It’s wild to think we left home six months ago. Time has flown, the memories are stacked a mile high, and somehow we’re only halfway through the adventure. Here’s the whistle-stop reel of what’s happened so far.
Six-Month Whirlwind Recap
We set off July 5, pointed the car at Penticton, BC to visit Nic’s mom (Moire), then I ducked to Ontario to see my family. Nic joined me there for a week—highlight surprise: a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls. By month’s end we flew to Tanzania: a sun-soaked week in Zanzibar (swam with dolphins!), a stubborn stomach bug (thanks, night market), my Kilimanjaro attempt to ~5200m, and a safari trifecta—Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara—where lions stole the show. We bussed to Kenya (Lake Nakuru rhinos, elephant orphanage, giraffe centre), hopped to Dubai to hide from the heat in the world’s largest mall, then looped Morocco: Casablanca → Fez → Chefchaouen → Sahara → Dades Gorge → Marrakech → Essaouira (souqs galore; we mailed a box of treasures home).
Next: the UK with Nic’s sister Jenny, a day in Birmingham to see my Aunt Fran, and two nights in Brockenhurst spotting free-roaming horses and donkeys. We met Moire in Madrid; Nic and her mom walked a week of the Camino while I took Spanish and stayed with friends (hola, Nicolás & family). From Geneva (hello, Minoo & Bernie & kids) we flew to Rome and boarded a 3-week Mediterranean cruise: Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Israel—Israel was our standout, plus a crew of ship friends we loved hanging with. We disembarked in Athens for ruins and souvlaki, then hopped to Istanbul for a few days of mosques, markets, and tea.
Nepal came next. We flew into Kathmandu under crystal skies (caught an Everest view from the plane), lingered eight days for our India visas during election week (quiet streets, clear air), then down to Chitwan for our first “tiger hunt” (rhinos: yes; tigers: not yet; elephant rides: unforgettable). In Pokhara we tackled the 5-day Poon Hill trek (3200m), with Annapurna views that looked painted on. Lumbini—the Buddha’s birthplace—then across into India: Varanasi’s life-and-death along the Ganges and Agra’s Taj Mahal via sleeper trains. From Agra we hired a car/driver through Rajasthan—Ranthambore, Jaipur, Jodhpur—before finishing in Delhi. Ranthambore finally delivered: one glorious tiger sighting that brought tears to Nic’s eyes. We exhaled for 11 lazy beach days in Goa over the holidays, and wrapped the six months in Hampi among temple-strewn hills (today’s scooter mission = multiple shrines, maximum smiles).
Goa: Our Big Recharge
Since the last post, we did… gloriously little. Palolem Beach became our daily routine: two to three hours of sun-bathing, a cocktail or two, and oceanside meals. I slid off the vegetarian wagon for the holidays (does a veggie wagon exist?), and Goa—with its big Christmas energy and British/Russian/German crowds—felt like the right place to do it. We started at The Nest (four nights over Dec 23–27: simple hut, very firm mattress, very peak-season pricing), then moved to Big Fish (softer bed, reliable hot water, and—be still my heart—Wi-Fi).
Beach Friends & Dolphin Days
We randomly reconnected with Heather and Nate (Americans living in Turkmenistan) from our Ranthambore hotel and ended up spending a bunch of beach time and dinners together—nice to share stories with fellow North Americans. Kayaking was a highlight: we paddled into the Arabian Sea and were surrounded by playful dolphins (we must’ve seen dozens). Tried again on a rougher day and didn’t see a single one—pure luck the first time.
Christmas & New Year on Palolem
Christmas Day looked like every other (sun + sand), but dinner was a splurge: a nearly 2-lb lobster eaten feet-in-the-sand while waves rolled in. On New Year’s Eve we ate at Big Fish (red snapper for me, tandoori chicken for Nic), launched two sky lanterns—one to thank 2013, one to wish for 2014—and somehow lasted until 3 a.m. Fireworks ran from early evening to late night, and we chatted away with a fun group of Indian visitors (four pharmacists and a marketer). Shout-out to Firoj, our endlessly attentive waiter from Kolkata—now also a Facebook friend.
Sleeper Bus to Hampi
We took a night bus from Chaudi to Hampi—our first sleeper bus. Verdict: trains are smoother. The bus surged and bounced so much I got air a few times; let’s just say the ribs felt it. Hampi, though, made up for the ride: boulder-fields, banana groves, and World Heritage temples everywhere you look.
What’s Next
Plan for the short term: a couple more weeks exploring South India. Then Jan 17 we fly to Egypt for a two-week guided trip—routes tweaked for safety, 4–5★ hotels, and lots of internal flights. We’ve wanted to go for ages and we’re excited (and yes, we’ll be careful). On Jan 31 we fly to Buenos Aires with hopes of an Antarctica deal from Ushuaia. “Deal” is still pricey, but fingers crossed.
Signing Off
Not the longest update, but that’s the point—we finally slowed down. We’re rested, grateful, and ready for the next six months. And hey, Jan 5 is Nicola’s birthday—send her some love!
Happy New Year, and thanks for following along. Onward.
