Vanuatu is a newly independent country, only since 1980. Each of it's islands has different nature and associated tribes. The capital, Port Vila, is located on Efate Island. I spent a few days touring around the Port Vila area and checking out the nature highlights of Efate. I did not go too far from Port Vila as my private taxi driver I hired for the day did not want to drive so far. I saw most of the highlights on this day but it was a real struggle getting the driver to go where I wanted…
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Upolu Island, Samoa
Upolu Island is the main island of Samoa. The country used to be called Western Samoa. Apia is the capital and the airport is about an hour drive away. The island's coast has some of the most beautiful virgin beaches in the world. Away from the coast, you will find swimming holes, waterfalls, jungle, mountains and lots of small villages…
Read MoreTauranga, Rotorua, Taupo
How lovely was it to meet Marie again in Tauranga after spending such a great time together in the Coromandel. We arrived in Tauranga to fantastic weather. The bus pulled right up to the i-Site. New Zealand really has their tourist game on point. All of the main bus stations, sauf Auckand, are at the tourist information center. These are called i-Sites. The hostel was across from a beautiful bay. I dropped my stuff off with Marie and went up to the second floor to check out the view. There were a bunch of gap year dudes just chilling doing nothing. It made me think that I am definitely in a more chilled out place, which is good, but that I am definitely not a gap year dude. However, if I were a gap year dude, this lake view is exactly where I would want to be. In Tauranga, New Zealand, you find a youth hostel directly across from stunning Waipu Bay.
Read MoreCenotes
A cenote is a natural sinkhole filled with water. The Mayans used to throw people in them for human sacrifice. Today, they are destinations for swimming. Many archaeological ruins have an adjacent cenote because the civilizations viewed cenotes as holy. I was really looking forward to experiencing swimming in cenotes as part of my travel experience in the Yucatan. The photos on the Internet excited me. I put cenotes into the three categories…
Read MoreValladolid and Nerds
Lots of backpackers seem to skip Valladolid because it is advertised that they can get to Chichen Itza from either Cancun/Playa Del Carmen or Merida. Valladolid is the best city to stay in to wake up early and see Chichen Itza before the tour buses from hell arrive. However, there is another level to the Valladolid experience that I will document below. I recommend Valladolid as an intermediate stop not just for the ease of access to archaeological sites, but because of the other travelers you will meet there…
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