Dunes above Te Paki Stream, New Zealand
90-Mile Beach, which is not 90 miles, along the Tasman Sea in New Zealand's Northland. (It's more like 100km.)
Dunes above 90-mile beach, New Zealand.
A toi toi tuft, common in the area.
Happy Friday, folks,
We've left behind our jobs and home to try a different take on life
who are the watsons?
We are a 30-something married couple who decided to leave behind our home, careers and comfortable Silicon Valley lifestyle to try a new course. Join us as we travel the world to learn about other cultures, lifestyles and ways to generate income beyond the traditional 9-5.
The state of the world, according to Liz
Many months ago, we held a contest to identify a theme for our around-the-world travels. After reviewing your wonderful ideas, we announced that the winner was Cassandra Rae, who suggested that we interview random people we meet along the way.
We spent quite a while brainstorming questions but, after trying out a few, we realized that many of them were too challenging for people to answer on the spot. Then, I remembered my business education. What if we asked people to do a quick SWOT Analysis — a summary of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats — for the world and mankind? From conversations with friends and a Facebook test, we determined that most people had an opinion on the topic and our Global SWOT Project was born. Below is the inaugural installment for your viewing pleasure. Note: We filmed on a boat, so we had some difficulty with sound and movement, but that only means we have more room for improvement in the future. Enjoy!
What would your personal state-of-the-world report be?
Ask and you shall receive
A peak inside the ladies' room at Hundertwasser's Kawakawa Toilets
Pictures of toilets, you said you wanted. Well, here you go. 
On our way from Whangarei to Paihia last Wednesday, we made a pit stop at the Kawakawa public toilets. As our Stray driver, Dave, shared with us, respected Austrian painter and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser was commissioned to design the public facilities by the town. They were his final work.
While Dave was sharing the history with us, the name Hundertwasser sounded familiar to me and, as soon as I saw the building, I knew why: Many years ago, I saw his Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, Austria, an apartment block he designed “to prevent something ugly from going up in its place.” A lifelong ecologist, Hundertwasser is known for a bold style that incorporates irregular forms and natural features. The Kawakawa Toilets, for example, have a living roof.
I generally prefer elegance and simplicity in design, and I recall disliking Hundertwasserhaus when I first saw it. Hundertwasser’s Toilets, on the other hand, were a refreshing break from the pastoral beauty and simplicity of New Zealand for me. I think they’re quite attractive, actually.
What do you think? Have you ever seen Hundertwasser’s work before?
Travel Costs: Getting Started & Hawaii
Before embarking on our trip, we promised to share our expenses with you. On some level, we don't want to do this because we know any money discussion is fraught with peril. However, we also know that having actual dollar figures is very helpful in determining when/if you can afford similar travel and how much ...