Thanks, Mom

Aran here.

Five years ago, mom had a crazy idea. I know, I know, that’s pretty commonplace, but trust me, this one was absolutely bonkers. She proposed that four years from then, we would travel the world, and the idea appealed to me. I was but a young buck of nine, and I could think of nothing I would rather do than travel the world with my family. However, it seemed so far away, and I could hardly think that far ahead, and so I buckled down and got on with my life.

Fast forward a few years. The thought of a world tour had been pushed to the back of my mind, and only occasionally would it surface to trouble me, but, whether I liked it or not, the date of our departure continued to speed towards me like a rogue tuk tuk. I was worried when we got on the plane for Paris about all the things I may be missing out on at home, and the prospect of a year with my family started to seem more and more daunting.

However, despite all this, I ended up loving the trip. Everywhere we went I was (mostly) engaged and (almost) always was ready and willing to go. I (sort of) enjoyed all the places we went, and would totally do it again (HA!). And so it is with a heavy heart that I must say: “Thank you mom for a great trip, and I am anxiously awaiting the next one (fingers crossed).

---

1. Thanks Mom: You always got us where we had to go

Okay, sometimes the transportation was a little sketchy, but you got us there…

Standing room only in India

Rush hour in Hampi

Looking for rhinos by jeep in Nepal

Horse drawn buggy in Nepal

Getting pulled over by the bike police in Phnom Penh

On the road in Kep, Cambodia

Best. Bus. Ever. – Aran has the best view of the lingerie fashion show on the sleeper bus in Vietnam.

The Hampi canoe

And, of course, by foot

---

2. Thanks Mom: the places we went were really cool.

Okay, sometimes we dragged our butts, but… you took us to some awesome places.

 

---

3. But did you have to read every plaque along the way?

Like, if there was the tiniest sign at the other end of the longest field you’d have to go read it. And then call us over to read it too. And discuss.

“School’s in!”

---

Eva here.

Five years ago, mom told the family that we were going around the world. At first I was worried about some of the places we were going, like India, but then I decided to just be excited. So, after four years of saving up we left Canada for a year. So mom, I want to say thanks. Thanks for the ice cream, thanks for the temples on hot days that you forced us into. Thanks for showing me fifty different ways to get travel sick. Thanks for always being there with a bag (well, almost always).

The trip was amazing.  Can we go to Iceland next?

---

4. Thanks Mom: You always found us a place to stay

Off to a good start: our first digs in Paris

Checking out possible low-budget accommodations in Paris

Crashing in Rome

Overnighting in Mumbai airport

Thinking about a tiny apartment in Istanbul

Camping on the Seti River, Nepal

Out in the desert in Rajasthan

---

5. Thanks Mom: We always ate well

Well, we always ate.

Eva, tell us what you really think about the palm fruit

About to down the first deep-fried cricket

Devouring fish sandwiches at the Galata bridge in Istanbul

A restaurant in North Vietnam

The roadside banh mi in Vietnam were the best

On the menu, it said “chicken wings”

---

Chris here

Five years ago, Nancy came home and said, “I just found out about this great program at work where I can set aside a quarter of my salary for four years and on the fifth we can travel the world. What do you think?” Weighing all the possible responses and ramifications in a split second, I replied, “That sounds great. Sure, why not?”

Well, it was great. Thanks, Hon. You read a thousand books, but always kept the options open… you edited every blog post (except for this one which has at least one typo I left in just to drive you crazy). You kept us going the whole way.

6. Thanks hon: for being an amazing partner.

Up in the Alps

Coffee in Istanbul

On the boardwalk in Newcastle, Australia

---

 All of us here.

You know, there is something totally special about the way you always looked out for us.

 7. Thanks Mom: You made sure we always got there in one piece

More or less. Travelling is not all peaches and cream, so we discovered.

Worn out (and it was only midday)

No problem here…

Bangalore belly

Chris’ bruised toenails from hiking the alps – soon to fall out and grow back in

We always celebrated personal victories over our ailments

Ringworm: the Cambodian equivalent to the family flu in Canada

Nancy’s one bad day: eleven months into the trip and she finally gets sick.

It’s just a flesh wound

And you made sure no one got left behind.

---

8. Thanks Mom: for making it happen

Yes, it was a family trip and we all made it happen. But it never would have happened without you. We always talk about “Nancy’s excellent adventures” in our family, and this one was the best!

Thanks Mom.

Watching the sunrise in the Rajasthan desert

Wintardys World Tour 2014-15