The Backewicz-s were officially our first friends to come visit us in China. We rewarded them with an all-expenses-paid (by sharing) vacation to Hainan island, China's 'TAKE THAT!' answer to Hawaii! Bundles of beaches, sunsets, monkeys, and cullinary adventuring. Look at these pictures while sipping on some Goat Placenta Wine, and you've practically been there with us.

Just after Christmas, Corrie and I headed to Vietnam for the New Year with the Zac pack. 3 days in Hanoi, 3 days in DaNang - 6 days of feasting, sightseeing, and some relaxing.

Beijing is a rural village of about 15 billion people in China. It is one of the cleanest cities in the world, and on an average day you can see all the way to Antartica from a high building (or was it the most polluted city on earth, and on a good day you're lucky if you can see the blood you just coughed up in your handkerchief...). Last weekend, the Zacharias and Van Velzers headed up to explore this large, wild city. Because of a very sensitive political delegation in town, the weather was actually great, since the Chinese government routinely shuts off all factories leading up to such visits. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Tianamen Square, and some Peking Duck are among the photo-tacular adventures within...

Andrew Brumme, Rob Garey, and Jonathan Bakewicz (aka, Beastman), joined me for a full week of eating, water-sports, fishing, and eating at the Zacharia Lakehouse. Pictures of of a giant, pre-historic carp are within, as well as random shots of us waterskiing, wakeboarding, eating, and eating.

These pictures have nothing to do with Megadeth or carnage... but what a Christmas! We rang in the season with family and fun. There are also some test shots with my new Nikon D70 at the end!