Author Archives: bertlee1

The Taj Mahal

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November 29, 2015 – Nothing can quite prepare you for the minute you walk through the huge glorious gate and you first see the Taj Mahal. It literally takes your breath away. The size is immense, the proportions are perfectly symmetrical and the white marble looks like a castle made of clouds. 

The day started hazy but began to clear up. We left the hotel at 7 and it was not crowded when we arrived. It seemed to be perched in the heavens. Pictures do not do it justice. The closer you got to it, the more awe inspiring it was. I felt like I was just gaping and it felt surreal to be there. After taking hundreds of pictures from the outside (Anu is a wealth of knowledge, plus great at photography), we went inside. WOW! I thought I was blown away by the outside, the inside is amazing. The empress’ tomb is in the center and Shah jahan is next to her (although he did not want to be buried there but across the river). The inlay marble work is exquisite and like nothing I have ever seen. The precious stones are so finely pieced together to make gorgeous designs of flowers and more. The marble is translucent and it all just shimmers. It moved me so much and reminded me of the feeling I had when I saw the Sistine Chapel. The art that has been produced and the sheer work put into this structure is amazing. Art is a gift from God and I felt that I was in His church!

We walked around the outside some more and also went to the mosque. It was so fun and we really felt that we could stare at it all day. Another thing that we really enjoyed at the Taj Mahal was the people watching, especially all the Asian and Middle Eastern women. The colors of the saris and the dresses/clothing was gorgeous. You could see the  differences from the different parts of India as well as different countries. The dress is similar but also very different. The colors and patterns very bright but the way it is wrapped is different. The men were also dressed similarly. It was so fun to people watch and see all the nationalities represented. 

After the Taj, Anu took us to a factory/shop to see how the marble inlay is made. Agra is famous for this craft and it was fun to see how it was done. After we learned about it, the shopkeeper gave us some chai and showed us his products. In India, you do not have to go look through the store, the store comes to you. He showed us many pieces and they were all gorgeous. The price was determined by the intricacy of design as well as the number of pieces put into the marble. We bought a beautiful round plate which can be used as a lazy susan with a base. We also bought the girls little surprises. 

Then back to the hotel to check out and hit the road. On the way out of Agra, we drove through a Muslim neighborhood. Since it was Sunday, there were open markets going on everywhere. We drove through the market and it was so exciting. The colors, the clothes, the people, the fruit – the entire street scene was full of life. Plus traffic was insane, so we were stopped often – it gave us a chance to look and I even took some fun pictures of the people. We loved the ride!

We drove to tthe abandoned Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri. When we got there, Artie pulled into the crowded parking lot and said we could get out. Keep in mind, that when you exit a car in India, you literally risk your life and limb! You have to watch for new traffic and go fast. As Hubert opened the car door, a bus started moving and it hit his car door. Thank goodness he had not put his leg out! He was okay, but car had some damage. Artie was upset with the bus driver. All the other drivers came over very fast and started discussing it. It is not like America where you call the police, make a report and get the other driver’s insurance. This was a moment of blame and everyone was adding their opinion. (Of course, we gathered all of this because it all happened in Hindi!) Hubert felt so bad, but it was not his fault. 

We then went to Fatehpur. It  was beautiful old city from the 1500s. It was the old capital that was abandoned and they do not know exactly why, possibly drought or disease. It is well preserved and there is still archeology done onsite. Caroline would love learning about all of this. On the walk down the hill to the parking area, we heard a small crash and saw a car parked that was backed into by another car. We immediately recognized that it was Artie. Poor Artie, his car hit a second time. People were coming from all around and Artie was yelling at the other driver. Anu got involved too and it was craziness. Artie was parked and out of his car when this car hit him. Yet, the other driver was not admitting fault. It was crazy. 

