Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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Travel to the Vatican City - Travel Blogger
2 Mins Read

Discover the Vatican City in pictures

When you walk through the gates at the Vatican City (from Rome) it is a totally different vibe. The tourists are crammed in, but it is still quiet. You expect to see many priests walking around – but maybe they are so inconspicuous that you don’t see them or they are somewhere inside.

The Vatican isn’t small. It is HU-GE! The courtyard is crazy large and I can see how so many people come here for religious services.

You will also notice these guards with their very colourful uniforms… Remember the lion monument in Lucerne? Well, these guys are Swiss Guards. They are highly revered in Europe – and are tasked to protect the pope. You can read more about their history here.

Once you are inside the buildings (museum, St Peter’s Basilica) you will notice the sheer opulence. There are so many pieces of art on the walls and roof and it just doesn’t end. It is just so beautiful and you want to see everything, but your neck just can’t…

They have art from all the great masters and from many civilizations – and it is all just so beautiful!

When I said it is opulent I really meant it… Have you ever seen a church like this?

If you want to travel the world from your couch… keep on reading my blog 🙂

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Travel is everything
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5 great travel reads

Traveling isn’t always about going to the most explored (touristy) places – sometimes it is about finding gems that other tourists find too daunting to travel to and maybe see and experience something new.

  1. I read about this little Swiss village called Corippo. Right now they have less than 20 residents and almost all are pensioners. However, since the town is still intact they want to convert the empty houses to accommodation for tourists. This would be such a lovely escape living amongst the locals in an original Swiss home! Read the full article here.
  2. I have never used AirBnB – but the thought of being able to rent an island has me seeing coconuts! I would love to be able to rent an island for a week and just lounge about. I think that is my ultimate type of holiday. Check out this list on AirBnB.
  3. Ghost towns… they really fascinate me and one day I would like to visit a few – especially Kolmanskop in Namibia! Check out these ghost towns from Austria to the US and beyond.
  4. Just because a country is the least visited in the world… doesn’t make it an ugly duckling. This article from MailOnline has really opened my eyes.
  5. A town called Trier… I love architecture and history – and Trier is smack-bang packed with all that. Here is the official tourism website, but you can also read about it here and here.

I really have so many places to go, things to do that I don’t think it is even possible to get it all ticked off!

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Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland
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An hour in Lucerne

I once was brave enough to go on a Contiki tour… it really wasn’t for me. Sights that I would’ve wanted to explore was only part of their “drive-thru” approach. At least we had an hour in Lucerne to see the beautiful Dying Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge.

I love history. I read books about history as a hobby – and it isn’t limited to wars…it includes buildings, architects, artists and more.

European history is one of my favourite subjects – so when I eventually got to Europe there was so much I wanted to see… and one of these was the Dying Lion in Lucerne. This monument commemorates the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution.

It is just such a powerful image carved into the cliff face – a mortally wounded lion impaled by a spear, covering a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchy; beside him another shield bearing the coat of arms of Switzerland.

… and then the old Chapel Bridge (or Kapellbrucke). It is the oldest covered bridge in Europe as well as the world’s oldest truss bridge. This beautiful bridge also boasts a number of paintings dating from the 17th century.

I don’t want to spoil the magic, but it had to be partially restored after a fire in 1993. Still, it is one of the most beautiful bridges I have ever see.

Isn’t Lucerne just picture-perfect?

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Patong Beach Thailand
3 Mins Read

Explore Patong in pictures

So back when we decided to explore Thailand, we stayed in Patong for a few days. It is one of the busiest tourist areas in the whole of Thailand if you ask me, but if you want a lively atmosphere and parties and, and and… then Patong is the right place for you.

This motorcycle with all its fruits is actually a real little shop. You can buy pretty much anything from the back of a motorcycle in this country.

Tuk-Tuks you will see everywhere, but sometimes you get to see a Tuk-Tuk with disco lights! Yes, it is real, it isn’t a unicorn!

There is one thing you will notice about Thailand, there are lights everywhere. Bright neon lights. Bright street lights.

If you are tired of thai food, you can find something a little more western. Check out Ronald McDonald… when you are there 🙂

…and then you will always hear advertising. This particular vehicle blared out that you had to go to Bangla Stadium to see Muay Thai. The would drive around the busy tourist areas. In Patong this means they drive the same 4 streets over and over.

This guy actually sat there making these bracelets. It was really amazing to get my own bracelet with my name – within 5 minutes.

We tried cocktails at the hotel, bars – and even on the beach.

If you strike out on your own you can see a little more of the local life. We walked one day for about 6km up a hill just so I could take photos.

The one thing you can expect at beaches… lots of people that are ready to rent beach chairs, umbrellas, scooters and also to sell foods.

Here is the best tip for Thailand… try using public transport to get around. It is much cheaper than tuk-tuks and taxis. There will also not be any surprises at the end of your ride.

When you grab a taxi or tuk-tuk in Thailand, make sure they are metered or agree upfront how much your trip will cost. In Bangkok we took a taxi from the hotel to the same place 2 days in a row and we got ripped off on our very first ride.

If you decide to rent a scooter… please only rent these if you have a motorcycle/scooter license. If you are in an accident your travel insurance won’t cover the damages and you may also be out of luck when it comes to your medical cover.

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Cairo & Giza in Pictures - Travel Egypt
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Cairo to Giza in Pictures

I will never forget stepping off the plane at 3am in Egypt. A gust of hot air (30 degrees Celsius) took my breath away. Egypt for me was one of those destinations that I just had to go to and this is what we saw…

The pyramids! I was so excited to see the pyramids and they truly lived up to my expectations.

This picture of the Sphinx and a pyramid was everything! Hubby and I took so many snaps with this view.

