Crystal Inn Dia Aurora

[Ed note: this entry was written by T, the mastermind of the trip.]

Motivation:

The planning for this trip began in the final days of December 2008. United had just announced significant changes to their award chart which would have the effect of increasing the cost of awards, in miles. Awards in business (C) from North America to South Asia would go from 90,000 to 125,000 for instance, a pretty hefty increase. Changes like this are not ...

Airlines

Best seat (Trans Pac): United NRT-ORD 747 new config lie flats
Best seat (regional): ANA PVG-NRT
Best meal: Thai ICN-BKK Green Chicken Curry (tie)
Singapore HAN-SIN Grilled Duck Breast (tie)
Best IFE (Trans Pac): United NRT-ORD
Best IFE (regional): Singapore SIN-PVG
Best Service: Thai ICN ...

... kept thinking that there was no way that that they would give us this long of a break. There had to be some kind of educational theme attached.

Point for the Minnesotan!

We were not allowed to play with any type of communication (signs, sounds, looks) and, after switching tables, people realized that each table was given a different set of directions. Thus, after switching tables and not being able to communicate whatsoever, people were getting very frustrated and annoyed ...

... of talking on the balcony, we saw two fawns and their mother walk by right below the balcony. I was no more than 10 feet away from them! It was so amazing to see! I guess it happens a lot in the area - to see wild animals so close to homes.

We left Estes Park at 2:00 and headed back to Denver to the Shermon Center where the UWP staff held a presentation for us. Alain Thiry, the CEO of UWP, introduced himself and his staff. Then our cast manager, Jen Moody, introduced ...

... slightly to justify Zoë's and my ten dollars, (and this, my friends is exactly what the monument's planners had in mind) we stopped in the gift shop. Upon entering, we had hoped to find bobble-headed versions of the presidents in Mount Rushmore formation. Indeed, we thought this sight would be just as worth seeing as the real thing. To our great dismay and utter bafflement, there was no such item for sale. But for those of you with a little time on your hands ...

... it, I just stopped 'cause I liked the way it looked. The food was great. I mean, really good. Especially for a lunchtime situation in a downtown restaurant. Maybe I'm a bit jaded, but I didn't expect anything special. Well, I got surprised. Elaine is a big Ceasar Salad fan and usually gets one with chicken on it, but this time she opted for the Blackened Ahi Tuna Ceasar and LOVED it. Not too much spice, and while she never eats the croutons 'cause they're just too hard, these were ...

... then the left side. and eventually the river is winding and zigzagging from point a to b. Eventually the zigzags evolve into switchbacks and eventually those switchbacks erode and create one wide flow again leaving islands in the middle. As the rivers recede and then dries up the only things left are those islands. Anyhow, they were amazing and beautiful. We continued on thru Moab on this little two lane highway and it was the most picturesque drive I've ...

... br>






Another day we went for a day drive in the rocky Mountain foothills west of Castle Rock through small towns. Found a little river for Bear to swim in & had lunch at a traditional American BBQ type place.

This was my first day of the mission trip. From what I remember, it was mostly worship and hanging out for the night and getting ready for our assignments for the week. Since I don't remember much from it, I won't go into to daily detail. Every day though I went to a boys and girls club and hung out with kids all day. It was an amazing experience and helped fuel me to go on more mission trips.