If you know us, you know we like to get around. Sitting still is not our strong suit. Whether it’s a trip around the block or the world, we like to keep moving. From planes and trains to scooters and bikes, if it has wheels, we’ve probably ridden it. In this blog, we share the best ways to get around, wherever you are!
How we started
We used to drive our personal cars most places in the US when we lived there fulltime. It was a necessity, since we lived in Maine and the places we wanted to go to weren’t just around the corner. Having 2-3 cars between the four of us living in Camden was one of the best ways to get around. However, we sold our vehicles before we uprooted in 2018 and haven’t had a car payment since!
When we’re back in the homeland, we use public transport like C&J Bus to get from Boston to New Hampshire. And we always use Concord Coach when we head upta Maine. Also, we are blessed with family and friends who are able to lend a vehicle if we need to make small trips locally.
The freedom in Asia…
Public transport is a dream in the Asian countries, comparatively speaking. We’ve zoomed around China and Taiwan on high speed trains so fast, we felt like we arrived at our destination before we ever departed!
China taught us the joy and freedom of rental bikes, especially in bustling Shanghai. Nearly every corner had a rental station equipped with safe and fully functioning bicycles. After downloading a free app, we connected it to our bank account and were completely mobile with a simple scan of a bike’s QR code.
Vietnam had a different kind of cycling experience, plus a van ride we will never forget. This Vietnam island had a slow, peaceful energy where – thankfully – few cars shared the road. Our inn on Phu Quoc lent us two bikes, so we stirred up some dust on the backroads, rattling along in the island’s peaceful, chill vibe. We did not attempt to bike around in any Vietnamese cities once we got to the mainland. We might be crazy but we’re not stupid.
… was invigorating!
Once we left the island, we needed to get up and over to Ho Chi Minh from southern Vietnam. We found two seats on an eastbound van and it made for one of the most exciting two hours of our lives. Kim sat near the open window to enjoy the ventilation and more than once, almost prematurely exited. Each right turn we made nearly launched her out. We’re positive she would have been thrown from the vehicle had we not held each other for dear life.
In addition to the excitement of the speed and Vietnam drift, we accidentally had an unexpected mini-chicken bus experience. Just keep reading for THAT definition. Additional riders boarded along the way, bringing a caged animal and four plastic stools that were jammed in the aisle to accommodate future passengers.
Karma rewarded us for our heroism on the van, as our next mode of transportation was a decadently quiet, air-conditioned sleeper bus. Talk about riding in style! The seats reclined all the way back to flat, so we were able to rest and recover for the last five hours of our journey.
North-ish American chicken buses
Back in 2023 we “were forced” to spend some time in Mexico, waiting for our Turkish work permits to be processed. Who am I kidding? We loved it there! When we needed public transport from una ciudad to the next, the best and most exciting option was the fabled “chicken bus.” It is so named because oftentimes, you are sharing it with anything and everything that other riders might need to travel with. People brought children, livestock, food, furniture and whatever else they needed to transport.
Places we trained for
China and Taiwan hold special places in our hearts for many reasons. Fun, efficient public transport is high on that list. For long trips we frequented their high-speed rail systems. They’re clean, convenient and affordable. And perfect for a quick – but lengthy – sojourn when we needed to cover a long distance but still have daylight at the terminus.
On the other hand, Thailand’s “slow train” from Bangkok to Chiang Mai was also a great experience, although considerably less efficient but still enjoyable. It was physically relaxing and mentally meditative to know you had 17 hours on this gently rocking ride. Maybe you had cell service and maybe not but isn’t it nice to unplug and just look out the window?
It’s a boat-aful life!
All the tropical locations we’ve visited and lived in had ferry boat options. I love boats and we try to motorboat anywhere it’s possible. We’ve ferried in Belize, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Ferries are just big, floating buses but they’re so FUN.
Against our better judgement, outside a Mexican grocery store, we booked a tour with a very warm and charismatic kid. We hopped on a catamaran for a “boozy” snorkeling trip over to nearby Cozumel but ditched it once we made shore. On the way there, they had us fin up and jump down into choppy waves that were no bueno for snorkeling. We lost trust in management’s commitment to our safety and found our own way back on a ferry, several sun-kissed hours later.
In Istanbul, we listened to our good Turkish friend and jumped on a different kind of brief boat tour, a brunch aboard Le Vapeur Magique. It was so amazing and unforgettable, we wrote about it here. We were blessed with perfect weather and Turkish breakfast is never a bad decision, but the staff made it such a perfect day! Had they suggested it, we would have happily snorkeled in the Bosphorus River. We highly recommend you check out their reservation page. It comes up in Turkish first, but you can change the language or let Google automatically translate it for you.
The best way to get around
is whatever makes you happy. Together and separately, we’ve logged millions of miles. In that time, we’ve determined that the best way to travel from A to B is the one that brings you the most joy. And we’re here for it, ride or die!
