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Mr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXL
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  • Hanna Will Bowles

Mr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXL

An open-ended adventure by Hanna Will Read more
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    🇳🇿 Ōkato, New Zealand
    Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Alpaka PartyBlackberry Ice Cream (don't worry I had my own) 😋Mount Egmont

    Mountainbiking & Drive to Egmont NP

    Yesterday in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    As previously mentioned, we couldn't do the famous (probably grueling) 22 km hike. Instead we chose to spent valentine's day doing the next best romantic activity: Mountainbiking. 🚲 🏔️
    After very little research we decided to do the Old Coach Road Track, a 15km (Joni is gonna find that a hilarious distance) mountainbike trail featuring scenic views, tunnels and an old railway track. Unsurprisingly, the weather wasn't great but at least there was no chance of us getting sunburnt for once. The track was challenging and slippery but we did enjoy the downhill sections a lot.

    Finished with our 2 hour mountainbike session, we set of to drive to our next destination - the Te Papakura O Taranaki (formerly Mount Egmont) National Park.
    On the way we stopped for some delicious real berry ice cream at the Windermere berry farm. Tired from our bike ride, we spent the rest of the evening enjoying the views of Mount Egmont.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    2Giant carrot on carrot themed playground nearbyHike to the waterfall (very windy)Waitonga FallsGollum's PoolInside the museum

    Waitonga Falls & Army Museum

    February 13 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Today was meant to be the day of our first major hike but unfortunately they closed the track due to weather warnings for the day. We are hoping to get the chance to attempt the great Tongariro Crossing tomorrow, but the weather isn't looking too good either unfortunately.

    Despite the windy and partly rainy weather we still wanted to get out and about and found a nice gentle hike to a nearby waterfall (Waitonga Falls). Spoilt by previous experiences, we wouldn't say this hike offers the most spectacular scenery but it's still well worth it. Before heading back we briefly checked out Tawhai Falls (Gollum's Pool) that was featured in Lord of the Rings.

    In the afternoon we drove to the National Army Museum that Will really wanted to check out, mainly to see the medals of Charles Upham. He also took the opportunity to ask the local research centre about his late great grandfather who died in New Zealand in 1931, and was pleased to see they had his records of service for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during WW1.

    Thinking that our big hike would take place as planned, we spent the very rainy evening preparing for the following day. Unfortunately, after having spread the best part of a jar of peanut butter on several sandwiches, we received the updated news that the track will be closed again tomorrow due to weather. This great hike will have to wait until our next trip to New Zealand.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Hot and Cold Spring1Huka FallsCraters of the moonFirst impressions of Tongariro National Park

    HotnCold Spring, Huka Falls, Craters

    February 12 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Leaving the slightly farty smells of beautiful Rotorua behind, we began our journey to Tongariro National Park.
    Our first stop along the route (after coffee of course) was the so called Hot n Cold spring. As you may have guessed, it's a place where a hot spring mixes with a cold river stream, creating the perfect place for a free outdoor spa. After bathing our feet for a little while, we continued our journey until stopping at the view point for Huka Falls, a massive waterfall. Will suggested we should give white water rafting a go there but I kindly declined. Instead we drove into the nearby town Taupo for some lunch.
    Our last stop of the day were the "Craters of the moon", an area with loads of thermal activity.
    In the early evening we arrived in the Tongariro National Park and got a first glance of the impressive mountainous landscape.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Blue LakeBlue SpringsProof that it is not always sunny in New Zealand ☔1Hobbiton1Inside the Hobbit house111Enjoying our complimentary drink in front of the blue dragon pub1Craft beer place in Rotorua

    Blue Lake Run, Blue Spring and Hobbiton

    February 11 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We started our day by driving to Blue Lake so we could go for individual runs. The setting was beautiful, as can be expected, but our gentle morning run was more of a challenge than the sign "walking path" would make anyone anticipate. We aren't used to trail running and it certainly shows we need to work on our fitness.
    Following our very sweaty morning we made our way to Blue Spring about an hour away. Despite the hike being extremely hot, we enjoyed the views of the tranquil river with extremely clear water. However, this was merely a stop before the big adventure of the day - HOBBITON.
    We arrived at Hobbiton an hour early for our tour, just before the heavens opened with the biggest downpour we have seen for weeks. Fortunately, it passed very quickly and we managed to get on an earlier tour.
    Our guide was English and made Will feel at ease by referencing the beer we get at the end. But before tasting the Green Dragon's finest brew, we had 1,5 hours of pure Hobbiton joy ahead of us. The tickets are expensive and must be pre-booked but it's well worth it for the experience. The surrounding landscape with its rolling hills and the film set itself is simply stunning. We also got to learn a lot from behind the scenes that you probably wouldn't have known unless you are a massive Lord of the Rings or Hobbit geak.
    My personal favourite - the director (Peter Jackson) insisted that all leaves and fruits of an apple tree had to be manually removed and replaced by plums / plum tree leaves just because somewhere in the book it mentions young Hobbit's eating plums. The scene where the tree features somewhere vaguely in the background made it into the film for a total of 6 seconds.
    To finish off the day we treated ourselves to some New Zealand steak and some local craft beers to celebrate our 6 month wedding anniversary.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
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    Romantic river swim & mud pools

