Planning Adventures Big and Small

About Sarah Puckett
Asia
North America
Oceania
Travel Planning and Budgeting
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About Sarah Puckett
Asia
North America
Oceania
Travel Planning and Budgeting
Contact Me

Asia

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Recent Posts

How to Travel with Anxiety Without it Keeping You Down
Tongariro Crossing Hike – Guide to NZ’s Best Day Trek
Cape Reinga Day Trip New Zealand
Port Arthur Day Trip
Maria Island Day Trip Tasmania, Australia

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organized_adventurer

#travelgirl back to the 9-5 after 500 days on the road
Living in WI, working in Cali
Travel guides and planning tips ⬇️
Fka @our21stcenturyodyssey

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What is it about ruins that is so interesting to see and explore? 🤔🤔🤔
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I've always loved seeing anything "ruined" - the rubble of medieval cathedrals in France, the Pyramids of Egypt, even an abandoned hotel in the Azores. There's something exciting about being in a place that doesn't exist the way it was "meant" to anymore.
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Maybe it's the visual mark of the passing of time, and the obvious oldness of the place that sparks a curiosity about what life was like when this spot was new. Who was here? What did they do? How much life took place in this spot, how many stories we'll never hear?
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We often think of people from the past with a lot of emotional distance. We tend to think of our own time period as the most important, and certainly in our individual lives, it is. But we don't typically pause to appreciate that for every single person who has ever existed, their lives were as significant to them as ours are to us, full of love and pain and hopes and ambition. Everybody has a story, most of which we will never know.
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When Tim and I spotted the ruins of this old farmstead near Madison, Wisconsin, we had to stop. A sign nearby explained the history of the spot - it was first homesteaded in 1852, but the home burned down in the 1940s. In 2012, the area was designated Dane County Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area. It's right across the road from the entrance to Indian Lake County Park, so if you're venturing out for a hike, make sure to stop and check out this spot too!
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📍Dane County Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area, Wisconsin .
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#Wisconsin #wisconsinblogger #madisonwisconsin #visitusa #wisconsingirl #visitmadison #gltlove #iamtb #thetraveltag #wisconsinphotographer #wisconsinlife #wisconsinstateparks #couplestravel #coupleswhoexplore #coupleslovetravel #CoupleGoals #globecouples #earthcouples #travelduo #travelustcouples #marriedtravelers #backpackersintheworld #ruins #abandonedbuilding #beautyindecay #abandonedplaces #welivetoexplore #tasteintravel #theglobewanderer #welltraveled

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New York state of mind 🗽
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NYC is one of those places I've been to so many times, but only really once as a "tourist"! Over the last decade, several of my best friends have lived in the Big Apple, so it's a place I visited every chance I got in order to spend time with them.
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I spent the last weekend in Brooklyn with my lifelong bestie (seriously, we've known each other since 18 months old), her awesome husband (I couldn't have wished up a better partner for her), and their 4 month old baby girl (whose slobber on my fingers I miss already)😍. .
The weekend went by way too fast, as weekends always do. It was so funny to reflect back on my earlier trips to NYC, when we were fresh out of college and partying was the primary activity of the weekend 😂. Now, we're ordering food in, getting tipsy off one beer, and reading children's books to a baby who has no idea what we're saying! My how things have changed! .
But as much as things change, I'm so grateful to have this lifelong friendship that never does. It's one of the great constants in my life ❤️🙏
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📍DUMBO, Brooklyn.
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Did you know DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass? It's a very popular photo location in Brooklyn, so good luck getting a picture here among all the tourists and cars! 😂
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Tara grabbed this photo of me super fast, and then we had someone take a photo of us. Swipe for the hilarious background activity and a little bit of #instagramvsreality 😉
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#nyc #nycityworld #nycity #newyorkcity #nyc_highlights #nycblogger #newyorkgram #streetsofnyc #nyc_explorers #nycarchitecture #dumbobrooklyn #dumbo #brooklyn #backpackersintheworld #gltlove #iamtb #girlslovetravel #sheisnotlost #wearetravelgirls #ladiesgoneglobal #traveldreamseekers #darlingescapes #roamtheplanet #travelmoments #justtravel #mytraveldiary #mytinyatlas #welivetoexplore #tasteintravel

