Bali, Indonesia: Retreat SUP Bliss (October 2013)

At the beginning of every yoga class, it’s recommended that you set an intention. This intention can be what you want to get out of the time in the class, out of the day, or even a greater goal. I’ve been doing moderate yoga for about 7 years and I never really took this ritual seriously until this last year. Clearly I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the last year, which includes my current life changes, but I’ve also been trying to focus on both the big picture and the current moment… setting intentions. I now use the first 2 minutes of each yoga class to focus on one thing in that class such as feeling stronger in a challenging position, taking a pose to a more advance level or even making an extra effort to keep my mind on the mat instead of wandering off while trying to balance on one leg with my arm going some other way. Long story short, this works and I think it’s important to take a moment to focus on your immediate mental and physical state for even just 30 minutes a couple times a week in addition to your life direction.

I’ve never attended a retreat before, but I always imagined them being a mix of vacation and summer camp. The week in Bali was spent at a paddleboard and yoga retreat hosted by Paddleboard Bliss. I’ve been a big fan of Bliss since I started renting paddleboards from them a year or so ago, so when I saw they were doing a retreat in Bali smack in the middle of my SE Asia adventure it was too meant to be to pass up.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect since it was the first time Bliss had put on a retreat in Bali, but it turned out to be the best way to approach the week. Vacation/summer camp ended up being a pretty accurate description in the best way possible. It was a great group and both the planned and spontaneous activities all worked out to be an appropriately blissful week.

At the beginning of each yoga session during the week I continued to set my immediate intention, but I also wanted to set one for the week. My brother and I had been doing a lot of moving around and planning for the few weeks leading up, and even though we had a schedule in Bali, I wanted to focus on stillness. Spending the week in a calm state whether it was during my down time, while doing yoga on a floating paddleboard or spending time in a taxi on a curvy road. Even with a lot of physical movement, finding stillness in some way can completely change your state of being.

I feel like I did a pretty good job accomplishing my intention. Even during the more physical activities such as paddleboard surfing, I found myself catching waves (or even just feeling stable while standing) when I would still my mind and focus on the immediate moment. It turned out to be a great week, and I feel very fortunate to have shared the Bali bliss with such a wonderful group of people I now call friends.

Wait, why are you not at work?

Written a couple weeks before I left on this 2 month travel extravaganza...

I currently work at a movie studio in business & legal affairs. It’s a great job, wonderful people, exciting to be part of the hustle and bustles of the deal making world of Hollywood, but it’s not my calling. I’m slowly, but surely becoming aware that I’m not meant for a “desk job.” My legs ache every day and I avoid my computer at home after being on one all day at the office. It’s simply not for me. Well, then what is for me? Ah, the big question. Like most twenty-somethings I know, I can tell you everything I don’t want, but when it comes to listing what I do want… There is one thing that I am certain of, one thing I know I want and that’s to travel.

I was thinking about how/when I would write this blog post. I wanted a poetic environment such as late morning one Sunday, post yoga, sitting in Zinque (my favorite wine bar/coffee shop in Venice), with a glass of wine, cappuccino and a board covered in French cheeses. The air would be warm yet fresh, and the sunlight perfectly shining through the windowed walls. I’d start typing and the words would pour out…

That all sounds lovely, but the truth is I’m sitting at my desk at work. My legs are cramped and my feet can’t decide if they feel like wearing pumps today as I keep tossing them on and off. Don’t get me wrong, I am working on real stuff too! But I’m also writing this first draft in a blank email in Outlook to keep me looking “productive.” Not that anyone is creeping on my computer (Hi Michael!)

I’ve done a pretty good job accomplishing goals and enjoying life so far, but like most of us, I’m not satisfied yet. I’m not really sure the ultimate direction I’m headed in next, but for now just having the “come what may” attitude is just going to have to do. And I’m excited to have the opportunity and to be fortunate enough to be able to enjoy such an open outlook for the future.

