Sorkoo Adventures

Photos: Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa

sorkoo — Mon, 6 Nov 2017 08:52:00 GMT

The final week of the Sorkoo Adventure

Photos: Sacred Valley

sorkoo — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 22:07:00 GMT

Incan Ruins, Ollantaytambo and Cusco

Lima and the Sacred Valley

sorkoo — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 08:41:00 GMT

After an amazing visit in Argentina it was time to move on to our final South American country, Peru. Danny, Julie and I landed in Lima in the afternoon and headed to the Miraflora district. We were all surprised to find Lima, or at least our neighborhood, to be modern and clean. We spent two and a half days exploring Miraflores. We visited ruins from the Lima Civilization, ate delicious ceviche, strolled the cliff walk above the ocean and shopped in the markets. The city was beautiful and the food was delicious but after three days we were ready for the real reason we went to Peru, the Sacred Valley to see Incan Ruins!

We flew into Cusco and immediately headed down mountain to the town of Ollantaytambo. I'm glad we did! Even at the lower elevation of Ollantaytambo I still experienced a bit of altitude sickness our first morning. Thankfully, I was the only one and it only lasted that morning. Our first afternoon we visited the Incan temple/fortress of Ollantaytambo and then hiked up the mountain to some Incan granaries. Amazing! Ollantaytambo itself is a cute little village with cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings and decent food. A great little city and a great start.

The next morning we were up early to grab a local bus to the small town of Hydroelectrica. The 4 hour bus ride was bumpy and windy. Not a great ride for any of us, especially Julie. But we made it! From Hydroelectrica it is a 7km walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. This bus ride and walk is not only a cheaper option to get to Machu Picchu, but also provides beautiful views of the Andes mountains. We made it to Aguas Calientes in time for a quick dinner and immediately to bed. We had an early morning coming up for Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is everything we thought it would be!! We arrived at the bus terminal at 5:15am and waited an hour to get on a bus. Who knew everyone with morning tickets would want to arrive so early? It's a 20 minute bus ride up the mountain to the entrance. We found a tour guide and entered the park. The first view is beautiful. You walk in and are surrounded by the ruins and mountains. The early morning fog made the ruins seem magical! Our tour guide took us through the bottom half of the ruins were we learned how to distinguish temple buildings versus the living quarters of royalty and the commoners. About 80% of the ruins are original and many of the walls and buildings are in perfect condition. The site is so vast that even with all the tourists you can take in the grandeur. It felt like every stone was selected for a purpose and placed in its perfect location. This city in the mountains is incredible.

And speaking of mountains, our second part of the day was dedicated to climbing Machu Picchu Mountain. We headed to the top part of the ruins where you can get amazing views of the city below. Then we headed further uphill to the entrance of our mountain hike. The hike itself isn't long but it is completely up hill. With the high altitude we could only walk up so many steps before needing a break. Julie and I took every break we could and enjoyed watching the ruins get smaller and smaller as we headed up the mountain. Danny was clearly in better shape and headed up the mountain at a pretty quick place. We were impressed. The top provided beautiful views of the ruins below and the other mountains around us. By the time we got back down I was feeling drained from the sun, an early morning and maybe dehydration. We sat down at the top of the hill for one last look of the ruins below; then we left Machu Picchu feeling breathless from the hike and the amazement.

Back in Aguas Calientes we had a hearty, long lunch and the we headed to the station to board a train back to Ollantaytambo. The next day we visited the circular farming ruins in Moray, the salt mines in Salineras and the ruins turned church in Chinchero. We spent our last four nights with Julie in Cusco, the 3rd largest city in Peru. Unfortunately, I had a bad bout of altitude sickness so I spent one of the days resting while Julie and Danny explored the Incan ruins close to Cusco proper. The next day, the three of us explored the cobblestone streets of Cusco. We admired colonial churches, shopped, visited museums and explored an Incan palace that was turned into a giant church. We were having a great time but sadly, it was time for Julie to head home . It was great having her join us for two weeks and we were sad to see her go.

Now just the two of us, Danny and I had one more site to visit in the Sacred Valley. The morning after Julie left we were up at 3:15am to join a tour to Rainbow Mountain. It was a three hour drive to the mountains but neither one of us slept due to sheer excitement. After breakfast we began the 12km round trip hike. Once again, it isn't the distance nor the incline that makes this hike difficult but the altitude. The hike begins at 4,000m above sea level and ends at 5,200m. The altitude didn't suit me well so I rented a horse halfway up. Once again, Danny was amazing and climbed it all. He even beat my horse to the top! It was tough to breath at the top (especially for me) but in front of us stood a mountain full of color. It was a beautiful site! And a perfect end to our time in the Sacred Valley.

