Happy New Year: 2019 OUR FIFTH YEAR TRAVELLING, REVIEWED IN RANDOM NUMBERS
Crazy to think that this is our 5th annual End of Year Review. We feel very blessed to lead the life that we have for the last half a decade.
So before we get knee-deep in 2020, we would like to take a moment or six to reflect on the past 12 months. Where have we been? What have we been up to? Our favourite memories? And at the same time have some fun, as usual, with some numbers.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY
Crazy to think that this is our 5th annual End of Year Review. We feel very blessed to lead the life that we have for the last half a decade.
So before we get knee-deep in 2020, we would like to take a moment or six to reflect on the past 12 months. Where have we been? What have we been up to? Our favourite memories? And at the same time have some fun, as usual, with some numbers.
AND THAT WAS 2019
Last year was always going to be a little bit slow on the travel front. We wanted to stay close to the UK for doctors and specialists appointments for my sister, Tracey, and Steve's Mum.
Still, we managed to visit three new countries. We got to stay for weeks at a time in some of England's finest seaside towns, lived like a local in Ireland for eight weeks, learnt how to make sourdough bread for the first time (which was delicious, even if I say so myself), watched our first ever hurling game (still trying to figure out the rules), gatecrashed the local village fete with success, ate far too much gelato in the cafes of Umbria and Tuscany, complained endlessly about the cold in the UK and the heat in Thailand (there's no pleasing some people!), and visited the oldest horse fair in Ireland at Spancihill. Not bad for a few months kicking around the UK.
HERE ARE 2019'S RANDOM NUMBERS
37 - large bags of rubbish collected in under 2 hours as part of the 'Trash Heroes clean up a beach Sunday' on Koh Lanta
58 - different beds we have slept in
1,767 - days since we started this journey
12,573 - number of air miles flown (20,234 kms)
1,450 - the number of photos Steve has uploaded to stock photography sites
42 - pints of Guinness Steve managed to consume in our time in Ireland
23 - minutes Steve was left in charge of a working windmill
239 - days of housesitting across three countries, (saving over NZ$11,950 in accommodation costs)
7 - countries visited (England, Wales, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Thailand)
1 - camera lost to the deep blue ocean off Ireland
32.6 - the most kilometres we walked in one day on the Camino Portuguese
1 - the number of speed awareness courses Steve had to attend due to a speeding ticket, oops
410 - the number of grapes in a standard bottle of port
396,079 - the number of steps taken to walk from Porto to Santiago de Compostela
144 - animals cared for while housesitting (27 dogs, 24 cats, 6 ducks & 87 chickens)
3 - rabbits (1 dead and 2 alive) that Bobby the cat deposited under our bed
18 - the number of weeks it's been since Tracey needed a blood transfusion, yeahy!
57 - The number of wedding photographers in a room in Bath for the X- Wedding Photographers Conference (Steve won a place)
3 - the number of times our crappy old car need to visit a garage for major surgery
FAVOURITE MEMORIES OF 2019
Rather than come up with three different highlights as we have done in previous years. This year even without conferring, we both came up with the same highlights.
Walking another Camino was always going to be a highlight for both of us. Our initial thoughts were that we would walk the whole 610 km's (380 miles) from Lisbon to Santiago. But time restraints took hold, and we had to shorten our walk and start from Porto, still 310 km's (193 miles). It felt like a very different kind of Camino than our first experience. But we still had a blast wandering through the beautiful Portuguese and Spanish countryside, making friends young and old.
One day we would be walking with Iain & Joëlle, a young couple, fresh out of university in Holland. The next day it would be Don & John, a couple of gentleman in their seventies from Tauranga, New Zealand. Just goes to show that the Camino throws people together of all ages and all walks of life.
Having been on Steve's bucket list since he was old enough to start drinking (and that was a long, long time ago). Standing knee-deep in grapes extracting the liquid heaven that makes Port was a massive highlight for the year for us both. For me being able to make it happen for Steve, and for Steve, well, because he likes the 'finer things in life'. And if you don't know what I mean by this, you’ll have to read Port Heaven.
Tracey's Road to Recovery. Hearing the news a couple of months ago that Tracey's blood results had hit healthy normal levels was a like having all your Christmas's and Birthday's come at once. It's been a long slow road to recovery since the transplant back in November 2018. We did manage to get Tracey out to the local beer festival in Exeter and squeezed in fish and chips on the beach. There's still a way to go before Tracey will be fully fit and able to work, but that day is closing in rapidly.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Steve's Mum on her disability scooter appearing on a website in Tehran advertising scooters, courtesy of one of Steve's stock photo sales
Being able to join Bethany, our niece, to celebrate her 18th Birthday
Steve catching up with good friend and former work colleague Callum, the afternoon before Callum completed the fantastic feat of swimming the English Channel
Learning how to cook paella in Barcelona with our amazing friends Rick & Paul
Getting Camino match fit with hikes in the Brecon Beacons, Wales
Steve drowning in rosettes and winning best in class photograph, at the Rousdon Village Fete
NOT SO GOOD
For the third year running, Steve lost an Uncle
Steve's daughter, Katherine, injuring herself 2 days into her week's volunteering at Elephant Nature Park
Spending more on car repairs than we spent buying the car in the first place
Steve badly twisting his ankle in Barcelona. Initial thoughts were that we would have to can the Camino. St, But like a brave little soldier, he battled on. Update, turns out this tumble resulted in a broken bone in the foot, but still walked the Camino with no grumbling (ish).
