Hello from New Zealand!!! We are finally back in New Zealand after 10 months and 1 week away.
Here is a round-up of the trip.
Countries visited: South Korea, Malaysia (and Malaysian Borneo), Vietnam, South Africa, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia.
If you count airports then we also visited: Australia, Thailand, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Russia.
Justin's favourite country: tie between South Africa and Turkey.
My favourite country: tie between South Africa and Turkey.
Justin's favourite city: Istanbul in Turkey.
My favourite city: Istanbul in Turkey.
Justin's favourite activity/thing we did: Diving in Malaysia and South Africa.
My favourite activity/thing we did: volunteering at Makalali Game Reserve in South Africa.
Justin's worst place to visit: Zugddidi, Georgia.
My worst place to visit: Zugdidi, Georgia.
Zugdidi was cold, dirty, and we had the worst experience staying in a guest house. The guy who owned it was creepy (he tried to climbing through the bathroom window while I was in it!), there were no locks on the doors and the bedroom stank so badly of cigarette smoke we couldn't breath properly.
Languages we attempted to speak: English, Korean, Malay, Vietnamese, Afrikaans, Zulu, Shangaan, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Georgian and Armenian.
Country with the most beautiful writing: Georgia.
Modes of transport taken: multiple planes, private cars, taxis, buses, trains, subway/metros, boats, 1 submarine, 1 helicopter and 1 hot air balloon.
Country with the worst drivers: South Africa.
Place we saw the most Kiwis: bizarrely it was Armenia.
Justin's favourite food: Nasi Lemak (coconut rice with beef, peanuts, anchovies, egg and sambal sauce) in Malaysia.
My favourite food: Pistachio and Pomegranate Turkish delight in Turkey.
Justin's worst food: Chicken in Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and Armenia.
My worst food: Chicken in Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and Armenia.
Friendliest people: Vietnam and Turkey (admittedly there were friendly people everywhere, it usually depended on whether we smiled at them or not.)
The most un-smiley people: Georgians (but most were friendly once you talked to them).
Things I am proud to have learnt while away: how to knit! I completed a pair of baby booties (for my nephew) and 2 beanies. And how to dive.
Would we do this again: YES!
However, we have been back in NZ for almost 2 months now, and to be honest to has been a bit stressful. Yes it has been great seeing family and friends and meeting my nephew for the first time. But we have had some problems as well. Unfortunately my knee injury from skiing in Armenia was still causing me issues and pain by the time we arrived home, so off to various doctors and physios I went, only to have ACC and travel insurance decline my claims. ACC because we were out of the country for more than 6 months and therefore don't cover us, and travel insurance will only cover overseas costs and once we stepped back into NZ they stopped. So now I am on a public waiting list for an MRI and possible surgery for a possible torn ACL and meniscus. And who knows how long that will be....
In the meantime, we have found a flat and moved in, Justin has found a job and I am working part-time for my Dad making food flavours in his lab. We are slowly getting our boxes unpacked and settling into life here again. It is very strange having to go to work after not doing it for so long. Besides the knee, things are looking up.
P.S. I forgot to say, since we have been home we have realised how lucky we are here. In some of our conversations with friends and family, some people have complained that NZ is backward and close to a third world country in many ways.
However I have this response: NZ is NO way near a third world country. In the 2 months we have been back there hasn't been a single power cut, there has been constant hot water 24 hours a day, there have been no riots or violent protests and there are democratic elections without people being killed. These simple things mean we have luxuries that most people in the world do not have. The End.
Here is a round-up of the trip.
Countries visited: South Korea, Malaysia (and Malaysian Borneo), Vietnam, South Africa, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia.
If you count airports then we also visited: Australia, Thailand, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Russia.
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| Short hair and tired expression - the start of our trip, getting over jet lag. |
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| A rest day in South Korea, enjoying reading and tea. |
Justin's favourite country: tie between South Africa and Turkey.
My favourite country: tie between South Africa and Turkey.
Justin's favourite city: Istanbul in Turkey.
My favourite city: Istanbul in Turkey.
Justin's favourite activity/thing we did: Diving in Malaysia and South Africa.
My favourite activity/thing we did: volunteering at Makalali Game Reserve in South Africa.
 |
| On safari at Makalali, South Africa. |
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| Lions! |
Justin's worst place to visit: Zugddidi, Georgia.
My worst place to visit: Zugdidi, Georgia.
Zugdidi was cold, dirty, and we had the worst experience staying in a guest house. The guy who owned it was creepy (he tried to climbing through the bathroom window while I was in it!), there were no locks on the doors and the bedroom stank so badly of cigarette smoke we couldn't breath properly.
Languages we attempted to speak: English, Korean, Malay, Vietnamese, Afrikaans, Zulu, Shangaan, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Georgian and Armenian.
Country with the most beautiful writing: Georgia.
Modes of transport taken: multiple planes, private cars, taxis, buses, trains, subway/metros, boats, 1 submarine, 1 helicopter and 1 hot air balloon.
 |
| Hot Air Ballooning! |
 |
| Hot Air Balloons In Cappadoccia, Turkey. |
Country with the worst drivers: South Africa.
Place we saw the most Kiwis: bizarrely it was Armenia.
Justin's favourite food: Nasi Lemak (coconut rice with beef, peanuts, anchovies, egg and sambal sauce) in Malaysia.
My favourite food: Pistachio and Pomegranate Turkish delight in Turkey.
Justin's worst food: Chicken in Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and Armenia.
My worst food: Chicken in Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and Armenia.
 |
| About to eat some good food at a flash restaurant in Georgia. |
Friendliest people: Vietnam and Turkey (admittedly there were friendly people everywhere, it usually depended on whether we smiled at them or not.)
The most un-smiley people: Georgians (but most were friendly once you talked to them).
 |
| On the way to the floating markets in Can Tho, Vietnam. |
Things I am proud to have learnt while away: how to knit! I completed a pair of baby booties (for my nephew) and 2 beanies. And how to dive.
Would we do this again: YES!
However, we have been back in NZ for almost 2 months now, and to be honest to has been a bit stressful. Yes it has been great seeing family and friends and meeting my nephew for the first time. But we have had some problems as well. Unfortunately my knee injury from skiing in Armenia was still causing me issues and pain by the time we arrived home, so off to various doctors and physios I went, only to have ACC and travel insurance decline my claims. ACC because we were out of the country for more than 6 months and therefore don't cover us, and travel insurance will only cover overseas costs and once we stepped back into NZ they stopped. So now I am on a public waiting list for an MRI and possible surgery for a possible torn ACL and meniscus. And who knows how long that will be....
 |
| My seven-month old nephew Leo goes for the beer when his parents aren't looking. |
In the meantime, we have found a flat and moved in, Justin has found a job and I am working part-time for my Dad making food flavours in his lab. We are slowly getting our boxes unpacked and settling into life here again. It is very strange having to go to work after not doing it for so long. Besides the knee, things are looking up.
P.S. I forgot to say, since we have been home we have realised how lucky we are here. In some of our conversations with friends and family, some people have complained that NZ is backward and close to a third world country in many ways.
However I have this response: NZ is NO way near a third world country. In the 2 months we have been back there hasn't been a single power cut, there has been constant hot water 24 hours a day, there have been no riots or violent protests and there are democratic elections without people being killed. These simple things mean we have luxuries that most people in the world do not have. The End.
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| One of many falling down buildings that people live in around the world. |
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| Yep we are back in NZ: blue skies and green trees. |