So 7 countries in 2 months. I can’t even explain how excited I am for each and every place and for all different reasons. Thank you to all of the people who have provided me with great tips, suggestions and support for my travels. I will be sure to hit up those spots while also exploring new ones and do my best to report back.

Here’s to whatever comes next, cheers!

Australia: Home Away From Home

Australia never gets mixed reviews from Americans. We love it and now I can see why. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place overseas that felt so much like home. There were several times I had forgotten we were literally on the other side of the world. Minus the cars on the opposite side of the road and foreign accent, you’re practically at home.

Sydney is a Los Angeles/San Diego combo. The size and downtown area reminds me of LA, where the suburban beach towns might as well be in SD County. Add some mountains/rainforest to a seaside Florida town and you’d have Cairns. The weather is tropical with scattered showers, and everyone is on island time. The reef is obviously very unique to the Australia coast, but the actual town is easily Floridian. And Melbourne would fit in perfectly somewhere between DC and Boston. The brick exteriors and slightly rough around the edges vibe are east coast staple.

It’s an interesting feeling being somewhere that’s so far away yet so familiar. I guess this could be good or bad. I think it would be a great experience to live abroad for a bit, and if you wanted to do your best to avoid homesickness, Australia would be it. If you’re looking for an exotic experience and a bit of a challenge, I don’t think Oz is the right destination.

Fun fact: you can only extend your 1 year working visa if you spend 3 months working on a farm. I’m sure there are exemptions to this rule, but it’s an interesting concept. If you want to stay, you must give back (roughly $20-$40/hour compensation on the farms). The jobs are scarce though, and from what we gathered it’s a lengthy work visa, but to be able to hold a steady job is a challenge.

Overall I really enjoyed Australia and hope to spend much more time exploring the coast and outback. It’s a very comfortable and hospitable country. Friendly people, beautiful beaches and a homey feeling… what more could you ask for!

Melbourne, Australia: Rainy Day (October 2013)

Rainy days, I have missed them after spending so much time in the dry desert that is Los Angeles. As I’ve already made perfectly clear, I don’t like cold. Rainy and cold is THE WORST. Luckily the cold wasn’t too brutal, but the gloomy conditions did provoke the indoor activities Melbourne has to offer… such as the Melbourne Museum.

The museum covered the history of the city and other interesting exhibits such as the human body and dinosaurs. Kind of a hodgepodge of a museum, not exactly the most amazing museum in the world but it was only $10 and dry. After that we wondered down to the South Bank area, and found the Crown Melbourne. Little did we know this mini Vegas hotel/casino/movie theater would be our main source of entertainment for the afternoon. We saw a matinee showing of The Family since I was starting to get the shakes from not seeing a movie in over 2 weeks, and then Brian won big playing blackjack at the casino. Even though the rain wasn’t letting up, we declined the idea of a double feature and decided to brave the rain making our way back to the hostel.

Street art outside of Crown

For the last night we’re both in Australia, we found Naked for Satan, a great bar/Spanish tapas cafe in Fitzroy with a rooftop area. The food was amazing and even with the persistent rain, the covered and heated rooftop was a great place to complete our adventures down under.

Melbourne, Australia: Great Ocean Road (October 2013)

We were greeted in Melbourne with similar weather to Cairns, hot and humid. The city could be plopped on the east coast of the US and blend right in. We stayed at The Nunnery which is an old nunnery converted into a hostel and guesthouse accommodations. The building is quaint decorated with religious pictures and themes with a heavy hipster irony. The rooms were small, but I’m glad we stayed at a place with a bit of character, plus it was great being in the Fitzroy district. This little area outside of the downtown reminds me a lot of Brooklyn. Streets lined with cafes and bars. The large green trees and predominant brick buildings added to the east coast decor, making the city very homey.

We mapped out the city and looked into various activities around town, and decided to do a day trip along the Great Ocean Road and then another day around the city. We booked out tour through the hostel, and then picked up bright and early the next morning. 7am start time, we were welcomed by Ben, who turned out to be a great guide for the very long today. It took about 1.5 hours to get to the beginning of the Great Ocean Road. Once there, we starting cruising along the coast through small beach and fishing towns.

