Supermoon in Greece.

Supermoon in Thailand.

Supermoon in New Zealand.

If you haven’t heard yet, the moon was super this past week. Matador Network writes that a supermoon is “a rarely-occurring event when a full moon occurs at the closest point in its orbit around Earth.”

A friend of mine noticed it as we left work in Te Puke, New Zealand around 5:30 p.m. I saw photos of the moon posted all around the web. It was pretty hard to miss this massive moon, but in case you did, Travel Media Ninja put together the 20 best photos of the super moon.

But I’m getting ahead of myself posting links already. Here’s what I’ve been thinking about this week.

What I’m reading

Proving that you’re never too old to backpack Australian Keith Wright is still budget traveling around the world at 95 years old. Right now he’s gearing up for a two month trip through Europe.

Beers and Beans gave me some serious travel lust this past week. They featured a stunning set of photos from their hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey. The photography on their site never fails to amaze me, this post is no exception.

What I’m watching

Rapper Krispy Kreme’s smash hit “The Baddest”. Love this song, video and the other kid in it who just stands there with a gun for four minutes. It’s hysterical. “I have 400 houses and 400 mouses.”

In other silly Youtube videos, Pat Burrell is coming back to Philadelphia, well, only for 24 hours to officially retire as a Phillie. In this video men who have felt the wrath of Burrell’s good looks warn other men in relationships to beware of his return.

I remember when Pat the Bat first came to Philadelphia as a rookie. I was in love with him. I still wear his jersey to this day. I’m happy to see that he’ll be retiring in that jersey.

What I’m googling

While eating a rice-filled meal, I got to wondering how rice goes from paddy to plate. Married2Travel put together a video about the entire process as it happened in her homeland of the Philippines.

What I’m seeing

Absolutely nothing. I’m working loads trying to save up for my next big trip.

What I’m planning

Well, my next big trip funny enough. Ric and I are planning to tramp across the world for five months this Autumn and Winter. We’ll be hitting Thailand, USA and England. I became quite excited about the trip tonight when we started looking up flight prices.

We actually found a $350 flight from Bangkok, Thailand to JFK in New York. It’s really cheap but with Aerosvit Ukrainian Airlines, which I’ve never heard of and has received horrible reviews on Skytrax.

Have you ever flown with an airline you were unsure of? How was it?

For the first time in my 25 years on earth, I spent an entire calendar year traveling.

And what a year it was. 

A year of traveling with a partner for the first time. A year that took me to a new continent, Asia. A year that pretty much brought me around the globe. Even a year in which I got to travel around my own country a bit.

This year has been a spectacular one. Let’s have a look back on what I did in 2011.

 Australia

My year actually started with an end. On January 26, Australia Day, I said farewell to the massive country I had called my home for most of 2010. My final days in Australia were spent mainly in Melbourne, where my boyfriend Ric and I lived in a tiny apartment on Chapel Street.

It was really hard to say goodbye to such an amazing country. It was even harder to close one of the best travel experiences of my life, the work holiday visa. I met so many amazing people in Australia, but the best of them all was the hardest to say goodbye to on that last day in the country.

Ric and I bid each other farewell as I headed off to the Philippines and he stayed in Melbourne.

Philippines

Hello Southeast Asia! I never thought or planned on visiting this part of the world, but after hearing how amazing it was from travelers in Australia, I just had to. The Philippines was my first stop, Donsol in particular. I visited for whaleshark season and after three tries I actually got to see one of the big fellas.

From Donsol, I headed to Cebu City where I spent some time with a friend of a friend’s family. After seeing such kindness from total strangers, I was moved to extend my visa to the Philippines by one more month. One month just wasn’t enough.

It’s a good thing I did as my next stop in the country, Malapascua, was just too hard to leave. I visited the tiny island planning to stay three days. I ended up, not only staying six weeks, but also earning my divemaster certification.

And guess who came to meet me in the Philippines?

Only the most special boy in the world. Ric spent about 12 days in paradise with me as I finished up my training. Later, we kicked off our travels together in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong

I wasn’t sure what to expect in this massive city. I thought of it as China, but people would say it’s not really China. At first glance I was just in shock over how many apartment buildings were in the city.

