Travis frolicks in the waves of the Andaman Sea, Thailand.

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Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

ROCK CLIMBING IN RALEIGH

After we left Koh Lanta, we took a longtail boat to a small cove called Raleigh for two days. Raleigh is world famous for it's spectacular red rock and limestone cliffs. The sunset view from our kayaks made the giant cliffs burn like fire as they rose up out of the sea. The waters surrounding the cliffs ignited into a translucent lava pit. It was the most intoxicating and vibrant sunset we've witnessed to date.

We also tried our luck at rock climbing. As you might imagine, Travis made a good show using his natural tree climbing skills. He climbed 100 feet up a sheer vertical limestone wall on his first day! Katie liked climbing rocks too, but prefered to stay a little closer to the ground. Check out the pics below...

Travis shows off his natural climbing abilities on a class 6+ vertical face, Raleigh, Thailand.

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Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

Katie climbs her first rock in Raleigh, Thailand.

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Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

Serene sunsets over pristine waters, perfect for a holiday by the ocean: Raleigh, Thailand.

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Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

Xmas Eve dinner at a nice hotel, they gave us santa hats and candy canes; and even had a dancing monkey show.

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Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

CHRISTMAS ON KOH LANTA

Happy Holidays from the warm tropical island of Koh Lanta!

Thanks to Travis's hard work while we were home in Seattle, we're now spending 10 fabulous days and nights on Koh Lanta: a small island located 14 hours south of Bankok, near Phuket (see link for map above). We have been hiking in the jungle, spelunking in caves filled with bats, and of course, sampling a variety of fresh oceanic fare.

As you might have suspected, we are also doing lots of scuba diving. Koh Lanta is near some world class dive sites. We've already seen pufferfish, poisenous sea snakes, giant morray eels, gorgeous red and purple coral, and a 12 ft. manta sting ray! We're both feeling right at home on the open Andaman Sea... it must be that Norgwegian blood thriving in us.

Cheers to you and yours during this holiday season. If you happen to be spending Christmas in a place where the weather is cold, we are sending you warm pina colada kisses on the breeze from the other side of the world.

At home on our dive boat, the SS ScubaFish.

At home on our dive boat, the SS ScubaFish.
Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

Trekking in a jungle of 200 year old Banyon trees, Koh Lanta, Thailand.

Jungle trekking in a forest of 200 year-old Banyon trees.
Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

Katie shows off her fire dancing skills after a mouth watering dinner of BBQ fish and curry.

Katie shows off her fire dancing skills after a mouth watering dinner of BBQ fish and curry.
Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

Katie's Niece, Olivia, was born on October 08, 2007 in Moscow, Idaho.

Katie's Niece Olivia
Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

WE DREAMT WE VISITED SEATTLE

Have you ever had a dream that seemed to go on and on? The kind of dream that sticks with you when you wake up in the morning, where you can remember every little detail? This was our experience of going back home for two months.

Our trip home was quite successful. Katie finished her Master's in Education degree at Antioch University. Travis climbed lots of trees and was given a gallery offer for some of his photographs (he's already sold a print!). Katie's sister delivered a gorgeous baby girl, named Olivia Mariam Bateman. We shared Thanks-Giving dinner with our family and friends. Finally, we said our goodbyes from the airport last week.

And then we woke up... all of a sudden we were back in Thailand again. Admittedly, we both missed Thailand very much while we were home. Thai food (Mmm... mangoes and sticky rice), Thai tropical weather, hearing the national anthem playing over loud speakers everyday at 8am and 6pm. Ahh, it's good to be back.

More details on Katie's new school and our new home in Bangkok coming soon...

Travis at the half-way point: counting down, "Only 4 weeks until we return to Thailand!"

Travis at the half-way point: counting down, "only 4 weeks until we go back to Thailand!"
Originally uploaded by migratorynature.

Look, I'm an auntie!

Look, I'm an auntie!
Originally uploaded by migratorynature.