Travel Journal - Adventuring Souls

Sun kissed, Sunsets & One Secluded Beach

Jess Barrett — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 01:24:20 +0000

Gearing up for a trip to Indonesia there is ONE thing you must prepare for: long boat trips. Excessive horse power, clear skies, running out of gas in the middle of the sea, sitting on roofs to avoid gas fumes and secret surf spots only reached by boat!

Every night we were mesmerized by mother earth

Unique Ubud

Jess Barrett — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 13:18:00 +0000

Upon arriving in Ubud it was clear that Gil being in charge of our travel plans wasn't a mistake, I had booked our homestay for the wrong dates and it was bloody hot out. A short walk up the road and I stumbled on paradise, a local families compound converted into a stunning homestay. It was the first of many jaw dropping moments exploring the culturally fulfilling and landscaped beauty of this oasis in Bali.

Not only is Ubud the cultural hub of Bali it is also the culinary capital. With the help of TripAdvisor we found Paon Bali Cooking Class and got cooking for our last night in the area. The stunning setting, kind people and delicious food made this a perfect warm Bali evening.

Dublin in 36 Hours

Jess Barrett — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 09:08:04 +0000

Handing With The Band

Due to Gil's extensive travel as a consultant and superb travel coordination skills, I get to take a 2-week journey throughout Ireland and Sweden with two of the most important ladies in my life, my beautiful Nanny and my incredible sister.

Dublin was the first stop on our journey and with only 36 hours to explore we instantly took the town by storm by taking a long nap! Once we were refreshed we ventured out to the bustling streets of the Temple Bar and were delighted to meet extremely kind locals. We already feel like part of a huge Irish family that is warm and friendly.

No trip to Dublin is complete without a trip to the 6-story Guinness factory that is shaped like a pint glass and has something for every sense.

After having my first pint of Guinness we wandered around town checking out old buildings and visit an art museum. But the real fun started when we went to see an Irish band and some traditional Irish dancing at the pub located around the corner from our hotel!

Here's a little sample of the awesome dancers and the band jamming to one of my fav songs of the summer.

Radiant Red Zao - Trekking Through Sapa

Jess Barrett — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 13:29:00 +0000

When we began traveling we didn't sit down with goals, we picked a few destinations and hit the road. It wasn't until our 3rd or 4th country that we looked at each other and asked “what is the purpose of this adventure?” What I have finally learned is that not having a plan or purpose is ok, for a short time at least. I have also discovered that life is a whole lot simpler than society in the United States has taught me.

Vietnam has taken us from the bustling city of Can Tho in the Mekong to the historic city of Hoi An, via boat, train and plane, we ended our time in Sapa. A remote region in the northern part of Vietnam surround by small villages, filled with tradition, and simplicity. Rather than book with a large tour company based in Hanoi we found a local Eco Tourism company called Sapa O’Chau.

Surrounded by rice fields, the sun shining, and a very informative Hmong tour guide we hiked for nearly 4-6 hours each day of our 2 day trek.

The host family was warm and welcoming, they served up a delicious meal & kept the homemade rice wine "happy water" flowing.

Biking Laos

Jess Barrett — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 21:57:00 +0000

Need a ride to the waterfall? Rent a bike. Want to explore the islands? Rent a bike. Want to remember why you love the countryside? Rent a bike.

Riding bikes in San Francisco was the beginning of our love/hate relationship with biking. The stark contrast between each ride was so intense. Leave in the morning for work sun shining, ride home in bitter cold with the wind almost knocking you off, riding over the beautiful Golden Gate vs. fighting commuters but even worse buses on Market street and then there are the hills! But Hey, its all part of the adventure.

When gearing up (pun unintended but awesome) to visit Laos I don’t think either of us knew the extent of how bicycling would re enter our lives. One of the first people we met after crossing the border had ridden all the way from the UK on a sweet tandem that had one recumbent seat in front and one normal seat in the back. We were both inspired and decided that we would try to bike any opportunity that arises.

