Sept. 23, 2006 - After Hong Kong, I hopped over to Malaysia for a few days of solo travel before the YLG conference began. I didn't have much time, but managed to zip through Kuala Lumpur, relax (briefly) in the Cameroon Highlands, and connect with some friends on the island of Penang.

Sept. 20, 2006 - En route to Malaysia, I stopped in Hong Kong to visit friends Chris and Corrie Van Velzer. They had moved to the hopping Asian island only weeks before to live with Corrie's family before making the big move to Shanghai. They showed me the ropes in Hong Kong, from the American Club and Chinese Club to the Giant Buddha and Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island. Truly a blast...

June 5, 2006 - Headed up north with a group of friends from here in the desert for a long weekend in Yosemite National Park, one of the most stunningly beautiful places I have ever been. We camped in the outskirts of the park and spent the days hiking. Particularly memorable was my experience at Half Dome. Towering at nearly 9,000 feet, Half Dome kicked my butt. I think the guidebooks labeled the hike "outrageously, intensely, overwhelmingly strenuous" (or something like that). And indeed, it was. The 17 miles of hiking we put in that day really took it out of me, but the views from the top were spectacular - and almost made it worth the effort! The weekend was also full of quality fellowship with some great folks - many of whom are, sadly, moving away in the next few weeks.

May 13, 2006 - Miracle of miracles, three close friends and I found an entire week where our schedules converged and allowed us to get away for a week with the gents. With Jonathan getting married, Chris moving to Hong Kong, Rob starting a serious new job and me hanging out in the desert, this was a key time in each of our lives - a rare opportunity for some quality time. And so we took a week up at the Zacharia lakehouse north of Sacramento, roughing it in sunny 70 degree weather right on the lake. The week was consumed with water-skiing, wake-boarding, fishing (and eating fresh fish), andrew dominating in pool, outstanding food, superb wine, quality fellowship, a whole lot of sitting around and Jesus. It was fantastic.

May 4, 2006 - I spent the week in D.C. for work-related meetings in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer. It was a great time to poke around the nation's capital. I also got time with Rob Garey, a good friend from my Pepperdine days who may have political aspirations. Anyone who's anyone in D.C. knows Rob...maybe.