We'll leave Chicago for a quick visit with friends in Los Angeles, and then jet off to Hong Kong for a few days. From there, we're going to Hanoi, Vientiane, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Saigon, then back up to Hanoi to depart back to the United States.

About six years ago, there was an article in National Geographic, with a ten page photo essay on modern Hanoi and the rapid pace of change that was happening in Asia. The writer talked about the culture and tradition of the people and the region, the French influence and how much the nation has grown since the 1970's. With China rapidly expanding and the ripple effect that this is having around Asia, the writer suggested that, if one has the opportunity, to visit Vietnam in the next ten years, before it changes too much. Kate and Kevin have talked about that article, and how interesting that trip would be, as well as getting to know the other nations nearby. We've planned a trip that takes us through all of the key countries of Southeast Asia (excepting, sadly, Burma), and gives us the chance to get to know the capitals of these countries, while still seeing the countryside and the people, by taking trains between destinations.

Our hope is that we'll come back to Chicago with stamped passports, lots of photos, happy memories and great stories to tell. But also, we want to know what the rest of the world is like. Neither one of us has the time or the resources to stop and see an entire region (let alone the globe). We hope that this is the first of many trips around the planet, and that by seeing the world around us, we can be more informed citizens.