Vang Vieng

A big change from Luang Prabang, with the average age 20 years younger and the main activity being drunken tubing down the river we knew we needed to put some physically active activities on the agenda. The blue lagoon is a popular swimming hole and cave about 7km outside of town once you pass over one of the town bridges; the walking bridge is free but motorbikes avoiding the toll bridge make it unpleasant at times. We were lucky enough to stay at Maylyn Guesthouse right on the water and surrounded by beautiful gardens. After we splurged for the mountian bikes, $3.50 vs $1.50. We were off on by far the roughest road conditions we had yet to see, passing looming woman, fraudulent blue lagoon signs and other struggling cyclist we finally made it to the swimming hole. While in the cave I spent some time meditating and Gil built a rock statue that ending up look like a heart, what a romantic! We ended our ride at sunset with hot air balloons filling the sky.

Si Phan Don (4000 Thousand Islands)

Last but not least we arrived at Si Phan Don, a collection of islands at the southern end of Laos on the cambodian border in the middle of the Mekong, where few cars are present and everything slows down a few more notches(for Laos thats REALLY SLOW). Here we were able to wander around 2 quaint islands that were connected by a small bridge that also happen to have one of the most spectacular views of the sunset. Our first day of riding we heading to one of the largest Mekong river waterfalls which wasn’t as colorful as previous waterfalls but feature wild rapids and gave us an opportunity to have a mini photo shoot.

Besides ride bikes while here we drank lots of beer, were too scared to order a "happy" shake, relaxed and fell out of hammocks, Jess got attacked(gently) by a chained monkey and took a boat tour to see the pink river dolphins.

Luang Prabang

I had read this blog post about a couple that decided to avoid the crowds and smoggy Tuk-Tuks and mountain bike to Kuang Si waterfall approx 33km outside of Luang Prabang. Gil told me I was crazy, I told him we can do anything. The weather was mild and after sitting on a boat for two days we both needed to expel our built up energy. After getting used to the bumpy road and completing our first gradual but terribly long uphill we soared down the otherside of the hill smiling and feeling free! Nothing but farm land, rolling hills and giggling children crossed our path. Not to mention the pot of gold(or in this case waterfall) at the end of the rainbow.

Vientene

One of my least favorite places we have visited while traveling, I only left the hotel for 2 things in the 24 hours we had in Vientene, for eating and biking. Sadly this town had some of the worst bikes we've rented and the most treacherous and life threatening biking conditions. After about 35 minutes of dodging cars and looking for the local attractions that were “must sees” I rode us as quickly as possible to the river to get a little fresh air and checkout Thailand from afar.

Moseying Down the Mekong River

Jess Barrett — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 08:10:00 +0000

After almost a week spent in Bangkok waiting for our laptop to be repaired we boarded an overnight bus to the border town of Chiang Khong.This wasn’t our first time on an overnight bus, but our longest thus far. Thailand government buses were always a good deal & reliable. Buying through the website ThaiTicketMajor ensured we were actually getting a government bus, and we only got tricked once when buying in Koh Lak. There is only a slight difference in seat size and no time difference between the 1st class & VIP buses so no need to waste your money getting a VIP ticket. This was an easy way to save money. Additionally, we know there is some debate about overnight vs. daytime travel. We found that saving on a nights lodging and having an extra day in the arrival city was worth a slightly uncomfortable sleep.

Laos/Thailand Friendship Bridge - Border Crossing

Once arriving in Chiang Khong we were herded into Tuk Tuks at the old boat crossing area which is about 10km past where the new friendship bridge is located. Ask the bus driver to drop you at the new crossing to save a few bucks. After a long bus ride it’s annoying to deal with being took by a tuk tuk driver. The border crossing was extremely easy both on the Thailand side as well as Laos. Once in Laos we grabbed another Tuk Tuk to the slow boat dock and loaded up on supplies. Although it was 10 am we got a few large Beer Lao, sandwiches for lunch time & waited for the boat to depart.

The boat tickets have seat numbers but we were 2 of 5 people who actually tried to sit in their assigned seats. Contrary to what we heard most boats we saw including the one we were on were old minivan seats and pretty comfortable. All the passengers that had been pushed to buy cushions regretted it. Jess explored the boat before take off while Gil guarded our ideal seats in the middle of the boat away from the engine room.