I really loved the place and I especially loved sharing it with my new travel partner. We visited the Big Buddha, went on a bus tour of the city, road the Peak Tram and ate lots of dim sum. It’s an expensive place to visit, so I’m hoping to go back one day with more money.

Thailand

We headed to the mother of all backpacker destinations, Bangkok, in late March. There we met up with my friend Julia who flew all the way out to travel with us for a few weeks. Bangkok is the most pleasant surprise I’ve ever had traveling. I expected it to be this seedy town with nothing but ping pong shows and heavy drinking to offer.

But it’s so much more. 

For starters, it’s an international city with amazing museums, restaurants, malls and more. But for backpackers, it’s something much more. I’ve never seen so many travelers bobbing around happily as I did on Khaosan Road. It made me wish I planned a few more nights in the city, but no worries, we would end up coming back three more times.

From Bangkok, we visited Ko Samet and Ko Chang, where Julia and I became deathly ill for ten days. I think it was bad eggs, but hey, I lost about 20 lbs, so silver lining. We said goodbye to Julia then spent probably more time than we should have in Lonely Beach.

We left the island to meet Ric’s mom and brother in Pattaya. It was my first time meeting them, so I was quite nervous. But they are amazing and we had a great time. There we celebrated Songkran and made a visa run to Cambodia. However, Pattaya is probably a place I’ll never return. It’s pretty much what I expected of Bangkok originally.

After another sad goodbye, Ric and I kept on traveling Thailand. This time we headed south visiting Koh Tao. We mainly relaxed here as we were gearing up for the famous Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan on April 18. We spent the next day recuperating on Koh Tao, then continued traveling south to Koh Samui.

On our visit to the over-commercialized island, we rented motorbikes, swam under waterfalls and visited Ang Thong Marine Park, the real inspiration for “The Beach”.

But we wanted more “Beach” action so we crossed Thailand to Ko Phi Phi on the west coast. A $US10 tour of the islands proved to be our best purchase and best day in Southeast Asia. Also, my best Easter Sunday ever.

After Ko Phi Phi we had to leave Thailand as our visas ran out.

Laos

First stop in Laos was Vang Vieng for its famous tubing. We spent a week in the tiny town on the river and never actually completed the tube route on the Nam Song River. But we had loads of fun, drank lots of buckets and watched an absurd amount of Family Guy.

After Vang Vieng we needed a serious detox, so we spent another week in 4,000 Islands. In this quiet area of Laos, we spent a lot of time lounging, but also did quite a bit of exploring. We rented bikes and visited the largest waterfall in southeast Asia. I also got to see Irrawaddy dolphins. I saw them alone as Ric broke his bike and was too defeated to walk any further.

 Cambodia

The trip from Laos to Cambodia involved two intense bus journeys. It took an entire day, but we finally reached Siem Reap in mid-May. The biggest attraction here is Angkor Wat, which is stunning, but I actually really enjoyed the town itself. We spent about a week there watching football and drinking cheap beer.

USA

It was time to fly our tan selves to the US of A, my homeland and Ric’s dream destination. It was Ric’s first time visiting the States, so the trip home was a really special one for me.

We landed in California, where I surprised a friend. There we drove the Pacific Coast Highway from Laguna Beach to Hermossa Beach. We also visited Hollywood and ended up on the set of our favorite show, Entourage.

No one from the east coast knew I was in the country at that point, except my Uncle. I had been secretly planning a trip home with him since October, so I could surprise my dad for his birthday. Everything went as planned. We spent one day hiding out at my Aunt and Uncles, that night my dad opened their garage door to see Ric and I standing there with ribbons around our necks.

But we didn’t sit still for too long. After about a week, we were on the road again. We drove from NJ to Alabama for a wedding in which Ric was best man. On the road trip I showed Ric around Washington D.C. and made a lot of fast food stops. He couldn’t get enough of America’s burgers and sandwiches.

It was my first time visiting Alabama and it was good to see the southern comfort side of the States. We spent most of our week there playing on a lake located behind the house we were staying at. We jet skied, tubed, kayaked, even jumped off a ridiculously high bridge. That really hurt. 