…and the Sphinx was just as magnificent as it is on the TV!

Yes it really was as hot as you’d imagine. I felt like the sun zoomed in on you by using a magnifying glass. The vistas however – spectacular!

…and all the restored buildings

If you want to read more about my trip to Egypt, check back soon as I have a few stories to tell 🙂

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Kruger National Park
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The Kruger National Park in pictures

It is no secret that I grew up in the old Transvaal that became the Northern Province…and then Limpopo. I didn’t have sea vacations as a child (well maybe 3 times), we went to the Kruger Park. We camped from Cape Town to Zambia – I didn’t know hotels existed until I left home.

This picture I took on an impromptu visit to the Kruger Park enroute from Mozambique. This picture is special because that bakkie is driven by my parents…and its not any day that a giraffe decides to cross the road between cars.

Do I have an obsession with giraffes or something? A by chance photo of a bird having a nice view from a giraffe.

This “little” guy got way too close for comfort – even though he/she didn’t seem aggressive, I don’t like to get too close.

When this happened… I was like let me pull my mouth from the floor.

I see you!

I sometimes wonder what they think when they look at us.

A bag a nuts!

Not pretty, but smart??

Stately buffaloes…

Still in my pajamas!

A feathered affair!

It is amazing just how quiet a herd of elephants can be…

Slowpokes..

Blood on the paws 🙁

It is always about the cats!

…and that’s it for this post!

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Zanzibar captured with #INSTAX

I am probably more proud of these pictures than any other I have taken. Maybe it is the fact that it was of Maasai or that I sent them home with a token for their families…

The Maasai kept the Instax photos, but I get to keep these memories forever too.

I will never forget Fathima walking on the beach with just a month to go before her baby’s birth. The smile she gave when she thanked me for the photo she would be able to show her child one day ♥️

…and Stonetown! I wish I had spent more time here and could wander the streets to capture all the beautiful doors. I hope that I can return one day to finish this INSTAX photo project.

Plus when you take a bunch of photos you get to play with them right there on the beach 🙂

Oh and this is my black Instax Mini with its pink cover 🙂

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Travel to Zanzibar
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Another day in paradise – and the smallest airport yet

Here it is, the post I’ve been wanting to write the minute we got back from Zanzibar…

We landed at the smallest airport I have ever seen. Smaller than the Maldives’ airport… and that should tell you that it is TINY! We all piled into busses to be ferried to the main building and had to grab immigration cards. Then we queued up to go through passport control. Then we hit the pavement…

We found our shuttle service and made the hour drive to Reef and Beach Resort.What should’ve been a 2 lane road was really 1.5 lanes wide and passing vehicles seemed to have a fast and loose rule of who chickens out first… At first I closed my eyes each time the driver overtok a vehicle, but soon realised that everybody has adopted this mad way of driving.

Finally at the hotel…

At the hotel we were checked in, shown our rooms and escorted to the dining hall. I will not forget the first meal, fish and crab – with a local version of vetkoek. I scoffed those vetkoeks down – no Marmite.

After lunch hubby thought it would be nap time but I dragged him to the bar on the jetty. We sat and watched the tide go out and kite surfers on the horizon – and finally the sun setting behind the palm trees. It was a beautiful sunset!

The next morning

The next morning we took an early morning swim and it was low tide. It is very weird to see the bay drain. It reminded me of when we were on Phi Phi Island (Thailand).

Then we got the bad news and I spent the rest of the day organising our return to South Africa.

Why we chose the Reef & Beach Resort…

Usually we would stay at 4 and 5 star hotels, but this time I wanted to be off the beaten track. This hotel, was off-off-off the beaten track. No other other hotels close by and very few beach walkers.

I really actually enjoyed staying at this resort. I don’t mind that it was Italian run, because it felt more rustic – and there were plenty of locals around.

 

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Travel to Bangkok, Thailand in pictures - Travel Blogger
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Throwback on Thailand: Bangkok in Pictures

That time we went to Bangkok…

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#MBK #Bangkok #Thailand

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#McDonalds #Bangkok #Thailand

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#SuvarnabhumiAirport #Thailand #Bangkok

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Meeting the Maasai of Zanzibar
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Bucket list item ticked off – met a Maasai #INSTAX

I didn’t expect to see Maasai in Zanzibar, so it was a bonus. I first spotted a Maasai walking on our trip from the airport and then at the hotel.
The Maasai people, as you know, are known as brave warriors that would go as far as take a kill from lions. They are born hunters and learn to use quite primitive (but effective) weapons. Their traditional clothing always include red, but also some blue – and consists of 2 sarongs, a belt to hang their weapon from and sandals.
The first full day on the island, after we received the news of my father-in-law’s passing, I spent my time taking photos and chatting to the beach walkers. Then I met Ngulele, one of the Maasai. He noticed that I walked around on my own with 2 cameras and he stopped to ask if all was OK. I briefly chatted to him and expressed my wish to take photos of the Maasai at the resort – and asked if he could organize this. He quickly agreed.
That night I was sitting outside watching the sunset when he stopped to chat with me. He told me that he goes home once a year depending on when the low season is at the hotel. He usually only goes home for a month at a time. He said that most of the guys did the same and that we can take the photo the following night.
The following night they all arrived. The excitedly chatted to each other and loved that I specially asked to take photos of them. However, next moment one of the Maasai was snapping pictures while I got to be in the picture holding a traditional weapon. These pictures were taken after the sun set… so I’m super chuffed they came out so well!

That photo session with the Maasai, was the most memorable moment of the trip to Zanzibar.

After that I took photos of some of the Maasai (as I found them in daylight) with my Instax. A thank you that they could give to someone special at home.
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