    February 10 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Continuing our series: Sledging on anything that isn't snow, we booked ourselves onto the craziest water rafting tour available. Us and four other insane travellers squeezed ourselves into very attractive water pants, strapped on our life vests and found helmet that fit as snuggly as possible. The first challenge of the day was to carry our sledges approximately 10 minutes through a forest, entertaining a number of hikers along the way. Next we had to jump over a fence that is normally there to stop you falling into the river, and proceeded to dive in head first on our sledges shortly after. Thankfully our guides were super experienced and taught us everything we needed to know to not drown straight away. Despite their best efforts the first rapids tipped most of us over and the current was so strong that they had to fish us out more than once to stop us floating down the river uncontrollably.
    As horrifying as is it all sounds, we had a thrilling time and would totally do it again. At the end of our sledging excursion we even managed to "surf" on one of the waves longer than anyone else (mainly we didn't really know how to exit, but they don't need to know that).
    In the late afternoon, after lunch and a short rest, we went to the local mud pools that are free to access (unlike most other things) and saw some awesome thermal activity. The bubbling mud / water does smell exactly how it looks. If you are ever feeling bloated, Rotorua is the place to be for you. No-one would ever know it was you ... 🤭    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
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    The Gondola 🚠One of the sledge tracksNot glamorous but very nice

    Gold Mine & Luge around Rotorua

    February 8 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    After checking out of our cosy little tiny house, we stopped for some fuel and I decided it was time for me to have a go at driving. However, my driving experience was rather short-lived as Will relieved me of my driving duties immediately after I gently brushed the inside of a cliff to get out of the way of a jeep that was taking its boat for a rather fast drive down the mountain. No harm was done to us or the car.
    To recover from our near death experience (according to Will), we stopped for some super crispy fish and chips in a town called Thames before continuing our journey to our first real stop of the day - the Karangahake gorge, a place where you can see the remains of a gold mine and railway tracks. We did a nice hike around the area that included suspension bridges, tunnels and stunning views of the surrounding area.
    Finished exploring, we drove another 2 hours to Rotorua where we just about arrived in time for our next activity the famous Skyline & Luge Rotorua. Disorganised as most of the time we hadn't checked the opening hours and arrived 30 mins before the Luge (sledging place) closed. Luckily it wasn't busy at all, so we jumped on the next gondola that would take us up the mountain to where the Luge station started. After a quick health and safety intro, we raced down the mountain and ended up finishing all of our three pre-booked rides in half an hour. We'd definitely recommend that place it was amazing!
    To recover from the adrenaline rush, we checked into our accommodation and tested out the surprise hot tub that we weren't meant to have but gladly took. There's loads of thermal activity in Rotorua so many hotels offer private hot tubs as they can easily be heated using thermal energy.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Swing by our local coffee shop
    Random kiwi painting on a public toiletOpito Bay/ BeachPie with a viewCrossing the river to the hiking route1Little break sloth styleNew Chums BeachWorlds biggest double scoop1Hot Water Beach

    Opito Bay, New Chums & Hot Water Beach

    February 8 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    After some well needed sleep and a lie in because jetlag was hitting us hard, we started our day later than usually but no less enthusiastic.
    On our agenda for the day were a number of beaches incl. a shortish beach hike.
    First stop was the stunning Opito Beach and I think the pictures speak for themselves.
    Next we drove on to check out New Chums Beach. Our plan was to do a hike but unfortunately when we arrived the tide was in and the hiking route wasn't actually accessable without walking through shoulder deep water. Waiting for the tide to go out, we enjoyed a delicious pie with a view for lunch and when we returned to the starting point the water was shallow enough for us to wade through.
    The hike was only approx. 30 minutes but quite adventurous as it led us along the coast and up a hill through a forest. When we arrived we were rewarded by another stunning beach with crystal clear water.
    Before driving down to our next destination we stopped for the world's biggest ice cream, which was most enjoyable but also had to be consumed rapidly as it was melting fast.
    High on a sugar rush, we drove to hot water beach. As expected, when we arrived the beach was rammed. We decided to park up and have a look anyway and got some good entertainment out of watching people dig their own pool at the beach. To our surprise at least half the people must have been sitting in cold pools because the hot springs that run under the beach appear to be only covering certain spots. In the end we decided against digging our own pool because it was so crowded and we had already burned our feet several times because the water was so unpredictably piping hot.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    1Viewpoint along the drive
    Suspension bridge hikeSlightly sleep deprived 🥱1View along the driveTiny house from the insideOur Kia and the view from our tiny houseTiny house from the outsideView from our terraceBBQ 😋

