Loved reading your blog, hopefulist. It's very interesting and inspiring, and the pictures are great, too. Fun looking market you shopped at, and those whale sharks - wow, exciting and a little spooky looking! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks! It was a great trip - actually 3 great trips in 1.

I always enjoying hearing about your trips. Must be just wonderful to be away for so long.

It WAS wonderful - but also GREAT to be home! Since my husband and I are both teachers and we travel in inexpensive ways, we're able to plan longer vacations than some folks. We're looking forward to retiring (I have 30 years in so could retire anytime; my husband has 3 years to go and we're planning to retire at the same time) so our trips won't be restricted to the summer months.

hopeful, I'm really enjoying your blog and all your photos. I haven't made it all the way through yet, so I'm throwing a bookmark on here so I can find it again. What kind of underwater camera do you have? I would love your recommendation on what kind to get.

I use a Pentax Optio W60 and I bought my husband a little Fuji Z33; I prefer his and they're much cheaper and smaller. I bought mine in an attempt to have 1 all around good travel camera but, though it's great underwater, has a fabulous macro ability, and is decent for landscapes, it's HORRIBLE in low light settings, especially indoors. This year I traveled with my new Panasonic DCM-ZS3 (not waterproof but an awesome compact, superzoom camera) and the Pentax. The Z33 is perfect for my husband who takes very few photos that aren't fishing or snorkeling related. Glad you're enjoying the blog - happy trails!

Thanks, h - which camera did you use to take that awesome underwater turtle photo? I love that one.

Pentax Optio W60

Those turtles were AMAZING.

Thanks. We just saw big turtles at Hol Chan, and I was so wishing I had an underwater camera. I just got to your whale shark pictures. Talk about wow!