tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85168079326813501202024-03-14T14:10:55.947+02:00Up and AwayBorn in California. Living in South Africa. Exploring the World. Travel inspiration and practical tips for the independent traveler.Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-39620559950922875852014-05-29T15:59:00.000+02:002018-01-14T18:26:56.076+02:00{Cape Town}: Luxury Apartments + Waterfront Favorites<div style="text-align: center;">
If you've been following this blog for any amount of time you probably already know that I have a soft spot for Cape Town. The city was my very first introduction to South Africa and it also happens to be where I met my handsome soon-to-be husband. Since said husband-to-be's parents live near Cape Town, along with many of our closest friends, we tend to find ourselves in that part of the country a lot. Especially when you're at the age where everyone and their mother seems to be getting married. But, I digress. <br />
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<i>Any weekend spent in Cape Town is a good one in my books.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3DCR9SXH22pudTQw2WYqudPFQtwC4iAwprPjbds8Wln3rkPPvQgt3MCMWWXonWv8DNm_eMb-4pkc_IIjkqZ9MAUrdbb_Pt2mKwEaBS6KkS09jF42-KTe7Rv3HiO1tq1wfWW1HC2zImrd/s1600/cape-town-1562907_1920+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Things to Do in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3DCR9SXH22pudTQw2WYqudPFQtwC4iAwprPjbds8Wln3rkPPvQgt3MCMWWXonWv8DNm_eMb-4pkc_IIjkqZ9MAUrdbb_Pt2mKwEaBS6KkS09jF42-KTe7Rv3HiO1tq1wfWW1HC2zImrd/s640/cape-town-1562907_1920+%25281%2529.jpg" title="V&A Waterfront, Cape Town" width="640" /></a><br />
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Since Cape Town feels like a second home, we've developed a terrible habit of forgetting to play tourist when we visit. As we drive past the yachts that line the <a href="http://www.waterfront.co.za/">V&A Waterfront</a> or gaze at the cable cars on their way up <a href="http://www.tablemountain.net/">Table Mountain</a>, we always promise that we'll set aside a day or two to enjoy all that the city has to offer, but somehow time manages to slip away and before I know it we're back on a plane bound for Jo'burg.<br />
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<i>...Which is precisely why I jumped at the opportunity to partner with <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/lawhill-apartments-v-a-waterfront.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Lawhill Luxury Apartments</a> on our last trip into the Mother City. </i> Ideally situated in the waterfront, our weekend escape was filled with beautiful marina views, copious amounts of good food {with the poundage to prove it} and lazy evening walks along the harbor. And while I can travel on a budget like a champ, living the high life never felt so good. <br />
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The entire weekend was like one long, wonderful dream that I didn't want to end.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrloyLGI7br_jCFm1_mbZKmITJF_sqa-S1xRJwk7S6W5RI2VpSl9WAgU3AWEDVE_AxL5T4kP64mk_kHtyAEkG-9zjUsyw5wgZ52X3Y5mI6ZlCm56oXsamcOjVSchqfjkI7cBWOQFoGI0/s1600/Kitchen+Jurg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrloyLGI7br_jCFm1_mbZKmITJF_sqa-S1xRJwk7S6W5RI2VpSl9WAgU3AWEDVE_AxL5T4kP64mk_kHtyAEkG-9zjUsyw5wgZ52X3Y5mI6ZlCm56oXsamcOjVSchqfjkI7cBWOQFoGI0/s1600/Kitchen+Jurg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Perfect location aside, one of my favorite things about our apartment was that it offered an upmarket self-catering option, meaning that we were able to save on smaller meals and then splurge on dinner in the evenings. We stopped at the market on our first morning in Cape Town and then made ourselves breakfast and lunch at the flat throughout the rest of our stay. Even if we had wanted to pay the exorbitant restaurant prices that Cape Town's Waterfront is known for, we would't have been able to find a better view than the one we had from our own balcony. <br />
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And when we did venture out in the evenings, <i>we were able to walk</i>. <br />
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In fact, I don't think we drove anywhere once during our stay. <br />
<i>There's simply too much to do and see within walking distance. </i><br />
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Coupled with fantastic service {and I really mean world class}, magazine-worthy decor, a shower that feels like heaven, a bed that invokes involuntary urges to hibernate, and a balcony view that resembles a painting - I really can't imagine a better way to experience the V&A Waterfront.<br />
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<i>And, with Cape Town having just been named the top travel destination for 2014 by the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html?_r=1">New York Times</a>, there's really no better time to visit than the present. Hint, hint.</i><br />
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<b><i>Should you decide to book a plane ticket, here are a few of our Waterfront favorites:</i></b><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.sevruga.co.za/">Sevruga</a>, which is one of our all-time favorite restaurants.</i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">{Their sushi and dim sum are 1/2 price daily between 12:00 & 6:00pm}</span></i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.waterfront.co.za/Eat/l/life-grand-cafe">Life Grand Cafe</a>, for sunset tapas and drinks {a bit on the pricey side for dinner}</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.waterfront.co.za/Eat/w/willoughby-and-co">Willoughby & Co</a>, for the best sushi in South Africa {seriously!}</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.grandafrica.com/GrandCafeandBeachCapeTown.aspx">The Grand Beach Cafe</a>, for vibe, cocktails, and an amazing view</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.quay4.co.za/">Quay Four</a>, for good old fashioned fish and chips</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.marketonthewharf.co.za/">Market on the Wharf</a>, for trendy food stalls with a South African flair</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.aquarium.co.za/">Two Oceans Aquarium</a>, for penguins, sea turtles, and everything else under the sea</i><br />
<i><a href="https://insideguide.co.za/cape-town/the-yard-silo-district/">The Yard in the Silo District</a>, for incredible coffee, cocktails, tapas and indian food</i><br />
<i><a href="https://www.theroyalportfolio.com/the-silo/experiences/at/the-silo-spa/">The Spa</a> at the <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/the-silo.html?aid=1251776&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1">Silo Hotel</a>, for a good dose of pampering</i><br />
<i><a href="https://zeitzmocaa.museum/">The Zeitz MOCAA</a>, for beautiful architecture and contemporary African art</i><span style="color: white; font-family: , "open sans" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span><br />
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<i>And while we're raving about South Africa, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv1MU_Nh8ck&feature=share">here's a link to a video</a> that captures so much of what I love about this adopted country of mine. Goose-bump worthy!</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pin this post for later...</span></i><br />
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbacw32ql6yDfKg-Ruox41vWjILXn3K28D3qbJpHzwZvc4I1rVZTPOhH_lVFMzrEZnxqo_rtCy-Y8Iohz_ZsNPEzoj5DGmjx7mou4hnpcO9dHTBAM3mOwTxwUFesSCHXtmITaBxiqclrJd/s1600/Waterfrom+Cape+Town+Guide.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbacw32ql6yDfKg-Ruox41vWjILXn3K28D3qbJpHzwZvc4I1rVZTPOhH_lVFMzrEZnxqo_rtCy-Y8Iohz_ZsNPEzoj5DGmjx7mou4hnpcO9dHTBAM3mOwTxwUFesSCHXtmITaBxiqclrJd/s640/Waterfrom+Cape+Town+Guide.png" width="426" /></a></i><br />
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<i>A huge thanks to <a href="http://www.lawhillluxuryapartments.com/">Lawhill Luxury Apartments</a> for hosting us during our stay! </i><br />
<i>As always, all opinions are my own.</i><br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-88325247668217415252014-05-07T13:30:00.000+02:002018-01-02T18:52:35.057+02:00{Greece}: The Island of Milos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Truth be told, <a href="http://www.thegreektravel.com/milos/">Milos</a> just sort of fell into our laps. We knew we wanted to visit <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/10/greece-island-of-sifnos.html">Sifnos</a> and Milos happened to be situated along the same ferry route. Then, I read somewhere that Milos is often likened to what Santorini was twenty years ago; all the beauty, but a fraction of the crowds. And with that, I booked us into an adorable <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/tania-apollonia.html?aid=860055">seaside villa</a> in <a href="http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?city=-814396&aid=860055">Pollonia</a> and our Greek Island itinerary was complete. </div>
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<i>It was all pretty impulsive, really.</i></div>
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During our stay in Athens, a number of locals expressed genuine curiosity in our choice of islands. "<i>What made you decide on Milos and Sifnos?</i>", they'd ask with a perplexed look on their face, followed by, "<i>I think you made a <b>really</b> good decision.</i>" In terms of Milos, Athenians consistently agreed that the island was home to the country's best beaches… </div>
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... A secret they hoped to keep hidden from the lure of tourism for as long as possible.</div>
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After a few short days of beach hopping on the back of a scooter {and one near death experience… <i>side-eye Jurgen</i>…}, we had to concur with their proposition. It's hard to even imagine that places like Milos legitimately exist outside the realm of pinterest. While Milos lacked the intimacy and charm of Sifnos, it's beaches were absolutely breathtaking in a "<i>pinch me this can't be real</i>" sort of way. If you're into hidden coves, waveless oceans, volcanic rock outlays, never ending cave systems and Greek fishing villages, Milos is your place.</div>
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<i>On that note, here are just a few Milos beaches that get a two thumbs up from us…</i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sarakiniko</span></i><br />
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The resounding favorite of the Greeks and one of our favorites too. The surrounding outlays are composed of white volcanic rock giving the whole area a 'lunar' feel and the water is virtually waveless. There's also a ton of unmarked caves in the area rumoured to have once been frequented by pirates.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Fyriplaka</i></span><br />
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Fyriplaka easily wins the award for the most perfectly turquoise water and the beach is also equipped with loungers, waiters and a functioning bar. We arrived mid-afternoon and had to scavenge around a bit before finding an open umbrella so plan to arrive early. You can also rent snorkel equipment here.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Tsigrado</i></span><br />
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Tsigrado takes the cake as the most idyllic beach I've ever set foot on. Better yet, it's so hidden away that Jurgen and I were the only ones there. We really and truly had our own private beach for a couple of short hours. Be warned though, it's a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/bhTrqiJTRo/">bit tricky to get there</a> and the trek down requires the use of ropes and a ladder. Without singling anyone out, I'll admit that one of us broke down in tears at one point. <i>Fine, it was me</i>. But, once my feet were safely on the sand I could easily agree that the trauma was well worth it. <br />
<i>Tsigrado is officially a little piece of <a href="http://instagram.com/p/bhT-RjJTSF/">heaven on earth</a>.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Fyropotamos</i><i> </i></span></div>
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Fyropotamos is ridiculously photogenic and epitomises what I think of when I think quintessential Greek fishing village. While we didn't make it to the beach, we did spend a good hour or so on the pier soaking in the scene in front of us and wondering how one would hypothetically go about purchasing a seaside property in the area. Apparently, a handful of fisherman still live here permanently. <i>Lucky fish</i>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Milos Catacombs</i></span></div>
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Ok, so this isn't a beach, but it is really fascinating and definitely worth a visit. The catacombs date back to between the 1st and 5th century and may be even older than the catacombs of Rome. It's thought that some of the earliest Christians used these catacombs not only as a place to bury their dead, but also as a safe haven for worship in an effort to avoid widespread persecution. The catacombs are open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 - 2:00 and tickets are €3. This was easily one of the highlights of our entire time in Greece.<br />
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<b><i>By the numbers:</i></b><br />
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<i>We <b>stayed</b> at <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/tania-apollonia.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Tania Milos</a> in Pollonia {and loved it} for 110 euros per night.</i><br />
<i>The most delicious homemade breakfast spread was included in the above rate.</i><br />
<i>We <b>ate</b> plenty of pastitsio, seafood pasta and greek salads. A typical meal cost between 10 & 15 euros.</i><br />
<i>Oh, and the nutella waffle bites at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Restaurant_Review-g635606-d3486015-Reviews-Aggeliki-Adamas_Milos_Cyclades.html">Aggeliki</a> in Adamas were heaven on a plate.</i><br />
<i>We <b>got around</b> on the back of a scooter at a cost of 15 euros per day.</i><br />
<i>Our Milos <b>highlight</b>? Sunset on the beach at Tsigrado.</i><br />
<i>Our Milos "<b>must-see</b>"? The <a href="http://www.catacombs.gr/">catacombs</a> in Trypiti.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i><i><b>Pin This Post for Later...</b></i></span><br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-6022254298129340592014-04-08T16:55:00.000+02:002017-12-31T15:27:34.532+02:00Postcards from Clarens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Hello my dear friends! </i>It's been awhile. Life has been busy, but good, in a productive sort of way. I'm finding it hard to believe that we're already well into the fourth month of the year, meaning that I'm also well into the fourth month of my internship... and that the wedding (!!!)<b> </b>is officially less than six months away. <i>But, I suppose that's a topic for another post.</i></div>
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Today I wanted to share one of my very favorite places with you, <i><a href="http://clarens.co.za/">Clarens</a></i>.</div>
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Nestled right against the foothills of <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2014/02/exploring-kingdom-of-lesotho.html">Lesotho</a>, Clarens is one of the towns in South Africa that Jurgen and I find ourselves going back to the most. When we visit, we usually don't have an agenda in mind and tend to fill our days with cafes and books and cappuccinos and art galleries and chess games and leisurely jogs along the river. It's the perfect place to be blissfully carefree and lazy.</div>
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Despite having been to Clarens more times than I can count on one hand, prior to our most recent visit, we've had fairly mediocre experiences with accommodation in the area. On our first trip, our bathroom lacked a door... which is a pretty big deal when one of you happens to come down with the stomach bug of the century (hint... <i>it was me</i>). On another occasion our shower was the equivalent of a trickle. And on yet another occasion we accidentally rented a house that turned out not to be in Clarens at all (oops).<i> </i></div>
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So, on our last visit we decided to play it safe and book ourselves into the <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/protea-clarens.html?aid=860055">Protea Hotel Clarens</a>, a boutique hotel located along the main street as you drive into town. <i>And I'm so glad we did.</i> For starters, our bathroom had a door, our shower was blissful and we were within easy walking distance of town. Our room was also comfy and cozy and offered amazing views of the surrounding mountains. The staff were helpful and the lounge area had a fireplace, making it the perfect place to cuddle up with a warm drink and a good book in the evenings. Topped off with a superb (and reasonably priced) menu, I don't think we'll be staying anywhere else in future. If you're ever in the area, PH Clarens comes highly recommended par moi. </div>
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As for Clarens itself, the town has sort of evolved into an aspiring artist's haven and art galleries pervade its every nook and cranny. There's no shortage of quaint little cafes, and micro breweries are starting to pop up here, there and everywhere. Hiking trails line the surrounding hills and a quiet river runs through the edge of town. The breathtakingly beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park is only a few kilometers away.</div>
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Just a four hour drive from the hustle and bustle of Jo'burg, over the past several years Clarens has undoubtedly become our favorite weekend getaway. Two or three days of breathing its clean air and I feel recharged and ready to take on the madness of day to day city life again. I think a large part of its charm comes from the fact that tourism hasn't discovered it yet. For the time being, it remains untouched, uncrowded and authentic.</div>
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<i>Which is just how I prefer it.</i> </div>
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<i><b>If you happen to visit Clarens, here are a few of our favorites:</b></i></div>
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<i>On our last visit, we </i><b style="font-style: italic;">stayed </b><span style="font-style: italic;">at the <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/protea-clarens.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Protea Hotel Clarens</a> for R950 ($95) per night, and loved it.</span></div>
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<i>Daily breakfast and free wifi were included in the above rate.</i></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"> Our favorite <b>eats</b> are the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Restaurant_Review-g734479-d2417734-Reviews-Roter_Hahn-Clarens_Free_State.html">Roter Hahn</a>, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Restaurant_Review-g734479-d1722991-Reviews-278_on_Main-Clarens_Free_State.html">278 on Main</a>, and <a href="http://www.clarenswindmillcentre.co.za/artistcafe.htm">Artist's Cafe</a>.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">{The schnitzels, meat salad, and cherry beer at the Roter Hahn are not to be missed}</span></i></div>
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<i>For <b>adventure seekers</b>, the <a href="http://www.clarensxtreme.co.za/abseiling.php">abseiling</a> is a blast. See <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2011/04/weekend-in-clarens-recap.html">here</a> for our experience.</i></div>
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<i>Our Clarens <b>must-see</b>? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Highlands_National_Park">Golden Gate Highlands National Park</a>.</i></div>
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<i>And, if you happen to be looking for <b>wedding venues</b>, we loved <a href="http://www.saweddings.co.za/venues-110/wedding_venues-229/the_gourmet_shed-1950.html">The Gourmet Shed</a> & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/ANDES-Clarens-Guesthouse/436787393086165">Andes Clarens Guesthouse</a>.</i></div>
