Overnight on Maya Bay

     Maya Bay is a beautiful secluded island off of Phi Phi Island, Thailand. Some call it Maya Beach and others Maya Bay. Richard and I spent 3 weeks visiting Indonesia and Thailand a few summers ago. We saw several areas of Thailand and made sure to plan a trip to Phi Phi island. The island is small and many people go there to dive. There are few restaurants and hotels to choose from, but we stayed at Phi Phi The Beach Resort and it had great little villas with beautiful views.

Phi Phi Island, The Beach Resort
Photo: @conciergecouple

     To get to Phi Phi island, we took a mini bus and then a ferry from Phuket. Once we arrived we found the offices of Maya Bay Tours, the only company that does overnight trips to Maya Bay. They store your luggage for you, which is amazing. Because of this, we did not have to pay for our hotel for the first night or a locker for our things. We transferred a small number of clothing items and toiletries into a duffle bag and wandered the island for a while until it was time to depart for our excursion. The island has no roads and therefore no cars. It has a true tropical island feel.


     At about 2:30 p.m. we took our duffle to the pier to board the boat that would be taking us to the island. We were a little nervous about who we would be spending the night with and the boat ride over (we heard it was a little rough). I ran to the closest restaurant for 2 double rum and diets to ease my nerves. We sipped them as we met our crew and some of the other adventurous people who would be coming along too. The passengers were from all over the world: father and daughter from the Netherlands, a mom and son from London, friends from Spain, and couples from many other locations.

    The ride over gave us a chance to talk to one another and share travelling stories (my favourite part about meeting other travellers). The boat ride over was extremely rough. The boat literally jumped up and down the whole way over. The waves were large and the ocean a deep, and dark blue. I had to sit in one spot and stare out into the horizon or I was going to get very sick. If you get sick on boats at all, this is not the trip for you.

    We stopped on our way to Maya Bay to snorkel and kayak. Beautiful scenery, but even there in the cove the waves moved up and down making me feel very sick again. We got back on the boat and headed for the island. As we were pulling in, other day trippers were on their way out. The island looked beautiful, but we came in a back way, so we would just have to wait for that breathtaking view a little longer. Our boat could not pull all the way in due to low tide so we had to climb and tackle a very rocky journey with our bags. Again, also not for those who have a hard time walking.

Photo: @conciergecouple

    We walked a sand path, through palm trees, and the sounds of birds. What a unique feeling. We put our things down in the open air hut we would be staying in. There are no walls....just wooden "bunks" with cushions. We are given time to walk to the opening of the bay to take pictures as the sun goes down. The tide is low, you can walk on rocks and make your way out further into the bay. We asked the people we met to take photos of us and we did the same for them. As the sun sets, the crew brought us Thailand's token cocktail, rum and coke with red bull.

Maya Bay Beach
Photo: @conciergecouple

As the night started to fall and we were enjoying the magical beauty of the place, the crew called us for dinner. A sweet little Thai lady had made us chicken curry on rice with spicy mixed vegetable. There was plenty to go around and plenty more drinks to wash it down. The crew got us all sitting on blankets and we played some drinking games. As a late night snack, they made chicken wings. If you are willing, this is the time when you can try chicken feet if you wish to try them.

Photo: @conciergecouple

When its completely dark, the tide comes in and the crew takes us to swim. At this time of night you can see the glowing plankton. This is unique and exciting in itself, but when you are out in the water of the bay and you look up with limestone rocks reaching towards the sky and stars twinkling above you it is very cool.

      Soon, its time to go to sleep. We brush our teeth with bottled water, and we must warn you that there is no washroom on the island. We were forced to get creative when nature hit. There is the option to sleep on the beach. Richard and I were the only ones to take up this offer. Normally I would be afraid of bugs, snakes, spiders, etc. but truly the hut was not any safer. We figured we should embrace the experience. We were given a small blanket and tiny pillows. With the tide in, the waves were crashing. Really crashing. I love the sound of water and waves, to be honest we sometimes fall asleep to a waves nature soundtrack back at home. But these waves were not calming, they sounded like they were going to roll all the way up the beach and take us into the deep blue. We managed to sleep a few hours, but what can you expect on an island when you are used to world class hotels.

