How New Zealand Changed our Perspective on Life

When we first decided to take a leap of faith and move to New
Zealand we had no idea the impact it would have on our lives. Over the
last year we’ve stepped outside our comfort zone in all aspects of our
lives and have been on the most amazing journey of adventure and
self-discovery.


So as we passed our 1 year anniversary in one of the most beautiful
country’s in the world, we began to reflect on the impact it has had on
our lives and how much we’ve grown both personally and as a couple.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone

It was June 2013 and although we had our New Zealand work
Visa’s lined up, our attempts to secure jobs before we left Canada had
failed and were faced with an important decision. Either delay our plans
to leave until at least one of us found a job or throw all caution to
the wind and sell everything in hopes of it all working out in the end.

Check out: Top thrill Seeking things to do in New Zealand

The thought of leaving our perfectly good jobs, our friends and
family and the security we had established was daunting but we knew it
was the right decision. This was our first and biggest step outside our
comfort zone and into the unknown to a country we had never been to with
no guarantees ahead.

And it didn’t stop there. Known as the adventure capital of the
world, New Zealand’s adventure culture has created numerous activities
that have pushed us to the edge of our comfort zone time and time again.
Whether it was bungy jumping, mountaineering or hiking the Milford
Track in torrential rain ñ our limits have been tested over and over
again and we continue to come out stronger every time.

Collect memories not things

When we had to pack our lives into 2 suitcases each it forced us to
prioritize the “things” in our lives and rid ourselves of a lot of
“stuff” we had collected over the years. Having sold pretty much
everything we owned, we started our new life in New Zealand with just a
suitcase full of clothes and some camping gear.


One of the biggest lessons we’ve learning since moving here is that
you really donít need all that “stuff”. Being immersed in a country full
of natural beauty, we have learned to prioritize collecting memories
over things. Although I would love to have my juicer on a Sunday morning
or our 3 bedroom house for entertaining guests, this journey has made
us live a more simple life enriched in so many other ways than with
material things. We continue to spend our time and money on adventures
that create lasting memories not temporary joy.

 Reconnecting with Nature

Having grown up in a small town, surrounded by woods and nature I’ve
always enjoyed the simpler life and never aspired to live in a large
urban city. However, when I ended up living near the concrete jungle of
Toronto and commuting to work for 6 years I forgot what it was like to
explore the outdoors and how much more alive I feel when I do.

Living in New Zealand has rekindled our love for being immersed in
nature and solidified our decision to never let our jobs dictate where
we live or how we live. I need the ocean. I love the mountains – and
grass and trees are way more fun than bustling city streets.


It all started with our first Great Walk along the Abel Tasman Coast
Track. Although our bodies weren’t accustom to hiking 6-9hrs a day,
being surrounded by the beautiful forest and beaches, ignited a passion
to explore more of these incredible walks and push ourselves to new
heights.

The incredible natural beauty in New Zealand continues to inspire us.
One of our favorite memories has been†hiking the Routeburn Track with
Jordan’s parents and if our video of this Great Walk doesn’t get you
stoked†to get out and explore – I don’t know what will!

Appreciate your own backyard

When you’re immersed in a new place, everything is new and exciting.
Last September we landed in New Zealand with no responsibilities and
complete freedom to explore. We spent the first 6 weeks touring the
North and South Islands which allowed us to get a taste for what this
beautiful country had to offer, and since then, haven’t stopped making
use of every ounce of spare time.


A year later many New Zealanders have told us we’ve seen more of the
country than most Kiwis and it’s been a wake-up call for them to do the
same. Something about being in a new country gives you the drive to
explore, which is why we’ve pushed to do as much as we can right now
knowing how dangerous and easy it is to get into a comfortable routine
and say ëWeíll do it some other timeí.

No matter where you live in the world, it can be easy to take for
granted what’s in your own backyard. Now being away from Canada we
realize how much we have yet to explore there and has fuelled a desire
to go back someday and ensure we appreciate the natural beauty and
culture of our own country.

Work is more than making money

Although I loved my job back in Canada, I never realized how formal
the work culture was until I moved to New Zealand. There is a high
priority placed on work-life balance here and it is completely
acceptable (and encouraged) to not take your laptop home, not answer
emails after 5pm or on weekends and that holidays are where you can
completely unplug.