Ben informed us that the road was first constructed after a group of wealthy Australians spent time in California, driving along the Pacific Coast Highway (heyo!). They wanted a road as well along their favorite beaches and cliff lined coast, so in 1919, the Great Ocean Road provided a scenic trail from town to town along famous surfing beaches and fishing villages.

In addition to the towns, there are various natural attractions such as koalas!! We haven’t seen a lot of wildlife on land (plenty under the sea and huge bats at night in the sky), so it was exciting to see these adorable cuddly animals chillaxin in the trees.

The Great Ocean Road is known for its limestone structures. The two most famous are 12 Apostles and London Bridge. The 12 Apostles (there are actually only 8) are large limestone columns that stand in a cluster. Unfortunately our luck with the weather had changed and it was cold and rainy for our day out on the Road, but it oddly made for a dramatic filter over the crashing waves against the ginormous cliffs.

London Bridge actually has fallen down. The two arched bridge protruded into the ocean creating a distinct viewing platform. In 1980, the first arch came to an end when the weight was more than the bridge could handle, collapsing and leaving the “bridge” detached from the land. It is still a stunning mass and makes for a beautiful now arch.

A third attraction along the Great Ocean Road is Port Campbell National Park where after a large ship wreck only two passengers survived. They managed to find themselves in a small gorge with a beach and caves that protected them until they were able to find help. The survivors were a man and a woman and although one might hope this story has a romantic ending… it doesn’t. The man was pressured by the romantics in town to ask the woman to marry him, she said no after finding out he was already engaged and went back to live out her life in Ireland. He decided it was a great idea to work on a boat again and ended up surviving THREE more shipwrecks, and then died in the fourth. I guess we’ll leave the fairytale endings to Disney.

The Great Ocean Road is quite grand, but there will always be a special place my heart for the original PCH. I would love to travel the road again when it’s hot and the beaches and town are filled with Aussies on holiday enjoying the music festivals and summer sun.

Spontaneous Chat Date!

We decided to take a little break from our vacation for our first day in Cairns. My dear friend Maggie suggested we stay at Calypso Backpackers Inn just a short walk from the marina and main attractions. It was the perfect suggestion. Calypso has a great Tiki vibe and open air common area that allowed us to take a day to catch up on real life (aka be online for longer than 15 mins at a time) in a very chill and carefree environment. I spent the day sorting through emails, posting on this here blog, doing some research, looking into my finances (yikes!!) and oh wait, what is this??? a spontaneous video chat invite from my friends Chris and Rachel!!!!!! Chris is in DC and Rachel is in LA, and they happened to be having a wine date online when I crashed their party. I haven’t been too homesick yet, but seeing their lovely faces and adding my morning tea to their evening wine hour was a perfect dose of home. Cheers!

Thanks guys for a fun morning chat session!! miss you :) xoxo

Cairns, Australia: Green Island (October 2013)

We had a few options for our last day in Cairns. Green Island is a small island about 45 minutes from the marina. It’s part of the reef, but known mostly for its beaches and crocodile park, although the snorkeling was decent there as well. The boat trip to the island was a rocky one. Luckily Brian and I didn’t get sick unlike a substantial number of other people on the boat.

Arriving at Green Island, we see a sign for “Croc Feeding, 1:30pm”. Of course we both immediately look at our watches and realize we’re just in time for the last feeding of the day. We’ve had a fascination with crocs and gators since we were youngster after spending many vacations in Florida. In particular we LOVED going to Gatorland where they would string chickens across the gator pond as viewers watched the beasts fight over every wing, drumstick and final carcass.

Anyway, needless to say we were stoked. Marineland houses the largest crocodile in captivity in the world (Guinness World Record). His name is Cassius, and he is 105 years old. He was captured about 30 years ago and has been living on Green Island ever since. The park was more interesting than I expected. The man who started Marineland is in his 80s, and has been capturing crocodiles for 60 years. He still lives on the island which is also home to his very extensive Southeast Asian art collection. Only about 20% of the art is on display in Marineland, and the display is HUGE!

