The Rose in the Lily Pond

New Zealand money  It’s a massive shock to go to the grocery store in Auckland, buy a few snack items and it ends up costing $50. One reason why people don’t travel is because of the cost, but here in New Zealand (especially Auckland) is one of the most expensive places in the world to live day to day.      Nick and I saved a ridiculously small amount for nine and a half months of travel. We went mainly to developing countries which I found far more interesting and insightful, and spent far less than what we would in regular life. I’ll let you in on my tips on how to travel on the cheap. SOUTH EAST ASIA The power of two   Accommodation will be much cheaper in South East Asia if you are travelling in a pair Logically you would think that staying in a smelly sweaty dorm room would be the cheapest way to go. Dorm life includes listening to nightmarish snoring, smelling the odours of feet, stale alcohol and cigarettes, as well as bei...

Carefree, matted hair, alpaca sweater, world wonder, sunset - this photo pretty much sums up why I love traveling I returned to New Zealand on July 19 after nine months of traveling. This line sounds very similar to the start of all my cover letters as I am now scrambling to find a job, pay off debt, and join the grown up world again. Coming home is a mixture of bitter sweet. It’s so nice to see my family, friends and my parents’ pups again, but it’s not that easy.  I have now been on two significant and life changing trips. One in my early twenties which was filled with parties and travel romances, and one in my late twenties which was more about learning new things and trying to be a global citizen. There were times that gratitude overwhelmed me. Whether it was at the top of the Grand Canyon feeling humbled by the vastness of my surroundings, or on a boat in India where a man plonked his smiling child in my lap - which counteracted the feeling of hopelessness a...

It’s a great time to be in Colombia. Their World Cup team have made history by being the first selection to get through to the quarter finals. Before 2014, the furthest they had got was the final 16 in 1990 and 24 years on, they still replay on television the equalising goal against Germany that made that possible. But now they have new goals to celebrate with James Rodriguez scoring twice for Colombia, winning 2-0 against Uruguay, and propelling them into a quarter final match against Brazil. The Colombians celebrated the victory with such intensity that you would be forgiven for thinking they had won the World Cup. Fans celebrate the Colombia win against Uruguay. Photo: AFP  We watched the monumental match in Medellin, most well known (unfairly) for being late drug lord Pablo Escobar’s home town. A big screen was set up in a plaza, in the fashionable neighbourhood of Poblado, and it was surrounded by bars and restaurants. Everywhere was packed, and I’m sure an aerial phot...

One of the official flags of Bolivia. The colours closely resemble the gay pride flag, but confusing the two will provoke a strong reaction.  Before I came to Bolivia, I knew that it was a predominantly Catholic country and patriarchal society. I knew that gay rights would be miles behind New Zealand, but that didn’t stop me being shocked and on the verge of tears when I had a conversation with my Spanish teacher about such matters. He is an otherwise progressive Bolivian who I get on well with. He doesn’t believe in religious extremism and moved away from his family to attend university when the majority of Bolivians depend on their parents until they are married, or even after. He has formed views that go against the societal norm when it comes to equal rights for men and women, but he thinks there is something weird about being gay. He said he doesn’t like how feminine gay men are and he just doesn’t get it. He thinks it’s unnatural and he is even scared of gay men, onc...

The rooftop patio where all the action happened.  Such a beautiful setting with Volcano Misti in the background. “Oh, Kiwis, I love Kiwis. Which part of New Zealand are you from?” This is about the seventh time the 73 year old has asked us this. At first we thought he had amnesia but we have since discovered that he has cataracts and sees things in blurs. “Auckland,” we say. “Oh wow, there is another couple from Auckland staying here too, you Kiwis sure get around.” We don’t have the heart to tell him that the other couple is most likely us - when we were wearing different clothes. We meet Ricardo, otherwise known as Richard from California, at our hostel in Arequipa, Peru. Even though his eye sight is failing him, he seems to be doing ok for an old dude in his seventies, especially considering the amount he smokes and drinks. The other day a French guy offered him a joint, and he tried to swipe it clean out his hand, almost crushing it. “Oh, it’s one of those,” he say...

Larry the Lobster was the Karl Pilkington of crustaceans. He was quite happy being a soft toy and knocking about with the other toys at Tescos supermarket. He had no desire to see the world, or even leave the store, but that was all about to change. Two girls pinched and squeezed him, ohhhing and ahhhing. Larry gave them his most fierce scowl, but they were oblivious, and he got biffed into the trolley along with an assortment of English lollies and treats, as well as a thing called a kiwi fruit. Larry was purchased as a gift for two travelers from New Zealand. He had only heard of New Zealand because Legolas, a Lord of the Rings figurine from a neighboring shelf, wouldn’t shut up about how beautiful it was. Multiple times Larry had responded that Legolas was made in China, and he didn’t know anything about a country in Europe.     The New Zealanders were on their way to South America. He recalled Padding Bear’s stories about ‘deepest darkest Peru’ and was convinced tha...

If I was to write an Eat, Pray, Love knock off - I would set it all in India. It was my “eat” with the most delicious curries and naans. It was my “pray” with religion totally and utterly in your face, and while I wasn’t a participant, it is almost impossible to go to India without feeling something close to spirituality. And it was my “love”. In India I saw some of the most distressing scenes. A dog with its eye freshly gouged out snapping at flies who were trying to invade. A man riddled with leprosy begging on the street and when we gave him money, he dropped it onto the road and tried to scoop it up with his barely there limb, scrapping it along the asphalt. These scenes are not what will stay with me,  but what will, is the kindness that was seen daily. A common sight was waiters handing out drinks to kids on the streets or giving left over food to stray dogs or cows. Food was shared with everyone on the train, and often people gave what they could to the homeless. It was th...