Finally, we’re flushed!…Booking flights…

Tasmania is home to many horses, a beautifully remote location.

Booking flights has always been one of the most challenging aspects of our world travels. Over the years, we’ve learned that no matter how organized we try to be, or how many tips we pick up along the way, flights remain a puzzle filled with ever-changing variables. The costs fluctuate, routes get complicated, layovers turn into mini-nightmares, and cancellations or delays can quickly undo weeks of planning. And yet, flying is unavoidable. Unless we want to confine ourselves to traveling only by ship or land, air travel is part of the deal. It gets us from Point A to Point B, often across oceans, in a way nothing else can. But it doesn’t mean we enjoy the process.

For us, booking flights is not just about finding the lowest fare; it’s about balancing convenience, safety, loyalty rewards, and timing. Over the years, we’ve experimented with numerous booking platforms, airline websites, and discount search engines. Some looked promising at first, but ultimately offered more headaches than help. In the end, we’ve consistently circled back to Expedia. We receive a small commission since they advertise on our site. We encourage our readers to try it, which helps cover a small portion of the costs associated with managing our site.

It has become our trusted platform for booking flights, not because it’s flawless, no booking service ever is, but because it consistently delivers the best combination of price, convenience, and, most importantly for us, points. Those Expedia Rewards points have helped offset costs and made some of our more expensive long-haul flights feel a little less painful.

But getting to that “Book Now” button is rarely simple. The first challenge is choosing dates. Our travels seldom follow a straight line. We’re not simply flying from a “home” or destination to destination, and then back again. We’re bouncing around the globe with a mix of cruises, extended stays, and stopovers in places that appeal to us. That means our flights often need to line up with embarkation dates or the expiration of a visa.

Then there’s the issue of connections. We’ve had our share of awful layovers. Airports in unfamiliar cities can either be a traveler’s dream or a complete disaster. I’ll never forget the time we spent nearly twelve hours in a crowded terminal with no decent food options and chairs so uncomfortable they left us sore for days. Now, whenever we book, we carefully study layovers. A one-hour connection might look attractive on paper, but in reality, it’s often a sprint across a massive airport, worrying the entire time about missing the next flight. On the other hand, a ten-hour layover feels like wasted time, especially after an overnight flight. So, we find ourselves balancing the impossible: not too short, not too long, and always in airports that are known to be manageable.

Price, of course, is the significant factor. Flying isn’t cheap, especially when you’re covering long distances several times a year. We’ve spent countless hours comparing fares, often to find that a “great deal” isn’t so great once you add in baggage fees, seat selection charges, or the inconvenience of flying at odd hours. That’s where Expedia has saved us more than once. The transparency of their system, which clearly shows what’s included and what’s not, gives us a better sense of the actual cost. And when you’re booking multiple flights in a year, saving even a little here and there adds up.

Still, even with the best tools, airlines can throw curveballs. Flight schedules change. Planes are swapped. Seats we carefully selected weeks in advance suddenly disappear. Cancellations are perhaps the most challenging part to stomach, although we’ve only experienced it a few times. The most challenging experience was on March 20, 2020, when our flight (at the beginning of the pandemic) from Mumbai to Johannesburg was canceled due to the international airport in South Africa closing while we were waiting to board in Mumbai.

Another challenge we face is the emotional toll of flight planning. Booking a flight means committing. Unlike booking a hotel or even a cruise, flights often come with stiff penalties for changes or cancellations. Every time I hover over that “confirm purchase” button, I feel a tiny knot of anxiety. What if something changes in our schedule? What if there’s a better deal tomorrow? What if we’ve overlooked a cheaper or more direct route? That “what if” never really goes away, no matter how many times we’ve done this.

And yet, there’s also a sense of relief once the flight is booked. Suddenly, the blurry lines on our travel calendar sharpen into focus. A flight means we’re going somewhere new, somewhere exciting, and all the frustrations of planning fade into the background as anticipation takes over. That’s the bittersweet nature of booking flights: the stress and the excitement are inseparably bound together.

At the end of the day, booking flights will probably never feel effortless. The airlines set the rules, and as travelers, we do our best to follow them. We’ve learned to accept that sometimes we’ll overpay, sometimes we’ll be inconvenienced, and sometimes everything will fall perfectly into place. What makes it manageable is finding a system that works for us.

So yes, booking flights is one of the toughest parts of our travels. But it’s also one of the most rewarding, because each booked flight is another step forward in our journey around the world. It’s another opportunity for discovery, another chance to adapt, and another reminder that even the most stressful parts of travel eventually lead us to new experiences we wouldn’t trade for anything.

In the past few days, amid the maintenance issues in our apartment here in Barcelona, we booked the following flights.

  1. December 13, 2025: Brisbane, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand
  2. February 12, 2026: Auckland, New Zealand to Hobart, Tasmania

We still have to book the flight from Tasmania, Australia to Brisbane, Australia, where we’ll board another cruise, sailing from Brisbane on April 14, 2026, which we’ll book in the next few days.