    We have made it to New Zealand! 😎

    February 7 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Our journey to New Zealand was long and daunting but went very smoothly. We landed bright and early at 05:00am New Zealand time (which is midnight in Bali, meaning we hadn't slept a minute on the flight). In an attempt to counter the increasingly overwhelming tiredness we had a couple of flat whites and some cheese toasties while we waited for our car hire place to open. After collecting our little, slightly dented Kia we set off to drive to our first accommodation round about 3 hours away in the Waikato Region near Whitianga.
    An hour into the car journey we stopped for a short hike through a beautiful forest with some nice views along the way.
    Finished with our little exercise stop we continued driving until we had to stop under in the shade of a tree near the beach to take a brief power nap. As stunning as the cliffs we drove along were, we didn't exactly want to crash down them.
    Having slightly recovered, Will somehow found the energy to drive us all the way to our tiny house (first accommodation) and we somehow even managed to pick up some groceries along the way.
    When arrived it was too late for a nap and too early to go to on sleep so to finish us off completely we went on a short run down to the nearby beach and back. Before finally allowing ourselves to collapse in bed we enjoyed a delicious BBQ with a view.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Will filling green coffee beans into a cup before pouring them into the roaster
    1Releasing our finished beansFinished beansCupping - comparing the taste of our beans to professionally roasted beansSome surfing footage for your entertainment 😂Looks much less cool than it felt 😅Goodbye breakfast 🍳Goodbye breakfast coffee shark 🦈 ☕

    Coffee Roasting & Surfing 🌊

    February 6 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    On our last day in Bali we had two very special activities planned: roasting our own coffee beans & another surf lesson. ☕ 🌊

    After enjoying some tasty banana pancakes in our lovely accommodation in Ubud it was time to pack our bags and start the journey to Kuta (area near the airport). Just before arriving at our destination we stopped at a coffee shop/ roasters that we had already tested out on our way to Ubud a few days ago. It was also then that we learned about the roasting classes they offer, and of course we had to book us onto one of those.
    After arriving at the coffee shop, we enjoyed a delicious flat white and then proceeded to choose our beans before commencing the roasting process in adorable little miniature roasting machines that we sadly couldn't quite sneak into our bags on the way out. The result (roasted beans) still left some room for improvement but it was definitely worth it for the experience. They let us take the finished beans with us and we'll make sure to sample them in the upcoming days (if we manage to get them through customs in New Zealand).
    After arriving in Kuta and checking into our hotel for the night it was time to head to the beach for our surf lesson. The waves were very good (for beginners anyway) and in that regard it's a great place to start surfing HOWEVER the amount of rubbish in the shallow water was beyond disgusting. Plastic bags, cups and other unidentified items everywhere. 😢
    We still enjoyed our two hour lesson but left the beach with very mixed feelings.
    In the evening we went to a small local restaurant and finished the night with two pints at Hard Rock Café (special request by my beloved husband).    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
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    Breakfast on our balcony 😁The not so sunny side of Bali - happens all the time 🌧️13Sammy & Will hiking along the rice terracesOur almost sunset2Hanna's Dinner 🤤

    White water rafting & rice terraces

    February 4 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    On our last day in Ubud we were looking for adventure and found just the right activity - white water rafting.
    For those of you thinking it's a gentle float down the river, think again. It was 2,5 hours of us against nature. Thankfully we had a very competent guide steering us around the 18km long route down the river but he surely made us paddle enough. There were also a few drops along the route that weren't for the light hearted and made us flop inside the boat.
    Approximately 1/3 along the way we stopped for drinks. Conveniently that's also when it started hammering it down with rain for approximately 10mins . Before continuing our journey we did a little spontaneous photoshoot in a picturesque waterfall.

    After lunch and a little well needed rest we decided to stay in the area and found a beautiful little hike around the Sidemen rice terraces. A few minutes into the hike we met Sammy from North London, who had mobility issues, and ended up doing the walk through the rice terraces with him. Despite our best efforts to keep him from falling into ditches, Will had to pick Sammy out of a small river when he lost his footing.
    Poor guy, but very impressive that he completed the 3km hike on terrain like this.

