Let's have a little chat today ok? As much as I love writing travel posts, sometimes I think it's nice to connect to you on more of a personal level with what's going on day-to-day in the lives of those behind Living in Another Language. I've been seeing a lot of new faces around these parts, as well as those who have been following along since it all began. To those who are new, I send a warm hello, and to those that aren't, here's to you faithfully sticking with me. :) Shall we begin? +You know you live in New Zealand when…the top article that appears on your newsfeed for the day is about a sea lion that somehow waddled through two sets of automatic doors and into the [saltwater] pool at a neighboring beach. The thing is, I wasn't ... Read More
Archives for January 2015
The LIAL Guide to Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, South Korea is one of the largest cities on earth. It is actually known as a 'megacity' because it's population soars above 10 million. If that isn't impressive enough, more than half of South Korea's inhabitants reside in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (including suburbs like Incheon and Gyeongi), making it the second largest metropolitan area in the world at 25 million residents. With it's 2000 year old history and unique Asian culture, no wonder travelers today are making plans to visit this vibrant city. SEOUL CITY GUIDE CONTENTS: 1. Know Before You Go 2. Where to Visit 3. Where to Shop 4. Where to Sleep 5. Something to Eat 6. Learn the Language (simple words) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Population: 10.44 million within the ... Read More
So You’re Going on Your First Cruise…
We just returned from our very first cruise (EVER) a couple weeks ago. Cruising Carnival Spirit was such a wonderful time of relaxing (not having to worry about visas, immigration, hotels, food, or things to do), it was just what we needed as we begin our 3rd year of living abroad. Before we left, I spent a couple weeks scrolling through online articles, trying to figure out exactly what I needed to know as a first time cruiser. Sadly all I found was a bunch of people that I'd like to label 'chronic cruisers' leaving comments for first timers that really didn't help at all. I think after 20 or so cruises you tend to forget the first time you hopped on a ship, and exactly what your fears and apprehensions were. If you're just about to ... Read More
Sunrise at St Clair Beach, Dunedin
One of my favorite things about living directly on the east coast of New Zealand is the incredible sunrises I get to experience almost every day. The summer days are long, and the sun appears bright and early (5am early). One of my favorite things to do is go out by myself and experience the sunrise in different locations across Dunedin. With a variety of beach locations (Tunnel Beach and Sandfly Bay are some of my favorites), the Moeraki Boulders an hour and a half north, and Nugget Point an hour and a half south, I've got my work cut out for me photographing these early mornings. Derik and I are a one car family, so I typically have to wait until the weekends, when Derik isn't working, if I want to see the sunrise from a different ... Read More
10 Ways to Save Money for Travel
The number one question we get asked over, and over, and over again is: "How can you afford to travel and live abroad?" I'd like to delve into this topic over the next couple months, as it's not easily answered in one simple blog post. The ability to live and travel abroad isn't as unattainable as you might think; It takes practice, patience, and dedication. I have so many thoughts I'd like to share with you on the topic, but for now let's just keep it simple. One of the most important aspects of traveling (and living abroad) is the money-factor. Duh. Believe it or not, you don't have to have a ton of cash or a lavish lifestyle to afford a nomadic life. Most of us that travel have become self-proclaimed pros in the area of saving and ... Read More
New Years Eve in Sydney Harbor
This is technically my first post of 2015. The last 8 posts or so were pre-written pretty much in the same 24 hours, before we left for our vacation, and I appreciated being mostly technology free for three weeks. Actually no, I didn't just appreciate it, I loved it. Our cruise was wonderful; I can't tell you how amazing it was to be able to have a vacation without having to worry about the little unknown aspects that comes with traveling in unfamiliar territory. The last three weeks were, if I were to put it in one word, refreshing. I feel so revived and ready to start 2015 with a bang, I'm just bursting at the seams to share it all with you! I'll be writing about the cruise, places we visited, and travel tips for the next several ... Read More
What’s In My Camera Bag
I don't actually have a good camera bag, so the title doesn't really make sense. I have a camera case that fits my DSLR and one lens, two if I'm lucky. I really just need to bite the bullet and get a good bag, but for now I guess I'll just have to continue sucking it up with what I have. I've been asked multiple times what kind of camera equipment I use, so this post is your answer. My interest in photography began my junior year in college. I saved up every bit of money I could from the three part time jobs I was working while not in class, and bought my very first DSLR Christmas of 2009. If any of you were wondering, I bought a Canon Rebel Xsi (not even sure if they make those anymore). I took a photography class that next ... Read More
2014-Our Year in Travels.
2014 was a great year. Although we weren't as concentrated in the globetrotting spectrum as we were in 2013, a lot of changes came our way, and we were very thankful for them. The year started off with a bang as we spent two months traveling through Hawaii, the Philippines, and then into Thailand. It was so nice catching up with our families for the first time in 2.5 years in Hawaii, and then Derik and I enjoyed alone time as we traveled through Asia. I have never been on so many flights in my life [combined] as we did on this trip. So thankful everything worked out without a single delay! We then headed back to Korea to enjoy a gorgeous spring. Little did we know that it was the last spring we would be living in Korea. By the ... Read More