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Suitcase, Backpack or Duffel… the luggage quest!

Feb 8, 2015

Suitcase, Backpack or Duffel… the luggage quest!

Another blog in our series of planning for a RTW trip. Today’s article is all about the luggage choices.

While preparing for our trip I scouted the web to get an idea of what kind of luggage people choose on a trip like this, and discovered it depends greatly on the way of traveling: backpacking, slow travel, housesitting, and so on. (more…)

Australia and New Zealand pictures

Feb 7, 2015

Australia and New Zealand pictures

We have been quiet on this blog for a while, as good internet connection is limited here in New Zealand. I am sitting now on a grass field outside the local library, as this is the key spot to get free wifi here in Hanmer Springs. Anyhow, I managed to upload the pictures from Australia and the first batch from New Zealand. You can find them here.

Jet lagged in Sydney

Feb 1, 2015

Jet lagged in Sydney

Picture this. It’s 3am in the morning. We are all tired, but still wide awake. Lucas is running around in the apartment and Emily can only cry – very loud. Then the doorbell rings; it’s the downstairs neighbor, who is very annoyed that we woke her-up. Oops sorry. But after watching some movies on the ipad, things calm down and one hour later we are all asleep, albeit Emily can only sleep if we put her in her car seat. At noon we all wake-up because we have too, and very slowly. Welcome jet lag! (more…)

Amazing Addo’s

Jan 27, 2015

Amazing Addo’s

Today is my 42th birthday and I am celebrating it far away from home and I am deeply happy. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this day than sitting on the porch having dinner with my family, while a group of elephants is slowly making their way down from the hill towards the water pool in front of our house.

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Sharing from the heart * Rest and Play

Jan 26, 2015

Sharing from the heart * Rest and Play

It feels like I am flying, I lift my arms in the air in an expression of freedom, I feel so good in my body and mind right now. The wind blows softly through my hair, the sun is setting slowly and gives me this warm glow. I look into the face of my radiant, happy little girl while she looks up at her mom making all sorts of funny moves on the trampoline. (more…)

Mesmerizing Tsitsikamma

Jan 22, 2015

Mesmerizing Tsitsikamma

We have been to Tsitsikamma 3 times now, and it keeps amazing me how stunningly beautiful this place is. Tsitsikamma is part of the Garden Route National Park and is a coastal and marine conservation area. The ocean is wild, beating onto the rocks and creating huge fountains and a spectacle to watch any time of the day. The forest is ancient and is bathing the hills in a variety of greens. There are plenty of hiking trails, both short and (very) long. The Otter Trails passes trough here, which is known to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the world, and if you want to hike it you need to book it years in advance. (more…)

Pictures from Tsitsikamma

Jan 19, 2015

Pictures from Tsitsikamma

Tsitsikamma was great and we all felt a bit sad when we left the camp on Sunday. Luckily we were going to another great place and we are now close to Addo’s Elephant Park. We already drove through the park on our way towards the lodge and we have already seen the first elephants, zebra’s and other wildlife.

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A morning in Tsitsikamma, by Lucas

Jan 17, 2015

A morning in Tsitsikamma, by Lucas

So proud!  Lucas wrote his first blog post at four years old. Hence by exception this post will be in Dutch, but if you scroll down to below the pictures, you will find an English translation.

Een ochtend in Tsitsikamma, door Lucas

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Sharing from the heart * Creating Vision

Jan 11, 2015

Sharing from the heart * Creating Vision

I would like to share with you what the last 2 weeks have been about for me. The time around New Years is all about closure and visioning to me, and I get very excited once Chirstmas is over and this time of reflection starts. Like I always do, I took the time to create a list of all the things I am grateful for in the past year, small and big, and I allow myself to be surprised by what moves me to tears. I challenged myself to add at least 100 things. This sounds like a lot, and when you do it for the first time maybe it is, but it feels so amazing to fill my heart with all those wonderful things in my life!

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Getting kissed by Betsy

Jan 9, 2015

Getting kissed by Betsy

Hot weather messes with the ability of your mind to make smart decisions and after a week in Oudtshoorn, where daily temperatures exceed 35 deg celsius, we have the proof that this statement is true. When we took off on this trip I would not have imagined that I would be kissing other women, but that was before I had met Betsy. It was love at first sight and when I got asked if she could kiss me, I could not resist.

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