Kathleen & Konrad's Odyssey into the Orient.

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About this blog

Welcome to our travelogue! Here you'll read the many mishaps and adventures we've experienced since leaving good ol' Madison, WI. In October 2005, we both quit our jobs and packed up as many earthly possessions as we could jam into four traveling packs and three daypacks (too bad Arlo wouldn't fit!), and took off for Bangkok (via San Francisco). In Bangkok we embarked on a monthlong CELTA course to become certified English teachers. Since we "graduated" on December 2, 2005, we've been traveling throughout SE Asia: Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Read on and share in some of the excitement w/us!

-Kathleen & Konrad

• 1

  San Francisco   San Francisco, United States on Oct 24, 2005 67 pictures 0 comments
• 2

  San Francisco - Konrad's pics   San Francisco, United States on Oct 25, 2005 18 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  Bangkok... Finally   Bangkok, Thailand on Oct 28, 2005 38 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  Bangkok - Konrad's pics   Bangkok, Thailand on Oct 29, 2005 21 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  Beachtime Before School   Ko Samet, Thailand on Nov 16, 2005 16 pictures 0 comments
• 6

  Return to Bangkok: Pre-School Adventures   Bangkok, Thailand on Nov 18, 2005 55 pictures 0 comments
• 7

  Back to School, Back to School....   Bangkok, Thailand on Nov 30, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  Sandy Beaches....   Ko Lanta, Thailand on Dec 11, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  Ko Lanta - Konrad's Pics   Ko Lanta, Thailand on Dec 12, 2005 18 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  Kengtung   Kengtung, Myanmar on Dec 17, 2005 39 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  To Myanmar and Back   Chiang Rai, Thailand on Dec 21, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 12

  Re: To Myanmar and Back   Phitsanlouk, Thailand on Dec 23, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  Christmas in Bangkok   Bangkok, Thailand on Dec 24, 2005 22 pictures 0 comments
• 14

  Bangkok - Konrad's Pics - XMAS   Bangkok, Thailand on Dec 25, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Ayutthaya   Ayutthaya, Thailand on Dec 28, 2005 30 pictures 0 comments
• 16

  Ayutthaya - Konrad's Pics   Ayutthaya, Thailand on Dec 29, 2005 9 pictures 0 comments
• 17

  Beaches, Brawls, and Bells   Hua Hin, Thailand on Jan 6, 2006 14 pictures 0 comments
• 18

  Siem Reap - Angkor   Siem Reap, Cambodia on Jan 13, 2006 98 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Siem Reap - Konrad's Pics   Siem Reap, Cambodia on Jan 14, 2006 31 pictures 0 comments
• 20

  Vive le Baguette!   Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Jan 17, 2006 21 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  Kampot   Kampot, Cambodia on Jan 20, 2006 26 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  Kampot - Konrad's Pics   Kampot, Cambodia on Jan 20, 2006 23 pictures 0 comments
• 23

  Sihanoukville   Sihanoukville, Cambodia on Jan 21, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 24

  Chúc mùng nam mói! (Happy New Year!)   Saigon, Vietnam on Feb 1, 2006 50 pictures 0 comments
• 25

  Saigon - Konrad's Pics   Saigon, Vietnam on Feb 2, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  My Time Traveling Brother and The Mekong Delta   Can Tho, Vietnam on Feb 4, 2006 31 pictures 0 comments
• 27

  Can Tho - Konrad's Pictures   Can Tho, Vietnam on Feb 5, 2006 15 pictures 0 comments
• 28

  Saigon   Saigon, Vietnam on Feb 7, 2006 56 pictures 0 comments
• 29

  Saigon - Konrad's Pics   Saigon, Vietnam on Feb 9, 2006 20 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  Dalat   Dalat, Vietnam on Feb 10, 2006 62 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  Dalat - Konrad's Pics   Dalat, Vietnam on Feb 11, 2006 36 pictures 0 comments
• 32