I also really enjoy the social culture I have at my job. I look
forward to ëbeer oíclockí every Friday where I can enjoy a drink and
snacks with co-workers, getting a chance to get to know them on a more
personal level. Whether it’s a bake-off in the office, Zorb soccer ‘team
building’, or the Christmas beach party, there’s always an excuse to
take the time to have some fun. If I could take one lesson back to
Canada is would be to remove the ëstiffnessí of the workplace and let
people experience what a little less structure can bring†to the
enjoyment of work.

Living abroad is a true relationship test

Packing up your lives and moving to a country youíve never been,
where you know no one, can be a challenge for any couple. Living out of a
car for 6 weeks can be too! Being so far away from your family and
friends, that person becomes an even bigger part of your life. I truly
feel you canít get to know yourself or your partner completely until you
have had to†depend on that person in all aspects of your life.†This
journey has made us an even stronger couple ñ one whoís seen each
otherís biggest highs and toughest lows and despite spending a
significant amount of time together, we still look forward to seeing
each other at the end of the day and even go out of our way to schedule
lunch dates on Fridays.

New found passion

When we first started our blog and video web series, it was a way for
us to share our adventures with friends and family back home. Little
did we know this part-time hobby would become our passion and ignite a
creative side of†us we didn’t know was there. I’m an engineer by
training and never considered myself much of a writer, but when it came
to sharing our personal stories, the words just flowed out of me.
Jordan’s incredible eye for detail and his passion for film making has
truly blossomed over the last year. Our website, Stoked for Saturday,
has become a new creative outlet that allows us to share our journey
with the world and also provides us†a personal journal of our lives that
we’ll cherish forever.


Have you experienced a similar life changing event that’s brought you new perspective on life?

Jenna
and Jordan left Canada in September 2013 to embark on a new life living
and working in†New Zealand. With a passion for adventure and the
outdoors, they’ve taken full advantage of their weekends and holidays to
explore their backyard and hope to inspire others to do the same.
From bungy jumping to mountaineering, they look for ways to step
outside their comfort zone and love to live life to the fullest!

A Gourmand’s Weekend Getaway to Seattle

Typical media coverage of Seattle has always seemed warped to me —
the inevitable mentions of Boeing, Amazon, and the rain. How depressing.

The reality of Seattle is something altogether different. I’ve written about Seattle’s amazing neighborhoods, the art, the wine — it’s a city with many charms.

Today, we’re going to talk about food. I truly believe Seattle is one of America’s first class cities for gourmet dining. And I’m going to show you what you need to know to do it in a long weekend.

Tours, Markets, Carts, and Windows

One disappointment I have with Seattle food is that often some of my
favorite establishments change or close. Thus, Seattle is one of the
towns where I strongly recommend getting on a food tour or two to guide
to you to the latest and greatest. Savor Seattle
is a great option, and with choices like “hip on the hill” or “booze n
bites,” what are you waiting for? Their guides are really in the know,
so be sure to hit them up for recommendations and tips while en route.

Savor does a Pike’s Place Market tour, but actually I think you should wander the market on your own
and see what you uncover. Get some doughnuts from daily dozen, pick up
gourmet gifts and treats to take home at DeLaurenti’s, sample some
cheese at Beecher’s, get chocolate (and chocolate spa products!) from
indi chocolate, or wander into Market Spice at the back of the market
and see what you fancy.

The Pacific Northwest also seems to be a fan of the food window.
It’s sort of like a food cart, but the cart is in a building. (I know,
it’s weird. Just trust me.) If you want a food cart, that’s cool; here’s the list
— Ivar’s, on Pier 54, is a classic example. But if you head out into
the neighborhoods, check out Marination Station or Kedai Makan in
Capitol Hill.

Sit Down Dining

Seattle is not like Portland – people love to sit down for a fine
meal, completely with linen napkins. (And unlike Portland, people do
actually dress up for dinner here. I’ve lived in both cities, I speak
with confidence.) Canlis is the most famous — reservations required — and probably has some of the best service of any restaurant in the country. And what a view.

Normally I don’t flock towards celebrity chefs, but Tom Douglas
is a notable exception. All of his Seattle venues I would recommend:
Lola is wonderful, Serious Pie is simple (and more casual — pizza shown
above), Dahlia Lounge for brunch.

Pour Yourself a Beverage

Looking for a cold one? Seattle has all that and more. Wine is easy; Purple Cafe is one of the most well-known (perhaps for its beautiful wine staircase), but honestly I find this place just meh. I prefer The Tasting Room or Fonte.

