so nice!"
Nairobi, Kenya
hotel-review
St. Joseph Hotel Nov 25 '07 
"Terrific value in the heart of Luxor"
Luxor, Egypt
hotel-review
Esbelli Evi Nov 07 '07 
"Best Hotel Ever!!"
Goreme, Turkey
hotel-review
Sabah Pansiyon Oct 31 '07 
"Convenient and Affordable Spot in the Old City!"
Antalya, Turkey
hotel-review
Hotel Locanda Salieri Sep 19 '07 
"Great spot in Venice"
Venice, Italy
hotel-review
Le Manoir de Herouville Sep 01 '07 
"A Peaceful Respite"
Bayeux, France
Four Explore's Favorite Photos
Sundowners in the bush
Lady friend with machine gun
Grayson shreds
The White Desert