World Tour Update

Chiang Rai

Tom and Rachel in front of a white temple in Chiang Rai

I had several people ask me how Rachel and Tom’s tour around the world was going, so I put a quick little update together for you.  It’s hard to believe that they are about to go into their last month!!  We’re excited to see them in the beginning of November and hear all about it first hand.  Well here are just a few of the latest photos.  Currently they are in Vietnam and will shortly go to Nepal. 

If you’re just hearing about this now – Rachel is my oldest (okay, technically Michael’s oldest otherwise I was quite young…lol)  She’s one of my two ‘bonus’ daughters and is traveling the world with her fiancé Tom.  They saved up for a few years, quit their corporate jobs in DC and decided to travel the world while they could – no mortgage, etc…  We’ve all be having the time of our lives following them on their adventures through their blog – Packs and Boots, online photo albums and email.  They left right after the Superbowl last February.

Ko Phi Phi Leh SnorkelingSnorkeling the waters of Ko Phi Phi Leh in Thailand – where they filmed The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio

They started in Chilie – spent months in Argentina and surrounding countries, headed to Turkey, toured most of the Eastern Block European countries (Croatia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Austia, – took a small stop in Italy (they’ve been there before), then off to Marsailles and various places in France ending up in Paris (two weeks in France with Tom’s parents who met them there)…and then jetted off to Thailand.  They’ve been there for about three months now – Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and ending in Nepal.  Whew…I’m tired just writing that!

Here are some quick photos of the recent Laos, Chaing Rai and my favorite – a local Thai Cooking Class!

Phi Phi ThailandThe island of Phi Phi in Thailand

Angkor Wat and StarbucksTom in front of the temple at Angkor Wat with a Starbucks – okay…that’s a first! Smile 

TemplesWish I looked this good coming down steps of an ancient temple!LaosChilling at the hotel with an awesome view at sunset in Laos

Shopping for Thai Cooking Class in Chiang MaiOkay…I SO wish I was here with Rachel…a private Thai cooking class which started at the market – how great is that!

Thai Cooking ClassMaking their own curry!

Thai Cooking Class MealThis is their second meal!  What a feast – let’s just say…I’m very impressed! 

What do YOU think?

Signature Snowflake 001

Packs and Boots

Fitz Roy Range

Have you ever experienced Wanderlust?  Well that struck my oldest daughter Rachel and her fiancé Tom  last year and now they are traveling the world!  Rachel and Tom are 29/30 and said good-bye to the corporate life of Washington DC Public Relations (Rachel) and US Navy Contracts (Tom) and hello to experiencing all that the world had to offer them – literally!

Rachel and Tom Fitz Roy Range

Here are a few photos from their most recent adventure in Patagonia, Argentina.  If you’d like to follow them along their travels (and I mean, who wouldn’t – their view is WAY better than mine today) be sure to follow them on their blog – PacksAndBoots.blogspot.com or on twitter @rachelpag and @xtmartinx.

They are quite the entertaining writers and I certainly am enjoying following along on the adventures – although I have to say I’m quite excited I’m not experiencing the 25-30 hour bus trips they have been on! (You’ll have to read some previous posts to appreciate that!)

And what does this have to do with stamping you may ask?  Well I know that I’m going to use their photos as brayer inspirations!  So follow them along on their Wanderlust travels around the globe!

Signature Snowflake 001

photos by Tom Martin and Rachel Pagliocca