How does it feel to have been traveling for 100 days?
Nic: Awesome! Though surreal. In some ways, it doesn't feel like we've been gone that long because we've had so many different experiences in that time, that we haven't had time to get bored or think too much about how long we've been gone or what we miss. But in other ways, our life in Berlin feels a million miles and years away and I kind of like it (still)!
Micha: At first, I found it a little daunting. Then it started to feel just like a long vacation, but now it just seems normal. Even travel can turn into just your regular, everyday life.
Are you excited for the next 100 days or are you tired of traveling already?
Nic: Yes indeedy (meaning excited). We're taking this month slower to not wear ourselves out, which I think we both need after the whirlwind of New Zealand and the excitement to come traveling through Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. We've found it's important to break up our travels by interspersing lots of action with slow, lazy days. Which is why I, for one, am not yet ready to be done.
Micha: I’m definitely excited. There are, of course, things that I miss from home. But I’m still very excited for our upcoming adventures and diverse destinations.
What do you miss from home?
Nic: Leberwurst! Though we did just have amazing leberwurst in Santiago de Chile. :) Not terribly much, though, to be honest. Friends and girlfriend chats in particular. Oh, no I know - a good bed! A good mattress is one life's true luxuries...
Micha: Friends and family, brewing beer, Berlin, the feel and flair of Prenzlberg on Saturdays, and, honestly, also my job.
Us on day 100. (Or maybe 101, but who's counting, right?) Santiago, Chile
What were your 2-3 favorite moments and 2-3 worst moments of the trip so far?
Nic: So hard to pick, but my favorites right off the bat are: 1) Swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Best. Thing. Ever. Ever ever ever. I want a pet dusky dolphin now. They loved me. 2) Our "beds on the beach" in Kanawa, Indonesia with Nico and Claudi. Those 5 days were so amazing and relaxing and exciting and just perfect. 3) Visiting the Great Wall of China. It was one of those few sights that was so much more incredible than I even imagined it, despite the huge buildup. Just jawdroppingly awesome (in the most literaly sense of the word).
Least faves: 1) Our time in Melaka, Malaysia, when Micha had his worst days of dengue fever and was miserable and the room we were staying in was a dump. I was so worried about him there and so uncomfortable and unhappy in that hostel that I just got intensely homesick. Dengue fever stinks. Thank goodness it only lasts eight days! 2) Going to bed our first night on our Yangzi River cruise in our cabin that smelled of a toilet, a very, very dirty one. That cabin really took me to the limits of my hygiene acceptance levels. 3) When I accidentally made us miss our flight from Hong Kong to Singapore because I missed the fact that our flight time had changed. It worked out way better than expected in the end, but at first, I was absolutely devastated and very pissed off with myself.
Micha: My top moments were swimming with dolphins in New Zealand, brewing beer in New Zealand, and our (scuba) dives in the challenging strong currents in Komodo. There were also plenty more great moments, but listing them all here would overload the site.
The only real bad time I’ve had so far were my fever-y days in Asia. I don’t really need to go through that again. And of course, the accident with my toe in Indonesia. But neither lasted too long. Honestly, we’ve been very lucky to have been spared from anything really bad so far.
What was your favorite place so far and why?
Nic: So hard to pick, they're all so different! In terms of natural beauty, Milford Sound in New Zealand wins hands down. In terms of awesome city-ness, Sydney stole my heart. It came at the right time and the weather was amazing and the coffee culture was just heaven. I could totally have moved there on the spot. And, of course, the wonderful island of Kanawa, which is literally a tropical paradise and even better when you're there with great friends.
Micha: Kanawa island in Indonesia, because it was a place of instant relaxation; the south island of New Zealand, because I’ve never seen so much beautiful natural scenery in such a small space before. And Sydney really impressed me this time. The weather, location, architecture, culture, energy, and the people just fit together perfectly. So three favorites in total.
Did the trip meet your expectations so far? And what was the most unexpected experience you've had?
Nic: It has totally exceeded my expectations! Obviously, we've had some hard moments, but overall it's been so much fun, we've gotten along great, and - what I least expected - we've been able to stick to our budget much better than I thought we could. We managed to pick a good route and the right amount of time in each place, I was pleasantly surprised to discover!
Micha: Before our trip, I purposely did not build up my expectations and decided to just let everything take its course. That way, I can enjoy the moment more and would also be less disappointed if I ended up not liking a place very much. What I did expect, is that the two of us could travel well together, but that during this trip and the resulting constant togetherness, particularly in less (living) space than we’re used to, would lead to at least one big fight, which would in turn bring us closer together. And that’s exactly what’s happened. What I didn’t expect is that, now that I’m in my mid-thirties, I’m not really as willing to accept every situation so easily anymore. I thought I would be more easygoing. But I need a higher level of comfort and cleanliness that I’d thought I did. And I get more easily annoyed by drunk 20-year-old kids than I probably should.
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