Once we got into the car, Artie was fine and talked about the crazy drivers in Agra! We said goodbye to Anu and we drove to a lunch spot at a hotel which was good. Then he took us to the train station. Another Amber Tours representative met us at the train station and he was with us on the train. The station was what you would think an Indian train station would be like – dirty and there were beggars there. The train was 45 minutes late. When we got on, I was truthfully about done. I had some moments of being homesick. Part of this trip has been about giving up control. The culture and language is so different here. Amber Tours has been great and I just trust that I will be delivered safely to each spot. Everything has been top notch and I have felt so safe. But in the train station, I became a little panicked. I had given the man our tickets and he had a porter take our luggae. He was not sitting with us on the train, so there was a moment of not knowing where my luggage was, not knowing what station we were traveling to and I did not see the tour rep who was with us. I was agitated but Hubert calmed me down and said we needed to just trust, so I did and all was fine. 

We arrived to Ranthambore around 7:00 pm. I was teh most excited about this part of the trip and the place we are staying, Khem Villas. And I was not disappointed. It is a beautiful resort that is based on the conservation of the tiger. We have a beautiful cottage and the feel is wonderful. Outside of our cottage in the pond is a crocodile! We had a nice dinner and then slept to the sounds of nature. After being in the big cities and surrounded by so many people, I was craving nature. I have been restored!

Agra, Day 1

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We left our hotel in Delhi at 8:15 for a 3 hour drive to Agra. It was a new highway and very nice and quick. Our driver, Artie, kept talking about the drivers in Agra that did not follow rules and that were crazy. This new highway was nicer than most of the roads in SC, so we had a hard time understanding. 

However, when we got off the highway and drove into the city of Agra, it completely made sense. Agra was insane and our eyes could barely take it all in. There were cows all over the road; bikes and motorcycles everywhere; and drivers just beeping and playing “chicken.” It felt like being in a video game. Artie got more aggressive and began driving like a local- faster and pushier! We arrived at Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb  around 1:30 and met our Agra guide, Anu. 

Itmad-ud-Daulah is also knwon as the “Baby Taj” and it may have been an inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Once you leave the crazy street, you walk into this gorgeous peaceful arean with a jewel box of a tomb. The empress built this garden tomb for her father. It is made all of marble with lots of inlay work. It has white, yellow and brown marble and the detail work is gorgeous. Inside are her parent’s tombs and the walls are decotrated in gorgeous inlay of flowers and paintings of beautiful scenes. It sat on the river and supposedly the emperor and empress would ride their boat over adn sit and watch the work being done. The river now is polluted and very shallow. There were cows on teh sand banks and many poor people. Some little children were far below and begged to us. Hubert threw some ruppees down to them. It is ahrd to turn away from the beggar children who point to their mouths and say “gupta” (which I assume is food or eat!). 

We then had lunch at a restuarant in Agra, The Pinch of Spice. We had chinese food there and it was delicious. Spicy and good. We checked in to the Trident which was a nice and beautiful hotel. Again, you leave the crazy street, drive through a gate and you are in a different world. We received more gifts from Amber Tours (scarf, keychain and lotus dish). I think we are getting special treatment because of mom. Even the driver knew my mom was a travel agent!!!

After 30 mintues, we met Anu in the lobby and a drive to the Agra Fort. To me, the sound of a fort sound boring and in military style. However, in India, the forts were basically the whole cities for the Mughal empires. It is like walking into a book or movie and feeling as if you are a part of 1001 Arabian Nights. The fort has the public spaces, government buildings, the palace, the harem’s living quarters, the wives palaces, mosques, and many pools where there was always rose water for bathing.. The Agra fort even has a tower that is grogeous marble where Shah Jahan (emperor who built the Taj) was imprisoned by his son. The tower had a view of the Taj so Shah jahan could always watch it. The outside is all red sandstone and looks like a fort. Inside the walls is a magical world. The immense size was so impressive and the decadence was breathtaking. Anu was a great guide and you could just envision how the empire was in the 1600s under the Mughal rule. 

It was a very hazy day which is why Anu decided not to take us to the Taj Mahal first, but at this time, we did go to Mehtab Bagh which is essentially the garden area across the river from the Taj. We got our first glimpse of the monument and it was unbelievable. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a tomb and monument for his wife. He wanted it to be so beautiful that the world would never forget their love. I will say that he was very successful! Just seeing it from across the river was spectacular.