Now for the feeding. Crocodile Dundee comes out with a few chicken carcass and a fishing pole ready to put on a show:

It was kind of eerie walking around the cages. Even though the crocs are well contained it felt like one was about to leap at you at any moment. Their vicious looks and quick reflexes are absolutely terrifying. It was awesome though.

We spent the rest of the day walking around the island and doing some snorkeling. Everyone seemed to have a different opinion regarding the snorkeling there, but we found it pretty decent. Not as great as being further out on the reef, but we found a couple hot spots, seeing a stingray, starfish, shallow coral, tons of schools of fish and large black slug-like creatures.

The ride back was smoother and we arrived during half time of the All Blacks and Wallaby game (New Zealand vs. Australia rugby). Big game, or so they tell us. The All Blacks dominated, and to be honest I have no clue how to play rugby, but it was still fun to be part of the excitement. No matter the sport, it’s fun to be at a bar with the game on all TVs and people cheering for their home team.

Cairns was a fantastic tropical destination thanks to the famous reef and hot weather… can’t wait to come back and do some more underwater exploration! Now off to Melbourne :)

Cairns, Australia: Great Barrier Reef (October 2013)

When you mention that you’re going to Cairns on a tour of Australia, the first response is “are you diving the reef?” YES, WE DID!

If you know me at all, you know that water sports are my primary hobbies. I’ve been an avid swimmer since a young age, and 90% of our family vacations included packing snorkel gear as far back as I can remember. I spent the last 5 years living in Los Angeles, and the only place in that city that felt right was seaside where I developed an addiction to stand up paddleboarding. So with that background you can understand why the Cairns/Great Barrier Reef portion of this adventure is something I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time. I always wanted to get PADI certified to dive, but something always came up whether it was time or money. Just never came together, but now that I’m here, at the best of the best… game on.

We booked our first tour with Tusa because from what we kept hearing “all the groups are good, but they are the BEST.” So go big or go home! We left the dock at 8am taking about 1.5 hours to reach the reef. The time flew by because we were part of the intro to diving briefing for the majority of the way. As the boat powered closer, we suited up. Although probably not necessary, everyone wore a short wetsuit to keep warm in the water. I hate wearing wetsuits, but I hate being cold even more, so no complaints even though the water was warmer than I expected. Honestly, I was nervous. I had built this moment up for so long that I wasn’t sure what to expect anymore. Tanks attached, the boat dropped anchor and we took our first step into the clear turquoise water. Immediately I felt my body tense up. Oh no! I always thought of diving as my dream "extreme sport" hobby and now I’m going to hate it and I can’t handle it, blah blah blah… and then I remembered, mind of matter. Calming down I joined the group and started breath. Slowly but surely I found my breath and my place under the sea. The first dive was a little rough. Even just swimming was different or should I say trying not

Second dive was AMAZING. It was exactly what I had imagined and I got the hang of it right away. I loved it, adrenaline was pumping and I could have stayed down there for hours. We were in a new location of the reef at this point so it was a little clearer and well worth the extra dive. We got down to about 40 feet, and saw a reef shark, all kinds of tropical fish and more elaborate coral than the first location. The feeling I got after this dive was exactly what I had dreamed of, loving it and being hungry for more.

Our dive instructor spent 4 years in Thailand as a dive certification instructor and he recommended an Australian owned dive center in the Phi Phi Islands where it’s much less expensive that in the States yet very reputable. So now the plan while we’re in Southern Thailand is to spend a couple days completing our certification (these two dives count towards the full certification!).

Great Barrier Reef, you are my bitch lover! I wish I could explain better how exhilarating this experience really was, I officially feel like I’m doing the trip I’ve been planning for months and dreaming about for years.

Anyone up for some dive trips in the near future?? Let’s go!!