PLANS FOR 2020
So what does 2020 look like for the two of us? Well, we still have a couple of weeks left here on Koh Lanta. I've developed a close bond with a dog called Tomato at Lanta Animal Welfare. We have twice-daily walks, there's some muzzle training with the aid of cooked chicken as well as some sloppy kisses when I try to apply some ointment to her fur.
Then we are off to Vietnam to explore some of the beauty that this country has to offer. We will be heading north to the foothills, where there may be a waterfall or two. Then south to Ha Long Bay and it's famous limestone rock formations for a two-night cruise. The Vietnamese New Year (Têt) will be in full force during our visit, and we are hoping to participate in lots of local celebrations.
Then it's back to New Zealand, landing mid-February, just a couple of weeks short of when we left 5 years ago. Our plans are still brewing, but we hope to establish a couple of businesses, maybe even in the tourism industry. We are going to pick up a van of some description and do a full-on camper conversion. Then we will be able to explore more of the stunning country that we call home. And one thing is for sure, our travels will continue.
Happy New Year: 2018 OUR FOURTH YEAR TRAVELLING, REVIEWED IN RANDOM NUMBERS
Our annual end of year round up by numbers. What did 2018 hold for Julie and Steve? What were our personal highlights? All is revealed.
A Happy New Year to you all
The best-laid plans of mice and men, as they say. 2018 was one of those years for us. In fact, our year turned on its head as a result of two key events.
One was at Lanta Animal Welfare (LAW) in late February which convinced us it was time to leave earlier than planned. The other, a visit to the doctor for Julie’s sister Tracey at the end of September, that meant we would drop everything.
Somewhere in the middle of those events we lived on a tiny island in the South Pacific, slept in the back of a van for weeks on end, and got up close to incredible wildlife in the back of beyond.
WHEN PLANS NEED TO CHANGE
But it was a text message following a consultant’s appointment late September, saying ‘can you ring me?’ that really put the brakes on.
Tracey’s blood disorder, Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), was initially diagnosed 10 years ago. At that time after receiving a couple of units of blood, the illness went into remission. That was until early 2018.
Despite numerous doctors and specialists appointments throughout the past 6 months, resulting in transfusions of over 40 units of blood, all failed to stop the steady decline in Tracey’s health.
We knew that there was a possibility that a bone marrow transplant could be on the cards, but it wasn’t until the end of September that consultants in Plymouth decided this was the only option. Julie had been tested for a bone marrow match 10 years ago. But an urgent visit to the Haematology Dept in-between planned housesits in Italy confirmed Julie as the perfect match.
Harvest Festival
On 24th October, Tracey was admitted to the specialist unit and started a week of chemotherapy.
At the same time, Julie began a course of injections to boost her stem cells. Seven days later the harvest and transplant would take place
Gone are the days of harvesting the bone marrow directly from the hip bones under a general anaesthetic. Today it’s a quick 4-5 hours hooked up to a unit the size of a slot machine. The blood is drawn through one arm fed through the machine where the stem cells are separated, and then the blood returned to the donor via the other arm.
Well, that’s the theory, unless like Julie you have flaky veins and the slowest blood flow going. So 3 days later and with a line into the groin rather than arms, the harvest was complete.
After several weeks in an isolation unit, Tracey was discharged at the end of November and the slow recovery is underway. She still needs weekly checkups by the haematology team and is having blood transfusions on a regular basis. Hopefully the transfusions will end soon and Tracey’s new stem cells will produce the much needed bone marrow and the blood disorder gone for good.
Julie’s Top Three Highlights
Falling in love with the dogs (and even the odd cat) at Lanta Animal Welfare. Playing a part in helping sick animals recover as well as helping them to be adopted. My heart melts when I see Facebook updates of my favour pooches in their new forever homes.
What’s better than a road trip in a funky van? One where you see bears in the wild fishing for salmon in Alaska and get to revel in the majestic scenery of Canada’s Banff and Jasper National Parks. Bucket list stuff.
Having the privilege of saving a life. My sister’s to be precise. Nearly 450 million of my stem cells are currently setting up camp in her bone marrow, trying to kick start her blood to work properly. It’s a long road to recovery, but I am glad I have been able to be there to help in as many ways as I can.
Steve’s Top Three Highlights
Spending quality time with some great friends and their pooches on the West Coast of America. Including soaking in the hot tub under the stars in Jenner by the Sea, getting to see whales and hundreds of dolphins on a boat trip from Monterey, taking in some of the beautiful hikes around Mount Rainier, and spending an evening on a ride-along with our favourite policewoman and her colleagues.
Being back in New Zealand to watch daughter number two, Katherine, be awarded a Bachelor of Science. But the bright young cookie didn’t stop there, and in the past year she has completed her Masters in Conservation Biology. So proud.
Knowing that during our 5 months at LAW, we help raise funds from visitors to support the fantastic work that the team do there. That we personally help several dogs find new forever homes where we know they will be loved to bits. And that we helped treat and rescue some pretty sick street dogs who will now have better lives.