We then went to a rug company and saw how the rugs from Agra are made. Beautiful rugs but a little pushy sales! We did not buy! We were exhausted when we arrived back to the hotel around 6:30. The sensory overload in India can be very tiring. We ordered room service (pizza!) and used spotty wi-fi. We went to bed early ready for another adventure. 

Full day in Delhi

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Hubert and I woke up early but the tour was not to start until 9:45. We have learned that things start a little later here. 10 is normal business start, lunch around 2 and dinner around 9. We are still in U.S. time, so we are waking up early and ready to go. Hope to be on Indian time soon. 

We met Priti, our guide, and Artie, our driver, at 9:45 and we drove to the Gandhi Smriti house. This was the house that Gandhi was staying in when he was assassinated. We saw the very spot where he was gunned down. Plus there was a fabulous exhibit on his life as well as his room with the possessions he had when he died. He only had 11 items, including his glasses and walking stick. It was a very moving place and there were several school groups there. It was fun to see how the kids responded to Gandhi’s message. 

After that, Artie drove us through Lutyen’s Delhi. This is the area in New Delhi that the British built for 13 years to be their Imperial City. Shortly after it was built, India gained independence and the British buildings were taken over by the new Indian government. It is a beautiful, massive area and is unlike the other areas we have seen. It looks like the Mall in D.C. but the house of the President is huge and more like a palace in Europe. There is even the India Gate which resembles the Arch de Triumph. It was all very impressive. 

The National Crafts Museum was next. It was lots of fun and we learned so much from Priti about the crafts of the country. There was a section of all the textiles and gorgeous saris and fabrics on display. It was a beautiful museum and built in the style of an old Indian home. The museum store was great too with authentic crafts. Hubert and I bought a beautiful bedspread made of old saris sewn together – a type of Indian quilt. Priti told us later that her mother always had her old saris made into bedspreads and that ladies would get together to sew. An Indian style quilting circle!

We then drove to South Delhi and went past the Baha’i House of Worship which is called the Lotus Temple. It is a modern temple built like a giant lotus flower. It resembles the Sydney Opera House. We did not go in but stopped for a picture. Priti said the inside is just open and the outside is the art! We drove towards Humayun’s Tomb which took about 45 minutes with traffic. The drive there was very difficult. Yesterday, the energy of the city inspired us. This drive depressed us. The poverty was extreme. Trash was everywhere and animals were in the street. Traffic was insane and the poor conditions of the people was hard to overlook. We felt that Priti was not bothered by it; it was normal for her. It was very difficult for Hubert and I to understand and we felt so powerless. The sights were overwhelming. 

Once we got to the Tomb, we were not really in the mood for a tourist attraction. We went through the gates and the grounds of the site were well kept and the mood was peaceful. It was as if the poverty on the other side of the gate did not exist. Hubert and I talked to each other for a minute and we both felt the same way – almost physically sick with the injustice of it all. We did not tell Priti how we felt and we tried to carry on as good tourists but the things we witnessed will forever have an impact in our lives. 

The tomb itself was amazing. Built by the wife of the Mughal emperor, Humayan, it is a gorgeous example of a garden tomb. It is built of red sandstone and white marble. It was built before the Taj Mahal and shows just how mighty the Mughal emperor were. It is enormous and a sight to behold. 

After the tomb, Priti took us to a restaurant for a late lunch. Lodi Garden specializes in Mediterranean food, while she went to pickup the saris that I purchased the day before. Lunch was good and gave us a chance to decompress with all the thoughts we had in our hearts and heads. 

After lunch, Artie took us back to the hotel. We had dinner reservations at 8 and I wanted to wear my new sari. I tried on the top and it was way too tight. I went to the front desk and they sent up a tailor to our room. Within 30 minutes the top was redone and I was able to wear it. I was very excited. I imagine the girls tops won’t fit either but we can have redone in the States. Sometimes you get what you pay for! But, I was so excited to wear my sari and nervous. Priti assured me that it was appropriate to wear it where we were dining and Westerns often wear Indian clothing. 

I dressed and we were off to the restaurant, the Spice Route in the Imperial Hotel. The hotel was gorgeous and when I went in, all guests were sent through a bag check for security. Ladies went behind a screen and I asked the security lady if I had it on correctly. Another woman swept in and began fixing me. They were so kind and made me feel good. The hotel was amazing and there was a wedding going on so many people were wearing saris. However, there were some very fine ones and mine was rather cheap, but I still felt special!

