#TBT New Zealand

We arrived in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand almost two weeks ago. Jonathan and I were traveling between Queenstown and Christchurch and we were interested to see what this small town in the middle of two of New Zealand's largest cities had to offer.

Lake Tekapo is a picturesque town with a large lake and snow capped mountains in the backdrop. Unfortunately, we experienced a terrible windstorm the day we were there. We settled into our lodge and walked to the market to grab our grub for dinner. We were considering the hot springs after the market but the aforementioned windstorm blew our plans out of the water. Since the wind was not showing any sign of settling down we decided that our time there was better spent indoors. After a hectic and fast paced three weeks, we welcomed this much needed quiet time to reflect on our time in New Zealand.

We chatted about our experience and I started a word association game about New Zealand. We took turns sharing the first words/phrases that came to mind when we thought of our time in the land of the long white cloud. I have decided to share the top 20 words/phrases because I think its an fun and efficient way to summarize this beautiful country. We took a massive amount of pictures and since I heard that they speak a thousand words I am sharing several of my favorites as well. Unfortunately, it is impossible to capture all the sights, smells, sounds, flavors, and the feelings we experienced but this is the best we could do to help transport you there. Feel free to leave any comments or questions below if you are puzzled...

1. Sweet As
2. Sheep
3. Maori
4. Kia Ora
5. All Blacks
6. Mountains
7. Kiwi bird, people,fruit, experience, etc.
8. Hokey Pokey
9. Fish n chips
10. Old Mout Stout
11. Geothermal
12. Bungy
13. Glowworms
14. Rafting
15. Sauvigon Blanc
16. Hummus
17. Lakes
18. Sand Dunes
19. Volcanoes
20. Pavlova

I saw this in a newspaper during our first breakfast in Auckland. I don't believe in horoscopes, but in all good fun it was right on the ball.

 

On the ferry to Waiheke Island for some wine tasting.

 

First and I'm assuming not the last time I see one of these scary signs...

 

#mancrusheveryday

 

 

 

At the Christchurch Botanical Gardens...

 

Cape Reigna, a spiritual place for the Maori's

 

Today marks one month since hitting the road and I am so thrilled that we took this leap of faith. Many more updates to come from the land of koalas and kangaroos!

 

"It's pretty simple. Adventure is what you make it. And whether it is the travel, the discovery or just the feeling of letting go; the only way you'll ever find out is to get out there and do it." -Travis Rice

 

 

 

Fairwell New Zealand, Hello Australia

The past three weeks in New Zealand flew by. We were busy almost everyday and unfortunately we did not update the blog as often as we would have liked. Instagram was a lot easier so you can follow our journey there as well. I promise to recap that amazing Kiwi Adventure soon!

Now we are in country #2, Australia! We arrived yesterday morning and did some exploring in the nearby Chinatown. After a good night's rest, we are exploring hot and sunny Sydney today.

Below are some pics of our adventure thus far in Sydney:

 

Thats me this morning, before we left our hostel. I had Jonathan take a better picture of my pack and I. I got a question about whether or not my shoulders hurt from wearing my pack. Well, it surprisingly does not. The pack is made in such a way that you bear the weight mostly on your hips which takes most of the pressure off of my shoulders.

After a healthy breakfast of toast and Nutella, we started our day walk which started in Hyde Park. In front of the fountain pictured above was a Japanese Double Dutch group which impressed us with their skills.

Across from the park is Saint Mary's Cathedral. The inside was prettier than the outside but we were not allowed to take pictures and I really didn't want to have to return between 12 and 1 to confess my sin.

About a half mile walk from the Cathedral is the world famous Sydney Opera House. I'm actually updating this blog right now from inside because I don't like to pass up Frinternet (Free+ Internet = Frinternet)

The day isn't over yet and there is soooo much more exploring to do. Many more posts to come from our past experiences in New Zealand and the future ones in Australia. Stay tuned!

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." -Augustine of Hippo

 

How to Pack for 6 Months Abroad

 

Insert fancy youtube quality video, good lighting, smooth transitions, and trendy background music. Oh wait, I forgot that I struggle with editing pictures on Instagram and this post has taken me over three weeks to complete. So on that note, here is a little #nofliter picture of what six months abroad looks like:

It took me several weeks and bargain online shopping to find the right pack for me. Unfortunately, in Florida there is a limited market for hiking/travel bags. After reading many reviews, I went with the Gregory Deva 60. It fit my needs for this trip: multiple compartments, horseshoe front zipper, comfortable hip belt that moves with my hips that do not lie, water resistant, and large enough to fit all the essentials. Luckily, the Container Store opened in Boca Raton just in time to satiate my needs for all things travel organization aka everything Eagle Creek.

Inside the Backpack...

Small Rectangle Cube 1: 6 headbands (the amount of headbands is inversely proportional to how crazy I look). I have also included four bras. Space is limited so two pairs are sports bralettes to conserve space.

Small Rectangle Cube 2- 9 panties, two of which are Exofficio brand which advertise extended travel with one or maybe two pairs! I should explain... Jonathan first told me about this brand and I was as skeptical about this as you are. At $20 a pair it was an investment, so therefore a well researched purchase. Apparently they are supposed to be moisture wicking, durable, light weight panties that can be hand washed repeatedly and hold up. I obviously was not completely sold and without experiencing it first hand I decided to bring several more underwear. 3 pairs of ankle socks, and 3 pairs of no-show black socks are also included in this cube.

Disclaimer: Almost three weeks into the trip and I dont think that the Exofficio's have been worth it. Perhaps they will prove me wrong...at $20, hopefully they prove me wrong.

