The Last Bit of New Zealand

I realized I never posted the last leg of my New Zealand journey--Queenstown.
After trekking through the glacier, I stopped off at a hot spring. It was included in the glacier heli-hike package, and it couldn't have come at a more opportune time. I'd been living out of a mini van for 3 days now, and hadn't showered. Ha! So I LOVED IT. Don't worry, I showered before going into the pools ;).

Feeling refreshed, I made my way to Queenstown by way of Wanaka.


I stopped to hike and explore the blue pools.

I wandered through the small town of Wanaka, took another scenic hike, and bumped into some friends I met on the cruise from Wellington to Picton.

Feeling a bit pooped from driving, I wandered Queenstown on foot. I heard from other travelers that Queenstown was their favorite city and immediately I understood the why. It, like the rest of New Zealand, is gorgeous. A medium sized town tucked in the middle of mountains and lakes. I explored my options for exploring Milford Sound and signed up for a fancy tourist bus. Though I did kayak like I originally intended, I had a great time sitting back and letting someone else do the driving for a change. Also, the bus had a glass ceiling and gigantic windows so it was perfect for viewing the scenery.

Welcome to the land of Lord of the Rings! 

We made various stops along the way including Mirror Lake and a river where we were allowed to drink the water. So tasty.

After 4 hours of winding roads and stunning scenery, we entered Milford sound and boarded our boat. The weather was gloomy and rainy but the rain created hundreds of mini waterfalls so it was a win. Our boat also went a bit underneath one of the waterfalls and I got SOAAAKED. Wet butt for the rest of the day.

We got back to Queenstown later in the evening and I drove back to a nearby campsite. The moon guided my way.

The next morning, I wandered the city one last time, grabbed an insanely delicious burger, picked up a bottle of Pinor Noir to take home, and drove about 6 hours to Christchurch to return the car and fly back to the Philippines.

The slow boat into Luang Prabang, Laos part 2

There are four ways to travel from Huayxai to Luang Prabang: fly (expensive), bus (windy and bumpy), fast boat (dangerous [the boat operators wear helmets!]), and slow boat (2 days/1 night boat ride down the Mekong River). To let our weary, sore legs rest, we opted for the slow boat. Plus, I had read in my research that it's just sitting around, watching scenery, sipping on Lao beer, and meeting other backpackers. It was a good time.

Sima & I waiting for the slow boat to depart. It eventually did 2 hours after its expected departure. Classic slow boat. Our boat even had engine problems and we were stuck for an hour.

We stopped overnight in Pak Beng, a town that seems to thrive and survive off the fact it's a stopping point for slow boaters. Seeing rural huts and poverty along the river, then arriving in a town with hotels and fancy restaurants was quite a culture clash.

We arrived in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage site, and it is the loveliest city I've ever visited. 

Night market! I love 'em!

 More foraging for fruit with Sima's guidance & Sasha's height + bamboo.

Last night in Luang Prabang. Free shots, delicious food, and great company. And if you find yourself there looking for a drink, go to Utopia. It's the coolest bar/lounge ever. Claudia and I woke up early Saturday morning and did yoga on their deck (with a view of the river!), then returned in the evening for a drink. Sigh, I left Luang Prabang much sooner than I would have liked. 

After Luang Prabang, I hopped on a bus to Vientiane. It was the wildest ride of my life. I felt like I was on a roller coaster 4 of the 6 hours. A couple people actually got sick and one person puked on himself. EW! If you're planning on taking the bus from Luang Prabang to Vientiane stop in Vang Vieng, and take the mini bus. You'll want the comfort.

On to Cambodia!

More silliness in Japan (mostly food)

The greatest hamburger-themed stickers Disney has ever produced.

 Delicious izakaya in Tokyo with Merrick, Leo & KB. My favorite dishes were the kimchi udon pasta & the tofu cheesecake. YUM.

 Gion Kitana, as recommended by Tara (formerly) of Sweet Breams. Make sure you get the dekitate, their fresh ice cream. So good.

 Yakisoba at Mizuno, Osaka. Their okonomiyaki is out of this world. I discovered the restaurant by following two people in Osaka who seemed to be on a mission to eat. I do that when I travel. Not creepy.

 Sushidai in Tokyo.

 

Matcha green tea paste at Ippodo Tea, recommended by Yoko of Homako.

Kaboucha fried goodness.

Thanks to the lovely friends who sent suggestions and made our trip that much more delicious and delightful. Special shout to Merrick for housing KB & me, and teaching us some key Japanese words. Good host. Arigatou gozaimasu.