As for the repairs in our apartment in Sant Marti, the toilet is working again after two professionals arrived last night and performed the equivalent of a Roto-Rooter service. In 20 minutes, they solved the problem, cleaned the toilet, and had us sign an acknowledgement that they had completed the job and were on their way.

Another maintenance person arrived in the early evening and got the dryer working properly again. Apparently, since the dryer lacks an external vent, a water receptacle collects the moisture and needs to be emptied frequently. We’d never seen such a thing since we never stay in apartments. I doubt we ever will again, after this experience.

Today, we won’t order takeaway. Instead, I’ll cook chicken breasts with a side of cheesy scrambled eggs, onions, and a side salad.

Tom’s hearing aid charger is expected to arrive in about ten days. I can hardly wait to talk to him again!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 24, 2015:

There was no post on this date ten years ago.

Most affordable countries for digital nomads…

Penguin Beach in Tasmania, where we’ll be in five months.

From Travel and Leisure Magazine:

“This Country Was Just Named the Most Affordable Destination for Digital Nomads

India tops the 2025 ranking thanks to low living costs, vibrant culture, and thriving tech hubs. By Katie Nadworny, Published on September 10, 2025

If you’ve ever been tempted to become a digital nomad, one global destination is officially the most affordable choice.

That honor belongs to India, according to a report from Global Citizen Solutions, a firm that specializes in residency and citizenship by investment. The company’s Global Digital Nomad Report 2025shared with Travel + Leisure, examined the cost of living, the cost of co-working, and the cost of a hot desk to compile its list. Factors taken into account included housing, groceries, transportation, and other essential living costs.

Delhi and Mumbai are popular destinations in India, renowned for their vibrant and bustling culture and affordable cost of living. Goa can also be an appealing destination thanks to its fantastic beachesUNESCO-recognized churches, and unique Portuguese-influenced cuisine.

“The digital nomad phenomenon has evolved from a niche lifestyle choice to a mainstream economic driver,” Laura Madrid Sartoretto, the lead researcher at Global Citizen Solutions’ Intelligence Unit, said in a statement shared with T+L.

In fact, the report examined digital nomad visa programs in 64 different countries and found that 91 percent of these programs have been launched since 2020.

India was followed by Ecuador, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Colombia, rounding out the top five most affordable destinations for living and working remotely.

On the other end of the spectrum were countries like Iceland and Norway, which ranked very high in quality of life metrics, but were expensive to live and work in.

The Netherlands actually took the top spot in quality of life, which is assessed by a combination of public infrastructure, safety, and cultural appeal.

Overall, the most extensive collection of digital nomad programs is concentrated in the Americas, accounting for 36 percent of the analyzed programs, followed by Europe, which comprises 33 percent of the programs, and Asia, which has 9 percent of the programs.

Many digital nomad programs encourage temporary stays, but a few offer long-term opportunities to remain in the country. Of the countries analyzed, Global Citizen Solutions found 14 that offer a path to permanent residency and three that offer a direct path to citizenship.

“Over the past two decades, the growing availability of high-speed internet, mobile technologies, and the normalization of remote work have transformed this once niche concept into a global movement,” Patricia Casaburi, the CEO of Global Citizen Solutions, said in a statement shared with T+L, adding the “digital revolution” and the pandemic “propelled it into the mainstream.”

These are the top 10 most affordable destinations for digital nomads, according to Global Citizen Solutions.

  1. India
  2. Ecuador
  3. Malaysia
  4. Indonesia
  5. Colombia
  6. Namibia
  7. South Africa
  8. Armenia
  9. Mauritius
  10. Serbia”
By the end of our upcoming 47-night cruise, we will have visited eight of the above-listed ten countries (excluding Armenia and Serbia). Of course, the only country we’d consider living in for extended periods is South Africa, mainly because we have spent a considerable amount of time there and are familiar with the lifestyle on a broader scale than those we may have visited for shorter periods.
Based on our prior visits and experiences in other countries, we have no interest in extended stays or revisiting the above countries in the future. However, this is due to personal preferences which may be very different than ours. At no point would we consider acquiring citizenship in another country.
We’re hoping the property management company sends a plumber today to fix the clogged toilet. The weekend has been challenging!
Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 22,015:

Flowers are blooming profusely due to the excessive rainfall. For more photos, please click here.

What did we do about Tom’s hearing aids?…

In the days to come, we will dine at one of the local cafes.

Yesterday, at 4:30 pm, when the Costco store opened, where Tom purchased his hearing aids in July 2024, Tom explained his dilemma regarding the failure of his Phillips hearing aid charger to work. The only solution they suggested is that we order a new charger for US $199 from their store, and once we return to the US in May, they will refund the cost.

Of course, they won’t cover the cost of shipping it internationally, and thus, we had no choice but to have it sent to our mailing service in Nevada, which will send it to us here in Barcelona as soon as it arrives from Costco on September 29. No doubt, the cost to send this small package overnight will be hundreds of dollars.

There are Costco stores in Spain, but they don’t carry Phillips hearing aids or accessories. Nor could we find anywhere in this country where we could order it and have it shipped to us. The Costco order is the only viable option.

The interior of a local restaurant.

In the meantime, Tom can’t hear anything I say unless I talk so loudly that I end up with a sore throat. Most likely, we won’t have the device until at least two weeks from now. If Tom is facing me, he can read my lips if I speak loudly enough. It will be a long few weeks.

Also, yesterday, the toilet clogged, not due to anything we had done. That’s been quite a challenge, along with the fact that we still have no hot water, and the clothes dryer doesn’t work. Good grief. There is a clothes drying rack, but washing and drying the stiff sheets will be a hassle.

There’s only one set of sheets, and neither is a fitted sheet that’s too small to tuck in on the sides. As a result, every night we get tangled in the sheets, and making the bed is awful. Oh, good grief, listen to me whining. Since we’re ordering most of our meals from Uber Eats, I now wish we had stayed in a hotel without all these issues. We are not apartment people and will most likely never rent an apartment again, if possible.

The view near our building.

Over and over again, we’ve reminded ourselves to choose single-family holiday homes. We’ve had very few issues with these, and in most situations, the owner or property manager lives nearby and responds quickly. In this case, it’s a property management company, and they seem to have little to no interest in resolving these issues for us.

This will be one of those rare occasions where our review will be candid about our negative experiences.

Fortunately, the WiFi works well enough that we can stream shows in the evenings, and Tom can listen to his favorite podcasts and watch football games while I am busy online. I enjoy watching the Minnesota Vikings football games with him. There’s no HDMI access on the smart TV, but it appears we can cast shows to the TV from our phones from other streaming services we use.

That’s all I have to say today, dear readers.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 21, 2015:

The main street in Savusavu is always bursting with activity, with more locals shopping than tourists. For more photos, please click here.

We made it to Spain…with some glitches…

Cementiri de Montjuïc – Cemetery on the hill of Barcelona, Spain.

I don’t know where to begin. The 25-hour trip from Nelspruit, South Africa, to Barcelona, Spain, was fraught with some issues, most of which we couldn’t control, but all of which turned out fine in the end. Travel isn’t always seamless and easy, nor is the lifestyle we’ve chosen for ourselves over the past almost 13 years.

Then again, we often hear about major house repairs, storm damage, and frustrating home ownership challenges that we never face “living in the world with the utmost of freedom,” but not always the utmost of convenience.

Right now, Tuesday at 8:30 am, I am situated on a comfy sofa in the living room/lounge room of our apartment in Sant Marti, Spain. Now I understand even more why we prefer to rent single-family houses over apartments. This style of living isn’t compatible with our preferences. As you read along today, you’ll see what we mean.

The ocean was to the right of us as we rode in the taxi to Sant Marti.

As for the trip, I won’t bore you with the endless details. The major distraction was the massive storm that hit Nelspruit shortly before takeoff from the small airport in Mpumalanga, the first such storm we’d seen in South Africa since arriving last March. Our flight was delayed for over an hour, but fortunately, we waited at the gate, rather than on the tarmac, as is often the case for many travelers.

By the time we were ready to board, we had to walk in the dark, right into the remnants of the storm, and up the tiny staircase to the Airlink plane. It was the first time since we began visiting South Africa in 2013 that we had ever flown out of Nelspruit (MQP) in the dark of night, albeit in a storm.

Much to our surprise, the flight was only a little turbulent, and we touched down in Johannesburg with 45 minutes remaining until our connecting flight on Qatar Airways. We had yet to go through security and immigration. By the kin of our teeth, we made the connecting flight.

All the while, we were texting back and forth with Gehard, who kept checking for our possible options in case we missed the connecting flights. In all of our years of world travel, we’d never missed a flight. Gerhard, after years of working for Alaska Airlines, we couldn’t have added a better ally to support us through the process. Thanks, Gergard! Yes, we are savvy enough to have done this ourselves, but it was comforting to have our dear friend helping us, since he, too, was familiar with the route, having visited Marloth Park for years.

As we were getting closer to the Sant Marti district.

The three flights were fine overall. We both managed to nod off a little during the two longer flights, feeling tired but relatively fine until bedtime last night, after we had a chance to do some unpacking.

However, the biggest issue of all was gaining access to this apartment using a keyless Bluetooth entry system. It wasn’t due to our having problems figuring out how to open the two doors with the app. It was nearly impossible to determine which door was the actual access to the apartment, given the misleading and ambiguous numbers outside the property. There were doors everywhere.

After a 30-minute phone call to Capital One Travel to obtain the property manager’s phone number, the call was frustrating because it wouldn’t go through on my phone, despite my efforts. A kindly young college student,  Carlos made the call for us and spoke to the woman from the management company in Spanish. She spoke some English but ended up yelling at Carlos and  at me.

After over an hour, we finally managed to get the correct doors open and walked into a huge surprise. There were 30 (Tom counted) slippery ceramic tile steps to get to the apartment. Initially, the listing explained it was only a few steps. Had we known this, we would never have rented this place. It is hazardous for me to go up and down the stairs.

Tom and I agreed, much to our frustration, that we won’t be going out that much while here, when it is so difficult for me to manage the uneven steps.

We drove through several tunnels on our way..

The kindly young man, Carlos, helped Tom bring up all of our heavy bags to the apartment while I hung onto the railing, attempting to make my way up. We offered him a generous tip for all his assistance, and when he refused, we insisted that he take it. Carlos is going to return and help us when it’s time to bring the bags down once again on October 27, the day we board the ship. We exchanged WhatsApp numbers, and this morning, I saw a message from him with a list of all the best restaurants in the area.

As for the apartment, here are the issues;

  • No hot water (reported to management) in the shower and sinks
  • The drain plug in the bathroom sink won’t open, and therefore, we can’t use it. (also reported this today)
  • The bed pillows are as hard as rocks. (The bed and duvet are comfortable).
  • The kitchen is poorly supplied
  • The stovetop is convection and confusing to turn on. It’s a European-style we’d only used once in the past in Dubai. We sent Gerhard a photo, and he sent us directions.
  • No air conditioning in the bedroom (only in the living/lounge room)
  • In order for Tom to get to his side of the bed, he has to crawl over the bed since a desk, attached to the wall, blocks the way, in order to allow the closet door to be opened. Both bedrooms are very cramped, more than we’ve seen in the past.
  • The bathroom is tiny with no towel bars or a toilet paper holder.

Otherwise, the apartment is fine, modern, clean, and well-maintained with a minimalist decor.

So it goes. We will be here for another 41 days. In any case, we’ll strive to make the best of it. This morning, I placed a grocery order that is scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. We’ve decided to order takeaway as much as possible, only cooking two to three evenings a week.

That’s it for today, folks. We hope you are all doing well. And…thank you for traveling along with us.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 15, 2015:

The main area of the hot springs used for cooking by locals in Savusavu, Fiji, didn’t occupy a large space. Please see the video for more details here.

One day and counting…Reflecting on our almost six months in the bush…

Our boy Norman has been a highlight of our time here. We are so happy that his broken leg is healing, and he’ll continue to be the loving patriarch of his family of 10. We will surely miss him.

Almost six months have slipped through our fingers here in Marloth Park, South Africa, a place that has become much more than just a stop along our nomadic path. It has become a second home, a sanctuary of wild beauty, and a canvas where life has unfolded in colors more vivid than anywhere else we’ve lived. These past months have been our longest continuous stay in this little corner of the bush, and somehow, they’ve also been our richest. After almost five years of returning here season after season, it feels as though this visit has given us the deepest roots, even though we are, by nature, rootless travelers.

Every day, our garden has been alive with quiet magic. It is a strange and humbling thing to sip your morning coffee while a family of warthogs trots past the veranda, tails sticking straight up like little flags. Or to sit in the still of twilight as a bushbuck grazes so close you can hear the gentle crunch of dry leaves beneath its hooves. The soundscape here is unlike anywhere else: the grunts of wildebeest in the distance, the occasional roar from Kruger National Park drifting across the Crocodile River, the haunting whoop of hyenas breaking the night silence. All of it has wrapped itself around us, becoming the soundtrack of our days.

This stay, perhaps more than any before, has reminded us that the animals here are not just fleeting encounters to check off a list. They are neighbors, companions, and, in a way, teachers. Each has its rhythm, its patience, its way of existing in the unpredictable patterns of the bush. The zebras arriving in their striped splendor reminded us that beauty does not need adornment; it simply is. The impalas, delicate yet resilient, taught us that strength can be quiet. And the giraffes, with their graceful, unhurried steps, seemed to say that life is not meant to be rushed.

Rita, Inge, and Gerhard.

But it wasn’t just the wildlife that made these months so extraordinary. Marloth Park is also a community, one that somehow balances solitude and companionship in equal measure. Our calendar, usually light as travelers, filled up quickly with dinners, braais, sundowners, and endless conversations with people who, over time, have become some of our closest friends. There is something about sharing this unique environment that forges connections quickly. You cannot help but bond when you’ve watched elephants crossing the river together or laughed at the antics of mongooses racing through the garden.

We’ve celebrated birthdays, shared meals under star-studded skies, and lingered long into the night with people who have turned this once-strange place into something familiar and warm. In the bush, friendships seem to grow like marula trees—slowly, steadily, and with deep roots that withstand the passing seasons. And this time, those roots seemed to spread even wider, reminding us how grateful we are for the people we’ve come to know here.

It’s not lost on me that calling this “our best visit ever” is saying something. We’ve had so many memorable stays in Marloth Park before—each one filled with its own collection of stories and moments. But this time, the balance between solitude and social life felt just right. The wildlife visits were abundant and tender in ways we hadn’t exceptionally experienced before. The friendships felt deeper, the conversations richer. Perhaps it’s because we allowed ourselves to simply sink into the rhythm of life here, unhurried and present. Or perhaps, after years of wandering, we’ve learned how to savor it more fully.