  Mui Ne   Mui Ne, Vietnam on Feb 15, 2006 39 pictures 0 comments
• 33

  Mui Ne - Konrad's Pics   Mui Ne, Vietnam on Feb 16, 2006 18 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  Cold Toes and Sand In My Shoes   Nha Trang, Vietnam on Feb 18, 2006 21 pictures 0 comments
• 35

  Nha Trang - Konrad's Pics   Nha Trang, Vietnam on Feb 19, 2006 5 pictures 0 comments
• 36

  Back to the 80s: The Return of the Rollerdrome   Hoi An, Vietnam on Feb 27, 2006 34 pictures 0 comments
• 37

  Hoi An - Konrad's Pics   Hoi An, Vietnam on Feb 28, 2006 20 pictures 0 comments
• 38

  Big Shiny Mountains   Marble Mountain, Vietnam on Mar 3, 2006 22 pictures 0 comments
• 39

  Marble Mountain - Konrad's Pics   Marble Mountain, Vietnam on Mar 4, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 40

  The Forbidden Purple City   Hue, Vietnam on Mar 6, 2006 18 pictures 0 comments
• 41

  Hue - Konrad's Pictures   Hue, Vietnam on Mar 7, 2006 0 pictures 0 comments
• 42

  Final Destination   Hanoi, Vietnam on Mar 10, 2006 33 pictures 0 comments
• 43

  Two Months In....   Hanoi, Vietnam on Jun 6, 2006 0 pictures 2 comments
• 44

  Ba Vi National Park   Ba Vi, Vietnam on Jun 24, 2006 11 pictures 0 comments
• 45

  Learning the Local Language....   Hanoi, Vietnam on Jul 30, 2006 36 pictures 0 comments
• 46

  Escape from the City   Quan Lan Island, Vietnam on Sep 4, 2006 14 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  Quan Lan Island - Konrad's Pics   Quan Lan Island, Vietnam on Sep 5, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  The Sun is Coming, The Sun is Coming!   Hanoi, Vietnam on Oct 12, 2006 17 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  Sapa - Simplicity At Its Best   Sapa, Vietnam on Oct 16, 2006 57 pictures 0 comments
• 50

  Sapa - Konrad's Pics   Sapa, Vietnam on Oct 16, 2006 32 pictures 0 comments
• 51

  Halong Bay - Konrad's Pics   Halong Bay, Vietnam on Nov 6, 2006 20 pictures 0 comments
• 52

  1,969 Islands   Halong Bay, Vietnam on Nov 6, 2006 29 pictures 2 comments
• 53

  Happy Holidays from Hanoi   Hanoi, Vietnam on Dec 28, 2006 60 pictures 0 comments
• 54

  Hanoi, Vietnam - Konrad's Pics   Hanoi, Vietnam on Dec 28, 2006 11 pictures 0 comments
• 55

  China (A New Country!) and Communication Issues   Nanning, China on Jan 3, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 56

  Guilin - Home of Grotesque Caves   Guilin, China on Jan 4, 2007 13 pictures 0 comments
• 57

  Guilin - Konrad's Pics   Guilin, China on Jan 5, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 58

  Halong on Land   Yangshuo, China on Jan 6, 2007 55 pictures 0 comments
• 59

  Yangshuo - Konrad's Pics   Yangshuo, China on Jan 7, 2007 31 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  Guilin, China   Guilin, China on Jan 9, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Smokin', Spittin, and Slurpin'   Kunming, China on Jan 10, 2007 43 pictures 0 comments
• 62

  Kunming - Konrad's Pics   Kunming, China on Jan 11, 2007 18 pictures 0 comments
• 63

  The End of the Affair   Chengdu, China on Jan 15, 2007 52 pictures 0 comments
• 64

  Chengdu - Konrad's Pics   Chengdu, China on Jan 16, 2007 30 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  Leshan - Konrad's Pics   Leshan, China on Jan 17, 2007 12 pictures 0 comments
• 66

