Sharing an interesting email from a loyal reader in Minnesota, USA…

A furniture store with a shrine in the parking lot.

In yesterday’s post we mentioned, we’d received an email from a long time reader in Minnesota.  Shortly after we left Minnesota, a local publication wrote a story about our upcoming travels: Please click here to read the article.

From the publication of that article in our home town of Chanhassen, Minnesota, we gleaned a number of new readers, many who’ve continued to follow us to this day often writing to say hello and sharing precious morsels of local news along with their own personal stories and tidbits of information. 

Whenever hearing from readers anywhere in the world, it means so much to us. When communicating with readers from our own former small town, it adds a layer of heartwarming memories we’ll always treasure as is the case when most of us are reminded of favorite places we’ve lived throughout our lives.

From what we’ve seen so far, Thai architecture isn’t as distinct in local shops and buildings, although prevalent in the temples.

Over these past years we’ve been contacted by book publishers and a variety of publications inquiring as to our interest in further promoting our story. At this point, we have no interest in becoming “celebrities,” working the book signing circuit, being on talk shows, etc. That would totally change the nature of our experiences.

Others traveling the world in a similar manner; having no worldly possessions, no home to return to, no storage facility with “stuff,” and no plans to settle anywhere in the near future is becoming more and more common in today’s world as more and more people retire.

At various times we’ve heard from other retired couples (one as recently as a week ago) who’d made a decision to leave everything behind to travel for a designated period of time, later to settle in a location they find appealing where they’ll buy, build or rent a home after they’ve fulfilled their dream of world travel. 

Mom and Pop type grocers are found on almost every block.

Often, for Americans, they may choose warm climates such as Arizona or Florida or prefer states with no income tax (Federal tax still applies) such as Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. 
 
We surely understand why others eventually lose interest in continuing to travel over the long haul.  It’s not easy, especially as people age, with more and more medical issues cropping up over time.   Plus, some may find the nuances of continually traveling cumbersome and difficult over an extended period.

Certainly, we’re not exempt from these realities and undoubtedly at some point, we’ll have to make big changes. We have no delusions about this fact and have emotionally and financially prepared ourselves for this eventuality. However, at this point, we’ve only enhanced our desire to continue on, health providing.

Thai massage is known throughout the world for its healing benefits.  Unfortunately, message hasn’t been beneficial to my current condition.

Anyway, after getting off track here, I return to the email we received from a loyal long time reader that joined us after reading the above mentioned newspaper article. Over these years, she’s written to us a few times much to our pleasure. 

With such communication, meaning so much to us, we easily remember hearing from her and her husband, as we do for most readers who’ve taken the time to contact us.

Preferring to be anonymous, we avoid mentioning her name as she requested. (Many readers who comment online prefer anonymity). Here’s what our loyal reader wrote a few days ago after which I requested and received her permission to post a portion of her email message:

Public building in the background.  We weren’t able to read the sign written in the Thai language.

“Today’s post (see this link) gave me a nudge to connect with you. Several weeks ago, my husband and I drove past Grizzly’s, the restaurant near where you will be staying when you visit Minnesota next year. It reminded me of your writings about abandoning the RV idea and securing a location to stay when you will be back in Minnesota. 

Ever since then I’ve been thinking about your upcoming stay. I know that you will be very busy with family and friends, but I’m wondering if you would have room in your schedule to set a time when area folks who have “followed you” might get a chance to meet you just to say hello.  Even though we’ve never met I feel like I know you having followed your great adventures since the beginning.

I smiled when you again referenced Garage Logic today.  I shared that my husband is also a huge fan of Joe and the gang and we have had many laughs while listening to the show and their topics of the day. One of the things we do each year on our visit to the State Fair is to get a comfortable spot at the Garage Logic broadcast booth and just hang out for a lengthy period of time listening and observing the goings on as they banter and put the show together. It is indeed great fun.”
We couldn’t stop smiling after reading her thoughtful email. We giggled with delight over the prospect of meeting some of our readers living in Minnesota who’d consider making the trip to get together with us as a group to share our mutual stories, experiences and dreams of world travel.
ATMs and Seven Eleven stores are commonly found along the highways.
What a marvelous idea! This had never entered our minds, but as the time approaches, we’ll certainly make several announcements here on our site with a date, time and location for the future get together.
We’d love to hear feedback from our readers as to any suggestions they may have as to a good central location in the Twin Cities.  Most likely, a Friday or Saturday evening at a local restaurant will be ideal for most, perhaps even the above mentioned Grizzly’s by our loyal reader whom we thank for her thoughtful suggestion.
Surely during the six week period we’ll spend in Minnesota, we’ll find an evening that works. We’ll be back in touch with a date for next June, 2017 since we’ll be leaving MN shortly after the US holiday, the “4th of July” to head to Nevada for the next visit with family.
After narrow two lane roads in Bali, these wider roads in Phuket are easier to maneuver, especially with less traffic than in Bali.
If any of our readers are living in and near Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada we’d be thrilled to get together with those of you interested during our three week stint in the state from July 7 to August 1, 2017.
Of course, this applies to any of our readers living anywhere in the world we may be visiting at any given time.  How wonderful it would be to meet some of you!

That’s our story for today, dear readers. As we’ve said, please don’t hesitate to contact us to say hello, share a story or express a dream you may have of stepping outside the box for a new experience, whatever that may be.

Have a dreamy day!

Photo from one year ago today, August 8, 2015:

We could easily envision a croc coming up and over this hill from the ocean to Deadman’s Gully in Cairns, Australia. For details of such an incident, please click here.

Four days and counting until the four hour harrowing drive…Tools for staying organized…

We printed all the paperwork and documents we could possibly need for multiple upcoming flights and visa applications which will be required on paper at the embassies. Placing each in its own unique envelope seemed to be the easiest way to find what we’ll need. Also, included are the necessary documents for us both of us to apply online for the renewal of our Nevada driver’s licenses, Tom in six months, mine in eight months. The blue envelope contains extra passport-type photos we purchased here for use in applying for the three visas in Singapore.
“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
Kids on the beach, making sand castles. This is universal worldwide.

Originally, when we booked two separate two month stays in Bali at the same property, we were hesitant, asking ourselves, “What if we didn’t like it? What if for some reason we were miserable?”

At the time, with the commitment to finalize the booking imminent, we decided to take our chances. If we didn’t like it, we’d find a way to make it tolerable. In most cases, if a location isn’t a favorite, we end up spending a good chunk of our time making plans for the future while we stay busy enjoying the location as much as possible.

Fluffy flowers.

That concept is predicated by a good wifi signal, allowing us to do research while the time whittles away. Although we totally loved the house and the staff in Marrakech, Morocco in 2014, we stayed a little too long for the venue, a total of two and a half months. 

But, here in Bali, in this lovely villa, we feel comfortable and at ease. Certainly, the WiFi signal could be better. Gede hopes there will be a resolution by our return. If not, we’ll live with it. We haven’t been unable to post something each and every day during these past almost two months. 

This flower design is commonly used at the ends of posts in Balinese construction.

Sure, there’s always nuances we’d prefer to be different; no flies while we’re dining is probably the biggest one. But then, it’s a reality of life in many parts of the world. 

While living in Australia, we quickly realized that the flies bite so we had to leave the screen-less doors closed in the heat of the day. Here in Bali, only on a rare occasion do we feel a nip from a fly, perhaps from a different variety. I’ve been able to use only a tiny amount of repellent to keep the mozzies at bay, especially early in the morning and late in the day during dinner.

A wide array of tropical flowers bloom in each location we visit.

No English speaking TV?  No big deal. Four hour harrowing drive from Denpasar to the villa (each way)?  Annoying. Visa extension requiring three round trips at a total of four hours of driving time along with hours of waiting time on each of the three days in order to complete the process?  Bothersome. Poor WiFi signal? Frustrating. No opportunity in this remote area to dine in a restaurant from time to time?  Unusual.

On the flip side, we’ve loved so much about this location; the fabulous staff and their attentive care; the outrageous food; the exquisite accommodations; the infinity pool; the ocean views including daily wonders on the beach; the local people and interesting culture; and the unusual experiences we had almost daily in one way or another.

Birds and beasts are symbolic in Indonesia designs.

A few nights ago, there was a crab in our bedroom. That made us laugh. When does one find a crab in their bedroom? With a handful of paper towels I picked it up, depositing it back to the beach.  Buffalo on the beach every evening? Where does one see this? We’ve never lost interest in watching them meander along the shore. It goes on and on which we’ve shared in post after post.

So now as we wind down the remaining four days at the villa we smile with the knowledge and the acceptance of the few obstacles, while for the first time in our travels, we know what to expect upon our return…another two months in Paradise. 

Neighboring villas also have neatly trimmed landscaping.

Will are readers be bored when we’re back here with “same old, same old?” We hope not and, we have a plan. During the upcoming two whirlwind months of activity after traveling to Southeast Asia we’ll be thrilled for a little downtime while back in Bali to begin sharing stories we’ll have saved for our readers. 

We’re planning to save many of our Southeast Asia cultural stories especially from the Mekong River cruise (to eventually be posted when we return to Bali), writing the stories as they occur while the information is  still fresh in our minds. 

Bus stop in the neighborhood.

Of course, we’ll prepare a shorter daily post in “real time” while on the Mekong River cruise as we experience Vietnam and Cambodia both by land and water since we’ll be out on tours most days during the cruise itinerary.

As for Singapore, starting in five days (we’re spending one night at a hotel in Denpasar, Bali before the flight), where we’ll be for one week, we’ll prepare our usual posts with photos as we visit three embassies for the required three visas we need, incorporating sightseeing along the way. This should be quite an experience it itself.

The Hindu temple often has scary statues to drive away evil spirits.

Today, we’ll both pack and weigh our bags, pay the online excess baggage fees and be done. Once again, this will give us peace of mind allowing us to thoroughly enjoy our remaining few days at the villa. 

May your day bring you peace of mind!


Photo from one year ago today, June 23, 2015:

Shopping in Trinity Beach, Australia was as unique as it has been in most new locations.The AUD 227.57 for Woolie’s Grocery Store, (aka Woolworth’s) translated to US $175.86. This total didn’t include the veggies at US $32.77, AUD 42.41 and Italian sausage at US $13.45, AUD  17.40. For more details, please click here.

Part 3…Visas…Not a good day for Tom!…Visited Proyek Penyu Turtle Hatchery!…Check back tomorrow for my embarrassing cultural experience!

For more information and details on the Proyek Penyu Turtle Hatchery, please click here. The cost to visit the site was a donation of IDR $50,000, US $3.68 for both of us.
Stats were a little outdated, but the efforts of the staff appeared dedicated to the project from what we could observe.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
It wasn’t Tom’s favorite day.  As a matter of fact, it was his third less than a stellar day since we arrived in Bali almost one month ago. The first was the four-hour harrowing drive from the airport in Denpasar to the villa, with the remaining two to Lovina this week (four-hour round trips ) for our visa extensions.

We arrived at the Reef Seen Resort, the location for the Proyek Penyu Turtle Hatchery in Pemuteran Village, Gerokgak, Singaraja, North Bali.

As an aggressive driver, albeit a good driver, not being at the wheel for long road trips leaves him with a degree of angst only he and others like him can understand. Surely, many of our readers can relate to this.

This is the sandbox where the recovered turtle eggs are placed while they mature.  There were 126 eggs maturing in this enclosed area.  Once hatched, they’ll be moved to the pools and later released to the sea. Turtle meat is a delicacy in Bali.  Fishermen are paid to bring the eggs and baby turtles to the hatchery, more than they’d be paid as “food.”  This hatchery isn’t as natural an environment as we’d like to have seen, the intentions are good and the concept suitable for saving the lives and further preservation of many sea turtles.

With him in the back seat, upon his insistence, allowing me to take photos from the front, I can feel his discomfort especially when the cautious drivers we’ve had drive too slowly or someone darts in front of us, a common occurrence here in Bali. He doesn’t need to say much when the faintest of sounds escape his lips, perhaps only audible to me.

Looking closely at the sand, there was no indication or sign that turtle eggs are incubated here. Often, dogs, other predators, and humans dig up the eggs on the beaches for food. This is a good alternative for the turtle’s eventual survival. The optimum temperature as would be in a natural environment is between 30 and 32 degrees. If the temperature is predominantly 30 degrees, it’s like the eggs would all be male. At 32 degrees they’d be female. 

Oddly, his angst doesn’t make me anxious although I do feel bad that he can’t relax and enjoy the drive, regardless of where we’re going. Of course, the purpose of yesterday’s second trip to Lovina in three days only added to his discomfort of visiting the immigration office for trip two in the three, five-day process. 

There were over 100 baby turtles maturing for future release attracting tourists to the venue.

No doubt, it’s not a pleasant concept…spending an entire week, out of eight weeks, messing with this process.  Then again, as we sat there with others who’d also chosen to abide by the country’s immigration laws, we both wondered why such a process isn’t observed and respected (by many) throughout the world, let alone in our own USA. Following the “law of the land” isn’t all that difficult.

Baby turtles that had hatched in the hatchery, not quite old enough for release. We’d hope to release a few but they weren’t quite ready.

For tomorrow’s third and final trip, we’re waiting to hear from Gede that a driver will go to Lovina to pick up the final documents with a letter from us in hand authorizing him to do so.  The immigration officer explained this is acceptable for this third trip only.

There were three mature turtles on display (not the parents of the baby turtles) which we’d preferred were instead out to sea but were used as mascots to inspire donations for the baby turtle release program.

Luckily, we were photographed, fingerprinted, and out the door within about an hour before lunchtime began, after paying the required IDR 710,000, US $52.14 in fees for the two visas. 

The other two confined turtles used as mascots to promote the hatchery.

We’d planned to visit two points of interest on the return drive but I was willing to forgo that idea if Tom would have preferred we immediately begin the drive back to the villa (considering another two hours on the road).  He insisted we continue with our original plans to visit the Monkey Temple (shown in tomorrow’s post) and the Proyek Penyu Turtle Hatchery, both on the return drive to the villa.

The hatchery is located on the beautiful grounds of the Reef Seen resort, known for its scuba diving and snorkeling.

It was an hour’s drive from Lovina to both venues within minutes of each other. Over the next several days, we’ll continue to post the many photos we’ve taken this week, still leaving us with dozens more we’ve yet to share. There’s certainly been no shortage of photo ops in Bali.

Religious statues on display at the resort.

Today, we’re blissfully staying put. The weather isn’t as humid as usual, the sky is clear and the crystal clear pool awaits us. We have a bit of “work” to accomplish for future planning that we’ll tackle in the afternoon while sitting in the cabana after our exercise and fun in the pool. 

There’s a variety of flowers blooming at the Reef Seen Resort.

We started our day as usual in the chaise lounges at 6:45 am savoring Tom’s perfectly brewed French press coffee, watching the activity on the beach and the sea including dogs howling and playing, passing boats and barges and who knows what else may come our way today?

The road we drove to the Reef Seen Turtle Hatchery,

Tomorrow, I’m sharing an embarrassing culturally motivated event that occurred to me yesterday, one I hesitate to mention but, let’s face it, life’s not always a “walk in the park.” Sharing such experiences are all a part of the reality of traveling the world which isn’t always pleasant.

May your day be pleasant wherever you may be in the world!


Photo from one year ago today, May 26, 2015:

One year ago today, we boarded Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas in Honolulu on its way to Sydney, Australia with 1400 Australians on board for one of the most fun cruises we’d experienced. Here’s our balcony cabin before we messed it up with our stuff!  For more photos, please click here.

Ironing out the kinks…Rice paddies and fish distribution…

The fish are brought in from the various boats at the Negara Harbour to be distributed to a multitude of vendors. 
“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
This fishing boat with its pink and black sail passed by a few days ago.

We’re working with Gede on the wifi issues. As it turns out this house and the owner’s house next door share the local Internet connection. Many service providers claim their routers may handle five devices online simultaneously, but this is often a fallacy in the most remote areas of the world. 

A waiting area at the Negara fishing harbor as fishermen and vendors work on the distribution of thousands of fish caught overnight or in the morning.

The pole for the signal is located between the two houses. The signal, even when it’s only the two of us using it, is weak at best. No less than half of each day we’re unable to get online. On many occasions, we’ve had to get up during the night to handle bookings, inquiries and financial matters.

The pier at the Niagara Harbour.

We knew there’d be a weak signal here which we were prepared to accept. But, the bigger connection problem we’ve encountered has been escalated by the use of the house’s WiFi by staff onsite next door during daylight hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, when staff is off for the day, we have fewer issues.

Off and on, the staff is working on some remodeling at the owner’s house. (The owners are gone at this time).  Throughout the day, they’re taking breaks to get online checking Facebook, playing games and engaging in other online activities. Most can’t afford to purchase data for their phones or don’t have the availability of data at their homes.  We appreciate this and fully understand.

These ducks hang out at the rice paddy fields awaiting their share of rice which the locals provide.

But, as part of our vacation rental contract, wifi is provided. With the staff online, we have little ability to be online at the same time resulting in our spending no less than half of each day attempting to get a connection.  This has been frustrating to say the least.

Over the past several days, Tom walked over to that house, asking if they could be offline so we can do our work. Although some of our readers may assume we’re also “playing” online, most of our online hours are spent on research, bookings, banking, investments and working on this site. 

Huge bags of rice, ready for processing, at the side of the road awaiting pickup.

This life we live, although at times playful and unstructured, requires diligent daily communications with a plethora of websites to keep our travel plans intact and on target. Recently, with a slow connection, it may take hours to handle a single transaction. 

Add the staff’s seeming constant use of the shared signal and we’re in a tough situation. Recently, we spent an entire two days, almost three, figuring out how to handle upcoming visas when we kept getting “kicked off” during daylight hours.

Note the hat on the woman in red, known as  sedge hat, rice hat, paddy hat, bamboo hat or raiden hat, is carrying more rice from the fields while the guy in blue talks on his phone.

At the end of any given day, we not unlike most of the working world, like to wind down to watch a few shows and get mindless for a few hours. With the frustration surrounding this situation, yesterday we beaconed Gede to discuss the situation in person. He couldn’t have been more interested and willing to work out an equitable solution.

The best solution is to separate the two houses into two routers as opposed to sharing one. Then, the staff can continue being online status quo. In the interim, we’ve asked Gede for a solution and he offered to explain to staff, “No use of the house’s WiFi at all.”

The rice paddies ready for planting.  See this site for more details.  “The Balinese system of irrigating their rice terraces is known as Subak. It is such an important part of Balinese culture that in June 2012 it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status. This method for irrigating the land was inspired by an ancient Hindu philosophy, and it has been used since at least the 11th century. Using this method the rice fields were built around temples and the allocation of water is the responsibility of priests. In order for this management of irrigation to work successfully it has required that members of each community cooperate with one another and work in partnership. Each member of the community takes responsibility for maintaining the systems integrity, and this is why the terraces tend to look so well maintained. The rice farmers work as a unit to create appropriate canals and dams. Another important element of the Subak system is the religious festivals that mark the cycle of the year.”

Instead, we suggested they can be online from noon to 1 pm during their lunch break each day when we’re usually exercising in the pool. In the interim, Gede will continue to work with the service provider to figure out an alternative solution. He’s already called and is on track to figure out a few options. Apparently, we’re not the first guests in these villas who’ve had these issues. 

We’ve offered to contribute financially to resolve the issue, at least for the excess data we may use monthly which can be as much as a maximum of 100 gigs between us.

The lush greenery coupled with the irrigation views creates an appealing scene.Paddy fields refer to any parcel of arable land that is devoted to rice farming. The most common form of paddy field will be on flat land, but it is also possible to have paddy terraces that follow the natural contours of hills. Bali offers both type of paddy, but it is the terraces that visitors usually most want to see because these tend to be the most stunningly beautiful. The rice terraces have been here on Bali for at least 2,000 years, and they were originally carved into the hills using hand tools.”

This morning, with the staff aware of our concerns and now staying offline, we’ve already observed a vast improvement in the connection. This could easily be the solution for us for our remaining less than six weeks until departing the island.  

Our bigger concern is when other guests and the owners will be at the villa next door when we return on September 1st for another two months. When the owners were here when we first arrived and they too, busy with online work, we had no choice but to use the Internet during the middle of the night.

Also, I had to use an alternate offline program to post each day. It was frustrating and time consuming to say the least having an impact on the quality of our time here.

The rice begins to grow for eventual harvesting by hand.  Rice paddies are a prolific source of business in Bali and many other parts of the world.

Gede’s concern for our enjoyment and well being assures us both that he’ll figure out a solution for both our time here now and into the future.  In the meanwhile we’re enjoying a good connection this morning, soon to be happily sharing the service with staff from noon to 1 pm this afternoon.

There are always solutions to every problem. The reality is, we may not always like the solution. We hope your day brings solutions that work for you.

Photo from one year ago today, May 18, 2015:

This pretty gazebo was located on a private ranch we spotted in Kauai as our time on the island was winding down. Click here for more details.

Photos of road trip continue…One year from today…Fulfillment, happiness and knowledge…

This appears to be a Balinese boat, called Madurai, one of many designs that we spotted in the fishing harbor in Negara which is quite a site to see.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

  At first, we thought this might be a log or debris, but when we saw it moving quickly from left to right, we knew it was a sea creature.

Our lives are filled with milestone dates as we continue to travel the world. Whether it’s an anniversary of the date we first left Minnesota, first left the US, embarked on our first safari, walked the hills of Tuscany, wandered the lost city of Petra, or sailed in the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden in the Red Sea.

As our journey continues, we find the true meaning of our passion and purpose to become one with the world in ways we can maneuver based on our personal desires, our ages, our health, and our financial considerations.

This appears to be a Muslim Madurai boat design.

In our minds, we’re doing it well, better than we anticipated, better than we dreamed possible. It’s not a case of flattering ourselves for a job well done thus far. 

A similar design is common on these Madurai boats located in the fishing villages of Pangambengan and Perancak.

It’s merely a matter of acknowledging to ourselves and to one another that we’ve reached the pinnacle of our intent…fulfillment, happiness, and knowledge of a world we never knew existed until 43 months ago. How naïve we were. How educated we’ve become, and yet, with so much more to learn in the future.

Today is a milestone that in one year we’ll be back in the US, arriving in Seattle, Washington after a 24-day cruise from Sydney, Australia. For the time being, we’ll have scoured the South Pacific as much as we desired and may, with so much world yet to come, never return. 

Smaller boats docked along the breakwaters.

We’ll stay in the US for two months visiting family and then, off we go again, bookings and plans already intact with the same degree of excitement we’ll have begun, at that point, almost five years ago.

As we peruse our travel map located to the right of today’s post (feel free to click on it for details), good grief if the completion of seeing the world were our entire objective, we’ve only experienced the “tip of the iceberg” so to speak…and that, too, coming up on January 23, 2018, on our booked Antarctica cruise.

Its hard to conceive of the time and effort to create these detailed decorations.

But then, seeing the entire world is entirely impossible, even if one began decades before us. It’s a big place.  Does spending time in a few cities in a country, on a continent constitute really “seeing” it? Or, does living there for two or three months at a time determine how well we’ve come to know the life, the culture, and the treasures it offers for us to behold? 

Many of the boats are similarly designed with attention to religious detail.  Some are of Hindu design and others are of Muslim design.

To us, none of this matters. What matters is the fulfillment, happiness, and knowledge we glean along the way, at times with a degree of angst and discomfort and even, at times a degree of disillusionment and disappointment.

This appeared to be a maintenance/utility boat.

Then again, even these types of perceptions are all part of the process of learning and growing as human beings, of stretching our wings to soar above these vast lands with grace, humility, and awe.

The number of fishing boats in the harbor is astounding.

Yes, we are in awe of it all even with the biting flies, the relentless mozzies, the muddy paths, the steep roads, the hours-long harrowing drives, the scorching heat, the suffocating humidity, and at times the seeming to never end cloudy and rainy days and nights. It’s all a part of the experience.  If it were perfect, it would have little meaning after a while.

We couldn’t believe how much creativity was required for the designs of these fishing boats.

So, yes, we’re in Paradise here and again in Paradise wherever we may be at any given time, for the experience, for the selfish joy, for a starlit night like none other where we need only reach to the sky for a handful of stardust we sprinkle in our own eyes as we smile in pure wonderment.

Some of the boats in the harbor were small and less decorative.

Today, we share more photos of that joy we’ve encountered here in Bali, Indonesia in a remote location far from the popular tourist points of interest making our own way to see that which becomes closest to our hearts, a simple beauty, a profound opportunity, to discover what life is really like in faraway lands. 

Gratefulness. It prevails.

Photo from one year ago today, May 16, 2015:

As we were winding down our time in Kauai, the albatross chicks born in early February would begin to fledge within a month. It had been an amazing experience to watch them grow over the many months and finally to see their fluff fall away as their feathers suitable for flying grew in.  For more photos, please click here.

A dream come true…Antarctica, here we come!…Exciting and…pricey!…Tomorrow…the 666 day itinerary!

Not our photo, but not unlike the experience we hope to have on our booked cruise to Antarctica in 21 months. The cruise was booked up so fast on the day it was posted, we decided to book this far ahead.

When we first conceived of the idea of traveling the world in January 2012, a few of what we considered as “must do’s” in our travels have changed or have since been fulfilled.

That’s not to say the list isn’t still extensive at this point. The more we learn about this enormous world we live in, the more we find appealing to our tastes and desires.

For me, my number one dream was to see wildlife in Africa.  After almost nine months on the continent, my greedy self longs for more. Someday, we’ll return to fulfill my desires to return and also to fulfill one of Tom’s dreams to see Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Of course, that future trip will include seeing the gorillas in Rwanda, an experience we both will treasure.

As for Tom in the beginning, his first priority was to visit the Panama Canal.  Our first cruise in January, 2013 our ship traversed the narrow passageway at the Panama Canal, which proved to be an extraordinary experience for both of us. 

The newly built locks on the Panama Canal are yet to open due to construction delays although the expectation is that it will be operational by the end of June. Even if the new canal its not open by the time we arrive in 2017 we still look forward to it once again as another layer in the experience.

The Panama Canal is not a “final” destination, instead its a means for us to make our way to South America from our location in Central America at the time. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, in November, 2017 we’ll again cruise through the canal on the first of the two cruises we mentioned.

As we’ve continued on our travels incorporating almost constant ongoing worldwide research, we’ve added many locations to our list of places we’d like to visit. Will we be able to see them all?  Most likely not.  Both time and finances have a bearing on our ability to do so.

However, added to our list of “hope to see,” eventually moving over to the “must see” list, Antarctica quickly moved up to the top of the list over these past few years as we conducted more and more research.  We knew the price would be outrageous. As we’ve fine tuned our budget, we’ve saved and trimmed to make this possible.

The itinerary for our upcoming cruise to Antarctica.

Availability of Antarctica cruises for the right dates became imperative based on current bookings and, as described in yesterday’s post, as we began to explore South America for the later part of 2017 and 2018. 

Here is a link with considerable information about cruising in Antarctica from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) that has provided us with valuable answers to questions.

The quality of the cruise lines and ships became a vital aspect as we continued in our extensive research. We watched videos, read hundreds of online reviews as well as endless comments in CruiseCritic, constantly on the search for the perfect scenario for our needs and wants.

The most important criteria for us is taking an Antarctica cruise is the inclusion in getting off the ship to board small Zodiac boats that travel to the ice floes for close encounters with wildlife.  

The “cruising only” options of many ships with no “off ship” experiences typically last for 10 to 11 days. This was definitely not worth the lower cost to us.  We wanted more. We knew a 14 to 17 day cruise with use of excursions on guided Zodiac boats for up close and personal wildlife experiences was the driving force behind our research and ultimately, our final decision.

Then, of course, the price, age of the ship, quality of ship, number of passengers, reviews and accommodations on the smaller ships that visit this vast area of the world became a vital factor in finding the right cruise.

ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Tue Jan 23 Ushuaia, Argentina 6:00pm
Wed Jan 24 At Sea
Thu Jan 25 Grave Cove, Falkland Islands / New Island, Falklands
Fri Jan 26 At Sea
Sat Jan 27 At Sea
Sun Jan 28 South Georgia Island
Mon Jan 29 South Georgia Island
Tue Jan 30 South Georgia Island
Wed Jan 31 At Sea
Thu Feb 1 Elephant Island
Fri Feb 2 Astrolabe Island, Antarctica
Sat Feb 3 Neko Harbor, Antarctica
Sun Feb 4 At Sea
Mon Feb 5 At Sea
Tue Feb 6 At Sea
Wed Feb 7 Ushuaia, Argentina 5:00pm
Thu Feb 8 Ushuaia, Argentina Disembark

For me, I’d have been content to sail on the less luxurious ships with minimal accommodations if necessary to make it affordable. But, as our research continued, the lower priced older, less luxurious ships didn’t offer much lower pricing and…sacrificing luxury no longer became an issue. In any case, it was going to cost us dearly.

After considerable research, we decided on the French Ponant Cruise line which has small enough ships to maneuver into areas larger ships cannot navigate. Also, the cruise line offered excellent accommodations and amenities including tips and alcoholic beverages, upscale food with scientists and professional photographers on board.

Over these past 18 months, as we continued our search, we resigned ourselves to the outrageous cost of these 14 to 16 day cruises.  Prices on most Antarctica cruises begin at a low of NZ $14,682, US $8800, per person for more modest accommodations on less desirable ships to a high of NZ $79,285, US $54,000 on luxury ships.

Ships are categorized by “number of stars” ranging from a low of “3” to a high of “6” for the pricey high end ships.  The ship we selected, Ponant’s Le Soleal, is rated a “5.5”. We’re very happy with this. The price, on the other hand made us cringe a little although we were prepared it would be high.

The cost for the balcony cabin we selected on the fourth deck of Ponant Le Soleal is a combined (for two) NZ $50,654, US $34,500, as opposed to the much lower priced third deck where the medical center is located. We didn’t want to be close to that!  

Here’s information about the ship:

Le Soléal

Ship Rating:
Le Soléal features a sleek silhouette and a welcoming, intimate atmosphere. Le Soléal accommodates up to just 264 passengers and embodies the philosophy and spirit of yacht cruising that has made Ponant a success.

All 132 staterooms and suites feature ocean views, and the interior of the ship boasts contemporary décor with fluid lines and a modern color scheme. Trips in a Zodiac boat will allow passengers to get as close as possible to the natural grace of the Arctic lands, and a team of naturalists and lecturers will accompany guests and share their knowledge, experience and passion for their subject.

Carrying on a tradition of reducing impact on the environment, Le Soléal also features a state-of-the-art navigational positioning system, eliminating the need to drop anchor and therefore protecting the seabed. This advanced system also lowers smoke emissions and includes an optical and submarine detection system to avoid collisions with marine life, both day and night.

Le Soléal
Detailed Information
 Ship Statistics 
Year Built 2013
Tonnage 10,944 tons
Registry France
Length 466 feet
Beam 59 feet
Passenger Capacity 264
Crew Size 139
Total Inside Cabins 0
Total Outside Cabins 132
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 124
Suites 4
Maximum Occupancy per room 4
Age Restrictions One person must be 18 or older
Dinner Seatings 1
Seating Assignments
in Main Dining Room
Open
Dining Hours Open Seating
Dining Room Dress Code Dining
Tipping Recommended? No
Tipping Guidelines Gratuities are included in the cruise fare.
Onboard Currency European Union Euro
Services & Amenities
Bars/Lounges 3
Beauty Salon/Barber Shop Yes
Casino No
Chapel No
Disco/Dancing Yes
Elevators Yes
Hot Tub No
Cell Phone Service No
Internet Access Yes
Internet Center Yes
Wireless Internet Access Yes
Laundry/Dry Cleaning No
Library Yes
Movie Theatre No
Outdoor Movie Screen No
Onboard Weddings No
Self Serve Laundromats No
Shops Yes
Showroom Yes
Spa Yes
Video Arcade No
Fitness & Sports Facilities
Basketball Court No
Fitness Center Yes
Golf Driving Net No
Golf Simulator No
Ice Skating Rink No
Jogging Track No
Mini-Golf Course No
Rock Climbing Wall No
Swimming Pool Yes
Tennis Court No
Water Slide No
Water Sports Platform No
Cabin Features & Amenities
24-Hour Room Service Yes
Hair Dryer Yes
Safe Yes
Telephone Yes
Television Yes
Kids Facilities
Babysitting No
Children’s Playroom No
Kiddie Pool No
Supervised Youth Program No
Teen Center No
Special Needs & Requests
Adjoining Cabins
(private connecting doors)
No
Kosher Meals No
Single Occupancy Cabins No
Single Share Program No
Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins Yes

Yesterday, we paid the non-refundable deposit of 25% at NZ $12,666, US $8,625. Even that made us cringe.  But, we look at this much desired cruise as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one neither of us ever dreamed possible. 

Going forward, we’ll share more information on this cruise including the cost and details of renting appropriate outerwear clothing, boots and gloves which the cruise line arranges after we make our online selections. 

The cruise lines have requirements on which items we must rent to ensure they don’t have to deal with less appropriately dressed passengers. Today, we received an online form from our highly competent cruise rep at Vacations to Go, Brooklyn Earnhardt who can be reached here which included medical forms we must have signed by a doctor no more than 90 days before departure date.

Over the next 21.5 months until we board the cruise on January 23, 2018 in Ushaiai, Argentina, referred to as the most southerly city in the world (the ends of the earth) we have plenty of time to take care of everything we’ll need to do

Here we are today, only one week from boarding the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas at the Port of Sydney, Australia.  No, this upcoming cruise may not be as exciting as the Antarctica cruise. But, our enthusiasm and level of excitement is high, as always, as we continue on to our next adventure. 

May your day find you filled with enthusiasm for whatever your day brings. Today, we’ll be hanging out with 47 adorable alpaca moms and babies. What more could we possibly want?

Photo from one year ago today, April 9, 2015:

A juice bar on wheels in Hanalei. A tour we’d planned was rained out.  Instead we visited Hanalei, a small tourist town in Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…South America, here we come!..A new continent…A new leg in our journey…

With only one week until departing New Zealand and an upcoming cruise beginning next Saturday, the 16th, we decided to wrap up a few bookings for the distant future while we had a good Internet connection.

When we reviewed our itinerary ending on our five-year travel anniversary on October 31, 2017, a mere 18 months away, we knew it was time to pin down what was next on the horizon. 

In the past few days, we were able to extend our vacation rental in Costa Rica to November 22, 2017 (19 months from now) making all of this planning work well. Costa Rica has a 90-day visa maximum for US citizens.  Halfway through our stay we’ll leave the country for a day and re-enter providing us with a new visa end date.

ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Thu Nov 23 Fort Lauderdale, FL 4:30pm
Fri Nov 24 At Sea
Sat Nov 25 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 8:00am 5:00pm
Sun Nov 26 At Sea
Mon Nov 27 Panama Canal (Full Transit) (Cruising)
Tue Nov 28 At Sea
Wed Nov 29 Manta, Ecuador 7:00am 2:30pm
Thu Nov 30 At Sea
Fri Dec 1 Lima (Callao), Peru 9:00am
Sat Dec 2 Lima (Callao), Peru 7:00pm
Sun Dec 3 Pisco, Peru 8:00am 6:00pm
Mon Dec 4 At Sea
Tue Dec 5 Arica, Chile 8:00am 5:00pm
Wed Dec 6 At Sea
Thu Dec 7 At Sea
Fri Dec 8 Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile 5:00am

Although pre-planning to the extent we do may not appeal to some, without a home to return to, we find tremendous peace of mind in planning well into the future. In any case, it’s always delightful anticipating future plans and adventures. 

In reality, most of us take great comfort in knowing where we hope (and plan, if possible) to be in the next few years. It can be a little unsettling not knowing what the immediate future holds. 

No doubt, everything can change in a moment or in a day.  But, that reality seldom prevents us, humans, from planning for the future and comfortably settling into the present.

For our way of life, however quiet or adventuresome it may seem at times, we find packing our itinerary with future plans a huge source of excitement and anticipation while we’re fully embracing our lives at the moment.

Now, with leaving this glorious location one week from today, we decided to wrap up a few bookings to place us well into the future, after we’ve left the US for the family visit and after over three months in Costa Rica living in the fabulous villa owned by our friends Bev and Sam whom we met in Kauai.

After accepting their generous offer of an excellent “friend” rate for the Costa Rica property we realized that keeping our costs down during this period enables us to plan a few pricier plans for the future when after Costa Rica, we planned to head to South America.

In today and tomorrow’s post, we’ll share these few cruises that will be instrumental in taking us to the perfect locations in South America as a segue into our possible two-year tour of the continent where again, we hope to fulfill more of our dreams.

In another post upcoming this week, we’ll be including our itinerary for the next 666 days that contains only a few gaps we’ll fill in months to come. If life proves to be quiet while in Bali and the wifi is adequate, we’ll be able to spend time searching for bookings to fill the gaps.

Then, of course, we’ll be posting our total final expenses for New Zealand on the morning we leave to drive to Auckland, one week from today, to take the flight to Sydney, Australia, where we’ll once again spend one night before the cruise the following day.

Sure, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed quiet farm life here in New Zealand. But now, as we continue on, we look forward to “shaking it up” a bit while seeing more of the world as you’ll observe in the upcoming post with the itinerary.

ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Fri Dec 8 Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile 6:00pm
Sat Dec 9 At Sea
Sun Dec 10 Puerto Montt, Chile 9:00am 6:00pm
Mon Dec 11 Chilean Fjords (Cruising)
Tue Dec 12 Strait of Magellan (Cruising)
Wed Dec 13 At Sea
Thu Dec 14 Punta Arenas, Chile 7:00am 5:30pm
Fri Dec 15 Ushuaia, Argentina 10:00am 7:00pm
Sat Dec 16 Cape Horn (Cruising)
Sun Dec 17 At Sea
Mon Dec 18 Puerto Madryn, Argentina 8:00am 5:30pm
Tue Dec 19 At Sea
Wed Dec 20 Punta del Este, Uruguay 9:00am 7:00pm
Thu Dec 21 Montevideo, Uruguay 7:00am 5:00pm
Fri Dec 22 Buenos Aires, Argentina 5:00am
Sat Dec 23 Buenos Aires, Argentina Disembark

These two cruises we’re posting today are “back to back” which we hadn’t posted at an earlier time. To explain “back-to-back” for our less experienced cruisers, it’s when passengers stay on the ship for its next cruise continuing on later in the day.

In most cases, we’re required to get off the ship for a short period, leaving all of our belongings in the same cabin while the ship is prepared for the next barrage of passengers embarking a few hours later. 

In most cases, we won’t need to stand in long lines when we re-board and will be pushed along to easily gain access without any commotion since “back to back” passengers are given priority re-boarding.

On two other occasions, we’ve booked back-to-back cruises, once in Belize in April 2013 and another in Barcelona in May 2013. In both cases, it worked well when we were able to keep the same cabins except mid-cruise when we asked to be moved to a different cabin as a result of the pounding noise in the middle of the night from the disco below. (That was the last time we selected Carnival Cruises, not quite our type of cruise).

We’ll be back tomorrow sharing a “dream come true” while in the interim we’re totally wrapped up in the excitement in our backyard after Trish and Neil moved the alpacas to our backyard enabling us to enjoy them up close and personal during this final week. We’ll be sitting on the veranda most of the day watching them. It’s wonderful! 

May your day be wonderful as well.

Photo from one year ago today, April 8, 2015:

Could this albatross chick be any cuter?  A year ago while living in Kauai we spent hours observing the lives of the Laysan Albatross and their growing chicks.  This experience added so much joy to our four months on the exquisite island, along with all the friends we made. What great memories!  \Click here for more photos.

One more day…Wrapping up the details…This and that…More favorite photos…

Tom and I after dinner on his birthday when my clothes were dirty from my flying lobster tail landing in my lap.

Yesterday, I finished packing except for a few toiletries we’ll need today and tomorrow morning. Tom has waited to pack until today, but all of his clothes are neatly folded, button shirts plastic wrapped and stacked on the extra bed in his clothing bedroom.

Gee…its been nice for each of us to have one extra bedroom to store our clothing, making packing all the easier and more convenient. We’ve rarely made extra bedrooms a criterion in selecting vacation homes. If they have more than one bedroom, great. If not, we carry on.

When we originally planned our travels in 2012, we’d expected family and friends would visit from time to time. This hasn’t occurred much when we’ve been too far away in most cases. 

Tom’s sisters and brothers-in-law visited us early on in our travels in the vacation home in Henderson, Nevada, our kids and grandchildren visited the Big Island and my sister visited Kauai this past March. A few other visitor possibilities have arisen but unfortunately, we didn’t have enough space at the time.

Making three bedrooms or more a criteria would greatly reduce the opportunity to visit certain countries when prices for vacation homes may be higher in some locations due to demand with an overall higher cost of living.

We spent time with the honeymoon couple, Samantha and Danny at dinner. This photo was taken by our taxi driver after a dinner out at the Arts Village.

As a result, we’d chosen location and price as our top priorities, number of bedrooms as a matter of convenience, not a necessity. Since we plan almost two years out, if family or friends would like to visit, we’ll always know well in advance what’s booked in the future and if it will work.

This Pacific Harbour house has actually been one of our favorite houses as far as houses go, although we haven’t had a view other than exquisite vegetation which has been fine. The private pool has compensated for a lack of oceanview. On a few occasions, we’ve had both with more yet to come.

Anyway, on to this and that…many months ago when we lived in Trinity Beach Australia, we were contacted by a couple from the US, around our ages, who planned to travel the world for two years to then settle down. 

They’d asked lots of questions as to the feasibility and the particulars and we were happy to offer suggestions.  Tom had met them online at the popular cruisecritic.com and, we’ll be on the same cruise in two days, departing from Sydney. 

It’s not unusual to meet other passengers on cruisecritic.com well in advance of the cruise with plans to meet in person once on board the ship. At this point, we have three such meetings planned for this cruise, two separate groups for private excursions for six, a planned dinner, and of course, the couple traveling the world for two years who’s cabin in on our same deck.

Tom, on the night of his birthday for a fabulous dinner at the Pearl’s gourmet restaurant, Seduce, definitely deserved a five-star review.

As we chatted back and forth with Doreen for over a week via email we realizing writing was taking too much time, we decided to speak on Skype which worked much better. We covered a lot of ground. Our site has tons of information on the “how-to” of world travel from what we’ve learned over these past four years on continuing research. 

But, with over 1250 posts to date, searching through our archives for each entry is time-consuming, especially for the less experienced web users. We’re always happy to assist in any way we can. Of course, after these 39 months of travel, we still have a lot to learn but feel we have a handle on many areas of concern.

Last night, I heard from Doreen once again after a few month’s hiatus to hear they’ve been enjoying living in an apartment in Sydney and are busy packing for the cruise. We made a loose plan to meet in person at the first organized cruisecritic.com party which most likely will be held within 24 hours of boarding the ship. A notice will be posted in our cabin as to the dates and times of parties.

It’s from these events (as well as simply sitting about the ship) we usually have an opportunity to meet many other travelers, some on vacation/holiday only and others who travel frequently. 

This photo is so me…lots of disgusting looking seafood which I find delectable.

At times we hear of others who’ve sold everything, as we have and are traveling permanently like us, but we’ve yet to meet anyone, as yet, who has no home base. We’ve met many couples and individuals who’ve been traveling long term or to many locations over a period of years with a home base they return to from time to time. 

However, we often find tremendous enjoyment in meeting others who may not travel more frequently than once or twice a year or less. After all, there’s more to us and to them than travel. All of us have a diverse range of interests that has nothing to do with where we live or where we visit, providing many opportunities for engaging conversation and commonality.

Tonight, we’ve decided to dine in having “breakfast” for dinner using our remaining eggs, cheese, fresh mushrooms, onion, and tomatoes. Mainly, we’re motivated to dine in more due to the fact that we didn’t want to wear anything that may need washing other than the few casual items we’re wearing today, than in using any leftover items. 

Leaving tomorrow (Monday) at 7:45 am, and with rain today there’s no further opportunity for another load of laundry. Yesterday, with the sun out off and on, we managed a bit of pool and chaise lounge time. We both have a little tan base which will enable us to spend 40 minutes a day at the ship’s outdoor pool without the necessity of sunscreen.

(From considerable research over these years, we’ve discovered that the use of sunscreen prevents the absorption of Vitamin D. Only about 20 minutes on each side should be a small enough dose of sun to reduce the risks of skin cancer and yet add an excellent dose of the vital vitamin. More sun exposure may be risky, especially for fair-skinned individuals such as Tom).

This photo from Christmas Day at the Pearl is so “Tom,” who loves good meat and sweets.

Thanks to all of our readers for continuing to share in our ongoing journey over this past year when we’ve stayed in locations for longer periods than we may in the future; eight months in Hawaii and four months in Fiji.  During these longer stays, we’ve come to realize that future bookings will most likely not include four months in one location, except for one. 

The only country where we’ll live for four months is upcoming in Bali beginning in April when we’ll live in the same property two times, two months each, with a two-month break in between, all due to visa restrictions.  The property was irresistible, affordable with the ocean and a pool, and breaking it up into two segments should work well for us. More on that later.

After tomorrow’s post which will automatically upload while on our way to the Nausori Airport in Suva, which includes all of our expenses for both islands and a grand total for the four months we’ve spent in Fiji. The next morning you’ll see a post about our one-day stay in a hotel in Sydney with a few photos. From there, posts will be aboard ship and on the excursions, we’ve planned.

Happy day after the New Year’s celebrations and may those still working, may you have an easy and painless entry into the new year when heading back to work. 

Photo from one year ago today, January 3, 2015:

This sign served as a valuable warning to keep us and others from exploring beyond this point when we visited Lava Tree Park one year ago. For more details, please click here.

Its New Year’s Eve in the South Pacific….A happy, healthy New Year to everyone!…A long ago, goofy photo!

Hahahaha! We sure didn’t look very healthy here on New Year’s Eve in 1999. We were both overweight (40 pounds each heavier than we are now), on multiple medications, and looked less healthy than we do today.  t goes to show that our way of eating coupled with low stress, happy life can contribute to one’s state of health. 

For many years in our old lives, we hosted New Year’s Eve parties often with a special theme requiring a little preparation for those so inclined. If a guest preferred to come “as is” there was no ribbing, only good cheer that they’d decided to come out on what was often a very cold, below zero degrees F, (-18C) night in Minnesota.

On New Year’s Eve in 1999/2000, when much of the world was terrified something bad was about to occur at the turn of the hands of the clock to midnight, we had our last New Year’s Eve party with a change of the millennium theme. 

Tom and I dressed as “bugs,” computer bugs” specifically as shown in this photo when many techies along with the general population worried that computers worldwide would crash. Remember that?

Photo of us two months ago today, slimmer, healthier, and happier than ever. Sure, we have a few more wrinkles than 16 years ago ,but who cares when we’re enjoying our lives and good health?

Sadly, that particular party, the first time ever, was a total bust. The weather was bad in Minnesota, the roads icy and without a doubt, a certain degree of fear left many preferring to stay home. Only six die-hard partygoers attempted the long drive to our home. 

We celebrated together, ending the night early so our guests could get home before the weather and the traffic with impaired drivers got any worse. Over the next 11 New Year’s Eves, we didn’t have a big party, instead, getting together with our fabulous neighbors, greatly reducing the risk of getting home on a bad night.

Having left Minnesota before New Year’s Eve 2012, spending it in Scottsdale, Arizona after spending Christmas with family in Henderson/Las Vegas, Nevada, we were busy finishing our preparations to leave the country on our first cruise on January 3, 2013, as mentioned in yesterday’s post.

New Year’s Eve 2013 in Marloth Park, South Africa at Jabula Lodge with Piet and Hettie.

On New Year’s Day, we drove to San Diego to stay with our niece and her husband for two nights while we waited to board the ship at the Port of San Diego. 

In these past three years, we’ve made little hoopla of New Year’s Eve except in 2013 when we attended a party at Jabula Lodge in Marloth Park with our new South African friends, Piet and Hettie whom we’d only met on Christmas Day at the same location. 

Having never met Piet and Hettie prior to Christmas Day, we shared a table that day when Jabula Lodge became packed and we’d offered to share, making an instant connection with this wonderful couple, hopefully, friends for life.

Last year in 2014, we were still on the Big Island with two weeks remaining until we’d fly to Kauai for four months. Our remaining three family members had traveled the two-hour drive to Kona to swim with the manta rays on New Year’s Eve and stay overnight. Tom and I stayed in settling into a quiet evening as the year wound down.

Our friends, Piet and Hettie with whom we spent Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve in 2013. For more photos from that date, please click here.

There’s no disappointment for us in having another quiet New Year’s Eve. Having the opportunity to spend them each year in different parts of the world provides us with all the excitement we need. Down the road, should social activities ensue, we’ll certainly participate but, in the interim, we’re thoroughly content.

We’ll play a little Gin, enjoy a good meal, and perhaps if the WiFi signal is good enough, download a movie to watch after dinner. 

Yesterday, Susan, the property owner, arrived from another of her homes in Argentina with her significant other and stopped by in the late afternoon to say hello. What a delightful woman, who ironically was born in Wisconsin, USA! As a world traveler, a writer, a businesswoman, and an adventurer, it was wonderful to hear her stories of frequent world travel.

They were busy with plans for a few days but surely, we’ll all get together in our remaining time in Pacific Harbour, now down to a mere four days. Sunday, we’ll pack. Monday at 7:45 am our driver arrives to take us to the airport in Nausori for a non-stop flight to Sydney. 

We’re ready to begin a New Year, grateful for the New Year of the past, and hopeful for the New Year of the future. May all of our readers have a safe, happy, and healthy New Year!

Photo from one year ago today, December 31, 2014:

Late in the day yesterday on December 31st last year, we spotted these whales. The much-anticipated fluke, the tail was the prize. Wonderful! For more details and photos from that date, please click here.

Exciting new vacation home location…Photos and more..

Its easy for us to imagine how much we’ll enjoy time outdoors at our new three month booking in Costa Rica while on our way to South America after visiting family and friends in the US.

Twenty one months from now may seem like an eternity to some. For us, its a hop, skip and jump along the way in our world travels. Otherwise, we may not have booked this new vacation property as quickly as we did, shortly after it hit the vacation home market.

Based on its beauty and fair pricing, we figured it would be snapped up quickly when at times we’ve noticed, especially lovely vacation listings booked as far out as two years in advance in popular locations.

Another view of the pool and veranda.

In late May 2017, we’ll arrive in the US (18 months from now), arriving by cruise ship to Seattle, Washington where we’ll rent a car to make our way across the northern part of the US, across Yellowstone National Park, which Tom has yet to see. (I can’t wait to see his face when we drive through this amazing area, my personal favorite US location).

We’ll continue on making our way to Minnesota, where three of our adult children, their spouses, and our six grandchildren reside along with most of Tom’s siblings, other family members, and many of our friends. It will be a busy period and we’re considering accommodations for the weeks we’ll spend in Minnesota. 

We’ll certainly enjoy the hot tub on a moonlit night!

After leaving Minnesota, we’ll fly to Nevada, to visit eldest son Richard in Henderson and eldest sister Susan in Las Vegas, where we’ll stay for another week. As Nevada residents, we’ll renew our driver’s licenses and take care of any “business” matters best handled in person. Then, we’re off again.

We’d hoped for an Alaskan cruise at this juncture, but listings haven’t been posted this far in advance. We’ll see if it’s a possibility in the near future.

The spacious, comfortable living room overlooking the pool.

Hovering in our minds, knowing the above trip to the US is definitely on the itinerary, we’ve been considering possible plans when we’ll leave the US, no later than August 1, 2017. Serendipity. Safari luck. It all comes into play during our world journey.

Whether it’s good luck or fortuitous, we always grateful for the opportunities as they enter our lives.  n part, we always feel we play a role in “safari luck” in that our assertiveness and determination play a role in “being in the right place at the right time.”

Most likely, we won’t use this formal dining room, instead dining outdoors or at the granite kitchen counter as shown in this photo.  The property also includes an outdoor kitchen.

Thus, is the case of our newly booked vacation home with a deposit paid this morning for August 1, 2017, through October 31, 2017 (the day of our five year travel anniversary). We’re renting an exquisite house in Costa Rica, on our way to South America from the US.

How this property materialized is the magical part. While living in Kauai for four months, each month we attended friend Richard’s Full Moon Parties. At the second such delightful party, we met a lovely couple, Bev and Sam with whom we had an instant connection. They’ve traveled the world extensively with many exciting stories to share. 

One of two master bedrooms in the three-bedroom house.

Later, they invited us to their breathtaking home, located in a former botanical garden, for “movie night” in their outdoor “screening room” in a separate building on their grounds established as a technologically advanced movie theatre. 

On another occasion, they invited us to dinner at their home when sister Julie was visiting and we had another enjoyable evening with Bev and Sam. After we left Kauai, we’ve stayed in touch by email occasionally sharing tidbits about our lives and travels. 

Click here for link one and link two to Bev and Sam’s gorgeous home in Kauai for which we included two day’s posts.

The huge en suite master bath with large shower, soaking tub, double sinks and bidet.

From these several interactions with Bev and Sam, a friendship was born that we’ll always treasure, along with many others with whom we’d become close during that special, highly social four month period in Kauai.

Before we left Kauai, Bev and Sam had mentioned their recent purchase of another home in Costa Rica. We were happy for them in their obvious enthusiasm and asked them to send us photos when they could, allowing us to revel along with them in their excitement. Never did we think, for a moment, that their new home in Costa Rica would impact our lives of travel. 

A few weeks ago, I sent Bev an email to say hello. While chatting back and forth, she explained they’d recently listed their new home in Costa Rica on vacation rental site VRBO, (owned by HomeAway, the company we most often use for booking vacation rentals). 

View from the veranda to the valley below.  We don’t mind not having an ocean view on this occasion.

As we opened the link to their new home in Costa Rica, we did so as friends sharing in their joy in reviewing the listing, never thinking it would apply to us. Knowing their fine taste and the magnificence of their home in Kauai, it wasn’t even on our radar as remotely within our budgeted price range.

Once we saw the photos, we fell in love with the property; the location, the house and the grounds, each possessing unique qualities seldom found in vacation homes within a manageable price range.

Click here for the pricing and detailed listing for the home in Costa Rica on VRBO.

Expressing our interest in the property to Bev and Sam while curious if somehow it could work for us, they kindly proposed a three-month price for us that fits exactly into our range of affordability. 

As of early this morning, we paid the deposit and signed the agreement online for our negotiated price and entered the deposit with the management company they’ve employed to handle such matters. Its a “done deal.” We couldn’t be more thrilled to have this over-the-top property as our home for a full three months after leaving the US while as we begin our segue to South America.

The gorgeous grounds are professionally maintained.

It’s a reasonable flight from Las Vegas which after checking online shouldn’t be too difficult. Although the rental period is for 92 days, the visa stamp provided ton US citizens at the airport is 90 days. We’ll ask for the extra two days at the immigration counter at the airport and if unable to receive it, we’ll depart two days earlier. Our rental agreement is based on the month, not a daily rate.

We’re grateful to Bev and Sam for making this work for us, as well as excited to be able to spend three months in this special property, treating their home with the same care as we always do for any vacation rental we’ve rented throughout the world.

Costa Rica, known for its abundant wildlife and vegetation particularly appeals to our senses. Able to speak a little Spanish and definitely able to read the written word, it will be relatively easy communicating while there and later in South America. 

Today, we share a few of the photos of this fabulous home and will include many more once we arrive in Costa Rica. Also, today we’re updating our itinerary and budget to include this fine property. With several gaps to fill in our upcoming schedule, our work is cut out for us as always, an aspect of our travels we both find interesting and fun.

Enjoy the day!

Photo from one year ago today, November 4, 2014:

As the sun began to set, Tom wandered out to the jetty in front of our condo in Maui. With almost a month remaining on the island before departing for the Big Island, we leisurely enjoyed each day in Maui. For more details, please click here.