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.

On Bells and Yaks

We're here in Portland, Oregon now...oh how we love it. One of the first things we did (well, after a visit to Powell's Bookstore that is) was take Adalia to swing on a swing. It was her first time (since she's been old enough to remember) to try one out! We walked to a nearby school to use their playground.
When the bell began ringing, we said to Adalia, "Do you know what the bell ringing means? It means that class is done and soon the kids will all come running out! She responded, "Mama! Just like the yaks! The bells ring and they all come running out too!"

We tried to recapture the moment on video shortly after it happened.

Adalia's Interview

Out with the Girls

This afternoon we took on hike up our famous Kangding Pama Mountain with Anna and Jolanda who have come to watch the hostel for us this winter so we can go home to America this Christmas...our first time home in three years since starting this business. We are really looking forward to it!

Making Friends

Most travelers who stay at our hostel come and go so quickly...but every once in a while, we have a guest that we really connect with and get to spend some time with. Recently, we had such couple, James and Betsy, who not only came back three times, but we grew to love during their visit! They wanted to go on a trek to Gonga Shan, and they didn't have enough tents. Kris and I talked and agreed to lend them our "wedding tent", the one we got when we got married. In the end, they gave us the rest of their trekking gear from the trip to rent out in the future to other travelers, and even another new tent. Wow. After they left, we dried out the tents on the roof and Adalia especially enjoyed playing in them. We hope our paths cross again someday...