Flu Shots are for Babies and Old People?

It's true.  Well, not really.  I also heard once that you should get a flu shot if you work in health care or in a school or something.  But, I used to work in a closet, with only Karen to keep me company and she sure didn't have the flu!

Anyways, I got the flu.  The miserable bug struck without warning after a fun visit with Ally (in town to visit new baby Brady).  After a fun day watching football, headed to bed early as to get up early the next morning to take Ally to the airport.  Awoke Monday morning with a pesky cough... Dropped Ally at the airport and went back to sleep.  Woke up still not feeling all that great.  Went to see 27 Dresses with Karen (highly recommended chick flick) - During the movie felt the "chills" set in.  Left movie and was certain I had caught something terrible.  After missing work on Tuesday and worsening symptoms (high fever and terrible cough - general misery) finally went to a doctor on Wednesday for lovely nasal swab.  "Too late for antiviral - you should have come in earlier".  (note to self:  next time have flu (last time was circa 1988-ish knock on wood) go in right away to get antiviral).  Yes.  It's true.  I got the flu.  I spent the ENTIRE week in misery between big brown couch and bed - Brad came over periodically to make me soup and Theraflu (I was too weak to do so myself), but generally, I spent the entire week in isolation.  I did go in to the office for a quick good-bye from my old job and to pack my desk up.  FINALLY, dropped the fever on Saturday night after spending all day sleeping. 

Am happy to report I'm on the mend.  Besides a pesky cough that remains and the fact that I am physically exhausted, I am almost back to normal.  It really was even worse than I made it sound.  I hate the flu.  Next year, flu shot for me.  At least it was last week and not this week so close to our departure.

Well, must be off to bed.  Toodaloo for now!

The Things They Carried...

I know some of my smart friends will get the pun intended here. I have to admit I stole this title from an e-mail I received before a back-packing trip last summer in Big Sur. I didn't get the pun then, but have since learned its meaning. Anyways, I found it appropriate given that our first destination is Vietnam.

So the itenerary for this adventure is finalized. We're leaving in less than three weeks!!
Here it goes:
February 7/8 - Fly to Hanoi, Vietnam
We'll spend the next week exploring northern Vietnam - Most notably Hanoi and Halong Bay (aboard a Chinese junk!!)
February 14/16 - Bangkok, Thailand!
February 16/18 - Phuket, Thailand
February 18 - 28 - Sailing through the Thai Islands :)
February 28 - March 7 - exploring northern Malaysia - Most notably Langkawi, Penang, Cameron Highlands, Teman Negara and Kuala Lumpur
March 7 - Back to the States!

Special visas are required to enter Vietnam. These visas must be purchased from the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington D.C. ahead of time. Although it seemed like it might be a long process, I was impressed when I got my visa back from the embassy in less than a week!

Anyways, I think we are both very excited to get away for awhile!
Stay tuned!

How it all began...

Just who are Kate & Ally? - Some cheezy characters from an 80's sitcom? Nope, that's not us.

We're a couple of goofy engineers who met in grad school at Stanford about 6 years back. Dang, has it been that long?

Why do we have this cheezy blog you ask? Well, it seems we're off on more adventures. Rather than eating up valuable time and Dong, Baht, etc. sending multiple e-mails out at each stop along the way, we have created this blog so that you can follow along with us (and so our Moms don't worry if we've been abducted by some Asian bandito). We promise to make it just like us - as cheezy as possible. Read at your own free will and laugh at us if you must.

And so the story begins then, back in 2002 in a seedy (all right, it's as "seedy" as it gets in posh yuppy land) Palo Alto bar called "The Nuthouse". Kate (AKA Katie, Katieliz, Kathryn [angry tone only]) often frequented the Nuthouse on Thursday nights with her fellow "fluid mechanics" buddies. Ally (AKA Allison, Jo-Mo) was a Master's student in the same department but in the Structural Engineering group. Both had a strong like of beer after a hard week of school on a Thursday night and soon the 2 groups of friends merged, hence Kate and Ally became friends.
The first adventure came upon the suggestion of a mutal friend at the end of their Master's Studies in 2003. A group of Stanford friends decided to drive a Winebago down to Rosarito, Mexico over Memorial Weekend. The weekend was, shall we say, memorable... (note Ally's strong affection for tequila in the accompanying picture)... There's not much more to say outside of this picture...

