Wayfinder Ali

First days in New Zealand

I was so lucky on my journey from Raleigh to New Zealand. A delay in my original itinerary made it necessary to change flights completely. I ended up taking two flights to Hawaii instead of three, and avoided the dreaded LAX airport.

I had a whole row to myself on the flight to Auckland and slept most of the 9-hour flight.

Those nine hours of sleep were crucial to prepare me for the jam-packed day that awaited me after my 7am arrival. Because I stayed awake until that leg of the journey and got such good sleep on that flight, I didn't experience much jet lag at all. We had a long scenic drive along the Northern Coast, a short hike to see Cathedral Cove, and then more driving through mountains to our ending point in Raglan.

American citizens are very lucky travelers, especially in New Zealand. There is an expedited customs lane for US, Canadian, Aussie and UK citizens. Americans get a free 3-month tourist visa on arrival.

Tony picked me up in our bright blue Subie hatchback rental and we hit the road. I've always wanted a bright blue Subaru hatchback, and at last, I have one, even if it's just for a little while.

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3 months of Toiletries in One Small Bag, No Refills

The photo above is every toiletry item I need for 6 months. Seriously, without refilling anything.

That includes menstrual products.

Keep reading to see what and how I pack....

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An Adventure at Paradise Beach

The cart hardly fit down the narrow streets

Chris and I decided to visit Paradise Beach- over 5 kilometers away from Asilah with beautiful scenery and surfboards to rent (supposedly). At the advice of a local, we haggled for a ride on a two-wheeled horse cart. With the price agreed upon, we hopped on Yaseen's cart pulled by his horse Carlos. Carlos protested work with tail flicks and pinned ears, but he knew every bump and turn in the road. He didn't shy a single time at any of the big scary vehicles that buzzed, honked and roared past him from all directions.

We wound through the narrow streets of town, cantered on a two lane highway, crossed fields of crops and squeezed through a busy market on the way to the beach. The sunny ride was made even better by our chats with Yaseen in an awkward combination of broken Spanish, French, and English. He and I talked horses while Chris attempted to take a nap- a futile endeavor on the bumpy ride.

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Menstrual Cups
A must for all adventurous ladies!

Pictured is a MeLuna Medium Mini (no longer available) with ball tip

I've been using menstrual cups for over ten years. They are the best feminine product ever, and I think every menstruating woman should own one.

A menstrual cup is a critical piece of gear for any adventurous woman, but more than that, menstrual cups are beneficial for all menstruating women and the environment.

I never go anywhere without mine, and it is such a relief to know that I just need this one item- no worrying about finding tampons in remote areas of foreign countries. No worries about find places to dispose of used products. This tiny cup is all I need.

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Super Easy DIY Travel Deodorant

DIY Tiny Custom Deodorant

I am so picky when it comes to deodorant, and have never found my favorite kind abroad. I typically travel with a full size tube when I'll be gone for a long time, but this technique is better for shorter trips. It's also a great way to customize the scent of your deodorant. Just buy an unscented stick and add your own essential oils or fragrance for a custom scent. Want to eliminate chemicals from your deodorant? Check out this chemical-free recipe from Scratch Mommy.

Supplies:

Solid deodorant

An empty deodorant tube

Knife

Microwave

Small glass bowl

Sink and paper towels

Optional fragrance

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No More Jet Lag

I am a jet lag wizard. I manage to avoid jet lag without drugs or sleep aids. In December I flew home from Hong Kong to North Carolina- a 13 hour time difference with no jet lag.

Catching some sleep in ATL after an all-nighter.

It may be 3pm in Georgia, but is midnight in my destination

Jet lag is the worst, especially if you're on vacation. You don't want to be exhausted while trying to enjoy your adventure, and then you definitely don't want to feel you have to "recover" from vacation once you get home and head back to work. For me, I have to avoid jet lag because I often have to work the first day I arrive in a new country. The first time I flew to the other side of the world, I really didn't even think about it until it happened. My first few days were so rough. I remember thinking "what's wrong with me?" while I desperately tried to stay awake at 3pm.

Now, I rarely experience jet-lag because I follow my jet lag protocol which includes altering eating drinking and sleeping habits only during travel.

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Pages

First days in New Zealand

3 months of Toiletries in One Small Bag, No Refills

An Adventure at Paradise Beach

Menstrual Cups A must for all adventurous ladies!

Super Easy DIY Travel Deodorant

No More Jet Lag

Menstrual Cups
A must for all adventurous ladies!