For years, I’ve had a strong interest in preserving travel memories– way before the digital age. Scrap-booking was the way to go before blogging! And oh, did I scrap-book!
I guess you could say my first overseas trip was leaving Burma (Myanmar) to our new home to the US at the age of 12 in 1980. That’s the same year J came to the US (although J was born in Canada and lived in Taiwan until they moved to the US ).
My first trip to London and Scotland was in 1992. First trip to Mexico, now known as the Riviera Maya, was in 1993. I’ve been back there repeatedly since. Mexico is my go to place when I need to get away from Texas. I went back to Burma in 1998 after 18 years. Lucky for me travel seems to be in my blood and the urge to jaunt is a constant denominator
Fast forward. Having traveled before and after college, during our marriage, and after having our child, I always hoped, someday, that we would live abroad, maintain simpler lives, and see more of the world.
Taiwan
In fact, after our 3-month sabbatical during the summer of ’09, we decided to relocate to Thailand in 2010. My dream came true and we left Texas during the holiday weekend of Independence day of 2010. Yes, the timing was purposeful!
Holy Mt. Zion, Taiwan in 2001
Holy Mt. Zion, Taiwan
Beginning of Our Family Annual Travel Tradition- M's First Birthday England 2004
Before we ventured out on our 2009 summer sabbatical, we started a twitter account under the name of @GotPassport in May 2009. It was a way to connect with other travelers, obtain information, tips and guidance about our destinations.
We have found and met, on-line and in person, so many wonderful travel tweeps during this time. Along the way we met other travelers and began to explore their blogs. With a few tweeps encouraging us along the way, we decided to preserve our story and record memories for our daughter.
Annual Birthday Trip Italy 2006
In April 2009, I created an account with Matador Travel, but didn’t really blog there as much as we thought we might or could during the time we were gone. While in Thailand, J started our blog with WordPress. Yes, *HE* started blogging while we were in Thailand. 
Annual Birthday Trip Spain 2007
We enjoy documenting our travels. We also have a passion to share our philosophy to give large and plant seeds so that others would be inspired to commit more acts of kindness.
M volunteering @ Pre- Mexico Medical Mission Prep 2007
“How wonderful it is that nobody need to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
With student volunteers to Mexico Medical Mission 2008
Through our blog, hopefully, our daughter will appreciate and understand the reasons for our decisions, whatever they may be in our lives. We want to guide her to become a responsible, kind, compassionate and humble human being.
Hermann Park in Houston 2008
Disney World March 2009
Blogging for us is not just about crossing things off of our Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) list.
We certainly have a lot of places we want to see in the world, that’s for sure.
However, this blog is about being of service to others in need.
- It is about planting seeds.
- It is about living simply with less material things and more experiences.
- It is about learning from the places and the people we meet in different parts of the world.
- It’s about building community and creating win-win solutions.
- It is about being true to who we really are.
- It is about sharing lessons we’ve learned along the way, hopefully, passing on the lessons to our precious M.
We have been given the opportunity to create quite a decent life for ourselves in America and we are extremely grateful Americans.
We wish to give not just in donations, but our effort and time, to people who will never be able to repay us.
We wish to live green, live small, give large and take little.
We feel that this standard of living is the ONE for our family.
We love to travel, explore, serve and inspire others to do more good: that is our passion.
Our Friend and Guide, Mr. Plat in Cambodia 2009
We thank each of you for reading and visiting our blog.
We are truly humbled by the idea of having an audience.
When we are writing about our EXPERIENCES and SERVICE, we feel a sense of joy and pride in preserving the memories of something we so adore– for our family– for our M.
LOVE this, you guys. Proud to know you and be a witness to the beginning of something amazing for your family! Lisa @TheWorldCalls
What a great reason. I love it. Please keep it up. @Dtravelsround
@Lisa and @Dtravelsound
thank you both for stopping by to learn more about us. We are very excited about our future. We also appreciate your support for sure.
Cheers!
Great blog, beautiful photos, very excited for your new adventures
Happy travels!!
Simone
Hey Thanks Simone! Great to see you here, Thanks.
I have only recently discovered your blog, but I am sure glad you choose to. Love hearing about the adventures of other travellers. Keep it up.
Hello Dark Nomad,
Thanks for your comment and for stopping by. We will have to stop by your website to check it out.
You guys have such a beautiful family all with such giving hearts!
great post guys!
cheers!
You guys are great! Thanks for being an inspiration to our blogging community. I am new, so need lots of tips. Feel free.
I appreciate your values of living simply and ample giving. Will definitely visit often.
Nice to know more about your background. Good job. Yes, you are writers.
I recently got married and my hubby-slash-backpacking partner are now expecting our 1st child. I love reading about families who travel together. Will surely come back to read more of your posts!
Awesome. Glad you found us. Traveling with a child is definitely doable! We’ve been traveling with her since she was only months young. It’s great!
Congrats on your blog, guys. Looks great!
Thanks Rich! Appreciate your support!
Wonderful post! Good luck with your move to Thailand. I’m heading that way in August and I can hardly wait. I love that you guys take annual birthday trips, great idea.
Thanks Pam. Let’s make sure we hook up in Chiang Mai, Thailand when you are there.
It was great meeting you and looking forward to many more updates from you, let the adventures & obvious good times roll.
Hey Rob,
What a pleasant surprise to find you here on our site. Thanks for stopping by here. Yes, it was great to meet you in BKK. Hope we’ll run into one another again.. maybe in Chiang Mai??
A
How exciting to be moving to Thailand. It’s great to find other families who travel with their kids. Keep it up!
Hi Rachel. Thanks for stopping by!