Honourable Mentions
Exploring Kampot and Kep during our visa renewal run to Cambodia
Cocktails and magical sunsets at Time for Lime, Koh Lanta (supports LAW)
Exploring the streets of Seattle
Cruising the Alaska Marine Highway
Lagunitas Brewery Visit
Looking up to see a juvenile brown bear walk passed our open van door as we sat in the carpark of Fish Creek Observatory
Moraine Lake, the brightest turquoise water with a backdrop of 10 peaks. A fantastic hike which ran parallel to the peaks. Even snowing on the 1st September
Having both daughters in the UK for Christmas
Not So Good
Steve lost another one of his boyhood mentors when Uncle Gerald passed away, the second Uncle in two years
Not pushing ourselves out of comfort zone as we have done in previous years
Realising that to see polar bears in the wild it was going to cost an arm and leg, and having to cross it off of our list reluctantly
Here are 2018’s random numbers
42 beds, one or both of us have slept in
9 weeks Julie was forced to work (while Steve frolicked on the beach with cute pup Gracie)
262 dogs and cats combined that were sterilised over a 3 day Mobile LAW Clinic
11 total number of dog bites while volunteering at LAW
1 cracked rib, while Steve was taking out the rubbish!
6 weeks for the rib to heal
5 metres the distance Steve slipped and fell on his butt while clambering over rocks to get ‘that’ waterfall picture
10 weeks his butt hurt after that fall
1,402 days since we started this journey
32,744 kilometres flown (20,353 miles)
26 attempts to pop the canulas (known as ‘the beast’) into Julie’s flaky veins
7 countries visited, Thailand, Cambodia, New Zealand, Italy, UK, USA & Canada
119 days of housesitting, saving over NZ$5,950 in accommodation cost
1 time Julie parted way with her scooter in Thailand
26 photos taken on a daily basis (equates to NZ$4,751 if buying a roll of film per day)
2 iPhone screens somebody managed to smash in less than 24 hours
5 minutes out of 6 hours spent at the Anan Bear Observatory without a bear in sight
1 metre Julie was away from a bear on the way back to the boat from the Observatory
4 people who stole our campsite in Olympic National Park
34 waterfalls visited and photographed
6 of us in one bed, Julie and I along with pups Princess Cara, Pucchi, Sultan and Nipper, needless to say the pups got the most of the bed
0 millimetres the amount of snow that fell on Christmas Day in the UK much to daughters disappointment
13 family and friends around the Christmas dinner table
Looking forward to 2019
As Tracey’s recovery is going to take some time, we wanted to be close to help. That means initially being on hand to take her to appointments and help around the house. As Tracey’s recovery progresses, we will remain in the Northern Hemisphere so that we can get back to Devon quickly if needed.
So we have taken on at least 6 house sits between now and July, including a month in Somerset the cider capital of the UK. There will be more gorgeous pups (including one who recently broke his leg), cheeky cats, lots of chucks and even a horse or two (a first for us).
We will also be spending 6 weeks in Ireland, housesitting in County Clare. Which we are both quite excited about.
Hopefully, we will get in our annual pilgrimage to Italy. And speaking of pilgrimages. There’s talk of tackling the 630 kilometre, Camino de Portuges, starting in Lisbon and finishing in Santiago de Compostela. We have ordered the Brierley guide which is an excellent first step.
In September we will be catching up with good friends, Paul & Rick in Barcelona, for a second visit to this stunning city. And then we hope to tick off one of Steve’s all-time bucket list items, picking and treading the port grapes in the Douro Valley, Portugal.
These plans will take us up to the end of October and from there, who knows? Maybe Christmas somewhere hot with a few dogs that need some love and walks.
The last few months of 2018 have been incredibly stressful and challenging. We had to change plans and commitments at short notice. A huge thank you for the understanding, love and support that we have received.
We hope your 2019 is filled with love, blessings, and happiness. And very big thank you for following our adventures. It means a lot to have you guys along for the ride.
Until next time, happy travels.
The stunning Peyto Lake, Canada
To find out more about MDS and blood cancers and to learn more about becoming a stem cell donor please take a look at the following links.
Happy New Year: 2017 OUR THIRD YEAR TRAVELLING REVIEWED IN RANDOM NUMBERS
Our annual end of year round up by numbers. What did 2017 hold for Julie and Steve? What were our personal highlights? All is revealed.
When is it too late to say Happy New Year? At the end of January? A thousand apologies for the delay but as it’s not yet February, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
We have been putting in some long hours at Lanta Animal Welfare and have had no time to catch up on much-needed blog writing. We hope you find in your hearts to forgive us.
So how has 2017 been for these two animal-loving adventurers?
Catching up with family and friends is always going to be top of any highlights list. With that being a given, here are our three travel highlights from 2017.
Julie
Sleeping on the floor of a bamboo hut in the foothills hills of Northern Thailand for six nights. Spending our days hanging out with seven elephants as part of the Journey to Freedom programme. The best bit? Six-month-old Kili tries to sit on my lap.
