Bali: Living the High Life on Budget

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What started as an escape from the financial beat down we were experiencing in Australia turned into a short-term permanent living situation in Bali, Indonesia. We weren’t sure what to expect besides the obvious dreamlike visions that come to mind when anyone mentions Bali. And unlike the Aussies next door, Bali is not the most convenient holiday destination for Americans. In fact, it is often perceived as an exotic, blissful island on the other side of the world only attainable by a lucky few. Can you imagine our eagerness?  

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We lived on this island for two months. Initially, we were going to spend one month in Seminyak and the other in Ubud. However, it wasn’t long before our villa hosts became more like family. The friendship was instant and we later decided to stay with them in Seminyak the entire time while venturing around the island on day and weekend trips. Like most Indonesians, Renny is very proud of her country and took it upon herself to show us why Bali is a key element to her pride. And Kenny, well, we still believe he is one of the best chefs in the world today. We shared some incredible meals, both on the street and at the villa.

Two months may seem like a long time in any one particular location, but isn’t this what traveling is all about? Experiencing unique bonds with complete strangers and gaining lifelong connections. It certainly is for us.

Beach, Pool, Sun, More Beach, More Pool, More Sun, Repeat…

Bali demanded we forget all agendas faultlessly. One thing is to forget what day of the week it is and another is to never think about it again. The truth is you become extremely lazy in Bali. The first day we arrived at the villa and tried to wash dishes we were told never to do anything like that again. Why? Well, we had a wonderful cleaning lady who stopped by the villa 6 days a week and did everything for us! She made our beds, changed our sheets, stocked our drinking water, washed the dishes from the night before, picked up our laundry, etc…it was unbelievable. Our mothers would be so upset. 

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Kadek, Friend and Housekeeper           Renny and Kenny, Family

Nevertheless, we kept busy and even had a daily routine, much like locals. Unlike most foreigners who visit Bali to simply party, we were more interested in the cultural and local aspect. Lucky for us, we had the time and flexibility to do a bit of everything. We even joined a local gym overlooking the many surfers along the Double Six beach area. We were brave enough to walk to most destinations during the first few days, but the heat was a challenge to overcome. Hence, the incredibly dangerous and fierce motorbike experience.

Long walks on the beach, becoming regulars at cafés and restaurants, cook-offs at the villa, good reads, socializing, regular in-home massage sessions (an absolute favorite), late night cinema escapes, lazy days, weekend getaways, seeing a dentist, and being treated at a hospital, all of this was possible because of three things. First, we had nowhere else to be. Second, we had a motorbike to get us there and third, we were practically rich.

We checked the ‘becoming multi-millionaires’ off the bucket-list immediately after getting off the plane and using the ATM machine. Apparently, it’s quite common to become a millionaire in Asia. After leaving Australia, we were reminded of how much we love to travel to countries like Indonesia. IMG_8737Even though $1,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah today is equivalent to $73 USD, your money goes such a long way in this country. Not only is Bali extremely cheap, but also while we were there the US Dollar was getting stronger and stronger. We were living the high life on budget.

Let us put this in perspective:

  • Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner (for 2): Anywhere between $3-$20

There was one day we fell into a tourist trap where we paid $30 for dinner and were absolutely livid. Have we mentioned you also become extremely cheap once you’ve lived in Bali?

  • Private En-Suite in Beautiful Villa: $20 per night
  • Motorbike Monthly Rental: $35; Petrol for the week: $2
  • Laundry (3 kg or 6.5 lbs): $4.50
  • 30-Minute Taxi Ride: $3.50
  • Enoc’s Haircut: $5
  • Cindy’s Mani and Pedi: $13
  • Dental Cleaning (for 2) and one filling: $60
  • 90-Minute at-home Massage Session: $10.50
  • Movie Theater ticket: $3.50

Highlights around the island:

People

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Indonesian people are wonderful! We had positive experiences with locals during our stay and connected with people of all ages.

Food

It’s all about the street food and chili in Bali. To prove it, we even got the famous Bali Belly and were treated at a local hospital. However, it was totally worth it and we would do it all over again if we could. After a recovery week we were careful, but still ate at the Indonesian Warungs which are small kiosks serving traditional delicious dishes for less than $2.

The meatballs, or Bakso as referred to in Bali, shown above are served from a small cart on the beach where locals and tourists queue and pay $1.50 for a bowl. The location on the beach is hard to miss as the queue nearly reaches the water most evenings.

