For work I am traveling to Tokyo, Japan.

a bit of back log here since it was such a long trip over. I left my house around 5am on Saturday morning via airport van. My first flight was Logan to Dulles which was cake. Your barely in the air before you start coming down again. Switched terminals there and while eating a muffin noticed they had a money exchange. Got that out of the way Figuring it would be easier to exchange with someone who spoke English.

Now the long flight..

I recieved an email from Vicky Wiswell this morning. For those of you who didn't know Vicky and her Husband Ken Puhn are climbing mountains in South America. I'll let Vicky tell the rest...

Greetings Friends!

I hope this message finds you all well and enjoying the holidays! Ken and I have great news ... on the afternoon of December 26, we summited Aconcagua! At 22,841 ft (6962 m), Aconcagua stands as the highest mountain outside of Asia.

hello all!

i know it's only been a couple weeks or so since that monstrous e-mail i unleashed upon the world, but i am sending another bulk(y) mailing to let you all know that my phone number has changed...the new number is listed at the bottom here. why the school has decided to switch everyone's phone numbers i do not know, except perhaps because EVERYTHING in china exists in a state of flux.

I met Caleb (Pronounced kay-leb) during my visit with Russ in Alaska. He's the other one in the photos of our hike into the Tolovana Hot Springs. And yes, he is just as funny in person. Almost immediatly I felt like I knew him for years, Just a really great guy.

<Russ wrote>__Caleb has been teaching English in China and has sent me a couple of e-mails.

Well Sunday morning Russ and I woke up fairly early to get ready for our trip to the Hot Springs! Originally we were going to ski in but Russ had heard that the downhills were a little steep.. So we decided to hike and sled in! :-)

The total trip into the hot springs is over 11 miles. It would be great if you could sled the whole thing but at some point you have to walk back up...

In any event it started out with a nice gradual downhill.

Ok so the icon doesn't show what the real weather is like here! But it is warmer than usual!

I have made it safely and am having a wonderful time. Russ cut his hair!! He looks great. Still has the bushy beard, of course he would.. it keeps him warm! As we were coming into the house last night he pointed out the direction to the out house.. :-) "But if you just have to pee you can go over there..

Well Sunday afternoon we headed off on the ferry to the Island Zanzibar for three days! The ferry is quite exciting itself! All these people yelling and pushing, others trying to carry your luggage and basicly trying to force you to take there taxi! lots of fun... :-)

First night we basicly just relaxed on the beach and took Madeline in the sea. Monday we were up early to take a prison island tour and go snorkeling!

First things first! Madeline is 9 months old today and took her first steps! Don't worry we have it on video! She got quite excited and started walking in circles before falling down on her bum. :-)

Now onto our trip to Ruaha.. We left first thing Saturday morning to get a good start since its a very long journey (I beleive it was 850 km, Rob can convert that to miles) regardless it was long! The return trip straight from there took 11 hours. About 1/3 of that was over dirt roads too!

I made it safely to Africa after waiting in a long Queue at the airport customs desk. :-) They actually let me in!

Madeline looked at me really wierd at first but quickly smiled for her daddy! Well I don't have too much more to say right now.. We will be going for a swim at the yacht club and then dinner at the slip way.. ahh its a tough life! Tommorow its off to Ruaha game reserve to see some wildlife.. :-)

Later!