Photo: @conciergecouple

     In the morning we hiked back to the boat. The crew cooked breakfast (eggs, toast, etc.) on the boat and some of us went for a last dip. The sun was shining on the now turquoise water and the neon fish were zipping back and forth. We headed back to Phi Phi island a little tired, yet amazed at how lucky we were to have that experience. How many people in the world will get to say they slept over on Maya Bay?

     We highly recommend this excursion. It is one of the most unique experiences we have had during out travels. It is the perfect combination of relaxation, discovery, and adventure.

What to pack for the overnight trip:

- 2 swimsuits (wear one and bring another)
- toothpaste and toothbrush
-pyjamas
-sunscreen
-camera

9 States and 6 National Parks in 10 Days

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers Oksana & Dimitri, of 

www.travelize.me

Check out all Oksana & Dimitri's inspirational thoughts and pics at: 

Blog - www.travelize.me

Instagram - www.instagram.com/travelize.me/
Facebook - www.facebook.com/oksana.buniak

About Oksana & Dimitri...

Yosemite National Park
Photo: @travelize.me

My name is Oksana, I was born in Kiev, raised in Prague, studied in Kiev, then worked and lived in London, and finally I moved to SoCal 3 years ago. I spent 3.5 years on business trips around the world and that’s when I felt in love with traveling. I’ve been to 41 countries, 39 states + Washington DC, and 21 US National Parks so far.

Currently I work as a Business Analyst. Most of all I enjoy traveling (of course) and capturing the best places on photos. My husband and I are big sports enthusiasts. We regularly go snowboarding, enjoy kitesurfing and make first progress in surfing.

My husband Dimitri is a Software Engineer and he’s much better than me in all those activities listed above  And if you see a photo which you really like then it was most probably taken by him.

**Make sure you click on each days link to read a more detailed description of the the days events.**

Flight: Orange County, SNA –> Salt Lake City; Denver, DEN –> Orange County, SNA

Duration: 10 days
Mileage: ~3200
Starting point: Salt Lake City, UT
States: UT, ID, WY, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, CO
Budget for 2 people: $1953 ($22.5* flight,  $500 car rental, $700 hotels, $300 gas, $330 food, $100 other)

Day 0: flight from Orange County, SNA to Salt Lake City, SLC; night walk in the downtown

• Day 1: explore Salt Lake City, UT; drive to Jackson, WY via Idaho Falls, ID (300 mi,5 h)

• Day 2: explore Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park; stay in Jackson, WY

• Day 3: continue exploring Yellowstone; drive to Hungry Horse, MT (550 mi, 10 h)

• Day 4: explore Glacier National Park; stay in Hungry Horse, MT

• Day 5: continue exploring Glacier National Park; stay in Cut Bank, MT

• Day 6: drive to Dickinson, ND (530 mi, 9h)

• Day 7: explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park; drive to Rapid City, SD (240 mi, 4 h); explore Mount Rushmore, SD

• Day 8 : explore Wind Cave National Park and Badlands National Park; stay in Rapid City

• Day 9: drive to Denver, CO via Nebraska and Kansas (560 mi, 10h)

• Day 10: explore Boulder, CO; flight back home from DEN

* We had Southwest points to use thus we paid airfare taxes only

Would you rather chicken feet in Thailand or a Mezcal Worm in Mexico?

Would You Rather Wednesdays!

Richard loves to eat. He also loves new experiences, and challenges. Neither of us are picky eaters so more often than not, we will try new foods. 

Chicken Feet

We had the pleasure of visiting Thailand. We did some travelling around Thailand and spent some time on Phi Phi Island. One day trip you can do from Phi Phi island is to Maya Beach. Maya Beach is famous for being the movie location for The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Maya Beach is actually a small island itself, with a small inlet for boats to enter throughout the day. It can be quite crowded at times. We heard you could spend the night on the island and we were intrigued. There is only one company that takes you out there overnight, so we booked it. 

We arrived at the boat in the early afternoon. We met all of the strangers we would be spending the evening and night with. The crew was animated and quite an eclectic mix of characters. All genuinely nice and capable. We arrived to the island with our lightly packed overnight bags just as the mass of tourists were leaving. As dinner was prepared later that evening but a wonderful cook, we were told chicken feet were available. Some of the locals were eating them, and Richard figured if he likes chicken wings, he will likely also like chicken feet. 