I think we both agree that the Sacred Valley has been one of our favorite stops in the Sorkoo Adventure. Speaking of adventures, we're on the last week of this amazing trip before heading to Aruba for Elena and Eric's wedding!!!!!!

Photos: Lima

sorkoo — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 08:25:00 GMT

a foodies paradise

Photos: Buenos Aires

sorkoo — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 03:05:00 GMT

Photos: Patagonia

sorkoo — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 23:35:00 GMT

El Calafate and El Chalten

Buenos Aires - A homecoming

sorkoo — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 22:23:00 GMT

My family left South Korea and immigrated to Buenos Aires when I was two. Now 34, it's the first time I've been back to the place I spent my early childhood. It's been 25 years too long. Thanks to the Sorkoo Adventure, not just one, but two Koos are back in town!

Natalie and I spent two days in Buenos Aires (BA) before Julie arrived. We used our time to relax and get acquainted with the neighborhood we were staying in, Palermo. We did a bit of shopping, explored the markets, viewed the street art, drank coffee and Malbec and ate delicious pizza and parilla. Time went by quickly and before we knew it, Julie had arrived. It was great to see family and a friend and very exciting to start reminiscing.

Our first adventure took us on a 10 mile journey through the city. BA is a A LOT bigger than I remembered! I guess everything seems a lot bigger when you're a kid. We walked through several neighborhoods before reaching the famous obelisk which looks like a mini version of the Washington Monument. We then had a nostalgic pizza meal for lunch. Nostalgic for Julie and me and different for Natalie. BA pizza is very different from NYC pizza. More similar to Chicago style, BA pizza crust is thicker and the cheese is heavier. After lunch we walked to the San Telmo neighborhood to wander the street market that takes place every weekend. After some rest, we enjoyed a nice dinner with a good bottle of Malbec.

On day two, we boarded the bus to La Boca. Colorful buildings line the streets in a contrast that is surprisingly appealing to the eyes. This is the home of Tango! Pick any lunch spot and you are guaranteed to watch tango dancers while enjoying your meal. We sat down for a lunch of choripan and homemade pasta made complete with live music and a tango performance. That night we feasted on empanadas, melted cheese, olives, pickles, mushrooms and of course, a bottle of Malbec! Again, all of it very nostalgic minus the Malbec :)

Day 3 was another wonderful day filled with lots of walking. We grabbed coffee and walked around our neighborhood, Palermo. Then, we headed to the fancy neighborhood of Recoleta. We passed museums and parks but the main attraction is the large cemetery that is the final resting place for Buenos Aires elite, including Eva "Evita" Peron. The cemetery is endless and a beautiful and peaceful place to stroll. We then walked to this amazing bookstore that was once a theater. The stage is now a cafe and the bookshelves sit under a wonderfully painted ceiling. Amazing! We had a long walk back to our neighborhood so we stopped for some dulce de leche ice cream. Our feet sure were tired but it was a wonderful day.

We saved our final day in BA to travel to the suburb where Julie and I grew up. After an hour and 40 minute bus ride, we arrived. From the minute we stepped off the bus everything came back to Julie and me. Sure, things have changed, but we had no problems remembering what used to be where and what still remained. We felt like kids in a candy store. We ventured to the street where my parents clothing store was and where we spent the majority of our childhood. Talk about going back in time!

There were two other stores we spent the majority of our childhoods in. A bakery owned by two of our best friends (Pamela and Guido) and a barber shop owned by a father like figure that I called Tio (uncle in Spanish). I had spent a lot of time wondering if I'd ever see Pamela, Guido, and Tio over the last 25 and what it would be like to see them again. So we looked around... the bakery sign was still there but it was rotting away and the store had changed. The barber shop had also changed. But then, Julie spotted a barber shop across the street with a man in a red shirt reading a book. Could it be??? My heart started racing and my mind was all over the place. We ran across the street and we entered the barber shop. He looked like Tio but we weren't certain. This man was a lot older than I remembered Tio being. Only one way to find out. "Oscar"? "Si". We told him our names but it didn't click right away. Seconds later his jaw dropped and tears trickled down his cheeks as they did down ours. We hugged so much and for so long that I forgot to introduce him to my better half. I introduced Natalie and he hugged her as warmly as he hugged Julie and me. Welcome to the family :) We spent the next two hours catching up with Tio and I even got a much needed haircut. As a child, Tio had promised me free haircuts for a lifetime and he kept his word that day. It was the best haircut ever. Tio called his wife (Olga) and son (Hernan) and soon it was a true family reunion. They wouldn't let us leave without agreeing to join them for dinner so we promised to come back later that night after exploring the old neighborhood.

