Pravatz Presentz

26/02/2017

https://pravatz.com/2017/02/26/australia-bermagui-stuff-that-happens-while-camping-in-oz/

I’ve only been camping once before in my life and it involved Belgium and a goat farm in the Ardennes.

So, when we got the chance to join Astrid’s family for a remote weeklong escape to Mimosa Rocks National Park we of course said yes.

Teach a man to fish I thought.

While I was expecting a lesson in putting up a tent and lighting a fire, I wasn’t prepared for the series of small yet memorable incidents about to come.

As a spoiler, there were surprisingly few snakes, in fact no snakes at all.

24/02/2017

It’s easy to recognize Halong Bay with its iconic sunsets over a green limestone archipelago. It’s here that we decided to take a boat tour which includes some kayaking and stand up paddle boarding, all in one of the more remote areas of the bay, namely east of Cat Ba Island, in what is called Lan Ha Bay. As we sail out, I look at the staff on the boat, the guys steering our junk ship, and I can't feel confident they are enjoying the job, or our company for that matter. [ 401 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2017/02/24/vietnam-cat-ba-island-doing-business-in-vietnam

It’s easy to recognize Halong Bay with its iconic sunsets over a green limestone archipelago. It’s here that we decided to take a boat tour which includes some kayaking and stand up paddle boarding…

14/02/2017

Hospitality in , opposite of , still genuine

https://pravatz.com/2017/02/14/vietnam-can-tho-navigating-the-mekong-delta-floating-markets/

Here we are in Can Tho, South of Saigon in the Mekong Delta, staying at the Miss Ha Guesthouse our friends recommended. On top of accommodation Miss Ha is happy to hook us up with a tour of the Mek…

10/02/2017

05/02/2017

Fact is, you can’t go hiking in Myanmar without a guide. A German couple went by themselves, and didn’t listen to the villagers telling them not to continue alone through the mountains.

Our guide points to the hills in front.

But they wouldn’t listen. And soon enough they ran into a mine and boof!!

https://pravatz.com/2017/02/05/myanmar-hsipaw-some-last-insights-on-this-complicated-country/

01/02/2017

Just remembered a very special meeting on our last day in Iran which seems more relevant these days than ever.

I think it speaks a lot about Iranian women, Iran and frankly about all of us, don't you?

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Last day in Tehran, at Asma’s place.

I’m fascinated by her daughter sleeping on the carpet across the room.
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I’m 28, when I was 21 my parents said I was too young to get married, he was my university professor at the time, but I wanted to.

I succeeded in everything I set myself, buying a car, buying my own apartment, PhD, a daughter.

Now I want to see all the world, couchsurfing, hitch hiking, low cost, people welcoming our entire family into their home.

I want to see all the world by the time I am 35 and I know I will succeed.

https://pravatz.com/2017/02/01/iran-tehran-our-last-night-in-tehran-at-asmas-place-or-the-iranian-dream/

29/01/2017

We have arrived at the end of our 4 month trip and are now just getting cosy in our new host country, Australia.

As you know, along the way, we have passed through and some of the most beautiful landscapes know to man and made amazing friends.

Thank you for being with us, it made writing about our experiences worth while knowing are friends and family are reading at the other end.

Even if we are now settling in Australia, we're not done yet.

We still have a ton of anecdotes and photos from the trip we haven't shared yet.

And we're even thinking of continuing the saga, continuing sharing with you how starting off in Australia feels like, what new challenges we're facing and how we're overcoming them.

Stay in touch by subscribing to our newsletter!

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20/01/2017

https://pravatz.com/2017/01/20/new-zealand-fairlie-real-local-south-island-dining/

We are seated at one of the tables on the veranda converted into a lounge as we are welcomed by the owner of the establishment, a cordial, outspoken gentlemen with a red bouquet of a face hinting at his love for and knowledge of one of NZ’s finest exports.

I thought you was five. Have you lost one?

Indeed I am just with Astrid, her sister and her cousin.

Yeah, sorry, our other friend is running a bit late, he should be here in around 20 minutes, he’s driving all the way from Arthur’s Pass.

We had arranged to meet with our friend Lukasz for dinner, he is traveling around the South Island but in the opposite direction.

I see, no worries, the kitchen is open as long as you like.

We’re after a rosé. What would you recommend?

Pointing at the menu: I would recommend this one but, sorry to say, I finished the last bottle this afternoon. So we’re all out of rosés.

Okay…slightly confused.

Which of the other wines would you recommend?

I would recommend this other one but to be honest it’s on its last legs.

I’m thinking this guy is really not here to make money off us.

New Zealand two week road trip, the week after New Year 2017 — As we found out the week right before the trip, when we finally got the energy to plan our itinerary (I know, way too late!), th…

09/01/2017

Could have stayed forever

28/12/2016

Okay, this is it, the last stage of our trip!

After the Old Zealand it's finally time to see the New one.

