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!