Sydney, Australia: Manly Beach (October 2013)

All you see are ads and signs for “Manly Beach Ferry” so of course we had to check it out. What an amazing beach town. I want to live there, right now. The ferry left from near the Opera House and took about 30 minutes. We arrived at the wharf, welcomed by an amazing display of candy and gelato, we must be in a beach town.

We took our time walking along the main drag, then parked it on the beach for the afternoon. It wasn’t too crowded and the temperature reminded me of LA beach days, sunny 75. Several people were braving the chilly water, but I decided to spend my time reading on the beach. I’m currently reading The Beautiful and The Damned. I know, kind of a weird vacation book choice, but I started off with chick lit and ended up needing something more substantial and stimulating since my mind is in serious vacation mode considering the nature of this trip. Any book recommendations??

Santa had one too many White Russians on his Sydney vacation

After the beach we went to a local brewery for some samples. 4 Pines Brewing Company is a great little spot with a view of the wharf and tasty brews. It’s great to see craft beer becoming more popular around the world. I always enjoy visiting the breweries in he US and it was really exciting to check out an Australian brewing gem.

Manly treated us well. When we got back to the main city we decided a low key night was in order. Laundry and ramen completed the evening, then got some rest for our trip to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef the next day!

Sydney, Australia: Bondi Beach (October 2013)

Second day in Sydney started off with a trip to the Consulate of Vietnam to clear up a possible visa issue. Luckily that errand was quick and easy and we’re all set for the Vietnam portion of the adventure!

The Consulate was on the way to Bondi Beach, a bar and cafe filled beach suburb that is not only the starting point of a spectacular coastal walk, but also the place we were able to find a bar with ESPN to watch the Redskins game! We won’t talk about the game because it’s sad, but it was pretty cool watching the game live on a Monday afternoon at a beach bar with a few cold ones on the other side of the world.

Instead of drowning our sorrows in beer, we went on the highly recommended Bondi walk. The cliffs and views of brave surfers in the gnarly waves (very windy day) helped to clear our minds and forget about the tragic loss that was Sunday night football. I think my favorite part of the walk was seeing the ocean wash over a public pool. If it wasn’t so chilly and windy that day I would have been in that pool in a second. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m also a big fan of all the free public pools around this country and their unique qualities.

Free public ocean lap pool

As for describing the views on the walk, I just can’t… here are a few pictures that will hopefully give you an idea of the picturesque landscape:

After Bondi we took a bus back to a more centralized part of town and stumbled across the Night Noodle Markets taking place in Hyde Park. I wish I would have taken some pictures because the amount of vendors was very impressive. We had some food from the Himalayan region and “dessert drink” from a Thai stand. We didn’t want to overload on noodles since we’ll be having plenty in November, but it was a great festival and I’m really happy we bumped into it.

Sydney, Australia (October 2013)

AUSTRALIA!!!! FINALLY!!! I’ve wanted to go to Australia for as long as I can remember. Not 100% sure what initiated this urge, but I’m so excited to finally be in Oz. All I ever hear is how great the country and it’s people are, and how much I would love it. So here I am!

Sydney, you are living up to all of my expectations and are already making it hard to leave. I feel at home, loving the big beach city vibe which I’m obviously attracted to (5 years in LA will do that to you). We checked into Bounce Hotel (recommend it, a little pricey for a hostel but worth it, good location, clean and rooftop area) and immediately went out to explore the city.

First stop was Darling Harbour. This reminded me of the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, but a little more local feeling. There were a lot of tourists, but more locals than I expected. It was HOT out so I was happy, and we saw a sign for $5 pint happy hour, so then I was even happier.

After circling the attractions we walked over to the famous Opera House. It really is a beautiful building, although for some reason I thought it was taller. In comparison to the large bridge next door, it looked much more petite than I expected. The Opera House was surrounded by a Georgetown Waterfront like area, young professionals enjoying happy hour on a beautiful evening.

The walking continued… We strolled over to Darlinghurst to check out the night life. It was Sunday night so not as happening as we would like, but we enjoyed a burger and chips then make our way back to crash. We’ve been kind of lame about going out at night mainly because we’ve been up early and tired by the time cocktail hour rolls around. Hopefully more nights out in the future!