We had lunch at our favorite childhood pizza place. We found our schools, our old homes and the spot where we took Tae Kwon Do lessons. We enjoyed coffee at the store that our mom went to almost every day. Time flew and before we knew it, it was time for dinner with Tio. Dinner was at Hernan's with his wife and their beautiful 18 month old baby. We enjoyed a delicious meal and great conversations about the past, the present and the future. We video called our parents and they all couldn't stop laughing and catching up. It was a magical moment. Goodbyes included more tears and promises to stay in touch. It was a really special night for everyone and the perfect way to end our time in Buenos Aires.

Patagonia!!!!

sorkoo — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 09:33:00 GMT

Not once during the first 4 months of our trip did we think we would end up in... Patagonia!!! From Portes Natales, Chile we boarded a bus for the small town of El Calafate, Argentina. Even though we’ve crossed many borders by now I still get anxious. What do we do if they don’t let us through? But of course, everything was fine. Suddenly, and unceremoniously, we were in Argentina! On the drive we passed dry brush with mountains in the background. Four hours later, El Calafate. This mountain town reminded us Jackson Hole or maybe a bigger Park City.

We made new friends on the bus and joined them at a brewery for decent beer(s) and one delicious lamb stew. A few hours later we met them again for an Argentine buffet dinner with plenty of Malbec to go around. We figured out the next morning that it may have been a little too much Malbec., but it was a fun night nevertheless.

The next day we got up bright and early to see the star of El Calafate, the Perito Moreno Glacier. This is the only glacier in the world that continues to grow; 2 meters a day. This allows us tiny humans to get close to this large, natural wonder. It’s hard to put into words how awesome this glacier is. It’s huge! Parts of the ice are strikingly blue. We spent hours walking near the glacier and hoping to see chunks fall off into the lake, aka calving. It was a windy day but the sun was out providing beautiful views of the glacier. It really felt like a dream. We ended the day with some amazing empanadas and we both agree that it was one of our best days yet.

The next stop on our Patagonia adventure was El Chalten, the hiking capital of Patagonia. A three hour drive took us along more dry brush, small hills and giant, snow capped mountains. When we arrived in El Chalten it was rainy and cloudy. It was impossible to see the mountains that this area is famous for, but we decided to go on a hike anyway. It was pouring and windy by the time we reached the trail head so we waited it out near the trail map. The sun finally came out and we hiked to a gorgeous waterfall. A great way to stretch our legs before the real hiking began.

We spent the next 4 days doing most of the hikes in the area. We hiked 20 kilometers round trip to the famous Fitz Roy mountain. This trail was beautiful and not too challenging until the final kilometer straight uphill, in the snow. We did the 18 kilometer round trip hike to Cerro Torre twice. Our first time it was cold and snowy. With all the clouds we never actually saw Cerro Torre, though we did see a glacier. The second time was on a beautiful sunny day with great views of Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy. We also snuck in a short uphill hike to see condors, lakes and a panoramic view of El Chalten. On our way down we got lucky and ran across two armadillos and a beautiful fox.

El Chalten was a funny little town. It’s full of hostels/hotels, restaurants and a few souvenir shops. It was a great place to call home for a few nights. Our time in Patagonia was priceless! The weather turned out to be amazing, the hikes were long and tiring but the views were truly inspiring. We are so glad we made it down.

