Sihanoukville, Cambodia
The Buddha said that “It is better to travel well than to arrive.” I am reminded of this as we voyage in five star luxury on the Viking Orion. Our port for the past two days was Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Last year we visited Phnom Penh and witnessed the sites of the horrifying genocide committed against the Cambodian people by their
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
From 78 stories above Ho Chi Minh City, the metropolis still known as Saigon, dazzles with color and light, even in darkness. After past visits here, we have stopped feeling like tourists. We know how we like our Vietnamese coffee and we venture out without a care, stopping into local bars for a drink and a snack before continuing on.
Ha Long, Vietnam
A private boat trip around Ha Long Bay, Vietnam reminded us of how beautiful life can be. A cool breeze tamed the temperament of a hidden sun, while plate after colorful plate of delicious Vietnamese food arrived, perfectly timed as we sailed toward the island strewn horizon. Lost in the distant shadows that rose and plunged into the bay, my
Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
Sunset cruise of Victoria Harbor with this beauty…our last evening in Hong Kong before we begin our voyage through SE Asia tomorrow on the Viking Orion. Viking is our home on the water, taking us around the world more times than we can count. We are always glad to be back among friends and those who share our love for
Macao, Macau
We in Hong Kong to a stunning sunset, the golden sunlight iridescent over Kowloon Bay. This morning, we ventured by high speed ferry to reach Macau, spending a beautiful morning and afternoon touring this incredible city steeped in Portuguese and Chinese history and culture. Did a bit of gambling at the Wynn casino and won a whopping $4.00 after spending
Shanghai, China
We have been fortunate to have visited some of the most incredible cities in the world. Shanghai is perhaps the most impressive city we have ever visited. It is immaculately trash-free, efficient, elegant and focused on the future. With 25 million residents, it is one of the largest cities on the planet, but it feels approachable, welcoming and affordable. More
Plovdiv & Sophia, Bulgaria
The streets of Sofia, Bulgaria. This is my first time in Bulgaria. Sofia is an approachable, pedestrian friendly city with lots of reminders of her communist past. The food is incredible, the people are welcoming and the weather has been perfect. Looking forward to exploring more! The bronze sculpture is of Milyo the Crazy. Milyo was the town jester and
Did you know that men have one less rib bone than women?
As you read that sentence, I bet that many of you agreed with it because you had learned this “truth” as a child. (Did you agree? Be honest!) It’s not true, but that doesn’t stop us from believing it. A surprisingly large number of Christian Americans were taught and still believe that the creation story in Genesis dictates that men
Goodness School celebrated the holiday of Janmashtami
Yesterday the students at Goodness School celebrated the holiday of Janmashtami and sent some photos of their special day along with this note from the school administrator. “Yesterday, we celebrated Janmashtami in our class with great enthusiasm. The classroom was beautifully decorated, and students dressed up as Krishna, Radha, and other characters. We started with a brief introduction about the
What is the impact we have on others?
My high school Algebra teacher, Father Elroy Pesch, passed away yesterday. He was a badass hunting, fishing, Harley riding priest in a Franciscan habit. His algebra course was the only class I ever failed. I remember him constantly mystified by my stupidity, but kind in a gruff, impatient way and with his signature sense of humor. Whenever we wanted a
India Independence Day celebrations
India Independence Day celebrations at Goodness School on August 15, 2024. Independence Day is a public national holiday for celebrated annually on August 15 commemorating the nation's independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. India attained independence largely by non-violent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi once
Bangkok, Thailand
Not every day is a great day. Some days, you make decisions that open your eyes to painful realities. I’m not proud of my decision to ride an elephant on our first day in Bangkok, Thailand. I had always wanted to ride an elephant. The romanticized idea of scaling and sitting astride a gargantuan pachyderm lent itself to my adventurous