We are still alive

In the last two and a half weeks, Kerri and I went to Lake Baikal in Russia, horseback riding in the Mongolian steppe, and camel riding in the desert on a six-day tour through western Mongolia.

Russia was an amazing country. After a 26 hour train ride from Ulaan Baatar, Kerri, Nate, Sam and I arrived in Irkutsk dazed and confused. We hopped on a tram headed the wrong way, but eventually made it into the heart of the city. It was and odd feeling to be in Asia, but in a city with a very European feel. We joined a four-day tour of Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal and we met up with four French Canadians (Anna, Jean Louis, Toni, and Adre). Lake Baikal is incredibly beautiful and also incredibly large. Looking north from Lake Baikal, you can't see the other end because of the curvature of the earth. We spent our days in Russia hiking, swimming (trying to swim), throwing rocks, eating Russian cuisine, drinking vodka, and sweating in a wood-fired sauna.

We finally got a train headed back to Ulaan Baatar, which ended up taking about 36-hours. We arrived in UB at about six in the morning and headed out in the afternoon to a Ger (Mongolian yurt) camp to ride horses. We rode for five hours the next day, visited a Mongolian family's ger, watched horses get milked, and drank fermented horse milk, a Mongolian specialty called airak.

We got back to UB at night and left the next morning on a six day tour throughout western Mongolia. We visited hot springs, rode camels, swam in a freezing cold lake, stumbled upon a grave yard with human bones on a ground, and spent countless hours bouncing around on pot-holed, Mongolian dirt highways with our four French Canadian friends from Russia.

Now, we are back in UB trying to convince the Chinese government to let us in to their country. We have taken over Sam's apartment and I think his three Mongolian roommates are starting to wonder if we are ever going to leave.

So far, its only been three weeks, but we have already met traveling friends that have invited us to come stay in their homes from Tokyo, Quebec, to Cortes Island in British Columbia. We are having a great time and we are excited about the adventure still to come!

Check out these pictures and videos from our trip:

Latest Pictures:

Our Travel Photos

Latest Video:

Fun on the Trans-Siberian Railway


Throwing Rocks into Lake Baikal


Mongolian Ger Experience


Sunset Camel Ride


Kerri Camel Dismount


Shane Camel Dismount

We made it!

Well, the adventure is finally beginning. Kerri and I made it about 24 hours ago after roughly 30 hours of traveling. We only had one setback in China when we had to land at a different airport and sit there for an hour and a half before taking off for Beijing. We only suffered a couple of bloodshot eyes and two extremely swollen ankles (a.k.a cankles, video coming soon).

We made it here and met up with Sam at an Irish pub and brought our stuff back to his semi-clean apartment before heading out to meet his friends and party in Ulaanbataar. We also met up with Kangaroo Mouse (Nate Upham) who has been sampling pastries all over town.

For those of you who grew up playing (fighting over) Risk games as a kid, you might be interested in the fact that we are taking a train up to Irkutsk, Russia tomorrow and eventually visiting the oldest and deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal. It is over a mile deep and holds roughly 20% of the worlds fresh water.

Now we are off to host a Tortillas and Vodka party as Sam's apartment with his three Mongolian roommates and international friends.

Check out these videos of Costa Rica

Kerri on the Tarzan Swing


Shane on the Tarzan Swing


Kerri Stuck in the Mud