Generally one thing you get with an older home is an established neighborhood. In this particular neighborhood, “12th South” there are boutiques, coffee shops, eateries and markets. There is something appealing about being able to walk out your front door to meet your friends at the local watering hole. It seems that there is a generation of people moving back into Urban neighborhoods across the country, a generation thirsty for community.

Some might say remodeling a house is stressful on a marriage, well the same was said about backpacking around the world together and we turned out just fine. This is our New Adventure and an adventure we are excited to take. After moving 8 times in 7 years two of which were overseas, maybe its time to put down some roots, for a little while at least.

Stay tuned for progress of the remodel, it will be sporadic im sure but we’ll do our best.

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New Zealand

The first 3 nights in New Zealand have been amazing. We were able to stay with some family friends the first night in Christchurch and it was perfect. Its been a while since we have been able to enjoy being around a family with laughing children, home cooked lasagna and fine New Zealand wine.

With a few extra blankets, pillows and layers of clothes Kari, Keyino and family sent us on our way. THANK YOU!

The first two nights in the campervan we have enjoyed the great outdoors of NZ with no showers, toilets or running water. With snow on the ground in Hamner Springs we drove through what felt like a winter scene from a movie. I have a feeling we will take in quite a few more of those scenes as the first two days have been breathtaking.

There are more campers than we originally thought there would be during a NZ winter. Although when we are on the roads driving its as if we have the country all to ourselves (not a bad thing on these tiny mountain passes). We’ll head up North to Nelson and then down the west coast and up the east coast back to Christchurch. These two weeks sleeping in a van down by the river will be quite the laugh. Our blogs are on paper and we hope to get them over to RTW365…thanks to the Picton County library for allowing us to post this one.

Sydney

Hong Kong

We have some catching up to do! We are now in Bali after a week running through the streets of Hong Kong and Singapore. We have yet to wrap up our time in Vietnam or tell the stories of two fascinating cities. 

If we can peel ourselves away from the beaches of Bali we might just find the time to update the ole blog. Stay tuned.

What we love about Vietnamese villages, towns and cities are the beauty of the people and the country. Day after day, night after night we are amongst the locals living their life in business and friendships.

We find mutual pleasure in bargaining with street/beach vendors selling fruit, homemade rice cakes and sunglasses. Kite surfers, sailboats and parasailors fly on and above the deep blue waters of the South China Sea ; and the night sky is numbered more with kites flown by laughing children than of stars.

Locals swim in the ocean in what looks like contamination gear including but not limited to: full pants, socks, shoes, jacket, face mask and hat. It is also not uncommon to see people fully clothed eating noodle soup while sitting in the sand, for breakfast. We chalk these unusual and unique daily events to the Vietnamese way and another reason we love this country. Nothing shocks us anymore.

Hoi An, Vietnam

In a town known for sending tourists home with a whole new custom fit wardrobe, I was in heaven as I walked sideways starring googely eyed at the handmade shoes, dresses and coats that lined each store window.

After wearing the same pair of rainbow flip flops every day for 8 months in sand, rain and mud, my feet were salivating for new kicks. This trip has taught us many things one of which is practicality. As dirty and rugged as my flip flops are, they have seen me through any situation in comfort across the world.

 Measured at 9am and picked up before our late afternoon bus out of town, my custom fit coat was ready and even though I knew I’d have to lug it around with me in the scorching heat of Asia until our winter adventure in New Zealand, this purchase was about practicality – and a little bit of style.

Walking home from the beach we witnessed a domestic dispute in the park. Your typical Asian dispute filled with karate kicks, head locks, num chucks and chinese throwing stars. Ok  so I made up the part about head locks. The picture below isn’t of the fight but rather the 50+ motor bikes that lined the street trying to get a ring side view.

I love Vietnam.