Being nervous as hell, covered in dust, dodging wandering cows, and listening to some of the worst Dad jokes in the world, all courtesy of Uncle Tom’s dirt bike tour. My very first time riding a motorbike. Thanks to Uncle Tom for making it a fantastic experience.
Using and improving my Italian while taking care of 22 cats in Umbria and then two gorgeous pups Maggie & Monty in San Ginesio. We had visits from family and friends, drank too much wine and ate too much pizza. Perfetto.
Steve
Living for two months in a small Balinese village looking after eight rescue pups and one rescue cat. Taking the pack for their twice-daily walk down to the beach and watching them romp in the surf.
Exploring the thousands of temples, pagodas, and stupas in Bagan, Myanmar. I really could have stayed here for weeks letting my inner Indiana Jones come out.
The last time we were in Spain we walked for 37 days, this time around it was a more leisurely trip around Barcelona, Granada, Cordoba, and Seville. Some fantastic historical sites and the odd protest or two (the Catalan vote for independence).
Honourable Mentions
Visiting Borneo and getting to see orangutans in the semi-wild
House sitting in the UK for a month with Lucy the golden retriever, who always managed to find the muddiest of puddles
Chilling in the former French colonial town of Luang Prabang, Laos
Having a boys trip up to the Bay of Islands, NZ, for a few days with my best buddy Stuart
Julie being shown by a kind local how to wear a longyi outside the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar
Picking and crushing the grapes at the Italian vineyard where we house sat last year
Being interviewed and having our story published in stuff.co.nz
Not So Good
Steve lost one of his boyhood mentors when Uncle Jeff passed away
Steve’s Mum falling off a ladder putting the Christmas decorations away, resulting in a fractured hip and two broken bones in her foot
Having two dogs poisoned when house sitting in Bali. The vet managed to save Bule, but not Mandi, sadly
2017 in Numbers
Here we go with some random numbers covering our travels for the last 12 months:
9 countries visited, New Zealand, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy, Spain, and England
4 capital cities visited, Wellington, Bangkok, Vientiane, and London
42 different beds slept in
1,037 days since we started this journey
8 house sits completed
101 times, Julie declared her love for mushroom and truffle pizza. Should I be worried?
48,375 kilometres (30,058 miles) covered, (plus an additional 19,800 km’s for Steve who flew back to the UK for Uncle Jeff’s funeral)
202 the number of legs that the animals we house sat for have (16 dogs, 28, cats, 10 ducks, 3 chickens)
61 the number of hours spent on planes
3 the number of times Julie was electrocuted housesitting in Phuket (from a gas hob)
1 the number of snakes that came to a sticky end while trying to protect the dogs in Bali
7 tours a day that Steve takes round Lanta Animal Welfare Centre
97 animals that we volunteered with, 40 dogs, 50 cats, and 7 elephants
11 hours, the amount of time the slowest train in the world took to travel 180 km, from Thazi to Inle Lake in Myanmar
4.5m (15 foot) the length of the crocodile we didn’t see outside our bedroom door at The Kebun, Borneo
25 the number of points the New England Patriots were down in the Super Bowl before coming back to win (10, the number of fingernails chewed by Steve during the game)
5 the number of times dogs have bitten us at the centre, Steve is leading 4-1
2,200 temples to explore in Bagan
156 bone shaking kilometres covered on our very first off-road motorcycle experience in Laos
19 the average number of photos taken on a daily basis, which 6,935 in total this year
Looking forward to 2018
We have big plans for 2018. Following our volunteering, at Lanta Animal Welfare, the idea is to head to Cambodia for a couple of weeks of chill time. Then we will fly into Vietnam, buy a motorcycle and spend six weeks biking through the country.
Komodo Island and Bali in Indonesia are calling. We are keen to go back and visit Eli and our rescued canine buddies.
Katherine, Steve’s youngest daughter graduates from university in May, so we will back in NZ to help her celebrate.
Then we are planning a North America West Coast road trip. Starting with friends Rick & Paul just north of San Francisco. Popping into to see Ann & Jeanna in Seattle and then up through Canada and into Alaska. Along the way exploring some amazing National Parks, seeing grizzly bears feasting on salmon and the magnificent polar bears.
Sounds like a fantastic (but expensive) year.
BUT……
those plans have changed. Well most of them........
Julie has gone from working shifts helping with the dogs, to supervising the shifts, to supervising the shifts and coordinating the volunteers that come to the Centre. The good folks in charge have recognised her super organisational skills and offered a role that could keep us in Thailand for a year.
We will still be heading to NZ for Katherine’s graduation, wouldn’t miss that for all the money in the world. From NZ we will head to the States and catch with Rick & Paul and Jeanne & Ann for few weeks. Then head back to Thailand via a family visit to the UK to continue to help with the great work that the Centre does.
We will even squeeze in a trip to Bail to see Eli and the pack.
There’s still heaps of blog posts to write, including Jungle Adventures in Borneo, The Italian Job Part 2, Spain in two weeks, Technology for Travellers and Volunteering in Thailand. So watch this space.
And finally, we both feel very blessed to be able to do what we are doing. We love our nomadic lifestyle, living simply, and taking the opportunities that present themselves along the way. Like staying on at Lanta Animal Welfare, where we feel we can make a real difference to the life of Thai dogs and cats.