The wedding was beautiful, the party was wild. We left Alabama extremely hungover en route to St. Augustine, Florida, where I showed Ric around my first real travel destination.

The rest of my time in the States was spent in NJ and Philadelphia. Erin, a friend I made studying abroad in London came out to visit, Ric climbed the Rocky steps and we celebrated the Fourth of July at the Jersey shore. But the highlight of my trip home was welcoming my gorgeous nephew Jake into the world. I love my life and all the traveling it entails, but it means missing out on some really spectacular occasions at home. I’m just happy I didn’t have to miss this one.

Add another farewell to my 2011 of goodbyes, as Ric and I left the States to go back down under, this time for a work-holiday visa in New Zealand.

New Zealand

We arrived in snowy Queenstown in July, but didn’t stay for long. We spent two days driving up to Blenheim where Ric already had a job sorted. Then a real twist came when I had to go back home for an emergency. I came back to New Zealand two weeks later and we were on the road again, this time only a short journey to Wellington.

After quite a hectic first half of the year, Ric and I were exhausted and broke. So we made a home in Wellington, got proper jobs, worked loads and saved up for our next adventure, the South Island in 2012.

We’ve been in Wellington for four months now and I’ve grown quite attached to the small city. We held back a lot during our time here as we were saving, but we still managed to accomplish quite a bit.

In September we rented a car and visited Lord of the Rings’ film locations in the area. October was all about the Rugby World Cup, so we went to see USA vs. Australia at Westpac Stadium. I got to see the All Blacks parade Wellington after they won. In November I celebrated yet another Thanksgiving abroad. In December we bought a car and started road tripping to nearby beaches and towns. Oh, and I met a good portion of the cast of “The Hobbit” through work.

We didn’t just get to know Wellington, we pretty much became a part of the city. I’ve even started saying “mean”.

It’s been another year packed with adventure and it’s only going to get even more intense in 2012. January and February of the new year will be dedicated to traveling New Zealand. However, February is depending on whether or not I survive the Nevis Jump, so let’s hope for the best.

What did you do in 2011? Have you visited any of the same places? Do share.

My visit to New York was fantastic but would not have been complete without a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. It’s just an iconic building with so much history behind it, especially in the film industry where it has been the setting for scenes from some of Hollywood’s most famous films e.g. King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle.

Photo by Richard John Hackey

We arrived in New York on an overcast friday morning. I said see you later to Bobbi as she’d been up before and headed straight for the Empire State Building as I wanted to get up there ASAP. I reached the foyer at the bottom and was told by a very friendly doorman that visibility was at 0% at the viewing deck. So I bought my ticket ($21.00) and thought about going up anyway as there was no queue, but I decided that I’d go the day after because the ticket stayed valid for two weeks, if unused.

So Saturday morning came and it was a beautifully clear and sunny New York day. I was so happy to open the curtains and see a cloudless sky, knowing that later in the day I’d be at the top of one of the tallest and most famous buildings in the world.

The foyer of the building had a different view on the Saturday, however. There was a queue out the door and it was getting bigger by the minute, so I joined it and prepared myself for the wait. Little did I know that I’d still be queuing 3 hours later. It was one of the most frustrating queuing experiences of my life, they had you queue in one massive room, zig zagging all the way through and then when you got to the end of one room you’d think you’d reached the lift to go up but you only ended up back in another huge room in what seemed like the same situation.

After the soul destroying queuing process I eventually reached the viewing platform, it was well worth the wait! The views of the city are quite phenomenal and for a small price extra you can rent a headset which gives you a guided tour of where each area is and a little information about it. I could have spent all day up there just wandering around the platform and looking out on the spectacular views.

Photo by Richard John Hackey

To anyone thinking about going up the Empire State Building I would definitely recommend going on a weekday if possible. The staff there said that it is noticeably busier at the weekend and you could save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

With only two days to get from NJ to Alabama for a wedding Ric was best man at, I didn’t have much time to show Ric the East Coast of the USA. (And we had even less time after getting a flat tire in Maryland, but anyway…)

One stop on our mini-road trip of course had to be my nation’s capital, Washington D.C. It’s a stop anyone visiting the States should try and fit in, and one all Americans should get to, if not for patriotism, then just for a visit to a great city.