  Panzhihua, China   Panzhihua, China on Jan 21, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  One Mile (Plus) High and Rising   Lijiang, China on Jan 21, 2007 20 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Lijiang - Konrad's Pics   Lijiang, China on Jan 22, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  Baisha - Konrad's Pics   Baisha, China on Jan 23, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 70

  Shangri-La   Zhongdian, China on Jan 24, 2007 19 pictures 0 comments
• 71

  Konrad's Pics - Zhongdian   Zhongdian, China on Jan 25, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 72

  Lions and Tigers and Gorges, Oh My!   Tiger Leaping Gorge, China on Jan 27, 2007 19 pictures 0 comments
• 73

  Tiger Leaping Gorge - Konrad's Pics   Tiger Leaping Gorge, China on Jan 28, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  Cobblestone Streets   Dali, China on Jan 29, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 75

  Dali - Konrad's Pics   Dali, China on Jan 30, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 76

  SNOW   Kunming, China on Jan 31, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 77

  Fleeing the Snow   Jianshui, China on Feb 2, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Totally Tubular Terraces   Yuanyang, China on Feb 3, 2007 22 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Yuanyang - Konrad's Pics   Yuanyang, China on Feb 4, 2007 15 pictures 0 comments
• 80

  A Breath of Fresh Air (or: A Return to SE Asia)   Jinghong, China on Feb 5, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 81

  Jinghong - Konrad's Pics   Jinghong, China on Feb 6, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 82

  Menglan Meanies   Mengla, China on Feb 9, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 83

  Mohan, China   Mohan, China on Feb 10, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 84

  Ciao, China! Saabaa-dii, Laos!   Boten, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 10, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  Laos - Initial Impressions   Luang Nam Tha, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 10, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  Luang Nam Tha - Konrad's Pics   Luang Nam Tha, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 11, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  Monks, Colonial Architecture and the Mighty Mekong   Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 13, 2007 15 pictures 0 comments
• 88

  Luang Prabang - Konrad's Pics   Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 14, 2007 10 pictures 0 comments
• 89

  Drunken Acrobatics and Stomach Pains   Vang Vieng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 18, 2007 16 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  Vang Vieng - Konrad's Pics   Vang Vieng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 19, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 91

  Musical Hotels   Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 24, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 92

  Pakse, Part I   Pakse, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Feb 28, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 93

  Back on the Bike   Salavan, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Mar 2, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 94

  Buffalo Shit   Attapeau, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Mar 3, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 95

  Lousy Dirt Roads....   Pakse, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Mar 4, 2007 12 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  More Stomach Pains   Don Khong, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Mar 5, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 97

  Rustic and Romantic   Don Det, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Mar 7, 2007 9 pictures 0 comments
• 98

  Ridin' On The Roof   Pakse, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Mar 9, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 99

  Onwards and Westwards   Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand on Mar 10, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 100

  Ah, Familiarity and Creature Comforts   Bangkok, Thailand on Mar 11, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 101

  Life's A Beach   Ko Tao, Thailand on Mar 17, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 102

  Dead Frogs and Drizzle   Ko Phangan, Thailand on Mar 20, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 103

  The Search for the Perfect Beach   Ko Samui, Thailand on Mar 24, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 104

  Minivans, Muezzins, and Malaysia (ahead)   Satun, Thailand on Mar 29, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 105

  Duty Free Livin'   Langkawi, Malaysia on Mar 30, 2007 12 pictures 0 comments
• 106

  By George!   Georgetown, Malaysia on Apr 2, 2007 15 pictures 0 comments
• 107

  Butterflies, Rainforests, Strawberries, and Tea   Tanah Rata, Malaysia on Apr 7, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 108

  The Twin Towers of Muddy Waters   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Apr 11, 2007 16 pictures 0 comments
• 109

  A Multilingual Nation   Melaka, Malaysia on Apr 13, 2007 9 pictures 0 comments
• 110

  KL AGAIN   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Apr 14, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 111