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Caption this photo with the funniest caption you can think of! .
This spot is in the unique Tsingy National Park in rural western Madagascar. A few weeks ago I shared the scariest travel moment Tim and I have ever had. Well, it was on our way back east to the town of Antsirabe from this region. 🙈
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The Tsingy stone forest is super cool. Not worth the scare we had, or the 2.5 days of driving on sand "roads" to get there, but still truly a wonder of nature.
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It feels like another planet due to sharp limestone pinnacles known as tsingy.
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Hikers wear a safety harness and hook into the fixed cable route that navigates through the spires. Every group has a guide. Between the guide and the fantastic infrastructure of the trail, the hike feels very safe, even when crossing a shaky suspension bridge. .
The 4 hour hike starts in a forest and eventually brings you to a cave. Then, we clipped into the series of ladders and cables to climb up to the top of the spires. We even got to cross a tall and intimidating suspension bridge. I was scared at first, but once on it I felt very secure and enjoyed the thrill. We even spotted several species of lemurs throughout the day.
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Overall, we loved the day we spent exploring this region, even if we wouldn't necessarily recommend it due to the complexity of the travel to get there. .
🚗Getting to Tsingy National Park🛶
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It's a 10 hour drive on a dirt road to Bekopaka, the base town for visits to the park, from Morondava, the nearest city. .
All trips stop at a half way point in the town of Belo-sur-Tsiribihina. If you come here, have lunch Mad Zebu.
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From Belo-sur-Tsiribihina, all cars must take a military escort which departs at 2pm (-ish). This is routine for this leg of the journey due to past violence in the region and doesn’t mean it’s inherently unsafe at this point. That said, we’d heard unverified claims that a tour guide and his client were injured just a few months prior to our visit.
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After a few hours, you are out of the military convoy zone. From here you take the car onto two river "ferries" which are basically wooden rafts.
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Easy, right? 😅
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What's the place you've visited that was the hardest to?

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Fall days call for cozy vibes - soft blankets, warm sweaters, and a cup of my favorite hot tea ☕
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I've always loved tea, and especially trying local favorites all around the world. From masala chai in India, mate in Argentina, coca tea in Peru, mint tea in Morocco, ceylon in Sri Lanka, I could go on and on...
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When I learned @livwave now offers CBD-boosted teas from Lagom Teas, I was so excited to try them. They offer all the classic tea varieties, from earl grey to jasmine green, each with a super-calming dose of CBD. I love sipping these teas before bedtime, while blogging, or just lounging around my home.
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Between now and November 8, @livwave is giving away FREE personalized CBD sample packs - all you have to do is fill out a quick survey on their website livwave.store about the benefits that are most important to you, and they'll send a few samples to get you started! .
And don't forget that when you find a product you love, you can use code SarahP15 to receive 15% off your entire order! Swipe to see a few of my favorites from the @livwave boutique, including a foot rub, muscle gel, tea, and even chewing gum!
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Paid partnership with LivWave
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#LivWave #LivYourTrueSelf #cbdoil #cbd #liveclean #fall #falldecor #cozybedroom #cozyhome #hottea #sponsored #homesweethome #homedecor #wisconsinlove #Wisconsin #fallinwisconsin #wisconsingirl #visitmadison #wisconsinblogger #wisconsinphotographer #madisonwisconsin #madisonwi #Wisconsingoodness #wisconsinlife #iamtb #travelblogger #teaaroundtheworld