Ric explained our quick, cheap tour in a post earlier this week, but I wanted to look back on some of the memorable images from that day.

The Vietnam Memorial by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The first time I visited the Vietnam Memorial as a child there were a lot paintings of sad people looking into the wall as a soldier stared back at them. Visiting the memorial with my dad and having him point out people he went to high school with was a pretty harsh reality of just how hard war hits home.

The Lincoln Memorial by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

This was my favorite image from our trip to D.C. Ric was so excited to visit the capitol and up until we got there I was only excited to show him it. Because I’ve been so focused on traveling abroad, I kind of forget how special it is to travel America. Once I got to D.C. it finally hit me how much is left to explore of my homeland.

The Washington Monument by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

I know I didn’t perfect this shot, but I think it’s a pretty classic one. So many school trip come through D.C. a day. No matter what your party of interest, most of us want to see a better America for the next generation. Seeing kids smiling and playing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial looking out to the Washington monument is a good reminder of that.

Have a favorite shot of Washington D.C.? Share is below or one Heels and Wheels’ Facebook page.

In a city that actual icons of success call home and the word millions is thrown around daily, it’s pretty much a giveaway that Los Angeles isn’t the easiest place to find cheap accommodation.

Searching through hostels and hotels in America’s most glamorous city, there seems to be a clear cut divide between the cheap accommodation being in terrible locations and great locations only have overpriced accommodation

Dorms starting at $30 something a night? C’mon

Reasonably priced privates in Venice Beach? I want to be in Hollywood!

Good rates in Compton? No thank you.

Dorm, private, I didn’t care. I just wanted to find a reasonable rate at a place actually in the city.

Luckily, I found Cecil Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, which offers a private room  suitable for two people at $50 per night.

Location

Located on S. Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles, Cecil is a bit of a diamond in the rough. It’s classic interior and grand architecture seems to clash with the lackluster buildings that neighbor it and garbage-filled shopping carts that grace its sidewalk.

However, the hotel is located only two blocks from a subway. So even if you’re not in the center of all the action of Hollywood, you’re only a short walk and a few stops away.

Photo courtesy of Cecil Hotel

The Staff

I didn’t really have too much interaction with the staff, but what little I did have was good. They were very friendly at reception, helpful with directions and they looked after our bags for the day.

Cleanliness

Completely up to par. The rooms are a bit worn, but very clean. Shared bathrooms were spotless.

Rooms

Our standard hotel room came with a double bed, TV and sink. The room is worth the price and even had a little view of the city. It must be said that after three nights of struggling with sleep due to jet lag, Ric and I both had the absolute best night of sleep our first night at Cecil.

Vibe

It’s no Roosevelt and I doubt any A-listers would be caught dead there, but the hotel actually does have an old Hollywood feel. While all the rooms in the massive hotel are pretty simple, the lobby and second floor are really beautiful. I actually felt like I escaped to the Hollywood of the 40s or 50s upon walking into the hotel.

Travelers lounge around the hotel’s second floor to use the hotel’s free internet. But other than that, it’s a pretty private place to stay. Even though it offers prices cheaper than some hostels in the city, it doesn’t have a hostel feel at all. Don’t expect to make friends.

Photo courtesy of Places Online

Safety 

Sure it’s probably not the nicest area in LA, but I don’t think it is as bad as the reviews make it out to be on Orbitz. It’s really only the street it’s on that doesn’t “look” up to scale. Everything that surrounds the area is extremely commercial.

You’ll meet a few crazy street dwellers hanging around the area, but I think that kind of adds to the California trip. Luckily, the hotel staff are pretty mindful of this and keep a close eyes over the hotel

Overall

We got really lucky with Cecil Hotel. It’s not the spectacular Hollywood accommodation that people dream of, but it was comfortable, clean and a decent price in a city where that affordability isn’t a concern.

We hadn’t planned anything special for our visit to Washington because we were only passing through the city on our way from New Jersey to a friends wedding in Alabama. But I just thought it was too much of an opportunity to miss, so we decided to do a quick tour of the place.