Large Square Cube 1- (bottoms) 2 pairs of mid thigh shorts, 1 denim shorts, 1 pair of barely bootcut jeans, black leggings, gym shorts, two pairs pajama pants, and 1 pair pajama shorts. *Remember, socially appropriate lounge wear is essential for hostel living.*

Large Square Cube 2- (tops) 1 long sleeve shirt, 2 short sleeve shirts, one button down, one dressy shirt, two camisoles, 1 tank top, and one exercise tank top. I figure if I ever get really cold I can just wear all of my tops at once.

I also brought one long skirt and another dress/skirt that can be worn 8 different ways. I held on to that tag of instructions because with such limited clothes, I would hate to find out that I did not wear it all 8 ways.

Bathing Suits- 2 pairs of bathing suits that I can mix and match...thats 4 different looks :)

Shoes- 3 pairs of shoes. Flip flops, trail sneakers, and Keens. (The Keens are featured in the pic above) I got two shoe bags, so I can always put the two pairs that i am not wearing in them while traveling. I should also add that I store my shoes and my laundry bag at the bottom of my bag in the sleeping bag compartment to keep them separated from the rest of my clothes.

Toiletries- Go Toobes! I may be one of the biggest fans. At a perfect three ounces, I brought 6 of them and I will refill as we travel with whatever the locals use. To carry them all, I originally purchased a clear hard plastic pouch but i quickly found that it was not malleable enought to acommodate my tubes and therefore wasted space. So after a little more research, I found a highly recommended brand on Etsy called Airquart. 1 quart sized clear malleable plastic pouch with a handle. Sounds simple but really a lifesaver when airport security decides to be sticklers.

Also Included in the pack:

1 brush

1 wide toothed comb

1 first aide kit

a few earrings

makeup- and by makeup i mean eyeliner, eyeshadow, and lipgloss. (All in an effort to not scare you away with my pictures)

pouch with electronics chargers, flashlight, and locks

Baggalini daybag

Quick dry travel towel (not all hostels provide towels)

Rain jacket

Fleece jacket

Tissues, antibacterial handgel etc.

I think that sums most of it up. Three weeks in and I can say that I am REALLY happy with my packing choices and I would recommend them all to an extended traveler. (minus the $20 drawers) If you have any questions feel free to ask!

 

 

How to Make the Dream A Reality

We are less then two weeks away from "Roaming Natural". Our intense passion for travel, culture, language, and food have led us to where we are now and there is no turning back. The point where we decided to make our dream of travel a reality was the point when everything changed. We realized that we can spend our lives dreaming, wishing, and hoping but it did not take long to realize that NOTHING happens unless we make it happen. 

Just Do It! Right? Suuuurreeee….easier said than done. This trip is a result of years of dreaming, months of planning, and endless faith, love, and support.

The Plan

1. COUNTRIES- Originally we planned on taking a fancy 2 week first anniversary trip to Thailand. Then, we decided that while we are on that side of the world, why not see EVERYTHING over there? Seeing everything would require A LOT more time than two weeks and A LOT less fancy. We were willing to make that happen so up with the vision board (aka giant map) and the planning commenced.
2. BUDGET- Jonathan is an accountant.
3. HOUSING- We began planning the trip in late August and our lease ended in October. We extended our lease until mid- November and moved in with Jonathan's dad for the next 2.5 months.
4. WORK- This was perhaps one of the hardest parts. I am a Physician Assistant and I absolutely love what I do. I gave my practice ample notice but that did not make delivering the news any easier. I did not expect to receive the amount of support that I had and fortunately for me they are awaiting my return. Jonathan requested a leave of absence, so he will be returning to his position in August.
5. DOG- My 13 year old niece, Brooke, eagerly took on the responsibility of caring for my scrappy Chiweenie that only a mother could love. I can best describe my 10 year old puppy as a middle aged divorcee with emotional issues. The Princess Chica Marie is pictured below:
   
   I must add that I am still surprised that my anti-dog sister, Joanne, was willing to house a furry roommate. Brooke is happy, Joanne is embracing the addition, and I am grateful.
6. STUFF- To Donate, Toss, or Keep? The stuff we decided to keep was either going to come with us or be kept in a storage unit. We spent one day finding the right storage and eventually settled a on a nice, family run AC unit. We rented a Uhaul and with the help of my brother and Jonathan's dad, we moved all our stuff in.
7. INSURANCE- I enjoy some sort of security, because well… It makes me feel secure. We were able to keep our US health insurance as well as opted for travel insurance which I would highly recommend.
8. CARS- My aunt is letting me leave my car at her house and Jonathan will be leaving his car at his dad's.
9. HOW LONG- At first Jonathan wanted to do this trip over an 8 month period, I was more conservative and preferred 6 months. We negotiated on 7 months. After discussing his sabbatical leave with his job, we decided that 6 months was the practical amount of time.
10. PACKING- There is only one way to accomplish such ease of travel: Backpacking. If I can fit 6 months of clothes, shoes, and natural hair products in one 60 Liter backpack then anyone can do it. Details to follow!

Travel changes you. Let it do what it do!

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Why I Decided To Live Outside My Comfort Zone

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

I know this quote is overused, incorrectly attributed to Twain and shows up on almost every travel blog, but from the first time I saw it, it has resounded with me. However, anyone who knows me knows I haven't really lived my life that way... I'm a tax accountant. 

New Year New Adventure

Happy New Year!

What better day to start our blog than the first day of 2014

2013 was an amazing year. I married my best friend and soulmate on January 26th (best day of my life). We then honeymooned in Hawaii. After coming back from our honeymoon we settled into our home as husband and wife. We watched our relationship grow in our first home. We took a trip to DC in May, Vegas in July, and shortly after our Key West trip in August we thought about the serious adult decisions that follow the wedding bells. We decided to make a career and life changing decision together.