LATEST TRAVEL BLOG POSTS
Living in New Zealand With Food Allergies
Yesterday I was asked by a member of our private community, ‘Is the food in New Zealand better?’
While this is a huge topic (and those who know me will have probably guessed my answer), I said it would depend on where you are comparing it to. Compared to the UK, yes, I think that the food in New Zealand is better. It tastes more ‘real’.
Don’t ask me to define real because I can’t. Sorry. Let’s just say it hits a different spot on the taste buds.
After talking to this community member for a while I discovered her reason for asking the above question. She had severe food allergies and was trying to gauge what life in New Zealand would look like.
In this week’s show, I talk to Jenn Morris. Jenn is from the Youtube channel, A Thousand Words. She emigrated to New Zealand over a decade ago and she has various food intolerances and allergies that she lives with.
Behind The Scenes #4. Why we REALLY Left The UK
Last week, when I received an email from a listener from the Middle East. (The fact that we have people listening to us from the middle east blows my mind with excitement but that is a different story). Here is a snippet of what it said:
“One second thing is the reason why you guys decided to move abroad. I am from the middle east so everybody want to move away from here. It is really interesting for me to listen to a westerner moving abroad”.
After reading this email it suddenly struck me. How one person’s ideal country is another person prison. Maybe prison is a tad harsh but it is late at night when I’m writing this and I can’t think of the correct word so let’s stick with
Why WOULD anyone want to emigrate from the UK? And while we’re at it, why would anyone want to leave New Zealand and live in Australia or England? Why on earth would anyone consider leaving beautiful, gorgeous France to live in America?
But they do. Every single day.
Behind The Scenes #3. We Met Online. From Subscribers To Friends.
This episode is a biggy.
There is no way we could condense what we have just experienced into a thirty-minute show.
Today you will hear us talk about how we met a Māori couple online – on Youtube. And how, within ten days of that initial introduction, these people had travelled ten hours across the country and were sitting at our table sharing dinner with us. Four strangers. Two cultures. One beautiful connection.
I know that you are going to love this episode.
HOW Much?? Emigrating To New Zealand With Dogs
Can you imagine coming to New Zealand with dogs? I can’t. Bringing two kids was stressful enough. But you are about to meet a family who has done both! and in this episode, they share how moving to New Zealand without their fur babies was never an option.
Regardless of the stress and the cost.
Behind The Scenes Episode 2: Sonny at 20
Hello and welcome back! This is the second (of an experimental) six-part series. A behind the scenes podcast where we go deeper into our family life and share some things that we think (we hope!) you might be interested in and may help you.
So many of you have asked us to talk more about personal matters: being a parent, traveling the world, homeschooling, starting online businesses and so here we are.
In this episode, we catch up with Sonny. If you are a long time listener of this podcast you will know that Sonny is our son. It was Sonny’s idea, way back in 2018 (when he was a wee 17 year old) to start this podcast that you are listening to right now.
Are New Zealand People (REALLY) That Kind?
It’s all over the news. The team of five million are unbeatable. You don’t have to look far to find someone singing the praises of the New Zealanders. But are the New Zealand people as kind as the world is led to believe? And if they are so friendly what makes them so?
Or is all this kindness stuff a big fat cover-up to keep the MIQ staff in a job?
Let’s go for a walk and find out.
Behind The Scenes. Episode #1 Meeting My Teenage Daughter
Hello and welcome! This is the first (of an experimental) six-part series. A behind the scenes podcast where we go deeper into our family life and share some things that we think (we hope!) you might be interested in and may help you.
So many of you have asked us to talk more about personal matters: being a parent, travelling the world, homeschooling, starting online businesses and so here we are.
We kick off the series with our gorgeous teenage (and usually very private) daughter talking about being seventeen.
WEIRD Facts About New Zealand (That Don’t Involve Sheep).
You don’t have to look far to find some New Zealand facts. We all know about the sheep population and the fact that Rotorua smells of eggs, but what about the other stuff? What about the WEIRD New Zealand facts?
The stuff you only find when you dig your gumboots in a little deeper?
Fitting into New Zealand. (As told by a real kiwi bloke).
If you are moving to New Zealand there are things you’ll want to know. Like how to fit in and get along. And who better to answer that question than a true, born and bred New Zealander.
Today we are thrilled to be chatting with Gordy. A real kiwi bloke.
HELLO THERE!
I am Liz, a travel and lifestyle blogger! I met the love of my life, Brian, in the late 80’s. We spent our first 10 years together wearing very large shoulder pads, saying “rad”
As tends to happen, we grew into adults (sort of), got a mortgage (boo hoo) and started a family (yay!). We still continued to travel the world with our little children but our itchy feet were never far away and we decided that rather than mess about with holidays, we’d go all out and emigrate instead. And anyway, British wine is rubbish.
So, we emigrated to New Zealand. Once there, our lifestyle changed dramatically. We are currently backpacking the world with our two teenagers, trying to regain our youth (joke. Sort of) whilst trying to conceal the amount of wine we drink each night (truth). We would love you to join our journey on this honest (a bit too honest) blog as we try to discover ways to make this lifestyle achievable, not just for us, but for you too!
I am Liz, a travel and lifestyle blogger! I met the love of my life, Brian, in the late 80’s. We spent our first 10 years together wearing very large shoulder pads, saying rad alot, and travelling around the world. It was within those ten years that we discovered our mutual passion for travel, adventure, food and wine. And chocolate peanut M&Ms.
As tends to happen, we grew into adults (sort of), got a mortgage (boo hoo) and started a family (yay!) We still continued to travel the world with our little children but our itchy feet were never far away and we decided that rather than mess about with holidays, we’d go all out and emigrate instead.
In 2009, we took our family and emigrated to New Zealand. Once there, our lifestyle changed dramatically. We are currently backpacking the world with our two teenagers, trying to regain our youth (joke) whilst trying to conceal the amount of wine we drink each night (truth). We would love you to join our journey on this honest (a bit too much sometimes) blog as we try to discover ways to make this lifestyle achievable, not just for us, but for you too!
OUR MOST POPULAR TRAVEL BLOG POSTS!
The Travel Bog Diaries. Thrown Out Of A Yoga Class In India
y desire to indulge in some yoga came out after I witnessed the perfect family in India. Perfect kids, perfect Mother. I concluded that this must surely be a result of partaking in either a) dancing around the full moon naked, b) drinking lots of...
Japanese Culture. 10 Things You (Probably) Should Know. Podcast #15
In this week’s podcast, Sonny and Liz talk about the culture of Japan and a few things you need to be aware of before you go.
Life in Japan is very easy to adjust to and the Japanese people are amongst the most generous and welcoming folk in the world.
But.
The Japanese do have one tiny downside…
Japan. 39 Things You Probably Should Know (BEFORE) You Turn up.
ant to know the secret of a successful trip to Japan? Familiarise yourself with a few culture facts about Japan before you arrive in...
Bloody Hell. Travelling in India by Sleeper Bus. Podcast #11
I love you India, I really do.
I dedicated an entire India podcast on what it was like travelling in India for the first time.
No matter what time of day you ask me – regardless of whether my hormones are playing up or not. I will always tell anyone I meet that travelling in India for seven weeks – backpacking across your beautiful land with my kids was one of the best experiences of my life.
But bloody hell.
India. Is it as scary as everyone says it is? PODCAST # 010
After spending seven weeks backpacking around India with my kids (teenagers age 16 and 13) I thought we should do a podcast on the country (and put to bed the silly myths that surround visiting India).
When I told people that we were planning a trip to India the response was…let’s say colourful.
Some (mostly those who were born before the 1960s and had spent their youth discovering Asia on a couple of quid) encouraged us: ‘you’ll love it’ they said and went on to talk about the beautiful Indian beaches or the temples in Hampi.
But others weren’t so encouraging.
Sri Lanka Villas. A Review On This Slice Of Paradise.
ho doesn't love a bargain? But the trouble with bargains is they usually came at a cost. There always seems to be a catch. That's why you are going to love me for this blog post on where to stay in Sri Lanka. I have for you the ultimate find...
28 Things NOT To Do In Japan (so’s not to look like a complete wally)
e careful in Japan. It can catch you out. My family and I spent a month backpacking around Japan and we learned a lot about the things not to do in Japan. It might help to brush up on some culture facts about Japan before you arrive. Especially if...
5 Things To Do in Japan (That Won’t Leave You Broke)
You cannot visit Japan and do what every other tourist does. You just can't. It's against the law and I won't let you. If you are looking for cheap or inexpensive things to do in Japan, you have a sense of adventure, don't mind heights and want to experience a...
Things To Do In Ella Sri Lanka (And One Thing Definitely NOT To Do)
lla in Sri Lanka was nothing as I'd imagined it to be. We took the train from Colombo to Kandy and from there we took the most beautiful train ride of our lives and travelled from Kandy to Ella. If you are looking for tips on where to stay and...