Photo: @conciergecouple

He nibbled on it, chewed it, and stretched the skin with his teeth. There were still claws attached. I did not even want to think where those feet had walked and what they had walked on. He said it was chewy and rubbery. The foot was white and wrinkly as he held it in his hand. I forgot to mention that before he ate this, the entire crew and the passengers had been invited to enjoy the signature Thailand cocktail: rum and red bull.

Mezcal Worm

We often travel with my sisters and brothers in law. When we all get together, there is a lot of craziness, boldness, and partying. We were staying in Los Cabos for Spring Break. It was just another usual day by the pool; tanning and enjoying cocktails. Being as we were in Mexico, we were enjoying a little tequila here and there. One long and sunny afternoon, the bartender suggested we all have a shot of mezcal. It reminds me of tequila, but it is apparently considered very different. Both tequila and mezcal are made from the heart of agave plants. Tequila in particular can only be made from the blue agave plant, whereas mezcal can be produced from several varieties of agave that grow wild in Oaxaca.

Okay enough teaching...             

     

 

So we all enjoy a shot and swim away....so we think. Richard and my brother in law decide to have a few more shots, and as they work their way towards the bottom of the bottle. The bartender dares Richard to eat the worm. He not only accepts the challenge, but places it on his tongue and lets its big, plump body hangout before swallowing it. 

His choice?

The Mezcal worm! Sure it has been said to possibly cause hallucinations but some people also believe it has positive psychological effects. Let's hope you get to wash it down with a shot of mezcal when you try it and the positives will outweigh the negatives. 

Bonus: They both give you bragging rights! 

Diary of France

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger Adia, of 

www.globallycouture.com

Check out all of Adia's inspirational thoughts and pics at: 

Blog - www.globallycouture.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/globallycouture
Facebook - www.facebook.com/globallycouture
Twitter - www.twitter.com/globallycouture

About Adia...

Hi Everyone! My name is Adia Prade, I am in love with both Fashion and Travel. I first got bit by the travel bug when I went on my first International trip to France, I was beyond excited because I got to experience both my passion for fashion and my love of culture. I’d been studying the French culture for five years and I was so anxious to get to France. When we got there I strolled down the Champs-Élysées and was completely in awe of this city.

The idea for Globally Couture came about when I went to Brazil, as I sat on Copacabana Beach and looked upon the glistening water I thought to myself “I should write about my adventures!” Thus when I got back to the United States I started it. Globally Couture is a blog about Fashion, Beauty and Travel!

Photo: @globallycouture

My decision to go to France was purely based on the facts that I wanted to reward myself for graduating High school and the fact that Fashion has always been a passion of mine. I remember it like it was yesterday; my mother dropped me off at the airport and told me she was so proud of me. We then took a picture together to commemorate my first international trip! I was so excited, my first trip overseas and I could practice my French; I had been studying French for about five years in middle and high school at that point. I was so eager and anxious to board my overnight flight to Paris, I couldn't wait! As I boarded the flight I was a little fearful of what to expect; it was a place that I was new to, but luckily I was going with some of my classmates and my French teacher.

The flight was about eight hours and when we all got to France we were exhausted, the reason why the flight was overnight was for us to sleep, however we were so excited that it was impossible for us. As we made our way to the hotel, the only thought on our minds was to take a nap, but it was morning in France and we had a full day of activities planned for us. That day it was July 14th, also known as Bastille Day, a holiday in France to celebrate the ending of Bastille prisons, so there was no one in the streets that day. Walking around Paris was magnificent, there was no one around and therefore it was almost like having the city to ourselves. As night fell, we were all exhausted but it was Bastille Day so we all stayed awake for the Fireworks at 12am. The fireworks were a perfect backdrop for the sparking Eiffel tower, it was a great sight to see.

Photo: @globallycouture

The next day I was exhausted, but the Louvre museum was on the agenda. We made our way to the museum and it was absolutely brilliant! Not only was the art amazing, but the actual museum itself was so large; maneuvering through the tunnels only to be rewarded by viewing a new art piece was such a treat! We then strolled down the Champs Elysees after the museum and I was speechless, it had every designer store imaginable!