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Also, you've probably noticed that <i>A Home Away From Home</i> has a new look! <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/">Melyssa</a> from <a href="http://bumbleandbuzzdesign.com/">Bumble & Buzz Design</a> has been working with me on this over the past couple of months and I couldn't be happier with the end result. She was able to take my vague and incomplete ideas and transform them into exactly what I'd been looking for all along. I can't recommend her enough. She's amazing.</div>
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</script>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-23474958408816290832014-02-19T13:46:00.000+02:002018-01-02T19:38:29.609+02:00Exploring the Kingdom of Lesotho<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tucked away amongst the clouds and surrounded by the sprawling magnificence of the Drakensberg lies the mountain kingdom of <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Lesotho">Lesotho</a>. One of two independent countries falling within South Africa's borders, the nation exists as the only country in the world falling entirely above 1,000 meters, with it's highest peak reaching 11,320 feet. Having wanted to explore this unique part of the globe for several years, Jurgen and I jumped at the opportunity when friends suggested we plan a road trip through Lesotho last year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq58mo1cKMUAoISqJJ53mF8JaxMyo8qochaL9KSMgyhs24AtCnForf-KdideJvvfxGY-bM_8nxHL8ITm14b4pMptvhCafeYzDNYwMsuqY5G2NY7by4x_GyplzCSh0tXq-vex9owLgD70/s1600/Top+of+Sani+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to self-drive through the Kingdom of Lesotho." border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq58mo1cKMUAoISqJJ53mF8JaxMyo8qochaL9KSMgyhs24AtCnForf-KdideJvvfxGY-bM_8nxHL8ITm14b4pMptvhCafeYzDNYwMsuqY5G2NY7by4x_GyplzCSh0tXq-vex9owLgD70/s640/Top+of+Sani+Pass.jpg" title="Tips for road tripping through Lesotho, a land-locked country within South Africa." width="640" /></a><br />
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It's difficult to find words that adequately convey how breathtaking Lesotho is in terms of its raw beauty. Throughout our entire trip, around every twist and turn there seemed to be a new, indescribable view that somehow rivaled the last. We spent hours on the side of the road marveling at the pristine setting in front us, trying to contemplate how in the world a place like this could actually exist.<br />
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The only real item on our itinerary was to enter Lesotho via the famed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sani_Pass">Sani Pass</a> and enjoy a warm glass of gluhwein at the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowUserReviews-g681289-d480305-r5598255-Sani_Mountain_Lodge-Sani_Pass_Mokhotlong_District.html">highest pub in Africa</a>. Beginning in South Africa and ending at the Lesotho border, the Sani Pass is renowned for its scenic views and somewhat notorious 4x4 route. Many people make the drive in one day, enjoying a drink at the top and then heading back down without ever entering Lesotho. This is very possible, although it's essential that you have a properly equipped vehicle and someone who's comfortable navigating fairly tricky dirt roads (certainly not me!). With the right equipment, the trek is certainly worth it. The Sani Pass easily ranks as the most beautiful drive I've ever been on. The atmosphere at the pub is also contagious as seasoned travelers casually swap itineraries and exchange stories. <br />
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For the rest of our trip, we simply drove, admiring the views and stopping for picnics where and when we saw fit. One thing that completely caught me off guard in Lesotho was its remoteness. Having travelled Africa extensively, I've always been able to find basic amenities such as internet cafes, petrol stations, and cold soft drinks with relative ease. Not so in Lesotho. Not once did I come across a wifi connection and we went through our entire trip without tracking down an operating petrol station or a cold soft drink. We did find warm cokes in glass bottles at one point, but that was just about where the luxuries came to an end.</div>
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While this certainly adds to the authenticity of the experience, it also means that you need to be prepared when entering the country. Make sure you have a full tank of petrol and bring any essential food and toiletry products with you. Food and drinks are available, but you'll be mostly limited to chips, cocktail sausages, eggs, porridge, bread, and juice. Luckily, our friends came prepared with pots, pans, cutlery, etc., and we brought a cooler full of meat and vegetables, so we mostly prepared our own meals. We did enjoy a basic dinner at <a href="http://www.oxbow.co.za/">Oxbow Lodge</a> on our second night, but it was overpriced for what we received. </div>
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All things considered, on our next trip I think we'll try to camp. It would be easy to pitch a tent just about anywhere that strikes your fancy and you would find yourself surrounded by some of the most picturesque views in the world. That being said, it's also important to point out that we travelled through an undeveloped section of the country where tourism is scarce. Other areas in Lesotho attract thousands of tourists each year for craft markets, pony trekking, cave paintings, and waterfall viewing. My guess is that these areas are much more developed. I'd recommend <a href="http://www.roxannereid.co.za/1/category/lesotho/1.html">Roxanne's posts</a> for information on Lesotho's better-known attractions. <a href="http://www.malealea.co.ls/activities/pony-trekking-day-treks/">Pony Trekking</a> is definitely sitting towards the top of my 'someday' bucket list.</div>
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All in all, I absolutely loved Lesotho. It was like no place I've ever been before - natural, untouched, and unregulated. The people were extremely friendly and the little villages epitomized rural African charm. And while I now feel like we've truly experienced the incomprehensible beauty of rural Lesotho, I'm yearning to explore more of what the country is famous for. In future, places like Katse Dam, Semonkong, Malealea, and Bokong Nature Reserve will definitely make the list.</div>
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<i><b>A few more useful tips...</b></i></div>
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<i>- An <b>entry visa</b> is not required for the United States, South Africa and most other countries. -</i></div>
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<i>- The Lesotho <b>currency</b> is the Loti, but the South African Rand is also universally accepted. -</i></div>
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<i>- Bring plenty of <b>cash</b> with you as ATM's are scarce. -</i></div>
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<i>- Fill up on <b>petrol </b>before entry as well - gas stations are few and far between. -</i></div>
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<i>- Make sure you're equipped with a proper <b>vehicle</b>. 4x4's are recommended. -</i></div>
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<i>- Double (or even triple) the time it would typically take to drive a given distance when planning your trip. <b>Roads</b> are generally in bad condition. It's slow and easy going. - </i></div>
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<i>- Make sure you purchase a good <b>map</b> in advance. -</i></div>
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<i>- Pack food, drinks, and cooking utensils, particularly if you'll be heading off the beaten path. -</i></div>
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<i>- Bring <b>warm clothes</b>, even in summer. It's chilly in the mountains, especially in the evenings. -</i></div>
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<i>- Be prepared for one of the greatest <b>adventures</b> of your life! -</i></div>
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<b><i>Have you ever been somewhere completely different from anywhere else you've ever been?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Was your experience positive or negative?</i></b></div>
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<i>If you're planning a trip to Lesotho and have any questions, feel free to email me <a href="mailto:homeawayfromhomeblog@gmail.com">here</a>!</i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pin this post for later...</span></i></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-3198631866598262032014-02-11T13:30:00.000+02:002019-05-13T13:40:55.459+02:00A Guide to Greek Island Hopping<div style="text-align: center;">
Last summer, Jurgen and I spent <a href="http://www.seejentravel.com/search/label/Greece" target="_blank">ten idyllic days island hopping in Greece</a>. Our time there was absolutely blissful… <i>magical even</i>. But Greek love stories aside, today I'd like to share a few tips and tricks I picked up in the process of planning our trip. <i>Because it definitely wasn't as intuitive as I imagined it would be. </i>I found there to be a general lack of information online regarding everything from navigating the Greek ferry system to visiting virtually any island outside of Santorini and Mykonos. So, while I'm certainly not an expert, here are a few words of advice that I would have found helpful during the planning process.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1) <i>Determine which island group(s) you want to visit. </i>Before visiting Greece, I had absolutely no idea how many Greek Islands there actually were… <i>over 6,000</i>! <b>227 </b>of which are inhabited. To assist in narrowing down the choices, the first step is to decide on which island group(s) you want to visit. The <a href="http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?region=812&aid=860055" target="_blank">Cyclades</a> are easily the most popular as they're close to Athens and include the islands of Santorini and Mykonos. However, there's also a host of other groupings that often go unnoticed. For instance, the <a href="http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?region=813&aid=860055" target="_blank">Dodecanese Islands</a> are located near the southwest coast of Turkey and contain the islands of Rhodes and Kos. Typically, islands falling within the same groupings are located along the same ferry routes and depart from the same mainland port of call. If you're heading to the Cyclades, you'll likely depart from <a href="http://www.piraeus-greece.org/">Piraeus</a> in Athens. If you're on your way to the <a href="http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?region=822&aid=860055" target="_blank">northern Aegean Islands</a>, you may need to travel to northern Greece and depart from <a href="http://www.portkavala.gr/?lang=en">Kavala</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2) <i>Determine your island hopping route. </i>Once you've decided on an island group, you'll need to determine which islands you're going to visit. <i>This will largely be dependent on ferry route</i>. The ferry system in Greece is surprisingly difficult to navigate. Basically, certain islands are located along certain standard routes departing from and returning to the Greek mainland. If you choose three islands located on three different ferry routes, you could be looking at days of travel time trying to get from one ferry route to the next. Certain connections also only operate on certain days of the week. For instance, we knew that we wanted to visit <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/10/greece-island-of-sifnos.html">Sifnos</a> and were initially also looking into Santorini, but would have had to stay on Sifnos for 4 nights before a direct ferry to Santorini would have become available. Because of this, we decided to visit Milos instead. <b><i>This is why it is absolutely essential to book your ferry tickets prior to confirming your accommodation</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3) <i>Book your ferry tickets. </i>There's several reputable online sites where you can book your ferry tickets in advance. Personally, I would recommend going through <a href="http://www.greeka.com/">Greeka</a>, <a href="http://www.petas.gr/en/aktoploika-eisitiria.html">Petas</a>, or <a href="http://www.danae.gr/ferries-greece.asp">Danae</a>. Once you've booked tickets to your first island, you can play around with dates and times between that island and other islands along the same route. If you have time to spare, you can obviously also hop from one route to another. When you're booking your tickets, you'll notice that a variety of different types of ferries are available at varying prices. The slower the ferry, the lower the price. We used the high speed ferries {referred to as speedrunners} and really enjoyed them. <i>Remember that your online booking receipt is not the same as your ticket.</i> You'll have to pick these up at your port of call. Since we left on an early morning ferry, we picked our tickets up the day before. This worked out well since we were able to familiarize ourselves with the port area in advance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4) <i>Getting to Piraeus. </i>The vast majority of island departures leave from Piraeus, the main port of call in Athens. To get here, you can either take a taxi or use the metro. From the city center, a taxi will cost you roughly <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">€</span>15 and from the airport you can expect to pay around <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">€40. If you're traveling via metro, a single trip from the airport or city center will amount to </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">€1.40. We used the metro and actually found that we preferred it to above ground transport. Piraeus is the terminating stop along the green line, you really can't miss it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">5) </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Pack Light! </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I flew to Greece with only a carry-on and it really and truly turned out to be the best decision ever. Having to lug a large suitcase on and off the metro, through </span></span><span style="line-height: 19px;">Piraeus,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"> up and down narrow ferry stairwells, and through the island port cities would have been nothing short of a nightmare. I also took a small backpack and used this for day trips around the islands. It worked out perfectly!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">6) <i>Island Tips. </i>The single largest recommendation I can make regarding actual time spent on the islands is to rent a scooter or quad. We rented a scooter at a rate of </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">€</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">10 per day and had the time of our lives zipping from one beach to another according to our own itinerary and schedule. Also keep in mind that the Greeks really only start to <i>consider</i> eating dinner at around 10pm. Expect plenty of late nights and late mornings. Oh, and also don't forget to enjoy plenty of souvlaki and ouzo. Olay! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">During our trip we stayed on the islands of <a href="http://www.seejentravel.com/2013/10/greece-island-of-sifnos.html" target="_blank">Sifnos</a> and <a href="http://www.seejentravel.com/2014/05/greece-island-of-milos.html" target="_blank">Milos</a>. On Sifnos, we stayed at <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/alk.en-gb.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">ALK Hotel</a> in Kamares. It was basic, but offered great service and value for money and was really well located with ocean views and within easy walking distance of the beach. On Milos, we stayed at <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/tania-apollonia.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Tania Milos</a> in Pollonia, and absolutely loved it. It's a seaside villa located right on the ocean with the most incredible breakfast spread you've ever seen included in their rate. </span></span></span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">If you have any other questions, I would be more than happy to try my best to answer them!</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">You can email me <a href="mailto:homeawayfromhomeblog@gmail.com">here</a>. </i></div>
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</script>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-60549512978315441522014-02-04T13:30:00.000+02:002018-01-14T12:49:50.743+02:00{Cape Town}: The Grand Daddy Hotel<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/search/label/Cape%20Town">Cape Town</a> has always been a city that's quick to conjure up feelings of nostalgia for Jurgen and I. We met there, went on our first date there, said many tearful goodbyes at the airport there, and had just as many warm reunions there after spending months apart. We've developed our own favorite cafes, running paths, coffee shops, and cocktail bars. We know just the spot if you're looking for the best Kurdish cuisine in town, and we can tell you exactly how to avoid the crowds that tend to flock towards Table Mountain. <br />
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<i>In short, Cape Town feels like home.</i><br />
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... Which is exactly why we've made it a tradition to spend a night or two in the city whenever we find ourselves in the area visiting friends or family.</div>
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On our last trip, I was thrilled when Jurgen recommended that we book ourselves into the incredibly swanky <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/metropole.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Grand Daddy Hotel</a>. Arguably Cape Town's trendiest place to get some zzz's, the Grand Daddy's been sitting towards the top of our list for awhile now and is renowned for it's upmarket Afro-centric decor as well as the famed <a href="http://www.granddaddy.co.za/sleep/airstream_rooftop_trailer_park/">airstream trailer park</a> and <a href="http://www.granddaddy.co.za/drink/sky_bar/">sky bar</a> that sit on its roof.</div>
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Located on Long Street, the hotel is perfectly situated in the equivalent of Cape Town's Soho district. Virtually any university student or young professional will flock to this part of town on the weekends, as it's home to a host of popular bars (my favorite of which is <a href="http://www.dubliner.co.za/">The Dubliner</a>) and restaurants. While a number of backpackers are located on Long Street, to my knowledge, the Grand Daddy is the area's only boutique hotel. This makes it especially appealing to mid twenty and thirty year olds like myself, who are still drawn to the allure of Long Street, yet aim to avoid the once-cherished joys of bunking with drunk strangers.</div>
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Although the <a href="http://www.granddaddy.co.za/sleep/airstream_rooftop_trailer_park/">airstream trailer park</a> was fully booked over the weekend of our stay, we still loved all of the little touches that made our room feel uniquely African. The lamps were my personal favorite, with major South African cities outlined around their perimeter, and the headboard also stood out with its vibrant African pattern. Even the mini shampoos and conditioners were locally produced. Add to this a fantastic city view and our borderline obsession with the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/hIlYqHJTXg/">historic elevator</a> in the lobby and you are left with two very happy Jo'burgers.</div>
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For all twenty'ish to forty'ish travelers planning a visit to Cape Town {especially if this will be your first time in the city}, the Grand Daddy is pretty hard to beat in terms of its rates, location, and overall vibe. The hotel is within walking distance of a ton of major city attractions and also offers a daily shuttle to and from the Waterfront free of charge. The <a href="http://www.granddaddy.co.za/drink/sky_bar/">Sky Bar</a> is ideal for evening sundowners and the hotel even hosts frequent rooftop movie nights at their <a href="http://www.granddaddy.co.za/pinkflamingo/">Pink Flamingo Cinema</a>. <i>Awesome, right!?</i></div>