Happy New Year to you all. We hope your 2018 is filled with love, blessings, and happiness.
And very big thank you for following our adventures. It means a lot to have you guys along for the ride.
Until next time, happy travels
Photography Gear for Travelling Light: A Love Affair with Cameras
Looking for the best small camera for travel? We share the photography gear we use and love. And our recommendations for the best travel camera for 2018.
What camera do you use? How do you get the smooth water effect? Isn’t all that camera gear heavy? What is the best compact zoom camera? What is the best small camera for travel?
These are just a few of the questions we get asked.
Full frame, DSLR, Four Thirds, Mirrorless, point and shoot, dual-lens, RAW, JPEG, Macro. Talking about cameras and photography is like learning a whole new language. I will try to keep it simple and share my passion for camera technology with you.
Every photographer's fantasy
Let me start out by saying that you can lavish $10,000 on a camera and lens and still take pretty average photos. The flip side of that is that you can have a cheap date with a $100 point and shoot and produce some fantastic images.
It’s not all about the camera; it’s the person handling the camera that counts.
Being able to see something uniquely, capturing the unexpected, having an eye for composition. These are the key things to taking anything other than snapshots.
Now an all singing all dancing digital camera can help you to take some super shots. For example, long exposures for shooting the Northern Lights, super quick shutter speed to capture fast-moving objects, sharp focusing to grab that cheeky smile or macro mode for close-ups of insects and flowers.
Please note we are an Amazon affiliate partner, so we earn a tiny amount if you buy anything through the links below, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the ever-increasing cost of running our site!
Yesterday - My First Love
Be still my beating heart....
In days of old before digital cameras came along, my very first love was an Olympus OM10. This was Olympus’s first mass-market camera. If the Olympus OM1 or OM2 was a little out of your reach, then this was the camera for you.
Now you can pick these great cameras up secondhand for less than $50. Of course, you almost need a second mortgage to get the film developed these days.
My youngest daughter, Katherine, has a little of the retro blood running through her veins. Not only does she love spinning vinyl, but she takes some mean photos using a film camera.
Pancake Rocks, New Zealand. photo by Katherine Ford
Fast forward to the digital world. Before we started travelling full time I had a full-on love affair with Canon cameras. My favourite girl was a Canon 6D. This is a full frame (the size of the sensor) camera in a prosumer body. It gave me 85% of what the pro-Canon 5D does at less than half the price.
Now every girl loves a little bling. So I splashed out for the following lenses for my girl:
Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro Lens, for super close up of flowers and insects
Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 Zoom lens for getting closer to wildlife and sporting events
Canon 50mm f1.8 Prime lens, great all-purpose lens.
Canon 16-35mm f4 Wide Angle Zoom, great for landscape photos.
I loved this camera and its lenses in a way that would send shivers down the spine of a non-camera user.
Today - Travelling Light with my Mistress
The total weight of the Canon body and lenses combined came to 3.22kg (7.10lbs). Or put it another way, 23% of my total backpack weight.
So with a heavy heart, my Canon girl and lens was ditched and replaced by a new love, the Fuji 100S. I also carry a compact zoom camera. These two cameras come to just 0.7kg (1.5lbs), less than 5% of my backpack weight.
The Fuji 100S is my uber-cool mistress. I adore her retro looks. It’s palm-sized (for me anyway) meaning it’s pretty discreet, great for candid photos.
If you are into sport or wildlife photography, then this not the camera for you as the lens is a fixed 23mm (pretty much what the human eye sees). Street photography and landscapes are where the 100S excels.
One of the great features of the Fuji 100S is that it has a built-in ND (neutral density) filter. Meaning I trick the camera into believing it’s darker than it is. This allows me to use a slower shutter speed which is great for getting that smooth water effect with waterfalls. No extra filters to carry.
Slow shutter speed equals silky smooth waterfalls.
Columbia River Gorge, heaven for waterfalls.
How to get close to wildlife or sport? I’ve chosen to go down the compact superzoom route.
I started with a Sony DSC-HX60V (24-720mm zoom) and have upgraded this recently to a Panasonic TZ80 (24-720mm zoom) mainly because the Panasonic allows me to shot in RAW mode and it also does 4K video. Images below where shot with the Sony DSC-HX60V
These pocket rockets don’t produce the sharpest of images but do help tell a story when needed.
Tomorrow - A New Love Affair
Fuji 100F same gorgeous retro look.
As much as I love the Fuji 100S, she’s coming to the end of her life. After three years on the road, the dust of Burning Man and salt of Bolivia have taken their toll on the old girl. Some of the buttons need an extra little push to work, and the cost of repair is just not viable anymore. The latest version of the Fuji 100S is the Fuji 100F. Same stunning retro looks, improved kick ass sensor and wifi. I’m sorely tempted.
But there’s a new girl in town! How u doin’, (use your best Joey from Friends' voice) Sony a6500. The latest version of the acclaimed compact ‘a’ series. Reviewers have raved about this camera, the super fast focus, incredible true to life colours and skin tones, small and compact size.
How u doin'
I have admired this gorgeous gal in store on several occasions. You may call it stalking.