The restaurant was incredible. It took 7 years to build and it is based on the 9 levels of life that everyone goes through – such as birth, love, family, wealth, etc. The art was amazing. The most beautiful restaurant we have ever been to. The food is based on South Asian along the old spice route. I had Shrimp Pad Thai and Hubert had a Thai soup and an amazing lobster dish. It was all fantastic! We had a guided tour of the restaurant afterwards and they explained the art and symbols. 

Funny thing – during dinner, I went to the ladies room. When I was washing my hands, I noticed that the cleaning lady kept looking at me. I smiled at her and she came over and started fixing my sari! She spoke broken English but was trying to explain to me the proper way. She rewrapped me and truthfully, it was much better- I felt less exposed. Everyone was so kind in helping the crazy American lady with her sari! I can’t wait to try it at home with the girls. 

It was a wonderful day, full of gorgeous sights and extreme disparity. India is full of contradictions. At times it is difficult but at times amazing. I realize my blessings even more today and the irony was not lost on me. I saw third world problems up close, but then went back to the hotel and had my first world problem of a too tight sari fixed. My prayers are strong tonight in thanksgiving but also with questions about why. There is so much we can’t understand in this life.

    

Delhi

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On Thankgiving, we woke up in Delhi and had to pinch ourselves that we were here. It seems surreal. Certainly this experience has made us count our blessings. We met our guide, Priti, in the lobby around 9:30. We also met another staff member from Amber Tours, Sanjay, who gave us some details of the next few days and gave me a gift of a beautiful scarf. It was gorgeous. 

Then it was off for the tour. On the drive to Old Delhi, Priti told us about the Red Fort and the old “cities” of Delhi. We went through the newer, British area of New Delhi and drove back in time to Old Delhi. When we got their, we hired a rickshaw and began driving through the older section of town. We stopped at a Jainist temple that has a bird sanctuary. Jains bellieve in reincarnation and are very non-violent. Many walk while sweeping in front of them so they do not step on a bug. We had to go barefoot into the temple area and then we went to the bird sanctuary. (I am not a bird person so walking through the cages of hurt birds while barefoot was a little much for me, but I smiled and went with it!!)

Then back on the rickshaw and mass chaos. We drove through the spice market and took great pictures. The area was a mixture of ancient and modern. There were cows in the roads, donkey drawn carts, bicyles, motorcycles, small cars, people walking. It is the wholesale market for spices and it was amazing – life and energy everywhere. You couldn’t stop looking around and you had to or you might be run over! We walked around and then got back on the rickshaw to go to the Jama Masjid, which is India’s largest mosque. It was gorgeous and such a place of peace in the middle of chaos. The tour guide gave me a gown to wear as all Westerners must be covered. It was a beautiful and peaceful place and important to be reminded of the beauty of Islam in today’s world. 

Priti then took us to a local Indian restaurant that she loves to go to. It was delicious and she helped us order. I had a marsala dolsi (?) which was delicious. After lunch, she took us to a market that she often goes to. It was lots of fun wiht so much to see. She knew that we wanted to buy the girls saris so she knew of a good place to get pretty saris for a reasonable price and a place where they will sew a clip in it so I would not have to learn how to wrap the whole thing around my waist. She said it is the best ways for younger girls to learn how to wear a sari. The whole experience was so fun. We picked out the fabric and then they took very loose measurements. We showed them pictures of the girls so they could estimate the sizes. The plan was to pick up the next day. 

We then drove a good ways to the Qutub Minar. Truthfully, not sure how far away it was, but the traffic is crazy so everything takes a long time. But, you just gaze out the window and soak it all in. Priti said it best, “my country is about experiences” and she is so right. The experience of just being in ndia is amazing. The energy is electric and contagious. The Qutub Minar is a huge tower built in 1193 by a Muslim sultan. It also has a outdoor mosque built below the tower. It was built on the site of a sacred Hindu location. After the Muslims came and defeated the Hindus at that time, they built this mosque on the site of a sacred spot. It was the locatin of 27 Hindu and Jain temples. The temples were destroyed and the stone materials were reused to build the tower. It was a huge site and very beautiful. Caroline would have loved it and taken hunderds of pictures. Part of it felt like old Roman ruins and she would love the archeology taking place. It was a special place. 