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<i><b>What's the trendiest // quirkiest hotel you've ever stayed in?</b></i></div>
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<b><i>By the numbers:</i></b></div>
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<i><b>Room rates: </b>R1,410-R2,200 ($125-$200) per room per night</i></div>
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<i><b>Airstream Trailer Park: </b>R1,410-R2,500 ($125-$225) per trailer per night</i></div>
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<i><b>Breakfast: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><b>Wifi: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><b>Waterfront Shuttle</b>: Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i>To book a stay at The Grand Daddy Hotel, see <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/za/metropole.html?aid=860055">here</a>.</i></div>
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<i>For other accommodation in the area, see <a href="http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?city=-1217214&aid=1251776&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1">here</a>.</i></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-62693831506874590552014-01-23T14:00:00.000+02:002014-01-23T14:48:58.961+02:00{The Best of 2013}<div style="text-align: center;">
Ok, so I'm well aware that I sort of missed the boat on this one, but I figured that a little reminiscing would be the perfect way to get back into the blogging groove after more than two months of radio silence. While I had never intended to take a long-term hiatus from blogging, I also never anticipated the sheer amount of blood, sweat, and tears that it would take to finish my dissertation. Needless to say, I've had statistics coming out of my ears over the past several months. <i>And... the battle is finally over</i>. I submitted last week! </div>
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<i>Phew</i>. Now back to real life again...</div>
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Although the bulk of 2013 was <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-plans-goals.html">dedicated to my studies</a>, Jurgen and I were still able to squeeze in a fair amount of adventure. Between an incredible trip to Greece in July and a road trip through Lesotho in September, there were plenty of moments worth remembering. </div>
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<i>On that note, here are eight highlights of 2013:</i></div>
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8. <i><a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/02/half-decade-of-togetherness.html">The Drakensberg</a>. </i>In February of last year, I surprised Jurgen with a trip to the Drakensberg mountains in celebration of our five year anniversary. We rented a cabin and spent a long weekend cozied up next to the fire, nibbling on cheese platters and sipping cabernet sauvignon. It turned out to be the perfect low-key getaway and gave us a chance to unwind after the madness that was the first few weeks of post-grad.</div>
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7. <i><a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/09/adventures-with-elephants.html">Adventures with Elephants</a>. </i>Every time I think of this afternoon I can't help but smile. Setting aside a few hours to interact with six magnificent African elephants was like a dream come true. It was wonderful getting to know each one individually and learning first hand how incredibly intelligent they really are. The true definition of gentle giants, it's devastating to think that they're currently being pushed to the brink of extinction for something as arbitrary as their tusks. <i>Fact: most often humans are the world's worst enemy</i>.</div>
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6. <i><a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/08/soweto-in-day.html">Soweto</a>. </i>Although I had visited Soweto on numerous occasions prior to 2013, I had never before set aside a full day to take a tour of South Africa's largest township. Coming face to face with dire poverty and yet discovering the impenetrable joy that is present in the Soweto community is life changing. Despite empty tummies, tattered clothes, and shoeless feet, the people of Soweto truly celebrate the love and contentment they find in one another. Every time I visit I leave a different person.</div>
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5. <i>Lesotho. </i>Many people aren't aware that South Africa contains two independent countries within it's borders: the Kingdoms of Swaziland and Lesotho. In September, Jurgen and I road tripped with friends through the mountain nation of Lesotho "oohing" and "ahhing" at the most gorgeous views as we climbed higher and higher into the clouds. It was as though we'd been transported back to a time before there was such a thing as paved roads, supermarkets, petrol stations, cold soft drinks, and atms. Local nomads wandered the sheep speckled hills and modest, yet cozy, rondavels littered the countryside. It was untouched Africa at its finest.</div>
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4. <i><a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-oyster-box.html">The Oyster Box</a>. </i>The Oyster Box completely exceeded my expectations in every sense of the word. Situated just opposite the renowned Umhlanga lighthouse in Durban, I fell head over heels in love with everything from its classic decor to its warm atmosphere to its exquisite food to its impeccable service. Jurgen and I were actually depressed when the time came to head back to Jo'burg. <i>I know...</i> <i>first world problems</i>. But in all seriousness, The Oyster Box now easily ranks as my favorite hotel in the history of ever.</div>
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3. <i><a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/search/label/Namibia">Namibia</a>. </i>In January of last year, Jurgen and I spent one spectacular month road tripping through Namibia and I still haven't finished posting about all of the breathtaking goodness that the country contains. We played with lions and leopards, experienced a magical sunrise in Sossusvlei, wandered through the eeriness that is Deadvlei, went fishing along the infamous Skeleton Coast, and experienced a safari in Etosha National Park. During that month, life was exactly as it should be.</div>
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2.<i> <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/search/label/Greece">Greece</a>. </i>Greece was so much more than I ever dreamed it could be. I've mentioned before that the country was never even on my radar prior to visiting. This specific trip just happened to coincide with a conference that Jurgen was attending and I thought I'd tag along. However, Greece now easily ranks as one of my best travel experiences to date. The pristine beaches, laid back lifestyle, wonderful food, and millions of tiny white churches won me over completely. Do yourself a favor: go to Greece.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy1nurPUZrnMytOSHXUZyHJbRTglAGbrPn1bcny2aPxbd8ZNbKIhWSdZUKsnRheT49X2hgEBHcRkcDHbOgFyiMMFJ-xsNoeD8vbfQwL9sMkOoWmQGrxAzsN0pxFIx1P4Vygi6KDrNvuY/s1600/FINCH_0249-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy1nurPUZrnMytOSHXUZyHJbRTglAGbrPn1bcny2aPxbd8ZNbKIhWSdZUKsnRheT49X2hgEBHcRkcDHbOgFyiMMFJ-xsNoeD8vbfQwL9sMkOoWmQGrxAzsN0pxFIx1P4Vygi6KDrNvuY/s1600/FINCH_0249-XL.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. <i><a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/05/popping-in-my-brothers-wedding.html">My Brother's Wedding</a>. </i>Out of all of the goodness that 2013 brought with it, the best of the best had to be flying out to California for my brother's wedding. Going into the year I wasn't sure whether the university would grant me permission to leave, so it was extra special being able to attend not only as a guest, but also as a bridesmaid. When you add to this the fact that I absolutely love my sister-in-law and the fact that Jurgen was able to fly out with me... well, then you have every ingredient needed for one of the greatest weeks ever.</div>
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<i>What were some of your 2013 highlights?</i></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-7014725397649885642013-11-07T13:30:00.000+02:002013-11-07T13:30:01.694+02:00{It's Been Real}<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-plans-goals.html">As many of you already know</a>, at the beginning of the year I quit my cozy consultancy job to pursue a full-time Masters degree. It was a difficult decision and Jurgen and I went back and forth on whether it was the right choice up until minutes before I had to offer the university my final commitment. In addition to the financial implications, due to the fact that this degree is completed within a year, we were worried about the effect that it would have on my work-life balance and on our relationship in general.</div>
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<i>{Some of my classmates on an earlier trip to <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/08/soweto-in-day.html">Soweto</a>}</i></div>
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This year has been tough. Quite possibly the toughest in my 26 years of life thus far. The transition from being able to comfortably make car payments back into a 'starving' student was quite an adjustment in and of itself. But more than that, the sheer workload and intensity of the course content was inconceivable. </div>
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Because of the emphasis on psychology in industrial psychology, we were intentionally picked apart this year, forced to examine our deepest beliefs and values down to their core, and then ever so slowly pieced back together again, new and amended versions of ourselves. Our strengths were highlighted, right alongside our weaknesses and we had no choice but to openly acknowledge those parts of ourselves that had been tucked away in the comfort of denial for so many years. </div>
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Yet somehow, we've all come out the other side for the better and the year has almost come to a close. The forty-hour weekly class sessions have officially ended, and we've submitted close to sixty papers for thirteen modules, all the while chipping away at our dissertations. Dozens of sleepless nights, several tearful breakdowns, and countless personal victories later, here we are in November, and it all seems kind of surreal. </div>
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As I handed in my final assignments last week and walked out of my oral exam yesterday, I found it hard to believe that we're really nearing the end. Just one little dissertation stands between myself and graduation. As Jurgen and I celebrated over dinner last night, we agreed that this journey has both been more and less difficult than what we expected. It was unbelievably hard, and yet we still somehow managed to make it work, all the while having some fun in the process.</div>
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That being said, I'm excited to transition back into normal working life again and will be starting my internship in January. This year has definitely also had a huge impact on the attention that I've been able to devote to this blog and I'm looking forward to investing in my little piece of the internet again.</div>
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A tremendous thanks to all of you who have offered comments, emails, tweets and messages of support throughout the year and also to those who have continued reading despite frequent periods of radio silence on my side. <i>You're the best</i>.</div>
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<i>Masters... it's been real.</i></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-14867897397682991742013-10-24T13:30:00.000+02:002013-10-24T13:47:51.756+02:00{A Travel Inspired Wish List}<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;">
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As both a traveller and a blogger, I feel like my list of 'must-have' gadgets is ever expanding. Every other day it seems as though cyberspace introduces a new something that I'd love to add to my toolkit. Granted, many of these gadgets have to do with photography, but isn't that what brings travelling and blogging together so seamlessly? <i>I digress</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/my_ultimate_travel_wish_list/set?.embedder=2240743&.svc=copypaste&id=101363731" target="_blank"><img alt="My Ultimate Travel Wish List" border="0" height="428" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/GrF1IkqQO6mgaXkYuMTiQ/cid/101363731/id/asdRD_k64xG6CMPlFIJoxg/size/c600x428.jpg" title="My Ultimate Travel Wish List" width="600" /></a></div>
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<i>Here are a few things that are currently on my radar:</i><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-65215211-Photoshop-Lightroom-5/dp/B00CH6ATMO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382600878&sr=8-1&keywords=lightroom+5">Adobe Photoshop Lightroom</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>// <a href="http://www.olloclip.com/4-in-1-iphone-lens/">Olloclip 4-in-1 iPhone Lens Set</a> // <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scratch-Travel-Personalized-World-Poster/dp/B00D7CRLZA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1382601305&sr=8-9&keywords=scratch+off+travel+map">Scratch Off Travel Map</a> // <a href="http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero3-white-edition">GoPro Hero3 Camera</a> // <a href="http://www.onabags.com/store/shoulder-bags/the-brooklyn.html?color=chestnut#chestnut">ONA Brooklyn Leather Camera Satchel</a> // <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-85mm-3-5-5-6G-Wide-Angle-Telephoto/dp/B0013A1XDE/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1382601664&sr=8-9&keywords=nikon+wide+angle+lens">Nikon Wide-Angle Zoom Lens</a><span id="goog_1466080818"></span><span id="goog_1466080819"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></i></div>
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<i>What's on your list? </i><i>Am I missing anything?</i><br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-4101300184288277602013-10-22T13:30:00.000+02:002018-02-27T17:38:51.022+02:00{Greece}: The Island of Sifnos<div style="text-align: center;">
I've put off posting about <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Sifnos">Sifnos</a> for awhile now... and it's mostly because I'm not quite sure that I want the secret to get out. This little island tucked away in the Greek Cyclades completely stole our hearts. Full of charm and small enough to explore in just a few days time, we couldn't believe that we were virtually the only tourists on the island. <i>It was as though we'd walked straight into paradise.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXnzIB8g1pUWWU9Sx86g8gZqtnpvo9qDm02c61JQ7OiCzbqwtUWKbm-_FwYp3lJCGhtIqYpyzLmXxfT4z5OIa8nhKaL3cmmXW6dYjHvspAOTV99aEVQp3BEqhBCSKqprVvnTqTUKJzlwh/s1600/15+Kastro+Buildings.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Exploring the hidden churches and beaches on the Greek Island of Sifnos." border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXnzIB8g1pUWWU9Sx86g8gZqtnpvo9qDm02c61JQ7OiCzbqwtUWKbm-_FwYp3lJCGhtIqYpyzLmXxfT4z5OIa8nhKaL3cmmXW6dYjHvspAOTV99aEVQp3BEqhBCSKqprVvnTqTUKJzlwh/s640/15+Kastro+Buildings.jpg" title="Things to do on the beautiful Island of Sifnos, Greece." width="640" /></a></div>
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Prior to <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/search/label/Greece">our trip to Greece</a>, neither of us knew Sifnos existed. Of course we'd heard of Santorini and Mykonos, both of which we ultimately decided <i><b>not</b></i> to visit due to our trip coinciding with peak tourist season. As I began to research the plethora of other islands in the Cyclades, Sifnos emerged as an appealing option due to its intimate size, reputation for exquisite cuisine and relative proximity to Athens. I also kept reading reviews dubbing it Greece's "best kept secret". Add to this the fact that the small island is home to 365 churches {one for every day of the year} and our final decision was quite easy. </div>
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<i>Sifnos it would be</i>.</div>
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As soon as we debarked from the ferry, we knew that we couldn't have made a better choice. The port town of Kamares was the epitome of what every Greek Island should be and the streets were lined with adorable outdoor cafes pressed right up against the water's edge. As we began to explore, it didn't take long for us to realize that tourists were somewhat of a rarity. It was as though we had discovered some sort of Greek fairytale. There were pristine open beaches as far as the eye could see, traditional white-washed churches around every corner and some of the friendliest people one could ever hope to meet. Not to mention the quality of the food. I must have gained five pounds in the three days that we were there. </div>
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<i>But it was oh so worth it</i>.</div>
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We spent the bulk of our time in Sifnos on the back of a scooter hopping from beach to beach and popping into every other little church along the way. Our mornings were spent sleeping in late, afternoons were dedicated to jogging along hidden mountain paths and our nights involved dining alongside the sea, ouzos in hand. For those three days life was exactly as it should be and the rest of the world just sort of faded into the distance, far far away from our little Greek utopia. In Sifnos, I'm convinced that one would need to try incredibly hard to have a single care in the world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvFMFtYp4x6bZj1iawySHHdipnW0DekDGSEXUXi-1dibglV5liYFhiR0prUpiAZFWVqdcq8z2N2Gr8thbrN1eZqB23dpWgo1dIkrIBstDBMVL5cbWl5Cm08M1EkEvu5cVegdb3MJKXw4/s1600/9+Jurg+Kamaras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvFMFtYp4x6bZj1iawySHHdipnW0DekDGSEXUXi-1dibglV5liYFhiR0prUpiAZFWVqdcq8z2N2Gr8thbrN1eZqB23dpWgo1dIkrIBstDBMVL5cbWl5Cm08M1EkEvu5cVegdb3MJKXw4/s640/9+Jurg+Kamaras.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And so I'm <i>reluctantly</i> passing the secret of Sifnos on to you... because I just can't help but share this tiny Mediterranean oasis. I doubt there's any other place on earth quite like it. My only advice is to visit soon, as I doubt the island will remain a secret for much longer. It simply has too much going for it.</div>
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<b><i>By the numbers:</i></b></div>
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<i>We <b>stayed</b> at <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/alk.en-gb.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">ALK Hotel</a> in Kamares for 75 euros per night.</i></div>
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<i>Breakfast and transfer to and from the ferry were included in the above rate.</i></div>
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<i>We <b>ate</b> plenty of souvlaki, octopus and greek salads. A typical meal cost between 8 & 12 euros.</i></div>
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<i>We <b>got around </b>on the back of a scooter at a cost of 10 euros per day.</i></div>
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<i>Our Sifnos <b>highlight</b>? <a href="http://instagram.com/p/berc1oJTRb/">Dinner on the beach in Vathy</a>. Pure bliss.</i></div>
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<i>Our Sifnos "<b>must see</b>"? The idyllic town of <a href="http://instagram.com/p/beLgbepTTV/">Kastro</a>.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Pin this post for later...</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D-DrLcBAOGrZmwAXdYzL6J9bqaMeFCnppV2UQdz36i0k9j7KpihkspgGzwpLFXr1PXBZzC75zQGQro6BbevMPiHV7stfDJHF6CofgJvfMSoOZSOPfEVfaiduaLgUINIvfka6ydALyCmt/s1600/2f15d9129b7b9fe7a397588c5b393bce.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Things to do on the island of Sifnos, a hidden gem in Greece." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D-DrLcBAOGrZmwAXdYzL6J9bqaMeFCnppV2UQdz36i0k9j7KpihkspgGzwpLFXr1PXBZzC75zQGQro6BbevMPiHV7stfDJHF6CofgJvfMSoOZSOPfEVfaiduaLgUINIvfka6ydALyCmt/s640/2f15d9129b7b9fe7a397588c5b393bce.jpg" title="Exploring the Greek Island of Sifnos." width="426" /></a></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-53087749732224631012013-10-20T14:00:00.000+02:002013-10-20T14:00:00.323+02:00{A Sunday Giveaway}: $100 to Amazon + Extra Goodies!<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Happy Sunday everyone!</i><br />
