An Adventure to Say the Least

How's this for a vacation orientation: "you might notice you have a big red button in your bungalow. Don't push it, or only push it in the case of an emergency (like someone is in your room) because it will bring the entire military. Also, if you see men riding around on boats with guns, don't worry, it's just the military." Ah Borneo, they weren't just guns, they were assault rifles.

Well, as you can surmise, it was truly an adventure.

Andy and I had a great time, but certainly it was tempered for me with the constant fear that we might actually be kidnapped or killed. That is the start of a relaxing vacation, right?!?

So, the itinerary was this: Tokyo, Japan for 2 days, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (Borneo) for 3 days, 5 days in Kapali (the resort), 1 day in Kuala Lumpur, 1 day in Seoul, Korea and then alot of flights (9 total) to fill the rest of 14 days. Oh man, we were worn out, so it is a good thing we did it now instead of waiting for retirement.

What did we do? Walked and walked and walked around, ate ALOT, shopped in markets, snorkeled and scuba dived until our ears were sore to the touch, got ripped off by taxi drivers, got sick of eating weird food, missed our baby, actually got some sleep, and enjoyed one another's company. Muy Bueno, I hope you enjoy the pics.

Japan

Compare and contrast: two Tokyo temples

Malaysian Borneo-Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Snorkeling on Sulug, a deserted island. I was a little worried they would forget to come pick us back up.

Sapi

I told my mom that I would use good judgment...

Locals at Poring, a rainforest, hotsprings waterpark.

Why they call it a "rain" forestMmmm, lunch. Warning, you can only eat so many fried noodles, for so many days in a row.

Kapali:

This place is scuba diving heaven. We went on 16 dives-each! Amazing.

A sea cave called "turtle tomb." I left when it occurred to me that both of Evan's parents weren't just scuba diving half-way around the world from her, but that both were at that moment in an underwater cave. Geniuses!



This barracuda was hanging out at the steps one night as we finished our night dive. I was really afraid to get out of the water for fear that it might get me. Look at those teeth.

I'm not kidding, this eel was as big around as my leg and at least as long.

Not a fish you would want to tango with.

A squid (cuttlefish) or as I like to call them "cuddlefish." I just want to squeeze one, but that would probably not be advisable. Did you know that they change colors to camouflage themselves?
Can you see this fish in this pick? We were constantly warned to control our buoyancy and stay off the bottom because there are tons of stone and scorpion fish hidden on the bottom.

a cool anemone

Kuala Lumpur:

Petronas Towers

Batu Caves-A very famous Hindu temple built in the limestone caves on the outskirts of KL.

Monkies in the temple/cave of course!

Andy's favorite picture-superflous breasts

The end.

A Conversation with Avery & Thomas

So, I was talking on the phone with my dad the other day when I walked up to my friend's house, so I lingered outside to finish things up. Her 4-year old and her 2-year old were outside and happily greeted me and Evan. As I thought about my conversation later I had to laugh at how the conversation must have sounded from his end.



Me talking to my dad

Avery: (pointing to Evan) "Is she a girl or a boy?"

Me: "She's a girl" (me noticing that Evan was wearing a pink onesie with a butterfly on the front).

Me still talking to my dad and looking down to see Thomas thumping Evan on the head, suprisingly Evan is laughing.

Me: "Oh no, don't thump her on the head!" (said in a very kind tone)

Continuing to talk to my dad and looking down to see Thomas walking towards Evan with a handful of dirt and a very suspicious looking face

Me: "OH NO! Uh, don't rub dirt on her!" (Again, said very cheerfully).

Finally my dad: "I think I better let you go."

Our First Vacation

Okay, so we've taken Evie some places, but this was the first time that we went just the three of us. Like real grown-up parents. Crazy, huh? It was actually wonderful. I think we'll do it again sometime. :)

We went to Giant Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, Yosemite, Devils Postpile and Great Basin. All in all I think we hiked about 46.5 miles (with Evan taboot), but who's counting?

It was quite an adventure with all the bears and hiking and driving and scary motels. But we made it back to tell our tale.

Actually I don't have too much to say, here are some of the choicest pics of the (no lie) 500+ we took.

Giant Sequoia was beautiful. The trees are giant. Strain your eyes and see if you can even see us standing next to them.

General Sherman is the largest known living tree.

some big roots

Can you see me and Evan on the right?

There was also a cave. We got Evie all suited up to stay warm. Funny story: the guide stopped our group in a room and started talking about all of the features. All of the sudden we smelled this awful aroma and we could hear the little culprit grunting on the front of me. It was dark but not dark enough to cover Evie's pooping face. It was all Andy and I could do to not just totally lose it laughing. It smelled so bad and you could totally hear her grunting it out, in a cave no less.

