Cher comes to Kangding

Repairing the landslide below the hostel

My Very Unique Birthday Present

This year, I received a wonderful gift! One of my favorite people in the world, Melissa Nivens, was traveling in the TAR and on the morning of my birthday happened to be at Mt. Everest base camp. The clouds cleared and she was one of the lucky few who get an incredible view of the mountain, summit and all. I will always love these pictures!

Thoroughly enjoying popsicles on the roof in Chengdu

How I know I'm no longer in Michigan USA

Not only do I have to keep off, but the lawn looks like this...

And, well, no comment necessary for the new sign in our elevator:

News from the Hostel

A month ago, we planned to be back in Kangding. But we didn't quite make it... In our absence, Lilian opened the hostel. Then the area was closed to foreign travelers. Then it opened again. And recently, we've already had a few nights with the whole place booked out. But now that we've once again missed our return date, we've had to rewind and close down the lodging and only open the restaurant/cafe 5 days a week, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Sigh. It is uncomfortable to be waiting for my own healing...

Adalia & her Broom

Ever since my brother Micah got married in Colorado, Adalia has been reenacting the events of the wedding, and we all get to play along. Sometimes we're the "pastor" (or she often asks, or is it the "pilot"?), or the groom, or blowing bubbles outside for her to run through. Today, she found an interesting groom.