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<i>Today I'm joining forces with some of my favorite expat // lifestyle // travel bloggers via Nicole at <a href="http://www.treasuretromp.com/">Treasure Tromp</a> to bring you an awesome October giveaway.</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.treasuretromp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/October-Sponsor-Giveaway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="October Sponsor Giveaway" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6075" height="443" src="http://www.treasuretromp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/October-Sponsor-Giveaway.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-67722882498016912602013-10-15T13:30:00.000+02:002013-10-15T14:23:36.782+02:00{Reality Check}<div style="text-align: center;">
I think we're all aware that blogs can be deceiving at times. As bloggers, we're able to carefully choose which aspects of our lives to share with the world and which parts we'd rather keep private. Most often, we choose to share only the best parts, <i>the highlight reel so to speak</i>. And I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing. I'm certainly guilty of sharing all that is nice in my life and neglecting to share most of what isn't. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVajywvRURcVrls_xJH7D3Az7PgLUWE76ORVnyfkXdk1uIxoGRsVEsFKRMXwjJ0ahzdxTKhFnOeHq7Cji0OS51e6v-pyl0mk76w6jYMRNnIKA4RtjP1F8bIhqI_UsVVrib4ukwlT7uQFQ/s1600/Elephants+Making+Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVajywvRURcVrls_xJH7D3Az7PgLUWE76ORVnyfkXdk1uIxoGRsVEsFKRMXwjJ0ahzdxTKhFnOeHq7Cji0OS51e6v-pyl0mk76w6jYMRNnIKA4RtjP1F8bIhqI_UsVVrib4ukwlT7uQFQ/s640/Elephants+Making+Friends.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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That being said, as a blogger it's also easy to fall into the trap of making life seem as though it's <i>forever</i> full of rainbows and flowers and sunshine. In fact, sometimes it appears as if our lives are so near perfect, that there's never a single cloud in our sky. <i>And that's when the ugly comparisons start.</i> You know, s<i>he has the perfect wardrobe </i>or <i>they always seem to travel to the nicest places </i>or <i>my figure will never be what hers is </i>or <i>they seem to have the most amazing relationship. </i>From thereon forward, it's a slippery slope into negativity. </div>
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I can guarantee that these types of comparisons have entered all of our minds at one time or another.</div>
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And I can also guarantee that no single person's life is near perfect.</div>
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We all have our ups and downs, our virtues and our vices.</div>
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<i>It's just how it is.</i></div>
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The other day I was reading a post by <a href="http://www.fromtheretoheretheblog.com/">Jay</a> in which she expressed concern over coming across as disingenuous. That because her blog is so positive, people might see her as inauthentic or superficial. My first thought was that she certainly does <i>not</i> come across this way. Jay must be one of the most genuine writers I know. My second thought was, <i>I wonder how <b>I</b> come across</i>? And when I really thought about it I realized that this blog is pretty full of rainbows and flowers and sunshine.</div>
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<i>So this is my attempt to set the record straight.</i></div>
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Believe me when I say that my life isn't near perfect. </div>
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My life is wonderful. </div>
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But, it certainly isn't perfect.</div>
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+ <i>Exhibit 1</i>: I feel guilty almost every day for leaving California. I know my parents wish I never left and I feel terrible that I'm unable to promise them that I'll move back someday. It's a good possibility. But, nowhere near a guarantee. It will depend on about a million different factors, none of which are set in stone except one. And that is that Jurgen's family will always be here. A transatlantic relationship means that we'll forever be torn between two countries. It's both a blessing and a curse.</div>
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+ <i>Exhibit 2</i>: I have no idea what I want to do with my life. In terms of a career, that is. Here I am studying a Master's in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and I'm not even sure what I want to do with the degree once I'm finished. It's a bit of an uncomfortable place to be in, although I'm sure the qualification will serve me well regardless of where I find myself in the future. Truth be told, my dream job would include working in international diplomacy, travelling the world, using I-O Psych and somehow also working with animals. <i>How do I find all of that in a single career?</i> I think about these sorts of things a lot these days.</div>
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+ <i>Exhibit 3: </i>I gained ten pounds on our month-long <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/search/label/Namibia">road trip through Namibia</a>. Don't even ask me how. To top it all off, I'm still about four pounds away from my 'normal' weight. I've been blessed with a lot of things, but an amazing metabolism definitely isn't one of them. </div>
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+ <i>Exhibit 4: </i>Jurgen will forever be my favorite travel partner. He's the greatest. But, that doesn't mean that our relationship is argument free. After several days straight on a road trip together, we're bound to get irritated. So when we're on the way home from Lesotho and Jurgen snaps because I'm <i>always </i>on my phone or when I have a melt down in Omaruru because I <i>desperately</i> want to hike to cave paintings and Jurgen is dead set on perusing art galleries instead, these things don't usually make it to the blog. <i>But know that they happen. </i>I just consciously choose to share the other 90% of our lives that is truly wonderful.</div>
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It's a fine balance, taking care not to over-share, but still maintaining an authentic voice.</div>
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And know that the above are just the few examples that I'm comfortable sharing here.</div>
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If we were sitting down for coffee I'm sure I could come up with many more.</div>
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<i>So, what's your take on it? Should bloggers share all? Is there even such a thing as over-sharing?</i></div>
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<i>Bloggers, how do you maintain authenticity without crossing the line?</i></div>
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<i>I'd love to hear your opinion!</i><br />
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<i>Also, I finally created a facebook page for the blog. You can follow along <a href="https://www.facebook.com/homeawayblog">here</a>! </i></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-65176771016403028692013-10-10T17:08:00.000+02:002013-10-10T17:23:17.453+02:00{Feeling Fancy}: High Tea at The Oyster Box<div style="text-align: center;">
After arriving at <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/">The Oyster Box</a>, it didn't take long to realize that the establishment has become much more than just a hotel. In addition to offering accommodation, it's made itself open to the broader community in such a way that there is something for everyone. Whether it's a dining experience at <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/bar-and-dining/the-grill-room">The Grill Room</a>, a pamper session at the <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/the-spa">spa</a>, or a cocktail on the balcony of the <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/bar-and-dining/our-bars">Lighthouse Bar</a>, it seems as though new faces are constantly walking through its doors to take advantage of all that the venue has to offer. Out of everything though, the High Tea quite possibly takes the cake... <i>literally</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjo7rPJyNJqp9weBec2cF0WPO51kpV9T-OTGZzlCMzMMvbPML9wI9Kv36zwCtBW7v8g8zDDjhfDRpGwSXUKlDkPP9J1VhjmUDaK2fkg2fU4oQrGEmUFRFitpf0XUSTUmvbIFT52PsWXU/s1600/High+Tea+V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjo7rPJyNJqp9weBec2cF0WPO51kpV9T-OTGZzlCMzMMvbPML9wI9Kv36zwCtBW7v8g8zDDjhfDRpGwSXUKlDkPP9J1VhjmUDaK2fkg2fU4oQrGEmUFRFitpf0XUSTUmvbIFT52PsWXU/s640/High+Tea+V.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Just minutes after confirming our booking at The Oyster Box, I phoned to reserve our spot for the High Tea. From what I'd been told, if there was one thing we couldn't miss, it was this.</div>
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As we made our way to <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/bar-and-dining/the-palm-court">The Palm Court</a> that Sunday afternoon, we weren't too sure what to expect aside from pure foodie heaven. <i>And my jaw dropped as soon as the massive table containing every sweet and savoury treat imaginable came into view</i>. There were cupcakes, custards, quiches, cakes, scones and pastries as far as the eye could see. It was true love at first sight for a sugar // carboholic like myself.</div>
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While Jurgen settled into his chair and began considering what tea he would like, I was already busy pacing the lengths of the high tea table and filling my plate to the brim. I then proceeded to take an obnoxious amount of photos as Jurgen eventually got around to filling his plate as well. Finally taking our seats, what followed was indulgence as we had never experienced before. Every bite seemed to taste even better than the last and we gladly took the liberty of helping ourselves to seconds and thirds. It was nothing short of glorious and well worth each and every inch of our rapidly expanding waistlines. </div>
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<i>No question about it, if you really want to treat yourself, this is the way to do it.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeN-DEWvC8tptscAsECEAJ8tuVdlN2Jet-_I4_MsvL9p6PXhX3MRBaur6UMK2kDGpko2Bx2bTQenTBxtxNcM3ZhLpRVkH-aTdAaFA_h90F3PAU9VNcYniQ_zXe318zbDv6nzAjwF6W5A/s1600/High+Tea+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeN-DEWvC8tptscAsECEAJ8tuVdlN2Jet-_I4_MsvL9p6PXhX3MRBaur6UMK2kDGpko2Bx2bTQenTBxtxNcM3ZhLpRVkH-aTdAaFA_h90F3PAU9VNcYniQ_zXe318zbDv6nzAjwF6W5A/s640/High+Tea+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYkNblry_46998iULC2a_61ouG5ohmD1qwErDXVZ8FRFw2sVoMD78EUkZXU_8BKz_l7H_zZ6MJkfrxx_co7xT8WPD4guBdbLBSBmtsFfdvKb_9qu77L8XRAmX4foGnzzR0DDaR-8J7k/s1600/High+Tea+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYkNblry_46998iULC2a_61ouG5ohmD1qwErDXVZ8FRFw2sVoMD78EUkZXU_8BKz_l7H_zZ6MJkfrxx_co7xT8WPD4guBdbLBSBmtsFfdvKb_9qu77L8XRAmX4foGnzzR0DDaR-8J7k/s640/High+Tea+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXCr8jh2IvK5olk3QVBGmsWWAZLFJ8OdkzCVQIl3BBVzjov7MCOfYK5dHnNMCpdyvcE2MlaUOM_kfRZs79YQPJimmT_W2SI-BHc_HxX_t_97KXqWP08xDs2EIfP67GXABUIql6O3Liuo/s1600/High+Tea+IV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXCr8jh2IvK5olk3QVBGmsWWAZLFJ8OdkzCVQIl3BBVzjov7MCOfYK5dHnNMCpdyvcE2MlaUOM_kfRZs79YQPJimmT_W2SI-BHc_HxX_t_97KXqWP08xDs2EIfP67GXABUIql6O3Liuo/s640/High+Tea+IV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAja_W3iybHzHhPiyaN4JPcObLGu0hF803DPwdbyZGqHIYNNtxBocEDSNS5bJXU0FDvvk8xo2SZLnOXQVTAhwlRulZtM0pkbjy97iaYH8wV7bThv8fO1H1_K0SU7HErmFQAZJvgzcoeA/s1600/High+Tea+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAja_W3iybHzHhPiyaN4JPcObLGu0hF803DPwdbyZGqHIYNNtxBocEDSNS5bJXU0FDvvk8xo2SZLnOXQVTAhwlRulZtM0pkbjy97iaYH8wV7bThv8fO1H1_K0SU7HErmFQAZJvgzcoeA/s640/High+Tea+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs2XuOcSF-b4Y1z1vc2G9Z7bPB1bNxbnZs2ML4wEGxO5TvHOqPsCMkTATcQZYuM_KWwJmpR9R29CDhjhmt7yTgeTAHrehDKOp6nVLkBEbihsk_YSTMc2lmGaKx8krSQ9bILsGwWFBDO4/s1600/High+Tea+VI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs2XuOcSF-b4Y1z1vc2G9Z7bPB1bNxbnZs2ML4wEGxO5TvHOqPsCMkTATcQZYuM_KWwJmpR9R29CDhjhmt7yTgeTAHrehDKOp6nVLkBEbihsk_YSTMc2lmGaKx8krSQ9bILsGwWFBDO4/s640/High+Tea+VI.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq5Y00ef9C_Bby-8FUurDOA7_35QZXKGgBPtWduQgW3gfjrIUo20hPnTI2H8WE_BQo-2xFWZIGkU6rTZJkzV-w3WB7dHzLJiNcCX0L4X6LIf7ThrcpINq-Vr2qvdZB_C4YZGuoblV3Z8/s1600/High+Tea+VII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq5Y00ef9C_Bby-8FUurDOA7_35QZXKGgBPtWduQgW3gfjrIUo20hPnTI2H8WE_BQo-2xFWZIGkU6rTZJkzV-w3WB7dHzLJiNcCX0L4X6LIf7ThrcpINq-Vr2qvdZB_C4YZGuoblV3Z8/s640/High+Tea+VII.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>My only advice: Arrive hungry... starving even.</i></div>
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<i>You're going to want to have room to enjoy this for all it's worth.</i></div>
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<i>The High Tea is available at <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/">The Oyster Box</a> daily from 2:30pm - 5:00pm at a rate of R185 {$20} per person. Reservations are essential and can be booked online <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/bar-and-dining/the-palm-court/bookings">here</a>.</i></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-89033558617320849192013-10-08T13:30:00.000+02:002018-02-27T17:39:13.265+02:00{The Oyster Box}<div style="text-align: center;">
Since moving to South Africa, I've constantly listened to friends and acquaintances marvel about the timeless allure of <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/the-oyster-box.html?aid=860055">The Oyster Box</a>. Never quite understanding what all the fuss was about, when Jurgen found out that he would need to travel to Durban for work, we were quick to make a long weekend of it in order to finally experience the grandeur of it all for ourselves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRqI7Jsuzjp-FLPkKKh4LYa027w8KkYx0SMLnBvsJqbS3JCNr_dePNxjcYy6hHom_vzwdskZ2B7sQZNckBABCt7V5P6-97V-uv_eZbzaHFC-JRV0_q0Tcaxty4BW2cTOz5U0AHKKhRXDh/s1600/From+the+Pool+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Top luxury hotel in Durban, South Africa." border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRqI7Jsuzjp-FLPkKKh4LYa027w8KkYx0SMLnBvsJqbS3JCNr_dePNxjcYy6hHom_vzwdskZ2B7sQZNckBABCt7V5P6-97V-uv_eZbzaHFC-JRV0_q0Tcaxty4BW2cTOz5U0AHKKhRXDh/s640/From+the+Pool+Area.jpg" title="Why you should stay at the Oyster Box at least once in your life. " width="640" /></a></div>
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Throughout the six hour drive from Johannesburg to South Africa's eastern coast, Jurgen and I debated whether The Oyster Box would adequately live up to our expectations. After everything we'd heard, it would certainly have to be pretty darn spectacular to do so. In the end, we agreed that it would probably be a nice weekend, but also something that we wouldn't ever feel the urge to experience again. <i>Something that we could tick off of our bucket list.</i> We imagined the hotel to be absolutely stunning in terms of its picturesque location and classic decor, but also a bit exclusive in a way that was out of our league.</div>
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Walking through the hotel doors, we were greeted by a host of smiling faces and offered a personal tour of the hotel facilities. Welcome drinks in hand, we were shown to our room and then acquainted with the myriad of hotel restaurants, bars and pools, as well as the private theatre {complete with an antique popcorn machine!}. As we sipped gin and tonics on the balcony of the picturesque <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/bar-and-dining/our-bars">Lighthouse Bar</a> that evening, we had to agree that everyone had indeed been right, The Oyster Box truly was something special. And we realized that it wasn't just its opulence that made it exceptional, although this aspect was certainly impressive, but rather the warm atmosphere and impeccable service. </div>
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For instance, on the morning of our second day I realized that I'd left my camera memory card at home. With Jurgen away at a client meeting, I asked the front desk if there was somewhere within walking distance that I would be able to buy a new one. No, they replied, unfortunately there was not, but their driver would be more than happy to take me to get one, free of charge. I was then promptly driven to the mall in a private vehicle, given instructions on where I would be able to purchase a memory card, and informed that the driver would be waiting for me outside until I returned. <br />
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<i>It was enough to make a girl feel famous.</i></div>
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Over the next two days, we proceeded to enjoy one of the best weekends imaginable. Each morning started with the most incredible breakfast and afternoons were spent lounging next to the pool on red and white pinstriped chairs, cocktails in hand. As the sun would start to set, we'd head to the promenade for a nice jog along the beach and then return to the hotel to get ready for a ceremonious glass of wine in the Lighthouse Bar before enjoying dinner at either <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/bar-and-dining/the-grill-room">The Grill Room</a> or <a href="http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/bar-and-dining/the-ocean-terrace">The Ocean Terrace</a>. By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, I'm pretty sure Jurgen was ready to sell all of his assets and move in permanently. </div>
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Throughout the weekend, I constantly overheard people fondly sharing stories of past Oyster Box experiences with family, friends and staff members. I watched as an older gentleman walked onto the terrace with his adult children, enthusiastically recounting exactly where he and his wife met and fell in love. I couldn't help overhearing an American guest telling a staff member about how he and his wife spent their honeymoon at The Oyster Box over twenty years ago. I listened as a mother affectionately described to her teenage children how she and her friends used to frequent The Oyster Box when she was the age that they are now. Having been in operation since 1947, it seems that The Oyster Box has been successful in capturing the hearts of almost everyone that's had the privilege of stepping through its doors.</div>
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<i> </i>And despite our initial reservations, it's safe to say that we've officially joined the masses and fallen head over heels in love with The Oyster Box ourselves. </div>
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Plain and simple, it exceeded our expectations in all regards. </div>
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If you ever find yourself in the Durban area, I strongly encourage you to experience the venue's old-world charm for yourself. Even if you don't stay overnight, set aside an afternoon for lunch on the terrace or enjoy a cocktail in the Lighthouse Bar at sunset. I can virtually guarantee that you won't be disappointed.</div>
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<i>For more information or to book a stay at The Oyster Box visit <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/the-oyster-box.html?aid=860055">here</a>. </i><i> </i></div>
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</script>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-82606585226370285692013-09-26T14:04:00.000+02:002015-09-02T22:14:18.919+02:00{Teremok Marine}: A Design Lover's Paradise<div style="text-align: center;">