Photo: @globallycouture

During our trip to France we spent some time in Bordeaux, a city where Vincent Van Gogh spent many nights creating many of his masterpieces. While traveling there I remember how gorgeous the scenery was, we passed fields of sunflowers that went for miles. Just looking out of the window of our bus I could tell that this place would be amazing. When we first got to Bordeaux we were a little underwhelmed because we were used to the glitz and glamorous stylings of Paris, however once we walked around we quickly discovered that this was a gem! I had my first batch of escargot there and even though I had to keep telling myself I wasn't eating snails in order to convince myself to eat them I really enjoyed them! It was definitely a great experience!

Photo: @globallycouture

So with all that being said, what can I really say about France? I thought it was fantastic, although the journey was brutal to me because it was my first international flight, it was all about the destination in the end and I really enjoyed myself!

Would You Rather go on a Gelato Tour or a Wine Tour in Italy?

Would You Rather Wednesday! 

Gelato

I have a sweet tooth. Actually we both have a sweet tooth. Some places we have travelled are not known for their desserts....Asia. So when Richard and I visit somewhere where the sweets are good, we are in heaven. Italy had a variety of yummy desserts, but nothing beats their Gelato. We had Gelato each of every 21 days we were in Italy. Does that make us Gelato connoisseurs? Not likely, but we are the experts on our blog :)

First of all beware. There is Gelato everywhere! Not every stand or store that sells it, sells the authentic stuff (handmade and natural flavours). Gelato is made with milk, not cream and don't be fooled by the bright neon colours or slices of fruit on top. These disguises may mean it is not natural or homemade Gelato. I tried mango in Venice, strawberry in Sorrento, and so many more kinds. They were all wonderful. But one place had us coming back not just for seconds, but thirds. And anyone who has ever been to Europe knows that a lot of walking is involved to get most places, unless your hotel is right beside it.

*Side note: this may be a good idea. Richard and I should look into finding accommodations right beside this place so we can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We were sightseeing with another couple and felt like we needed a snack before getting ready for dinner. We stopped at a place called: Gelateria Frigidarium. Like always, there were so many choices and decisions to be made. They have a self named signature flavour. It is a combination of homemade cookies, caramel, and chocolate. Let me tell you....it was delicious! It was love at first bite. The following time we came back I trued black cherry, which was also incredible. The third time I caved and got a repeat of the signature flavour. It was our last day there, and I had to get another when I finished it. Trust me, it's that life changing. If you are not stuck on tradition, there is even an option to get the whole thing dipped in chocolate and topped with whip cream. Really!? It's insane.

Amazing Gelato in Rome
Photo: @conciergecouple

Wine

Yes, we love to drink as we have reported numerous times. So when we visited Florence we had to do a wine tour if not for our love of booze but because its the expected thing to do in Florence. We took a nice drive out into the countryside to an old castle. The landscape was stunning. The castle was perched up high on an emerald, grassy hill and the vineyard running in lines of stunning green and purple. One of the first things we did, was take a picture perched on a rock looking out over the small town below.

The tour was educational, relaxed and enjoyable. As a bonus we also got to learn about the family that lived in the castle many years ago as well as olive oil tasting and producing. We got a chance to walk through the wine cellars and of course sample the wine. It was a delicious chianti and as we sipped we learned (perfect for 2 teachers) about when and how its best to consume it. When you visit you just have to buy a bottle, if not to drink than at least as a souvenir.

Tuscany Wine Tasting
Photo: @conciergecouple

Our choice?

It has to be the Gelato. You can special order some wines from around the world to your doorstep. Even if its not the exact vineyard you visited in Florence, you can still spend the money to find a good quality Chianti to enjoy in your own home. But you cannot do that with homemade Gelato. Trust me, we would spend a good $30 to get a cone shipped to our house if we could.

Which would you choose? 

Gelato or Chianti?

Skills We Have Gained From Travelling

    We travel because we love to see new things and create new and memorable experiences. Some of us like to sample new foods, get a nice tan, or simply seek adventure. But what if I told you that while doing all of that, you are also learning and gaining new skills. Travel is like an education abroad.

       I first have to admit that I was horrible with geography before I started travelling. I know, I know…and I am a teacher. I knew where many places were, but after travelling much of the world, I now truly comprehend direction and location. For people of all ages and for children, seeing the world beats reading about it in a textbook any day.