Just like that we were off on a 2 day boat ride(10-12 hours total) down the Mekong River. Soaking up the beautiful surroundings & chatting with fellow travelers it was the start of our adventure in a new country and the moment Jess had been waiting for, no cars, no one selling us anything, just the peacefulness of this once in a lifetime experience

The first night the boat arrived in Pakbeng. Rowdy travellers who had just finished a few bottles of Lao whisky helped distribute the luggage (90% backpacks) from under the boat to the deboarded passengers, and all 100 of us launched into action looking for a room to stay in for the night. After what was now 24 hours of travel we were some of the first to secure a room, our guesthouse, Meksavanh Guesthouse, which was listed in our Rough Guide to Southeast Asia book . Unfortunately the neighbors didn't know how much we needed our sleep, and spent most the night burning trash outside our window. This quaint tourist focused town was made up of two small streets & luckily the place we had in mind for dinner was just a few doors down,Sabaidee Sivilay Restaurant. We ordered the traditional Lao dish Larb with water buffalo & a Lao fish curry both of which were delicious. The menus were also full of awesome art work & poems from around the globe (a must read while you wait for your meal, which will be awhile now that you're on Lao time).

We awoke bright and early to the smell of more burning and the hustle and bustle of this two street town that runs on what seems like 5-6 hours sleep. We grabbed some more sandwiches and fresh baked pastries, and boarded the boat 30 minutes prior to departure time. There were many rumors around town of what time the boat would depart. Sadly for some dutch girls & a few americans, arriving only 3 minutes after the right departure time meant they were left on land! Luckily for them another boat had some extra room & they arrived in Luang Prabang just 20 minutes after us.

Day 2 on the boat was extremely picturesque and we were delighted to meet two fellow travelers who were like minded & wonderful conversationalist from the Northeast of Canada. The day seemed to fly by and before we knew it we were getting dropped off at the new dock just 10km outside of Luang Prabang. Many fellow boaters including us hadn’t heard of this and weren't thrilled about having to get yet another Tuk Tuk into town. After the other passengers finally gave in and got off the boat, we grabbed our bags and headed into town. With a sore last impression on the boat & a bit of confusion, our adventure moseying down the mekong river was complete.

Climbing Krabi!

Jess Barrett — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:54:00 +0000

While we lived in San Francisco's Mission District we frequented an indoor climbing gym, Mission Cliffs, where we focused primarily on top-rope climbing. After a year of indoor climbing Gil planned a day date to get an outdoor climbing lesson at Castle Rock State Park. It wasn't long before we learned we were in over our heads. The similarities between indoor & outdoor climbing seemed virtually non-existent and as a result we spent most of the time struggling to complete one route.

Fast forward 1 year & countless days spent bouldering at El Cerrito’s Bridges Rock Gym to get in shape for our wedding & we flew (ok, I’m using this word lightly) up the routes set up on the east side of Railay Beach in Krabi, Thailand. We used a company called Railay Rock Climbing Shop which assigned us an awesome guide named Jay. Luckily for all of us Jay showed us easier routes if we started to struggle and safely belayed all four of us the entire day. With a beautiful backdrop & harnesses securely fastened, this was one of the most physically rewarding days of our travels to date.

Climbing Gear (Click Image for More Photos of Our Day Climbing)

*travel Tip: Do NOT buy a roundtrip ticket to Railay if staying on Ao Nang beach. The return is only good until 6pm so you are left with no time to explore, watch sunset or have dinner.

7 Island Thailand Tour - Christmas Day 2013

Jess Barrett — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 05:14:00 +0000

For Christmas Day 2013 we decided to take it easy with a boat tour around the surrounding islands of Krabi, hoarded into a songthaw and then onto a long tail boat that easily had double the amount of people on-board then is safe we were out at sea. Wind in our hair and smiles on our faces, we had the perfect day. Snorkeling both during the day & at night with phosphorescent plankton all around, playing paddle board on the beach, BBQ sunset dinner & fire show on an uninhabited island, and most importantly with our siblings with us!

Sunset Dinner

Kayaking Krabi with the Kin

Jess Barrett — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 03:26:00 +0000

First Danny (Gil's brother).. then Tash (Jess' sister).. all the siblings have arrived & its time for some healthy competition. What better way then pairing up in a girls vs. boys kayaking dual. Sure the pictures my seem peaceful but don't be mistaking the girls had the right recipe for success when it came to navigating the sometimes narrow mangroves to the open bay of the Thalane Bay in Krabi, Thailand.

Kayak Launch Site (Click Image about for photos of our kayaking trip)

Our tour company, Krabi Trek, picked us up on time & although a little pushy ensured that we were able to navigate the entire mangrove instead of turning around. *Travel Tip - Check yourself or ask the company what hours high & low tide are before committing to the trip. Doing a loop is always better than doing an out and back, right??

why im traveling..