We're back in Jo'burg after five incredibly beautiful days in <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Lesotho">Lesotho</a>, which also means that our month of near constant travel has come to an end. Between <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/08/pilanesberg-private-lodge.html">Pilanesberg</a>, <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/09/safari-diaries-itaga-private-game-lodge.html">Bela Bela</a>, Durban and now Lesotho, it feels as though we've been spending more time away than not. And while I love the feeling of constantly being on the move, for the first time in my life I think I'm actually looking forward to spending the next month at home, catching up on life, studies and work. No more of this packing and unpacking business for awhile. </div>
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<i>At least not until November that is...</i></div>
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Today I'd planned to continue with the <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/search/label/Greece">Greece</a> recaps, but then I uploaded photos from Durban and became completely enamored by the design haven that is <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/teremok-marine.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Teremok Marine</a>. Located in Umhlanga Rocks and just a short walk away from the Indian Ocean, I was literally in awe of this private residence turned boutique hotel. <i>The design was flawless</i>. If I were to create my dream home one day, this would be it. </div>
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The history of Teremok Marine pulses through the walls of the house and remains a central theme carried throughout the suites and common areas. Initially built by Kotchka Vladykin as a retirement home, the lodge has retained its original Russian name {meaning, <i>little hideaway</i>}. Russian by birth, Kotchka escaped the Soviet revolution as a young child, initially immigrating to England, and then later making his way to South Africa as a mine surveyor. Marrying into the diamond industry, he eventually chose to retire in Umhlanga Rocks, carefully designing Teremok to encompass his love for nature and the surrounding Milkwood trees.</div>
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Eventually inherited by the Douglases, Teremok Marine was converted into a luxury boutique lodge in 2003 and ultimately re-created into what it is today. I loved that each suite has been designed with a particular aspect of the Teremok legacy in mind and spent a significant amount of time lost in the old photo books on display in the common area. Jurg and I stayed in the Milkwood room, appropriately named after Kotchka's adoration for Milkwood trees and situated amongst the branches of the large Milkwood on the property. With clear views of the Indian ocean from our balcony, our experience was idyllic in every sense of the word.</div>
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Because history plays such an extensive role in the <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/teremok-marine.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Teremok Marine</a> motif, it's difficult not to leave feeling somewhat nostalgic. It's almost as though you've become so submerged in its history that you've become a part of it, not only saying goodbye to the house, but also to all of those people associated with it who have intricate stories of their own. Teremok really got under my skin, <i>in the best sort of way</i>.</div>
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<b><i>By the numbers:</i></b></div>
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<i><b>Rates: </b>R1,625 {$160} per person per night</i></div>
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<i><b>Breakfast: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><b>Laundry & Ironing Service: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i>For more information, you can visit their website <a href="http://www.teremok.co.za/Marine/Default.aspx">here</a>.</i></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-51965138773572165452013-09-18T13:30:00.000+02:002013-09-18T13:30:00.786+02:00{Adventures With Elephants}<div style="text-align: center;">
While in <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/09/safari-diaries-itaga-private-game-lodge.html">Bela Bela</a> earlier this month, Jurg and I were able to spend an afternoon interacting with six incredible African elephants. During this time we touched them, fed them, played with them {even kissed them!} and really got to know each elephant individually. It's unbelievable how they develop their own distinct personalities, which become apparent within minutes of meeting them. Despite their different demeanors and characteristics though, every single one had the kindest eyes and the most caring disposition. <i> They really are gentle giants</i>. It was a remarkable experience and something very, <i>very </i>different from the ordinary.<br />
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<a href="http://www.adventureswithelephants.co.za/?code=norm_home">Adventures with Elephants</a> facilitates the interactions and the company has an extraordinarily unique story, littered with tragedy. Run by the Hensman family, Rory Hensman initially purchased two orphaned elephants to roam free on his Zimbabwe game farm in the 1980's, but quickly {and unexpectedly} developed a close relationship with the elephants and began teaching them basic commands. Before he knew it, the same elephants were heading up an anti-poaching unit spanning across the Zambezi valley. As his reputation grew, he found himself acquiring more and more 'problem' elephants until he had reached a group of twelve in 2000. He worked hard to develop a relationship of mutual trust and respect with each and every one.<br />
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Devastatingly, in 2002 the Hensmans were forcibly removed from their farm by the Mugabe regime as part of land reform measures {to read more about this see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_reform_in_Zimbabwe#Fast-track_Land_Reform_and_violence">here</a>}. With only a matter of hours to flee the country, their main concern involved getting their elephants off the property and safely across the South African border. In the sheer desperation of the situation, they were forced to enter into a verbal agreement with a South African farmer, which inevitably turned sour once they arrived. Having fled to South Africa without any assets or property, the family agreed to enter into employment with the farmer as labourers in an effort to slowly earn the elephants back. Eventually though, the conditions became so unbearable that they were forced to move on and start a new life with new elephants elsewhere.<br />
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As you may have already guessed, the family ultimately decided to settle in Bela Bela and have since worked to slowly build <i>Adventures with Elephants</i> into what it is today. All six of their current elephants were previously orphaned or flagged as 'problem' animals and were on the extermination list due to species overpopulation in certain areas. <i>Adventures with Elephants</i> advocates ethical conservation and the elephants seem to enjoy the interaction just as much as their human counterparts. They're absolutely magnificent and extremely intelligent... <i>even cheeky</i>. It's difficult to imagine anyone ever tagging them for extermination.<br />
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If you ever find the opportunity to visit <i>Adventures with Elephants</i>, I highly recommend it. The experience is once-in-a-lifetime material and I cannot imagine supporting a more deserving company involved in a more deserving cause. We're hoping to go back for another visit soon! During the summer they even offer a <i>swim with the elephants </i>option. <i>Can you imagine?!</i><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.adventureswithelephants.co.za/?code=norm_home">Adventures with Elephants</a> is open 7 days a week from 8am - 5pm, with interactions taking place three times daily. It's located in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bela-Bela">Bela Bela</a> region near the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa. For both locals and visitors alike, the experience is a must and will be an absolute highlight of your visit, I promise! Tickets are R495 {$50} per adult and interactions last one hour. For more information visit their site <a href="http://www.adventureswithelephants.co.za/?code=norm_home">here</a>.</i><br />
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Side note: We're off on a road trip through the <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Lesotho">Kingdom of Lesotho</a> at the end of the week and I'm over-the-moon excited about it. <i>Follow along on instagram <a href="http://instagram.com/jdfinch">here</a>!</i><br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-69936700707344958922013-09-10T13:30:00.000+02:002018-01-06T18:56:29.376+02:00{Safari Diaries}: Itaga Private Game Lodge<div style="text-align: center;">
As most of you who follow on <a href="https://twitter.com/Jenna_Finch">twitter</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/jdfinch">instagram</a> already know, last weekend Jurg and I headed to Bela Bela for a three day bush break. Although we've been to Bela Bela before {Jurg even <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-engagement-how-it-happened.html">proposed</a> there!} we love re-visiting the area again and again since it's only about a two hour drive from Johannesburg. Just far enough to feel like you're escaping the city, but still close enough to make a weekend jaunt worthwhile.<br />
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On this trip we were looking for somewhere new to stay and, <i>on a whim</i>, made a booking at <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/itaga-luxury-private-game-lodge.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Itaga Private Game Lodge</a>. We'd never heard of the lodge before, but really liked the look and feel of the rooms on their website and also found their prices quite reasonable when compared to other lodges in the region. As we pulled into their gate, I knew we had made the perfect choice. Dozens of antelopes, warthogs and ostriches meandered around their waterhole just feet away from us. Usually, wild animals only feel comfortable getting so close under the cover of night. </div>
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As we started towards the lodge, an <a href="http://instagram.com/p/dr3a35pTQh/">ostrich</a> wandered over curiously and a moment later a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/drn0c9pTTH/">baby nyala</a> came so close that <a href="http://instagram.com/p/drm3iKJTRD/">we could touch his sweet little nose</a>. Shocked by the unexpected docility, the lodge manager quickly informed us that the nyala's name was Quasimodo {adorable, right!?} and that he was indeed quite tame. <i>I was in heaven</i>. But even beyond our initial impression, we soon realized that the lodge itself serves as a haven for a variety of animals. Nyalas roamed around the rooms by the dozens, ostriches grazed the day away on the main lawn, warthogs spent hours pestering the antelopes around the waterhole and I even became closely acquainted with the resident cat, <a href="http://instagram.com/p/dr29pvJTfs/">Tiger</a>. </div>
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If you're an animal lover like me, <i>you've officially found your paradise</i>. </div>
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Animals aside though, we also loved everything from the rooms {ours was tucked away on a little hill with an idyllic outdoor shower}, to the pool, to the decor, to the food. Every night before dinner, Jurg and I would head to the lounge and enjoy a glass of wine next to <a href="http://instagram.com/p/dsKmWZpTVt/">the fire</a> before sitting down for a remarkable meal. On the first evening, I enjoyed a tomato soup starter, fillet main and chocolate pudding dessert and on the second I ordered an equally divine cauliflower soup starter, chicken curry main and apple strudel dessert. </div>
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On our second day at the lodge, we were quick to take advantage of the afternoon game drive that's included in Itaga's rate. As we headed into the park, our guide, Rochelle, kept us occupied with interesting safari tidbits while we scoured the horizon for rhinos, giraffes and elephants. We quickly stumbled upon the most majestic Kudu bull and then came across a journey of giraffes {<i>did you know that a group of giraffes is called a journey? Something new that I learned courtesy of Rochelle</i>}. Giraffes are one of my all-time favorite animals to spot on safari because they always look so kind and curious. It's almost as though they pose for the camera.</div>
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Continuing our drive through the park, we were extremely fortunate to spot a group of eight male rhinos hiding in the brush. As I enthusiastically snapped away on my camera, I suddenly heard Rochelle jam the vehicle into reverse and soon we were moving backwards at an alarming rate. The <i>crash</i> of rhinos {<i>another funny group name</i>} were headed our direction, <i>and fast</i>. We slipped away in just the knick of time and gazed in wonder as eight masses of pure armor went stampeding down the road. It was one of the most incredible sights I've ever witnessed while on safari. We were all left speechless.</div>
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Every time we're lucky enough to see rhinos in their natural environment I feel extremely privileged. Rhinos are being poached at an alarming rate in Africa, with over 440 killed in South Africa in 2013 alone. <i>And the year isn't even over. </i>By the time our children are our age, it's likely that rhinos will only be found in zoos. At the current rate, they'll be extinct within the next decade. <i>And all because of superstition surrounding the healing powers of their horns. So tragic.</i></div>
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At sunset, we stopped in an open patch of land and hopped out of the vehicle for a quick sun downer. As we sipped a glass of red wine and watched giraffes roaming in the distance, I was again struck by the beauty found in Africa. What a wonderful, yet troubled continent I've been blessed to call home. </div>
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<i>Sometimes I still can't believe I live here.</i></div>
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Our stay at Itaga easily ranks as one of our best experiences in South Africa to date... <i>and that is saying a lot.</i> Everything about the weekend was incredible and we haven't been able to stop raving about it since. For anyone visiting South Africa, I promise that this will be an absolute highlight of your trip.</div>
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<b><i>By the numbers:</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Rates: </b>R1,295 {$130} per person per night</i></div>
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<i><b>Breakfast: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><b>Dinner: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><b>Afternoon game drives: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>For more information on Itaga Private Game Lodge, see <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/za/itaga-luxury-private-game-lodge.html?aid=860055">here</a>.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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</script>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-29251311180143572762013-09-08T13:06:00.003+02:002013-09-08T17:07:00.623+02:00{A Sunday Giveaway}: $135 to Amazon & Etsy<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Just popping by to leave you with some Sunday lovin'...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I've joined forces with my favorite expat and travel bloggers via <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/">The Nectar Collective</a> to bring you a giveaway featuring a $100 Amazon and $35 Etsy gift card!</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.besohappyblog.com/" target="_blank"> Be So Happy</a> | <a href="http://thehappytype.com/" target="_blank">The Happy Type</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Home Away From Home</a> | <a href="http://www.treasuretromp.com/" target="_blank">Treasure Tromp</a> | <a href="http://www.hangonhoney.com/" target="_blank">Hang On, Honey</a> | <a href="http://lostintravelsblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lost in Travels</a> | <a href="http://www.chitsandgigglesblog.com/" target="_blank">Chits and Giggles</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://likeordinarylife.com/" target="_blank">Like Ordinary Life</a> | <a href="http://www.foundlovenowwhat.com/" target="_blank">Found Love. Now What?</a> | <a href="http://deecoded.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deecoded</a> | <a href="http://www.bytheporchlight.com/" target="_blank">By the Porchlight</a> | <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/" target="_blank">The Nectar Collective</a></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Rules & Info:</i></span></span></h1>
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<i style="font-family: inherit;">Open internationally!</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The giveaway ends on September 15th, 2013, and the winner will be contacted within one week of that date. If the winner fails to respond to their congratulatory email within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Good luck!</i></span><br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-21808066398803634212013-09-05T13:34:00.000+02:002017-12-31T15:22:49.135+02:00{Athens in a Day}<div style="text-align: center;">
While Jurgen was able to spend about a week in <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Athens">Athens</a> for a conference, I arrived in Greece later and had a total of 48 hours in the city and only one full day to explore. Wanting to get the most out of my limited time, I asked him to scout the best sites before I arrived so that we could re-visit his favorites together.</div>
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Fresh off my flight, Jurg let me know that he had booked us on an afternoon walking tour of the city with <a href="http://athensinsiders.com/">Athens Insiders</a>. Although I'm certainly not a 'tour person', he promised that this wasn't your usual tour company in the sense that they offered personalized city experiences for small groups... so it would essentially be just the two of us with a guide. We were to meet with Athnia outside our hotel at 3:00pm. </div>
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<i>It sounded like as good a plan as any to me, although I was still slightly skeptical.</i></div>
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The rest of that afternoon and evening, Athnia spent six hours walking us all over Athens, starting in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exarcheia">Exarcheia</a> {the graffiti and anarchist hub of the city} and then meandering towards the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/bZRboipTcj/">the National Library</a> and the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/bZRz1TpTdJ/">The Academy</a>. From there we headed in the direction of the Acropolis, ducking into cafes for a drink whenever we felt the urge. We passed intermittent Roman ruins and even discovered that Greece had been under German control throughout the early 1940's, leaving Athens with small traces of Nazi occupation. As we wandered through the city's gardens, Athnia explained her perspective on the country's current political and economic circumstances and pointed out where and when large student demonstrations had occurred. Just before sunset, we spent about an hour exploring the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_acropolis">Acropolis</a> and then soaked in the last rays of light on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagus">Mars Hill</a>, where the Apostle Paul is rumoured to have delivered the Areopagus sermon. We ended our evening in the historical neighbourhood of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaka">Plaka</a> before finishing the tour and parting ways.</div>
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<i>The verdict... </i><br />
