budget travel – Page 9 – PalmTreeMusings

Feeling Terrific in the Pacific

February 28, 2020May 19, 2023Posted in OceaniaTagged abaing atoll, backpacker, best things to do in, budget travel, kiribati, Majuro, marshall islands, nauru, tarawa, travel, travel blog3 Comments

Blue Pacific Ocean waves crashing near Abaiang Island Kiribati

*****Guest post by Chris******

After “settling down” in Austin and spending way too much time at Home Depot, I wanted to travel again. Deah was busy with her new job, but suggested I go solo on the condition that I write a guest blog-post. I’m no Shakespeare, but ventured out regardless for a three week Pacific trip to Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Kiribati.

I spent several days on Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands on both ends of the trip. It’s accessible via the United Airline island hopper flight starting in Honolulu. Due to the Compact of Free Association with the USA, Majuro has a somewhat American feel to it; brands, beers, T-shirts, people with relatives in the States, etc. It’s a long, skinny island, but easy to get around by frequent taxis and infrequent buses.

The international airport of Majuro, Marshall Islands. Tiny place but has a cafe, bar, wifi, etc.

The Peace Park build by the Japanese and Marshallese governments commemorates all those killed in the Pacific during World War II. About 30 minutes by car from Majuro.

This guy (?) was about the size of my little fingernail. There were lots of critters on the reef that were easy to see by walking out during low tide.

A “flame tree” outside the Flame Tree Restaurant.

After a Nauru Airlines flight delay of 48 hours, I arrived in Nauru; an island nation that used to be one of the world’s richest per capita, but is unfortunately now one of the poorest. This change was due to over-exploitation of massive phosphate deposits by foreign countries and later Nauru itself. The removal of the phosphate left a lot of coral pinnacle formations. It only takes about three hours to hike around the entire country; four if it’s really hot and you stop for the occasional beer or dip in the ocean.

Welcome to Nauru. This is the entire country.

Cantilever used to load and unload ships. Currently ships can’t get closer than the edge of the reef. There is a quay under construction.

Weightlifting is popular for both women and men on Nauru.

Weightlifters need loads of protein, so these little piggies better be careful.

Engine from a phosphate train on display outside of a tiny museum on Nauru’s history.

Next up was Kiribati; one of the world’s smallest countries by landmass, yet one of the largest by sea territory. I visited two islands; Tarawa and Abaiang. South Tarawa was full of small villages and towns, busy, and easy to get around in by mini bus. One of the main Tarawa attractions is the World War II battle site and its Japanese coastal guns and bunkers. Abaiang was less developed, rustic, and more laid back. I got there and back by two-hour boat ride, but there is a occasional plane option. Both islands had lots of places to swim (high tide) and walk out to look for various critters (low tide). The Kiribati people I met were all friendly and helpful. I enjoyed both islands.

Blue on the ocean side and green on the lagoon side of Tarawa atoll, Kiribati.

Japanese gun and bunkers left over from the World War II battle of Tarawa.

Passengers first ride a 25-passenger boat from Tarawa, then transfer in groups to a tiny motorboat, and finally walk through the swallow water to arrive to Abaiang atoll.

All in all it was a fun trip to three countries with three distinct personalities. The most challenging parts were getting a Nauru visa and scheduling flights. The best part was meeting lots of really friendly people in a relaxing part of the world.

Christmas on the Coast: the Gulf Seashores of Mississippi

December 30, 2019May 19, 2023Posted in North America, US City GuidesTagged bay St. Louis, best things to do in, Biloxi, bozos seafood, budget travel, Christian pass, friendship oak, gulf coast, Gulfport, Jimmy Buffett bridge, Mississippi, Pascagoula, po’boy, secret coast, travel, travel blog5 Comments

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, but don’t like snow- then I suggest a trip to the US Gulf Coast. Stretching from Florida to Texas, the white sand beaches and quaint coastal towns, coupled with 70 degree days, are a delight in the off-peak winter months.

A “sandman” greets us at Christian Pass, Mississippi

The Gulf Coast isn’t complete without a ‘Pascagoula Run’, so avoid I-10 and take Highway 90 instead to Pascagoula. Are you a Parrothead? Look for the Buffet Bridge near Buffet Beach, a 2015 honor for local-boy-made-good Continue reading “Christmas on the Coast: the Gulf Seashores of Mississippi” →

Housesitting in Monterrey, Mexico

December 3, 2019March 20, 2022Posted in Central AmericaTagged Barrio Antiguo, best things to do in, budget travel, cabrito, Mexico, Monterrey, parque fundidora, paseo Santa Lucia, Petsitting, travel, travel blog, Trusted Housesitters3 Comments

For Thanksgiving week, Chris and I got to experience travel with a twist: we went as certified housesitters and cared for a cat while her owner was away. We’ve been members of the website Trusted Housesitters for a year now, and we finally found a gig that would match up with our schedule, plus a place we wanted to visit.

Although we could have flown from our home airport of Austin, there were cheaper and more direct flights from Continue reading “Housesitting in Monterrey, Mexico” →

Volunteering for Hurricane Relief Efforts in the Bahamas

November 21, 2019June 23, 2020Posted in CaribbeanTagged Abaco Island, Bahamas, Bahamas Strong, budget travel, Caribbean, Disaster Relief, Hurricane Dorian, travel, travel blog, Volunteering, World Central KitchenLeave a comment

On September 1st 2019, a category five hurricane passed through the northern Bahamas. For 24 hours, the hurricane- the strongest to EVER hit landfall there- stalled out over Abaco Island in particular, pummeling the island with 185 mile-per-hour winds and a 25 foot storm surge. By the time the hurricane passed on to other parts of the Bahamas, more than 80% of the buildings on Abaco Island were damaged. An untold number of lives were lost- as much as 25% of the population of Abaco are Haitian refugees, who are not counted by the Bahamian government- and an estimated $3 billion of infrastructure was damaged.

Homes, cars, shipping containers, and boats were tossed around in the storm

An organization I volunteer with, Team Rubicon, was one of the first Continue reading “Volunteering for Hurricane Relief Efforts in the Bahamas” →

The Art of Burning Man 2019

September 30, 2019May 19, 2023Posted in North AmericaTagged Black Rock City, BM2019, budget travel, Burning Man, folly, metamorphoses, Temple, travel blog5 Comments

Chris and I returned to Burning Man again in August of 2019. This was my second year and his fourth. The theme this year was “Metamorphoses”. The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Burning Man are pretty hard to describe, so I’ll just post a few of my favorite art pictures (all taken with my iphone):