Jess Barrett — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 17:53:45 +0000

One of the reasons I fell in love with traveling is the feeling I get when I'm waiting to board a flight, the anticipation, the unknown of whats about to come. Then its on a plane, no access to the world below, the mystery of whats above, the freedom of not knowing. Its gazing out the window of a 18 hour train ride With head phones on & pen in hand, its in these moments I feel completely connected & in tune with myself.. In these moments when where I've been and where I'm going hold little worth compared to who I am.

Dee Dee Mak Sweet Elephant

Jess Barrett — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 11:00:00 +0000

When going to Thailand there are the beaches, Bangkok and the countryside to fit onto the schedule. While in the countryside what activities should one partake in... Elephant Trekking of course.

When reviewing the many many companies that offer elephant trekking in the Chiag Mai area alone there are a few key factors we took into consideration:

treatment of the elephants
the setting/living conditions
the cost
does Jess get to get a juicy elephant kiss
bath time

After extensive research Gil found a company we could morally feel comfortable booking our one day trekking experience with, Baan Chiang Elephant Park, located about 30-45 minutes outside of the city center. One motto for this travel journey has been no regrets, it was a once in a life time experience but Jess still left feeling sad for the elephants who aren't able to roam free throughout the jungle as nature intended. A new found love for Jess has been elephants after she got the juiciest kiss of her life.

*Please do research when choosing a company, proper treatment of wildlife is vital to the planet thriving for 100's of years to come. We found this article very informative.

Our First Homemade Meal in Chiang Mai

Jess Barrett — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 09:25:00 +0000

One of the biggest challenges traveling in South East Asia is that there is no need to cook. Amazing local food is available around every corner and for cheap. So when our friends, Ethan & Olivia (Blog can be found here), were traveling in Chiang Mai & interested in going to a cooking class I was thrilled.

We choose Red Chili Cooking School. After touring a local farmers market learning about all the ingredients that we would be using we took a short ride out of the hustle and bustle of the city center to the owners lovely outdoor kitchen setup.

Each with our own cooking stations & a cold beer in hand we made the following dishes:

Tom Kha or Tom Yum

Pad Thai

Fresh Red & Green chili paste & Curry

Fried Chicken & Veggies

To complete the amazing evening we were lucky enough to light a wish lantern, a symbolic process in which you all hold a white lantern, lighting the center which fills the lantern with hot air, once the lantern is filled with enough air you let it go and it floats into the sky above. While letting go you make a wish. Gil being the romantic he is believes that the lantern becomes a star, forever above for us to remember our wishes that have hopefully come true or keeps us believing if they haven't.

Big City, Little Country!

Jess Barrett — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 14:07:00 +0000

For better (the promise of tons of awesome food hawkers) or worse (known as the shoppers mecca) we decided to take a stop over in Singapore to ease into Southeast Asia.

The food hawkers didn't disappoint, of our favorite was Maxwell Road Hawker in Chinatown. We ate 50% of our meals there and tried 8 out of the 10 must haves. My favorite meal by far is porridge that you can get anything added into, but the meal I ate most was Dim Sum. Any time of day or night, multiple times a day I just couldn't get enough.

Second to the food was the the awe inspiring architecture at every turn.

Unidentified AMAZING Building near Chinatown, Singapore

Marina Bay, Singapore

As luck would have it the city has more than shopping to offer, incredible parks that have been unspoiled and still contain monkeys galore.

MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore

After long days exploring the natural beauty & eating heaps of delicious food Singapore had to offer we lost ourselves in the dazzling night skyline. For a minimum purchase of one drink per person you are granted access to the roof top of Marina Bay Resort. If you time it right you get to see the sun set followed by an impressive light & water show.

Skyline, Marina Bay, Singapore

K'gari (Fraser Island)

Jess Barrett — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:16:00 +0000

Four years ago my sister and I brought my Nanny (Grandma) to Australia. As we reached the Brisbane leg of our trip we were hit with one of the worst rain storms the coast had seen. As a result we cancelled our time in Fraser Island and jetting north to Cairns.

This time Fraser, known to the Aboriginals as K'gari, was one stop that I would not miss. Luckily for me two of the popular island attractions are off road 4-Wheel driving & catching a glimpse of dingos, very easy activities to get Gil amped up. Before I knew it we were on a ferry that literally dropped you on a sandy road. For 3 days we didn't see one patch of pavement, one single bar of cell service or a frown. It was pure beauty, excitement & history.