<i>I can honestly not imagine a way I would have rather experienced the city.</i><br />
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This is the first time I can remember ever actually enjoying a tour... and it's probably because it didn't really feel like a tour at all. In essence, there was no specific itinerary, <i>which I loved</i>, and I felt as though I gained an insider's perspective of the city rather than a rehearsed or standardized tourist speech. I hope more companies like <a href="http://athensinsiders.com/">Athens Insiders</a> start popping up in other European cities, as I would definitely use them again.</div>
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<i>And the Acropolis</i>... it was something I'm glad I experienced, although I think Mars Hill topped my list of Athens historical sites. To stand in a place where the Apostle Paul may have stood was awe-inspiring.</div>
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More than anything though, I mostly just enjoyed Athens for Athens. A quirky modern city set amidst an incredibly historic backdrop... both sides were lovely in their own way.</div>
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<i>{Me + Athnia}</i></div>
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<b><i>By the numbers:</i></b></div>
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<i>We <b>stayed</b> at <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/areos.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Hotel Areos</a> for around $85 per night</i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">We <b>ate </b>lots of gyros, souvlaki, moussaka & greek salads. An average meal was around 8€.</span></i></div>
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<i>We <b>toured </b>with <a href="http://athensinsiders.com/">Athens Insiders</a> {just Jurgen, myself & a guide} for 6 hours at 40</i><i>€ each.</i></div>
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<i>We <b>got around </b>using the metro. An all-day pass was 3</i><i>€.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{For more on our time in Athens see <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/09/athens-is-edgy-and-i-like-it.html">here</a>}</span></div>
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</script>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-76458238799556248752013-09-03T13:30:00.000+02:002013-09-03T21:15:44.619+02:00{Athens is Edgy... and I Like It}<div style="text-align: center;">
Remember <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2013/08/insta-greece-our-itinerary.html">my promise</a> for Greece recaps? Well, the time has <i>finally</i> arrived! There's just been so much else happening in my life these days {although I'm not complaining!} that Greece has been unintentionally put on the back burner. <i>Until now that is</i>. First up on our itinerary was <i>Athens</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfx6B9SDv5fplvZ6oWZta9vSWKywUah28_jtJpeuWGotxMSzDUdoq2ZfZJXenicEE_2wx0AInKhmeTwP6J4G2Zt2sj6z_gmp2kXYUxzkrenFGgOI2humBVpz0-4boQAvlrv4zR4uhneg/s1600/Me+++Jurg+++Athens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfx6B9SDv5fplvZ6oWZta9vSWKywUah28_jtJpeuWGotxMSzDUdoq2ZfZJXenicEE_2wx0AInKhmeTwP6J4G2Zt2sj6z_gmp2kXYUxzkrenFGgOI2humBVpz0-4boQAvlrv4zR4uhneg/s640/Me+++Jurg+++Athens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I hinted previously, prior to our visit, Greece had never been high on my list of travel destinations. Probably because something about it just screams crowds, tourists and commercialism. But, as you'll soon realize, after our visit each and every one of my preconceived notions dissipated and the country now easily ranks as one of my top travel experiences. We <i>loved </i>it there. <i>Athens included</i>. </div>
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I went to Athens not really knowing what expect... aside from the fact that a lot of people seem to profess strong feelings of hatred towards it. I've read blog post after blog post detailing how dirty and unfriendly the city is and received many recommendations from friends to avoid it all together. Not being a huge history or architecture buff, I also wasn't aching to see the Acropolis, although I knew it was something I would need to tick off my list. It was from this point of reference that I touched down in Greece's capital.</div>
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As soon as I jumped on the metro, I could immediately understand why Athens often fails to meet visitors' expectations. The city is indeed quite dirty, there is no shortage of graffiti and there are stray dogs and cats everywhere. If you land in Athens expecting to walk into a historical oasis filled with ancient ruins as far as the eye can see... you will be sorely disappointed. That is simply not what Athens is anymore. </div>
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That being said, there are plenty of ancient Greek and Roman ruins scattered throughout a modern European city that now happens to be filled with a disgruntled youth who have taken a liking to graffiti. I must admit that I was quite enchanted by all of the historical ruins juxtaposed against the current political and economic landscape. From this perspective, I found Athens to be a vibrant place filled with lively restaurants, trendy coffee shops and an edgy atmosphere. It's a living city, in every sense of the word. One can easily follow the timeline from old to new and if you visit with this mindset, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.</div>
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If you've never been to Athens... or have been and hated it, I urge you to give it another chance. While it was certainly not what I expected, I found the unexpected refreshing and when you really look for it, there truly is beauty to be found everywhere. I could easily spend a year or two living in this complicated and often misunderstood city and Jurgen agreed that he could too. Put simply, Athens left us wanting more.</div>
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Later this week, I'll be sharing photos from the Acropolis and the more historical side of Athens. I'll also be delving into the details of where we stayed, what we ate and how we got around. <i>Stay tuned!</i></div>
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<i>I'm curious to know...</i><br />
<i>What are your thoughts on Athens? Love it or hate it?</i><br />
<i>If you haven't been, would you want to visit in future?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">{Linking up with <a href="http://www.bonnieroseblog.co.uk/2013/09/travel-tuesday-railway-in-wales.html">Travel Tuesdays</a>}</span><br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-13578655910151934852013-08-29T13:30:00.000+02:002018-01-02T19:50:31.739+02:00How to Plan a Round the World {RTW} Trip!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Words cannot adequately describe how over-the-moon excited I was when <a href="http://www.lets-be-adventurers.com/p/about.html">Rachael</a> of <a href="http://www.lets-be-adventurers.com/">Let's Be Adventurers</a> agreed to guest post on how she and her fiancé went about planning their Round the World {RTW} trip! For years I've dreamt of spending months exploring the globe with no set itinerary, choosing to spend a few weeks on the beaches of Goa then hopping over to Indonesia and finally spontaneously deciding to jump on a plane to Tokyo. As RTW travel has grown in popularity, I've often wondered how people save up for such a long-term trip. Which is precisely why I contacted Rachael as soon as I found out about her plans for a six-month South-East Asian adventure. I hope you'll find her story as helpful and inspiring as I did!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixh8TCbTHy2L0xoUk4HW31B3f-ZwsaWUyCT0PlrMc_kd2RB1vJuC2_g4Q8N7qYMcx9JKr5JjmMasN_zxRxIn_xnB4NTI0vleq9nC5DM1DYDPh_Sxup5g6_FyCZXJgERULqaU23xZLzVx72/s1600/car-1845573_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="How to plan and save for a round the world (RTW) trip." border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixh8TCbTHy2L0xoUk4HW31B3f-ZwsaWUyCT0PlrMc_kd2RB1vJuC2_g4Q8N7qYMcx9JKr5JjmMasN_zxRxIn_xnB4NTI0vleq9nC5DM1DYDPh_Sxup5g6_FyCZXJgERULqaU23xZLzVx72/s640/car-1845573_1920.jpg" title="Practical tips for planning a round the world (RTW) trip." width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I still remember the day when the idea of an <i>around the world trip</i> entered my mind. It was a few years ago, while I was studying for an exam my first year in college, and I somehow came across this dancing video from <a href="http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/videos">WheretheHellisMatt.com</a>. This <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WmMcqp670s&list=TLUcuX9A3sHLM">short video</a> of a guy dancing around the world completely opened my eyes and sparked my curiosity. The more I read, I discovered that Matt would go on trips for several months at a time. How could he do this? How could he afford this? Over the years, my dream of going on a trip like Matt grew bigger and bigger. I had never known anyone who did this type of trip before-<i>hadn't even heard of such a thing!</i>-and I didn't know how Matt made it work...but what I did know is that it sounded like a great adventure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nowaways, the world is filled with round the world (RTW) travelers, people who jetset off for gap years, career breaks or vow to <a href="http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/">travel forever</a>--and actually make it work! Like me, people are realizing just how <i>possible</i> it is to plan an amazing journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the last 3 years, Christian and I finally set our goal to make this dream a reality and are elated to say that we leave for our <a href="http://www.lets-be-adventurers.com/2013/08/more-big-news.html">6 month backpacking trip around Asia</a><i> </i>in just a couple months!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So how did we save? No trust funds, no money trees, no hidden piles of cash...we did it the good old-fashioned way--<i>budget and save</i>! But we were still able to enjoy trips and outings along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I'm here to share a few of our savings secrets. In addition to the obvious, such as cutting spending, cooking at home, etc., these tips and tricks made a huge difference in saving and planning for our trip:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <b>Pay yourself first!</b> See any RTW trip blog and you will almost always see this mentioned first. Once your paycheck arrives, put money aside before you can even think of spending it elsewhere. Even better, online banking means sometimes it's possible to arrange automatic transfers to your savings account on a specified date. We followed this rule strictly in our 3 years of saving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <b>Set savings goals</b> (and round up when needed). First thing you should do after deciding to plan your trip is to set your goal and calculate how much is needed to save each month. Each month after we saved and were within $300 to the next whole number then we almost always ponied up the extra cash so we could reach it. For example, if we already set aside savings in a given month and had a total of $7800 in our account, we would each add $100 extra so we could hit the $8000 mark. Setting small milestones like these forced us to save a bit extra. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <b>Join airline mileage programs. </b>This has been my saving grace for years. The world's biggest airline alliances (United's Star Alliance and American Airline's One World Alliance) include partner airlines in almost every country. So flying anywhere means you can accumulate miles. Link your credit card with your mileage program and you're now open to a world of bonus miles, double miles and, the ultimate goal, booking flights with airmiles. We've accumulated enough airmiles to pay for 3-4 flights for the both of us (one transatlantic leg and 2-3 domestic airlines in China and Japan). This is saving us about $2000 on flights!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. <b>Preplan trips</b> - even though we started saving for this trip 3 years ago, we still had the travel bug. Putting off all travel until our big trip was out of the question and we still wanted to enjoy traveling around Europe from our homebase in Amsterdam. However, we knew we had to keep trip costs to a minimum in order to meet our savings goal by the end of the year. So we made it a priority to book trips early. For example, we traveled to Lisbon and Croatia last summer and booked our plane tickets 7 months in advance. Result? 200 EUR for 6 flights! This year, we traveled to the {very expensive but} breathtakingly beautiful island of Iceland. We booked our plane tickets and car rental nearly <i>9 months</i> in advance. But saved hundreds of dollars had we waited a few months longer. Also because it was so far in advance, two friends of ours hopped onboard for Iceland and we split costs. So, if you've got your destination chosen--BOOK!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">{Iceland}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDPrpGoewlXFiPiB1P7N2XmOGtkZuuj758mrMEa8SMrcUYxAUgXfqyuZgLRJe1851GmDWWGLcob030p5Dg3cnsflNlWvvsFwdVpFJTVGGXU8EyFDeWvVVnLhTO-BlNCs24tSXHy_wj8M/s1600/Iceland-4017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDPrpGoewlXFiPiB1P7N2XmOGtkZuuj758mrMEa8SMrcUYxAUgXfqyuZgLRJe1851GmDWWGLcob030p5Dg3cnsflNlWvvsFwdVpFJTVGGXU8EyFDeWvVVnLhTO-BlNCs24tSXHy_wj8M/s640/Iceland-4017.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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5. <b>Minimize spending at restaurants and go to free events</b>--get takeaway and eat at home instead of dining out. Also, when planning nights out with friends, head to free festivals, outdoor movies or lounge in the park. Food and alcohol really adds up. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQo01_UYittrEVbE8Nq_uc2l423_jCBpi7if0z1nAYzpTGe2cNCHM-9sq3-ipErW4lRlgkRbgt4pg2LSLL0DncIVkONlpelv3m0G9HGvIwRl8YIctAsw24AxiO7OmO-SVefk31Xp3P6I/s1600/untitled-8408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQo01_UYittrEVbE8Nq_uc2l423_jCBpi7if0z1nAYzpTGe2cNCHM-9sq3-ipErW4lRlgkRbgt4pg2LSLL0DncIVkONlpelv3m0G9HGvIwRl8YIctAsw24AxiO7OmO-SVefk31Xp3P6I/s640/untitled-8408.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">{Cheap hot dog lunch in Iceland}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk5ZDoCcorKMRX6EfrKl00V_kOkFNO9c8z7npt33RAEIKtUgBonXCXYtSYYshHULH3YWEiSZdlW_ycTuas8BvV0-MWkJeKJV1Nx1IF-qxcVfSQIksesHRz5Z2Pd0PlGOoyCI2xr6gF8M/s1600/Iceland-2885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk5ZDoCcorKMRX6EfrKl00V_kOkFNO9c8z7npt33RAEIKtUgBonXCXYtSYYshHULH3YWEiSZdlW_ycTuas8BvV0-MWkJeKJV1Nx1IF-qxcVfSQIksesHRz5Z2Pd0PlGOoyCI2xr6gF8M/s640/Iceland-2885.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">{Check for events in your neighborhood, like free outdoor movie nights}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEhXNTYb-_LalPLlhTMcbT2PdIJ77a6OtdIUqqAsta6NCb1e0AWl52nq_I889f8Ca3IstcCZ3vEJVAj1W5_GJ8pHgQcEUy3_iBd_nlgjKol3bXqqhDFOBHmb7L6Hbux6ZwFyWt-jDSOw/s1600/IMG_4744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEhXNTYb-_LalPLlhTMcbT2PdIJ77a6OtdIUqqAsta6NCb1e0AWl52nq_I889f8Ca3IstcCZ3vEJVAj1W5_GJ8pHgQcEUy3_iBd_nlgjKol3bXqqhDFOBHmb7L6Hbux6ZwFyWt-jDSOw/s640/IMG_4744.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJurYAWv7T9HrZjSrWyJvvDpjicN9DHyKRYYNelzsCiCLgC1nPPKsdlQHWrY4pa19RgUqrbwdK-2cVncp04T5RuDmGYm5cI237wu9KVd6EixfQM39hL3i3PjxG6F_A7K2RI5jiFC1kbM/s1600/_MG_2091a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJurYAWv7T9HrZjSrWyJvvDpjicN9DHyKRYYNelzsCiCLgC1nPPKsdlQHWrY4pa19RgUqrbwdK-2cVncp04T5RuDmGYm5cI237wu9KVd6EixfQM39hL3i3PjxG6F_A7K2RI5jiFC1kbM/s640/_MG_2091a.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">{Have date nights or hang out with friends in The Great <i>and free </i>Outdoors}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb4UyGAsOPjul2s0ujEFyMy16cqKwOXlvJBZw70Eflxh-gIJgGAbHqFUdLWxp7WETj-tn3h9DOQI5e5SUNIqVNr_2H23i2kh3ZEACwlGXQ9PXd4ZVQqSg1x2gnDaEdRYYGt5N_xTS9p8/s1600/untitled-8476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb4UyGAsOPjul2s0ujEFyMy16cqKwOXlvJBZw70Eflxh-gIJgGAbHqFUdLWxp7WETj-tn3h9DOQI5e5SUNIqVNr_2H23i2kh3ZEACwlGXQ9PXd4ZVQqSg1x2gnDaEdRYYGt5N_xTS9p8/s640/untitled-8476.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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6. <b>Get insurance which covers the cost of vaccinations. </b>Upgrading your insurance could mean that suddenly you're covered for vaccinations you might need. When these babies are $100-150 <i>per shot</i>, it might be worth giving your insurance company quick call and atleast ask about it. We saved $650 by paying a bit more in insurance each month to cover my vaccinations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. <b>Sell stuff you don't need. </b>This one is easy. How much stuff do you <i>really</i> need? Or think of it this way, is *this* so important to carry on my back for 6 months? Or to put in storage for 6 months? If both are no, head over to eBay or Craigslist and get rid of it. We sold furniture and even small things, like a beer crate, on eBay. Now we are $400 richer...straight into our RTW account :).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. <b>Ride a bike. </b>I am biased here. We live in quite possibly the most bike friendly place in the world: Amsterdam. But even small changes, like biking to the supermarket in your home town, will keep you from wasting gas to drive down the street. I saved over $400 each summer by riding my bike to and from work instead of paying for public transportation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ_L3NS17-H2H4zmfFyqWS0skKICYyt5X3caIaEzF9k8vsDtQB8hffaCdjJRzVF2Cg2cvjGKhP9seIZeo66_aJVGpeX36-qJxJg3HrIGzKddZ74VcERWGsqKGGiiGOUGutJG3LWDCG8M/s1600/chef+smit-1864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ_L3NS17-H2H4zmfFyqWS0skKICYyt5X3caIaEzF9k8vsDtQB8hffaCdjJRzVF2Cg2cvjGKhP9seIZeo66_aJVGpeX36-qJxJg3HrIGzKddZ74VcERWGsqKGGiiGOUGutJG3LWDCG8M/s400/chef+smit-1864.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvpLKafyAGnjGtF9C_LCOcVaeyNJj-hs6Qcaq_td7-llIAalGqFxfT_VUgAE15KYNCM8JI6SvNjjZJLem5fnbYCywipHHBl3vwqrtMkTmemR2McIQOa6Iuc7T0fdIot2zHfdykd6-SGk/s1600/Edited-Julia-258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvpLKafyAGnjGtF9C_LCOcVaeyNJj-hs6Qcaq_td7-llIAalGqFxfT_VUgAE15KYNCM8JI6SvNjjZJLem5fnbYCywipHHBl3vwqrtMkTmemR2McIQOa6Iuc7T0fdIot2zHfdykd6-SGk/s400/Edited-Julia-258.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div>
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9. <b>Get a savings account</b> with a decent interest rate. Why not earn a few bucks on your savings? We opted for a safe investment and transferred our money into a certificate of deposit (also to stop us from withdrawing any money) and earned about $400 in interest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">10. Depending how long your trip is, <b>move out of your apartment</b> while you're gone and save on rent. Or if you own a place, see about posting it on <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/">Air BnB</a> if the situation allows for it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-LfKOucl32ANqYvzJtfRcM6XwQg6d7qToGt6VArW02TGX4uWa9o-nq5_hIpU07nEHwcs6Lu3ZWjyB28uDXr3QDdGly7HNF_1oJ1UllrhCXZ0wGS9jOFTzjNIas9XMVeFZKJElxznnzs/s1600/100_3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-LfKOucl32ANqYvzJtfRcM6XwQg6d7qToGt6VArW02TGX4uWa9o-nq5_hIpU07nEHwcs6Lu3ZWjyB28uDXr3QDdGly7HNF_1oJ1UllrhCXZ0wGS9jOFTzjNIas9XMVeFZKJElxznnzs/s640/100_3303.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last few tips to keep in mind while planning:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>*Choose cheap countries which align with your budget. </b>Southeast Asia is beautiful and affordable, no wonder it's a backpacker favorite. We knew we wanted to spend the winter on the beach, see many different cultures and stretch our money as far as we could--as a result, we chose Southeast Asia and 6 months became the magic number! <a href="http://www.lets-be-adventurers.com/search/label/costa%20rica">Central America</a> is also backpacker-friendly and easy on the wallet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGZ6zzV8AGGyMg82A2qtrN__TzKimxSj8AqKAJc1UY8ezqJZYhZFU-HdktO8ZSPIKYfq4Dsk1mLekhJXJHtFbsDVUp9Av8QYtpiyHIPmQnxLaOK-Zcfni3iA8VRxRqTbdIj-DkX6a5r0/s1600/IMG_4366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGZ6zzV8AGGyMg82A2qtrN__TzKimxSj8AqKAJc1UY8ezqJZYhZFU-HdktO8ZSPIKYfq4Dsk1mLekhJXJHtFbsDVUp9Av8QYtpiyHIPmQnxLaOK-Zcfni3iA8VRxRqTbdIj-DkX6a5r0/s640/IMG_4366.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b>*Use night trains and overnight flights to save on accommodation</b>. We've saved on booking rooms by taking night trains to Poland, Germany and in Northern Finland. And we definitely plan on taking night trains in Thailand and Malaysia, too! Why pay for a night in a hostel if you don't need to? The night train to Poland included breakfast, too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">{Night train to Poland}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKjEKvKziHQqg3IE_g4oAFxy5Z5EHwuN27GtMCpyVUTpHZBivdVp1n_HdqZl4F8ld9QML16zwMvxRRcGTIfF-itBUhYkfrAyqaHS2j44FyMTAPbFYO9Okkacnhskd2c9Il9U3S5LomWs/s1600/IMG_6313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKjEKvKziHQqg3IE_g4oAFxy5Z5EHwuN27GtMCpyVUTpHZBivdVp1n_HdqZl4F8ld9QML16zwMvxRRcGTIfF-itBUhYkfrAyqaHS2j44FyMTAPbFYO9Okkacnhskd2c9Il9U3S5LomWs/s400/IMG_6313.JPG" width="298" /></span></a></div>