And yet, as hard as it is to leave, that familiar pull of the road tugs at us again. There’s always a bittersweetness in packing up, knowing we’ll be trading giraffes for airplanes, warthogs for city streets, and the nightly loud sounds of tree frogs for the unpredictable noises of wherever we land next. But that’s the paradox of a nomadic life: you can love a place deeply, and still know it’s time to move on.

We step into the next year carrying all of this with us—the laughter around shared tables, the brush of a kudu’s presence at dawn, the fiery sunsets that painted the sky in streaks of orange and pink. These memories will be stitched into the fabric of our journey, carried along as we explore new landscapes and embrace new adventures. The road ahead is still a mystery, but we have learned to find comfort in that uncertainty.

We were at Amazing River View last week.

Leaving Marloth Park never gets easier. Every time, it feels like we’re leaving a part of ourselves behind, tucked into the dusty trails and acacia trees. But we also know that this place isn’t going anywhere—it will still be here, wild and welcoming, whenever we return. And return we will. For now, though, it’s time to open ourselves to what’s next, to the stories waiting to be lived in faraway corners of the world.

Six months in the bush have filled us with gratitude, perspective, and a renewed sense of wonder. As we close this chapter, I can’t help but feel that Marloth Park has given us its blessing to go—reminding us that, like the animals we’ve come to love, we too are meant to keep moving, keep seeking, keep wandering. And so, with full hearts, we say goodbye…for now.

Last night, at Jabula, we had the joy of meeting more of our long-time readers/friends face-to-face, Christine and Robert from Quebec, Canada. They’ve been reading our posts since 2012, when we first began documenting our nomadic lifestyle. They, too, have ventured out of their cozy retired existence to travel the world, and our shared stories made for exceptional conversation. We hope to see them again sometime in the future.

Before meeting up with Christine and Robert, we stopped to say goodbye to Louise and Danie, our dear friends and property owners/managers. How fortunate we are to have the friends we made over the almost 13 years of world travel.

Tonight we’ll spend our last evening with Rita, Gerhard, and Inge at Jabula, accompanied by friends/owners Dawn and Leon, and manager Corine. We’ll miss them all.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 13, 2015:

A strip of beach on the way to the village in Savusavu, Fiji. For more photos, please click here.

We’re back!…Three days and counting…A little concerned about Doha, Qatar layover….

It’s been a pure joy frequently seeing giraffes in the garden.

Yesterday morning, Rita and I had a fantastic “girl’s breakfast” at Stoep Cafe in Komatipoort. We had a lot of catching up to do after not seeing each other in over a year and a half, and the conversation flowed with ease as we discussed our favorite topics.

Rita and I each had this delicious smoked trout salad at Stoep Cafe.

Back at the house before noon, I did a little packing and took a short rest after a fitful night’s sleep. I’d better improve my sleep quality over the next few nights in preparation for the upcoming 23-hour travel time from Nelspruit to Barcelona on Sunday, just three days from now.

Speaking of our flight, we are flying from South Africa to Doha, Qatar, where there was a targeted Hamas attack by Israel, only two days ago, killing several top leaders. Of course, this is cause for concern since our flight has almost a four-hour layover in Doha. So far, no flights have been canceled, but we’re closely watching the news for any updates. We’ll keep you updated.

Most likely, we will post an update during the layover, not only to keep me busy but also to inform our readers of any concerns we may have encountered.

This was a mom and a youngster. However, we often also see a dad, a mom, and a youngster.

I’m not fond of long flights, but they are a necessary part of our world travels. Once we’re settled in Spain, we will be relieved and enjoy our six-week stay in Sant Marti, Spain, a small neighborhood of Barcelona. No doubt, we will be experiencing a language barrier while in Spain. I know some Spanish and can read menus, street signs, and names of items at the markets.

But, conversationally, I am inept, so we’ll see how it goes. We will undoubtedly use Google Translate to assist us during our stay. On October 27, we’ll board our ship, the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, where English is spoken by all staff and many guests from around the world.

Tonight, we’re staying in again for dinner and eating some of our leftover uncooked food. This morning, I cooked the entire kilo package of bacon we had in the freezer, which we’ll use for tonight’s grilled hamburgers, topped with sliced tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and cheese, and served with our delicious homemade ketchup, along with a big Greek salad.

It’s tricky getting a photo of two giraffes together due to the vegetation.

Tomorrow night, we’re heading back to Jabula, where we’ll meet and dine with our readers Christine and Robert from Quebec, whom we’re meeting for the first time. We talked on WhatsApp a few times, and it’s been delightful getting to know them. We’re looking forward to meeting them in person.

On Saturday night, Rita, Gerhard, and Inge will join us for dinner at Jabula, our final get-together before we depart on Sunday.

Most of our packing is complete. All we have left to do is a few loads of laundry tomorrow and then pack our clothes. That can be accomplished in a few hours at most.

We’ll be back with more over these final few days.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 11, 2025:

The living room with our stuff in our new holiday home in Savusavu, Fiji. For more photos, please click here.