The Dropbear Adventures Family was the backbone behind this incredible trip. From the crew to the vehicles to the extensive knowledge of the island we felt like VIP explorers the entire time.

Im on a boat, Im on a boat, Im on a boat Mutha F***a!

Jess Barrett — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 03:56:00 +0000

Who hasn't dreamt of life on the open sea? Sails blowing in the wind, breathtaking sunsets & complete freedom.

Each feeling like a boss in our own way we hung topside in the hot tub, drink in hand, dreams becoming reality for 3 short days & nights off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Just miles off the coast of Airlie Beach hovering above the Great Barrier Reef on a luxury catamaran with an experienced crew & access to unlimited dives was a true pleasure. An added plus were the white sandy beach of Whiteheaven on Whitsunday Island, the heeps(one of my new favorite words learned in Aussie) of floating turtles & the fellow drivers.

Melbin (Melbourne to you tourists)

Jess Barrett — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 07:24:00 +0000

Our first stop in Aussie was the artsy town of Melbourne. Filled with quaint little alley ways, graffiti filled streets and loads of free museums. After a day of lounging about we grabbed a handful of self guided walking tour pamphlets and hit streets. The nooks & crannies of this hip city reminded us of home & we discussed often moving to this vibrant youthful city.

Jess' NZ Top 5

Jess Barrett — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 03:45:00 +0000

Jess NZ Top 5

Hot Water Beach - Self made hot tub on a beach under a starry night sky with a bottle of wine (although I am sure they would be amazing anytime of day)
Farm Stay with Lisa & Aaron - Please check out their profile on HelpX if submerging yourself in farm life and education on proper animal treatment is of an interest. Aaron mixes up a mean home brew & Lisa is always creating an amazing meal.
4Day/3Night Otago Rail trail biking tour
Zorbing with OGO down the twist
The People. The Land. New Zealand is by far the friendliest place on earth. No scientific evidence to support why but I assume its due to being surround by more natural beauty then I thought was ever possible.

EXTREME SWING!

Jess Barrett — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 05:31:49 +0000

Pure excitement & fear took over as we started walking across the swinging bridge to a suspended platform above a very deep valley to get harnessed into the Nevis Swing.

The worlds biggest bungy swing & the way Gil & I would spend our last afternoon in New Zealand. Nevis Swing did not disappoint.

JOIN US ON THE PLUNGE

Tour De Otago

Jess Barrett — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 05:23:00 +0000

The Otago Central Rail Trail is an experience that can't be missed if your visiting the south island of New Zealand. After taking a historic train from Dunedin to Middlemarch we rented our slick rides from Cycle Surgery.

Below is a brief review of our journey in words & numbers:

Day 1 - Hyde Disaster Memorial Cairn to Waipata - 31km - 2:32 hours - 12.5km avg.

Highlight: A black and white bird, yet to be named, dive bombed Gil

Day 2 - Waipata to Oturehua - 34.49km - 3:59 hours - 8.6 avg. - EXTREME wind

Highlight: Seeing all stages of sheep giving birth + overcoming the headwinds & brief rain to enjoy an incredible burger & jug of local beer

Day 3 - Oturehua to Omakau - 32.32km - 2:12 hours - 14.7 avg. -

Highlight: Poolburn Gorge Tunnels & Viaducts

Day 4 - Omakau to Clyde - 38.7km - 2:34hours - 15.2 avg. - 13k Wind

Highlight: 2 flat tires, hoards of Magpies (previously unknown bird, we feel This article explains them best) on the attack, & finally being able to wear shorts & a tank top!

The Ride in Photos

Mt. Doom

Jess Barrett — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 00:52:00 +0000

Known as one of the most spectacular day walks in the world, the one day Tongariro Alpine Crossing, lived up to the hype. With snow capped hills, bright colored lakes, & an active volcano our senses were awakened.

Most importantly to a lot of my nerdy friends it connected me to the Lord of the Rings & shortly after completing the tramp I went on a Lord of the Rings movie binge. Although Frodo saved the people of middle earth & my biggest accomplishment was making the sandwiches we had for lunch, I hope you enjoy the photos of our day trip.

Our Lord of the Rings Adventure