One year away: Our family's trip around the world.

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About this blog

This is the story of our family's year-and-a-day long trip around the world.

We are five Hemphills, parents Jim and Amy, kids Jack, Katharine and Alexander. Our ages (in order) are 50, 40, 10, 9 and 7.

During our year away, we plan to visit 22 countries on five continents. Sometimes we will travel by air, other times by train, cargo liner, ferry or kettavalum houseboat.

Welcome to our story!

"Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord." Judges 18

• 1

  Getting ready to leave   West Chester, United States on May 25, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 2

  Packing up   West Chester, United States on Jun 29, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  Homeless   Baltimore, United States on Jun 30, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  Leaving on a jet plane   Philadelphia, United States on Jul 16, 2007 2 pictures 2 comments
• 5

  The greatest city in the world   London, United Kingdom on Jul 18, 2007 5 pictures 4 comments
• 6

  The horror, the horror   London, United Kingdom on Jul 19, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 7

  Potter-mania in London!   London, United Kingdom on Jul 20, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  "My name is Ozymandias"   London, United Kingdom on Jul 20, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  Taking the kids to Slaughter   Bourton-on-the-Water, United Kingdom on Jul 25, 2007 5 pictures 9 comments
• 10

  After the Floods   Wyck Rissington, United Kingdom on Jul 27, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  Leaving Bourton   Bourton-on-the-Water, United Kingdom on Jul 28, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 12

  Manchester United vs. Inter Milan   Manchester, United Kingdom on Aug 2, 2007 5 pictures 4 comments
• 13

  Ahoy Swallows and Amazons!   Coniston, United Kingdom on Aug 5, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 14

  Visiting Brantwood, John Ruskin's house   Coniston, United Kingdom on Aug 14, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Homesick   Coniston, United Kingdom on Aug 15, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 16

  Land of the midnight sun   Bergen, Norway on Aug 19, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 17

  Pining for the fjords   Bergen, Norway on Aug 19, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 18

  Going to the dogs   Tromsø, Norway on Aug 22, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Crossing the Arctic Circle   Bodo, Norway on Aug 23, 2007 4 pictures 2 comments
• 20

  On top of the world (or pretty darn close)   Nordkapp, Norway on Aug 24, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  Flying south for the winter   Kirkenes, Norway on Aug 25, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  Homesick v2.0   Bergen, Norway on Aug 25, 2007 0 pictures 2 comments
• 23

  Auschwitz & Birkenau   Oswiecim, Poland on Aug 28, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 24

  Go East, young Hemphills!   Krakow, Poland on Aug 29, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 25

  Train from Krakow   Prague, Czech Republic on Aug 30, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  Crossing the Charles Bridge   Prague, Czech Republic on Sep 2, 2007 3 pictures 1 comment
• 27

  Retreat from Berlin   Berlin, Germany on Sep 4, 2007 0 pictures 2 comments
• 28

  Movie day in Berlin   Berlin, Germany on Sep 5, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 29

  Larceny on the Berlin-Paris Express   Paris, France on Sep 6, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  Leaving Berlin   Berlin, Germany on Sep 6, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  On the Left Bank   Paris, France on Sep 7, 2007 4 pictures 2 comments
• 32

  The Food Diaries: Paris   Paris, France on Sep 8, 2007 3 pictures 2 comments
• 33

  Make-and-mend day   Paris, France on Sep 9, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  Another Bosnian refugee?   Paris, France on Sep 12, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 35

  "You have come unstuck in [space]!"   Marne-la-Vallée, France on Sep 12, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 36

  In search of ancient humans   Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, France on Sep 15, 2007 5 pictures 1 comment
• 37

  The perfect moment   Soulac-sur-Mer, France on Sep 16, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 38

  Childless Europe   Soulac-sur-Mer, France on Sep 22, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 39

  Aux urgences!   Soulac-sur-Mer, France on Sep 23, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 40

  Leaving Soulac   Soulac-sur-Mer, France on Sep 24, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 41

  Before a man dies, he must see...   Carcassonne, France on Sep 25, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 42

  Prepare the boiling tar! (Oil is too expensive)   Carcassonne, France on Sep 26, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 43

  Homesick v3   Soulac-sur-Mer, France on Sep 27, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 44

  Settling into a routine   Aix-en-Provence, France on Sep 27, 2007 2 pictures 1 comment
• 45

