Georgeville in Winter, or, Carrie learning to be a Canadian

We've spent the last few days up in Georgeville getting a taste of winter after the long summer of India, Bali, Hawaii ...  Its kind of nice to have some cold air again!  Next up: a quick trip to Dallas, then the start of a drive back towards Jackson.

Carrie working on her Canadian credentials with the skates and maple leaf mittens!

Thanks to Phil, the pond is in great skating condition this year

Nice ice!

Trying to remember how to hold a hockey stick

For those who spent time here for the wedding, a view of the pink house in the winter

Trip Recommendations!

Many have asked ... and here they are, our recommendations for an amazing trip around the world ... (or at least a trip to the four countries we visited!)

Kenya

Nairobi:

·     Visit Children of Kibera Office & Red Rose School – stick around and volunteer if you have time (it will have a lasting impact - both on the kids and on you)

·     Have a coffee or dessert at one of the many Java House locations (order the chocolate chip cookie milkshake)

·     Eat at one of the many yummy Kilimani restaurants and sit in the lush backyards: Cedars (Lebanese), Osteria (Italian), Habesha (Ethiopian)

·     If you are staying awhile and working in Kilimani or Kibera, Leon Villas is a great apt complex with furnished apartments for a long term stay

To escape the big city:

·     Go on safari to El Karama, a private game reserve, and enjoy the eco-friendly rooms, friendly owners, night game drives, safari walks, and lack of crowds

·     Take a day trip to hike in the Ngong Hills

Lamu Island (once it’s safe again):

·     Stay at Stopover Guest House on Lamu Island (the Shela location is best) – book directly from the owner (Hamid) and enjoy chats with the guest house manager (Swali)

·     Have a Tusker (or two) on the floating bar between Lamu and Manda Isalnds

·     Take a sunset Dhow Trip in Lamu

New Zealand

Overall:

·     Buy a Van – we bought in Auckland and sold in Christchurch – you can get a far better deal if you do the opposite

·     Drink Speights Gold Medal Ale

·     Eat all the Tim Tams you can – they really do taste better in NZ

·     Eat Hokey Pokey ice cream

·     Drink a Flat White at a local coffee shop

·     NZ doesn’t believe in free wi-fi – however, you CAN find it at a local library and at McDonalds

·     Catch a rugby game if you can (especially if it’s the All Blacks) – at a minimum watch an All Blacks game at a local pub

North Island:

·     Stay at Little Earth in Whangarei – we didn’t explore the area much, but seems like a fun area

·     Do a multi-day canoe trip on the Wanganui River – we did the three day, which includes the prettiest section of the river

·     Head out on the Coromandel Peninsula - Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove, etc.

South Island:

·     Stay at Global Village on the west coast (Greymouth) – they have free kayak and bike rentals, a fantastic kitchen, and overall amazing spot

·     Overnight boat trip in Milford Sound - unbelievably gorgeous

·     Backpack to Welcome Flat (just south of Fox Glacier) – amazing hike, gorgeous peaks, and well-deserved hot springs at the hut

·     Take the Speights Brewery Tour in Dunedin simply for the last half hour (all you can drink beer)

·     Take a do-it-yourself  wine tour by bike in Marlborough – just make sure you don’t buy too many bottles of wine, because the bike ride home can be long with a heavy bag

·     Go to the theater pub in Wanaka – it really doesn’t matter what movie you see, the freshly baked cookies at intermission make up for the movie selection

·     Go to the hole-in-the-wall Fish & Chips in Akaroa – one order is enough to feed 2+ people

India

Overall:

·     Take train rides – use the shortest ride to sit in Sleeper Class or Second Sitting for the experience (and oh, it will be an experience!) and use the long trips to enjoy Tier 2 AC

·     Seek out recommendations for good restaurants – there are a lot of mediocre restaurants with so-so food – but the good restaurants have excellent food

·     In holy cities don’t expect to find beer … unless it’s in a paperbag under the table or served in a tea pot

Delhi:

·     Defense Colony – eat at Sagar (order the Masala Dosa) & Mocha (order a milkshake - they are all good)

·     Stay at K One One (or anywhere near Defense Colony or on the Metro line)

·     Go to the Ghandi Smriti Museum

·     Before or after touring the Mosque / Red Fort, eat at Haldiram’s (order the Raj Kochori)

Rishikesh:

·     Spend a night in Haridwar (on your way there or back) and go to the evening puja

·     Eat at Swiss Cottage (order the brown bread with peanut butter, muesli, ginger lemon honey tea, and homemade green pasta)

·     Take a cooking class at Lalita’s (learn how to make Malai Kofta)

·     Take a lot of yoga classes

Udaipur:

·     Stay at Udai Niwas – friendly staff, negotiable rates, and fantastic rooftop restaurant

·     Take a cooking class from Shashi (across the street from Udai Niwas) – she has an amazing life story and is just fantastic

·     Take a rickshaw tour of the city from Doulat (ask for him at Udai Niwas)

·     Eat dinner at Ambrai on lake level overlooking the Lake Palace and City Palace

Mumbai

·     Eat Britannia (order the berry pulao)

·     Take the commuter train and spend the extra dollar on First Class (and do not go during rush hour!)

·     Walk along the Queen’s Necklace (Mumbai’s West Side Highway equivalent) and eat custard apple ice cream at Bachelor's (it’s a little shack on the opposite side of the beach – just ask a local)

Kovalam

·     Go on a houseboat day trip on the backwaters (no need to stay overnight)

·     Go to Kanyakamari (the southern tip of India and confluence of three seas)

·     Eat dessert (at least) at the Turtle on the Beach Resort (order the Banana Split)

Bali / Lombok

Kuta (Bali) / Legian

·     Don’t go to Kuta (Bali) – if you want to learn to surf, stay north in Legian (or just learn in Balangan)

·     Eat dinner at Ultimo (just north in Seminyak) – any pasta dish is amazing and order a strawberry daiquiri

Balangan

·     Amazing, rustic surf / beach spot

·     Stay at Balangan Sea View - we stayed in the rooms, we heard mixed reviews about the bungalows

·     Go to Ulu Watu Temple for the Sunset Kecak Dance (Fire Dance)

Kuta (Lombok)

·     Stay in the Surfer’s Inn for a low-key, nice place and make friends near the pool to go surfing with the next day

·     Eat dinner (or multiple dinners if you can!) at Warung Bule (order the mahi mahi or tuna) - best meal in months

·     Eat lunch at Ashtari (order the coconut shake)

·     Hike up the rock outcrop just east of the Novotel at sunset with some Bintangs (just ask around for the sunset point)

Gili Trawangan

·     Potentially very busy and crowded during peak season – but in the off-season it was awesome

·     Stay at Pesona – the welcome drink is worth it (Pina Coladas are amazing and so are the Iced Coffees), the pool is fantastic, and the people that run it are super nice

·     Eat dinner at The Beach House Restaurant (pick out your fresh fish and watch them grill it)

·     Run, walk, or bike around the island – but do so early in the morning before it gets too hot

·     Go to Sunset Bar for sunset (duh) – it’s a 10-15 minute walk from Pesona

Candidasa / Amed / Tulamben

·     Dive at the Liberty Wreck – Yes Dive in Candidasa were good outfitters, but there are a bunch closer to the wreck

Ubud

·     Stay at Gusti’s on Kajeng – shop around for a good room, some are a little more musty than others

·     Eat at Savannah Moon on Kajeng (order the Avocado Milkshake and Feta Pizza) – the people that run it are super sweet

·     If you are looking for some comfort food, head to West Side Café and order the fresh, homemade lemonade and a breakfast burrito

·     Do any of the rice paddy walks (there are a couple listed in Lonely Planet) – if you do the Campuan Ridge Walk, head to the restaurant at the top of the ridge, with three little thatched roof huts in a lily pond (the ice cold lassis are delicious)

·     Do the bike trip from Kintamani back to Ubud with Bali Eco Tours

·     Rent a scooter and head north taking as many backroads as possible

·     Get the Salted Caramel gelato from Gelato Secrets

·     Eat dinner at Casa Luna (order pumpkin raviolis) & save room for dessert!