Back On The Road

It’s funny how life works. One minute you’re doing your thing—living your life, working, travelling—then suddenly, everything changes.

The events of 2020 hit us just as hard as they did most people. After returning to Hong Kong from a trip home, we found ourselves stranded when the border to mainland China closed. Hoping it was temporary, we made our way to Korea to stay with a friend for a few weeks and figure things out.

When things worsened in Korea, we shot over to Malaysia, thinking we could enter China from there. Just two days after arriving, Malaysia’s borders closed completely. We were stuck—three months living in Airbnbs, constantly wondering where to go next.

Thankfully, we could still work remotely. But due to China’s strict banking systems, we couldn’t access any of our money. Eventually, we managed to get back to New Zealand. Six months later, with the help of our still-valid two-year work permit, we were finally able to return to China—and to all our worldly possessions.

But the real impact of COVID hit us once we were back. Travel, both international and domestic, became nearly impossible. Everyday activities turned into logistical challenges: entering malls or supermarkets wasn’t always guaranteed. Although we still loved teaching, life in China had changed. It wasn’t the same anymore.

So, we made a big decision: return to New Zealand permanently. No more teaching. No more being foreigners. And, thanks to New Zealand’s horrendous work culture—where the norm is to work every possible second in order to buy more things to show off, as if possessions equate to success—no more travel either.

That plan didn’t last long.

In fact, it lasted about a year before we packed our bags and returned to China to teach again. Being back in New Zealand made us realise just how much we missed the lifestyle China offers. No financial stress. The freedom to do anything at any time. Three to four months of paid holidays each year. A job we love that gives us time to pursue hobbies, explore, and actually enjoy life.

Now, after two years back in China, we’re finally about to travel to a new country—the first since 2019.

So, we’ve decided to breathe new life into this blog and start documenting our travels again. During those long, dull nights in New Zealand, we often found ourselves scrolling through old posts and reminiscing about what once was.

We have travelled since our last update—not just through Greece, but also to Cyprus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and new corners of Japan, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, and of course, China. We’ll do our best to write about those adventures too, relying on our memories and photo albums.

But for now, it’s time for our next trip: first to Korea for a catch-up, then back to China and Hong Kong to see friends, before heading off to North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, and Romania.

It’s about bloody time!