On Tuesday, Nov 3, Brad and I are heading out for a two week journey to the Himalayan countries. We’ll visit Thailand, Bhutan, China, and Tibet. The wonderful team through Exclusive Resorts will be our travel guide and have given us our packing lists, visas, and tons of advice on how to sleep at high altitude! We will be traveling from Bangkok at sea level to over 14,000 feet in Tibet. Packing for this adventure is a challenge as well since the current temperature in Bangkok is 92 degrees and in Lhasa, Tibet it is 36 degrees with snow showers! Packing only 44 lbs of luggage for such different climates could be our first real test of the trip!
We chose the Himalayas because it brought together hiking, spiritual and cultural events, and just plain breath-taking views for Brad to photograph! We also hope to go to a lot of markets and add to the canvas food pictures on our kitchen wall. I personally am looking forward to meeting with an astrologer, learning about Tibetan medicine and buddhism, and taking an archery lesson among all of the other site-seeing opportunities. It’s going to be a trip we won’t soon forget!
Our original trip was to include Nepal but we no longer can visit there because of the devastating earthquake that hit the country last spring. We had friends on that journey and were following them via Facebook. They were in the airport the day the earthquake hit and were able to leave five hours later. They were, however, definitely affected by the quake and how close they came to being in a disaster of epic proportions. We are saddened that we still cannot visit Nepal because the infrastructure is not capable of hosting tourists yet. We know that this must be devastating to the economy and people of Nepal.
We will try our very best to keep you posted about our journeys via this blog but we have been told that some of the countries we will visit won’t allow us to post via Facebook (What? The horror!) and the internet. When I called AT&T yesterday to get extra international coverage, they let me know that they really don’t have an international service plan where we are going so we should try not to use our phones unless there is a true emergency! I guess we really will be off the grid!
We have published our itinerary on the side of this blog so you can follow where we are during the next two weeks. At this point, they are just words and names on an itinerary to us as we have never been to any of these places before and have only briefly read our travel books. (I’m not sure that Brad even knows exactly what day and time we are leaving yet!) Those of you who have followed us before know that our trips have had many interesting twists and turns from Brad being detained in Chile for a contraband apple to Lisa getting a fish massage in Cambodia and, of course, to Brad’s infamous $2.50 haircut. (They are in previous posts if you are interested!) Who knows what mishaps lie ahead!
Enjoy the journey with us!
Brad and Lisa
Lisa and Brad's Travels 
Looking forward to following your escapades. Megan and I just got back from the same trip with ER and in a word, it was…EPIC!
One tip…seriously consider getting and taking some medicine for altitude sickness. Even though we typically do fine at 8-10k feet above sea level, and had no problems at 11,500′ hiking to the Tigers Nest in Bhutan, the extremely dry air in Tibet combined with the 12,500 feet at the airport, was a real challenge. (Headaches, lightheadness, etc)
Have fun.
PS… The Pandas are awesome too!
Jim, We hear you have some great videos from your trip. We did get some altitude medicine. Would you take it in advance? Would love to travel with you guys again sometime soon!
Yes on the medicine, a day before and then during. Here is a link to a Bhutan Video… just to get you excited. Let me know if it works or not. Love to travel with you guys again too. Next year we are going to Iceland and The Galapagos. You guys?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrehf2148x2hujq/Bhutan%20Arrival%20%26%20Welcome%20October%202015.m4v?dl=0
Great video. Did you bring the drone? Brad
Yes, take the medicine the day before and then during. Here is a link of a video to get you excited. It is from our arrival in Bhutan.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrehf2148x2hujq/Bhutan%20Arrival%20%26%20Welcome%20October%202015.m4v?dl=0
Lisa, from my experience, if you do take the medicine, you really should try it out before you are in the middle of nowhere in case you have a reaction. This happened to a woman in my group and she had a very dangerous and miserable reaction.
Wow what a trip! We are very excited to vicariously share your trip with you!! Thanks! Dawn
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Have a great trip! It’s really incredible. Looking forward to your blogs. Please tell Prabin and Nima hello from Doug and me. Pam Kelsall
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We will hope there are no earthquakes this time! We will make sure to say our Hellos! Would love to travel with you and Doug again some time!
Travel safe! Can’t wait to hear about the astrologer!
Have a great trip Lisa and Brad… We just returned from a 2 week hiking trip in Peru.. Altitude medicine is a must .. if they have Coca tea, drink it.. it continually helped us. Happy travels.. Theresa Alfaro
Thanks for the advice, Theresa! Sounded like a great trip! We have our bags packed with the altitude meds. Sounds like we will need them.
The trip of my dreams 🙂 I’d like to sneak into your luggage, but 44 lbs???? Bummer!! Can’t wait to see Brads pics, and read about this amazing journey!! Some day I will visit Tibet ❤ OM NAMAH SHIVAYA ❤
I did, but only got to use it a bit in Bhutan before they told me it was “not approved” and then in Hong Kong. The Bhutan footage is at the end of the link I sent, and here is HK. Have fun!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/58ma79mfp8ue76z/Hong%20Kong%20Drone%20October%202015.m4v?dl=0