    To end the day we had some very tasty Indonesian food whilst watching the sunset (well not really because it was too cloudy but the view was very pretty anyway).    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Fake shot with the arches hiding the people who were actually taking their pictureCoffee & Balinese PancakesVirgin BeachOn our way to Virgin Beach 😎1This is what most of our ride through Ubud looked like 😍

    Famous Temple & Virgin Beach

    February 3 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today we finally found the Bali we were looking for - lush green rice terraces and crystal clear water. Apparently all you need to do is leave the are around the airport and go to the North/ East.
    Our day started rather touristy with a visit to the Penataran Agung Lempuyang Temple that is massively hyped on Instagram. It's definitely worth seeing but queuing up for a picture was a bit much for us so we left without having the famous shot between the arches taken.
    On our way to the next location we came across the most beautiful café/ restaurant and treated ourselves to a delicious coffee followed by lunch and more coffee because the first one was just too good.
    All fueled up we rode our scooter through stunning landscapes until we arrived at Virgin Beach ⛱️. You do have to pay a small entrance free (like with almost all beaches in Bali) but this one is definitely worth it.
    We finished our day with some very tasty Indian Thalis that our Sea Kayaking instructor had recommended to us yesterday.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Warm up 💪🏼
    Having a go at riding the motorbike for 5 metres with a blind passengerMiniture coffee roasters1

    Sea kayaking at Sanur Beach

    February 2 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    On our way to our second accommodation we decided to try something new and spontaneously booked us onto a sea kayaking taster session.
    Obviously before any great adventure we needed to properly caffeinate ourselves first and luckily we found just the right spot for that - a hidden coffee roastery/ café. We will be back soon. 🤤

    When we arrived at the beach two sea kayaks were already waiting for us so we gracefully slipped into our personal floatation devices (life vests) and entertained the rest of the beach visitors with some rather intense dry paddling exercises. After having learned all the basics, it was time for us to get into our kayaks and have a go at paddling.
    Although it felt all a bit wobbly at first we did very well.

    Finished with today's sporting activity, we rode 1.5 hours to Sidemen, Ubud where our next accommodation- a beautiful little cottage is based.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Pad Thai welcome in Bali dinner 🤤... finally some proper beer.The closest we had to an English breakfast this year 🥓No words.Dressed up all fashionableThey might look cute but they are evil. 🐒Monkey enjoying it's stolen Fanta, even managed to unscrew the lid

    Welcome to Bali 😎

    Jan 31–Feb 1 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    A comparatively short (5 hours) but incredibly uncomfortable flight later we arrived in Bali and were welcomed by a humid 30 degrees.
    After waiting an eternity on our check in luggage we made our way to the luggage storage and motorbike rental place near the airport. We collected our motorbike, rode to our first accommodation of this short trip to Bali and didn't accomplish anything but have some very delicious pad thai that evening.
    Our first full day in Bali was dedicated to beach hopping. Unfortunately, but as expected, everywhere is extremely crowded and they certainly have a waste disposal problem here. We could see that the beaches we visited once were dreamy but unfortunately mass tourism has taken its toll.
    In an attempt to squeeze just a little bit of culture into our day, we visited a monkey infested temple. Definitely worth a stop but watch your belongings! One especially cheacky monkey full on attack Will from behind in an attempt to get his phone. Luckily Will managed to pull it away in time. Others weren't so fortunate though...
    After watching the sunset from a nice view point and slurping a sundowner shake we rode back to our hotel for an evening swim which concluded the day.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Bún cha (not at our favourite spot but still yummy)Pizzaaaaa 🍕Pig brain 🧠Will's newest obsession - hunt for the perfect piggies everywhere in VietnamRomantic swan boat ride ♥️Goodbye steak dinner

    Back in Hanoi & Enjoying our last days

    Jan 28–30 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    In the early afternoon of the 28th we took our pre-booked limousine bus to Hanoi, which was impressively comfortable and made the two-hour journey fly by—though the bus driver cruelly waited until just 15 minutes before arrival to switch on the massage seats, denying us the full luxury experience we clearly deserved.

    Back in Hanoi we met up with Ny, Annika and Nils at Ny’s aunt’s café to enjoy some for coffee and buying beans to take home before heading back to Ny’s apartment and staging a spontaneous fashion show featuring everything we had made in Hoi An. Dinner that evening was some surprisingly delicious pizza, which felt slightly wrong in Vietnam.