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I can't believe it was almost two years ago that Tim and I embarked on our round the world trip and arrived in the first country on our itinerary - Japan!
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We started by spending 5 nights in Tokyo and we absolutely loved every busy minute of it! In a short time we thoroughly explored the highlights of the city and even took a few day trips around the area.
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This stunning red bridge is in Nikko, Japan, about an hour train ride outside of Tokyo. The town is a most known for its scenic bridge and shrines preserving the glory of the Edo period from 1600 to 1868. The red footbridge spans a river at a sight where a Buddhist priest, Shodo Shonin, was carried on the backs of two giant serpents. Just up the hill from the picturesque bridge is the Tosho-gu shrine in his honor.
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Tips for visiting Nikko from Tokyo:
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➡️It's easy to get here by train from Tokyo, and if you have a JapanRail pass, your ticket is included.
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➡️Plan to leave early in the morning from Tokyo to maximize you time in Nikko.
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➡️It's about a 30 minute walk from the train station to the main sites in Nikko. We broke it up by popping into shops and grabbing lunch along the way.
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Things to do in Nikko:
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🌁Visit the iconic Shin-kyo bridge
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🌲Walk along the forested trail next to the river towards the Kanman-ga-Fuchi Abyss to see dozens of stone Buddhas called jizos who protect children and travelers. They are each wearing little red hats. .
⛩️Visit the Toshu-gu Shrine
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⬅️Swipe to see more! .
Is Japan on your bucket list?
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#japan #visitjapan #japantravel #japantrip #japan_photo #nikko #nikkojapan #japan🇯🇵 #japanphotography #japan_bestsunset #coupleswhohike #coupleswhoexplore #coupleslovetravel #coupleslovetravel #CoupleGoals #journeysofcouples

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Did you know Myanmar was off-limits to tourists until around 2010? .
That's when the head of the military dictatorship (which had been in place since the 1960s) began cooperating with a road to democracy. Now, the military has much more minimal power in the country, and the tourism industry is quickly growing.
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Myanmar was one of the most surprisingly rewarding places we visited last year. We had originally planned on visiting as part of a guided small group tour, and when it got canceled a few weeks before it was supposed to start, Tim and I debated whether to still go or not.
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It took several hours of planning in an airport lounge during a long layover somewhere in Asia, but with a bit of Google research we soon had hotels, domestic flights, and local private guides arranged for 10 days exploring the cities, temples, and lake side communities of Myanmar. We spent a morning meditating with a Buddhist monk at a monastery in Yangon, talked (via a translator) for hours with a local family in their home on Inle Lake, and befriended a high school student at a temple who we still talk to today! .
We made so many personal connections with the people of Myanmar, and I'm certain that this is one of the reasons the experience remains one of our all time favorites. ❤️
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📍Nathlaung Kyaung Temple, the only Hindu temple that remains in Bagan, Myanmar, where 2,270 ancient Buddhist temples and pagodas dot the region.
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#Myanmar #Myanmartravel #myanmartourism #myanmartrip #myanmar🇲🇲 #myanmarphotos #instamyanmar #visitmyanmar #bagan #baganmyanmar #oldbagan #bagantrip #gltlove #backpackersintheworld #girlslovetravel #wearetravelgirls #shetravels #womenwhoexplore #travelgirlsgo #iamtb #thetraveltag #adventuregirl #darlingescapes #sheisnotlost #travelinladies #journeysofgirls #travelgirlsgo #femmetravel #girlswhotravel #damestravel