Crazy I know but if Sony produced this camera with the same retro looks of the Fuji 100S, I would buy it in an instance. Yep, it’s all about the looks for me.
So what’s holding me back?
Money and Weight The Sony a6500 is a system lens camera, Meaning that you can swap out the lenses.
Meet the potential new wife and kids....
Knowing me, that would mean I would end up buying at least three lenses, (wide angle, zoom and prime lens). An expensive relationship, not sure I’m ready to commit just yet. The camera body is around the same price as the Fuji 100F, but the lens would add another $2,000 to the overall cost.
Then there’s the additional weight to carry. The camera body is small and super light, but the weight of those lenses would soon add up
In your pocket
They say that the best camera is the one you always have with you. In our case, this is an iPhone. Who buys a phone these days for making phone calls? It’s all about the camera.
Being an ex-employee, Apple is in my blood. In fact, I was in the auditorium when Steve Jobs announced the very first iPhone. Yep, I’m an Apple fanboy.
Julie and I both started out on our travels with an iPhone 6. We went with the largest capacity so that we would have no issues storing thousands of photos and hours of video.
Last year I upgraded to the iPhone 7 Plus. The camera on the 7 Plus is excellent. The dual lens system allows you to get some great portrait shots. The video quality is outstanding.
And yes I’ve been drooling over the new iPhone X.
We are getting closer and closer to the day when the smartphone will make compact cameras redundant. But will they ever replace system lens cameras?
Great question. With the help of some cool apps and add-ons, you can reproduce much of what a consumer Canon or Fuji camera can do. But there still the issue of the tiny sensors in smartphones.
There are great lenses that you can buy to expand the repertoire of the iPhone. There are a lot of folks capturing stunning images on an iPhone or Android device.
But for me, there’s something quite tactile about fiddling with knobs and dials.
Accessories
Tripod. If you are serious about night photography or capturing waterfalls at super slow shutter speeds, you are going to need a tripod. I recently change my tripod out (birthday pressie) for this lightweight Manafrotto. It’s only suitable for lightweight cameras like the Fuji 100S. If you have a more meaty camera like the Canon 6D, you are going to want something like the Manafrotto 290
Gimbal- my new toy. The Zhiyun Smooth-Q motorised grip holds my iPhone steady for getting professional looking video shots. Still very much a new relationship as we get to know each other.
iPhone Tabletop Tripod & Mudder - I’ve been carrying this since we left NZ. Great for time lapse photos, and Skype calls with the family.
Wacom Tablet - Bought on a whim when last in NZ to help with the photo editing. Don’t tell Julie but I've hardly used it.
Moment Lens - You can buy some super cheap additional lenses for the iPhone and Android smartphones, but don’t waste your money on cheap ones. Moment lenses use great glass, and for lenses, it’s all about the quality of the glass.
So that, in a nutshell, is all the camera gear we are carrying. I would love for it to be more, but long-term travel means sacrifices.
Time for one final date.
I’m so sad that the relationship with the Fuji 100S is coming to an end. Travel and time have taken their toll. Maybe this is the opportunity to take a long hard look at who will be my next camera sweetheart.
If we were static and back in the workforce I certainly would start dating the curvaceous Canon 6D once again.
If you are looking to take your first steps with digital photography, you can’t go far wrong with a system kit from Canon or Nikon. These are a perfect starting point.
But, be warned, photography can get very addictive and before long you may find yourself lavishing more and more on your new love.
The language of love, camera style
Sensor - captures the light coming through the lens when you press the shutter button.
Full Frame - the sensor is roughly the same size as the old 35mm film camera. Great for capturing super sharp images.
APC - cropped sensor that is roughly half the size of a full frame sensor. Found in most consumer digital cameras from the likes of Canon and Nikon.
DSLR - Digital Single Lens Reflex, posh name for a camera where you can swap out the lenses.
Four Thirds - smaller version of a DSLR, also known as mirrorless. You can get Four-Thirds cameras where you can swap out the lens, i.e. Sony a6500 or the mirrorless fixed lens version like the Fuji 100S.
jpg - compressed image that the camera decides is the best for the scene shot.
RAW - all the data from the camera sensor with no compression. Ideal for those who like to edit their own pictures.
Mudder - small clamp that can screw onto a tripod and hold a smartphone.
ND Filter - filter that screws on the front of your lens and reduces the amount of light hitting the camera sensor.
Gimbal - handheld motorised stabilisation grip.
10 Best Travel Coffee Table Books for Inspiring Wanderlust
Enjoy armchair travel at it's best, with our favourite travel coffee table books. Perfect for inspiring wanderlust.
I don’t know about you, but I find nothing more blissful than curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea while leafing through large glossy travel books crammed full of magical photographs and exciting travel possibilities. Armchair travel at its best.
I guess the fact you are reading this means you have a travel itch to scratch or know someone who does. So, here are some of my personal favourites (plus a couple on my Christmas wish list) to tickle your wanderlust.
I hope you find these recommendations as inspiring and fascinating as we have. They have helped shape our travels over the last two and a half years, and continue to do so as we plan 2018.
Please note we are an Amazon affiliate partner, so we earn a tiny amount if you buy anything through the links below, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the ever-increasing cost of running our site!