    The following morning started far too early, as Ny had booked the girls in at the hairdresser for a perm for Annika and permanent straightening for me. After a very serious and professional hair analysis, Annika’s hair was sadly declared unsuitable for the treatment, so she got a fabulous new haircut and some extremely posh hair pampering instead. Before anything else, however, we were subjected to the most intense hair wash imaginable and were honestly surprised that we still had hair left afterwards. Next, four highly efficient hands applied keratin to my head before putting me in what looked suspiciously like a microwave. Thirty minutes later my hair was apparently fully “cooked". What followed was a thorough blow-drying and straightening session to flatten my hair as much as humanely possible.The whole process took less time than expected, though the keratin steam burned my eyes, explaining my very convincing “I’m having a great time” facial expression in the video (not uploaded yet).

    Freshly beautified, we met up with the boys and spent the afternoon wandering around Hanoi, alternating between coffee and beer, before meeting Ny’s grandparents and uncle’s family for a delicious goodbye hot pot dinner.

    The next morning it was time to say goodbye to Annika and Nils as they left early to catch their flight back to Berlin. After going back to sleep for a couple of much-needed hours, we had our favourite brunch (bun cha) and coffee, then went to the piercer to change my piercing and get a new one for Ny. I also bought new running shoes (full of optimism), we walked around the lake for a bit, enjoyed a deeply romantic swan boat ride, and finished our last evening in Hanoi with some excellent steak.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler

    Ninh Binh & surrounding areas

    Jan 27–28 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    After our mostly sleepless night on the bus we were still determined to see and do as much as possible.
    Once again we chose to rent a motorbike to get around the area and enjoy the beautiful landscape that in some ways looks like a dry version of Hai Long Bay. Because we were too tired to walk up to any view points we booked ourselves onto a three hour paddle boat tour featuring 9 caves and 2 temples. Going through the caves was awesome and the paddle boat was a wonderful way to explore the area.
    Coincidentally we seemed to have picked a very good time for our tour because just as we were getting off the boat the crowds started queuing up.
    Finished with our boat excursion we stopped in the nearby town for some lunch before setting off on our motorbike to ride through the landscape.
    In the evening we walked into Ninh Binhs old town, which is probably the only thing worth seeing in the city. The waterfront and temples (all newly built) were beautifully decorated with lanterns and it's definitely worth climbing up all the stairs to the top of the pagoda.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler

    Night Bus from Huè to Ninh Binh ☠️

    January 27 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We decided that this great little adventure deserved its own section.
    It all started with an online booking - 20€/ person seemed expensive for Vietnamese standards but it was a long journey and the VIP night bus (only one available on functioning websites in English) looked very comfortable. The bus arrived shortly after 22:00 and met our expectations from the inside. The cabins looked generously wide (they probably sell them as shared cabins to Vietnamese people). Unfortunately, we didn't manage to put Will's seat back all the way which is probably the most annoying thing that can happen to you on a night bus. Also the entertainment system didn't seem to function properly either but we weren't planning on using it anyway because the plan for the 9,5 hour journey was to sleep as much as possible. After cuddling up in my cabin for a while we decided that it was too tight for two and Will returned to his malfunctioning seat. At around 02:30am we got woken up (well I don't think either one of us was actually asleep at that point) to the sweet sound of our Vietnamese driver screaming TOILET!!
    Will took the opportunity to finally ask the driver if there was any hack to putting his seat back - there was. With both of us finally laying down, we actually managed to get a few hours of sleep in before arriving in Ninh Binh slightly early at around 7:00am.

    Although our first Vietnamese night bus experience was mixed, we'd probably do it again. It's definitely much more comfortable than the night busses in the Philippines where you have to sit up for 10-12 hours. However, a little watch out to our taller friends: if you are taller than 1,75 you won't be able to stretch out fully in the cabins because they are only about 1,80m long.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
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    Imperial City of Huè

    January 26 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Our second day in Huè was dedicated fully to its famous imperial city - well almost. We got up earlyish because it was about time Will completed his 5K run in Vietnam.
    We walked to the river to start our run in the beautiful pedestrianised park. It was the perfect running route but far too hot.
    Finished with the run we got some breakfast and coffee, purchased some extra brightening sunscreen (never try to buy sunscreen in Vietnam if you can avoid it), showered, packed our bags and made our way to the imperial city.
    The imperial city is stunning, although we do find it astonishing how most of the buildings were only built approximately 200 years ago but still had to be completely restored. Will visited Huè in 2018 and pointed out several places that looked completely different now.
    After having walked around all day, our feet were tired so we settled in a nice little coffee shop with aircon and WiFi before finding somewhere to eat for dinner.
    We spent the rest of our evening having a few beers and waiting around for our night bus to Ninh Binh.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Peanut butter salt coffee 🤤1Abandoned waterpark from the distanceWill having a haircut...and a shaveDinner - Bun Bo Hue