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Nature is my favorite place.
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It can be as dramatic as a volcano or as serene as a lake in early fall, and Tim and I can have just as much fun in either place. Venturing out to the beautiful lakes and forests near Madison, Wisconsin has been the most rewarding way to spend the last two weekends.
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With all the chaos in Tim's and my life - traveling for work, doing home renovations, marathon training, etc etc - carving out time for a bit of active recovery together has been so rewarding. It's tempting to be lazy and lounge around watching TV on weekends, and we got stuck in a rut doing that too much over the last few months. It left us feeling more depressed and like we'd wasted our weekend.
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We had to remind ourselves what we already knew from past experiences - that taking a walk in nature, smelling the leaves in the crisp fall air, and appreciating all the little flowers, birds and butterflies is more restorative, restful, and refreshing than any amount of Netflix binging could ever be ❤️
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Do you have a favorite nature spot near your home?
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📍Governor Dodge State Park, Wisconsin
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#Wisconsin #wisconsinblogger #madisonwisconsin #visitusa #wisconsingirl #visitmadison #gltlove #wisconsinlove #wisconsinstate_photos #Wisconsingoodness #governordodgestatepark #backpackersintheworld #optoutside #getoutside #destinationearth #activetravel #exploremore #travelandlife #coupleswhohike #couplestravelgoals #coupleslovetravel #travelustcouples #travelduo #travelwisconsin #travelWI #travelduo #journeysofcouples #wisconsinphotographer #wisconsinoutdoors #wisconsinstateparks

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Tim: "What a beautiful old car!"
Me: "Take a photo of me trying to be cute with it!"
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How did I do? 😂😂
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Wisconsin is great for exploring by car - you never know what random oddities you'll stumble upon. Just Google House on the Rock or Dr. Evermore's Forevertron. You're welcome.
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The last two weekends we ventured to new places nearby - a park we hadn't hiked before called Indian Lake last weekend, and an old favorite hike at Governor Dodge State Park + spontaneous visit to the quirkiest "fantasuites" hotel this weekend. I'll be sharing details on my stories later today! .
We have found that exploring at home has been the best remedy to satisfy our itch to explore. .
What's the weirdest tourist attraction near your home?
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#Wisconsin #wisconsinblogger #upnorth #visitusa #wisconsingirl #upnorthwisconsin #ipulledoverforthis #iamtb #wisconsingirl #wisconsinlove #wisconsinstate_photos #vintagecars #classiccars #welivetoexplore #tasteintravel #theglobewanderer #traveldreamseekers #roadtrip #gltlove #roadsideamerica #welivetoexplore #mytinyatlas #exploringtheglobe #darlingescapes #theglobewanderer #roamtheplanet #forahappymoment #welltravelled #wearetravelgirls #letsgosomewhere

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What people don't tell you about post-travel depression. ⬇️
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Some people call it reverse culture shock. I've also heard it called post-vacation stress disorder. I call it regular old depression 🤷🏼‍♀️
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The transition back home after 500 days on the road has not been easy. My anxiety has spiked, and Tim and I both find ourselves easily depressed. .
We're working again, and our jobs require each of us to travel almost weekly. After years of being together 24/7, now we spend a maximum of 4 nights each week together. As glamorous as traveling for work sounds, it gets lonely when you don't have your adventure buddy by your side.
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I feel silly complaining, because nothing is "wrong". I'm immensely blessed. .
I felt similar emotions after studying abroad for 6 months in college, and again when Tim and I got back from our first round the world trip. So I wasn't surprised that I'm experiencing it again. But I am eager for it to subside.
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My life is amazing and I'm so grateful, but I sometimes want to spend all day in bed, talk to no one, and eat like a dozen chocolate lava cakes from Domino's (those things are BOMB).
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I'm practicing giving myself a bit of grace. I'm indulging in planning out future trips, because it's fun for me to plan even if we don't have dates yet. I'm keeping myself steady with a healthy and challenging marathon training program. And I'm getting ready for big changes at home that I'm so excited about I can barely stand it. These are the things I focus on when I'm yearning to go back to the endless days of awe-inspiring travel.
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Sharing photos from our adventures here helps too, like this moment from Edfu, Egypt. I love this photo because as much as we enjoyed Egypt (it's one of my favorites), we also got kind of bored of temples after a few days 😂It feels ridiculous to say now, but it is reassuring to remember that as amazing as traveling for 500 days was, we did experience burn-out as well. You start to appreciate traveling a bit less when it's the norm. So this time at at home is a precious opportunity to restore the feeling of excitement about future travel again. ❤️
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Have you ever dealt with post-travel depression?

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