Mt. Eden, Auckland, New Zealand (October 2013)

The last leg of the road trip wasn’t too bad once we got off the windy, yet gorgeous, road from Coromandel. We delivered the car shockingly unharmed and caught a cab to Mt. Eden, a neighborhood of Auckland. There we checked into Pentlands Hostel which is run by a lovely Brit who came to NZ 25 years ago and now calls it home. After settling in, we made our way to the main drag for some dinner. Circus Circus Cafe was perfect. It’s adorable and delicious, what more can you ask for in a cafe. We split steak and AMAZING pumpkin & tomato baked crepes. Dessert was chocolate cake and rhubarb crisp. Apparently we were hungrier than we thought, but it was all yummy and worth the little extra cash.

After dinner we strolled around a bit, then went back to the hostel to use the internet (which has become an event in itself with the lack of resources) and watch a movie. An older man was channel surfing and came across 10 Things I Hate About You. Me and a German girl around my age didn’t hesitate to speak up that it was ok for him to leave it on this teen classic. It was a nice evening, just relaxing and enjoying a little taste of home.

And that’s New Zealand!! We did it!! One country down!! Can’t wait to come back and check out the South Island :)

Highs:
Caving
Watching Brian skydive

Lows:
Rainy cool weather, it was great while sitting in a cozy cafe, but overally not my cup of tea.

Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand (October 2013)

Coromandel Peninsula… this area came highly recommended by a travel blogger who seemed to be on the same page as us. Not many people have heard of Coromandel outside of NZ, but the pictures and descriptions from the blogger’s review made it worth checking out. The road to get to through the peninsula is simply gnarly. Winding right up against the water and cliffs, not many guard rails and tight turns. I was driving at this point and wasn’t really sure what we were getting ourselves into. Luckily with much focus and good jams we made it to the seaside town without any casualties.

It was what I pictured and more, a quaint old western style town situated next to the sea. I wish we were there during the summer to be able to enjoy the water sports, but the views and small town vibe were still worth the twisty drive. We checked into the Lions Den Hostel. I absolutely LOVE this place. It’s family owned and very homey. I could have lived there for days, months… etc. Since the weather wasn’t cooperating for the aquatic activities, we decided to check out the Driving Creek Railway ("New Zealand's only narrow-gauge mountain railway along with a working pottery and wild life sanctuary"). We had a little time before our tour, so we went to the Driving Creek Cafe. This little hippie cafe was perfect on a rainy day. We had a grilled cheese with pineapple and a gingery winter tea. They also have free internet which is rare so we took advantage. I could have sat there for hours, but 3pm rolled around and we went up to the train station.

Railway station and pottery

Grilled cheese with pineapple & ginger tea

We spent about an hour riding up to the top and back. A sculptor spent 35 years building this railway to bring clay down from the mountain for his pottery. This might sound kind of lame to tour, but it was surprisingly interesting and the views from the top of the hill were beautiful event with the hazy weather.

Lookout point

The tracks are lined with various sculptures and the walls are held up in certain areas with recycled materials such as tires and glass bottles. I'm glad the weather encouraged us to find other attracts we wouldn't have experienced with our usual focus on bodies of water.

 The weather was getting gloomy so we decided to check out the local seafood and bring a picnic back to our home away from home hostel. We picked up some mussels, king fish and oysters from Coromandel Smoking Company and local vino from a wine shop… We sat in the covered garden patio and enjoyed a snack plate that would make our mom very proud.

*failed not taking a picture of the glorious snack plate :(

Taupo Lake, New Zealand (October 2013)

Next stop, Taupo Lake. This lake is HUGE and absolutely stunning. Fun fact, the lake is about the same size of Singapore… and the amount of people who live in Singapore is about the same as all of New Zealand. So take out the calculator: if all of the Kiwis lived in the lake, you would have Singapore.

