Bouldering The Tree

Got rock shoes?  We gotta pad! 

(For Optimal Viewing - Click the Slideshow, then "Full Screen")

Jeanie and I scouted Joshua Tree last Sunday for fun boulder climbs in the 5.6-V0 range.  First we hit Cap Rock - The Hatrack, French Roast, White Crack, Four Corners, and then we paid homage at the Graham Parsons Memorial Traverse.  From there we hit the Manx/Asteroid Belt area, which features The Womb, Manx Boulders (including the freaky topout at Thingamajig), The Asteroid (Jeanie sent Ceres, I sent Retro), and Interceptor Boulder, where we chilled with some young gym climbers who were both hyped and humbled by the challenges of J-Tree monzogranite just like us.  We proceeded to show each other a few things on the wall!  From there Jeanie and I were compelled to cap off the day by visiting the House of Horrors, where we found The Real House, a peaceful hidden spot which is comprised of a 6-foot wide vertical crack between two granite mountains.  In there we tested ourselves on Walking Mexican Down The Hall, and scampered up between the walls to peer deeper into the mysterious natural enclosure.  We came out of the day transformed - eager to share the natural wonder of Joshua Tree to anyone who will listen!

Angkor Wat

In January, we flew to from Bankgok to Siem Reap
to explore Cambodia's amazing Angkor complex.


Greg and V at Bayan Temple, Angkor Thom.

This vast temple network was built by Khmer empire between 802 and 1327 AD. King Suryavarman II (12th Century) commissioned the main Angkor Wat complex as a dwelling for the gods. Indeed, "Angkor Wat is a built as a miniature replica of the universe and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world" with the inner chambers representing the gods' heavenly domain. No mortal was permitted to live on the site of these sacred stone temples, until years later when Buddhist monks were granted responsibility for maintaining the grounds.

The interior courtyard of Angkor Wat, adorned by celestial dancers.



Bayon's smiling stone temples canonize the august age of the Khmer.



As a fellow blogger put it, "The hypnotic and timeless allure of Angkor continues to be a tremendous source of national pride for Cambodians and the Khmer people. Angkor not only defines what it is meant to be Cambodian but also serves as the spiritual core of of what has historically been an oft maligned and beleaguered nation; a nation that has also proven, time and time a gain, to be nothing short of resiliant."




Bayon's bas-reliefs feature historical events and scenes of daily life.




The ruins of Ta Prohm have been overtaken by Silk-Cottonwood and Strangler Fig Trees

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Sacred Southeast Asia

We want to thank Jan, George, John, Jennifer, Shane, Barbara, Rachael, and Dan for helping us make our trip to Thailand and Cambodia possible. Also, props to Collins and Langer for the encouragement and tips. Thank you "Angel", 'Phon, and 'Da for sharing your country with us and for your friendship.

(Viewing hint: To view a full-screen version of Sacred Southeast Asia, click the Slide Show, then click on "Original View" toward the upper-right corner.)

Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand




6pm Monk Chant, Teak Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand


Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom

The Faces of India

Click here to view images of people we saw on our recent trip to India.
( Hint: for a full-screen version, click the link, then click on "Slideshow" )

Greg and Vivi Go to India

This is Greg's attempt to create a neat little spot with our pictures for friends and all to see. Why? Because Vivi and I returned from India recently and we had such an amazing trip that I wanted to find a medium to share. So here goes......

Thanks to our brother-in-law webmaster Mike McFadden of http://www.mcfaddenplace.com/ fame, we have posted our favorite India pictures on http://www.flickr.com/. So, without further ado, click here to view our India pics, and enjoy! (Hint, click on the link, then click "View as a slideshow".)