    Tomb hopping near Huè

    January 25 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    On our first day in Huè we wanted to explore the beautiful surrounding areas and the countless tombs. To do that, we had to hire another scooter. 😎
    When we arrived at our first stop, the Mausoleum of Emperor Gia Long
    (Lăng Hoàng đế Gia Long) we decided to go all in and bought a combi ticket for two different areas filled with emperors tombs and their families. Little did we know how large the first site would be. It was a beautiful but also very hot day so we got quite sweaty walking around the area, climbing up to a tomb every now and then. If you are ever in Huè you should definitely put that on your itinerary (bicycles or golf cars are also available for hire if you don't fancy walking).
    Although we already felt quite tombed out we continued our journey to the second site ( Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang
    Hiếu Lăng - lăng mộ Hoàng đế Minh Mạng) because we'd already bought the ticket.
    Compared to the first one it was much smaller, more touristy and seemed to be under construction. We still had a great time walking around it and climbing up to the more secluded and dilapidated areas.
    On our way back to Huè we stopped at an abandoned waterpark which seemed to have become the local meeting spot.
    Back in Huè it was time for Will to get another haircut and shave - apparently he's gonna get one in every country we visit.

    For dinner we finally tried the infamous local dish Bun Bo Hue. The friendly woman at the stall kindly asked us if we wanted it with EVERYTHING or just beef. Having learned from past experiences, we chose just beef. She laughed and brought us two delicious bowls.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Breakfast with Annika & NilsWill trying to catch a crab 🦀2Last coffee at our favourite café in Hoi AnOn the train to Huè 🚂1Hennry & Hennrietta ♥️1View from the train (very difficult to capture)Local delicacies - some form of crab dumplingOnly food at dinner that actually tasted niceAlso a popular dish in the area but far too slimy

    Bamboo Boat & Train Journey to Huè

    Jan 23–25 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    On our last full day in Hoi An we didn't really feel like shopping around anymore (also a bit conscious of our suitcase space), so after meeting Annika & Nils for Coffee at our local spot and some Pho for breakfast we booked ourselves onto a 3€ coconut boat tour thinking it would be a nice romantic end to our time in Hoi An.
    When we arrived at the coconut boat starting point (we went there on our crappy little scooter obviously), we realised how wrong we'd been. As we arrived about three people jumped in front of our bike to sell us the tour we'd already bought online.
    Shortly after we got into our boat and saw the extent of what we had gotten ourselves into. The river was full with boats, tourists screaming, boats spinning and loud music was playing. At least our bamboo boat captain was very nice which made the 50 mins tour as enjoyable as it could be. We took some nice pictures and Will had a go at crab fishing.
    Back in Hoi An we ended the night with more meat skewers and a massage.

    The next morning, after saying goodbye to our favourite coffee shop 🥲, we set off to Da Nang. We dropped off the scooter and made our way to the train station. Our train to Huè was bang on time and we started the slow but scenic journey which we can highly recommend. When we arrived in Huè it was already getting dark, so we quickly dropped our bags off at our accommodation and settled in a nice little restaurant for some local delicacies that unfortunately turned out to be not so delicate but at least we have tried them.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Selfie after hiring the scooter 🛵
    Inside Marble MountainHennry & Hennrietta ♥️ - we simply couldn't resist.Designer WillLantern shop in Hoi AnPork Skewers 🤤Hoi An at night2Matching fake tattoos 🫣At My Son Dschungel TempelRiding our scooter through scenic landscapes

    Arriving in Da Nang & Shopping in Hoi An

    Jan 20–22 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    After being dropped off in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City by our lovely air-conditioned tour bus we were on our own again and needed to kill several hours before our flight to Da Nang. We started strolling through the city but quickly gave up, sat down for a coffee and ended up in a fancy brewery. Having spent a fortune (for Vietnamese standards) on coffee and beer, we opted to take the local bus instead of a taxi to go to the airport. The 30min journey was surprisingly smooth and comfortable enough, especially compared to the nerve-racking airport experience that followed. Vietjet is certainly equally as shit as Ryanair if not worse.

    When we finally arrived in Da Nang late in the evening we immediately passed out in bed. After a small lie-in, we rented a scooter for the next few days to avoid taxis because we just love riding around on crappy little scooters. 🛵

    In the afternoon we packed up our scooter and rode to Hoi An (approx. 1 hour from Da Nang). On the way we stopped at marble mountain which surely used to be marvellous but now looks a bit tacky in our opinion.
    After we arrived in Hoi An and checked into our very nice hotel, we went exploring around the old town. Of course we couldn't resist browsing around the hundreds of shops (souvenirs, clothes, tailors...) and of course we got massively ripped off with our first purchase. The hours flew by and after enjoying several snacks from the food stalls it was time for bed.

