Our experience has been an interesting dichotomy. The travels have been slow yet fast; exhilarating but exhausting; temporary as our permanent state of being; nature's silence to offset the city chaos; unreasonable expectations causing unnecessary disappointment; pure freedom in the midst of utter helplessness (or cluelessness!); feeling so small in this big world; and the complexity of accomplishing the most simple tasks in a foreign environment.
We thank God for keeping us safe through this journey. We know our families pray for our safety every day, so we want everyone to know that there's not a day that goes by where we think that two humans can do this kind of traveling without some kind of divine power watching over us. We have truly been blessed to have a relatively uneventful trip.
We'd be lying if we didn't feel a twinge of homesickness for some things we just can't have on the road, but not once have we felt that we wanted to throw in the towel and go home early. We're just starting to get in the groove! We fear the reverse culture shock when we have to reintegrate back into our former lives in 4 months.
We'd also be lying if we didn't get tired of sightseeing, sometimes. I know this sounds so flippant to many who would trade places with us in a heartbeat, but this is like vacation on steroids so we are pacing ourselves. We have days where we walk hours to see all the sights and days of just lounging around doing nothing. We diversify our locations between city and nature. We don't feel guilty about not having done and seen everything there is in a place. We try to mix 2-3 day stays with lengthier 1-3 week stays in one place.
And, despite our backpacks, we're not really "roughing' it" like true backpackers. Our travels have been budget but comfortable.
So far, all this amounts to 11 countries (Japan, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia, and Macedonia); 24 lodging* accommodations; 7 major flights; 10 long-haul bus rides; 4 train rides; 1 car rental; 2 ferries; and 10 different currencies (Japanese Yen, US Dollar, Peruvian Soles, Argentine Peso, Euro, Moroccan Dirham, Croatian Kuna, Bosnian Mark, Serbian Dinar, and Macedonian Denar).
Here are some random things/tips we've discovered about travel and ourselves, in no particular order:
1. We really miss our mutt, Ogi. We are so grateful to our house/dog sitter. She's had her share of issues to take care of, too! Sewer drain problems, back door problems, Ogi's root canal surgery, etc.
2. We are pros at doing laundry in the sink.
3. 4-5 hours on a bus without a bathroom break is a breeze.
4. 13-hour travel day is no sweat either.
5. Know the unwritten taxi rules in every city you visit. They're all different but they've got 'em.
6. We have the ultimate anti-traveler's diarrhea cocktail for a quick fix: 2 Imodiums and 2 Cipros over a 24-hour period = ready to board that bus. See #3.
7. We can sleep through anything - dogs barking all night, discoteca next door, bar street below.
8. Wifi is heaven.
9. Cheap transport takes time.
10. We love it when a plan actually comes together!
11. Mike is the ultimate researcher/planner. Akiko is the organizer/blogger.
12. Media is the biggest American export to the world. We've watched American movies on a bus in the middle of the Andes, and listened to more American pop music than all our years in the States.
13. Pasta and pizza is Italy's biggest export to the world. Thank goodness.
14. We are really good at making a closet space feel like home, albeit for 2-3 days.
15. Akiko has grown more patient as the day goes by...not. She hasn't changed a bit. Impatient as ever.
16. Pacsafe = best investment for peace of mind.
17. iPhone tether. Also a good investment for keeping iPhone connected to self. Purchased in Japan.
18. We thought we would be saying, "Somedays, we long to be on our couch at home", but this hasn't happened yet.
19. Not having been too concerned about budgeting in the past, we are now pros at watching our expenses and budgeting. Hope this habit continues when we return...
20. Evernote Pro version has an offline feature where we upload all our travel information to, accessible without Internet from anywhere, on all our iPhones and iPad. Great organization tool.
21. Since we don't travel with actual guidebooks (too heavy), we also don't have maps. We take screen shots of google maps with our iPhones and place them in our photo album for easy access.
22. Although, we've found google maps is not so accurate in pinpointing locations outside of the States. Always verify with address.
23. We do carry some Lonely Planet books digitally on our iPad.
24. People are generally very nice and helpful, everywhere we go.
25. Most people can speak some English, which has been a huge help in the Balkans.
26. We miss not being able to practice our Spanish in South America. Frustrating, but fun at the same time.
27. No matter where, you can pretty much count on the tourist office being closed! Lol.
28. Ziplock bags - pack lots of 'em. Our most prized possession. We keep using the same ones we left with, over and over again.
29. Our bargaining skills? Slightly improved.
30. Not having a reliable phone number that works is a pain. Skype cuts off midstream, which is not good when we're on the phone with our banks to resolve an issue.
31. An increased interest and appreciation for the history in the places we've been.
32. Coffee is off-limits to Akiko after a couple of tachycardic episodes. Perhaps the strong espressos instead of the weak American coffee. Who knows.
33. We haven't seen or eaten a cruciferous veggie (broccoli, cauliflower), dark leafy greens, etc. for a very long time.
34. In fact, our diet is quite unhealthy, eating restaurant food all the time.
35. We're much better at math with all the currency conversions we have to do in our head.
36. Hamburgers - we've decided we can't get a good one until we return to the States.
37. Mexican food as we know it doesn't exist outside of the States and Mexico.
38. Mike continues to get asked directions by random people on the streets, wherever we go.
39. We miss ice. A real icy cold beverage...
40. And our daily mantra, "Who knew all this was going on in the world?!!"
But most of all, our travels have made us appreciate what we have in the States. After experiencing countries under semi-dictatorships and pseudo-democracies, we've seen how our lives could be much different. We are so thankful for the freedom we have been granted to travel around the world, and the ability to create opportunities for ourselves when we return. Amen.
*LODGING DETAILS (Mix of hostels, hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and friends/family):
Japan: Akiko's dad's house.
Ecuador: Hotel San Francisco in Quito, Hostel Transilvania in Baños de Agua Santa, and Hostal Posada del Angel in Cuenca.
Peru: Muelle Viejo in Los Organos, Hostal Porta in Lima, Hostal Pariwana as well as Antawasi Hotel in Cuzco, and Margarita's House in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Argentina: Kala Petit Hotel in Palermo Soho, apartment in Palermo Hollywood via www.airbnb.com, and Holiday Inn by the international airport.
Spain: Residencia Alvaro in Madrid, The Best Western in Granada, and friend's condo in Costa del Sol.
Morocco: Friends' home.
Italy: Hotel Ambasciatori in Mestre near Venice.
Croatia: Garni Pansion Matohanca in Rovinj, Celic Art Apartments in Zagreb, and M&N Zafran in Grabovac near Plitvice National Park.
Bosnia and Hercegovina: Home Sweet Home in Sarajevo.
Serbia: Hostel Captain in Belgrade.
Macedonia: Hotel Anja in Skopje and Villa Dislieski in Ohrid.