On September 2nd 2017 we got on a plane headed for Quito , Ecuador. We were nervous, excited, and full of energy. After 2 layovers and 12 hours of flying we arrived, tired but still excited. We had booked the next three nights in advance, but everything after that was a mystery.
During our time traveling we did so many amazing things. We went on crazy long hikes, scuba dived with sharks, rode horses, soaked in hot springs, explored ancient ruins, and just had a blast!
While traveling we discovered who we were more, what we wanted to do, and how to manage our free time. We explored our passion for photography, writing, and discovering the culture and history of places.
Ecuador
The first country we visited was Ecuador. There we realized how much more we needed to study Spanish. We took a three day, four hour intensive language course with the kindest ladies. After studying the language we went shopping at a local market, bought ingredients, and cooked up a meal together.
After exploring Quito we left to visit a famous market not too far away. We promptly got sick and missed it, but the next day ended up visiting a crater lake, and a waterfall.
We lost an iPhone and an iPad on a bus but that didn’t slow us down. Our next stop was hiking the Quilotoa loop which was a grueling 3 days of literally hiking up and down entire mountains. We finished off Ecuador visiting Banos, swimming in hot springs, riding bikes, visiting waterfalls, and going paragliding!
Peru
We started Peru off in the city of Huaraz. There we did some epic treks, visiting alpine lakes, hiking mountain passes, and getting up close to a glacier.
Our next stop was Huacachina, an oasis in the desert. We rode a sand buggy, went sand boarding, and hung out by the pool planning our next move, visiting Machu Picchu.
Besides Machu Picchu the Sacred Valley has museums, old Inca ruins, well tended terraces, and an ancient salt mine which covers a hillside with pink hued pools. From there we went to Arequipa where we stayed with a family of missionaries who had been faithfully serving the community for 50 years!
We finished off Peru with a visit to Colca Canyon, and Lake Titicaca, two amazing landmarks. While on our way to lake Titicaca we saw a splendid lightning storm that illuminated the night sky.
Chile
In Chile we visited the Atacama desert, which is the driest place on earth. We saw flamingoes, amazing natural wonders, and rode around the desert on a 4×4. From there we went to a sleepy coastal town and rode bikes along the shore.
We finished Chile up with a visit to two artistic cities. We explored around Santiago and stayed in a cute boutique hotel right in the middle of the city. Then we went to Valparaiso, perhaps the most colorful city in the world.
Argentina
Our first stop in Argentina was Mendoza, the wine capital! We rode bicycles around to different vineyards which was a lot of fun. In addition we also visited an olive oil factory, and learned how it is made.
From Mendoza we went over to Buenos Aires. We enjoyed exploring around the city, visiting the coolest bookstore ever, and eating delicious food. Iguaza Falls wasn’t too far away (by plane) and we just knew we had to see it. It was such a spectacular sight, something we will never forget.
India
Our first stop in India was at a children’s home where we met the most delightful children, and had a chance to pour into their lives. From there we went up to the Rajasthan state. We visited the white city, the blue city, and the golden city, rode camels, explored forts and palaces, and ate delicious food.
Feeling nostalgic for some outdoor adventures we made our way down to Kerala. There we floated a river, visited tea plantations high in the mountains, and swam in the ocean.
Thailand
Katie’s family joined us in Thailand as we showed them the marvels of this beautiful country. We took a cooking class all together, visited Phi Phi Islands, swam in the ocean, went snorkeling, and beach bummed. Of course, we always got massages as well!
Cambodia
In Cambodia our main stop was Angkor Wat. This ancient temple complex was extremely beautiful, and we had a blast exploring it. The Cambodian people were very kind and we loved visiting small shops, eating delicious food, and learning more about artisan crafts.
In Phnom Penh, we visited museums where we learned more about the history of the Pol Pot regime and the Cambodian genocide. After an emotionally heavy time, we relaxed in a laid back theater showing indie films while sipping on Kombucha.
Vietnam
Crossing the land border into Vietnam was an adventure in itself. We hadn’t timed everything just right and ended up on a mad scramble to make it to a ferry on time. Thankfully everything worked out just fine and we were able to relax for the next few days on a peaceful island called Phu Quoc.
From there we went to Da Lat where we stayed in the mountains, rode motorcycles with the locals, and went canyoning. We also visited the craziest house on earth, literally its called Crazy House, look it up.
We finally decided it was high time to learn scuba diving and took our Open Water Course. It was a blast, and made us realize what we had been missing all along, the chance to explore the underwater world. After that we visited the beautiful city of Hoi An, walked along the streets, and watched the candles float along the river at night.
We finished Vietnam off with a visit to Sapa. Here we discovered the beauty of the rice fields. Carved onto the hillsides as far as the eye can see, terraces filled with rice growing, cattle plowing, and people working. We rented a scooter and drove through the mountains around the city.
Philippines
In the Philippines we put our scuba dive training to good use by traveling around the islands and going scuba diving wherever we could. We saw beautiful corals, lots of fish, turtles, water snakes, seahorses, sharks, and more. One of the days we went dolphin spotting. After spending time at the ocean we were ready to head back to some mountains.
Kyrgyzstan
Katie was actually born in Kyrgyzstan and going back to her homeland meant we actually had some family friends we could visit. It was a completely different sort of experience from our usual travels and we were delighted to spend time with people who knew Katie’s family.
In addition, we also spent time hiking in the mountains, sleeping in yurts, riding horses, and exploring the beautiful scenery. We really loved all that Kyrgyzstan had to offer and hope to one day come back and explore it some more.
Ukraine
Alex was born in Ukraine and he still has some cousins who live there. We spent time with family, met new friends, and explored the culture in this country. Ukraine is pretty cheap, and the US dollar goes a long way. The culture is quite European, with lots of coffee stands, beautiful architecture, and quaint villages.
One memorable experience was hiking two mountains in one day. We found a place near the tallest mountain in Ukraine and looking a the map realized that the fourth tallest mountain was right next to it. Needless to say, after 7 hours of hiking our feet were jello, but our hearts were full.
London
London is always a good idea. Although it is more expensive than most countries we visit, there are a lot of things to see and do here, so you can always have a blast. On our first time through London we had 5 days so we went around to all the museums on the London Pass. The next time through we decided to visit all the free museums, but only got to a few of them since there are so many.
All In All
This trip isn’t the end to our travels and adventures. It’s just the beginning. We came back home with a new perspective on life, people, nature, and the world. The new friendships that were made and the memories created will always be in our hearts. We’ve been changed by taking a year off to travel. We are not the same people and we are so glad because we won’t live life the way we used to.
Say YES to adventures,
Alex + Katie
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