Amerika and back to Indonesia

Coming back to all of our family and friends in America for 6 weeks was AWESOME! We enjoyed spending time together laughing and chatting over meals, at baseball games, driving old Model-Ts, rock  climbing, hiking, tasting local brews, tasting the local catch, celebrating birthdays, Independence day and much, much more! Many thanks to all of you who opened up your homes to us, fed us, played with us and/or took time out of your schedules to spend with us! We are richly blessed by our family and friends! THANK YOU!

A BIG fan!

Going to visit Grandma's gravesite was very special

Ahhh... San Diego Taco Shops!

Pablo & Leslie in action!

The Model-T surprise!

Ashley and Nesta chillin' at Santee Lakes for the San Diego BBQ.

We went to Yosemite and did the classic Mist Trail to Vernal Falls hike

Cragging next to Yosemite Falls with Curt and Graham!

Before we got eaten by mosquitos on our overnight to Pophry Lake.

Picnicking at the park with Uncle Bob, Cousin Sarah and Jace in Sun Valley, ID

Great hike with Cousin Rhiana!

Beautiful Glacier National Park!!!

A great adventure shared with Melissa & Jason!

Cousins Steve & Donna - our wonderful hosts and tour guides!

Snow, snow everywhere! Date: 20 June!

Yeah... we ride Clydesdales and drink Budweiser! ;D

Paddling on Twin Lakes, ID with the Lee's!

...and we shoot guns.

Mom, Dad and Sister Spinelli with their Indonesian oleh-oleh(souvenirs)!

The 2nd annual Spinelli family 4th of July washers match!

Now we are back in our little mining town of Tembagapura. Dave is busy at the school working and Leslie is busy getting back to her routine of exercise, volunteering and house keeping ;D. 

Where' Waldo? Check out these elephant ears!!! 

Hornbills flying overhead! 

Dave in his new Batik! Thursdays are wear your Batik day at the schools.

A delicious pesto-goat cheese pizza. 

Dave meeting the Persipura players from our local Indonesian league team!

Friend and teacher at D's school, Christina, is very excited to be meeting the players.

As are our friends Mario & Elpinus. They are NOT phased by the perpetual rain.

Bhutan: The Himalayan Kingdom of Happiness

Over Easter break we had the chance of a lifetime! We experienced the Land of The Thunder Dragon, The Kingdom of Happiness, The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan! Where they prioritize measuring their nations GNH (Gross National Happiness) before their GDP. Enjoy the photos and captions...

A Bhutanese house, built in the traditional architectural style

Prayer wheels and praying women at the Jigme Doji Ra Memorial Stupa in Thimpu.
 Thimpu, pronounced - tim-poo- is Bhutan's capital city.

Relaxing and listening to the radio at the Stupa while the people go round-and-round in prayer

No, it's not the entrance to a Las Vegas casino, it's The world's largest Buddha statue! Made of cooper and completely from donations.

Meet our all-knowing and enduring guide, Kota! Seen around town wearing his traditional Gho.
(Answering all of our weighing questions, like: "Where can I find the Yeti?") 

Conserving their natural resources, one of Bhutan's 4 pillars of Happiness. 

Beetle nut chewing monks coming down from the Tonga Meditation Center

OM MA NI PE ME HU CHI 

Nothing left unpainted at these monasteries. 

Our Farmhouse experience!

Starting out with some hot butter tea... salty! Senda, our driver throughout the trip in the background. 

...and capping off with some local Ara - home-brewed wheat wine.

Dave and Kota -not in his Gho- on our trek! 

Our lead horseman playing a flute he found.

D playing a nomad game - a mix of darts and horseshoes. 

Our 1st night camp!

A brief peek of the Himalayan peaks!

A humble camp! ;D 

D looking for the Yeti in a bear's den. Unfortunately he only found a tick!

Only the necessities... 

Some friends we made along the way! Awe... so cute... 

Views of and from the Chorten Nyibo Monastery - our last camp of the trek. 

Did I mention the 2 horsemen, 2 cooks, 1 guide & 6 horses required for D & I to go trekking?!!! Yeah, I know, still working on that pillar of conservation! 

Some kind friends to greet us as we finished our trek...

The Punaka Dzong. The home of Bhutan's original capital.

D was always making our guide, Kota, so proud! 

Views from the Temple of The Divine Madman.

Tiger's Nest!