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A big thanks to <a href="http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/">Matt Harding</a> for showing me just how possible a big trip is. And an even bigger thanks to Jenna. Thanks for having me and I cannot wait until we can meet up one day :).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow us on our journey around Asia at <a href="http://www.lets-be-adventurers.com/">Let's Be Adventurers </a>or on <a href="http://instagram.com/rachy_van_amsterdam/">Instagram</a>!</span><br />
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<i>Thank you so much for posting Rachael! </i><br />
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<i>You actually make RTW travel sound feasible. At the end of the year I'll definitely be opening a RTW savings account. And I can't wait to meet up either... Johannesburg is calling your name ;)</i><br />
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<i>Follow along on her adventures <a href="http://www.lets-be-adventurers.com/">here</a>.</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pin this post for later...</span></i><br />
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</script>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-38140323597741077162013-08-27T13:30:00.000+02:002016-09-04T18:26:57.648+02:00{Pilanesberg Private Lodge}<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last weekend, Jurg and I decided to head out of the city and spend some time exploring </span><a href="http://www.pilanesberg-game-reserve.co.za/">Pilanesberg Game Reserve</a>. Although we've visited the nearby <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2012/06/weekend-in-sun-city.html">Sun City</a> before, somehow we'd never actually set aside a morning to enter the reserve itself and both agreed that it was about time we changed that. Just two hours outside of Jo'burg, it makes for the perfect weekend getaway. This trip was also in celebration of <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-engagement-how-it-happened.html">our engagement</a> anniversary {<i>can you believe it's already been a year!?</i>} and Jurg surprised me by suggesting that we treat ourselves to a stay at <a href="http://www.pilanesbergprivatelodge.com/">Pilanesberg Private Lodge</a>. </div>
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<i>Of course, I thought that sounded like the best idea ever.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.pilanesbergprivatelodge.com/">Pilanesberg Private Lodge</a> is actually located within the <a href="http://pilanesberggamereserve.com/south-africa-maps/map-of-black-rhino-game-reserve.html">Black Rhino Reserve</a>, which borders the northern side of the park. Both reserves are known for being home to the Big 5 {lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and cape buffalo} and I was eager to see how many we would be able to tick off our list during our stay. Almost as a good omen, a mere five minutes after entering the reserve we came across a herd of elephants. <i>The safari Gods were looking after us. </i>My excitement grew tenfold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As soon as we arrived at the lodge, we were shown to our room {complete with an outdoor shower!} and then spent the next hour or so exploring the property and marvelling at the view of the waterhole from our porch. <i>Jurg definitely made a good choice. </i> That night over dinner, as we sat next to the fire and reminisced about all that had happened over the past year, I couldn't help feeling so grateful that we live in such a beautiful country. Just two hours away from bustling Johannesburg, yet here we were enjoying an evening in the bush underneath a crystal clear, pollution-free sky. That night we were spoiled with a three-course meal {a tomato soup starter, chicken a la king main, and a candied pear dessert} as well as a nice bottle of wine. </span></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77rsqWwJapaByZjtRAd-D2joPJ2LXjf23CeG_br4UkHtW9Ki7UPId0kZH1_67Wv4Bs_mvPPmWETgMmL8G2Q4xzrRMrTgA_ZeZj9sQpzv_yUKCyq2qR_E6YgwrOMaFtYCKwOrDVaWcBN1S/s1600/Main+Lodge+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77rsqWwJapaByZjtRAd-D2joPJ2LXjf23CeG_br4UkHtW9Ki7UPId0kZH1_67Wv4Bs_mvPPmWETgMmL8G2Q4xzrRMrTgA_ZeZj9sQpzv_yUKCyq2qR_E6YgwrOMaFtYCKwOrDVaWcBN1S/s640/Main+Lodge+Edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAIeaIKi4EAoC1t9dFe-eKaeZ3hZeYn_giXVtRpfsoEqJb0qkbQTilLJrEIU2SDtPR8udMg23y42B7V8jB6W25UUbVXjL1_un2i7uPp_MYHJ3xgj94NAzM7SB2X1pySa2th31dozqSM4/s1600/Signs+to+Rooms+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAIeaIKi4EAoC1t9dFe-eKaeZ3hZeYn_giXVtRpfsoEqJb0qkbQTilLJrEIU2SDtPR8udMg23y42B7V8jB6W25UUbVXjL1_un2i7uPp_MYHJ3xgj94NAzM7SB2X1pySa2th31dozqSM4/s640/Signs+to+Rooms+Edited.jpg" title="Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LHrrB3yhYtiQPBDUgNysaFOp5PvBmm7AiDQa0nGtJB1M30gSUM3FoDU_gg4BSJazEBwbxll-0gNsgHHaEML8rKYKBE-uwPsBW4GIWmeW8GcPMCXhI20-o4FMOBzdJXVf6IpY5GbOz4w/s1600/Room+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Room at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LHrrB3yhYtiQPBDUgNysaFOp5PvBmm7AiDQa0nGtJB1M30gSUM3FoDU_gg4BSJazEBwbxll-0gNsgHHaEML8rKYKBE-uwPsBW4GIWmeW8GcPMCXhI20-o4FMOBzdJXVf6IpY5GbOz4w/s640/Room+edited.jpg" title="Room at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HKGo2aC309OsoEdjNe6asoiplif5ul6V1lUrJvneL9hM-vorDfkcIHCP8IhKlIJkooBJ68AVmN-n_R8lNNNztoKOREmBKsob6iT52syz0e7c_ifg962FMXmNzRXLksSWMZM8G_O57dw/s1600/Bathroom+II+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Bathroom at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HKGo2aC309OsoEdjNe6asoiplif5ul6V1lUrJvneL9hM-vorDfkcIHCP8IhKlIJkooBJ68AVmN-n_R8lNNNztoKOREmBKsob6iT52syz0e7c_ifg962FMXmNzRXLksSWMZM8G_O57dw/s640/Bathroom+II+Edited.jpg" title="Bathroom at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh3ikMVlXBVQj4ws90C1zKJX5RxsrATCC3M5oh1xHNEXwiT9ypTpA9QVg1S-p3RW1RGYXgjCbfn68ck6pL9RP1_StHKPIri8-guDFEvIrdyhWCcc8er8eJIhPypI3O4pGzBnA1xRCm-E/s1600/Pool+Area+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Pool area at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh3ikMVlXBVQj4ws90C1zKJX5RxsrATCC3M5oh1xHNEXwiT9ypTpA9QVg1S-p3RW1RGYXgjCbfn68ck6pL9RP1_StHKPIri8-guDFEvIrdyhWCcc8er8eJIhPypI3O4pGzBnA1xRCm-E/s640/Pool+Area+Edited.jpg" title="Pool area at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErsXZcIZCMrh_L_Q83qIfi3WMyUyijEot7SABslAK-QlP6J1zixqjifuUDISwTSyypPi8dfJ0KXOGUn1HgiHzleUFulniiQFm08-mMzyCpcv9gEsj48_S6phTQFoWRZniDQ44Dc2W3P4/s1600/Breakfast+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Beautiful breakfast at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErsXZcIZCMrh_L_Q83qIfi3WMyUyijEot7SABslAK-QlP6J1zixqjifuUDISwTSyypPi8dfJ0KXOGUn1HgiHzleUFulniiQFm08-mMzyCpcv9gEsj48_S6phTQFoWRZniDQ44Dc2W3P4/s640/Breakfast+Edited.jpg" title="Beautiful breakfast at Pilanesberg Private Lodge, South Africa" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xMaLuygBeZHaXr52aCrENGAmdC9bmztTY5FvW9vTSeCD2T8k7hMik6dYmrwGzo77giwrNGwriS3RRarL26st-9i43p-sVkB0U21Fry52jEABkg4wE_3a3N6PPRup-xrtyZd9h5nI_xI/s1600/Little+Touches+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xMaLuygBeZHaXr52aCrENGAmdC9bmztTY5FvW9vTSeCD2T8k7hMik6dYmrwGzo77giwrNGwriS3RRarL26st-9i43p-sVkB0U21Fry52jEABkg4wE_3a3N6PPRup-xrtyZd9h5nI_xI/s640/Little+Touches+Edited.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That afternoon, Jacomé had already treated us to a private game drive. Having previously seen such a large herd of elephants, for us, anything more would have been a bonus. <i>The cherry on top of an already wonderful experience</i>. After packing our drinks for a mid-drive sundowner, Jacomé decided to head out in search of the elephant herd again. On our way we passed dozens of antelope and even a few warthogs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quickly catching up with the herd, we spent at least thirty minutes soaking in their presence and snapping photos of them. We were so close that we could hear them trumpeting and grunting amongst themselves, cracking twigs and branches with every step they took. There were several babies in the group and Jacomé took his time estimating how old they were, placing the youngest at about six months. It's such a pity that these incredibly majestic animals are currently well on their way to extinction, for the simple reason that there's a thriving market for their tusks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the herd started to disperse, we took off in the opposite direction in search of the remaining four of the Big 5. It wasn't long before we happened across a pride of lions, four adolescent males who had decided to take a sunset stroll. Jurgen and I were absolutely wide-eyed; lion sightings are far from guaranteed when on safari. <i>Especially within the proximity that we were</i>. Often times you will be able to vaguely make out a tail or tuft of hair in the distance, but this time they were in plain sight, right in the middle of the road. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We spent another thirty minutes or so trailing behind them in the vehicle and laughing at one lion in particular, who kept lying down for a rest and then lagging behind the others.</span></div>
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I always say that one of the things I love most about living in Jo'burg is its centrality in terms the surrounding area. Jo'burg offers the perfect composition of the prototypical city life, but when one feels the need for some wide open spaces, there are lakes and game reserves within an hour or two's drive. In a sense, we really do have the best of both worlds.<br />
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<b><i>By the numbers:</i></b></div>
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<i><b>Rates: </b>R2,000 {$195} per person per night</i></div>
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<i><b>Breakfast: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><b>Dinner: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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<i><b>Game drives: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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For more information, you can visit the Pilanesberg Private Lodge website <a href="http://www.pilanesbergprivatelodge.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{Linking up with <a href="http://www.bonnieroseblog.co.uk/2013/08/b-dolgellau-wales.html">Travel Tuesdays</a>}</span><br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-54332942462038303012013-08-20T15:41:00.002+02:002018-02-27T17:38:13.217+02:00Namibia: Why You Should Visit Swakopmund<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>As many of you know, </i></div>
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<i>Jurg and I toured through <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/2012/11/holiday-travel-plans.html">Namibia</a> for a month during this past December and January.</i></div>
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<i>If you're new around these parts, you can catch up <a href="http://jennafinch.blogspot.com/search/label/Namibia">here</a>.</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k8sTpzhwprYXd6xl1DsezA49PSr5ndD1TGoUayH8iDBPwH0jhjQ2-eKIyHQOjFw6VVGUZ6pg148N1kR3zCueidC2LIdj7uMevATNi4MktkZDLbQ15U-e48pYe1mga8IYogQUZLlV-zgw/s1600/Swakop+Lighthouse+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Tips for exploring Swakopmund, Namibia" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k8sTpzhwprYXd6xl1DsezA49PSr5ndD1TGoUayH8iDBPwH0jhjQ2-eKIyHQOjFw6VVGUZ6pg148N1kR3zCueidC2LIdj7uMevATNi4MktkZDLbQ15U-e48pYe1mga8IYogQUZLlV-zgw/s640/Swakop+Lighthouse+Edited.jpg" title="Things to do in Swakopmund, Namibia" width="426" /></a></i></div>
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Over the years, the coastal German town of <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Swakopmund">Swakopmund</a> has remained the single constant across our Namibian travel itineraries. Having been to the country four times now myself, it's sort of warped into <i>our</i> place... our Namibian home away from home if you will. We've slowly gotten to know the town to the extent that we've developed our own favorite restaurants, cafes and bars that we tend to go back to over and over again. We also always make sure to see a movie at the tiny cinema and spend a couple hours browsing through the little aquarium situated right off the beach. It's not the type of place where you want to have a set schedule, just wake up each morning and let the day decide how it wants to unfold.<br />
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A previous German colony, Swakop has perfectly retained what it means to be German. German continues to be widely spoken by its residents and there are German restaurants, cafes and ice-cream parlors on every corner. If you appreciate pretzels, schnitzels, sauerkraut, <a href="http://instagram.com/p/UMIaJ9JTU7/">brotchens</a> and beer, then you've officially found your foodie heaven. When the quaint German architecture, crowded coffee shops and cozy bookshops are also considered, it's no wonder that Swakop has become the official holiday destination of the Namibians.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYICFj-vibaETytecULjso5m5Z99cT84UxBw-2VJQgOJ8y6rItKnBNRYqLQmKe-OXTQddTm3UqUn3wlmCBclktdkGhWLxeXRy72TYVqh0gVoC-yF2ixEuMHr9Oy78cnRzzyoSxpBN8k1k/s1600/B%2526B+in+Swakop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYICFj-vibaETytecULjso5m5Z99cT84UxBw-2VJQgOJ8y6rItKnBNRYqLQmKe-OXTQddTm3UqUn3wlmCBclktdkGhWLxeXRy72TYVqh0gVoC-yF2ixEuMHr9Oy78cnRzzyoSxpBN8k1k/s640/B%2526B+in+Swakop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwMuL5SHatOAEn7cIbNDSGkVUfyP88hSQl6a20-ugnANhstTNF4OCfCOKBflIlXSMlx1KpOJorMimGZUqDOhzPJ8l6POE76cl2DkFyn5-HtUVAOx8nExK4t2jsYK71xMGVzOLXB6rdcU/s1600/Room+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Room at Sandfields Guesthouse, Swakopmund Accommodation" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwMuL5SHatOAEn7cIbNDSGkVUfyP88hSQl6a20-ugnANhstTNF4OCfCOKBflIlXSMlx1KpOJorMimGZUqDOhzPJ8l6POE76cl2DkFyn5-HtUVAOx8nExK4t2jsYK71xMGVzOLXB6rdcU/s640/Room+Edited.jpg" title="Room at Sandfields Guesthouse, Swakopmund Accommodation" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_UphGq9K4l9Al9ylslLDGlgSVKt0nAM-u73XGO-06hdBA0Fkqw5G2_h0U3TkjoRAMbHepn5BBSdvIpwrfVjjNpThlZ7dXqGd3StNhtH9avfn43OOd4R3Yfz62fUNT4aFKjcw0tm2VPQ/s1600/Outside+Edited+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sandfields Guesthouse, Swakopmund Accommodation" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_UphGq9K4l9Al9ylslLDGlgSVKt0nAM-u73XGO-06hdBA0Fkqw5G2_h0U3TkjoRAMbHepn5BBSdvIpwrfVjjNpThlZ7dXqGd3StNhtH9avfn43OOd4R3Yfz62fUNT4aFKjcw0tm2VPQ/s640/Outside+Edited+.jpg" title="Sandfields Guesthouse, Swakopmund Accommodation" width="640" /></a></div>
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While Jurg and I usually look for self-catering options while traveling, in Swakop the variety and quality of the restaurants is just too tempting to ever want to cook for ourselves. For this reason, we always choose to stay in B&B's. The only trick is to find one that is centrally-located, as you want to be within walking distance of both the beach and the city. Having had bad luck with this on past trips, this time I elicited the help of <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298357-d1749572-Reviews-Sandfields_Guesthouse-Swakopmund_Erongo_Region.html">Trip Advisor</a> and immediately came across <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/na/sandfields-guesthouse.html?aid=860055" target="_blank">Sandfields Guesthouse</a>. The B&B had rave reviews and claimed to be only a couple of blocks away from the ocean {something I could never seem to find previously}. After a few email exchanges with Jean {the owner}, we confirmed our booking.<br />
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During our stay, we loved that we were able to actually go on morning jogs next to the beach without having to get in our car and physically drive several miles first, <i>which is exactly what we've been looking for</i>. Although Sandfields is a B&B, I loved that our room had a private entrance so that we could easily come and go as we pleased without disturbing anyone. We also loved that board games were readily available for use by guests, and Jurg and I found ourselves spending most of our evenings playing cards next to our fireplace. Jean really goes out of her way to include small touches that you wouldn't typically find in other B&B's... <i>and I'm not being compensated for saying this.</i><br />
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But before I end my rant on the loveliness that is Sandfields, I need to also spend a moment gushing about their breakfasts. Each morning you order off a menu and then the most visually appealing <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ULSvjKpTUO/">plate of food</a> is set right in front of you... <i>eggs, bacon, mushrooms, fruit, yoghurt... you name it</i>. Since it's included in their rate, Jurg and I took full advantage of this every morning. I think it's safe to say that we've finally found <i>our place </i>in Swakop. <i>Jean, we'll be back</i>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3_n276kN0XAuEDTmWib5a96okCM0JjDxgwyz5JuUSK10TB4rT07m-EGOzPxWNiWqCwMC7xVop7qzq34w0g3-Z2uDhvY78yCvlRrp4W1GLmZGNA_U-H9fMpfUPvqMSfUCiFEfASCsNc8/s1600/Swakop+Town+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Swakopmund, Namibia" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3_n276kN0XAuEDTmWib5a96okCM0JjDxgwyz5JuUSK10TB4rT07m-EGOzPxWNiWqCwMC7xVop7qzq34w0g3-Z2uDhvY78yCvlRrp4W1GLmZGNA_U-H9fMpfUPvqMSfUCiFEfASCsNc8/s640/Swakop+Town+Edited.jpg" title="Swakopmund, Namibia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30kY8Y1TSUGVWCzUZHe9NoYA8aG1vuxdK09qTR9tU_2DqGfIq_0d2mwIve3stHNK2NapRROPL20RiUp6j5nx6TcfnPbcoDgO5PNySf7hrEN6fbNaza6mfYSswCa5YGvlTF6PxXNy_PwE/s1600/Brotchens+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brotchen at Cafe Treff Punkt" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30kY8Y1TSUGVWCzUZHe9NoYA8aG1vuxdK09qTR9tU_2DqGfIq_0d2mwIve3stHNK2NapRROPL20RiUp6j5nx6TcfnPbcoDgO5PNySf7hrEN6fbNaza6mfYSswCa5YGvlTF6PxXNy_PwE/s640/Brotchens+Edited.jpg" title="Brotchen at Cafe Treff Punkt" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIfSrzBTBjz_i6FJsK35YGqU4f5ozm6V-pq4MAz759OVXa6YJd2JVsmrqjCAJV6ni-rmPY928MSoL2r2gm-GV4QlVkgyUw8b8OiKijPpRLBcLLkiEWm7Ayd6FzixOXZ4ga-qjQefEoag/s1600/Baragaining+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIfSrzBTBjz_i6FJsK35YGqU4f5ozm6V-pq4MAz759OVXa6YJd2JVsmrqjCAJV6ni-rmPY928MSoL2r2gm-GV4QlVkgyUw8b8OiKijPpRLBcLLkiEWm7Ayd6FzixOXZ4ga-qjQefEoag/s640/Baragaining+Edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkmLuDybTkVEniYqGDu8LJb5faRzPVV9M04CTM9a4AwN-N1aMdGVKQmu-cfz9JUW-Gd_Kn-uC6etZB3O983jXKMbmW9cirm95yjLDFg220QCVhUO77bV53k_nXwoJyAc-atWtRY9qSoU/s1600/Jen+Swakop+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkmLuDybTkVEniYqGDu8LJb5faRzPVV9M04CTM9a4AwN-N1aMdGVKQmu-cfz9JUW-Gd_Kn-uC6etZB3O983jXKMbmW9cirm95yjLDFg220QCVhUO77bV53k_nXwoJyAc-atWtRY9qSoU/s1600/Jen+Swakop+Edited.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUOxr7Mp4MeY9ra8vwtwrRh0HW-QMWBYgXHi6gS6s8Qw0uTUT0y1a0_de1AjnnHOJZl6AOFRtXWECyQQSQ0oSnBmQy5QruKgZcP_4y876jWVnJ8ZhINnYD3XxdFKuj42SkKWjrGuzvhM/s1600/Jurg+Pier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUOxr7Mp4MeY9ra8vwtwrRh0HW-QMWBYgXHi6gS6s8Qw0uTUT0y1a0_de1AjnnHOJZl6AOFRtXWECyQQSQ0oSnBmQy5QruKgZcP_4y876jWVnJ8ZhINnYD3XxdFKuj42SkKWjrGuzvhM/s1600/Jurg+Pier.jpg" /></a></div>