Language:

I would love to say Richard and I learned another language on our travels. We have not. We did get ambitious and take a beginners Spanish class before our first trip to Spain. We used some of it during our travels, but we both agreed we wanted to learn more. It hasn't happened yet. Before we visit any new country, we learn some basic phrases. We learn how to say hello, please, thank you, how much, good morning, etc. This helps us to first demonstrate to the locals that we are interested and value their language/culture. It also gives us a great jumping off point before we need to ask for assistance or suggestions.  I can guarantee that if it weren't for our travels, we would never have even had exposure to any of these basic language skills.

Cooking:

I mentioned in a previous post that I try to take cooking classes when I am visiting a new country. I love to cook and I embrace the opportunity to learn about new foods and how to prepare them. It is a great way to experience the culture, as often they take you to market, but also a great way to converse and learn from a local. I continue to cook these fishes when I get home, and they have not only enhanced my recipe repertoire, but they have made me more skilled with spice selection and flavour combinations.

Bargain Shopping:

Many countries we have visited have outdoor markets or boutique shops with one of a kind items. Because they are independently owned, you as the customer have the opportunity to request a better price. For example, when we were in Morocco there were leather bags for sale for what would work out to $200 American. We worked them down to $100 for an all leather travel tote. We have continued to work with shop owners to get the unique items we want a reasonable price. The more you do it, the better you get at stating the price you are willing to pay. We have walked away from some items we had really wanted, but most of the time we get great deals.

Public Transportation/ City Navigation:

Richard and I are from a small town with no subway system. We have been on one in Toronto and New York City, but I would not say we are experts at navigating cities via public transit. When we arrived in Paris, we had to learn the Subway system quickly, because riding in taxi’s for 3 weeks can get quite costly. So after a few days of riding the subway to dinner, shops, and sights we got quite comfortable with it. When we moved on to new cities, we noticed that our experience in Paris really helped us to understand and recognize the simplicity and convenience of subway travel.

London, England
Photo: @conciergecouple

Budgeting Where it Counts:

Sure when you land at the airport you can take a taxi to your hotel. So fast, easy, and convenient. But this is usually the biggest rip off and so many people do it! I get it, you have arrived at your destination and you are so excited and eager to get to your hotel that you are willing to just jump in that taxi. Well that is what they are banking on. Richard spends a lot of time reading forums and communicating with the hotel concierge to determine the fastest and most affordable transportation from the airport into town. He prints out what bus number or subway stop we need to get to and keeps it available in his carry on. Being aware, knowledgeable and prepared is key. We have ended up taking a taxi several times, but we do so by educating ourselves on the expected price and weighing the pros and cons of saving time.

We love hotels. Richard loves researching them, reading reviews on them, and surprising me by booking them in secret. We have learned where and when it makes sense to splurge on a hotel. If we are visiting a bustling and lively city we will choose a hotel or apartment with a moderate price. We realize we will be out most of the time, and our hours in hotel room per dollar will not be in our favour. We do splurge on hotels on island and beach destinations. Yes, we will be out all day in the sun and sand, but the evenings are spent in our room, hotel lobby or hotel lounge. These are the times are when having beautiful surroundings are important to us.

Photograph Selection:

We love taking photos. We often take anywhere from 1,000-1,500 per trip. We make photo-books, gallery walls, etc. using them. We used to take photos of just about everything. Now we realize that pictures of scenery and pictures of ourselves enjoying the world are what matter most to us. We have learned to be discerning photographers, only snapping what we deem important. For example: on the most part we do not photograph major tourist attractions (e.g. the Louvre), unless the lighting is unique or scene is particularly unique that day. Mind you there are exceptions: the Eiffel Tower. 

Social Skills:

Richard is very social. I on the other hand am mostly quiet. Because it is often just the two of us travelling, and because we like to go out in the evenings, we are often left with no other choice but to meet new people. We have made great friends and there are worse things to be forced into than meeting other travellers. For myself though, I had to get good at introducing myself and being open to all kinds of people. When we meet we share stories, experiences we have had locally, and any tips for travelling the area. We also share drinks and general conversation. I have had to sharpen my social skills, and because of that we have together met great people and had great experiences we would never have had just the two of us.