Photos: Santiago, Chile

sorkoo — Sun, 8 Oct 2017 09:09:00 GMT

Back in the America’s: An adventure in Chile

sorkoo — Sun, 8 Oct 2017 05:04:00 GMT

Landing in Santiago reminded me that time is flying and our trip is slowly coming to an end. Ending, but not over. There was still much to see and South America promised a different adventure than Asia or Oceania. After a 10 hour flight from Auckland we landed early in the afternoon Santiago time and both felt a bit drained. We managed to make our way downtown to our hotel and resisted the urge to immediately go to bed. Instead, we walked the little hilly park near our hotel and then continued on to the Plaza del Armas. Here we found old men playing chess, young people hanging out and both young and old dancing the tango. It was Friday evening and the bars were packed for Happy Hour. We wandered the streets for a bit and eventually found ourself eating sushi for dinner. Sushi must be popular in Santiago as there were plenty of sushi restaurants. We were back at our hotel early and excited for a bed and some sleep.

Sleep was not easy to come by. The time difference found Danny awake in the middle of the night. And while I slept for almost 12 hours I still awoke feeling tired. For the first time, we were glad it was a rainy day. It allowed us to take things slow. We headed to a coffee shop and spent the early part of the afternoon planning our time in South America. We arrived with pretty much no plan other than meeting Danny’s sister in Buenos Aires. What should we do until then? Not a tough decision but it required a lot of research. Patagonia.

With that decision made and some flights booked we headed to the Central Market for a delicious meal of warm fish soup! That evening we moved into an AirBNB, cooked our own dinner, drank local wine and relaxed.

Our next day we headed to Valparaíso. This coastal town two hours from Santiago is known for the hundreds of murals painted on every inch of its walls. Colorful houses fill the hills that over look the bay. There are many abandoned buildings and others that could use a facelift. It has a bit of a run down feel but it’s what gave this city its charm; along with the murals. The sunshine was on full blast that day and it was perfect for just wandering around. You can see the many mural photos in our photo gallery.

We spent our remaining two days in Santiago walking the city and preparing for Patagonia. We had a delicious lunch in the Bella Vista neighborhood. We climbed the top of the Cerro San Cristobal for views of the city and the giant statue of Mary the Immaculate. Our sneakers had seen better days so we also found time to buy some hiking shoes in preparation for Patagonia. We walked a lot! But we also spent time relaxing in our apartment.

We drank a bit of Chilean wine. We tried the pisco sour, Chile’s famous cocktail. It was muy delicioso! Santiago is known for their variety of hot dogs. I tried one with tomatoes, guacamole and melted cheese. It was strange but not bad. We tried mote con huesillo, a traditional summer-time drink made from fresh cooked husked wheat (mote) and dried peaches (huesillo) that are cooked in sugar, water and cinnamon. It’s a drink and a meal in one and it we really enjoyed it.

It was now time to leave the city and head back to nature. We’ve realized time and time again how much we prefer nature or small towns over big cities. Santiago felt draining and we needed fresh air and the excitement of hiking. We were headed to the Argentinian side of Patagonia but it was so much cheaper to fly to the Chilean part. So we flew to Puntas Arenas (Chile), took a bus to Portes Natales (Chile), and took yet another bus to El Calafate (Argentina). And here we are! At the end of the world and the end of our time in Chile. Santiago was nice but Argentina, here we come!

Photos: Street art and more in Valparaiso

sorkoo — Mon, 2 Oct 2017 22:04:00 GMT

A New Zealand camper van itinerary

sorkoo — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:41:00 GMT

As our GPS in the North Island said, "Grab your jandals, togs and chilly bin. Cheers for the ride mate." Or in other words, grab your flip-flops, bathing suits and cooler, you've arrived. We really had arrived! We were in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. We wouldn't be wearing bathing suits or sandals. Instead we would be wearing sweaters and hiking boots and we would be sleeping for the next ten nights in our own camper van. Driving is half the fun in the South Island as every turn is beautiful. This part of our trip may end up as our favorite and we encourage everyone who loves hiking and camping to travel the South Island in a camper van. Here's our itinerary to get you started on your travel.

Day 1 - Arrive in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island. You're here for the outdoors. Skip the city and spend your first night near the airport so you can get up early the next morning to get your van.

Day 2 - Pick up your van and hit the road. Head northwest and drive the scenic road through Arthur's Pass National Park. The mountains are a beautiful first backdrop to your drive. Be sure to get out for a hike or just to take pictures. There are some nice waterfalls in the park. Continue out the west side of the park toward the ocean. It's been a long day of driving so find somewhere to spend the night. The beauty of a camper van is you can stay pretty much anywhere as long as there is a bathroom. Some places are better than others. The spot we stayed in the fist night was somewhat creepy in my opinion. Luckily we didn't need to go into the creepy building other than to use the bathrooms. Cooking, eating and sleeping would all be done from the van or the campsite.

