See the world - Explore it

Romania  The 17 hour over night train from Budapest into Romania was an adventure in its self.   Under the impression there were no borders in Europe, we settled down to sleep in the steaming hot carriage with fortunately at least underwear on. Only to be startled awake by the train coming to an abrupt stop and banging on doors. Jason hurriedly opened our door revealing 3 stern, armed military policemen wanting to inspect our passports while I'm sat clutching a sheet to hide my dignity. Michaels passport causing much discussion, was taken away with no explanation resulting in us scrambling around trying to dress without exposing too much. Resolved, we settled down to sleep again only to repeat the whole fiasco 20 minutes later as it turns out we were now in Romania. This time a chatty women guard who laughed my compromised position off as, ‘ok as she had boobs too!’ Awkward!!   Waking early the view from the train was as if we had stepped onto another plane...

Poland Our trip into Poland was very much an unplanned detour after Prague. Being so close by train, it was a great opportunity to visit Auschwitz, the notorious WW2 Nazi concentration camp as an important history lesson for Michael. What we hadn’t expected, was just how extraordinary Poland would be in its self and Krakow, where we stayed was incredible. Krakow one of the oldest cities in Poland, with its old town being listed an UNESCO World heritage site was beautiful, albeit cold. It boasts the biggest market square in Europe and houses The Cloth Hall, apparently the first shopping mall in the world. Also St. Mary’s Basilica as well as Rynek Underground, a maze of underground medieval tunnel routes that run below the market square. Krakow also has its own royal castle, Wawel which looms above the city complete with a fire breathing dragon monument, worth a wander past in the evening. We loved Krakow and even the cold added to the magical feel to the city. Our apartmen...

Watching the UK coast line come into view was an incredibly emotional moment, remembering how long ago we had left to start a new life in New Zealand. The countryside appeared scorched from the ongoing heatwave, not its usual lush green, but still recognisable as home. We arrived into London after two flights and 14 hours which actually was remarkably pain free. Michael had slept and woke in a good mood which was fortunate as we had mistakenly booked to arrive into Gatwick Airport, meaning we had a train and the underground to navigate with backpacks before arriving at our Airbnb situated in Camden. Exhausted but determined to stay awake we dumped the bags and headed straight into chaotic colourful Camden Market where we were thrilled to watch the expression on Michael's face as he stared at the outlandish shop fronts, and marvelled at the range of Fortnite t-shirts and memorabilia every where. He decided instantly he liked London! Our first meal in London left us feelin...

Kiwi See the World “through my eyes”- Cambodia We took a bus over the border into Cambodia and with quiet trepidation surveyed the view from the window. In many ways it reminded us of Lao. Lots of dilapidated villages, wooden shacks and extremely poor, a sharp contrast to the more affluent Vietnam we had left behind. We were however pleasantly surprised to arrive into Phnom Penh, which was a bustling, relatively clean glittering city, much to Michaels relief who had fretted and questioned us about our likely accommodation the whole way. Our first day was to tour the Killing Fields and S-21 genocide museum. A former high school converted into jail where thousands of Cambodians we're brutally tortured, starved and murdered by the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 -1979. A graphic and harrowing experience to look into the eyes of the men, women and children catalogued and photographed on entering the jail never to leave. 3 million victims over quarter of the population murde...

We arrived in Hanoi exhausted after a 26-hour torturous sleeper bus journey from Lao but were instantly energised, as we stepped out of the taxi into the brightly lit night streets of the old quarter. A wall of sound, lights, people and aroma hit us. Scooter exhausts growling, horns beeping, street sellers and touts instantly produced their wares, a wave of people and an abundance of colour. Wow we had arrived! Michael was instantly overloaded and proceeded to shout at anyone in his path, while Jason and I just walked, mouth wide open in amazement, soaking in the amazing, welcoming vibe. This city just rocks! We had heard just how bad the traffic was going to be, but nothing had prepared us for trying to cross a road. Realising that we were going to be stood a very long time, we just had to put the theory to the test and step out into the sea of scooters and taxis. One step slowly in front of the other, don’t panic, don’t change direction and don’t stop. I realised afte...