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Photo: @conciergecouple

Appreciate The Moment:

I am an easygoing person, who enjoys my downtime. Naps, spas, and reading are some of my favourite hobbies. However, when travelling Richard and I can get pretty eager to see a lot with little downtime. Over the past couple of years we have really learned to appreciate the moment and take it all in. We often drink our morning coffee siting on our balcony with our robes on, chatting about our plans for the day and/or some of our favourite moments from the day before. This was a challenge for us at first, because there is so much we want to do when visiting a new place. We have learned to strike a good balance between slowing down and stopping to take in a moment and getting to our next sight or experience before the crowds.

Mykonos, Greece
Photo: @conciergecouple

These are just some of the many lessons and skills we have picked up over our travelling years. This summer we will likely continue to develop our driving on rugged terrain skills when we travel the road to Hana. What skills have you gained through your travels?

How To Survive The Largest Commercially Rafted Waterfall in The World!

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers,

Nico & Vicky of 

www.thetravellingmooseys.weebly.com

Check out all Nico & Vicky's inspirational thoughts and pics at: 

Blog - www.thetravellingmooseys.weebly.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/the_travelling_mooseys

About Nico & Vicky...

Photo: @the_travelling_mooseys

Since meeting each other during Newcastle University's fresher week, nearly six years ago, we have explored the world together and will continue to do so. Places we have travelled together include Japan, Europe, New Zealand, and America. In-between pretending we are Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, we both enjoy a range of cool, sometimes nerdy hobbies and interests, such as surfing, photography, reading, and Star Wars. Yes, Star Wars! Also, we both have strong interests in food and beverages, especially Mexican food, pizza and cocktails. Please feel free to come with us on our journey by following our Instagram page and website, and message us your stories and photos. We would love to hear from you! Love Vicky and Nico

The Kaituna River in Rotorua, New Zealand, is where we were thrown into the deep unknown dark river with no experience of rafting. We encountered not just one, but three incredibly dangerous waterfalls, including the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world called the Tutea Falls (7 meters high). This activity was not for the faint hearted, and where Hobbits should not be seen floating down this river. But, here we were floating down this life threatening river with no experience, no sandwiches, no wet suits to keep our bums warm, and most importantly Nico couldn't Instagram. 

This is a tale from His and Her experience of this contrasting event.

Nico’s Experience 

This is a must do extreme sport if you come to Rotorua! The adrenaline rush was epic and the feeling going down these waterfalls were incredible. I am amazed that I persuaded Vicky to join me, especially as Hobbits were warned to stay away from the river. To kick this story off, it started with us with four other people, including a world champion white water raft guide, in a yellow submarine coloured raft. The first two waterfalls was a thrill-seeking ride, where we managed to stay on and avoid capsizing the raft. Vicky nearly lost her GoPro, but apart from that we were alive and well. Then came the almighty Tutea Falls at 7 meters high, this waterfall brought nerves and daunting feelings to all on board. None the less I was stoked and ready to go! After, praying for Chief Tutea who was buried behind the waterfall, we drifted slowly to the top of the world highest commercial waterfall. I was close to wetting myself with excitement and nerves. I looked at Vicky, who smiled back, and then peered over the edge. It was what I expected to see, a drop that did not look natural. Before, I could let my nerves take over we dropped over the edge, it was an awesome sight as we surged down to the bottom of the fall. Half way down the fall, we capsized and was trapped underwater for a short time. I quickly escaped and saw my oar floating away from me, I went after it but soon got shouted at to get back to the upside down raft, due to strong currents. I was in a tricky position, do I save my oar or save myself? I thought it would be better to save myself, especially as we were having pizza later on and going to Hobbiton the next day. The Tutea Falls was an incredible and fun experience, where I thought we both absolutely loved it! I was high fiving everyone afterwards, and desperate to do it again! I thought Vicky had the same view as me until…

Vicky’s Experience

 Unlike Nico I had no expectations of what I would encounter, which I later realized that the river was a Grade 5 Expert rating rafting difficultly, as a result it came to an almighty shock later on. The week building up to this traumatic event, Nico described this activity as “fun”, “easy”, and “a piece of piss”. So initially, I had no worries and qualms, however once we were on the Kaituna River, this is where it started to go downhill for me…LITERALLY! Firstly, my helmet kept sliding off my head, which I will reiterate that I was on a Grade 5 river with No Experience, and secondly my GoPro kept falling of my helmet. Then, even worse I was the only member from the opposite sex on this highly alpha-male dominated raft, where if you weren't extreme you did not belong. So here I was, I have never done anything extreme in my life and had Nico hiding the fact that we were going down the highest commercial rafted waterfall in the world in less than 1 minute. As a result, I had no idea what was going on and thought we were going down what Nico described as “a piece of piss” waterfall. Even though everyone was saying a prayer for Chief Tutea before we voyaged down the fall of death, I still did not make the connection of what was to become.