Day 3 - Make the short drive to Franz Josef Glacier to see one of NZ's many glaciers. An easy walk through the glacier carved valley will take you past waterfalls to a viewing point of Franz Josef Glacier. Even from a distance you can see the power of the glacier and how it shaped the large mountains. Too bad the glacier is quickly receding! It would have been amazing to get even closer. If time permits, do another hike. Perhaps one that takes you high into the mountains to get an overview glimpse of the glacier and the little village below.

Day 4 - Continue South just an hour to Fox Glacier. It's another easy walk to the viewing point of this glacier's face. Fox Glacier is smaller than Franz Josef but still impressive. It's a nice way to get the blood pumping in the morning before a long drive. You'll continue South until you hit the town of Haast where the road heads eastward away from the ocean. Consider stopping along the beach for a short walk and a packed lunch before reaching Haast.

The road from Haast to Wanaka is one of NZ's scenic highway. Natural wonders are easy to find just off the road including more waterfalls and the beautiful blue pools. At the final stretch of your drive you hit Lake Wanaka. Park your van for the night at the small park at the tip of the lake. Watch the sun set over the lake and the mountains, then tuck yourselves into the van to stay out of the wind.

Day 5 - Drive South along Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea until you reach the cute town of Wanaka. Do a hike or two to see the beautiful lakes from above. The water is amazingly blue and the grass is fantastically green, especially after a few days of rain! You won't be able to stop taking pictures. Spend the night in Wanaka. If you have trouble with the electrical power to your van there is a very helpful man at the Glendu Campground.

Day 6 - Take the shorter yet more mountainous drive down from Wanaka toward Queenstown. The curvy drive along the edge of the mountain is part of the fun. Skip Queenstown! You're here for nature. Continue the long drive all the way to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. Careful if the weather is windy. Check to make sure the road to Milford Sound is not closing due to torrential rain. If it is, head straight for the Sound to make sure there are no issues. If there is a bit of rain, the water will cascade down the mountain all throughout the National Park. This drive is steep and curvy but beautiful. There's only one campground/hotel in Milford Sound. On a very rainy evening it's a perfect place for cards and some drinks. Cook dinner in their kitchen and make friends with some Aussies. Do your best to sleep through the rain that sounds like hail. And don't worry, a tree won't fall on your van, even if you fear it all night long.

Day 7 - Take an early morning cruise into Milford Sound. We can only speak for our experience, but sometimes your boat has an engine problem so they have to upgrade you to a nicer boat. And sometimes the rain and road closure will prevent the day tourists from coming into the Sound. Stay a rainy night in Milford Sound and you just might be one of 16 people on your boat. The cruise is amazing. View waterfalls pounding down from the mountains full from last nights rain. Check out the seals. Feel the waves of the Tasman Sea. When the boat drives close to the waterfalls stand on the front bow and let the water hit you. It's an amazing two hour ride.

Hop back in your van and take the long drive back north. The previous nights rain made the waterfalls along the drive even more amazing. Hope for a sunny day and it will be perfect weather for pictures of sheep grazing and Lake Wakatipu. When your driver feels tired. Pick a place to stay for the night and hope to see some amazing stars.

Day 8 - A few hours drive will take you past the brilliant blue of Lake Pukaki to Mt. Cook/Aoriki National Park. Mt. Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand and many climbers practice there before hiking Everest. All the mountains in this National Park are impressive. There's a little hike to see the Tasman Glacier and Mount Cook (if it's not too cloudy). Be sure to hike down to the river to get up close to the winter-blue waters of the lake where you will find glacial ice chunks floating in the river. There's a cheap, no frills campsite just under the mountains. Stay the night if it means you can hike the next day in better weather. And bundle up, it will be cold in that van.

Day 9 - Nothing can describe waking up to the sun hitting the jagged peaks in Mt. Cook National Park. It will be cold out but get up and take a look. Get ready early to be one of the first on the busy Hooker Valley Trail. It's a pretty flat trail among the mountains to the Hooker Glacier and views of Mount Cook. Spend some time at the end of the trail enjoying the beauty. Head back for a quick sandwich lunch and then hike Red Tarns. It's a straight up hill climb but the views from the top are incredible. The little lakes at the top will perfectly reflect the mountains. And you might even see some snow. It will be sad to leave this beautiful area but it's time to move on.

