Travel Top 3: January

With one month down and five months of travel ahead of us, I've been surprised by some of the things that have been supremely useful, supremely joyful, and supremely tasty. These little moments don't, in themselves, add up to very much but I'd like to keep a record of them. And so, the awards go to...

Supremely Useful

I almost hate to say this, but the strava heat maps function has been something we've used in every place we went to in January. We love running, we love walking, and the heat map function tells you where other walkers and runners have been. This means that, unlike google maps which might give you the most straightforward or efficient route, you usually get the most scenic route. Using the heat map function we found the Korokoro creek trail in Petone, which is currently our favourite trail run to date, the Tongariro river run, a way to the Coburg park run via Edgar's creek, and more!

Runners up:

1. IKEA bags (we stow our rucksacks in them for flights and they've held up well to three international flights so far, with minimal duct tape repair)

Repacking at the airport with IKEA bags on hand

2. Beyond the Vines dumpling bag (stores everything from debit cards to a whole camera, safer than a pocket for protection against pick pockets!)

The little dumpling bag in action!

Supremely Joyful

Whilst in New Zealand I spent some time pondering "What really brings me joy?"

Joy, it turns out, is easily engineered for me by plunging into water.

On one of those travel days where we were largely at home (after a morning of running and grocery shopping) in Petone, I asked Jacob: "Do you want to go for a swim?" It had been a sunny day, but of course when we stepped out that late afternoon the sun hid behind a cloud and the wind blew cold all the way to the beach. When I stripped down to my swimming costume on the shingle, I really wasn't sure about this crazy idea. 

I took my time stepping slowly into the water, whilst Jacob was up to his neck within seconds. When I did finally get submerged, it took some gasping and rapid arm and leg movements, and then I felt exuberant. Yes, it was cold, but it was possible and it was exhilarating to be in there, knowing you could stay only for a while on the verge of cold and too cold. It felt like the water had stripped my skin away and I was pure muscle. It was a feeling (and I associate this closely with joy) of having nothing to hide and not being able to anyway.

Runners up:

1. Seeing people we love (Nat, Mia, Jem, Zen, Finn, Kerry, Will, Uncle Rog and Auntie Michelle and Eva - and a special mention to Nat's baby niece who stole our hearts with her sweet smile).

2. Eating strawberries and drawing in a park in Australia. This was on our first day in Australia, fresh off the aeroplane, and was accompanied by that slightly surreal feel of having simply stepped through a door into a different place and reality.

Supremely Tasty

These weeks in Australia and New Zealand have been characterised by incredible ice cream. The Aussies and Kiwis know how to do their ice cream and to be generous with each scoop (side-eye to Singapore and UK ice cream shops). Top prize for ice cream quality has to go to the Chocolate Hazelnut in Zelati's in Wellington, with second place going to Melbourne's Pida Pipo's Chocolate, whilst top prize for flavour goes to Duck Island's Chocolate and Boysenberry, and Coconut Caramel with Chocolate, Peanut and Sesame, narrowly topping Melbourne's Luthur's Tahini, Walnut and Brownie. So the Kiwis take the prize for ice cream (and, controversially, coffee - but I'm really not the best judge of coffee, having had probably fewer cups than years of my life.)

This was ice cream at the base of Mt Manganui, Tauranga - not the best, but we still enjoyed it very much on a hot sunny day!

Runners up:

1. Forty Thieves superfood butter. Who knew herbs and pepper in peanut butter would make it taste so darn good?

2. The Peri Peri sandwich at Smith and Deli. Last time I had their banh mi, which I considered taking a $50 uber from the airport to have again (I did not). No banh mi this time, but the Peri Peri sandwich was just divine.