Taupo Lake

The weather was very clear, but still a little chilly for any water sports. That part was sad, but it was still nice not having an overcrowded lake town to be able to easily get around and find somewhere to stay. Blackcurrant Backpackers was recommended to us, and it was perfect for what we needed. Centrally located and not over crowded, we check in and then… it happened. Brian decided it’s now or never, he MUST skydive especially in one of the best places skydiving places in the world! The guy at the front desk was very helpful to help set him up with Tandem Skydiving just a bit out of town. 10 minutes later, we were being picked up to head to the launch pad.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the people working at this place: adrenaline junkies, yes… total crazy people, not so much. Brian lucked out and was the only person on his epic plane ride up. His tandem partner was an Aussie named Marley who was really chill and into safely (thank god!). They jumped on the plane and about 20 minutes later I met him at the drop zone.

Me: “I see him! At least he jumped, that’s a good sign”
Skydive instructor: “Oh yeah, we don’t get paid unless he jumps, so Marley will kick him out if necessary”

I was wondering if I’d reget not doing it when Brian landed, but oddly enough I didn’t. He LOVED it and I’m so excited for him, but I think I’m saving my money and adrenaline for the diving and aqua based sports later in the trip. Overall, so proud of him and excited that he had a great time and possibly a new expensive hobby!

Brian landed safely so we decided to reward him with beers. We had a couple at a local bar and played some pool. After that we called it a night and made our way back to Blackcurrant to catch a few winks before hitting the road again.

Essential road trip fuel at a fancy McDonald's

Waitomo, New Zealand (October 2013)

We were up and out early on Wednesday to start our road trip. The first thing you need for a successful road trip is coffee. There are roughly a million and a half coffee shops in Auckland itself, or at least it seemed that way. No complaints but we could not for the life of us figure out how to order a regular coffee at any of those places. Everyone is jumping off everything because they're hopped up on caffeine. Every coffee drink is espresso based and we tried ordering all of them... just want a simple cup of coffee!!! Nope, here's an excessive amount of caffeine, good luck!

So triple shot in hand, we take the bus to the rental car pick up. Right side of the car, left side of the street took a little time to adjust, especially the city driving, but once we were out on the "highway" (country road) we were smooth sailing. The countryside reminds me a lot of Ireland, rolling green hills, sheep and cows, lots of cows. It was amazing seeing these animals grazing on the hillsides, literally on the sides of these hills.

North Island New Zealand countryside

We hit a little rain, but nothing to stop us from arriving at Waitomo Caves just in time for our tubing adventure. We pulled into Juno Hall to see if they had any vacancy for the night. Luckily they were open and we were able to book two beds at this quaint farm hostel. I felt like I was at camp again! The lodge was heated by a wood-burning stove and lambs, cows, goats, pigs and deer were strolling the immediate area.

After we settled into our room, we walked over to the caves. Picture the Luray Caverns, but much smaller/tighter area 200 feet underground. That's Waitomo Caves. We put on wetsuits, grabbed a tube and joined our tour guide for a spectacular journey. We headed down into the earth through rushing water and over small waterfalls to float down the "lazy river." When our headlamps were turned off, the ceiling was filled with twinkling glow worms. Although I was extremely cold even with the wetsuit, I'm so glad we got to enjoy this experience. If you find yourself in Waitomo, please visit Black Water Rafting.

Post caving, we went into town for dinner. What we thought was a simple cafe, turned out to be Huhu. The food was delicious! We split lamb curry and mussels. It was a bit more expensive than we expected for dinner that night, but the food really was amazing and I would recommend it and eat there again in a heartbeat.

After dinner we turned in for the night. Caving will take it out of you!

Sunrise... my favorite 

Pic-a-Day

Day 1, my favorite piece at the Auckland Art Museum 

Byebye City of Angels

First post, last day of life as I know it...

My brother Brian and I are starting our 2 month adventure! You'll be able to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, plus I'll do my best to update this blog with a "Pic-A-Day" and random stories. 

Hash tags: #getawaypeach #babydyak (others to come) 

Locations: New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore 

Next post will be from the road!