First World

We are definitely in the "first world".

There are the negatives, for example seeing homeless or people who live on the streets in such a rich country.  Or seeing signs full of rules in public areas (don't do this, don't do that).

But there are some wonderful positives too - public investment in art, safely sharing unpopular political views, and having clean, natural spaces within urban environments.

Nadia

Pou on transformational leadership, found along a nature walkway in Waikato

Waiting for the start of Marama, a political Maori and South Pacific dance performance we attended at the Auckland Arts Festival

Yet another reason to be a vegetarian (even if you love cheese)! 

Climbing down a municipal walking trail on Paritutu Rock in New Plymouth

The gorgeous view of Mount Taranaki and the Pacific, from the top of Paritutu Rock

Pristine and empty Centennial Park Beach, right in New Plymouth

Never Again?

Two days ago, while at staying at a gorgeous youth hostel in Raglan, New Zealand, I met an American (USA) family.  They have two girls (8 and 10 years old) with whom they are traveling for six months.  They are also homeschooling their kids.  They were only three weeks into their trip, which is heading west (compared to our easterly travel direction).  Next week, they will be heading to Asia, where we spent seven months.

We only spoke together for a few minutes, but the mother asked me for advice for their upcoming time in Asia.  She said "There are plenty of good places but is there any place we should avoid?"

It was a good preface to her question.  There ARE lots of good places.  There are tons of great places.  We have seen and done so many wonderful things so far, but quickly, three "must-do's" come to mind - places I would recommend in a second (interestingly, they are all very remote or natural places)!

Staying in treehouses and flying along 15 kilometers of zip-lines through the forest in the Laotian Nam Kan National Park.

Spending four incredible days snorkeling and hiking while camping and kayaking on the beautiful islands in Palau.

Exploring the remote backwater villages through the jungles of Borneo for five days in a motorized dugout canoe.

Surfing the long left-handed breaks on a near-empty beach when staying in a teepee at a serene and healthy hostel in Raglan, New Zealand.

But is there any place I would recommend travelers or families avoid, from amongst the many places we have been so far?  Places I would never ever go to again?

No.  There is no place (to which we have been on this trip), that I would never go to again or would tell people to avoid.

That might seem unlikely - but remember - attitude is everything!

Nadia

The Jump

Carefully, I bring my left leg over the railing. Just sitting there, half way off, have way on, the wind blows in my face, making me wobble. This is the scariest part. I pull my right leg up, and slide it slowly over the cold brass pole. My weight is balanced just so, between my hands, my butt, and the tips of my toes. If my hands or toes slip, I will fall. I've waited long enough. I take in one last breath of air, and push off with the tips of my feet. The wind blows my hair up, as my arms and legs flail in mid air. What seems like eternity, is actually only a couple seconds. First my feet slap the surface, then my hands, and then I'm fully submerged. The river has engulfed me, and now I'm floating downstream. I did it, the perilous jump from the foot bridge. And now it's time to do it again :)

Maya

Third Culture Family

Traveling, living, and raising my family in less industrialized countries around the world has many advantages:  we get to know countries deeply;  we (including the kids) are tolerant of the "other";  I have friends all over the world; and we are easy going and flexible (I think!).

I do however miss out on things.  I became aware of this at 18, when, as a third culture kid, I moved "home" to live in USA for the first time as a young adult attending university.  I am aware of it now, as I explore the city of Melbourne in Australia (the first heavily industrialized country we've travelled to on our Big Trip).

The beautiful and clean city of Melbourne

The big cities are incredibly clean in "first world" countries.

St. Kilda's extraordinary clean city beach

People make space and dedicate resources for art and sports.

Maya in front of Eureka Tower, with it's installation of The Bees

Mira watching a street performer along the Yarra River in downtown Melbourne

The venue for the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in downtown Melbourne

There are other things too, which I sorely miss in my "normal" life in less-industrialized countries:  organic foods, multi-cultural restaurants, grocery stores with an international range of reasonably-priced ingredients and produce, city planning, functional public transportation, and many friends and family.

At the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, with Megan, friend of over 20 years

There are pluses and minuses where ever we choose to live...

Nadia