  The horror, the horror, exterminate all the brutes   Aix-en-Provence, France on Sep 30, 2007 1 picture 2 comments
• 46

  "Do they really kill the bulls?"   Arles, France on Oct 2, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  "What have the Romans done for us, anyway?"   Remoulins, France on Oct 2, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  A very Nice day   Nice, France on Oct 4, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  A very long day   Milan, Italy on Oct 5, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 50

  In the Cita Vecchia   Bari, Italy on Oct 5, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 51

  Across the Adriatic   Bari, Italy on Oct 6, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 52

  Football Italian style   Bari, Italy on Oct 6, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  "Oh Toto, there's no place like home!"   Dubrovnik, Croatia on Oct 9, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 54

  Beautiful Dubrovnik   Dubrovnik, Croatia on Oct 9, 2007 9 pictures 0 comments
• 55

  "Did Humphrey Boggart really smoke?"   Dubrovnik, Croatia on Oct 9, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 56

  A very expensive lunch   Dubrovnik, Croatia on Oct 9, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 57

  On the beach   Dubrovnik, Croatia on Oct 10, 2007 0 pictures 2 comments
• 58

  Knowing what I know now...   Dubrovnik, Croatia on Oct 11, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 59

  Paradiso at Il Molino   Montalcino, Italy on Oct 18, 2007 5 pictures 2 comments
• 60

  A Night in Venice   Venice, Italy on Oct 20, 2007 2 pictures 1 comment
• 61

  Walkies   Montalcino, Italy on Oct 22, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 62

  Siena -- Allegory of Good & Bad Government   Siena, Italy on Oct 24, 2007 2 pictures 1 comment
• 63

  Thoughts on malaria   Montalcino, Italy on Oct 25, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 64

  50th Sagra del Tordo   Montalcino, Italy on Oct 28, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  Internet follies   Buonconvento, Italy on Oct 30, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 66

  Friends indeed   Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Italy on Nov 2, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  Getting High in San Gimignano   San Gimignano, Italy on Nov 6, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Homage to Catalonia   Barcelona, Spain on Nov 8, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  Travelers and tourists   Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Italy on Nov 10, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 70

  Italian dress (or lack thereof)   Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Italy on Nov 12, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 71

  The pathos of the traveling pants   Castelnuovo dell'abbate, Italy on Nov 12, 2007 0 pictures 3 comments
• 72

  Powerless   Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Italy on Nov 13, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 73

  A Tuscan Thanksgiving   Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Italy on Nov 22, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 74

  Into Egypt   Cairo, Egypt on Nov 24, 2007 0 pictures 3 comments
• 75

  Ancient evenings   Luxor, Egypt on Nov 25, 2007 10 pictures 0 comments
• 76

  Security and terrorism   Luxor, Egypt on Nov 26, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 77

  Thine alabaster vases gleam...   Luxor, Egypt on Nov 27, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Pharoah's Revenge   Edfu, Egypt on Nov 27, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Christian Taliban?   Edfu, Egypt on Nov 28, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 80

  Tombs and temples of Upper Egypt   Aswan, Egypt on Nov 29, 2007 6 pictures 1 comment
• 81

  Crossing Jordan   Amman, Jordan on Dec 1, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 82

  Frankurters (for a day)   Frankfurt, Germany on Dec 6, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 83

  Southwards   Johannesburg, South Africa on Dec 7, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 84

  Jack of the Bushveld   Giants Castle, South Africa on Dec 9, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  The Drakensberg   Giant's Castle, South Africa on Dec 10, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  On the beach   Ramsgate, South Africa on Dec 11, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  A Passage to India?   Ramsgate, South Africa on Dec 18, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 88

  Head case   Ramsgate, South Africa on Dec 19, 2007 1 picture 0 comments
• 89

  Dreaming of a hot Christmas   Ramsgate, South Africa on Dec 21, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  Marriage South African style   Johannesburg, South Africa on Dec 23, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 91

  AIDS in South Africa   Johannesburg, South Africa on Dec 23, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 92

  A history of violence   Johannesburg, South Africa on Dec 29, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 93

  The politics of succession   Johannesburg, South Africa on Dec 29, 2007 0 pictures 1 comment
• 94

  The beloved country   Johannesburg, South Africa on Dec 29, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 95