Ahh relief!

This is pretty much how Evan spent all of the hikes.


On to King's Canyon:



Playing with "Leonard" the rabbit. Another funny story: our friend named Evan's rabbit Leonard without knowing that it is Andy's middle name and the name of Grandpa Howell. So, Leonard it is. She loves it!

Me jumping off of Muir Rock. Super cold water, Super good time!

Born to hike...

but don't let the bears bite!
We didn't make her sleep in the bear box, though it was tempting after I saw a bear run through our campsite. We saw 5 bears!


Yosemite:

Star trails

wildflower trails

Great Basin:

Bristlecone Pine. what's so great about this trees? There are about 3 groves (that I know of) in Great Basin and the trees are literally THOUSANDS of years old. They accidentally cut one down in the sixties and discovered it was 5900 years old. so it started growing when the pyramids were being built. Needless to say, these are now protected. How cool is that?

And that's our trip folks!

Dear John, How Could You?

Dear John Edwards,

It is with a heavy heart that I lament, "how could you?" I truly do not understand. Honestly I am somewhat shocked at how deeply this affects me. I can not say that I have necessarily supported you in your high political aspirations, though we belong to the same party; however, I have never previously been offended by you either. So, why I am reeling at the news of your infidelity? What does it matter to me? Isn't this a "family matter" for you and your wife?

I have spent considerable time pondering this and here is what I've concluded. It matters to me because I have a hope for leaders who are true and virtuous. I guess that is somewhat naive of me. Even our great founding fathers had moral weaknesses. As I visited Monticello and partook of the estate Thomas Jefferson created with slave labor I realized that I cannot abide a lack of integrity in leaders. No one is perfect, but a complete lack of integrity regarding ideals that one espouses is intolerable to me.

I am actually one who does not believe in legislating morality despite my own strict moral compass. I think morals come from within. So, how could you? One who has held himself out as a moral family man. One who has criticised others for this very conduct? This isn't about sex; it's about trust. How could you be so senseless, reckless, entitled, selfish, momentary? Vote for you? How could I put my trust in your decisions as a leader expecting you to do what is right for many when you choose only to do what is right for yourself? Your remorse is well-placed. But how could this country repair itself and progress with a leader who leads his own family and self down a road of regrets. You could have been great, but now you are only a disappointment by your own choosing. America deserves better; I deserve better.

I am an idealist to be sure, but despite having men, not immortals for leaders, I think men in power can do better. I believe men and women in high offices can be clean. I believe leaders can practice what they preach. I won't stop voting. I won't stop hoping for leaders with integrity. And I am sure that I won't stop hurting.

Sincerely,
Shawn Howell

Evan's First National Park

We went to Zion National Park for the Fourth and had a great time. It was Evie's first camping trip. She did great. There will definitely be more camping in her future.


We hiked Angel's Landing all the way to the top( with no stops). I carried Evan 5 steep miles round-trip. As we came off the Devil's back bone, a group of about 20 hikers applauded and one exclaimed, "Now there's a woman!" Of course Evan slept the entire time, woke up for a picture at the top, and snoozed the entire time down. What a life!

From breast to CamelBack, that's my girl!

First public swim: in a frog pond of course!

My lovely scratch thanks to the swim-hole trail.

Oh Blessed Day

We finally got this baby blessed and Andy did not name her "Dave" as he had threatened to do. If you know Andy, you know he will do just about anything for a laugh, but I guess I successfully persuaded him that even though I am sure Heavenly Father has a sense of humor, I am also sure he wants ordinances performed in a reverent manner.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Mormon church, we don't do infant baptisms. Children are baptized typically when they are 8 years old (or later, but never before). However, when a baby is born the child's father (again typically it is the child's father) gives the baby a name and a blessing. So, in this instance, Andy gave our baby the name "Evan Alice Howell" to be known by for the rest of her life and then proceeded to "bless" her with gifts, talents, and protections that he felt inspired to give her. When I was an infant I was blessed and given the name "Shawn Diane Rice."

Andy did an amazing job. It truly almost took my breath away to hear him pronounce such a beautiful and well thought-out blessing on our daughter's head. He is truly coming into his own as a father.

Howell family members in attendance Emily (Andy's sister and her 4 kids), Grandma and Granpa Howell, Rusty, Hans, and Danny (Andy's brothers) and Danny's wife and kids.

Thanks Nana (Dean) for the beautiful "princess" dress.

Disclaimer: if this seems like an obnoxious number of pictures of Evan, you are apparently NOT one of her grandparents. :)