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Although Swakop in and of itself is enough to occupy an entire visit, the town is also a hub of activities. <i>Adventure sports, yacht tours, township walks... the whole gambit</i>. We normally try to tick one thing off our list each time we visit. So far we've done the <a href="http://www.pelican-tours.com/">dolphin and seal cruise</a>, <a href="http://www.swakop.com/adv/sandboarding.htm">sandboarding</a> and <a href="http://www.namibiadesertexplorers.com/index.htm">quad biking</a>. I'm still working on persuading Jurgen to go sky diving, but I'm not sure if I'll ever succeed at this one.<br />
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In terms of restaurants, our very favorite is <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298357-d2037657-Reviews-22_Degrees_South-Swakopmund_Erongo_Region.html">22 Degrees South</a> {it's located right at the base of the lighthouse}, and we also always make a point of having brötchens at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298357-d2510730-Reviews-Cafe_Treff_Punkt-Swakopmund_Erongo_Region.html">Cafe Treff Punkt</a>. <a href="http://www.schweizerhaus.net/cafe_anton.htm">Cafe Anton</a> is the place to be for afternoon cake and coffee, and <a href="http://www.swakopmundbrauhaus.com/">Brauhaus</a> is perfect for German beer, schnitzels and a lively atmosphere. <a href="http://www.jetty1905.com/">Jetty 1905</a> and <a href="http://www.the-tug.com/">The Tug Restaurant</a> are both nice if you want to eat right on the ocean. To be honest, it's difficult to go wrong when it comes to food in Swakop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRT-z5syZig7dgUa_YsEpQoWD8HGnu0oPkF3Yhs8vjrMYhKLvCItElBcc7XhyJjyxXPmT1a0hx1Myae3ERGXr-Ke1phiZXUBmRgpmbphruTnYh7kHn4evTgybrS6d1xvUn-dC2_BhsaU/s1600/Lighthouse+Swakop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lighthouse in Swakopmund, Namibia" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRT-z5syZig7dgUa_YsEpQoWD8HGnu0oPkF3Yhs8vjrMYhKLvCItElBcc7XhyJjyxXPmT1a0hx1Myae3ERGXr-Ke1phiZXUBmRgpmbphruTnYh7kHn4evTgybrS6d1xvUn-dC2_BhsaU/s640/Lighthouse+Swakop.jpg" title="Lighthouse in Swakopmund, Namibia" width="426" /></a></div>
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Swakop just has a way of drawing people in that is difficult to put into words. If you're ever fortunate enough to find yourself touring through Namibia, I urge you experience its charm for yourself!</div>
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<i><b>By the numbers:</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Rates: </b>R600 {$40} per person per night</i></div>
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<i><b>Breakfast: </b>Included in the above rate</i></div>
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For more information on Sandfields' see <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/na/sandfields-guesthouse.html?aid=860055">here</a>. </div>
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For more Swakopmund hotel and accommodation options, see below.</div>
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</script>Jenna Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00714823001231890752noreply@blogger.com1Swakopmund, Namibia-22.6467427 14.6004911-22.7639852 14.4391296 -22.5295002 14.7618526tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-33211815066718545512013-08-15T14:03:00.001+02:002013-08-15T16:57:29.542+02:00{Six Things}<div style="text-align: center;">
Although I normally shy away from these types of posts, when <a href="http://lostintravelsblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/six-things-you-should-know-about-me.html">Chelsea</a>, <a href="http://www.treasuretromp.com/2013/08/6-things/">Nicole</a> <i>and</i> <a href="http://www.wetooktheroadlesstraveled.com/2013/08/six-things.html">Casey</a> tagged me to participate, I couldn't resist the temptation to join in the fun! Plus, with a few new faces around here lately, I thought some of you might be curious to know a bit more about the girl behind the blog. </div>
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So here we go... <i>six things that you should know about me</i>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWeAjl1_cS7qborEKsrMo1WpA9Jreh1KunrAEjnUzqFP37Eksm9PrxqITd_qz9QS3W2Hf40KFkhnKryTHSRXgxCMFtSLA4onQzXtEITa2Nx5iVU1ds6AyXkEmIXPWOxqjcMsuxuUi5Kc/s1600/Lion+Cub+at+Harties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWeAjl1_cS7qborEKsrMo1WpA9Jreh1KunrAEjnUzqFP37Eksm9PrxqITd_qz9QS3W2Hf40KFkhnKryTHSRXgxCMFtSLA4onQzXtEITa2Nx5iVU1ds6AyXkEmIXPWOxqjcMsuxuUi5Kc/s640/Lion+Cub+at+Harties.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b><i>1. What is your favorite thing about where you live.</i></b></div>
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I love the walking contradiction that is Jo'burg. I love that one moment you can be in the poshest restaurant in Sandton and then in quirky, artsy Melville the next. I love its artsiness, its edginess and its all around something-for-everyone'ness. If you live here, you're really in the middle of it all. Jo'burg is quite possibly one of the greatest examples of a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-racial society in the world, and I love that we're all so different, yet find a way to get along. Jo'burg gets a bad rap, but I truly think it's one of the best cities for an expat and have learned so much while living here.</div>
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<b><i>2. If you could hop on a plane right now, where would you go and why?</i></b></div>
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<i>Definitely to Nepal. </i> Trekking through the country has been at the top of my list for several years now and I've been known to spend hours at a time on the internet researching trekking routes, costs and dates. Jurgen is so tired of the idea being crammed down his throat, that every time he even hears the word <i>Nepal </i>or<i> Base Camp</i>, he gets this panicked 'deer in the headlights' look on his face. Ha! I've even forced him to watch all three seasons of <a href="http://www.tv.com/shows/everest-beyond-the-limit/">Everest: Beyond the Limit</a> {so good!}. We're hoping to make this trip sooner rather than later... </div>
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{I've been stockpiling my frequent flyer miles for years!}</div>
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<b><i>3. If you could pack up all of your belongings and move to a new city or country, where would you move?</i></b></div>
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This one's tricky, but probably somewhere in the Middle East {aside from Dubai or the UAE}. I specialised in middle eastern diplomacy during my first degree and have fantasised about the idea of living there for a few years ever since. After visiting Egypt and Turkey in 2006, this idea was just further engrained. <i>Sipping apple tea, learning arabic or farsi, enjoying a shisha, playing a round of backgammon, throwing a shawl over my head and ducking into a mosque...</i> It would be intriguing. And there is a very small chance that my wish may come true in the next couple of years. <i>Oman anyone?</i> Fingers crossed!</div>
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<b><i>4. Show us your favorite picture, and explain why you love it.</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPXbyjK5J6paz3UO__qTn9jkFesBkjDh8var8NDaYOkuGz-Qt6TLX_fRVzzU1I8PL2VtCTe-QQuLUhaWSWlFz8U6u7LpMeL_YrH0PSRWSYWr3lN-0F9BVlQidSgsxcguN-up9FSgrCEM/s1600/Diving+Best+of+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPXbyjK5J6paz3UO__qTn9jkFesBkjDh8var8NDaYOkuGz-Qt6TLX_fRVzzU1I8PL2VtCTe-QQuLUhaWSWlFz8U6u7LpMeL_YrH0PSRWSYWr3lN-0F9BVlQidSgsxcguN-up9FSgrCEM/s640/Diving+Best+of+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Weird, but true. </i>This photo was taken in Alexandria, Egypt in 2006. I had just completed my first dive {uncertified, of course} and we had not only seen what is rumoured to be the ruins of Cleopatra's Palace, but also an old WWII plane complete with the pilot's oxygen mask and regulator. While we were diving, one of the instructors somehow caught these fish with their bare hands and put them in his dive vest for safe keeping. After the dive, the crew decided to spontaneously host us for a bbq fish dinner. Spending the afternoon chatting and laughing with these guys continues to be one of the ultimate highlights of my travels. It's hard to explain in words, but I had never been so content in my life.</div>
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<b><i>5. Why did you start blogging? Do you still do it for the same reasons?</i></b></div>
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When I initially started blogging, it was simply as a means to keep in touch with family and friends in the United States as I transitioned into my semi-permanent life in South Africa. At the time, I had absolutely no idea that it would eventually turn into so much more. The relationships that I've developed with both bloggers and readers over the years have been so fulfilling and rewarding. Now, I legitimately feel as though I could hop on a plane to anywhere in the world and almost always know someone who I would be able to travel with or meet for coffee. The support structures embedded in the blogging community are incredible. </div>
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<b><i>6. Pick three bloggers: biggest crush, best wardrobe, and best travel partner.</i></b> </div>
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It would be impossible for me to choose just three! At the moment, some of my favorite daily reads are <a href="http://lostintravelsblog.blogspot.com/">Lost in Travels</a>, <a href="http://www.fromtheretoheretheblog.com/">From There to Here</a>, <a href="http://www.treasuretromp.com/">Treasure Tromp</a>, <a href="http://www.wetooktheroadlesstraveled.com/">We Took the Road Less Travelled</a>, <a href="http://www.marshallsabroad.com/">Marshalls Abroad</a>, <a href="http://www.aspiringkennedy.com/">Aspiring Kennedy</a>, <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/">Betsy Transatlantically</a>, <a href="http://ellieloveblog.blogspot.com/">Ellie Love</a>, <a href="http://www.lamiavitablog.com/">La Mia Vita</a>, <a href="http://www.lets-be-adventurers.com/">Lets Be Adventurers</a>, <a href="http://www.thelittlesthings.com/">The Littlest Things</a>, <a href="http://www.ifsandsandbutts.com/">Ifs Ands & Butts</a> and <a href="http://www.jessinbelgium.com/">Jess in Belgium</a>.</div>
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<i>Now it's your turn! </i></div>
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<i>I'm tagging:</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.fromtheretoheretheblog.com/">Jay</a> // <a href="http://www.lamiavitablog.com/">Nicole</a> // <a href="http://www.ifsandsandbutts.com/">Alex</a> // <a href="http://www.jessinbelgium.com/">Jess</a> // <a href="http://ellieloveblog.blogspot.com/">Caley</a> // <a href="http://purplelipsandperfectsmiles.blogspot.com/">Claudine</a> // <a href="http://johced-ourjourneytoeverywhere.blogspot.com/">Johlet</a></div>
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<i>Choose six questions to answer for yourself:</i></div>
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<i>1) Name the top three places on your travel bucket list. Why do they make the list?</i></div>
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<i>2) If you could share one piece of advice with the world, what would it be?</i></div>
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<i>3) What is the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Did you like it?</i></div>
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<i>4) If you had to choose to be blind or deaf, which one would it be and why?</i></div>
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<i>5) What does your idea of a perfect weekend look like?</i></div>
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<i>6) Pick one: Cruise through Antarctica or Cruise through the Caribbean?</i></div>
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<i>7) Which blogs are you loving right now?</i></div>
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<i>8) Tell us something that no one {on the internet} knows about you.</i></div>
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<i>9) If someone is thinking about starting a blog, what advice would you give them?</i></div>
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<i>Not tagged?</i> </div>
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I would still love it if you linked up or answered your favorite question in the comments section below.</div>
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Be sure to send me the link to your post if you decide to do a post of your own!</div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516807932681350120.post-1795653834713815412013-08-13T13:30:00.000+02:002013-08-17T12:54:12.072+02:00{We're Pretty Safe}: My Token Crazy Flight Story<div style="text-align: center;">
I feel like all frequent travellers have at least one harrowing flight story. You know, one of those where the thought actually crosses your mind, "<i>oh geez... I may not survive this.</i>" It's almost like a traveller's right of passage, and I happen to have a few stories of my own. Which is precisely why I knew I had to enter <a href="http://www.travelstart.co.za/">Travelstart's</a> <a href="http://www.travelstart.co.za/blog/blogger-experience-contest/">flight experience competition</a>. A scary flight story in exchange for a shot at two free airline tickets on <a href="http://www.flyairlink.com/">Airlink</a>?!... <i>count me in</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6knvZlUggSm2UbcgOiiubIiI4QIsofyyZfqlvzCNMbG69H6129y1lLSvyc6vFXUxCKWH5LW2aUFL3NiKgFu3kDPDtITqg0-2tF8pzCEK1aR2VS1L-WhVp2oGo3cYKWGUhH-6si4WrgVk/s1600/IMG_1728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6knvZlUggSm2UbcgOiiubIiI4QIsofyyZfqlvzCNMbG69H6129y1lLSvyc6vFXUxCKWH5LW2aUFL3NiKgFu3kDPDtITqg0-2tF8pzCEK1aR2VS1L-WhVp2oGo3cYKWGUhH-6si4WrgVk/s640/IMG_1728.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>{Taken more recently on a very smooth an uneventful flight to Rwanda}</i><br />
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Flash back to 2006. I was an undergraduate student on <a href="http://www.semesteratsea.org/">Semester at Sea</a>. Our ship had ported in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma">Burma</a> and I was on my way to Rangoon's airport in order to board a flight bound for <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Inle_Lake">Inle Lake</a>. In advance, we had been informed that Burma was under severe sanctions and that their planes were resultantly non-compliant with international flight standards. While I'd be lying if I said that this little tid-bit of information didn't make me slightly nervous, I was so excited for my upcoming travels that I just rationalized most of this concern aside. It was all just part of the adventure... <i>right?</i> <br />
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As I approached the airport, however, several clues forced me to acknowledge that I was certainly no longer flying within the comfort and safety of a developed society.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBWI6G79YjO9VtGM8VvUYYB3c6coZ19ME1lbxSutNclRbqohkAQgRF0H3mpaKviokd_wW9OhiJuWDnJvVdVF0LJ-bI9PwFady5KkHPQz-bKc61Jw1KPZm4wGahbfsp5NEoHyK7lLrJWg/s1600/SAS+395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBWI6G79YjO9VtGM8VvUYYB3c6coZ19ME1lbxSutNclRbqohkAQgRF0H3mpaKviokd_wW9OhiJuWDnJvVdVF0LJ-bI9PwFady5KkHPQz-bKc61Jw1KPZm4wGahbfsp5NEoHyK7lLrJWg/s640/SAS+395.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>{apologies for the photo quality - these were taken long before my blogging days ;)}</i></div>
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The first indication came via a huge sign at the entrance of the airport that read: "<i>Drug trafficking is a serious offence which can get death penalty</i>"... and just to clarify - by trafficking they meant carrying any amount of drugs period. Lucky for me, I'm not a huge druggy. But even for my sober self, <i>death</i> seems a bit severe considering the crime. I remember thinking, "<i>hmmm, if drugs get death, then what does something like, let's say, jay-walking get... twenty years in prison?"</i><br />
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Adding to this, as we proceeded through security males and females were separated and led into small cubicles where we were each strip searched... <i>to really be certain that we weren't carrying any drugs</i>, <i>you know</i>? Honestly, I found their courageous effort in the fight against drugs a bit discerning, especially when it's considered that the government itself is known to traffic large amounts of opium out of the country. <i>Talk about a walking contradiction</i>. In any event, I definitely wasn't carrying anything even remotely resembling drugs on me, and I was allowed to pass. <i>Phew</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhTCvG5RGf0SOFwacj26VG96gr6hJd0YzausWIi8Y1JrwpCEU9divtagt0m7_zetAKkeMQbWmjC2IJWcdgei9iKIMv6o9r7u7I4dgnAns4dJTpEKyAfPJSG2kFZb8qScCnI6D3Dk62E4/s1600/Plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhTCvG5RGf0SOFwacj26VG96gr6hJd0YzausWIi8Y1JrwpCEU9divtagt0m7_zetAKkeMQbWmjC2IJWcdgei9iKIMv6o9r7u7I4dgnAns4dJTpEKyAfPJSG2kFZb8qScCnI6D3Dk62E4/s640/Plane.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The second indication occurred as we were ushered outside onto the tarmac. While the plane in the above picture looked to be in acceptable condition from the outside, there was a poorly translated transcription on its side that read... and I quote... <i>"We're pretty safe!". </i>Yes, you read that correctly.<i> </i>I'm assuming they had intended to say <i>'really' </i>in place of <i>'pretty'</i>, but that's a <i>pretty</i> big mistake to make. <i>Pretty safe </i>doesn't usually cut it for me when it comes to air travel.<br />
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My friends and I looked at one another in disbelief, but still hesitantly filed up the stairs and into our seats one by one. As we took off, I crossed my fingers and took a deep breath... and before I knew it we were air bound. <br />
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<i>Success! </i><br />
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<i>But the adventure continued</i>... after take-off it quickly became apparent that the plane was not equipped with air-con. I'll never forget the poor air stewardesses - walking up and down the aisles in their constricting uniforms with polite smiles, as bead after bead of sweat rolled down their faces. To top it all off, condensation was dripping off the plane ceiling onto our heads throughout the duration of the flight. <br />
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<i>Oh the joys of plane travel in Burma.</i><br />
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<i>But you know what? </i>As you've probably already guessed,<i> in the end we made it</i>. And what followed was without a doubt one of the most enriching and fulfilling weeks of my life.<br />
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Throughout the proceeding days we endured a 100 year flood, a three day power outage and a whole lot of cold showers... as well as several taxi rides where pieces of the car floor were missing. <i>But somehow all of these factors just added to the awe of the overall experience. <b>And the people</b></i><b>!</b> The people were truly some of the kindest and most genuine I've met, in spite of their difficult living circumstances. Not to mention the absolutely beautiful scenery and wondrously cheap food. Due to the sanctions, the whole country resembled something of a time capsule and it created the feeling that one was going back in time. <br />
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<i>It was nothing short of incredible.</i><br />
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<i>To this day, Burma remains my most cherished travel experience.</i><br />
<i>And I'm dying {beyond dying!} to go back!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Ironic isn't it?</b></i><br />
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<i>Have you had any crazy flight experiences? I'd love to hear!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">{Linking up with <a href="http://www.bonnieroseblog.co.uk/">Travel Tuesdays</a>}</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07238434752028472905noreply@blogger.com14