The first leg of the Kirkbys' 13,000-mile journey from their home in British Columbia to India involves paddling canoes, riding a train and taking a container ship to South Korea. Storms, life vests and a run-in with Russians create challenges.
The Kirkby's second leg of a 13,000 mile journey, from their home in British Columbia to India, begins in Busan, involves a bullet train, sailing the Yellow Sea, and sprinting to Beijing. Moth larvae and bubbles add to the fun.
The Kirkby's third leg of a 13,000 mile journey, from their home in British Columbia to India, starts in Beijing, where they dine on Peking Duck and walk the Great Wall. Tibetan permits and Taj's health are up in the air.
The Kirkby's fourth leg of a 13,000 mile journey, from British Columbia to India, begins in China, involves a 27-hour train ride, Mt. Everest and meditation. They must race to reach the Tibetan border before their visas expire.
The Kirkby's fifth leg of a 13,000 mile journey, from British Columbia to India takes them to Nepal. They get to touch a Hindi goddess, bargain for presents and ride elephants. Chocolate cake and tigers create a birthday surprise.
The Kirkby's sixth leg of a 13,000 mile journey, from British Columbia to India, involves scorching heat on the Ganges River, sweet treats, snake charmers, and the burning ghats. They race to make a train to the Taj Mahal.
The Kirkby's seventh leg of a 13,000 mile journey, from British Columbia to India, begins at the Taj Mahal and takes them to a 5-star hotel, a Bollywood dance class, a spice market, and a rock and water-filled adventure park.
The Kirkby's eighth leg of a 13,000 mile journey, from British Columbia to India, takes them 600 miles deeper into the Indian Himalayas. A narrow-gauge train, the Monkey Temple, a sudden fever and rockslides turn up the heat.
The Kirkby's final leg of this 13,000 mile journey, from British Columbia to a monastery where they will live for three months in Ladakh, India, has them trekking through 100 miles of rugged terrain to elevations of 16,700 feet.