Next thing I know, I am heading down the waterfall on the “lad” raft when suddenly a rush of water blew the raft upside down, where I was plunged underneath the raft. The problem was that I was not prepared for this and missed the opportunity to take my last breath. Also, while we were plunging down the waterfall at the speed of a Formula One car, I manage to hit my head on a rock. With a bump on the head and no last breath I was in trouble. I tried to come up to the surface, and all I could feel was the seats of the raft. This was the moment I realized we had capsized. Then, I tried to escape this situation by swimming to the right side of the raft, but surprisingly I was not going anywhere. To make matters worse, I was trapped by the rope on the raft, which was not allowing myself to escape being underwater. I kept pushing forward to try to free my shoulder, which tangled up in the rope. With having no last breath of air, I felt oxygen leaving my body and close to near death. Although, anger was the emotion I felt at this moment because I have been a successful award winning county swimmer for Ulster, Northern Ireland (woo, plug at myself), and believed water would never get the better of me. As I tried to keep pushing forward, I managed to grab hold of an oar and pull myself to the surface. After, what felt like hours underneath the cold water, I’m free and alive, although when I look around I see the alpha males of my raft high-fiving, cheering, laughing, even wooing. They seem to have forgotten about me. Was I really that small? Nico kept making go down even more waterfalls and blaming me for not wanting to participate on further waterfalls and rapids. Although, Nico did not realize how life-threatening this experience this was until we were off the raft later on, which to my amazement his initial reaction was “This is going to look amazing on the GoPro and will get me more Instagram followers!”

River in Rotorua, New Zealand
Photo: @the_travelling_mooseys

Would you rather sit beside a "larger" person on a flight or a crying baby?

Would You Rather Wednesday!

Luckily for us neither of these situations have happened to us. I love a window seat so that I can sleep during a flight. And boy do I sleep. I slept nine out of the eleven hours last summer. Yes, I know I am lucky. Okay back to the point. I usually get the window seat, and Richard takes the middle. He generously realizes he will be up anyways watching movies, so he might as well let me enjoy a good rest if I can.

If anything he ends up beside the strangers. He hasn't had too bad of luck though so far. Sure a middle aged man may have almost fallen asleep on his shoulder, but it could be worse. Richard gets restless, so he is beginning to prefer an aisle seat. We either compromise: I get window one way and he gets aisle another or when it is a longer flight we have even sat separately once. Nothing is worse than being uncomfortable, squished by a stranger, or listening to crying for hours on end while being stuck in an already tight space.

We are not completely insensitive, we get it people have to travel with their little ones sometimes. Sure there are "bigger boned" people out there. But lets not pretend that when you see a baby or "larger" person walking towards that empty seat beside you, that your heart sinks a little and you all of a sudden are dreading the long flight even more.

Our choice(s):

If I had to choose, I would choose the crying baby. Why? Because I am betting on them being quiet for at least some of the flight.

If Richard had to choose, he would also choose a baby as well. Who knows, maybe the flight attendant warms a bottle for the little loud speaker a puts a drop of bourbon in. Night, Night little one. Finally I can get back to binge watching a series during the flight!

Photo: @conciergecouple

Picture this: Rila Monastery

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers, 

Roel & Eugenie of 

www.takeusanywhere.com

Check out all Roel & Eugenie's inspirational thoughts and pics at: 

Website - www.takeusanywhere.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/takeusanywhere

Instagram - www.instagram.com/takeusanywhere
Twitter - www.twitter.com/takeusanywhere

About Roel & Eugenie...

Waiting for the ferry to Isla Ometepe, Nicaragua
Photo: @takeusanywhere

We’re Roel and Eugénie. We met each other in 1988 while studying in Groningen, a small student city in the north of the Netherlands where we still work and live. Eugénie is a health care worker, Roel is a freelance writer. We got married on one of our travels, in 2004 in Sri Lanka. The people at the 4-star resort we’d booked a marriage package at were a little surprised to see two disheveled looking backpackers walking through their gate. A week after we’d left the country the devastating Christmas day tsunami hit the hotel.