Drive again past Lake Pukaki (you're in no rush, stop and take many pictures), then continue east to Lake Tekapo. There isn't much to do around here so just take the evening slow and camp by one of the smaller lakes. If it's not too cold, enjoy the night sky. This town is one of the darkest in the world, lending great views of the stars and the Milky Way.

Day 10 - Sadly, your last full day. Hike the Mt. John Summit to see Lake Tekapo from above. Continue for another 2 hours the long way down along the blue lake. As the mist rises from the lake and the mountains, it will leave you in awe and feeling sad to leave NZ. View the small and historic Church of the Good Sheppard at the edge of the lake. Then jump in the car for your last drive toward Christchurch. Stay in any little town along the way to make your last day's drive a little easier. Time for laundry and cleaning up the van.

Day 11 - Time to head to Christchurch, but first you need to deep clean the van. Why pay a $75 cleaning fee when you can wash the van yourself. It's sad to fold up your little bed and say goodbye and even sadder to leave the island. You will feel like there are more beautiful spots to see, more waterfalls to chase after and more secret gems to discover, but it's time to go.

For us, the Americas were calling. We're not ready to head home yet but we need to make our way back sometime. We'll do it slowly and through South America!

Photos: New Zealand - South Island

sorkoo — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:14:00 GMT

Photos: New Zealand - North Island

sorkoo — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 06:07:00 GMT

A New Zealand North Island visit with the Sorkins

sorkoo — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:46:00 GMT

Our first order of business upon arrival at Auckland was meeting our new German friend from the China trip, Stef. We got drinks by the water, followed by ramen, the fanciest ice cream and lots of booze. It was great to catch up and hear how her time in New Zealand has been. We fell asleep that night full of beer and excitement for our New Zealand adventure.

The next morning we gathered our bags and headed to meet my parents!!! It was so nice to see some familiar faces from home. There were lots of hugs and things to catch up on.

After a quick breakfast we boarded a ferry to the island of Waiheke. There,the hop on hop off bus took us around the rather large island for views of the ocean, walks on the beach, cute shops and a beautiful winery. The wine was delicious but drinking wine in NZ is not cheap! Sadly, the Mudruck Winery would be the only one we would visit.

The next day we picked up our car. Danny was clearly meant to be our driver. He handled driving on the left like a pro. It was an overcast, slightly rainy day, but we drove to Waitakere Ranges National Park. Danny weaved us through the mountains down to the beach where we saw black sand. Then we checked out our first of many waterfalls. It was nice to be back in nature.

Day 3 took us away from Auckland to the town of Rotorua, the culture capital of New Zealand, where we spent the next three days exploring the surroundings. We saw a waterfall, walked amongst sulphur hot springs, did a Redwood tree walk, hiked in the rain and attended a Maori dinner. The dinner was an interesting look at Maori culture and dance. The weather in Rotorua wasn't great so we didn't get out in nature as much as we would've liked.

After Rotorua we drove to the Waitamo glow caves. Our tour took us deep into a cave where we boarded a small boat in the pitch black. As the boat slowly moved through the cave river the ceiling began to glow with small dots of light. Small bugs let off this light to attract food. To us, it was like seeing the stars. Really amazing. From the caves we went to Hamilton for our last night together which also happened to be Danny's birthday. We celebrated with a nice dinner and even some cake!

There was enough time on our final day to walk around the Hamilton Gardens that turned out to be a gorgeous, sunny last day. The small walk through the different gardens was a great way to say goodbye to the North Island.

Sadly, it was a rushed goodbye to my parents. It was so good to spend time with family and I think everyone had a wonderful time! The week together went by fast but it was a great one.

Photos: Sydney

sorkoo — Sat, 9 Sep 2017 18:45:00 GMT

Photos: Inle Lake, Myanmar

sorkoo — Fri, 8 Sep 2017 21:16:00 GMT

A quick week in Sydney

sorkoo — Tue, 5 Sep 2017 13:14:00 GMT

Landing in Sydney felt strange. Signs were in English, the airport was clean and the people were well dressed. We were back in a first world country and it felt like home. A little too much like home. Our trip is far from over but being in Sydney felt like we reached a travel hump of sorts. That being said, we were excited to explore comfortably and eat some familiar food.