26/12/2016

I ask Astrid: what are the most haunting images you keep of Myanmar? She evokes 3 things that she really found unsettling. The Roads On our first morning in town we woke up before sunrise and drove with a scooter in the dark, hitting holes and dodging dogs on the side of the road. All this to catch the sun shedding its first rays on the U Bein bridge, the largest teak-wood bridge in the world, just as Buddhist monks made their way across. [ 334 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/12/26/myanmar-mandalay-3-episodes-that-really-stuck-with-me

I ask Astrid: what are the most haunting images you keep of Myanmar? She evokes 3 things that she really found unsettling. The Roads On our first morning in town we woke up before sunrise and drove…

26/12/2016

5:30 in the morning and, like in a military barrack, a Vietnamese voice on the loud speaker in our night train compartment is waking us up with what sounds like repetitive nonsense: Hanoi this, Hanoi that - that's all I get. Out the window smoke is rising from what seems to be a large barbecue in a school yard... Moments later another voice, this time with a thick American accent, takes over the microphone: [ 664 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/12/26/vietnam-hoi-an-north-on-the-reunification-train-line-and-overcoming-an-odd-wet-season

5:30 in the morning and, like in a military barrack, a Vietnamese voice on the loud speaker in our night train compartment is waking us up with what sounds like repetitive nonsense: Hanoi this, Han…

22/12/2016

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21/12/2016

From what I’ve read the list of tourist scams in Vietnam is like Wikipedia, vast and everyone can contribute. Taxi meter rigging – or as it’s known in Romanian the monkey method basically pressing a button that gradually and subtly overcharges you - aka pulling the monkey’s tail Stopping the bus – telling you that you have arrived and getting you off the bus 10 km before arriving at the destination, basically forcing you into taking an overpriced taxi that is eagerly awaiting… [ 1,011 more word ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/12/21/vietnam-saigon-hello-vietnam

From what I’ve read the list of tourist scams in Vietnam is like Wikipedia, vast and everyone can contribute. Taxi meter rigging – or as it’s known in Romanian the monkey method basically pressing …

14/12/2016

In the train back to Bangkok, I get ready for the 7 hour trip. I put my backpack up the luggage rack above the seats and I immediately feel a sting on my arse – is it what I think it is? A hard s***k on my arse – and a middle aged Thai lady just laughing out loud. I am not sure if I am being punished for something or if she is merely trying to flirt with me. [ 433 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/12/14/thailand-bang-saphan-yai-ladies-on-a-train

In the train back to Bangkok, I get ready for the 7 hour trip. I put my backpack up the luggage rack above the seats and I immediately feel a sting on my arse – is it what I think it is? A hard spa…

12/12/2016

We made it to Australia but the holiday is not over yet and

09/12/2016

🇻🇳

09/12/2016

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08/12/2016

The second leg of our trip, South East Asia, is coming to an end.

We are sad to leave Vietnam, it's beautiful, rough and simply fascinating.

But we also happy to take a small break from travelling, a step back to allow us to reflect and appreciate the intense flow of new experiences we've just been through.

Last but not least we are excited that in only 2 days we will be seeing some of our family again, this time in Sydney and spending winter holidays together.

On the beach.

03/12/2016

Christmas came early 🇻🇳

03/12/2016

Doesn't always rain on this trip but when it does it's for 4 days straight 🇻🇳

02/12/2016

🇹🇭 Wat Ao Noi temple 🐍 www.pravatz.com

02/12/2016

Honestly, we were tired of all the noise, tourist crowds and the fighting, yeah, we got into some trouble down there in Phuket. So we decided we’d had enough of it. Local Jit and her Australian hubby Mark moved their scooter rental business from Phuket to downtown Bang Saphan Yai, in the middle of Thailand. We went there right after Prachuap Khiri Khan… [ 656 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/12/02/thailand-bang-saphan-yai-nowhere-near-phuket-or-how-i-met-mr-lizard

Honestly, we were tired of all the noise, tourist crowds and the fighting, yeah, we got into some trouble down there in Phuket. So we decided we’d had enough of it. Local Jit and her Australian hub…

01/12/2016

We initially wanted to stay in Thailand just for 5 days and allow more time for more off the beaten track Myanmar and Vietnam. But our flight to Mandalay was cheaper by $40 per person if we waited 4 more days. So Astrid whipped out the guidebook and pitched this place. The choice was gratuitously painful. It included making a list of all possible beaches and ranking them based her (yet to be patented) [ 796 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/12/01/thailand-prachuap-khiri-khan-the-thinnest-part-of-the-kingdom

We initially wanted to stay in Thailand just for 5 days and allow more time for more off the beaten track Myanmar and Vietnam. But our flight to Mandalay was cheaper by $40 per person if we waited …

30/11/2016

🇲🇲Girl with traditional www.pravatz.com

26/11/2016

I am writing this post in Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. We've already been in South East Asia for over 3 weeks. There is so much happening it's hard to keep up with remembering it all not to mention writing about it. But, for the sake of clarity, I think it'not too late to take a moment to catch up on where we are going in the second part of our journey through Asia on our way to Sydney. [ 505 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/11/26/itinerary-part-2-south-east-asia

I am writing this post in Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. We’ve already been in South East Asia for over 3 weeks. There is so much happening it’s hard to keep …

25/11/2016

Hopefully it’s just a 24 hour thing, our hiking buddies, Stephanie and Luke tried to appease us. 24 hours later we were still not sure if we have overcome our food poisoning. It came up so suddenly, while in the hills around Hsipaw that we had to cancel the walk and return to town. Now, 24 hours after the hike all we wanted was to take the train back to Mandalay. [ 432 more words ]

http://pravatz.com/2016/11/25/myanmar-hsipaw-safe-travels

Hopefully it’s just a 24 hour thing, our hiking buddies, Stephanie and Luke tried to appease us. 24 hours later we were still not sure if we have overcome our food poisoning. It came up so suddenly…

24/11/2016

A visit to the village of

24/11/2016

village www.pravatz.com

24/11/2016

A visit to the village of on www.pravatz.com