1. The Lamb at The Fat Duck
The Fat Duck was hands down our favorite dining experience in NZ.  Located in the tiny town of Te Anau, the home base for seeing Milford Sound, this casual restaurant serves beautify presented, tasty food with a smile. We discovered the restaurant because the daughter of our B&B owner worked there at the time.  New Zealand is known for its lamb, and we sampled lots, but the grilled lamb dish we shared here was spectacular. The portions were a good size and the prices were reasonable. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures at The Fat Duck so here is one from their Facebook page:

Photo credit: The Occidental Belgium Beer Cafe Website (our pictures were too dark & grainy)

Chris and his Fergburger

Hundertwasser's Public Restroom is considered to be the most beautiful public restroom in the world.  Not sure it's worth stopping for the bathroom, but it's definitely worth stopping for the flat white next door! 

Our cottage at Walnut Block Winery

We enjoyed home cooked meals on the deck overlooking the grapevines. 

The Walnut Block vineyard was incredibly beautiful.

It was even more stunning at sunset!

We wandered through the vines on the property.

And made some furry friends:)

During our walk, a horse galloped over to greet us. 

I'm not kidding - the horse was so friendly. I was in heaven!

The cottage was modern and very comfortable.

The view was the best part! 

Cheers! We hope to come back one day.

Imagine a land green & blue, with massive mountains, deep fjords and dramatic beaches. The people are friendly, the coffee is strong , the tourists seek thrills and shoes are optional.  When you first step foot in New Zealand the air smells distinctly sweet, perhaps a sign that you've arrived in Mother Nature's darling creation.

I'm dedicating the next few posts to New Zealand because I have received several inquiries about it lately and realized that BV is severely lacking coverage on one of my favorite destinations!  

Chris and I spent two weeks in New Zealand a few years ago over the New Years holiday.  We flew Air New Zealand from Boston to Auckland (connecting in Los Angeles) and it was, hands down one of the best flying experiences.  We spent our layover in LA, outdoors on Santa Monica pier and then slept most of the eleven hour journey to Auckland.  It was one of the few times I woke up refreshed and rested after an international flight. 

We traveled at a fast pace on this trip and used air, ferry and rental car in order to see as much as possible in two weeks.  I highly recommend driving around New Zealand as it's the perfect way to take in all the dramatic scenery.  One doesn't mind driving long distances when the open road looks like this:

Our Two Week Itinerary:
Day 1: Drove from Auckland airport to Paihia. Cruised the Bay of Islands in the afternoon.
Day 2: Left for Auckland stopping  at Whangarei falls  on the way. Explored Auckland on foot. 
Day 3: Scenic Drive to Bethell's, Piha and Karekare beaches. Devonport in the evening.
Day 4: Flight to Queenstown; Explored Queenstown, Gondola & Mountain Luge.
Day 5: Queenstown - Nevis Canyon Swing , Shotover Jet Ride and Arrowtown gold mining town. 
Day 6: Drove to Te Anau and hiked part of the Kepler Track. 
Day 7: Te Anau - Milford Sound Boat Cruise & Observatory.
Day 8: Drove back to Queenstown & flew to Christchurch. 
Day 9: Explored Christchurch. Drove through Arthur's Pass, Pancake Rocks arring in Nelson.
Day 10: Hiked Abel Tasman Park all day. 
Day 11: Drove to Picton (Marlborough wine country). Visited vineyards. 
Day 12: Scenic drive along northern coast. 
Day 13: Ferry from Picton to Wellington; dined in Wellington. 
Day 14: Explored Wellington. Departed in the afternoon for the US. 

Highlights:
Our favorite parts of this trip were Queenstown, Abel Tasman Park, Marlborough Wine Country and the Scenic Drive on the North Island. 

Queenstown

Walnut Block Vineyards 

What We Would Have Changed: 
The only thing we would have changed about this trip was Christchurch.  We would have skipped it, mainly because the city was empty resulting in an eerie, Twighlight Zone kind of scene. Christchurch had suffered several damaging earthquakes prior to our visit so both residents and businesses had abandoned it for safer cities in the country.  Despite being ridden with cracks and neglected buildings, it was a very pretty city, with well maintained gardens and parks. However, it was not worth going out of your way for a visit.  Also, it's still hazardous.  Just two months after our visit, Christchurch experienced a terrible earthquake that toppled the steeple of the iconic stone cathedral in town center. 