Seattle has some great beer, too, though I have to
say most breweries in Seattle don’t have the best food, nor service.
Pike Place Brewing and Elysian are the two best for brews, though I also
like having a beer at Six Arms in Capitol Hill (photo above), an
extension of the McMenamin’s chain of locally-owned restaurants.

Foodies Need to Sleep

After all those calories, you’re going to need safe refuge, and Seattle has your back. Four Seasons Seattle
is one of the best hotels in the Four Seasons network, with an amazing
on-site spa and very comfortable rooms, all just a couple of blocks from
Pike’s Place Market. Rooms have a great view, and if the weather has
you down you have not only one of Seattle’s best restaurants in the
lobby but also chocolate and salted caramels from Fran’s, all available
to you without having to step foot outside.

Motif
is a relatively new hotel to the Seattle scene (for those in the know,
it used to be a Red Lion). It’s a sleek, sexy hotel — ask for a
west-facing room if you can, the views (above) are wonderful. Right on
5th Avenue, the hotel is steps from all the shopping hot spots and is
also home to the up-and-coming Frolik restaurant, which I think has some
strong culinary talent in the back of the house. Frolik has a wonderful
outdoor terrace (see lead photo, above).

Wine lovers will want to hang their hat at Hotel Vintage Park,
part of the Kimpton brand. With wine-themed rooms, a free wine happy
hour, local wines in your minibar, and a great Italian restaurant (so good we held an event there), you’ll be a happy camper here.

Top 10 Most Active Volcanoes in the World

1). Mount Etna

Mount Etna is a most active and popular Volcano in Europe and it is
located in Sicily, Italy. Mount Etna is one of the tallest volcano in
the world. Etna is tallest volcano in the European continent it’s around
10922 ft high and it covers 459 sq mi area.

Source : ibtimes

Source : blogs.ft.com

Source : nydailynews

Source : unknown2). Mauna Loa Volcano

Mauna Loa is located on the island of Hawaii. The mensuration of
Mouna Loa is 60 miles long and 30 miles wide. Mauna Loa Volcano is one
of the five volcanoes in the U.S. lt is very largest volcano according
to mass and volume. The volume of Mauna Loa is approximately 18000 cubic
miles.

Source : wasabitourshawaii

Source : hvo.wr.usgs.gov
3). Mount Nyiragongo

Nyiragongo is located in the western branch of the Rift Valley near
Lake kivu and inside the Virunga National Park. It is almost 3470 meters
high 2 kilometers wide and 250 meters deep.

Source : boston

Source : armageddononline
4). Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi is a active volcano located in central java, Indonesia.
It is approximately 28 kilometers away from north of the Yogyakarta
city.

Source : lhvnews

  Source : boston
5). Geleras Volcano

Geleras Volcano is one of the Colombia’s most active Volcano. The
elevation of Geleras Volcano is 4276 m in the southwestern Colombia near
the border to Ecuador.

Source : therealbest

Source : mnn.com
6). Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is conflux of three district volcano in which first
one is Kibo 5895 m high, second 5149 m and last one shira 3962 m. It is
large active stratovolcano. Kilimanjaro is highest mountain in Africa
and approximately 19341 ft above the sea level.

Source : en.wikipedia.org

Source : mountain-forecast
7). Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano which is located in
Skamania Country, Washington. St. Helens is 154 kilometers south of
Seattle, Washington and 80 kilometers northeast Portland. The elevation
of Helens is 8363 ft.

Source : volcanoes.usgs.gov

Source : businessweek
8). Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano is a intricate volcano located on the island of Luzon in
the Phillppines. It is approximately 60 kilometers from south of Metro
Manila. It is second most active volcano in the Phillppines.

  Source : thecollectiveint

Source : en.wikipedia.org
9). Santa Maria Volcano

Santa Maria Volcano is a large active volcano which is located in
Western of Guatemala. It is one of the three largest blasts of 20th
century. It is also listed in five biggest blast in past 200 years. The
elevation of Maria Volcano is 3772 m sharp topped.

Source : earthobservatory.sg

Source : avcan

Source : photovolcanica
10). Ulawun Volcano

Ulawun Volcano is a stratovolcano located in the island of New
Britain, Papua New Guinea. It is approximately 7657 ft high and one of
the most active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea. The elevation of Ulawun
volcano is 2334 meters.

Source : tambora

Source : therealbest

- Likey.Today

How to Start an Unconventional Life of Travel

I’ve written several posts about following your dreams and stepping outside your comfort zone,
but I haven’t dug in much into the practical steps to actually do that,
especially when it comes to deciding to live the unconventional life of
constant travel.

1. The Desire

Let’s start with how much do you really want this? Do you simply wish to go on a long trip or do you feel it deep in your bones that this is something you must do at least once in your life?

Have
you traveled long term before? If not, why not try a solo trip through a
few countries for a couple weeks or more to see how you feel? If you
come back home and feel the desire to continue planning and go out on
the road again as soon as possible, then probably you’re on the right
mindset for long-term travel.

Is this something you’d like to do
now, in the near future, or once you retire? If you want to do it now,
how do you think you’ll finance it? Savings, working on the road, online
businesses?

These are all valid questions that will help you
understand how much you desire it and will get you on the way to start
planning your trip and life on the road.

TAKE ACTION:
Do a test run of your life on the road with a smaller trip and see how
you feel before returning home, just after returning, and some time
after. Understand your feelings to see if a location independent life is
for you.

2. Create Funds

I’ll
speak from my experience that raising funds for your trip takes a long
time (for most people, at least). I wanted to not only save a lot of money while I was working in NYC; I also wanted to have a way of earning some money while on the road.

While
I didn’t start this blog with the intention to monetize it, by the time
I decided to leave, I knew I had an asset to help me live on the road
at least for a longer period.

A travel blog is not necessary to
live on the road, but it is a good way share your stories and (possibly)
make an income while traveling. But, don’t start a blog with the sole
purpose of making money. Start it because you want to share and bring
value while on the road. Have a focus on your blog and deliver a
message. You can become someone else’s inspiration by sharing your
experience.

Otherwise, before leaving, search online for job
opportunities around the world; these can be in the form of working
holiday visas, volunteering, freelancing online, or others.

Also,
are there ways to translate your knowledge and assets from an offline
business to an online business? For example, can you consult online,
assist virtually, or even work remotely for your current job?

TAKE ACTION:
Google for work opportunities in each destination of interest and see
the requirements to work or volunteer there. If interested, start a blog
way before you leave home and document your process and share other
travel stories (I had my blog for over a year from the moment I started
it to the moment I left). See if blogging is for you and establish your
name in the blogosphere as you prepare for your trip. Also, think of way
you can translate your assets to an online work mode or business.

Maybe this is how they downsize in Mongolia?

3. Downsize Your Life

In
most cases, no matter how tied and settled your life is, there are ways
to free yourself to have a location independent life. For me it was
relatively easy since I didn’t own a house, but I know of many long-term
travelers who have sold their house to travel long term and used that
money to fund their life on the road, or rented their house to have that
rent money as an income to help their finances.

I, on the other
hand, simply went from renting a one-bedroom apartment to living with
roommates to save more money before I left New York.

I sold
everything I had (or donated to friends) to raise money and the
valuables I wanted to keep I sent to my mom’s house (just a few bags).

I
know of travelers who also sold their cars to save more money since
they had plans of living on the road for a long period, so it made
sense.

Try to not keep things on storage facilities, as that will
consume extra money on a monthly basis. If possible, downsize to the
bare minimum and store at a relative or friend’s house.

TAKE ACTION:
After deciding for how long you want to travel, identify what could you
sell, rent, and get rid off. The less you have, the freer you’ll be and
feel while on the road.

4. Understand And Change Your Spending Habits

Thankfully
I didn’t use to buy coffee or clothes on a regular basis, but I loved
going to concerts, which happened quite often in Madison Square Garden.
When I decided to save money for travel seriously, that unnecessary
spending was cut off my budget.

I also used to go out on dinners
every weekend and spent roughly $30 per meal. That was out too. I
cancelled cable TV since I could watch anything I wanted online, and
became more conscious on where I spent every dollar of my paycheck. The
more I could save, the more I could travel.

But, beyond cutting
spending, the trick that helped me the most was “paying myself first”.
Immediately after I received every paycheck, I would first transfer a
large sum (up to 50% sometimes) to my travel savings so that I had to
force myself to live only with the remainder.

In addition, I
scheduled automatic transfers of $20 to my savings every Friday. While
it is not much, small amounts “hurt” less psychologically than big
chunks, plus, in the long run, those $20s add up to a good travel fund.

TAKE ACTION:
Do a spreadsheet with all your spending and see what is not necessary.
Get rid of that. Prioritize your savings by paying yourself first. Save
additional small amounts on a weekly basis to help boost your savings
account.