  Gamespotting in Kruger Park   Hazyview, South Africa on Dec 31, 2007 8 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  Out of Africa   Johannesburg, South Africa on Jan 3, 2008 0 pictures 2 comments
• 97

  Our visit to South Africa by Katharine   Johannesburg, South Africa on Jan 3, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 98

  Arriving in India   Mumbai, India on Jan 5, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 99

  Arriving in Cochin   Cochin, India on Jan 6, 2008 4 pictures 1 comment
• 100

  On the road again   Thekkady, India on Jan 7, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 101

  Chilling Out in the Indian Heat   Kumily, India on Jan 8, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 102

  Spice of life   Kumily, India on Jan 8, 2008 7 pictures 0 comments
• 103

  A boat ride to nowhere   Kumily, India on Jan 9, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 104

  Empire of the senses   Kumily, India on Jan 9, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 105

  Your mudra!   Kumily, India on Jan 11, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 106

  The next generation   Alleppey, India on Jan 11, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 107

  Mad dogs and Americans   Alleppey, India on Jan 12, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 108

  My Secret War with my Shirt and Shorts   Alleppey, India on Jan 12, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 109

  There's the rub   Alleppey, India on Jan 12, 2008 0 pictures 2 comments
• 110

  So this is poverty...   Alleppey, India on Jan 16, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 111

  The Backwaters   Alleppey, India on Jan 17, 2008 14 pictures 0 comments
• 112

  When life gives you curry...   Agra, India on Jan 19, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 113

  Exhausted and heading West   Delhi, India on Jan 20, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 114

  Halfway home   Jodhpur, India on Jan 21, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 115

  Arriving in Jaisalmer   Jaisalmer, India on Jan 22, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 116

  Election thoughts from afar   Varanasi, India on Jan 26, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 117

  On the Ganges   Varanasi, India on Jan 30, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 118

  Confined to quarters   Bangkok, Thailand on Jan 31, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 119

  Tourists, and proud of it   Phuket, Thailand on Feb 16, 2008 0 pictures 2 comments
• 120

  The other side of Thailand   Patong, Thailand on Feb 21, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 121

  Angkor away!   Siem Reap, Cambodia on Feb 25, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 122

  Temples of Angkor Wat   Siem Reap, Cambodia on Feb 27, 2008 11 pictures 0 comments
• 123

  Cambodia   Siem Reap, Cambodia on Feb 28, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 124

  Good evening, Vietnam   Hanoi, Vietnam on Feb 29, 2008 4 pictures 0 comments
• 125

  Good morning, Vietnam   Hanoi, Vietnam on Mar 1, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 126

  Halong Bay   Halong Bay, Vietnam on Mar 3, 2008 4 pictures 0 comments
• 127

  When in Hanoi, do as the Romans do   Hanoi, Vietnam on Mar 4, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 128

  The sound of bamboo   Mai Chau, Vietnam on Mar 4, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 129

  Lucky Seven   Mai Chau, Vietnam on Mar 5, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 130

  In country   Mai Chau, Vietnam on Mar 6, 2008 10 pictures 0 comments
• 131

  Into the woods   Cuc Phuong, Vietnam on Mar 8, 2008 2 pictures 0 comments
• 132

  Does anyone sell Dramamine?   Hanoi, Vietnam on Mar 8, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 133

  More election thoughts from afar   Hue, Vietnam on Mar 9, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 134

  Imperial City   Hue, Vietnam on Mar 10, 2008 6 pictures 0 comments
• 135

  China Beach   Da Nang, Vietnam on Mar 10, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 136

  Bird flu, anyone?   Da Nang, Vietnam on Mar 12, 2008 1 picture 0 comments
• 137

  Thoughts on the Vietnam War   Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Mar 14, 2008 4 pictures 0 comments
• 138

  Malaysia at last   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Mar 15, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 139

  Up the creek   Jerantut, Malaysia on Mar 15, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 140

  Rainforest ramble   Taman Negara Rain Forest, Malaysia on Mar 16, 2008 7 pictures 1 comment
• 141

  Running the rapids   Jerantut, Malaysia on Mar 16, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 142

  Among the Bateks   Jerantut, Malaysia on Mar 17, 2008 6 pictures 0 comments
• 143

  Shopping malls, hawker centers and one lost bear   Singapore, Singapore on Mar 19, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 144