We booked our September 14th flight to Spain…Not the easiest route from here…

Here’s the route we’ll be taking from South Africa to Spain on September 14th.

Finally, we took the time to research flights from South Africa to Spain, which were scheduled to depart in 52 days. It’s incredible how quickly our total six months in Marloth Park are soon coming to an end. Surely, in the future, we’ll return, but for now, we have other plans on the horizon.

We conducted extensive research to find the shortest time and best pricing, ultimately ending up on Expedia.com on our website at this link.

Following is our booking:

Nelspruit to Barcelona

5:20 pm

  • Departs Sun, Sep 14
  • Nelspruit, South Africa (MQP-Kruger Mpumalanga Intl.)
55m duration

6:15 pm

  • Arrives Sun, Sep 14
  • Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB-O.R. Tambo Intl.)
  • Terminal B
Qatar Airways 5699 operated by AIRLINK
Economy / Coach (S)
Layover: 2h 10m

8:25 pm

  • Departs Sun, Sep 14
  • Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB-O.R. Tambo Intl.)
  • Terminal A

5:45 am

  • Arrives Mon, Sep 15
  • Doha, Qatar (DOH-Hamad Intl.)
8h 20m duration
Qatar Airways 1378
Seats 17F, 17H
Economy / Coach (S)
Layover: 3h 10m

8:55 am

  • Departs Mon, Sep 15
  • Doha, Qatar (DOH-Hamad Intl.)

2:40 pm

  • Arrives Mon, Sep 15
  • Barcelona, Spain (BCN-Barcelona Intl.)
  • Terminal 1
6h 45m duration
Qatar Airways 145
Seats 18F, 18H
Economy / Coach (S)

Total duration: 21h 20m

We’d hoped to book a shorter flight, but this was the only option available. No, we don’t look forward to another Red Eye, but from here, it’s unavoidable.

In the meantime, we will continue to live in the moment and enjoy every remaining day in the bush, surrounded by our wildlife and human friends. Today at 4:30, we’re meeting friends Roz and Les at Ngwenya or sundowners on the deck and the dinner buffet inside the lovely restaurant.

We’ll be back with more.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 24, 2015:

A long stretch of uninhabited beach in Cairns, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Seat squatting at 30,000 feet…

This is a rainbow agama, which we call “Aggie.” He visits from time to time

On a few occasions, while boarding flights, other passengers have asked one of us to change our assigned seats to accommodate their family. Since we always choose aisle seats across from each other, if we can maintain an aisle seat, we are willing to move.

If moving requires us to end up in a middle or window seat, we are not willing to move, especially since most of our flights are long. Fortunately, we’ve never encountered hostile passengers when we’ve refused. However, recently, there have been countless reports of hostile passengers making a scene on a flight when another passenger refuses to give up their seat to accommodate the needs of other passengers.

In the not-so-friendly skies, a new battleground of etiquette is emerging: the rise of the seat squatter. For those unfamiliar with the term, “seat squatting” refers to the act of deliberately claiming a seat on a plane that wasn’t assigned to you, often without asking or waiting for permission. It’s become an increasingly common issue, especially on full or overbooked flights, and it’s causing friction among travelers, flight attendants, and airlines alike.

The Anatomy of a Seat Squat

A seat squat can take many forms. Sometimes it’s subtle—someone quietly slips into an empty aisle seat, hoping no one claims it. Other times, it’s more brazen—a passenger walks past their assigned middle seat and sits in a coveted window or aisle spot, banking on the fact that the rightful passenger might not show up or will concede to avoid confrontation.

Nola, one of Norman’s grandchildren, has an injury on her side.

In some cases, it’s born of logic. For instance, a person might swap a middle seat to sit next to their partner or take an empty row toward the back of the plane after boarding is complete. But it becomes contentious when it’s done prematurely, presumptuously, or without regard for others.

Why People Do It

There are a few reasons passengers engage in seat squatting:

  • Comfort and convenience: Let’s face it, airplane seats aren’t luxurious. If there’s a better one nearby, the temptation is real.

  • Poor planning: Some travelers failed to choose seats in advance or arrived late for check-in, resulting in them being assigned the worst options.

  • Entitlement or arrogance: A small percentage of passengers feel rules don’t apply to them and that they deserve better than what they paid for.

  • Misunderstanding: Not all squatters are intentionally rude. First-time flyers or travelers unfamiliar with seating policies may not realize that seats are pre-assigned and cannot be negotiated.

    Nathan, Norman’s son, Nina, his partner, and Natalie, his daughter from a few years ago.

How It Impacts Other Passengers

For many flyers, persistent travelers, and seat squatters, it’s more than just a minor annoyance. It’s a breach of basic courtesy. Passengers carefully select seats for various reasons, including extra legroom, proximity to the bathroom, distance from the bathroom, medical needs, or simply personal preference. When someone takes a seat that isn’t theirs, it creates awkward encounters that can set the tone for the entire flight.

It also places unfair pressure on the rightful seat-holder. Confront them and risk a tense situation, or accept a less desirable seat to avoid conflict? Some passengers—especially solo travelers, the elderly, or those with anxiety—might not feel comfortable asking someone to move, even when they have every right to.

And for flight attendants, this issue becomes yet another interpersonal puzzle to solve before takeoff. Cabin crews already juggle tight schedules, safety checks, and customer service. Sorting out squatting disputes is not a role they relish.

Norman was watching his family in our garden.

What the Airlines Say

Airlines are clear: your boarding pass dictates your seat. Many carriers have reinforced policies and now make in-flight announcements discouraging passengers from changing seats until boarding is complete. Some, like budget airlines, use strict seat enforcement as a way to encourage passengers to pay extra for preferred seats.

Technology is also playing a role. Digital boarding passes, real-time seat maps, and check-in reminders give passengers more control over seat selection, but also highlight the fact that those better seats often come at a premium.

Still, many travelers report that enforcement varies. On less crowded flights, some crews are relaxed about empty seats. On fully booked or oversold routes, however, enforcement is tighter, and squatters are routinely asked to return to their original seat.

Is There a “Right” Way to Change Seats?

Absolutely. It comes down to respect, timing, and communication. Here are a few guidelines if you’re hoping to switch:

  1. Wait until boarding is complete: You can’t know if a seat is truly available until the doors close.

  2. Ask permission: If the seat belongs to someone, request a swap. Offer a reasonable trade and respect their answer.

  3. Ask a flight attendant: They have the final say and can help facilitate any swaps without disrupting the boarding process.

  4. Be gracious: If you’re denied a move, accept it without fuss. Remember, comfort isn’t guaranteed in economy class.

    Kudu moms and babies in the garden.

Social Media and Seat Shaming

In the age of TikTok and Reddit, seat squatting has gone viral. Videos of mid-air arguments, passive-aggressive note passing, and dramatic seat negotiations rack up millions of views. Passengers now turn to social media for validation or condemnation of their actions, further fueling the debate.

Some viewers applaud those who stand their ground against squatters; others argue for empathy and flexibility, especially for families with small children or passengers with disabilities. The court of public opinion, like the cabin aisle, can be a tight space.

The Bottom Line

Air travel isn’t always pleasant. Seats are cramped, flights are full, and tempers run high. But courtesy costs nothing. Seat squatting may seem like a harmless move in the moment, but it can disrupt the harmony of a flight and spark unnecessary tension.

Ultimately, it’s about treating fellow travelers with respect. We’re all at the mercy of the same recycled air and plastic snack tray, so claiming someone else’s seat uninvited isn’t just bad form. It’s a sign of forgetting we’re all in this sky-bound journey together.

If you want a window seat, book it early. Or ask nicely because no one wants to start their journey with a standoff over seat 23A.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 18, 2015:

The house is surrounded by lush vegetation, including numerous large coconut and palm trees, as well as an endless variety of shrubs and plants. For more photos, please click here.

Practical tips for saving money when booking international flights…

Lots of little birds were enjoying the bird feeder.

Note: Due to a local WiFi issue at the moment, I can’t access the link, and some of our usual editing isn’t possible at this time.

As we mentioned in the past, we most often book flights, both domestic and international, using the link to Expedia on our site, located on the right side of the page, where we typically receive the best pricing, especially when booking a hotel and rental car, as a package.

Here are practical tips to save money when booking international flights, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first big trip:

1. Be Flexible With Dates and Destinations

  • Fly mid-week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have lower fares.

  • Avoid peak seasons: Summer holidays, Christmas/New Year, and local school breaks hike up prices.

  • Use tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner to explore the cheapest dates and destinations using the “Flexible Dates” or “Everywhere” search.

    More giraffes have come for a visit.

2. Book at the Right Time

  • Best booking window: 2–6 months in advance for international travel.

  • Use fare alert tools (e.g., Kayak, Hopper, Google Flights) to track price drops.

  • Avoid booking too early (more than 8 months ahead) or too late (less than 2 weeks before).

3. Consider Alternative Airports

  • Fly into a nearby city: For example, fly to Brussels instead of Paris, or Milan instead of Venice.

  • Depart from different airports: If you’re near multiple major hubs, check them all (e.g., JFK vs. Newark, LAX vs. San Diego).
Mac has numerous friends who hang out with him now.

4. Use Regional Carriers or Budget Airlines

  • Book a cheap international flight to a central hub, then use a regional budget airline for onward travel (e.g., Ryanair in Europe, AirAsia in Asia).

  • Be mindful of baggage fees and tight layovers with low-cost carriers.

5. Mix & Match Airlines

  • Don’t limit yourself to round-trip tickets from one airline. Use tools like Skiplagged, Kiwi.com, or Momondo to find cheaper combinations of one-way tickets or multi-city itineraries.

6. Use Miles or Travel Rewards

  • Use points/miles earned from travel credit cards (e.g., Chase Sapphire, Amex, Capital One) to book or offset international flights.

  • Sign up for frequent flyer programs even if you don’t fly often—it adds up.