After a long drive back to the hotel, I took an afternnon nap. Hubert had tea in the hotel garden and then a massage. We dressed for dinner and at 8:15, our driver, Artie, picked us up. We had been invited by the owners of Amber Tours, Inder and Shanty Dugal, to have Thanksgiving dinner at their house. He laughed that their would be no turkey, but it would be nice to be with a family. We drove about an hour and a half to the “suburbs” of Delhi. The traffic was crazy and it took forever. Once we got there, we drove through a gate and it was like we entered a different planet. They live in a glorous “farm house” on 5 acres and it was incrediable to be in a peaceful place in such a huge city. The house was gorgeous. They greeted us and we sat in the living room. They had a server bringing us beautiful dishes of lamb, fried cheese, shrimp – all in Indian style. Their son, Amir, was there too. He is 8 and reminded me of Josie. He was so cute and stayed with us while we dined. Another guest from Australia joined us and it lead to great conversation. We moved into the dinning room and were served dish after dish of Indian food. They also had salad from their land so they assured me it was safe and I ate it. It was delicious. The food was the best! The family was adorable and the night was glorious! It was one of those nights that you know you will always remember. To be invited into one’s home gives you a special glimpse into the true personality of the country. It was a wonderful thanksgiving and I didn’t even miss the turkey! However, we did miss the girls like crazy! When we got back to the hotel around 12:30, we had a chance to talk to them and send our love. 

   
    
    
 

We made it to India!

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It was a long day yesterday, mainly waiting in the airports, but the flights all went as expected and it was very easy. We boarded the flight to Delhi in New York around 8 pm and we flew for about 14 hours. A little dinner, movie, and then sleep! It was easy. However, I was awoken in the middle of the night by a woman screaming. She was having a heart attack or panic attack. She was an elderly lady and a doctor was called to help her. It all turned out okay, but just heartbreaking to hear her. Hubert slept through it, which was good as he might have tried to pretend he was a doctor and try to help out!!!!! :):):)

Once we arrived in Delhi, we went through customs. It was fairly easy and everyone was very nice. As soon as we got our bags and walked through the gates, there was a man with Amber tours holding our names up. It was very easy. He grabbed and bags and we got in his car. However, first he presented us with flower leis and said “welcome to India.” By this time, it was 11:00 pm Wednesday night, so we drove to the Claridges Hotel in New Delhi to check in. At check-in, they presented us with fresh guava juice and a lady came over wiht a tray of rose petals and a small bowl with red paste. She said this is a traditional Indian welcome and she put a red dot on our forehead! The hotel is very elegant and clean. Our room is huge and it felt so good to be here. We ate some snacks and then went to bed as we have a busy day ahead of us!

Namaste!

   
    
 

Another Yarborough Adventure!

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This summer we had the best trip ever to Yellowstone in an RV. It was really a trip to end all trips! And as we talked as a family, we decided that travel would be our main family adventure going forward. Hubert and I asked the girls where they wanted to go next and they quickly said a Disney Cruise. So, Hubert and I begin planning and we gave them a new adventure for Christmas.

We bought the trip several months ago but had to keep a secret until Christmas Day. That was the hard part! We made a puzzle for them with a picture of the boat and the words, “start packing” on it. They unwrapped several presents with just a few pieces and were completely confused. Finally, we gave them all the pieces and they worked it out. When we enlightened them that we would be leaving for a Disney cruise and two days at Universal to go to Harry Potter world, the girls started screaming! Caroline had tears in her eyes and Josie kept hugging us!

So, after quickly taking down our tree on the 26th, packing, and spending time with my brother and nephew, we headed off to Orlando on the 27th. We left around 10:30 on Saturday and it took us 7 hours to get out of the state of SC. Mind you, our state is not that big, but the road conditions and traffic were awful. We were so frustrated and irritated, that it was hard to keep our happy faces on! The girls were in a much better mood than me and Hubert!

