Behan Gifford

LATEST ARTICLES ( 537 )

• Reconverging with a Cruising Fleet

  

  There have been precious few other cruising boats crossing our path these last months. We've only seen a handful since we said goodbye to Nalukai and Muscat... Read more

  Posted on 12 July 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Exploring the Market: Miri, Malaysia

  

  We scooted up the Sarawak coast to Miri to converge with the beginning of the Borneo International Yacht Race. Joining rallies hasn't really been our thing on... Read more

  Posted on 09 July 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Top Ten Snorkeling Spots- Part 3

  

  Maybe we should subtitle the blog "a family snorkelizing around the world." We love getting underwater, and it shows! Our favorite five are epic; the next five... Read more

  Posted on 05 July 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Welcome to Malaysia!

  

  Sailing into the beautiful islands in the bay off Kuching, we talk about what seems new and different in Malaysia compared to Indonesia. It's impossible to... Read more

  Posted on 03 July 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• You Know You're in a Rolly Anchorage When...

  

  We dropped the hook in a roadstead anchorage, somewhere along the coast of Sarawak. This part of Borneo has been littered with oil rigs and little fishing boats... Read more

  Posted on 01 July 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Top Ten Snorkeling Spots- Part 2

  

  What are the top ten snorkeling spots we’ve visited? The last post covered our five all time favorites; this is the next five. Read more

  Posted on 26 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Top Snorkeling Spots Around the World

  

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  Posted on 24 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Our Brothers of the Sea: the Indonesian Navy

  

  This is a story about a remarkable man, and an unforgettable experience we had as part of our clearance process from Indonesia. Read more

  Posted on 22 June 2013 OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Summer Sailstice: Celebrating Twice on Totem!

  

  Happy solstice- now, go sailing! This Saturday, June 22, is Summer Sailstice- a worldwide celebration of sailing held on the weekend closest to solstice each... Read more

  Posted on 21 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Demystifying International Clearance for Cruisers

  

  I have a new appreciation for how easily most international travelers are able to pass the gauntlets to enter a foreign country. A little form on the plane, a... Read more

  Posted on 20 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Unexpected Kumai: a Sweet Side of Kalimantan

  

  To our surprise, Kumai was delightful. Yes, it is a funny, dusty frontier town with absolutely nothing to recommend it aesthetically, but it was incredibly... Read more

  Posted on 18 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Up the River in Borneo, Part 2: the Drama

  

  A reminder that we're related We knew our trip up the river from Kumai would be a privileged experience, to see wild, exotic and endangered animals- the Borneo... Read more

  Posted on 15 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Up the River in Borneo, Part 1: the Wonder

  

  We have heard such raves about traveling up the Kumai river in Kalimantan to visit orangutan rehabilitation centers that I almost expected to be disappointed. Read more

  Posted on 12 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Bali Memories

  

  I'm still absorbing and processing the outrageous, unforgettable experience of traveling up into the river into a national park, looking into the eyes of our... Read more

  Posted on 08 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Ships and Squalls Between Bali and Borneo

  

  Leaving Bali was easy. Shades of light in Lovina We pulled the anchor at dawn, and headed out past the canoes that had blasted by us every morning as they haule... Read more

  Posted on 06 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Kiss Goodbye to Bali

  

  When our expectations of a quick (<1 week) visa extension turned into a three weeks, it was hard not to be frustrated. Yet silver linings are everywhere: a... Read more

  Posted on 05 June 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Sun Protection for Pasty White Cruisers

  

  Scoping boobies on Isla Isabel Sun protection- with sunscreen, sun protective clothing, and more- is something we take pretty seriously on Totem. When I was a... Read more

  Posted on 30 May 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• The Sailing Podcast Interviews Totem

  

  Just recently, Jamie and I spent a really nice hour chatting with David Anderson of The Sailing Podcast. He and his wife Carina have a great series of interview... Read more

  Posted on 25 May 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• A Breather, and a Lesson in Navigation, on Pulau Menjangan

  

  We got tired of waiting in Lovina for our visas to be ready. After nearly two weeks in one anchorage, it was time for a break. Read more

  Posted on 23 May 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL

• Managing Seasickness on Totem

  

  One of my first dates with Jamie was an offshore race in New England. It started in the evening off Long Island Sound, did a big triangle into the Atlantic... Read more

  Posted on 22 May 2013 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL