The Debut of Photo Friday

Many of the blogs I follow feature a Photo Friday and I love the idea. I asked each of my directors as well as my tour consultants and staff around the world to send me a photo each Friday that summed up their week. I wasn’t picky…A beautiful sunset, a night out with friends, anything from where they are in the last week. So here it is, the Journeys Within Photo Friday Debut!

April O’Connell Cole/Tour Consultant/Truckee, CA, USA

April says: “This week we experienced a full-on blizzard in Truckee. Four feet of fresh snow Tuesday night alone. It is so nice of my husband to allow me to always park in the garage. This is what he had to deal with Wednesday morning before heading to work.”

Narla Phay/Cambodia Director/Siem Reap, Cambodia

Narla says, “Spending time with friends on weekend at Kulen Mountain which 50km from Siem Reap town. Nice and cold there.”

Andrea Ross/Director or Tours/Siem Reap, Cambodia

I say, ” The last time I crossed from Thailand to Cambodia by bus was seven years ago and after an epic 19 hour journey I swore I would never do it again. With the promise of new roads and an easier crossing I reneged and tried it this weekend. It took me 6 hours and was a piece of cake. The roads are better, but the border hasn’t changed at all, still a bit scary and very poor. Imagine the San Diego/TJ border, now imagine that TJ is the good size. Yea, not pretty.”

Van Thanh and Loan Ho/Vietnam Directors/Hanoi, Vietnam

Loan and Van sent me two photos this week and say, “I think these photos will make you laugh. One is of Van in Dalat dressed in traditional dress and the other is the old photo of Van trying rice wine with Callie and Couper watching.”

JWOC photo of the week.

JWOC says, “19 new scholarship students in Cambodia, thank you donors and here’s to a great year of over 60 students working on JWOC projects. “

Kwanchanok “Jeab” Meechai /Thailand Director/Bangkok, Thailand

Jeab says, “There was the farewell of the previous director and I had booked the private room for 15 persons at Yok Yor restaurant. About 7 pm, tour guides were coming at the restaurant one by one. The dinner was going well, most the food are healthy menu like fish this, fish that, veggie that veggie this…Oyyy! Very busy ordering and talking after haven’t seen each other quite long time. But after the foods had arrived there is silence, the food’s so great “Aroii maak!” After ate, Andrea said good bye to Waew and Waew said good bye officially and also said welcome to me and Aoy as well. I didn’t say much just said, “Thank you and I will survive” because there was an excitement made all the word that I thought I have to say that day has gone. But anyway the farewell went well. Wish Waew have a good luck and great time with her husband in Canada and I will replace her to be director, Thailand! I will enjoy my job, wish me luck!

Nicole Long/Laos Director/Luang Prabang, Laos

Phaeng was taking the pics during the ceremony.  The pic of just Jim (a Journeys Within guest) is pretty great.  Traditionally, for the Basi the oldest women of the village put everything together and in the pic of Jim is the oldest and most respected woman in the village tying on the blessing strings.  The other woman was showing him how to hold his hand correctly to the revered elders in the community.