In our final Egypt podcast installment we focus on the colorful tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the monumental Temple of Luxor and more. We took a road trip to Abydos and Dendera temples too.

Also see:
Traveling Cairo on a Budget
Visiting Sekhmet at Karnak Temple — Finding Our Inner Fire

Top of Page

We spent an entire week in Luxor, Egypt, staying in an Airbnb apartment within walking distance to the Karnak Temple. In this podcast we share our intimate experience with the Egyptian Goddess Sekhmet at the Temple of Ptah, Sekhmet and Nefertom.

We also share our hot air balloon experience high above the Valley of the Kings.

This is our second podcast from Egypt. Also see... Traveling Cairo, Egypt on a Budget.

Top of Page

Pyramid time! It's our second visit to Egypt and we tackled Cairo on our own as independent travelers—unlike our first time in 2023 as part of a wonderful tour group.

It's totally doable, enjoyable and rewarding! There were some twists and turns in our generous week-long visit! We visited a couple new places (Wadi El Rayan and the Faiyum Oasis) and some simple favorites from our first visit like having lunch at Khan El Khalili Restaurant & Naguib Mahfouz Cafe in the lively central Cairo bazaar.

And of course we ascended the Grand Gallery of the Great Pyramid to the King's Chamber. Listen to the podcast for a tip on how you can get a VIP-like private visit on the cheap! No need to pay the special access fee for some privacy!

We also visited Luxor, Dendera and Abydos covered on a separate podcast.

See our Egypt page for details on our hotels, some 2025 pricing and a list of helpful people (with WhatsApp contacts) if interested.

Top of Page

Our friends John and podcast host Nancy join us for an intimate discussion about death in Oregon, USA.

Almost all 50 US states have State-supported home funeral options. Home funerals can address and honor a complex emotional time that fosters family and community to come together to create a unique and meaning experience of saying goodbye to our loved ones.

John opted to have his Mother's funeral at home, with assistance from death doula and our friend Nancy Ward. John shares the story of his Mother's 2023 illness and death using hospice followed by a home funeral he designed with his family, with assistance from Nancy.

We also share a conversation about the end of life and home funeral and natural burial for our Doberman, Dino, who died nine years ago.

Also see Part One.

Top of Page

Our friends John and podcast host Nancy join us for an intimate discussion about death in Oregon, USA.

Almost all 50 US states have State-supported home funeral options. Home funerals can address and honor a complex emotional time that fosters family and community to come together to create a unique and meaning experience of saying goodbye to our loved ones.

John opted to have his Mother's funeral at home, with assistance from death doula and our friend Nancy Ward. John shares the story of his Mother's 2023 illness and death using hospice followed by a home funeral he designed with his family, with assistance from Nancy.

We also share a conversation about the end of life and home funeral and natural burial for our Doberman, Dino, who died nine years ago.

Also see Part Two.

Top of Page

Rich has been away from the United States for over a year and will be returning later this summer, along with hubby Paul, to a country our podcast host Commissioner Nancy Ward says is in turmoil and will be unrecognizable.

We're uneasy about going home! We talk at length about recent outrageous, oddly un-American political developments in the United States.

A hasty departure from our troubled America will be followed by a month in northern Italy and two weeks in Egypt. We're going around the world in 85 days. In this podcast we preview our careful planning.

Top of Page

Malaysia sits at the crossroads of our SE Asia playground. After our wonderful visit last year we decided to return for a longer visit at our same Airbnb in Kuala Lumpur. Shopping, medical services and alopathic and alternative healing was a highlight throughout. We enjoyed a second visit to Malaysia's second city of Ipoh, known for it's lively food scene among other charming features. Rich took a solo getaway to Cameron Highlands too and lived through his slip and fall mishap to enjoy the region's fresh strawberries and cooler temperatures.

Top of Page

Our friend Nancy Ward talks to us about living abroad through the poltical missteps in the United States. We share highlights from our recent two week visit to India. We’re hiding out on the beach in southern Thailand.

Top of Page

Paul is solo on this podcast, without Rich, answering questions about our travel lives from dear friend Commissioner Nancy Ward as she guest-hosted with Brady Preheim on the program Odd Friday on KOHI radio in Scappose, Oregon, USA. Topics discussed include Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority, the view of America from abroad, practical considerations when traveling like safety, money, medical tourism and more.

Top of Page

We surprised ourselves and spent three months in Indonesia in 2024! Our initial visit in the spring included two weeks in Bali and two weeks in Java. Then, after a month each in Sri Lanka and India, we came back and spent two full months just in Bali. We love it and below we tell you all about it!

Top of Page

After our month in Auroville (see Part 1 - podcast #18), we stopped on our way back to the Chennai airport to visit the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. As one of India's popular tourist sites, Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 7th- and 8th-century Hindu monuments. We then spent the night at the wonderful Trident Hotel Chennai near the Chennai airport. This is our third visit to India. It’s such a welcoming country. We love the food, the culture and the people!

Top of Page