Among our favorite dishes were Nasi Goreng, Soto Ayam (homemade by our lovely Renny), Babi Guling, and Kang Kung. Also worth mentioning was our daily grilled chili corn for .50 cents!

IMG_9288Here we are at one of our regular spots, Kukusan, stopping by to say goodbye to the owner.

Seminyak

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Seminyak has something to offer everyone. It is not as crowded as the #1 tourist destination, Kuta, and in our opinion offers more of a cultural experience. Beautiful beaches, pools, day clubs, night clubs, shopping, restaurants and much more.

Kuta

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A tourist trap in our opinion, but has one of the nicest beaches in the area. The Beachwalk mall is a highlight and should not be missed as it is a sight to see at night. Sushi Tei is really good at this mall and although the cinema only shows 3 new movies a week, it is new, luxurious, and has the best popcorn ever!

Uluwatu

Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Bali. Padang Padang is definitely worth visiting. Also, watching the sunset and talented surfers while enjoying a drink at Single Fin over Blue Point is simply breathtaking. Another hidden gem is Finn’s beach club where you can swim in crystal clear waters and sunbathe in style.

Ubud

A true spiritual escape in Bali. Beautiful rice paddies, breathtaking temples, delicious cafés, and yoga. Visiting the Monkey Forest is a must!

Lovina

A perfect weekend getaway up north. Dolphin watching, Bali sunsets and more temples.

Kintamani

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The perfect day trip. One of the best coffee growing regions in Indonesia and on a clear day showcases stunning views of the mountainous region, Batur Lake, and active volcano. If you’re up to it you can even try the world’s most expensive coffee, Luwak, and join a free tour to understand the process. Here, we also had an incredible fried tilapia fish for lunch at the floating restaurant, Kedisan.

Nusa Dua

A weekend getaway relaxing on the beach and drinking fresh coconut water.

Fun Fact: As if Bali Belly and a tooth-filling were not enough, Cindy broke her brand new MacBook Pro and was stung by a bee in Bali.

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The Great Ocean Road

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Not too far from all the action in Melbourne is one of the world’s most scenic drives covering an amazing 150-mile stretch along the state of Victoria’s picturesque coastline.

Great Ocean Road Drive

We experienced this spectacular drive on a full-day tour (via Viator) from the city and could not have been happier. Although it is not recommended to attempt this drive in one day, the weather was so unpredictable and we wanted to appreciate the surroundings on the drive without actually driving. After hours of planning, we were so thankful to have booked and experience the Great Ocean Road the way we did.

Ideally, three days or more on the Great Ocean Road would be magnificent and is what we would recommend. Even so, its important to have a set plan and prepare accordingly for stops along the way. We were told this drive attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year and thus, preparation is key. Lucky for us, it was wintertime, which resulted in a pleasantly smooth ride without interruption.

Our route included breathtaking views and stops along the way in which we had the opportunity to simply sit back and be present.

Our 3 highlights:

The Twelve Apostles

We have never appreciated a couple of enormous rocks more than we did this day. Sounds silly, but this destination deserves all the hype that exists. We were completely mesmerized by the massive 50-meter high limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park.

Formed approximately twenty million years ago from the erosion of rugged limestone cliffs, these incredible rock formations are called The Twelve Apostles. Why the name? Because they stand proud and soar above the shore. Despite the name, there are only eight left standing as nature and time have caused several to fall.

Walking around the cliff top boardwalks is a must and offers spectacular views of the apostles. You would truly regret not having a camera.

Loch Ard Gorge

At only a couple of minutes drive west from the apostles is the amazing Loch Ard Gorge. At this site they have developed three different walks that allow you to discover this natural gem and its incredible surroundings.

We certainly took our time and learned about the shipwreck history that defines this particular area. Hence the coastline name, Shipwreck Coast.

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Wildlife

During our drive, we spotted Koalas (specifically ay Kennet River), a variety of bird species and Kangaroos in the wild! This was a rather special encounter and more significant than seeing these animals at the Sydney Zoo.

This drive will forever be an unforgettable experience.

It was also fun comparing California’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway drive to the Great Ocean Road. In our opinion, they are rather similar and yet so different. Nevertheless, both drives majestic in their own way.

Visit our photo gallery (click here) to see more pictures.

We Vote for Melbourne

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Did you know that in 2015, Melbourne was named most livable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)? That’s not even the most impressive part. According to the Melbourne Arts Blog, “The livability measure looks at 5 main categories – stability, health care, culture, environment, education and infrastructure” (2012). Melbourne just so happens to be the leader in all leaving competitive cities striving for more. Even so, the most impressive fact here is that this is the fifth year in a row for Melbourne and in our opinion; it will definitely not be the last.