5. Create A Plan, But Be Flexible

My
idea for this trip was something completely different from what I ended
up doing. I wanted to start in Australia, then bought a ticket to start
in Kenya, but ultimately I started my trip in Belize.
On the road, flexibility will be key to most of the things your do and
opportunities that will knock on your door. Be open to stray from your
plans if you think it is worth it.

Planning is good since it will keep your grinds in motion, but don’t be too focused on sticking to that plan,
because believe me, it will never happen. Life on the road is dynamic
and influenced by so many foreign variables we can’t think of before
hand. So, create a general framework of a plan and play around it. For
example: Plan to be in a certain country or region for an amount of
weeks or months, but don’t plan every city in detail – plan that on the
go.

Be open to learn new skills on the road, and even before, as
they may help you shape the course of your location independent life or
simply give you new experiences.

Keep all options open and don’t
despair if there are moments in which you don’t know what to do. That
happens. It is on these moments where you need to try new things and see
where they may lead you.

TAKE ACTION: Start
planning some of the logistics of your trip, but be open to changes
should they be necessary or beneficial. Learn new skills you’re
interested in (for example, teaching English as a second language?).

Carrying sulfur in Indonesia is not one of my strengths.

6. Focus on Your Strengths

In
Architecture school we are told that we “know a few things about
everything and everything about a few things.” This I believe is true,
and it still applies to my life on the road. But, while I’m open to
learn a bit of everything, I still keep a focus on my strengths and main
interests. For example, you don’t see me writing here about food
(unfortunately). It is not my strength, so I leave that to other people.
I still love to eat, though. I focus on the adventure and architecture
side of travel, not only from my blogging perspective but also on my
travel decisions, since they help me enjoy more these new experiences.
This focus also helps identify who I am in this online world and make me
more suitable to certain opportunities where my strength fits better.

TAKE ACTION: Understand your strengths and focus on them. Still, be open to learn about everything, as stated before.

7. Take The Plunge

You’ve
analyzed yourself, your finances, your trip, so now all you have to do
is take action to make this a reality. You’ll be afraid –I certainly
was– and this will not be an easy process, but keep your mind strong and
don’t sidetrack from your goal.

TAKE ACTION: Take action!!!!

Lastly, I’d like to recommend Wandering Earl’s How To Live A Life of Travel
guide since it is one of the most complete guide’s on becoming location
independent that I’ve ever read. He goes into detail on how to work
abroad, finance your trip, plan everything, and more.

| GloboTreks

U.S. Outbound Tourism Snapshot for May 2014

Asia and Latin America are both the benefactors of an
improving U.S. economy that is giving residents the ability and
confidence to travel overseas again.

— Samantha Shankman

---

The number of U.S. citizens traveling abroad in the first six
months of 2014 increased six percent year-over-year to 32.6 million,
according to monthly statistics released this week by the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office.


Every month, the NTTO releases data regarding recent travel
activity, including details about outbound travel from the United
States. This is the most recent month for which this information is
available.


Slightly more than half of those travelers, 53 percent, crossed
borders to Mexico (38 percent) and Canada (15 percent). The other 47
percent of U.S. citizens traveled overseas, with the Europe and the
Caribbean, unsurprisingly, capturing the greatest market share.


Worth noting is that Asia captured 7 percent of the market share in
the first six months of the year, which was more than Central America (5
percent) and South America (3 percent) despite the distance and higher
airfare needed to get there.


Monthly statistics; however, show a slightly different trend.


In June, U.S. outbound travel grew 10 percent to 7.3 million
travelers. The regions with the highest growth in terms of inbound U.S.
visitors were South America, up 21 percent, and Mexico, up 14 percent.


Asia still experienced growth, but at a slightly slower rate of 8 percent.


U.S. Citizen Travel to International Regions in 2014 by Month (000s)

Regions	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Total YTD	% Change YTD	Market Share YTD
North America	2,439	2,442	2,846	2,750	3,031	3,693	17,202	14.1%	52.7%
Europe	578	497	807	868	1,306	1,614	5,670	4.8%	17.4%
Caribbean	499	550	705	630	624	743	3,751	9.2%	11.5%
Asia	376	313	397	382	379	424	2,272	4%	7%
South America	128	138	155	123	144	208	896	4.1%	2.7%
Central America	219	226	283	214	209	301	1,452	10.2%	4.5%
Oceania	52	63	60	41	46	45	307	6%	0.9%
Middle East	140	119	141	142	162	181	885	10.8%	2.7%
Africa	24	21	28	28	36	41	177	-0.5%	0.5

 – Skift