RARELY SEEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY
This delightful book filled with visual wonders that very few will have the chance to see for themselves.
National Geographic’s finest photographers capture places, events, natural phenomena, and man-made heirlooms seldom seen by the human eye. Including, 30,000-year-old cave art sealed from the public; animals that are among the last of their species on Earth; volcanic lightning; giant crystals that have grown to more than 50 tons; the engraving inside Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch.
This book is the ideal present for the traveller who has already digested all the usual travel book staples.
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
1,000 AMAZING PLACES OFF THE TOURIST TRAIL
With travel becoming more and more accessible and affordable, well-known tourist hot spots have become crowded with the selfie stick toting masses. For those who crave something different, but still want spectacular and rewarding, look no further than this travel guide which compares famous hot spots with less-trodden alternatives, warts and all.
Our travel bucket list grew after pouring through this fascinating book.
THE ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS
STEVE MCCURRY
Renowned photojournalist Steve McCurry shares some of his most beautiful and iconic images from around the world. With 30 years experience under his belt, he effortlessly captures humanity, storytelling with his pictures. Simultaneously uplifting and affecting.
Budding travel photographers will love this book.
DESTINATIONS OF A LIFETIME
225 OF THE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING PLACES
National Geographic does what it does best, taking you on a photographic journey through all manner of extraordinary places. This practical and stunning guide will inspire your travel adventures as well as provide useful information for each location, so you know when to go, where to stay, and what to eat.
This impressive 320-page tome, scoops up ancient monoliths, beautiful islands, stunning artwork, electric cityscapes, white-sand seashores, rain forests, ancient cobbled streets, and both classic and innovative architecture.
Armchair travelling has never been easier.
THE TRAVEL BOOK
A JOURNEY THROUGH EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, this gorgeous guide provides the perfect introduction to every country in the world. 230 countries, 850 stunning images, and commentary detailing when to visit, what to see and do, and how to learn more about each country’s culture from its films, music, food and drink.
This 448-page volume showcases each nation through remarkable photography of its people and landscapes, as well as vibrant street photography.
Lonely Planet at its best.
HUMANS OF NEW YORK
BRANDON STANTON
Not strictly a travel book, more a fantastic street photography collection. An essential part of documenting our travels is capturing the people we meet through our street photography.
Photographer, Brandon Stanton, set out to create a photographic census of New York City in the summer of 2010. But it became so much more than that. Now with a blog following of four million loyal fans, he presents beautiful, heartfelt, funny, and inspiring photographs and stories capturing the spirit of a city. This book shares 400 of his magnificent images.
Quite the inspiration for travel photographers, ourselves included.
JOURNEYS OF A LIFETIME
500 OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST TRIPS
A personal favourite of ours that we return to time and time again. This lavish volume spans all manner of adventures across the globe. Some well-known, some less so. All beautifully presented with the magnificent photography, you expect from National Geographic together with expert advice on how and when to visit.
So whether you fancy an Antarctica cruise, mountain biking in Transylvania, or driving the scenic Scottish Highlands, there is something for everyone craving a bit of adventure. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.
Another National Geographic gem.
BEACHES
GRAY MALIN
Gray Malin artfully captures awe-inspiring aerial photographs of beaches around the world, giving a new perspective on summer bliss. Shot from doorless helicopters, he combines the spirit of travel and adventure to create the ultimate visual escape.
More than 20 cities across six continents feature to provide every beach bunny with the perfect armchair getaway
ULTIMATE TRAVEL
OUR LIST OF THE 500 BEST PLACES TO SEE...RANKED
Lonely Planet has pulled together all its experience and knowledge to create this all-encompassing volume of the 500 most unmissable sights and attractions in the world.
The Lonely Planet's global community of travel experts has even conveniently ranked everything for you to create one massive travel bucket list. Complete with inspiring photography and helpful commentary.
A definitive wish list that will inspire any travel junkie.
59 ILLUSTRATED NATIONAL PARKS
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
We always knew the National Parks in the USA were special, but it wasn’t until we did some research for an upcoming road trip that we realised how special. This book captures and celebrates 100 years of wilderness and wonder at the 59 National Parks.
This is the perfect book to inspire your own trip to one (or many) of these diverse and beautiful parks.
Our next trip is already planned for 2018. Can’t wait!
We hope you have enjoyed our recommendations? Any books that you think we should add? We would love to hear from you. If you want to read more about some of our adventures inspired by these beautiful coffee table books, click below.
Happy New Year: 2016 OUR SECOND YEAR TRAVELLING REVIEWED IN RANDOM NUMBERS
Our annual end of year round up by numbers. What did 2016 hold for Julie and Steve? What were our personal highlights? All is revealed.
Happy New Year
Jeez where does the time go. It only seems like yesterday we were putting together last year’s blog wishing you all a Happy New Year. Catching up with family and friends is always going to be top of any highlights list. With that being a given here are our three travel highlights from 2016.
Julie
Living and loving Italian life, four months of eating and drinking like a local in picture perfect hilltop towns surrounded by rolling fields of sunflowers, basking in the summer sun. Bellissimo!
Hiking over 800 kms, tackling the Camino de Santiago was the hardest physical and mental challenge I have set myself. It was rewarding, fun and addictive.