First order of business was to settle into a new hemisphere. We had gone from the balmy 80 degree weather of Southeast Asia to the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Our first day was filled with laundry and shopping. That evening, dressed in our new outfits, we met Danny's former boss and friend for dinner. The boys had a good time catching up and it was nice to get insider tips from a local.

We spent the next five days exploring Sydney. We saw the famous Opera House from every angle. We walked across the Sydney Harbor Bridge to see the North side. We strolled the Royal Botanical Gardens and the streets of the Rock District. We walked Darling Harbour, Surrey Hill and Redfern.

One day, we took the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. The 30 minute ferry ride is an adventure on its own with great views of the Opera House, bridge and Sydney skyline. Once in Manly we walked along the beach, climbed a small hill and enjoyed a bottle of wine while watching the surfers.

The next day, we rode the bus to Coogee Beach to walk the famous Coogee to Bondi Beach walk. The 2 hour walk takes you along the coast past small beaches and a large cemetery. We stopped along the way to watch the waves crash up on the rocks (where Danny got himself soaking wet). Again, we had a bottle of wine on a rock above the ocean but this time, with cheese, salami and crackers! It had been months since we last had cheese and it was absolutely delightful. When we arrived at Bondi Beach we were dazzled by a colorful sky filled with kites. It was the Sydney Kite Festival and it was a beautiful site.

Our trip to Sydney was short but nice. We are well rested and well fed. We enjoyed the Western food and the wine. We met some nice people and it felt like a pit stop at home. But we're off again to the beautiful scenery of New Zealand!

Photos: Mandalay and Bagan, Myanmar

sorkoo — Fri, 1 Sep 2017 18:34:00 GMT

Myanmar Adventures

sorkoo — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:11:00 GMT

It was something of a random decision to go to Myanmar. It's a country neither of us thought we would visit. We were drawn to photos of the sun setting at Bagan and the mysteries of a country that has only recently opened its doors to the outside world. Throughout our stay, it often felt like we were the only tourists around. Myanmar is off the beaten path and we visited at the low season for tourists. It was great!

Our first stop was Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar. We visited many temples including one where only men could go up to touch a large Buddha and cover it with gold leafs. Yep, Danny got to touch the Buddha while Natalie took pictures from the hall. We took a trip to Inwa Island where we bumped around on a horse drawn carriage to see more temples and we ended our day at the longest teak bridge in the world. Locals and tourists were gathered there to watch the sunset, grab a drink or picnic.

A highlight of the day was when we randomly stopped at a school. The children were eager to show us their classrooms and practice their English. Over 2,000 children attend this free school. Most were young Buddhist monks or nuns. Myanmar is such a poor country and joining a temple is quite enticing to children as they receive shelter, food and sometimes education.

There was another level of poverty in Mandalay that we had never seen. We saw small huts and shacks all along the side of the highway. The inhabitants came from a village that floods every year. Each rainy season they take their families and livestock to these huts on the side of a very busy road. We can't imagine ever seeing this in America. As we left Mandalay we felt a little sad and grateful for what we have.

Our second stop was the ancient capitol of Bagan where once, over 10,000 temples and pagodas dotted the dry landscape. Time and earthquakes have brought that number down to just 2,000. We spent two days on an e-bike driving dirt paths and roads around temples and pagodas. Some are in ruins while others are newly built. Each road was a new adventure. One day, we got stuck in a cattle traffic jam and then were immediately surrounded by goats. It was cool yet scary. We joined other tourists at the large temples but found ourselves alone in smaller temples and pagodas. The sunsets and sunrises were beautiful even if they weren't perfect. This is why we decided to visit Myanmar and it was well worth it.

From Bagan, we took the worst bus ride of our life to Inle Lake. We both ate something bad that morning and had to deal with horrible stomach pains on a 7 hour hot and bumpy ride. Thankfully, it was well worth it. We hired a long boat to take us around the lake. We visited villages on stilts, floating tomatoes gardens, two giant temples and an area filled with hundreds of pagodas. The weather was cooler and the scenery was beautiful. On our second day, we biked around the lake villages. We ended at Red Mountain Winery for a late lunch and a wine tasting. The wine was light and not bad. It was a fun way to end our trip in Myanmar.

Our time in Asia was amazing. We can't believe it has come to an end. We had heavy hearts as we flew out of the smallest airport ever and onto the next phase of our adventure.