After a lovely year achieving their Master's Degrees, Ally headed towards the bright lights and big city of San Francisco, while Kate opted for the suburban drone-life of San Jose. Still adventures ensued..

It was decided that the Memorial Weekend trip should be somewhat of an annual tradition. Next up was Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. A group of 20 or so friends traveled to this beautiful land for a trek through the famous "Narrows". The hike included 16 miles through the Virgin River bed surrounded by the highest sandstone cliffs in the world. It was an incredible journey! *Special Thanks to Kate's favorite sister Amanda who recommended this hike to her after completing it with friends while living in Park City* This picture of the two was taken at the very beginning of the hike around 5 a.m.!

After a brief stint in the South Bay, Kate decided to join Ally and other friends in San Francisco and the two opted for adventures close to home such as Kate's former neighborhood - Haight Ashbury. Great fun was had at the Oak Street abode such as the Mexican Fiesta for Kate's birthday... It seems the tequila gods were smiling upon the two after a long night dancing the Mexican Hat Dance...

Craving greater adventure, the two then set out for Europe. Greece was the first destination, pending another suggestion from Kate's favorite sister Amanda. The two flew to Athens and then off to the east to sail through the Dodecanese Islands with Kate's college friend, Mark (aka. Marcus Aurelius, or Marky - arrr!). The trip to Greece was such an amazing adventure. The three lived upon a sail boat with 5 others (Long live the Angelina!) and experienced sailing the beautiful Mediterranean, swimming, cliff jumping and some amazing Greek food and beverage. The picture below is from the island of Leros - traveled by moped, which Kate refused to drive...This picture should illustrate the true nature of their gooberness...

From Greece, it was on to Italy, which the two traversed by train. Stops were made in Milan, Verona, Venezia, Firenze, Cinque Terre, and finally Roma. This adventure included daily gorging of pizza, pasta, liters of red wine, tiramisu and mandatory gelato (at least once per day). Ten pounds heavier, a bike tour was taken through the Chianti region of Italy outside of Firenze (see picture below with Firenze in the background - Bella!). Here fine Chianti wines were sampled. It was close to paradise!

Alas, it was bound to end and after a wonderful 3 and a half weeks it was time to return home. Ally and Kate returned to the US to beautiful San Francisco, happy, but excited for more adventure. A list was made - more destinations to reach together (if only more time and money).

Life settled back to "normal" (if there is such a thing) in San Francisco. Much fun was had around the beautiful City - Barrel Tasting in the Russian River, the annual Bay to Breakers run through San Francisco, bike rides over the Golden Gate Bridge and through Marin County and local hikes to Mt. Tam...

Then in 2006, Kate accepted a transfer to San Diego! The two vowed to continue on with their adventures even from different sides of the state! Over the summer of 2006, Kate moved to San Diego and Ally traveled to Costa Rica to do some volunteer work. Kate decided to take a quick "weekend getaway" to visit Ally for her birthday. The trip was spent in Manuel Antonio hiking through the jungles, monkey-watching, laying on the beach and sipping cocktails by the beautiful Central American sunset. It seemed life couldn't get any better!

Later on that year, the two re-convened in beautiful Monterey/Carmel with Kate's former roommate Russell for the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge. This was a century ride (100 miles) by bike from Carmel to San Simeon along the beautiful California Coast on Route 1. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful places on this Earth. Both Kate and Ally raised money for the Best Buddies Foundation - an organization that helps mentally challenged individuals. It was such a fabulous adventure.

After successfully finishing this fete, a party was held at the Hearst Castle where the friends rocked out to Third Eye Blind and met celebrities such as California's First Lady (Maria) and Carl Lewis. The two friends felt pretty cool adorned in their new hats complements of a bike mechanic met earlier on the ride!

And why stop there? After the Best Buddies ride, a trip to Hawaii (Ally's homeland) was put in the works for Christmas! More adventures were had biking from Honolulu to the North Shore with the Jo-Mo family on Christmas Day! Below is a picture of Oldest Jo-Mo with her favorite little "sisters".

The new year came quickly and Memorial Day once again approached. Next it was off to Sequoia National Park in eastern California for some camping with friends! This picture was taken in the coldest waterfall ever!!

And then there were no more adventures... The rest of 2007 was quiet! Was this the end?? No. Never! And so the two are now planning the trip of a lifetime (again). This time they will head to Southeast Asia. Their jouneys will be recorded here so that you, too, may find your very own spirit of adventure (or at least get a good laugh in). So come back and visit again - Departure Date is February 7!