Along the way, I decided to call the hotel to tell them we were running late. There was no reservation! I died! I had booked the hotel online through a discount service, http://www.hoteltravel.com (don’t use!) and paid for a room up front at a Hampton Inn near Universal Studios. The reservation was not good and after getting in touch with the company, they tried to find a new place only to tell me they couldn’t find anything. Meanwhile, I was trying too with no luck. Finally, my mom (a travel agent) found us a room at the Renaissance near Seaworld. It was more expensive, but you get what you pay for and it was worth every penny! When we walked in to the hotel, orange was everywhere and we realized it was the sponsor hotel for the Clemson Tigers who were in a bowl game. So, we went all the way to Florida, but felt like we were home. Hubert even talked to Vic Beasley in the elevator and was starstruck!

On Sunday, we woke up early to get to Universal Studios in time for opening. Like most things, the Yarboroughs take amusement parks seriously. We plan our attack and work the system. So, we were at the entrance by opening and immediately went to Harry Potter world for the Hogwarts ride. We did not stop to see anything else. We decided to look at things AFTER the ride to get a quicker wait time. The ride was fantastic and after that, we loved exploring Hogsmeade and the surrounding area. Seeing Caroline in the HP world was worth it! And Josie is a new Harry Potter fan and loved seeing the fun treats and details! Then we went to the river ride in Jurassic Park which was a blast and very wet. Josie said, “It was totally worth it!” Then we took the Hogwarts Express over to Diagon Alley and we were blown away! The detail to the story of Harry Potter is unbelievable. I have read all of them and watched each movie and I felt like I walked right into that world. It was so fun exploring and we rode the Gringotts ride after some delicious ice cream.

A really cool thing we did was go to Ollivanders for a wand demonstration. In the book, Harry goes to buy a wand and the shopkeeper, Ollivander, helps find him the perfect wand. He says, “the wizard does not pick the wand, the wand picks the wizard.” We stood in line to watch a demonstration and a boy was picked for the show to “get” a wand. Afterwards, I asked Ollivander if I could have a picture with him and the girls. He asked if they wanted help picking out a wand. He then went on and did a private wand picking giving Caroline a wand out of holly due to her love of nature and animals and Josie a wand out of ivy for her strength and power of healing. He did not ask he girls any questions, but his words about them was so spot on! It was so cool and the girls beamed. He spoke of their unique bond that is an envy to all. I know it was a show, but we were beaming and we easily bought those expensive wands! (Plus, the wands are interactive in HP world – making all sorts of things move!)

After a long day of rides and exploring, we left the park around 7 (yes, 11 hours of fun!) and went back to the hotel for room service, showers and bed! The next day, we woke up and got to the park around 8:30. Since we had done mostly HP world the day before, we bought the express pass so we could enjoy our time riding the rides all over the park. Boy, did we ride the rides. We rode everything! Including a quick trip for me and Hubert on the Dragon chaser which had more upside down loops and turns than possible. My head almost exploded! The girls loved the Transformers ride most of all and we went on it twice. We did go back to HR world for some final time at Diagon Alley enjoying the experience. Then left the park around 6 and ate in the boardwalk area at an Italian restaurant. Once we got back to our car, we drove to Palm Beach for the night. (Josie slept the whole way)

This morning, we woke up and only had an hour drive to Miami for the cruise. It was an easy ride and so exciting! We arrived around 12:30 and had plenty of time to explore the ship. It is huge!!! Our room is great too. Caroline is so excited about the Tween area and Josie loved the kids’ club. WE explored all day and Hubert even got a massage! We set sail to Mickey and crew celebrating! A nice dinner and we are ready for bed. We are all very happy and ready for tomorrow’s adventure on Disney’s private island. Boy, our blessings are many! I know that I am biased, but I swear, this family is the best.

This is Y We Adventure!

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Over the last few days I have been thinking about what I can post that would not be redundant and boring.  Lee is a fantastic writer and has certainly captivated our daily experiences over the past 16 days with great detail. Furthermore, Caroline and Josie have added priceless posts that brings smiles and laughter. This post, my one and only, stems from a wooden sign.