At one point, there were about 25 kudus in the garden.

7. Know the Luggage Rules

  • Low-cost international flights may not include checked baggage, seat selection, or meals.

  • Avoid surprise costs by reading the fine print and flying light when possible.

8. Clear Your Browser or Use Incognito

  • Fare prices can increase with repeated searches—clear cookies or search in Incognito mode to avoid dynamic pricing.

9. Consider “Open-Jaw” or Stopover Flights

  • An open-jaw ticket lets you fly into one city and return from another, often cheaper, and enables you to see more.

  • We’ve had countless animals in the garden over the past several days.

    Some airlines offer free or cheap stopovers in their hub cities (e.g., Icelandair in Reykjavik, Emirates in Dubai).

10. Use Aggregators but Book Direct When Possible

Start with aggregators like:

    • Google Flights

    • Skyscanner

    • Kayak

    • Momondo

Then check the airline’s website for the same fare—sometimes it’s cheaper, and it’s easier to change or cancel later.

We have found that we can spend several hours researching for the best possible pricing. For us, it’s worth the extra time we spend to accomplish this.

Today, friends Roz and Les are coming for dinner. We’re making bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with sauerkraut, seasoned rice, Greek salad with homemade dressing, and homemade blueberry muffins. Plus, we’ll put together a platter of biltong, sliced cheeses,

Photo from ten years ago today, June 25, 2015:

A lone explorer on the secluded beach in Trinity Beach, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

We’re baaaaaaaaaaaack in the bush…No jet lag!…

Bossy was our first animal to find that we were back. We can only imagine how many times she stopped by in the last three weeks, wondering where we were.

After we arrived in Marloth Park, around 4:30 pm, we stopped at Louise and Danie’s to pick up the keys to the house. It was fantastic to see them both again, as well as Louise’s lovely parents from Cape Town, Estelle and Johan, whom we’ve come to know and adore over the years.

We were too exhausted to join them for sundowners, but we stayed for about 30 minutes, enjoying lively conversation and looking forward to more in the next few days before they return home over the weekend. Louise and Danie’s birthdays are coming up next week, and we’re insisting on taking the four of them out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate.

A female impala made an appearance.

While we were away, Zef and Vusi did a complete spring clean of the house, and every corner of the house was clean, dust-free, and organized. We are so grateful.

This morning, at 7:30, after waking up after sleeping through the night, I became blissfully aware that I had no jet lag whatsoever. Also, I couldn’t wait to look through the glass doors to the veranda to see who’d come to call. I wasn’t disappointed.

This was our huge band of mongooses looking for paloney. Since we are shopping later today, we didn’t have any paloney for them. Instead, we gave them little cubes of cheddar cheese. They devoured it.

There were at least eight bushbucks, two male kudus, three impalas, four warthogs, and a dozen helmeted guineafowl. (Sounds like “partridge in a pear tree”). I didnt turn off the security alarm since I didn’t want to wake Tom, who was still sound asleep.

I decided to take another shower, after doing so less than ten hours earlier, get dressed, and get ready for the day. Since the timing was off due to the time difference, I skipped my usual morning pills yesterday to get back on track with morning dosing, considering the time difference.

Wartghogs and helmeted guinea fowl.

Now, as I sit at my usual spot at the table on the veranda, the joyful feeling of being surrounded by nature overwhelms me, along with a profound sense of “being back at home”.

The long 42-plus-hour travel time was worth every moment, although the nine-hour layover in London was tough when we hadn’t slept in 24 hours. On the later second flight from London to Johannesburg, I think I slept for about 20 minutes while Tom didn’t do much better.

Big Daddy is on a mission to mate with Bossy.

The flights weren’t too bad, with little turbulence, but the food was awful, so neither of us ate much. We went to lunch at a restaurant in Heathrow, and the food wasn’t much better.

Fortunately, we had left some homemade frozen leftovers, so by 6:00 pm, exhausted and out of sorts, we put together a decent plate of food for each of us and then headed to the bedroom to shower, relax, and see if we could wind down, streaming a show.

Our usual starling is looking for fresh water and birdseed.

Neither of us got through the single episode without nodding off several times, desperately trying to stay awake until at least 10:30 pm. We each took an over-the-counter sleeping pill, and by midnight, we’d both managed to drift off, miraculously both sleeping through the night.

That’s all it took for us to awaken refreshed and alert, with the brain fog gone. For us, a single good night’s sleep is all it takes to get us back on track after a long trip.

Two zebras who’ve often stopped by.

As soon as we upload this post, we’ll head to Komatipoort to buy groceries and a few other items. When we return and put the groceries away, I’ll finish my unpacking, and by this evening, our lives in the bush for these remaining three months until we depart for Spain, will be in order.

Today’s photos were all taken this morning. Enjoy them, along with us.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 18, 2015:

During our first few days in Trinity Beach, Australia, we had a second kangaroo sighting of the day at a nearby field. The first, we saw in a flash while walking through the rainforest, unable to take a photo in time. For more photos, please click here.