  Gunrunners   Cairns, Australia on Mar 22, 2008 1 picture 0 comments
• 145

  Aussie Easter   Cairns, Australia on Mar 23, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 146

  Australian wildlife   Cairns, Australia on Mar 23, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 147

  Uluru   Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia on Mar 25, 2008 6 pictures 0 comments
• 148

  Sydney   Sydney, Australia on Mar 28, 2008 1 picture 0 comments
• 149

  Arriving in Middle Earth   Queenstown, New Zealand on Mar 29, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 150

  Jump   Queenstown, New Zealand on Apr 8, 2008 2 pictures 1 comment
• 151

  I'd rather be Blue   Katoomba, Australia on Apr 14, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 152

  Disease and the developing world   Sydney, Australia on Apr 17, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 153

  Bad Monkey!   Ubud, Indonesia on Apr 24, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 154

  Who needs comfort food?   Ubud, Indonesia on Apr 24, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 155

  Poolside   Ubud, Indonesia on Apr 26, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 156

  Monkey attack!   Ubud, Indonesia on Apr 29, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 157

  Watching soccer in Bali   Ubud, Indonesia on Apr 30, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 158

  Eat, Walk, Sweat   Ubud, Indonesia on May 4, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 159

  Weirdness at the Internet Highway   Ubud, Indonesia on May 6, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 160

  How are the mighty fallen   Kintamali, Indonesia on May 8, 2008 5 pictures 3 comments
• 161

  Online   Ubud, Indonesia on May 11, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 162

  Bali wanderings   Ubud, Indonesia on May 11, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 163

  Ugly Americans?   Ubud, Indonesia on May 12, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 164

  Strangers in the night   Ubud, Indonesia on May 13, 2008 0 pictures 4 comments
• 165

  Pirates of the Java Sea   Ubud, Indonesia on May 14, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 166

  Buying art in Bali   Ubud, Indonesia on May 15, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 167

  Eat the pig   Ubud, Indonesia on May 17, 2008 3 pictures 1 comment
• 168

  Unleashing the Medicine Man   Ubud, Indonesia on May 17, 2008 0 pictures 2 comments
• 169

  Leaving Paradise   Ubud, Indonesia on May 18, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 170

  Paging Homer Simpson   Hong Kong, China on May 22, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 171

  Living with travel agents   Hong Kong, China on May 23, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 172

  Born to shop?   Hong Kong, China on May 26, 2008 4 pictures 0 comments
• 173

  Xi'an   Xi'an, China on May 27, 2008 9 pictures 0 comments
• 174

  Among the expats   Beijing, China on May 29, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 175

  Flying Tigers, Stillwell and the G'mo   Chongqing, China on May 31, 2008 2 pictures 0 comments
• 176

  One world   Yangtze River, China on May 31, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 177

  New friends from home and away   Xichang, China on Jun 1, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 178

  Metropolis   Shanghai, China on Jun 4, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 179

  Li River dreaming   Yangshuo, China on Jun 5, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 180

  Walking all over   Yangshuo, China on Jun 6, 2008 7 pictures 0 comments
• 181

  Basket case   Yangshuo, China on Jun 7, 2008 2 pictures 2 comments
• 182

  The torch has passed   Yangshuo, China on Jun 7, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 183

  Made in China   Yangshuo, China on Jun 10, 2008 1 picture 0 comments
• 184

  The Rip-off Chronicles   Yangshuo, China on Jun 10, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 185

  A declining population?   Yangshuo, China on Jun 10, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 186

  Apres nous, le deluge   Yangshuo, China on Jun 10, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 187

  The Stench o' the Sea   Kyoto, Japan on Jun 16, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 188

  Ground Zero   Hiroshima, Japan on Jun 16, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 189

  Our first kids-only dinner   Hiroshima, Japan on Jun 16, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 190

  Farewell to Amy   Vancouver, Canada on Jun 18, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 191

  Cruising   Inside Passage, Canada on Jun 23, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 192

  Anchors a-weigh   Gulf of Alaska, United States on Jun 24, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 193

  Internet follies in Alaska   Skagway, United States on Jun 25, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 194

  50th birthday celebration   Anchorage, United States on Jun 28, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 195

  Roads not taken   Ketchikan, United States on Jul 11, 2008 0 pictures 2 comments