    Our first full day in Hoi An was dedicated to shopping, getting quotes, being measured up and actually ordering a few items - dresses and tops for me and leather boots, a leather apron and a bespoke leather tool bag for Will. 😎 As much fun as it is, the limitless choices and the sometimes extremely pushy vendors make shopping in Hoi An a rather exhausting activity.
    To recover from all the shopping stress, we first had a lovely dinner consisting of BBQ pork wrapped in rice paper and salad and then went on to have more than a couple of beers. Whilst enjoying some live music and a pint, we spotted a henna tattoo place and thought it'd be a fantastic idea to get funny fake tattoos....

    The next morning, after regretting our tattoo choices, we had some coffee at our local coffee place near our hotel (we are now considering ourselves regular customers after going there twice in a row).
    Since we were tired of shopping and also needed to wait for our orders to actually be made we took our scooter out for a long drive to My Son Temple. Never heard of it before but it was definitely a nice change of scenery. According to the signs there it is supposed to have some similarities to Angkor Wat, you can judge for yourselves.
    Finished with our excursion, we rushed back into town to try on our freshly made items. Most of them fit perfectly, which was a pleasant surprise. We met up with Annika and Nils for dinner and just before we were heading home Will put some last minute orders in for some shoes and a linen blazer.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Snake wine 🐍🤢Matching headsSign from our hotel roomFloating marketPineapple at the floating market 🍍Durian tree

    2 Day Trip to Mekong Delta

    Jan 18–19 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Because we love riding on air-conditioned busses so much we decided to go on another touristy tour to the Mekong Delta.

    Our first stop was the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda where we met three very sweet school girls who insisted to show us around one of the temples to practice their English language skills. They even gave us cute little butterflies to say thank you.

    Next on our agenda was a boat ride along the Mekong River which to be honest did not live up to our expectations. We pictured the landscape to be a beautiful jungle but it was mainly houses because we were actually still in the city.
    Like any good tourist, we stopped at a few islands to taste some honey tea, banana crisps, exotic fruits and handmade coconut candy. Finished with our shopping excursion, we stopped for lunch, which was actually quite tasty. During lunch we also got to know the other English couple (about the same age as us) a little and coincidentally it turned out they are also on their gap year but nearing the end of it.
    After lunch we enjoyed a little rowing tour through the village.
    Another 2 hours on the bus later we arrived at Can Tho and checked into our surprisingly fancy hotel for the night.

    Our second day in the Mekong Delta started bright and early at 6am. Apparently the early morning is the best time to visit the famous floating market.
    It was very interesting to see the floating stalls and restaurants but again it's not as picturesque as on pictures. We stopped for some delicious fresh pineapple and will had a go at making coconut pancakes. He did exceptionally well and briefly considered permanent employment but then chose to return to the hotel with me for some breakfast and well needed coffee.

    After relaxing for a little while it was time for us to leave Can Tho to start the drive back to Saigon. On the way we stopped to take a bike ride around a village where we saw loads of durian and jackfruit trees. Finished with our workout it was lunch time and this time we got to make our own savory Vietnamese pancakes. Thanks to a lot of help from the locals we managed to produce something quite enjoyable.

    Sadly lunch concluded our little excursion to the Mekong Delta and we headed back to the city.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    One of the many different trapsMore traps - smart but gruesomeMap of the tunnel system

    Crawling through the Cu Chi Tunnels

    January 17 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Having explored most of Saigon the previous two days we needed a change of scenery, so we got up early and left to go on a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels which played a significant role in the Vietnam War. The tunnels are only approx. 40 min outside the city but it still took us the best part of 2 hours to get there thanks to traffic.

    The tour was very interesting but our highlight was definitely the crawling through the tunnels. Will had done it already in 2018 but for some reason felt like the tunnels had gotten even smaller.

    Done with the tour it was time to say goodbye to Annika & Nils who organised their own transport back to a hotel in the North of Saigon.
    Another 2 hours later we arrived back in Saigon and also had to part ways with Ny who left to catch her flight back to Hanoi.
    Since we'll be seeing everyone again every soon, the tears dried quickly and we made our way to our accommodation.

    Later that night we tried to find a specific dish that Ny recommended. Unfortunately, we were unable to find it and settle for a questionable street food stall. We ordered some sort of noodle soup and just prayed it would be dead and not have eyeballs. It turned out to be a noodle soup with some sort of beef meatballs. The broth was delicious, the meatballs not so much but at least they were definitely not breathing anymore.