Here I am at the Lincoln Memorial

We parked the car for two hours, which cost us a whopping $14.00. If we’d have had the time and patience to look for a parking spot on the side of the street we could have probably parked for free.

We managed to see all of the Washington heavyweight monuments: The White House, Congress, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and the World War II Memorial.

Here's Bobbi outside the White House

Because the city centre is relatively small, the monuments aren’t actually that far apart and so we were able to walk around at an enjoyable pace and take everything in within the space of about two hours.

If you visit Washington D.C. by car then I’d recommend that you spend a little time looking for a free car parking space, as the price to park is ridiculous.

I love checking Google Analytics to see where my readers are coming from. It feels like I’m not only visiting the world, but the world is visiting me, which is especially special when I’m not on the road.

So when I saw Waegook Tom’s #ReaderLove Challenge on Twitter, I had to write something. I’m so appreciative to anyone who has clicked to my blog for even seconds. Being able to share my experiences is amazing to me, but to see people respond is extraordinary.

So thank you to my readers all over the world. Here are the top ten countries you all come from and what I like about those places.

10. Germany

Ich bin ein Berliner!

I visited the country for a few weeks almost five years ago now. After all the years and all the new destinations, Berlinremains one of my favorite cities in the world.

It seemed like what I imagine Paris was like when modern art was just starting out. Berlin is a very edgy city. Between it’s dark past, represented by remnants of the Berlin Wall, and it’s colorful future, represented by its art scene and graffiti.

My favorite find on the trip was Tacheles, an abandoned mall that artists took over in the 90s. People can walk though the artists residency, view work and meet the creators. The spot also has a bar on the ground floor with a rocket ship for people to sit in. Only in Berlin.

Photo of Tacheles by Joe Dunckley on Flikr

9. Singapore

I almost visited you on my recent trip to SE Asia, but didn’t because I heard it was quite expensive and my bank account was already pretty low.

I have to admit that I was a bit weary about visiting Singapore after hearing from someone that they give you a book of rules upon arrival, that includes things like ‘No chewing gum!’. Later my Uncle told me it was the cleanest place he’d ever been and a gorgeous city, so my apprehensions disappeared.

I now constantly hear what an amazing city Singapore is and hope to visit one day soon. I’d like to swim in the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands.

8. Thailand

I, and I think all backpackers, can’t say enough good things about Thailand. What an absolutely amazing place!

For starters-Bangkok was not what I expected. I have to admit I thought it would be exactly like the seedy city constantly portrayed in the movies. But not even choosing to stay away from anything seedy, I saw nothing of the sort. However, I did see Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and Khao San Road. All of which were special in their own ways.

I spent six weeks traveling the country, island-hopping, partying, swimming and eating…a lot!

Since I’ve seen quite a bit of the country, I’ll mention Koh Lanta, a place I didn’t have time to visit, but would like to on my next visit to the country, and trust me, there will be a next visit.

Photo of Bamboo Island near Ko Phi Phi by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

7. Philippines

Growing up I knew so many people from the Philippines, but never thought of visiting. Then I met a dive instructor in Australia who said, “You MUST go!”

He wasn’t kidding.

I was only suppose to visit the country for two weeks or so, but ended up staying for over two months. I saw whalesharks in Donsol, made family in Cebu City and earned my divemaster on Malapascua.

There are plenty of more places I wanted to visit, but didn’t. On the top of the list is Palawan, completely untouched and completely gorgeous. I will be back and I’ll even eat balut again.

Photo of Malapascua by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

6. India

My dream destination. A close friend and I have been talking about visiting India for years and have set 2013 as our year to go.

Why is India the number one country I want to visit?

The food, the culture, the colors, the yoga, the Taj Mahal, the Goa!

Why have I not been there yet?

I wasn’t ready and still don’t think I am.

Anyone I’ve talked to who has ever been, either loved it or hated it. Regardless, it changed them. I think India is as distant a culture to me as there is and that’s why I love it and want to go. But I want to love it. So I’ve decided to build my view of the world up before. But trust me I will get there.

Most people have told me to spend at least three months visiting. So during those three months, I hope to see it all then retreat to an Ashram in Rajasthan.

