Fooooood

After spending five months back in the States, James and I are on our way back to Asia! We drove the length of the country twice this spring while visiting friends and family. During our travels we got to try some tasty new (to us) restaurants that will be making our mouths water for a long time to come. (We're heading back a few pounds heavier, and I'm not talking about our luggage.) We feel compelled to share our top three most delicious stops:

Third Runner Up: DOCK STREET OYSTER BAR in Wilmington, North Carolina

Though we had lots of amazing seafood while home (I just can't get enough of it), Dock Street was all-around delish and affordable. Their oysters were so good we ordered a second round! The steamed "Sesame Ginger Calamari" was wonderfully perfect too--a real refreshing take on a normally fried appetizer.

Second Runner Up: SMITTY'S MARKET in Lockhart, Texas

James and I had never put much stock in all the talk about barbecue in Texas, but this hole-in-the-wall made believers of us. This is a no-fuss place. Incredibly flavorful pork is taken directly from the smoker, chopped next to a soot-covered register, and is handed to you wrapped in brown butcher paper. No plates, forks, or knives, but you might get a plastic spoon for your sides of beans and slaw if you ask nicely. Our package full of brisket, ribs, and sausage was the most delicious BBQ we've ever tasted.

First Pick: SNAKE BITE in Idaho Falls, Idaho

The atmosphere at this small, unassuming steakhouse was more along the lines of an independent cafe and coffee house. Nevertheless, the food was shockingly delicious. In fact, James loved his meal so much that the "Blue Snake River" burger has now replaced his long-standing favorite from The Duke's in Chiang Mai, Thailand as the best burger in the world.

We recommend everything on the menu, but especially the "Blue Snake River" and "Grand Teton" burgers.

We're now looking forward to a couple bowls of noodles and some hot pot, but we can't say we haven't enjoyed America's foodie culture while being home! Yum.

Ohio happenings

We have been in Ohio for almost three weeks now. I must say, it has been a terrific stay. Aside from the weather being absolutely gorgeous, we have lots of opportunities to catch up with friends and family that we haven't seen in years.

Fortunately, the weather has been nice enough to fire up Andy's (Laura's Dad) charcoal grill. We have eaten steaks, tenderloins, and ribs. Mhhmmmm! Unfortunately for us, it looks like we might be heading back to China with a few extra
pounds, and that's not in our luggage :)

Below are a few snapshots of some activities we've been up to these past weeks.

Mark "helping" Susan with pound cake preperations

.

Andy, conquering the lawn.

Susan cuddling with Mina.

Laura showcasing her wedge shots.

Bocce ball in the backyard (Laura and I are still undefeated)

Outside an Amish bulk foods store.

I was able to take this beautiful '69 Camaro for a spin.

USA

Laura and I are back in America. Actually we've been back in America for over 3 months now. Ashamedly, we haven't gotten around to the blog because we've too busy enjoying ourselves in this beautiful country!

We had a nice 3 leg, 30 hour total return flight back from China on Valentines Day. Actually, we had a 7 hour layover in Hong Kong where we enjoyed a nice Valentines Day meal to break up our long journey.

Our first stop was California with the Rosenberg rents. Overall, we stayed with them for 6 weeks. It was such a sweet time of reconnecting and rejuvenation. My parents spoiled us with tasty food and a family trip to Monterey. I, James, am definitely an out-of-sight-out-of-mind kinda guy, so being able to spend 6 weeks with my family was truly a refreshing time.

Next, we started our month long road trip across the country. As the map above shows, we started off hitting Southern California then so on and so forth. We were a bit hesitant to spend 4 weeks traveling across the country, especially on a 12 year old car, but we thought it would be worth it to connect with all of our friends and family scattered throughout the country. While we were in AZ, we visited the Grand Canyon where we hiked over 12 miles out into the beautiful canyon. In Lockhart, Texas we ate some of the best brisket in the entire world. In FL, we stopped at Panama City Beach and enjoyed a much needed day of r&r. Not to mention all the family and friends we were able to see along the way. Truly a blessing.

Now, we have just arrived in Ohio to spend the next 6 weeks with Laura's parents. They welcomed us with open arms and slobbery kisses (that was mina, their boxer dog), and we can't wait to reconnect and create new memories with them. Last night, we went out to the baseball fields and watched Laura's alma mater beat Zanesville 5-1. Go Tornadoes!

On a side note, America has been treating us really well. Many people warned us of reverse culture shock, but to be honest we have experienced minimal stress entering back into America. The most noticeable shock so far has been the price of food and other items. Whew, is America expensive! But Laura said it right, America only feels halfway like home, the other half is still in China. It's like half of our life is going on without us, but being back in the States feels so familiar. Well, this is the life we live and we put our trust in Him who holds our ultimate resting place.

Fire Destroys Old Town

A devastating fire that has received international media attention has hit close to our home away from home. Only a few months earlier we ate at a restaurant, slept at a guest house, and browsed shops on our way to visit friends in this area. In tens hours this past Saturday (January 11, 2014), these spots burned completely to the ground. Please keep our friends, as well as all of those affected by the fire, in your thoughts! They face the loss of not only property and livelihoods, but also a piece of history. The freezing temperatures that hindered the efforts of firefighters and volunteers will also displace many people, and the rebuilding process is likely to be long and arduous. Our hope is that through all of these struggles, our friends will be a light and help.

It Snowed!

Though we live in the foothills of the Himalayas, it rarely snows here. Winter is the dry season, so we miss out on the fluffy white stuff more often than not. This past weekend, however, we got a special Christmas treat! It snowed! And even accumulated about an inch or so overnight. We had a blast watching the city transform into a winter wonderland.

our place

We attempted to visit a nearby mountaintop for a snowy play date, but icy road conditions turned us back. Still, enough snow had collected by the roadside to keep us entertained!

Finally, temperatures plummeted to -17°C (or 1.4°F) overnight this week. That might not seem all that impressive to some of you until you consider the fact that buildings are not heated here. When was the last time you woke up indoors and saw your breath, huh!?