Sailing Indonesia

In August 2005, Ryan and Eunice, Grace and Alonzo, Tim, and Eric headed for Bali for a sailing adventure across Indonesia's eastern islands. Click here for photos

Lake Sonoma

We met up relatively early on Saturday morning in the Marina to carpool up to Sonoma. After a great vineyard tour and a yummy lunch in Healdsburg, we wound our way up to Lake Sonoma, where we rented a motorboat and a large tube. We cruised across the lake in the afternoon sun to the secluded Black Mountain campground-- accessible only by boat. We set up camp at the edge of the lake and grilled up some dinner, exchanging high fives as the sun set over the Sonoma hills...

Click here for the photos:

Flying to Monterey

We received a fantastic wedding present from our friends Alexander and Sheryn: a day trip to Monterey via airplane!



Eunice and Sheryn in the "back seat." Communicating via headsets made me feel cool.



Views over the salt flats and Silicon Valley after taking off



Looking down at Rt. 1 and the coastline. This sure beats sitting in traffic!



Landing at the "Million-Air" terminal in Monterey. Very luxurious...



Dipping our toes in the ocean. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon... thanks Alexander and Sheryn!

Eunice's 30th Birthday Cruise

Eunice and Grace prepare to board the Hornblower Admiral for a birthday cruise with friends and family.




You couldn't ask for a more beautiful evening on the Bay, and we all want to go under the Golden Gate Bridge. Dad insists over the objections of the Captain, and soon we are heading straight into massive swells as we cross under the bridge.

Dad and Adam are on the bow as we plow into a wave, sending water sloshing over the deck

We successfully turn around in between the waves, and suffer nothing more then a good drenching! Time to head to calm waters outide Sausalito for some dinner on the boat.

Things are much more calm after dinner. Here's the birthday girl and the lights of San Francisco.

Thanks Dad and Nancy!

The friends and family who helped us celebrate Eunice's 30th. Happy Birthday Eunice!

Eunice's Birthday Weekend

Take 1 on Eunices birthday weekend-- to Lake Tahoe, and back in 12 hours due to some sad news. A brief stop on Echo Lake on our way home...

Take 2: Down to Santa Cruz for a morning on the beach


Then into Nisene Marks State Park above Santa Cruz for a 1 night backpacking trip

We climbed through the redwoods...

..to some fantastic views over the coast|

The flowers were in bloom

We found a beautiful spot on a ridge to cook dinner and watch the sun set over the ocean.

Moonrise over Santa Cruz

Happy 30th Birthday Eunice!

2005 U.S. Grand Prix

Adam and Ryan join the Sabato brother's annual outing to the U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Click here for photos.

Black & White Ball 2005

Time for the Black & White Ball, San Francisco's Symphony fundraiser (and the perfect excuse to bust out the wedding atttire!)

The events are all held around San Franciso's city center, with dozens of different bands performing in all of the city's public places. Here are Adam and Ryan grabbing a bite in front of city hall.


With Jesse and Eileen + Adam and Rachel as the sun goes down and they light up the buildings around the Civic Center.


Jesse with the ladies, ready to hit the floor for some big band swing dancing.

On the dancefloor-- is someone sick of having her picture taken?

The finale the music was a totally cheesy performance by the Village People

What does that spell? ("YMCA" backwards, in case you didn't catch it).

Post-"party" on Adam's couch South of Market. What an evening!

Ryan's 30th Birthday Weekend

The crew for Ryan's 30th birthday celebration in Sonoma: Adam and Rachel, Jason and Tiffin, Grace and Alonzo, Phil and Nicky, and Jesse and Eileen

Tasting at Roshambo Winery, home of the world rock-paper-scissors championship. The lady behind the counter gave Ryan a free t-shirt, which is now one of his favorites.


We rented a huge house for the group, and Ryan forced everyone to compete for the prime bedrooms through an all-night tournament of games. (Hey, it was my birthday, and I was into it!)

Guess who won?

Giving the little brother advice :)

And of course no birthday is complete without a freezing late night swim!

Best of 2004

Our fondest memories from 2004...

Ahhh... the second half of the second life of business school: Good memories indeed. Spring Break '04 staying at Jerry's place in Honolulu and touring the Big Island, Pinky's 80th Birthday Party in San Diego with the Hills, Spring in Tahoe skiing with friends, and Memorial Day Camping in the Sierras.

Then came the graduation festivities: a week of "Disorientation" events, followed by the Graduation itself. An end of an era!

Before Ryan started work again, there was still time for Karen and Alex's Wedding in Houston, and a Backpacking to Minaret Lake with Jim Sharky.

And then, of course, the epic Nichols family trip to Tibet: we traveled to the roof of the world and discover for ourselves legendary cloud-shrouded mountains, the mysteries and realities of Buddhism, and the spirit and strength of the Tibetan people as they confront a modern China.