5. New Zealand

My new homeland. I have to admit that I never actually thought of visiting your country. After seeing the changing landscapes on my drive from Queenstown to Blenheim, I have no idea why.

I’ll be bold and say that New Zealand IS the most beautiful country I’ve ever been too, hands down. I’ve seen some lookers, but never in my life have I said, “Wow, look at the scenery,” more times and in New Zealand.

Now living in Wellington, I can also say that New Zealand has my favorite city in the world. As small as Wellington is, it packs so much culture. The city has so much art, sport, coffee and MUSIC! There must be a possibility of at least ten gigs in the city per night.

I live close to and work on Cuba Street, which has the most amazing vibe I’ve ever felt in any city. The kindness of the people living here will make you feel like you’re in a small town, but everything the city has to offer is that of a world-class city.

I love this country more each day and can’t wait to travel around it.

Waking up to snow in Queenstown, NZ. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

4. Canada

America’s hat!

I never really thought much into Canada until I started traveling. I hate to admit it, but amongst the world, they are easily the cooler ones in North America. People love Canadians and so do I. Every Canadian I’ve met has been laid back and great to party with.

I love you all, even though most of you get offended when you’re mistaken for Americans.

After meeting so many Canadians and learning about the country, I’m started to plan a long-term visit for after New Zealand. My first stop is Vancouver.

3. United Kingdom

I’m assuming most of my readers from here are because of Ric, a true Bollingtonian. But I want to send as personal thank you to the first country I lived in outside the United States and all it has to offer.

I became obsessed with London when I studied there in 2007. The city is so classy, so beautiful and so magical. Whenever I thought I had the whole city figured out, I’d find a new alley full of restaurants or get off at the wrong tube stop and be completely lost in a new place all over again.

I spent many nights tramping around London with Uni friends and had some of the best nights of my life, which usually ended in eating multiple hot dogs from illegal vendors.

I saw one side of the country living there and a completely different side living with people from the UK in Australia. For starters, not everyone sounds like Hugh Grant. I can’t believe how many accents you have going on there. Given I’ve fallen in love with a Northerner, the Manchester accent is my favorite but I also can’t get enough skowser, especially when spoken by Stevey G.

I’ve only spent a short amount of time visiting Ireland and Scotland, but the time was packed with some amazing experiences and breathtaking sights.

So cheers to the UK for reading, all you have to offer, but most importantly for creating my Ric!

2. Australia

For starters, the country is stunning. You have rainforest, amazing beaches, great cities, great diving and so much more.

Past the beauty, what an amazing place to live. I’m pretty sure it has a lot to do with the fact that you still have all your natural resources to provide money and jobs, but your lifestyle is the best in the world.

It seems that most people live comfortably in Australia. School is free, even university until students make a certain amount of earnings, the healthcare system is fantastic and wages are ridiculously high. Sure the cost of living is a bit high, but it all works out in the people’s favor I think.

Melbourne won most livable city in the world this year and I understand why.

I spent one of the best years of my life in Oz and am so thankful for the work holiday visa. I saw some incredible things and met even more incredible people.

I love Australia.

My favorite stop on my journey around the country is Port Douglas. But I missed the entire West Coast, which I regret and really hope to see one day.

1. United States

My homeland.

I’d say half my visitors from here are family and close friends. I very special thanks to you guys for still loving me when I’m a million miles away. Another thank you to my fellow citizens who follow this blog.

Living 22 years in the States, it’s obviously the one I know most, but is actually one I’ve traveled least. My favorite place in the USA will always be Florida. Despite all the state’s voting problems, it was the first place I ever vacationed to, which I think started my love of travel. St. Augustine, Key West, Miami, South Beach-you’re all beautiful.

I never really wanted to travel the States, because I take the country for granted, which I think a lot of people do with their homeland. But the more time I spend talking with people who have traveled around my country, the more I like the idea of buying a winnebago and hitting each state, especially Montana. This may sound weird, but I want to breath your air.

You’re turn

Take the #readerlove challenge and give your readers a big shout out on your blog. Write about the top ten countries where your readers come from and reason to visit that place. Leave the link on Waegook Tom’s reader love post then post the story on Twitter with the hashtag #readerlove.