We regret we didn’t travel more when we were younger, but we’ve been making up for lost (travel) time in the past 20 years. Despite full time jobs we’ve managed to visit 70+ countries thus far. When we really started traveling to faraway destinations in 1996, contact with home was by phone and later e-mail. When blogging platforms popped up on the internet we started using these to share our travel adventures in Dutch to keep family and friends informed. Many other people found our stories there too. In January 2016 we took it to the next level: our own  travel blog. Now we’re dreaming about traveling full time, but are trying to figure out how.

Rila Monastery
Photo: @takeusanywhere

In our opinion the most amazing sight in Bulgaria is without a doubt the Rila monastery. Tucked away in the southwestern Rila Mountains this beautiful monastery is the most important cultural, architectural and historical monument in the country. You’ll recognize it from the backside of the 1 lev banknote.

The monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, the full official name of Rila Monastery, was founded in the tenth century and has been a functioning monastery ever since. Most people get here on a day tour from Sofia (which is 2,5 hours each way) causing it to be rather crowded in the middle of the day. We overnighted in a basic hotel just behind the monastery, which was ideal to experience the monastery in peace at the end of the day and early in the morning.

The superb Nativity of the Virgin Church in the center of the courtyard is the absolute highlight of the monastery. The black, red and white striped church with its three golden domes is adorned by splendidly vivid frescoes on its outside walls. Surrounding the courtyard the outside walls consist of four levels of balconies with monastic cells, storerooms, refectory and kitchen, as well as two small museums and a post office.

But as the saying goes: a picture tells more than a thousand words……

Rila Monastery

Photo: @takeusanywhere

Rila Monastery

Photo: @takeusanywhere

Would You Rather an Amazing Bedroom or Bathroom at Your Next Hotel?

Now showers and bathtubs. Hotels are doing some amazing things with showers these days. They can be all glass, have multiple shower heads, marble floors, and so much more. Same with bathtubs, Jacuzzi tubs run in all shapes and sizes and with multiple jets and speeds they are like having a hot tub in your room. In the summer nothing beats a cool shower with numerous streams of water hitting your body. In the winter when I am frozen to my toes, nothing beats a warm bubbling Jacuzzi tub in the privacy of my own room where I can light candles, play music, and enjoy a drink.

Our choice:

A great bathroom…We have seen some ridiculous bathrooms during our travels. We have been blessed to stay at hotels or villas with bathrooms that have blown our minds and made our stay that much more memorable. Although a great bed with a view are close behind, the bathroom has become a make or break for us.

We have seen bathrooms designed in unique ways and with great amenities that we just don’t have in our home. They can design hotel bathrooms with creativity and luxuries that the average income home could never include. Sometimes the climate helps out, allowing hotels to build outdoor showers and more.

Our favourite hotel bathroom would be at Ubud Padi Villas. The bathroom had two main areas. The first area was inside, with double sinks, ambient lighting, and storage shelves made of bamboo. If you continued to walk, a step down would lead you to the outdoor portion of the bathroom. There was an outdoor Jacuzzi tub, outdoor shower, and outdoor toilet. Let me reassure you that this did not an out-house feel. There were flowers and simple décor to finish off the space. Palms reached over the walls from the outside gardens and soft rocks, gentle enough to walk on covered the grounds. It was a perfect mixture of nature, luxury, and function.

Ubud Padi Villas, Bali
Photo: @conciergecouple

Ubud Padi Villas, Bali
Photo: @conciergecouple

Hotel bathroom runner ups:

- Hotel ICON : modern and luxurious with a built in television above the tub in prime location in Hong Kong

- Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta: if you are lucky enough to get upgraded to the penthouse or governors suite, not only do you get 2 bathrooms but the main ensuite has 2 closets inside!

Grand Fiesta Americana, Puerto Vallarta
Photo: @conciergecouple

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Please note: I have over the years grown to love a good robe. Nothing beats slipping into a soft robe after a shower or bath and wandering around your room as you get ready for the day ahead or evening out. This may play into my love of bathrooms.