Navigating Namibia
When we look back on this trip next year, ten years from now or fifty years from now, there are going to be images, stories, and countries that stand out. A number of memories will last forever. One of those places that we know will have a lasting impact is Namibia. Not only will we have such incredible memories, but it will reign as one of the top destinations of our entire year. After spending close to two weeks self-drive safariing and camping around this vast and richly diverse landscape, Namibia became an instant highlight. Whether it was scouting amazing wildlife at Etosha National Park, sand boarding down massive dunes outside of Swakopmund, taking otherworldly pictures at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, or camping in a tent on top of our 4×4, Namibia had so much to offer and some of the most jaw-dropping views to go along with it.
Read MoreInto the Bush We Go
Our trip to Botswana, while short, promised a lot of firsts for me. I would experience my first safari, sleep in a tent while actually camping (not partying on Duxbury Beach), and marvel at the craziness of overland border crossing in Africa. I was certainly not disappointed by any of the above and I actually surprised myself by being able to take it all in stride and enjoy the process.
Read MoreIt Takes a Village. . .
Our second volunteer project in Africa would be unlike any of our previous experiences. Although teaching English and working with children throughout Asia and Africa has been an extremely rewarding experience, we were ready for a change of pace with our volunteering. After some google searching and a few online inquiries, we ended up in touch with the United Church of Zambia in a village known as Mwandi. Here, in a place of 8,000 people, we would build huts to help accommodate the shockingly large number of children who have been orphaned due to the ongoing, and seemingly uncontrollable, AIDS epidemic.
Read MoreGrowing Roots at Royal Seed
Ghanaians are known for their friendliness and hospitality so I was not surprised to be welcomed with open arms at our recent volunteer project: an orphanage called Royal Seed Home (RSH) in the tiny village of Ofaakor, Ghana. Yet the greeting from the orphange’s founder and director, Naomi Amoah, went beyond mere hospitality. Naomi’s vibrant smile, captivating eyes, and warm embrace set the tone from the beginning and we instantly felt like family because to Naomi, we were family.
Read MoreA Friendly Ghanaian Welcome to Africa
After four months in Oceania and Asia and a quick stop back home it was time to switch gears and head to Africa. While most of our 7-week African leg would be spent in Southern Africa, the first 12 days were in Ghana. As part of West Africa, Ghana, at the very least, gave us some additional perspective to the world’s second-largest continent. We were excited to begin our venture into Africa in what many consider an ideal country for first-time visitors.
Read MoreOur Chinese Escape to Yangshuo
While mapping out our 10-day trip to China, we already knew a few things: we were flying into Beijing, departing from Hong Kong and really wanted to see Shanghai as well as some traditional Chinese countryside in between. All of this in such a short amount of time seemed extremely daunting. Since neither of us had much Chinese geographical knowledge outside of a few major cities, we knew that finding the right rural escape would require some research.
Read MoreGiving Back
A huge part of our journey is about giving back. While the personal travel is sure to dazzle, we are confident that it will be the volunteer experiences that will show us the most about the world and touch our souls. Read more...