The Enchilada
Home | The Enchilada Across America | The Enchilada Kamps with Kiwis | The Enchilada Hops Across Oz | The Enchilada Heads to SEA | The Enchilada Steppes Into Mongolia | The Enchilada Embraces the Euro(s) | The Enchilada Safaris Around Southern Africa | The Enchilada Stops in South America | Who we are | How to contact us | Why "Enchilada"? | Enchilada in the News | The Enchilada FAQ

frontpage.jpg
Nambung National Park, Western Australia

One Year

Two Backpacks

A World to Explore




On December 1st, 2002 Garvin and Karen headed off on a once in a lifetime adventure.   We left our jobs, gave up our apartment, and put our stuff in storage in order to backpack around the world. One year, 6 continents, 17 countries, and countless miles later we returned to the United States. The following pages and pictures are a chronicle of our time on the road. We hope you enjoy the ride.   

UPDATES

12.21.03 FAVORITE PICTURES

To save you some clicks, we've compiled some of our favorite pictures from our trip on one page. Enjoy.

Our Favorite Pictures

12.1.03 SOUTH AMERICA

karengarvinmine.jpg
Potosi, Bolivia

In some ways it was very typical of our travels: we showed up in South America without a clue where we were going or what we were going to do. In other ways, however, it was quite different: we ended up spending one month in one place. Where was it? Check out our latest (and our last) update below. Also, now that we are home,  we have added a FAQ to our web-site which answers some, well,  frequently asked questions.

The Enchilada Stops in South America

9.4.03 SOUTHERN AFRICA

garvinsculpture.jpg
Cape Town, South Africa

karensculpture.jpg
Cape Town, South Africa

Yup, that's us (Garvin on the left, Karen on the right). These were sculpted one night during dinner by the talented 15 year old daughter of one of our South African host families. To see how six weeks of African travel led us to look like this, please click on the link below.

The Enchilada Safaris Around Southern Africa

7.15.03 EUROPE

karengarvinsunset.jpg
Cabo Sao Vicente, Portugal

On the one hand, now that most of Europe has converted to the Euro, you don't have to change money every time you enter a new country. On the other hand, no one stamps your passport anymore. Just one of many thoughts we had while skipping through Europe. For some others, check out our lastest update.

The Enchilada Embraces the Euro(s)

6.6.03 SOUTH KOREA/MONGOLIA

garvinkarenpacks.jpg
Muron, Mongolia

We were just a few days away from crossing the Chinese border. We had just purchased our China guidebook from a fellow traveller the day before. But then, while sitting on our bed in our $2.50 a night room in northern Laos and listening to our shortwave radio, we learned from the BBC that the SARS epidemic in China was out of control. China was now out. So we drew up a list ... (more)

The Enchilada Steppes Into Mongolia

4.27.03 SOUTHEAST ASIA

karenjumpingvangvieng1.jpg

garvinjumpingvangvieng.jpg

splashvangvieng.jpg
Vang Vieng, Laos

Here we are (unexpectedly) back in Bangkok. The SARS situation has forced us to cancel the China portion of our trip, so we have returned here to figure out just where in the world The Enchilada is headed next. Any suggestions? While you're thinking about where we should go, take a moment and check out where we've been in Southeast Asia.

The Enchilada Heads to SEA

3.11.03 AUSTRALIA

garvinkarentrainexteriorperthip2a.jpg
Perth, Western Australia

After more than three months on the road The Enchilada is finally ready to leave the English-speaking world behind. Hope you enjoy reading of our Aussie adventures (it's ok if you just want to look at the pictures, though).

The Enchilada Hops Across Oz

2.12.03 NEW ZEALAND

capekidnappers.jpg
Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

The Enchilada has finally gone international and there couldn't have been a better place for two backpackers to get their feet wet than in New Zealand.

The Enchilada Kamps with Kiwis

1.10.03 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Happy New Year
Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii 12.31.02
Happy New Year
Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii 12.31.02
We're just wrapping up the cross-country portion of our adventure; capping it off with a lovely three weeks on the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii (Thanks to Char, Mike and Gilliss).

It has been a terrific, if at times cold ... very cold, journey.

We hope you enjoy some of the pictures and stories.

The Enchilada Across America

Here are some details...many more to come:
Date of departure: December 1, 2002
Itinerary
Cross-country from Massachusetts to California
Hawaii
New Zealand, Australia
Malaysia,Thailand,Laos
South Korea
Mongolia
Germany, The Netherlands
Belgium, Portugal
South Africa, Botswana
Namibia
Argentina
Bolivia

Bursting with questions? Drop us a note.

All photographs Copyright Garvin and Karen Snell 2004