Icelandic adventures, experiencing Iceland’s unique charms - fluffy chunks of snow covering us as we giggled our way across the continental divide, snapping pictures of icy waterfalls and frozen toes staring up at the incredible Northern Lights.
Steve
Capturing the Northern Lights, a freezing evening couldn’t hide the glow of delight when the first photo appeared on the back of the camera.
Completing the Camino de Santiago, the knee hung in there and 37 days after setting out we collapsed in front of the cathedral in Santiago.
Proud moment, watching my eldest daughter, Lauren being awarded with a Fine Arts Degree after 4 years of hard work.
2016 in Numbers
Here we go with some random numbers covering our travels for the last 12 months
- 10 countries visited, USA, Iceland, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Poland (Julie’s girls weekend) New Zealand, Spain, Croatia
- 3 capital city visited, Rome, Reykjavik, London
- 79 different beds boosted by the fact that we slept in 35 different beds whilst walking the Camino de Santiago. Too many bunk beds and snore filled dorms.
- 672 days since we started this journey
- 8 house sits completed
- 40 hours spent on ferries
- 240 vines cared for
- 42,318 kilometres covered since January 2016
- 600 the number of sculpture at The Sculpture Park, Surrey, England
- 30 the number of cats that have come under our care over the last year
- 0 the number of toes lost to frost bite whilst photography the Northern Lights
- 18 seconds the exposure time needed to capture the Northern Lights
- 800 kilometres the amount (ish) we walked from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago
- 15 days, the amount of time we have spent apart in the last year
- 1 the times the exhaust fell off the car in Italy
- 38,000 poor souls, including Steve that suffered through a dull Everton v Southampton 1-1 draw
- 114 gelato’s one for each day we were in Italy, the flavours are vast and varied, we had to taste each one.
- 2 the number of times Julie’s luggage went missing (Reykjavik to Los Angeles & Brisbane to Auckland)
Looking forward to 2017
Whist our plans for 2017 are still being developed we do know that Italy will once again be in our plans. Hmmm more gelato
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Laos
- Italy - (back to San Ginesio and Umbria to house sit)
- Bali
- Indonesia
- Cambodia
- Myanmar
A very Happy New Year to you all and very big thank you for following our adventures.
Julie & Steve
Happy New Year: 2015, Our First Year Travelling Reviewed in Random Numbers
2015: 11 countries, 63 beds, 9,546 photos and other random statistics from our first year travelling. We also share our travel plans for 2016.
January 2016
Julie and I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year. A big thank you for taking the time to read our travel adventures over the last few months. Some of you have even been kind enough to provide some feedback. Keep it coming.
Salut, Cheers, Bottoms Up
Catching Up
We still have a couple of posts to get out that cover our time in the USA and Costa Rica. We also want to write about our downsizing experience and how we got into house sitting. But we have been a little busy recently looking after 48 chickens, 2 cats, a dog, shovelling snow and spending time with my daughters for the first time in 10 months.
2015 in Numbers
As is customary at this time of year, here is a list of some random stats on our travels:
- 63 different beds that we slept in. Some were much more comfortable than others, some even had their own nightclub next door, some needed a mattress change
- 1 flights missed, it was so nearly two, save for a sprint through Auckland airport
- 11 countries visited, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, USA, Costa Rica, Australia (flight stop over), Colombia (just for the night) and the South Island (many of our Kiwi friends view the South Island as a separate country)
- 8 capital cities visited, Wellington, Santiago, Buenos Aires, La Paz, Lima, Quito, San Jose, Bogota
- 9,546 photos taken, count yourself lucky you have only seen a handful
- 6 items that Steve has lost or left behind, including a camera battery, 2 caps and a charger
- 82 nights spent in mobile homes, 36 in the Kombi aka ‘The Tardis,’ and 46 in the RV aka ‘The Wet Cardboard Box’
- 3 dollars Julie lost in Vegas, the gambling habit hit her hard
- 307 days since we moved out of our home and took the road
- 0 times we were seasick, despite spending 8 days at sea, but somebody did turn a nice tinge of green
- 53,706 kilometres covered since we left (33,371 miles) 1.34 times around the earth
- 93 hours spent on overnight buses in South America
- 10 states that we have visited in the USA
- 4 house sits completed, currently on our fifth and we have another six lined up
- 130 percentage of our USA budget spent, who knew the NZ$ will fall so far against the US$
Ahead in 2016
Our plans for 2016 are still quite fluid. So far we know that we will be visiting Iceland, UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. We will add to this list as the year starts to unfold. Some of what we are looking forward to:
- Experiencing the northern lights in Iceland
- Treading port grapes in Portugal, with lots of tastings
- Catching up with family and friends in the UK
- Trying to find the perfect bottle of Bordeaux in France
- Learning to make pasta in Italy
- Looking after a 7-month labrador pup at one of our confirmed house sits
- Putting our Spanish to good use
If I can get my act together we have the chance to get a travel-related article in print. One of the VW magazines in the UK is interested in publishing an piece on our NZ kombi trip.
2016 should be another exciting year, new countries to visit, new people to meet and new adventures. We hope you will come along on the journey with us.