Christchurch cathedral during our visit in early January 2011

Christchurch cathedral just a couple months after our visit. Image courtesy of REX.

Instead of Christchurch, I would have driven up the west coast to Franz Josef Glacier.  If you don't fancy long scenic drives, then fly from Queenstown to Nelson and spend the extra day on the north coast of the South Island.

North or South Island
When planning a trip to New Zealand, people often ask me whether to go to the north or south island.  I say visit both if you have the time, since you are traveling pretty far to get there.  But if you MUST choose stick with south.  The South Island offers more landscape diversity - the fjords of Milford Sound, mountains of Queenstown, beaches of Abel Tasman and vineyards of Marlborough. All different. All stunning.

Stay tuned for more coverage on New Zealand including some of my favorite pictures!

This spring, I'm making a few changes to my home and garden and I'd like to incorporate elements inspired by our recent trip around the world. Although I can't plant exotic tropical flowers in Boston, nor do I have the space for nest beds, I can look for a few pieces that remind me of some of my favorite places. So, in no particular order, here are a 15 things from around the world that would be fun to replicate at home. 

1. Bangkok, Thailand: Nest Beds
Nesting has taken on a whole new meaning in Bangkok. The shape of these human sized sanctuaries will make the most boring of outdoor spaces intriguing. Add a light inside and create glowing garden sculptures at night!

Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Chillin' Out In Bangkok

2. Hamburg, Germany: Modern Rococo
I'm typically not a fan of rococo and prefer balancing frills and flourishes with corners and crisp lines. However, I reveled in this little cafe in Hamburg, sipping my chai tea slowly while sinking into a cozy velvet couch.  I have no idea if they intentionally distressed the walls or if they just spruced up a derelict space with vintage couches from Oma and Opa's house. Whatever they did, it worked. 

Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Hamburg, Bremen & Bloemendaal

3. Cappadocia, Turkey: Canvas & Carpet Covered Terraces
While in Turkey, we spent two glorious mornings having breakfast here, overlooking the cave town of Goreme. I've been thinking about using canvas to provide shade on my deck during the hot summer since it's pretty easy to put up and take down. I also love the rug covered table for extra lounging.

Photo by Eva Barbier. To learn more about Turkey, visit our Turkey Destination Page. 

4. Cambodia: Colored Wooden Blinds
These colorful blinds would add cheer to any space such as a nursery, kitchen or my home office.

Photo by Eva Barbier from the blog post: Waterworld: The Floating Village of Kompong Phluk, Cambodia

5. Yangshuo, China: Wagon Wheel Benches
Check out these benches at our Inn in Yangshuo. They are made by attaching local wood planks to an axle and wagon wheels. This set-up is a charming alternative to a traditional picnic table. 

Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Days 167-170: Yangshuo, China - Hiking and Biking the Karst Mountains

6. Koh Lanta, Thailand: Bamboo Lounges & Pyramid Pillows
Koh Lanta is one of the places i miss most often because we found total relaxation here. Perhaps it's because bamboo lounges and beds are scattered along the beaches, waiting for a wanderer to plop down for a cold beer and a little shut eye. The colorful pyramid pillows are a nice touch, and help prop up one's head in order to enjoy the sea view.  I don't think bamboo would last in the harsh Boston weather, but if i ever live somewhere milder I plan on creating my own little slice of Lanta. 

Photo of The Indian bar in Koh Lanta by Eva Barbier from Our Guide to Koh Lanta, Thailand

7. Ubud, Bali: Stone & Wood Carvings
Bali is full of insanely talented artisans and artists that have been perfecting their craft for generations. We visited gardens, homes and temples full of intricately carved statues and furniture. Two of my favorite pieces were these Balinese women who seem full of happiness and peace. Generally, this is how I feel after a really good meal. They would look lovely in my garden and remind me of the warmth and hospitality we experienced in Bali. 

Read more about Bali here: Ubud, Bali - The Barong Dance, Stone Carving & The Awe-Inspiring Contact Lens 

8. Melbourne, Australia: Bold Tile
This tile covered the inside of a bench shelter in Melbourne. It was a pleasant surprise, since the structure was grey on the outside. I thought the pattern would make a nice outdoor table top. 

Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: 3 Days In Melbourne

9. Kruger Park,  South Africa: Drapery Over Doors
The decor at safari camps is fantastic, but much of what you'd expect from the African bush - typical wood furniture, local animal fur rugs, and lots of neutrals.  One thing I really liked was the use of drapery, particularly over doors or entryways.  I'm not sure if this has a practical use in the summer (ie keeping bugs out of rooms) but they really made our accommodation, a tent, very homey. 

Photo by Eva Barbier in blog post: Tanda Tula Safari Camp

10. Paris, France: Black & White Tile
Black and white tile was everywhere in Paris so it always reminds me of my favorite city.  I don't know if it's the the tile that contributes to the glamour of Paris or if it's Paris that makes the tile so chic.  Let's just say it's a symbiotic relationship. If my bathroom wasn't so tiny, I'd tile it like the picture below. 

Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Our Favorite Room in Paris: Six Cent Deux 

11. Arrowtown, New Zealand: Recycled Container Garden
This is a neat idea for people who have a lot of outdoor space. Arrowtown is an old gold mining town in New Zealand. There was a lot of abandoned equipment from the mining days so local artists used them in their artwork and homes. Here is an old pipe transformed into a container garden. 

Photo by Eva Barbier. To learn more about New Zealand visit our New Zealand Destination Page. 

12. Winelands, South Africa: Chrome+Stone+Wood
The wineries in Franschhoek, South Africa are stunning both inside and out.  I particularly enjoyed the modern decor of the tasting room at the Gran Provence. The chrome bar and fixtures gave it a sleek modern look which was nicely offset by the rest of the room, comprised of natural elements from the region - stone, clay and wood. While it's void of color inside, the view was bursting with color outside the glass doors. 

Photo of the Gran Provence tasting room by Eva Barbier as featured in The Winelands Awards.

13. Seminyak, Bali: Colorful Shutters
These pretty shutters, spotted in Bali, would liven up a pool house or backyard shed. 

Photo by Eva Barbier in blog post: Bali, Indonesia - Laid Back Seminyak

14. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Copper Light Fixtures
Giant copper lights were suspended from tall tree trunks in our hotel lobby in Chiang Mai.  They were especially enchanting when twinkling at night. Perhaps they could be used on a much smaller scale in an entryway, over a dining room table or kitchen island. 

Photo of VC@Suanpaak lobby by Eva Barbier from Chiang Mai, Thailand - Hits & Misses

15. Caye Caulker, Belize: Weathered Wooden Signs
The tiny Caribbean island is comprised of small wooden structures that have been weathered by the salt and sand in the air.  Painted wooden signs were strewn about the island featuring island mantras (Go Slow) and store names. I think these would look great hanging in a bohemian urban garden. 

Photo by Eva Barbier from Caye Caulker - You Better Belize It.

Ever since college, we have taken several leaps of faith that have given us new perspectives and changed our lives.  I studied in Spain where I discovered my love for travel and made a life-long best friend.  After college, we moved to a city knowing no one but each other and left 5 years later with a group of amazing friends we consider our Chicago family. We have tried different roles in our careers which have challenged us and allowed us to learn while contributing to organizations we really believe in.  Our careers have also brought us many unique experiences like dining with a US President, working in foreign markets like Brazil & Dubai,  and even being challenged to a dance-off by Tracy Morgan at an Emmys after-party (he obviously won).  Once we went really far beyond our comfort zone and swung over a giant canyon in New Zealand suspended from a cable car 525 feet in the air (see the video footage below).  Some of our best memories have occurred one leap outside of our comfort zone.

In less than 2 weeks we'll be taking another leap of faith when we start our trip around the world. Our loose itinerary includes the following destinations:

May - Colombia, Peru, Puerto Rico
Early June- South Africa
Mid June-Mid Aug- Southern & Eastern Europe
Sept - Australia & Bali
Oct-Dec - Still TBD but will include some combination of the following contenders: Hong Kong, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia

Follow us on our adventure here and please send us any and all recommendations, tips, and feedback! 

Here is the video of our last major leap - swinging over a canyon (fast forward to 1:40):