We were quite enthusiastic about visiting another state within Australia. Melbourne is located in the southeast State of Victoria and even though it was less than a two-hour flight from Sydney, the weather was vastly different. Obviously, wintertime is not the best time to visit Melbourne given that it’s location is further south but truthfully, the weather changes constantly in this city.

One minute it was cold, but looked like summer and the next it was pouring rain. However, this didn’t keep us from exploring and experiencing the many things Melbourne has to offer. In fact, we feel confident joining the bandwagon and admitting this to be one (out of three) of the best cities we have ever visited. One thing is certain, not everyone in Australia feels this way about Melbourne.img_8166Blog

After living in both Sydney and Melbourne (since we stayed for seven weeks we consider anything more than a month as “living”), it is clear that the two have a long- standing rivalry going on. Even though Sydney has a larger population and seems to draw more international guests, Melbourne appears to be growing fast and has more of a passionate crowd if you ask us. We experienced this first hand when attending an AFL (Australian Football League) game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Grounds. Despite the small crowd, you would have thought Melbourne was in first place because of the passionate fans. Imagine our surprise when we found out the two teams (Melbourne vs. Brisbane) were bottom two in the league.DCIM101GOPROGOPR6533.

There is so much that is often compared between Sydney and Melbourne: weather, transportation, iconic landmarks, people, etc. As we so proudly boasted about in our previous post (The ‘Coat Hanger’ of Oz), Sydney has more sunny days, beautiful beaches and iconic harbor views. Whereas Melbourne is more relaxed, weather is incredibly unpredictable, but is also home to far better cafés, restaurants, bars, and offers a complete cultural experience. The best way to translate for our fellow Americans would be Los Angeles versus San Francisco. Regardless of the rivalry, we can all agree that both cities are rich in diversity and history.

But…if we had to take sides, we vote for Melbourne all the way!

We would move to this city in a heartbeat. Actually, we contemplated that thought for weeks, but remembered that it is a mere 8,000 miles away from family and friends. Truth is, our living situation made it impossible not to think about it. We were sharing a lovely home in Richmond (which we found on airbnb) with a beautiful couple who made our visit that much more welcoming. Sharing a dinner table, wine and conversation with new friends is always a favorite for us. DCIM101GOPROGOPR6523.The house was situated in one of our favorite neighborhoods with only a five minute walk to the train, ten minute walk to the tram, and on sunny days a 45 minute walk along the peaceful Yarra River into the colorful city. Needless to say, getting around town using public transportation was easy and convenient with our tap-on/tap-off Miki cards (similar to Sydney’s Opal card).

Despite our method of transportation into the city, arriving at the historic Flinders Street railway station was always special (oldest station in Oz, 1910). Like something out of a movie even. Once in the city, it was nothing but walking and the thrill of exploring Melbourne’s eclectic laneways. DCIM101GOPROGOPR6612.The famous street art on Hosier Lane is a great example of such laneways and one of many memorable moments during our time there. Drinks in St. Kilda, a movie in Carlton, coffee in Collingwood, music in Richmond, breathtaking landscapes along the Royal Botanic Gardens, theater on Collins, notorious bathing huts at Brighton beach, neon lights in China town and the Queen Victoria Market known to be the heart and soul of Melbourne (enjoyed the market at night too during winter season). It didn’t matter where, for what and for how long we walked. Each street was unique with its own personal flavor.

One of this dynamic city’s best qualities is its multiculturism. This is reflected in all things Melbourne, but in particular the arts and the food. In fact, for us foodies, this is the ultimate destination. Enoc also claims Melbourne is home to the best baristas in the world as his coffee experience was rather overwhelming. Clearly, the people in Melbourne embrace the arts and culture that surrounds the town and consider it absolutely critical. There is such a sense of pride when it comes to their city and rightly so.

There’s really no better way to express this. Everything we thought to be great in Sydney was suddenly better in Melbourne. We would strongly encourage you to visit this amazing city, but chances are you may end up living there. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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Pool Day in Bali…Villa Style

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Who needs a hotel when you have Villas? Bali is home to some of the most beautiful villas in Indonesia.

This week we were invited to visit a luxurious villa in Seminyak thanks to our friend, Renny, who manages almost every villa in Bali. That was a joke of course, but she really does manage a whole lot. We had a fantastic day enjoying the pool area in true Balinese style. And whether it’s a rice field, a beach club, or a villa in this case, we choose to live in the moment and have fun!

Till Sunset

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A day well spent in Canggu, Bali, Indonesia at the LV8 Vue Beach Club.

We had the place to ourselves until sunset and took advantage of this beautiful setting overlooking the Indian Ocean and surfers nearby.

‘Enjoy the little things in life because one day you`ll look back and realize they were the big things.’ -Kurt Vonnegut

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The ‘Coat Hanger’ of Oz

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“You are visiting at the worse time,” we were told many times by our mates in Sydney. It just so happened that our travel plans led us to Oz during wintertime and everyone around us could not stop talking about how cold it was. Maybe we were well prepared, blinded by excitement, or simply acclimatized to the extreme weather because the only time we experienced true cold was in the Blue Mountains region. In fact, the weather in the evenings was nearly intolerable. Otherwise, we didn’t think it was as cold as everyone kept insisting it was. Apparently, we were quite lucky to enjoy more sunny days than gloomy ones while in Sydney.

Waking up to iconic sights like Australia’s most recognizable building, the Opera House and the well-known Sydney Harbor steel Bridge, or the ‘Coat Hanger’ as commonly referred to by Aussies because of its arch based design, is simply breathtaking. There is no surprise why the Sydney Harbor (or harbour) is known as one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. We were fortunate to spend a couple nights along The Rocks in Sydney’s city center and experienced walks along these views daily. Each time, it was as if we were seeing it again for the very first time.

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Walking at all hours of the day is common in Sydney and walk we did. We walked down the famous ‘George Street’ and ‘Elizabeth Street’ many times starting at Central station to the harbor. Sometimes with beautiful sunshine and a few days with rain.

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The weather conditions didn’t matter to be honest; we made stops along the way to keep it interesting. Some of our favorite stops were in Surry Hills (especially for breakfast and coffee), Chinatown, the Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbor (with a beautiful firework spectacular every Saturday evening), Queen Victoria Building (where we enjoyed a High Tea selection), Pitt Street and its shopping paradise, and of course, The Rocks near the harbor. Some of our most memorable moments happened during our walks as we discovered events happening around the city.

IMG_7512BlogFor example, we walked by Capital Theater where Les Misérables happened to be showing. To my surprise, this had been a production I was fervently waiting to see on stage for some time now. We couldn’t afford the regular tickets, but we did wait around for a few hours in hopes of purchasing rush tickets. May it be known that this is the best production we have ever experienced and to think we paid less than half price for second row mezzanine, in Sydney nonetheless is still shocking and brings a smile to my face. Another event we walked upon was the French World Festival where we enjoyed a delicious bowl of French onion soup, red wine and a Nutella crepe while sitting directly in front of the scenic Sydney harbor listening to music from local bands and socializing. Finally, we looked forward to the weekends when the open-air markets at The Rocks were in full effect. Such a charming area with passionate sellers where you can take your time and explore, have a bite to eat, listen to more talented local artists and enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

IMG_7496BlogOn that note, have we mentioned how delicious coffee is in Australia? It is nearly impossible to find a coffee shop that serves a bad cup of coffee. Some of our favorites in Sydney like Single Origin Roasters and Mecca truly demonstrate the craft of coffee, making it difficult to begin a day without a Long Black. Not sure if it’s the baristas or the coffee beans, but Australians have taken coffee tasting to another level. Good music is equally as easy to find in the city and because my husband supports every local artist performing on the street (known as ‘buskers’), I nearly thought we would go without coffee/tea most days. Many times we found ourselves sitting on a step somewhere listening and feeling inspired as we discussed the courage and passion it takes to stand in front of complete strangers to do what you love.

When we didn’t feel like walking, we hopped on the nearest bus, or train, to get inland and around the city. Sydney’s public transportation system is highly efficient making it easy and convenient for visitors like us. From the minute we arrived at the airport, all we had to do was look for the nearest market (within the airport) purchase an opal card, add credit and use it for the duration of our stay. Whether it be on the train, bus, or ferry, you use the same card and tap on and off without any hassle. Once your balance is low (upon notification), you simply top up by purchasing more credit. We loved this and used it everyday. Sundays, however, were the best because we could travel all day with the opal for no more than $2.50 (maximum rate). We took advantage of Sundays and visited the beautiful nearby beaches by ferry and bus.

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Sydney is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. We were happy to enjoy some sun and visit both Manly beach and Bondi beach on separate days during our stay. Both were lovely and provided a familiar vibe to beaches in California. Our day trip to the Taronga Zoo was also comparable to a day at our San Diego Zoo (that’s definitely a compliment). Sydney’s Zoo was special for us because of the famous Kangaroos, incredible bird species and other animals that are specific to Australia and Asia. It was a fun day indeed. Although many characteristics of this city remind us of home (California), one thing that is unique to Australia is the relaxed (we’ve heard many call it ‘lazy’) attitude toward life. They eat ice cream on top of pancakes for crying out loud (amazing by the way). Informal yet robust. What’s not to love?

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In terms of personal safety and security, Australia is one of those countries in which you always feel safe and is in fact, generally safe for travelers and locals alike. We didn’t worry about this much at all and had no problems.

Finally, we can’t end this post without commenting on the popular American perception of how expensive everything is in this country. Thankfully, we were visiting during a time when the USD was favorably valuable. So, even though our jaws dropped at the sight of a $40.00 lunch, it was always much less after the currency exchange. However, we did notice that things are generally marked up much higher in Australia. A small water bottle (500 ml) for example, was $4.50 AUD in Sydney. If you are wondering, yes, we most definitely blew our traveling budget in Australia and had to (and must continue to) adjust accordingly. This includes canceling a few destinations we had originally planned. However, this was a mutual decision that we do not regret. The moments we experienced during our seven weeks in Sydney and Melbourne combined were worth every Australian Dollar.

Our time spent in this city was wonderful. It’s a good feeling to be on the other side of the daily rush. With no agenda and no commitments, we had all of Sydney to ourselves. How can anyone ever take an opportunity like this for granted? These moments have become so valuable to us and have inspired us to stop and appreciate our surroundings, and what better place to practice this?

Want to see more pictures? Take a look at our photo gallery (click here).

First Time in Australia

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Seven weeks in the land down under and not one day without the famous Aussie euphemisms, or slang as many would call it. “Everyone there speaks English,” they said. “You guys will be fine,” they said. Truth to be told, for novices like us, we had heaps to learn. That means “a lot” to learn in Aussie. 🙂 We were confused half the time, but rather amused when hearing sentences put together that made absolutely no sense. Either way, we didn’t mind it one bit. In fact, it was so much fun to hear a new phrase or word (with that robust Aussie accent of course) and ask/research what the heck it meant. We began to look forward to it and because we were living with a local family upon arrival it was simple to identify.

IMG_7470Despite the entertaining and long list of slang, Australia (or Oz when referred to informally) is a dream come true for those of us who are from the States and in particular, California. We are so ridiculously far from this beautiful country. So, as you can imagine, our excitement to experience iconic attractions for the very first time at this popular destination was quite surreal. Our first two weeks were spent at a charming retreat guesthouse overlooking the glorious Blue Mountains about 2 hours (by train) inland from Sydney. We, however, were staying with the local family at the house next door helping maintain their guesthouse property in exchange for accommodation and meals. We found this opportunity on helpex.com. We first heard about this program from a friend in Peru and figured this would be a unique introduction to Oz and a great way to experience the local lifestyle.

IMG_0456So, for the next 15 days we helped for five hours per day from Monday-Friday alongside our Frenchie friend who was also there doing the same. Thankfully, there were two guys that allowed this girl to take it easy when it came to the work outdoors. I kept busy doing the guesthouse laundry most days and let it be known; never again will I use a hotel towel to wipe any miniscule amount of make-up from my face. My hands still have rough patches from all the scrubbing. After laundry, cleaning out chicken houses, clearing driveway gutters, etc. our evenings consisted of people from different countries and backgrounds sharing one dinner table along with stories, conversations and inspiration. Late night talks by the fireplace and listening to the guys strumming guitar were the best.

IMG_0782And of course, an evening was not complete without having a Tim Tam or two (or five). We had not been in Oz but for a week when we were introduced to the delicious chocolate covered biscuit known as a Tim Tam. This was not a good idea, as it immediately became part of our daily diet while in Oz. It was a tough habit to break. We were also introduced to the arguably savory dark brown Australian paste known as Vegemite. We were not big fans of this stuff until we tried it on toast with a bit of butter. Depends on how you eat it, but take it from us, a spoonful of the stuff is not recommended.

During this short two weeks we also visited the annual Katoomba festival, which happened to be going on the weekend we arrived and was only 2 train stops from the house. IMG_7455BlogHere, we heard good music, snacked on great food and made new friends at a local bar/lounge. We must have been inspired at this festival because for the first (and definitely last) time ever, I had a snake, python to be exact, wrapped around my shoulders. Ewwww! Still can’t believe it. Luckily, I wasn’t squeezed to death, which is apparently highly likely in Oz.

Did you know that Australia is home to some of the most deadly animals in the world? Here’s a few that are absolutely terrifying: Saltwater crocodile, box jelly, red-back spider, funnel web spider, snakes of all kinds, and the great white shark. It was the craziest thing to hear about the latest shark attack while listening to the radio during the day.

If you didn’t know, listen to this song and do tell us what you think.

Being so close to the Blue Mountains, we had to be extra cautious about spiders when working outdoors. One day, while Enoc was chopping up wood for the fire, he found an ugly black/brown spider within a hollow space of a log. IMG_7608Not knowing what to do and most likely thinking about his wife’s annoying safety tips, he rushed to grab the frenchie and I from the guesthouse. I had one look at it and knew right away (thanks to my friend Google) it was none other than the deadly funnel web spider. Our hosts made us kill it right away and rightly so. Till this day, I have met many Australians that have been in Oz their whole life and have yet to see this spider. We saw it on our second week there! Oh, the joy. After this encounter, we had trouble sleeping until we reached the city and stayed in a high-rise for the next two weeks. Surely, spiders back home will seem cute after our year on the road.

This was our first time living with complete strangers, which ultimately led to close friendships and a diverse set of life skills. All stories aside, it has been such a blessing to have these opportunities to connect and love people from around the world. We are forever grateful for moments and experiences like this.

Sydney and Melbourne to be posted later this week.

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Spectacular Robberg

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We took in some utterly breathtaking views along South Africa’s famous Garden Route up the coast from Cape Town. Although our two-night stay in the town which we have difficulty pronouncing correctly, Knysna (nize-nuh), proved to be charming and picturesque, the highlight of this three day adventure was definitely the spectacular Robberg Nature Reserve in Plettenberg Bay. This location is truly a hiker’s paradise and should not be missed if traveling along the garden route. Offering three walking/hiking trails to choose from (easy, moderate, hard), magnificent views along the paths, and the sound of the ocean, there is no question about why this walk is rated amongst the best in the world. Nature at its finest! See for yourself…

Visit our photo gallery (click here), click on South Africa and scroll down to Plettenberg Bay to see incredible photos from Robberg and the island.

Our Date with the Big 5

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Like many others who travel through Africa, a safari game drive was at the top of the list during our stay in South Africa. However, as we heard from our host, embarking on such an adventure is quite a luxury for locals and tourists alike. Imagine what that means for travelers who are merely passing through? This type of activity is usually planned in advance and requires a serious savings strategy. The decision weighed heavy on us knowing future travel plans would be affected if we moved forward with this.

For starters, we had to rule out Krueger National Park with no questions asked. Not only because we would spend money going from Cape Town to Johannesburg and then drive four hours to the Park, but because even a two-day lodge stay inside the park is outrageously expensive. Granted there is an option to camp out and still participate in the game drives, but getting there was still an expense in addition to the fear of being eaten by a wild animal in the middle of the night. Doing something like this could have really sent us home immediately after the safari. DCIM101GOPROGOPR5841.As a result, we talked about scheduling our date with the Big 5 (elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino) later in life as a well-planned luxurious vacation. This is the struggle when traveling long-term, not being able to do everything you want. Boo hoo. We’re not complaining. After all, these struggles are the least of our worries.

Now, even though we had dropped this topic, my husband continued searching day and night for affordable alternatives. Of course, I was not the least bit upset. In fact, after hours and hours of researching he found a private game reserve only a short two-hour drive from Cape Town. It must have been our lucky day because they had an incredibly good deal online for winter accommodations and even upgraded our lodge at no additional cost. So, we booked a two-night stay at the reserve, which included four game drives (two by day and two by night), all meals, horseback riding (which we gladly declined) and an unforgettable experience. The drive itself was breathtaking except for the annoying baboons on the road making it extremely distracting and dangerous. In addition to fewer crowds, professional guides, limited number of vehicles and exclusive night drives with off-road animal tracking, we believe a private game reserve may offer more to the safari experience than a National Park. Obviously, this option can be more expensive, but perhaps visiting during the wintertime like we did is a good option.

The Aquila Game Reserve is the closest private reserve to Cape Town and offers a variety of safari packages. Given the close proximity to Cape Town, a popular safari is the day trip, which even celebrities take part in when visiting the area with time restrictions and actually happens to be how Enoc stumbled upon this particular reserve.

DCIM101GOPROGOPR5874.Another reason why this private reserve happens to be popular is their conservation efforts. Our morning drive at Aquila included a visit to the ARC (Aquila Rehabilitation & Conservation Centre) and was quite special as it is home to rescued leopard and cheetahs that will become part of the breeding program in the future. Aquila has also established the ‘Saving Private Rhino’ initiative, which ensures the future conservation of Africa’s rhino and wildlife legacy by providing an integrated anti-poaching solution available to private game reserves throughout Africa. This almost doesn’t make you feel so bad about spending this kind of money for a safari.

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Spotting these wild animals as close as we did was something incredible and unlike anything we have ever experienced. Before starting the game drives we were reminded that it was not guaranteed to see any of the animals as it depends on the day, time, weather, etc. IMG_7269BlogTo our surprise however, we were fortunate to spot the Big 5. The buffalo could only be spotted late at night on our way back to the lodge and we couldn’t get too close because they are aggressive animals but even so, we caught a mere glimpse. And although the Rhino will forever hold a special place in our hearts, the lion encounter was surreal and nearly breathtaking (not in a good way) as we witnessed lots of movement surrounding our vehicle. When you are told to remain silent and keep your hands and cameras inside the vehicle, it is never a good sign.

An absolute highlight to this adventure was the night drives. Cozied up in a 4×4 vehicle with a complimentary blanket surrounded by spectacular views, sun setting in the distance and wildlife encounters is something that cannot be easily taken for granted. It is a slap in the face kind of moment. An appreciation for all that surrounds you including the air that you breath. We were served a glass of champagne and snacks when we were far enough to step out and enjoy a moment of serenity DCIM101GOPROGOPR5856.somewhere in the 10,000-hectare reserve. As we returned to the lodge overlooking the reserve and a sky full of stars that will forever be engraved in our memory, all we could think and put into words was how blessed we were to be living that precise moment.

Our photos can be seen in their best quality in our photo gallery (click here).

Cape Town’s Natural Wonder

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Much to our surprise, the window seat passenger never showed up. In fact, the immaculate and massive Emirates Boeing 777 plane had many seats available. Every other row had a few empty seats and our initial thought was, “Oh no, no one is going to Africa”. We immediately focused on the crime rate in South Africa, Cape Town in particular, and even the health risks associated with our visit given the tragedies in West Africa and the masses that were affected. We talked about this and dwelled on it a bit more than we should have. Though, you can’t blame us. Being first timers in Africa automatically implies that we were carrying everything the media and those around us had engrained in our minds forming such perceptions. We got over it as soon as we smelled dinner coming down the aisles and realized our empty plane allowed economy passengers like ourselves, first class privileges. Some of us took up three seats and rested comfortably. “Some of us” enjoyed it. This 10-hour direct flight from Dubai did not seem all that bad after all.

We had South Africa on the journey with a three-week stay and like most other stops, had no pre-arranged plans. Although, our host recommended we hire (rent) a car upon arrival as public transportation is not effective at all hours of the day and throughout the city. So, because it was foreign to us, we did as we were told. We had a car throughout our entire stay and found it convenient to come and go as we pleased. After all, the last time we had a car to ourselves was in Puerto Rico back in February. The roads in South Africa were amazing and no different than any major city back at home. In fact, we found road signs to be even better. We traveled quite a bit to and from the Mother City (Cape Town) and not once had a problem.

Now, this doesn’t mean I was not at the edge of my seat the entire time thinking we were going to hit the curb or the car adjacent to us. Truthfully, it wasn’t an issue driving on the roads. It was simply our sense of direction and habit that we found to be the greatest struggle. This was our first time on the left side of the road and on the right side of the vehicle. Side note: there are “parking attendants” on every block no matter where you happen to be. Most “attendants” say they have been looking over your car for hours when in fact, they have not. Either way, it is not recommended to give them more than five rand if you give them anything at all. If it’s somewhere you are likely to return we would recommend making a small donation. Also, broken windows are very common if anything valuable is displayed in the car. The house and host we stayed with could not have been better. The Victorian style home is situated in a prime location overlooking the natural wonder that defines the city, Table Mountain. This soaring flat-topped mountain, and main focal point throughout the city, is absolutely breathtaking and draws you in entirely. This is definitely something you must see for yourself to understand how incredible it truly is. Words and pictures do not do it justice. Taking a cable car up the mountain and walking at the very top with views that are beyond anything you’ve ever seen is quite special.

If that wasn’t enough, we were so lucky to walk approximately 30 feet from the house to enjoy delicious eggs Florentine and coffee (tea for me of course) at our favorite cafe Licorice and Lime, which overlooks this gorgeous mountain. Here, they knew us by name. Across the street from this gem is the Italian restaurant Bacini’s and down Kloof Street is Cafe Paradiso with outdoor garden dining. The list goes on and on when it comes to cafes and restaurants in Cape Town. We were surprised at how much more value the USD had over the South African Rand. Meals, drinks and all averaged anywhere from 10-30 USD at the most and were incredibly delicious. In fact, most nights we had dinner for less than 17 USD (23 if we added a wine bottle on those special nights).

On that note, we must discuss the wine. After a few days, we eventually built up enough strength to leave the magnetic views of Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula behind. Not an easy thing to do. The beauty of this country is that it doesn’t really matter which direction you choose to drive because they all lead to the next equally as stunning and yet different landscape. At only thirty minutes to an hour away you are introduced to South Africa’s stunning wine country. Whether it’s the historical and charming Constantia wine route, or the picturesque Stellenbosch route, there is a wonderful selection of wines. We took a few day trips and enjoyed fantastic and affordable wines. Why is wine so expensive in the United States? We thought Argentina offered bottles at an unbelievably low rate, but South Africa was even cheaper. Let us put this in perspective. The first wine farm we visited was in Constantia, which offered eight wine tastings for 3.50 USD. No, that’s not a typo. The wines, both white and red, some were award winners and some not. Even so, there was not one bad wine! This goes for every winery we visited in South Africa. Now, we’ve done many wine tastings and this is quite rare. So, since it was early in the day we decided to purchase one bottle of their beautiful Sauvignon Blanc. I hope you’re ready for this. The bottle was 4 USD! Wait, there’s more. The tastings were not charged because there was a bottle purchase. What more can you ask for? Our favorite visit was at the Fairview Winery and Cheese Farm in the beautiful Paarl region. Here we enjoyed a private tasting of eight premium wines paired with artisanal cheeses for a total of 14 USD. We will be in for a rude awakening when we return to California’s Napa Valley.

Given South Africa’s troubled history and struggle for freedom, visiting Robben Island and speaking to our host about the country’s current social and political state was certainly another highlight. Walking throughout the prison with a former prisoner who shared his story and knew Nelson Mandela was rather intriguing. South Africa has come a long way and in most parts you wouldn’t even notice you are in Africa. In fact, it reminds us so much of San Francisco in so many ways. If it wasn’t for the townships (underdeveloped urban living areas), you may never know you were in Africa. South Africa’s commitment to provide essential resources such as electricity and water for several townships continues to draw more and more immigrants in to the country that are seeking suitable conditions. Unfortunately, townships are also known to be dangerous. Locals recommend not visiting alone and/or at night if even at all. These are people with tremendous need who can react desperately for money, food, clothes and other things one may carry. There were many townships we drove by throughout our stay and can honestly say, besides Haiti that is similar in some ways; we have never seen anything like this before.

Many locals told us we were visiting at a bad time of year. Winter had just begun and it was rather cold in the evenings and during the day depending on the winds. A couple days we experienced rough winds and rain like no other. However, we didn’t mind the weather at all. In fact, some days felt like spring/summer. Rain or shine, we were out of the house taking in every moment. Our host was surprised when she found out we had even been to church on Sunday and told us we were really getting the full experience. We spent our time in South Africa only in the Cape and did some scenic drives and Safari (which will be on separate posts) because we felt three weeks was just enough. Luckily, every main attraction within the city was no more than 10-15 minutes by car from where we were staying. Among our favorites was spending time at the VA Waterfront enjoying a nice hot drink overlooking the beautiful views, exploring the top of Table Mountain, visiting the famous Camp’s Bay along the M6 scenic drive and although it consisted of terrifying steps, hiking the steep terrain at Lion’s Head during sunset was also breathtaking.

Cape Town offers something for everyone: pristine beaches, spectacular coast drives, hiking and many other outdoors activities, multicultural communities and events, great food, great coffee, daily markets and historical wine farms. Surrounded by overwhelming natural wonder, this city captured our heart instantly and we look forward to the day we can return and make more memories. Visit the photo gallery (click here) to see more photos.