- Cravings: Having spent most of our time in developed countries, we have been spoiled with the ability to get whatever food we want. We've even had a lot of great food not normally found in the US (green mussels, kokoda, etc). The only real craving we've both had is for good Mexican food, both the "authentic" Mexican food you can only find in Southern California and the not-so-authentic, yet very tasty, Chipotle.
- Work: We promise we're not playing everyday. Although we're technically not working, traveling for an extended period is like having a full-time job. (Okay, maybe not full-time, but at least a part-time job.) An hour or two most days, and usually one full day per week is spent researching upcoming stops, checking emails, making reservations, running errands, or searching for somewhere to do laundry or get our next shower.
- Planning: Since there was no way we could plan all of the details for a year long trip, we're constantly having to think about and research our next stop. We always feel slightly guilty looking forward to the next place we'll visit instead of savoring the moment and enjoying our present location.
- Creature Comforts: One of the biggest things we miss is all of the simple things that go with being settled in a house such as sleeping in the same bed every night and sprawling out on the couch in front of the TV. As exciting and adventurous as it is to constantly experience new things and not know what the next day will bring, there's something to be said for the comfort of being in a routine. With that said, we're having an awesome time and can gladly go without those comforts for the next year.
- Surprising Random Observation: In the U.S the major stores are open late, 7 days a week. Since New Zealand and Australia are developed countries we were expecting the same thing. We ended up learning that most stores here close by 5 or 6 during the week, by noon on Saturday, and are rarely open on Sundays. It's really a pain when you want to buy groceries on a Sunday, pick up some fishing supplies Saturday afternoon (Dustin), or try to find batteries or toiletries on a weekday evening.
- Kindness of Strangers: We've been amazed by the generosity of complete strangers. We've already wrote about celebrating Tex's 48th wedding anniversary on the West Coast of New Zealand, but there's been plenty of other times when complete strangers went out of their way to help us out or just invited us to join them for a drink. One more example...while eating dinner at a park in Gisborne, NZ we were contemplating where we would park for the night. We started talking to a father who was waiting for his kids to finish swimming. After talking to him for only 5 minutes, and before we mentioned anything about our lack of place to stay, we were invited to park our van in his yard for the night. Once we arrived his family insisted we join them for pumpkin pie and ice cream and said we were welcome to stay as long as we wanted.
- Health: Not to jinx it, but we've both been very healthy so far...we're both feeling great and no sicknesses at all (besides the one time Rachel ate too many smoked mussels).
- The Surreal Life: We still can't believe we're on this trip. We spent a good 2-3 years thinking about and planning this trip. It was always so far away, but now it's finally here...a very strange feeling for us.
- Cheap Living: Of the 100+ days we've been away we've only paid for a place to sleep 16 times. Here's a quick run-down by country:
Rustic Island Bure: 4 nights
Nadi Hostel: 3 nights
New Zealand:
Auckland Hotel: 5 nights
Holiday Park Camping: 2 nights
Renegade Camping in Bongo: 50 nights (free)
Family Friends and Friends of Friends: 14 nights (free)
Australia:
Brisbane Hotel: 2 nights
Couchsurfing: 2 nights (free)
Renegade Camping in the Hippie: 7 nights (free)
Crashing at the Girls Hotel: 2 nights (free)
Perth Family Friends: 14 nights (free)
Tent Camping: 3 nights (free)
No comments:
Post a Comment