On our second to last day in Yellowstone we stopped by the Visitor’s Center at Canyon Village.  The girls initiative was to receive their Junior Ranger badges from the Yellowstone Ranger station by demonstrating to the Park Ranger they had not only successfully completed their junior ranger workbooks but also proving they had accomplished the lab work objectives.  As I waited until they received their accolades, I was drawn to the sign above the entrance.  The inscription on the wood block sign was The Yellowstone Association’s Mission Statement that highlighted three words:  Insire. Educate. Preserve.  I read the mission statement several times, each time becoming more and more deep in thought.  INSPIRE.  EDUCATE.  PRESERVE!

The girls received their trophy badges and we returned to Minnie Winnie and proceeded to drive south through the Hayden Valley.  Again, these WORDS rang through my head.  What did this mean?  Why was this important?  And moreover, why were these words so relevant?  Here is my answer.

Inspire:  I want the very best for Caroline and Josie!  My hope is that by introducing them to the diversity of Yellowstone and the majestic grandeur of the Teton Mountain Range they will continue to be inspired to love mountains, grasslands, tundras and water sources.  I hope the dramatic force of the Yellowstone River and the meandering Snake River inspires them to appreciate the awesome danger, mystery and beauty of rivers.  I hope the horseback “western style” trail riding; the unpredictable weather and climate changes; the mountain wildland; the grizzly and black bears, the moose, the herds of bison and elk; and one of the last natural ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone will always inspire them to learn and an gain insight to God’s creations.  I hope they are inspired to always live spiritually when they visualize and recollect the beauty of The Chapel of the Transfiguration in Moose Village, WY.

Educate:  I hope we continue to aspire to learn and help others to learn.  Over the last 16 days we all learned so much!  The lessons about geology, thermal energy, weather patterns, the ecosytem, etc, seemed overwhelming and, at times, downright exhausting.  The education we learned about natural disasters (i.e. forest fires), earthquakes, volcanic eruptions were scary, especially to the girls!  Learning about types of scat and identifying animals’ scat was always a fun actiivity.  Learning how the mechanics of the RV (hook ups, the generator, dumping the “black” water) were all memorable and educational experiences.  As a family, we learned more than any post could tell.  But there is one thing I know for sure!  Each of us enjoyed every minute of our trip and took advantage of every learning opportunity that was presented.

Preserve:  When I read the word “Preserve” I immediately think of and define as “to protect.” While Yellowstone’s mission is to protect the natural beauty of 2.2 million acres, I too, have a mission to preserve and protect my family.  I watched Caroline and Josie both engage in activities that for some kids their age seemed impossible, ludicrous and/or “out of the question.”  Whether it was climbing over 10 foot boulders around Jenny Lake, riding horses along 100 foot muddy and rocky cliffs, holding the bow line of the raft while manevouring through Class 4 rapids, or taking the leadership role in dumping the RV sewage, I was always in that protective mode.  At least subtlely.  As a father (or mother), I suppose this is something we never really lose.  Inspiring and educating our kids seems to be fairly easy.  But it’s the “letting go and let them live” that’s hard.  How far to we let them go before we step in?  When do we offer fatherly advice and/or warnings?  Are they old enough to do that?  How far does “trial and error” go? These are a few reoccuring questions I pondered during our trip.  This I know:  I am proud of Caroline and Josie for having the “never give up” attitude.  I am proud that they are not scared to try new things.  I am proud of their adventurous spirits.  I am proud of their faith.  And I am proud they rarely give me push back when I step in to protect them.

In closing, it’s important that I express just how humble and how full of joy and love I am as a result of this journey.  In the months planning our trip I often wondered how I would react in the event of an unfortunate or stressful situation.  What if the RV had engine trouble along the way?  What if one of us got sick or hurt in the backcountry?  What if the weather prevented us from having any fun?  I suppose we got lucky.  With the exception of only one minor mishap, our expreience was perfect!  I feel there is no situation too difficult and there is no unhappiness too great to be overcome.  This trip has encouraged me to put spiritual principles into action and has reminded me that a higher power is in control and working alongside me.  Moreover, this journey has reminded me of just how much I love Lee, Caroline and Josie.