Let’s see…where did we leave off?  We bought the cheapest ticket we could find to Bali and let’s just say the cheapest option maybe isn’t always the best. We flew from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur and then to Bali.  Hence the 20 hours of traveling.  We arrived late to Kuta, which we heard from a bunch of people is a tourist trap with dirty beaches and people who rip you off.   They were pretty much right.   Though, we did have a lovely meal and exchange with an Indonesian woman at a night market.

Next, we headed to the Gili Islands. These three islands are east of Bali and off the western shore of Lombok. In order to get there, we took a two hour drive with a car full of other backpackers to a ferry.

After a four hour journey, we arrived in the Gili Tanwangan. I had a great feeling about this place. We found a homestay for 10 dollars a night with a fan and private bathroom.  The shower water smells really bad, but you win some and you loose some. We have been here ever since.

It is Ramadan and we are staying right next to a mosque. We wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of prayers and we fall asleep to prayers. I swear, the rooster crows three times and the praying is on.  This island is known as the party island but really it’s pretty full of Europeans and Australians on holiday. It’s a place of extreme poverty and excess – and partying during Ramadan’s extreme fasting.

Next we plan to spend some time in Ubud and head to Phuket from there.

We have been in Oz since the 4th of July and it has been such a blast. We first spent a couple of days in Sydney with Albert’s sister and one of my best friends, Amy.

As soon as we arrived, Albert had to get a sausage roll and meat pie.

When we first arrived at the infamous Opera House, it was truly breathtaking. The entire harbor is phenomeial. We decided to take a free ferry to Cockatoo Island (an old prison island) to see some art exhibits in honor of Sydney’s Biennial. It was fascinating, creepy and extraordinary.

We stopped by the Opera Bar and had a drink on the harbor.

The next day we walked along the Eastern Coast of Sydney’s beaches. It was rainy and grey and made the experience that much more exciting. We walked for a couple of beautiful hours. The day was perfect.

We spent our last day in Sydney in Manly. The ferry ride was gorgeous! We spent the day on the beach talking, laughing and having an ice cream.

We then headed to Sydney to spend some time with Amy and Albert’s family. The weather was rainy, but we had the best time ever.

We went a bit arty and headed to the Gallery of Modern Art.

Keep reading Part II here

‘Ello mates!  Everyone asks me in their emails what the food is like here. In Auckland, there is an impressive variety of mostly Asian cuisine. On this block alone there is Japanese, Korean, Indian, Malaysian, Chinese, etc. We have only eaten in one place that I didn’t think the food was delicious. Just like in most big cities, Auckland and Wellington have tons of different types of restaurants.

Here is an idea of what we ate in New Zealand. Please take into consideration that we are eating on a budget 🙂

Udon Noodles / L&P / Sushi (a mistake) / Lollies / Fish and Chips / Long Black & Flat White / PB & J

My first and only glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at the top of the Sky Tower in Auckland.

After a long, but breathtaking bus ride we arrived in Wellington, New Zealand. My first thought was, “It’s freezing!”  My second was that I knew I would like this place.  Wellington is nuzzled into an almost perfect harbor at the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island.  Houses, universities, sports fields and restaurants are all built along the sides of the mountains.

Feeding birds on the waterfront

You get the feeling that Wellington is more artsy and bohemian than Auckland. We went to craft fairs, farmers markets, food tastings and art galleries.  After living in New York, you kind of feel like you have seen it all, but it was so refreshing to see art, crafts and food that I have never seen before

Weta – Peter Jackson’s production company

This dude was playing music with a saw. It was the most wonderfully eerie whistle sound.

We ended up spending most of our time in galleries, shops and eating.

Warm Lemon, Honey and Ginger at the farmers market

Food at the Taste of Wellington

A reoccurring theme in Wellington is its passion for coffee.  We read somewhere that Wellington would marry coffee if it could.  Albert drinks long blacks (a tall espresso) all day long. I dabble with a flat white with soy (think latte) from time to time.

Supreme Coffee Shop

Cuba Street

After a couple days of gray, cold weather, we woke to a wonderful sunny Sunday. It was then that I understood just how glorious and beautiful New Zealand could be. The water was calm, sailboats were on the water, the waterfront was booming with markets and people. It was perfect. I heart you, Wellington.

*In case you missed it, you can check out the first stop on our journey here.