    To end our last evening in Saigon we enjoyed a few pints down party street (Bui Vien Walking Street) which is also an excellent place to people watch.    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Breakfast 🍳
    Outside of Ben Thanh MarketChilling on the roof top pool of a fancy hotel that we didn't stay inDrinking overpriced but delicious freshly squeezed passion fruit juiceReady to hit the road again 😎Will enjoying life as a passengerCentral PostofficeOn book street 📚Where there's a Will - there's a way. 😁Burning monk statueInside a café next to the secret bunkerCrawling into the secret bunkerInside a secret bunker with loads of weaponsFlower market

    Exploring Ho Chi Minh City

    Jan 15–17 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is a massive city that offers endless opportunities but is also super touristy (even more than Hanoi). On our first day we decided to just go with the flow and walked around the city, did some shopping and tried a couple of the thousands of coffee shops around town. In the afternoon we treated ourselves to a roof top pool (part of a fancy hotel but one can also buy a day pass) that had a beautiful view but was much colder than expected.

    Of course we also had some delicious food, but everyone who's followed our journey should know by now that there's amazing food in Vietnam.

    On our second day we had a bit of adventure planned. Instead of just doing a guided tour like any other ordinary tourist would, we chose to book ourselves onto a motorbike city tour to explore all the different areas. The tour was great and covered most of the major sites around the city.
    After the tour we were all exhausted but Ny really wanted to try out a fancy café in the area. Selflessly Will & I sacrificed ourselves and accompanied her. On the way to the coffee shop we passed one of the many free open air gyms and did a quick "workout".
    To conclude the day we met up with Nils and Annika to enjoy some delicious little pancake shrimp cakes (bánh khọt). We can highly recommend them!    Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    Ice cream while our car is being washed
    Chicken Pho for Breakfast in HanoiDry pho for dinner in Ny's flatOn the flight to Ho Chi Minh CityParty Street in Ho Chi Minh CityVietnamese Sandwich from Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa

    Recovering & travel to Ho Chi Minh City

    Jan 12–14 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    After the mountains we needed a couple of days to relax and prepare for our next adventure (mainly doing loads of laundry).

    All refreshed we flew to Ho Chi Minh City today, where we'll be spending the next few days. As we arrived fairly late, there is not much to report on yet. We did have time to have a ginormous Vietnamese Sandwich and explore the party street for a little while though.Read more

  • Hanna Will BowlesMr & Mrs Bowles Adventures XXLTraveler
    The Gang 😎
    Flag TowerView from the Flag TowerMost northern Point of VietnamMore Vietnamese SandwichsNils & Annika riding into the sunsetAt the French FortAfter cupping 🫣

    Ha Giang Loop Day 3 & 4

    Jan 10–11 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Day 3
    We woke up to the sweet sound of cocks just in time to admire the Chinese border glowing in the sunrise before heading out for yet another pho for breakfast—no complaints there.

    Next stop was the Lung Cu Flag Point (fun fact: we actually meant to go there yesterday but somehow managed to ride straight past it). It was massively touristy, but the views from the top more than made up for it. Clearly still not done with border appreciation, we then headed to the northernmost point of Vietnam. It was much quieter there, with equally stunning views—and yes, more of the Chinese border.

    After that, it was mostly just riding around, soaking up the beautiful sunshine, which made the cold far more bearable. To reach our homestay for the night, we rode through a remote mountain village as the sun slowly began to set. The beauty of the scenery almost made us forget how sore our backs and butts were from riding close to 150 km that day.
    We were greeted with fresh bananas and warming ginger tea, then sat down to enjoy a delicious dinner.

    Day 4

    Once again, we were woken by chickens going completely mental over what was probably absolutely nothing. Thankfully, the morning improved quickly with five large stacks of complementary very tasty pancakes topped with fruit and honey.

    To get a few steps in, we took a short walk through the rural village, watching people do their laundry, children playing in the fields, and everyday life unfolding around us. Cultural experience complete, the Gang set off for the first stop of the day: an abandoned French fort.

    From there, we rode through some beautiful mountain passes—until about the 100th pothole finally finished off our back wheel. We pulled in at a nearby mechanic (luckily there was one close by), and after about 45 minutes of replacing all the spokes, we were back on the road.

    A slightly late lunch followed, enjoyed beside a beautiful river. Not long after, we realised our fuel was nearly empty, so we bought a couple of bottles to keep us going. The final stop of the loop was a stunning waterfall that we had entirely to ourselves, as all the tourist groups seemed to have already called it a day.

    Back in Ha Giang, we enjoyed some very yummy dry pho, then treated our sore backs and butts to a long, well-deserved massage. Most of us found it incredibly relaxing, though Ny and Will slightly regretted their choice of an add-on cupping treatment.    Read more

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