We ended the year with the ultimate roadtrip, from Palo Alto to the tip of Baja and back: 4 nights sleeping on the beach as we work our way south, an unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration in Cabo San Lucas, 4 days of recovery at a beachfront condo, and 3,579 miles under our belt before getting home. Our partners in crime? Jesse and Eileen on the drive down and Grace and Alonzo for our time in Los Cabos.

Click here for a close-up of the collage of the best of 2004.

Baja Baby

The ultimate roadtrip, from Palo Alto to the tip of Baja and back: 4 nights sleeping on the beach as we work our way south, an unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration in Cabo San Lucas, 4 days of recovery at a beachfront condo, and 3,579 miles under our belt before getting home. Our partners in crime? Jesse and Eileen on the drive down and Grace and Alonzo for our time in Los Cabos. Click here for photos..

Pilgrimage to Tibet

"My own mind's Tibet,
secret soaring roof of world--
found, and found far more."

Between July 18th and August 15, 2004, the Nichols clan embarked on the adventure of a lifetime: we traveled to Tibet to explore the roof of the world and discover for ourselves legendary cloud-shrouded mountains, the mysteries and realities of Buddhism, and the spirit and strength of the Tibetan people as they confront a modern China. Ryan had just graduated from two years at Stanford Business School and arrived in Tibet early for a week-long trek with classmate Dave Weickhardt. Eunice managed to take a three-week sabbatical from work and joined Ryan a week later. Ryan's father Michael, stepmother Nancy, brother Adam, and Adam's girlfriend Rachel met up with us for our final two weeks of adventure in this magical land.


Dave and Ryan's Trek from Ganden to Samye 
7/18 - 7/28
The adventure began with a week-long trek with Ryan's friend and GSB classmate David Weickhardt. After a quick stop in Chengdu and some time in Lhasa seeing the sites and getting used to the altitude, we set off on our six-day trek between two of the most important monasteries in Tibet-- Ganden and Samye. We walked 50 miles, climbed two seventeen-thousand foot passes, dealt with rain, snow and hail, and handled more than our fair share of altitude sickness before walking down from the mountains and through the desert surrounding Samye's golden spires. Just when we thought the adventure was over, our bus got stuck in a river on the way back to the airport. What a trip!


Eunice and Ryan's Journey from Lhasa to Shigatse
7/28 - 8/1
After meeting in the airport and heading back to the wonderful Mandala Hotel, we spent a couple of days exploring Lhasa before deciding to check out Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet. The main road was closed and the side roads were flooded, meaning that we spent 22 hours over 2 very full days traveling the 150 miles between these two towns on unbelievably bad roads in various forms of public transportation. The ride was worth it though, for the beautiful views traveling over the passes, the wonderful statues at Tashilhunpo Monastery, and the markets of Shigatse.


The Nichols' tour of Lhasa
8/2 - 8/3
Eunice and Ryan met up with the rest of the Nichols clan in Lhasa to join their Mountain Travel Sobek tour, led by the amazing Cathy Ann. We toured Drepung and Sera Monasteries on the outskirts of Lhasa, had tea with the Abbot of Sera Monastery, watched the monks hold afternoon debates, toured the Jokhang Temple, and visited the Dali Lama's former home, the Potala Palace.



The Nichols' trek to Namtso
8/4 - 8/8
We departed for Damxung and started our long hike up and over the river valley that would take us to Namtso-- "Heavenly Lake." We hiked past yak-hair nomad tents and mountainside monasteries, over glaciated valleys, and through narrow gorges to reach Kong La, a 17,200 foot pass which offered our first views of our magnificent destination.



The Nichols' pilgrimage at Namtso
8/8 - 8/9
After visiting several nomads' camps, we walked to our camp at the foot of the cliffs of Tashi Do, the auspicious rock jutting into the 800 square mile Namtso Lake at 15,060 feet. We made a kora around Tashi Do, exploring the hermitage on the shores of the lake and its remarkable monastery, grottos, cave temples, and twin limestone watchtowers. In the distance, we could see the snowy Nyenchen Thanglha peaks across the turquoise waters, reaching 23,249 feet.



The Nichols' side-trip to Beijing
8/10 - 8/14
Although altitude sickness forced us to spend a couple more days in Beijing than we'd originally planned, we stuck together as a family and made the most of our time in the capital of China. We toured Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hongqiao Market, and took a fantastic day-trip out to the "Wild Wall." Not to mention sampling some of Beijing's finest food and lodging!

GSB Graduation

On June 12, Ryan received his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Here are photos of that weekend with family and friends.

GSB Disorientation

The week before business school graduation is called "Disorientation," and is filled with hikes, bike rides, and river trips during the day and lots and lots of parties during the night. A great end to a great two years of higher education.Click here for photos