Archives for August 2014

Campervan New Zealand

Written by: Amanda // Category: New Zealand

Derik and I spent the first three weeks living in New Zealand living in a campervan. Two months prior we made the quick decision to move continents, and we didn't give ourselves much time to research areas for general living, jobs, and housing. We didn't have a good feeling about just picking a random city to live in, and didn't want to feel rushed finding a job and a house. Our only obvious solution was to rent a campervan and drive around the country until we found a city that just screamed 'us.' We couldn't be happier with our decision to move to New Zealand so quickly, as well as taking that (almost)month to road trip around the entire country. What a gorgeous trip that was! Now that we've settled down and are starting to build a ... Read More

A Case for Travel Partners

Written by: Amanda // Category: Travel, Travel Blogging

I don't know if you've noticed or not, but lately in the travel blogging world, solo travel empowerment posts, explaining the multiple benefits of traveling alone, are being published almost daily. I'm all for traveling alone, and finding independence, but not all of us enjoy traveling alone. Talk about how awesome, liberating, life-changing it can be, but you're most likely not going to convince me that solo travel is better than traveling with others. I've experienced traveling alone in South America in my younger days, and I wasn't a big fan. Here's the deal. I'm a social butterfly. In fact, my love language is quality time; I enjoy people in my life! Traveling alone doesn't necessarily empower me, but makes me wish I had someone ... Read More

Getting a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand

Written by: Amanda // Category: New Zealand

You might remember my original post about why we moved to New Zealand, and in it I briefly mentioned that we're here on Working Holiday Visas. I had a lot of people express interest in the visa process, so let's talk a bit about getting a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand. I'm writing this specifically for citizens of the US, as I have no experience with what the process is like for citizens of 34 other selected countries, but I'd imagine it's not much different. What is a Working Holiday Visa? The Working Holiday Visa (also formally called Working Holiday Scheme) is literally what it sounds like. Its a visa that allows you to work, travel, and play in one of the most gorgeous countries in the world. For most countries ... Read More

How to Survive Long-Distance Flights

Written by: Amanda // Category: travel tips

"You're like a five-year-old child." Says my sleep-deprived, frustrated husband who sits in the airplane seat next to me. Yes, it's true, I don't handle flights well. It's not that I have flight anxiety, it's the fact that I get bored so fast. Once the plane wheels leave the ground, I go a little bit stir crazy. I spend the first 30 minutes combing the in-fight magazines to check out the food and drink service, and see what sorts of tacky things the airline has for sale. Does anyone ever buy the airline souvenirs? After that, the fun begins. I'm not sure why, but airplane seats seem to be the least comfortable seats in the whole world. It would be great if you only had to fly an hour or two, but living overseas guarantees you at ... Read More

7 Tips to Help You Grow Your Instagram

Written by: Amanda // Category: Blogging, travel tips

Instagram is a social networking powerhouse. Created in October of 2010, it's become one of the most popular social networking companies today. If you haven't started an Instagram account and you're wanting to get serious about building your brand as a travel blogger (or any other kind of blogger), I'd suggest getting on it now. Not only will Instagram bring traffic to your blog, but businesses have been known scout Instagram users to offer opportunities and free stuff ! I know a couple travel bloggers that had media trip opportunities (aka your job is to take pictures and review all aspects of your trip) just because of their Instagram following. My Instagram feed is a constant work in progress, but using these tips below has allowed me ... Read More

Why Russell, New Zealand Should be on Your Travel Itinerary

Written by: Amanda // Category: New Zealand

We started our New Zealand camper van adventure on the North Island (Auckland to be exact). We hadn't planned on going up the coast into Northland, but we were convinced by our van rental agent that we should. Our two day side adventure turned into four, and we found ourselves falling in love with the gorgeous landscapes. Also, can I say the Bay of Islands is one of the most gorgeous stretches of land on the North Island? We will most definitely be heading up that way next summer to enjoy some sand, sun, and some of the best fish and chips I've ever had. The town of Russell is a mere ferry boat ride from Paihai, and is jam packed with things to do. Granted, we visited during low season and 85% of all activities were closed for the ... Read More

10 Things to See and Do While Visiting South Korea

Written by: Amanda // Category: South Korea

We lived in Korea for 2.5 years, and made sure we set aside time to explore our surroundings. Korea is a little country, but packs a punch with festivals, landscapes, and historical places to visit. Sadly, we never made it to Jeju Island, which I'm sure would be on this list if we had gone! If you ever happen to be in the area, you'll have to be sure to visit a few of the 10 places I list below. Some of them are pretty touristy, where others are a bit off the beaten path. Cherry Blossom Festivals are held every Spring, usually in April. The cool thing is they're in a bunch of different areas of the country, but the most famous flower festivals are in: Jinju, Gyeongju, and Seoul. Not only will you feel like you're in a magical ... Read More

New Zealand in Instagram Photos

Written by: Amanda // Category: New Zealand

A small taste of New Zealand via my Instagram account. As I sit here wading through all the photos I took on my DSLR and organizing them into posts to share with you, I figured I might as well give you a 'preview' on what to expect with photos from my iPhone (well except the star photo, we all know that came from my camera). Derik and I both feel so blessed to live in such a gorgeous country! I love the fact that I can literally walk outside my door and snap a breathtaking photo. New Zealand has so much to offer! We're spending the weekend searching for penguins and taking the scenic railway across the country. Keep up-to-date via insta on for the latest and greatest views! ... Read More

Archives for August 2014

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