  Swimming with Sharks   Pulau Perhentian, Malaysia on Apr 18, 2007 20 pictures 0 comments
• 112

  Bali Hai   Pulau Tioman, Malaysia on Apr 24, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 113

  Indians, Chinese, Malaysians, Oh My!   Singapore, Malaysia on Apr 28, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 114

  JB x III   Johor Bahru, Malaysia on May 2, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 115

  KK... It's Not Just a Bar on Lake Street   Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on May 2, 2007 9 pictures 0 comments
• 116

  Kinabalu National Park   Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia on May 4, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 117

  Kota Kinabalu II   Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on May 4, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 118

  Sandakan   Sandakan, Malaysia on May 5, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 119

  Team Awesome & The River Kinabatangan   Gum Gum, Malaysia on May 6, 2007 25 pictures 0 comments
• 120

  Back to KK   Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on May 8, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 121

  The Island of Missed Connections   Labuan, Malaysia on May 10, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 122

  Oil! Oil! Oil!   Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on May 11, 2007 10 pictures 0 comments
• 123

  Motel Moaning in Miri   Miri, Malaysia on May 13, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 124

  The Kelabit Highlands   Bario, Malaysia on May 15, 2007 38 pictures 0 comments
• 125

  Peaceful & Perfect: Pa Lungan   Pa Lungan, Malaysia on May 16, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 126

  Miri x II   Miri, Malaysia on May 19, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 127

  Cat City   Kuching, Malaysia on May 22, 2007 19 pictures 0 comments
• 128

  Beardedpigslangursmacaquessquirrelsprobosciscrabs   Bako, Malaysia on May 26, 2007 11 pictures 0 comments
• 129

  Kuching Part II   Kuching, Malaysia on May 27, 2007 13 pictures 0 comments
• 130

  Bon Voyage Borneo   Johor Bahru, Malaysia on May 28, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 131

  Cheap Electronics?   Singapore, Singapore on May 29, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 132

  The Final Leg   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 31, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 133

  Home Again   Hanoi, Vietnam on Jun 6, 2007 56 pictures 0 comments
• 134

  Boats, Karsts, Caves, Ancient Capitals, & Primates   Ninh Binh, Vietnam on Jul 28, 2007 18 pictures 0 comments
• 135

  Perfume Pagoda Nonsense   Chua Huong, Vietnam on Aug 28, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 136

  Hanoi   Hanoi, Vietnam on Aug 31, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 137

  Mai Chau, Mai Chau, It's off to Mai Chau We Go   Mai Chau, Vietnam on Sep 2, 2007 21 pictures 0 comments
• 138

  Employment Shuffle   Hanoi, Vietnam on Sep 3, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 139

  A Home in Hanoi   Hanoi, Vietnam on Feb 12, 2008 24 pictures 0 comments
• 140

  Geminipalooza and Goodbyes Galore   Hanoi, Vietnam on May 18, 2009 77 pictures 0 comments
• 141

  Finishing up and Starting over   Hanoi, Vietnam on Aug 1, 2009 15 pictures 0 comments
• 142

  (Re)Introducing the Fam to Vietnam   Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Aug 5, 2009 45 pictures 0 comments
• 143

  A Short Stopover in the Sand and Wind   Mui Ne, Vietnam on Aug 8, 2009 38 pictures 0 comments
• 144

  The Lap of Luxury   Nha Trang, Vietnam on Aug 9, 2009 27 pictures 0 comments
• 145

  Marble Mountain and the Ancient Town   Hoi An, Vietnam on Aug 12, 2009 79 pictures 0 comments
• 146

  Job Hunt Conundrum   Hanoi, Vietnam on Sep 6, 2009 33 pictures 0 comments
• 147

  Tam Biet, Vietnam!   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sep 22, 2009 55 pictures 0 comments
• 148

  Istanbul, Not Constantinople   Istanbul, Turkey on Sep 23, 2009 68 pictures 0 comments
• 149

  The J-O-B(s!)   Istanbul, Turkey on Nov 16, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments