I can hardly believe that we’ve been on the road for six months! It seems like just yesterday that we left the States and arrived in New Zealand, yet at the same time, New Zealand seems like a lifetime ago. I’m not sure that words can describe how truly lucky and blessed I feel that we’ve been able to take this trip. We’ve experienced so many amazing cultures, seen tons of incredible places and met some of the most wonderful people all around the world! The first six months were so unbelievable that it’s hard to imagine what kind of adventures the next six months have in store!
We decided to write up a fun little breakdown of the first six months of our RTW by the numbers:
6 Months (since we left the states on July 8, 2012, crossed the International Date Line and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on July 10, 2012, we’ve decided our anniversary falls on the 8th, 9th and 10th and do a three-day celebration monthly)
13 Countries – New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, India, Maldives, Tanzania, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay (not counting layovers in Fiji, Kuala Lumpur & Ethiopia)
4 Continents – Australia, Asia, Africa, South America (since we’re from North America and have both visited Europe…it only leaves one continent left to visit…ANTARCTICA!!)
10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Sydney Opera House, Fraser Island, Great Barrier Reef, Ha Long Bay, Town of Luang Prabang, Taj Mahal, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Stone Town of Zanzibar, Iguazu National Park
Crushes – 3.5 – Beth; 2 – Danielle (we’ll leave it up to y’all to go through mine & Danielle’s blog and see if you can figure out who…)
18 dives in 5 countries and 2 certifications (Beth)
7 minor electrical shocks (probably due to set ups like this…)
3 packages shipped home (Beth – 2; combo – 1)
Percentage of budget gone through (more on the budget later): 93.6% CRAAAAAAPPPPP! (Beth)
40 – largest number of people in a dorm room we’ve stayed in
1 Full Moon Party (Koh Phangan, Thailand)
8 – night trains/night buses taken
Local beers/ciders tried:
- New Zealand: Speights, Export Gold, Monteith, Tui
- Australia: Byron Bay Blonde, Bulmers Cider, Toohey’s
- Indonesia: Bintang
- Singapore: Tiger
- Vietnam: Bai Hanoi, Hanoi, Saigon, La Rue, 333, Halida
- Laos: Beer Lao
- Thailand: Chang, Singha, Leo
- India: Kingfisher
- Tanzania: Serengeti, Tuskers, Safari, Kilimanjaro
- South Africa: Savanna Dry, Hunters Dry, Jack Black, Windhoek Lager, Carling Black Label, Castle, Hansa Pilsner
- Argentina: Quilmes, Andes
- Uruguay: Pilsen, Patricia
4 – insects eaten (2 each)
17 – bracelets (each)
134 meters – jumped from the Nevis Bungy jump
14,000 feet – skydive
8 – Tigers played with
2 – Cage Dives with Great White Sharks
1,274,565 – Wedding Crashers quotes (we could almost act out the entire movie as a duo…almost)
547 – Times watched Wedding Crashers
17 – friends/family who’ve met up with us or we’ve visited in other cities or have taken us into their homes (including friends we’ve met on the road & then met back up with): Casey, Adrian, Jamie, Martin & Sonya, Lauren, Monica & Kris, Kendall, Byron, Grace & Lisa, Luke, Brent, Marc, Momma & Bill
Favorite Country – Thailand/Maldives – Beth; Thailand/South Africa – Danielle
Favorite City (both) – Cape Town
Favorite currency: Vietnamese Dong – both (obviously!!! The jokes are ENDLESS…)
5 – Starwood Properties stayed in (including one AMAAAZING upgrade to an Ocean Villa at the Sheraton Maldives!!!)
Best thing packed: iPhone – Beth; iPod – Danielle
Problems on the road:
- 4 robberies (2 each)
- Items lost – ATM card, bathing suit bottoms, sunglasses (Danielle); earrings (Beth)
- 2 bookbags left in cars & recovered – one by a veryyyy nice Thai taxi driver that returned Danielle’s bag to her after leaving in a cab & one left in our hostel shuttle that I hitchhiked a mile back to our hostel from the bus stop and recovered the bag…and made the Greyhound.
Thing I wish I’d packed (Beth) – Swiss Army knife with mini screwdriver or a wheeled backpack combo
Thing I wish I’d packed (Danielle) – computer (but was shipped to Australia); iPod touch or a wheeled backpack combo
Things I miss most – baking (Beth); gym (Danielle); cooking in our own kitchens and obviously family & friends (both)
Top 5 albums listened to the most on the road (Beth) – Sweedish House Mafia – Until Now; Local Natives – Gorilla Manor; My Morning Jacket – various; playlists of music sent to me by friends; Rise Against – Appeal to Reason
Top 5 albums listened to the most on the road (Danielle) – Kings of Leon – Come Around; Joshua Radin – Underwater; Carrie Underwood – Blown Away; Taylor Swift – Red; Of Monsters & Men – Self Titled
Plus, a few more of my favorite photos:
Loved this Beth! Very cool, quite an enjoyable read! So glad you guys have had an amazing never-to-be-forgotten trip! 😀 ( And I was pretty excited I made the blog 😉
What a trip and what wonderful experience for these two young women. How many of us would have the nerve to do this at their age??
As Beth’s grandfather, I can brag and tell everyone how proud of her I am.
I did some of these countries at an earlier age, courtesy of the U.S, Navy, a war kept me from enjoying it as much BUT, it is an experience I will never regret or forget.
As Lady Beth’s partner, Frisco Fred ! !
P.S.
Looking forward to the book.
this recap rocks. LOVE following you on this big adventure.
Love reading your blog Beth- although it does make me jealous! Such an amazing adventure. Wishes of fun on the next 6 months!!!
Thank you so much Nichole!! That’s so sweet!