Indonesia - Bukit Peninsula

Uluwatu was our first stop after 18+ hours of travel.

We arrived after an easy Singapore Air flight and definitely felt confused...
day? night? coffee? beer? breakfast? dinner? sleep? explore?
We've never travelled that far
but after a few days, we settled into the crazy 8hr time difference.

Uluwatu (and the Bukit Peninsula) was beyond beautiful.
We are lucky enough to have a friend who lives in Uluwatu...
Curtis showed us around... the beaches, breaks and restaurants.

Ian surfed and I relaxed.
Clearly, we've turned into Brits... FRIED on our first day - especially Ian.
(he peeled like a lizard and we felt like amateurs!)
Soon after, we were back to our FL selves and could handle the sun (and heat)!

Uluwatu is filled with expats (and longterm visitors) who love to surf.
(including Curtis who started Project Clean Uluwatu... 
a rubbish & recycling nonprofit w/ the most amazing office view!!)

There are a number of good breaks in the area
and the cove beach was a fave of mine.

We did rent a scooter - sketchy - but we survived (and explored)!

Uluwatu Temple was beautiful...
set up on the cliff overlooking the water.
Ian surfed below with Curtis and said it was really an amazing sight.

Our first impressions of Bali were...
incredibly kind people.
cheap... seriously cheap.
beautiful beaches and architecture.
absolutely everything is up for negotiation.
hot and humid... seriously hot and humid.
great food with lots of rice.
oh and did I mention... cheap... and hot and humid?

Our Bali adventure started and we were already loving every minute... 

Our expectations were met and exceeded... and this was just our first stop.

(and happened to be our last!)

Thank you Curtis for showing us around and giving us the local tips 

(including your 1/3 rule of bargaining)!

We miss you.

The first on many Indo posts... do check back soon for more.

xx

the mcgees

Paris for a weekend...

Thank goodness for the Eurostar (and working next door)

because it makes Paris a super easy weekend getaway. 

Ellie and I jumped on the train around lunchtime on a Friday

and enjoyed two full days walking around this beautiful city.

And when I say walking, I mean walking and walking and walking...

We also ate amazing food at The Kong

and at a family restaurant in the 3rd.

And let's not forget the pastries... and the chocolate... and the wine.

People watching and fashion is always the best in Paris

and we were there during Fashion Week.

Lots of paps, beautiful people and black.

So thankful to have met Ellie

and we had a blast in Paris (along with tired feet)!

xx

smm

Year Anniversary: London

One year ago, we stepped foot in the UK to make it our new home.

It’s been a year full of excitement, adventure and patience.

We took a huge risk by following my job

…while Ian quit his…

and things have fallen into place better than we could have ever anticipated.

It was meant to be – truly it was.

I couldn’t be happier at UCL – endless opportunities.

Raising money for such a brilliant institution makes it that much more enjoyable.

Ian landed a job with Moet Hennessy UK about two months after we got here.

(super rare and super lucky)

 Not only did he get a job, but he got the job he wanted

with the company that he always wanted to stay with.

We’ve traveled often

and have had the most incredible opportunities thanks to MHUK.

We’ve met new friends, while missing our forever friends.

We’ve missed weddings, births, birthdays and parties galore

…which has been really tough...

We don’t like missing things but have realised that we’ll always miss things

and this is the trade-off to living abroad.

incredible experiences | missing important moments in people’s lives

Our families and friends have been encouraging, supportive and forever loving.

They’ve made the time difference a non-issue and

they’ve worked hard to make us feel part of things – even from afar.

For those of you who are reading this,

you know who you are and we cannot thank you enough.

You’re amazing (and so is FT and Viber)!!

Visitors have been here every few months too and

it’s been wonderful to share our new life and new city with them.

We sure are lucky to live in an amazing place like London

because people don’t mind coming to visit us or

stop by before heading off to Europe – or vice versa.

First Year of Visitors:

Steve | Sandy |Tom & JL | Hallie & Katie | Lianne & Ross | Our Moms

First Year of Travel:

Frankfurt & Rhine Valley | Dublin & Northern Ireland | 
Cadaques, Barcelona & Girona
Fuerteventura | Oslo | Cambridge, Stonehenge, Cotswolds + more

(Ian: Paris & Champagne | Scotland)

First Year London Highlights:

Queen’s Coronation Gala

Olympic Park Music Festival

Meantime Brewery

ATP

Book of Mormon

Ice Skating

Borough Market

…the list was endless but had to pick a few tops…

first picture of us in front of our new home

meantime brewery day w/ sandy

olympic park festival w/ mumford & sons

queen's garden

monster german beer

cadaques sunshine

northern ireland - amazingly beautiful & fun trip w/ the loehrs

poppin' bottles w/ hallie

new friends & fun - ice skating in somerset house

fuerteventura wave checks for christmas

whirlwind trip around uk - stonehenge

nye w/ family

celebrating one-year in london - duck & waffle

 Ian and I make a great team

and we’re taking full advantage of what comes our way...

I’m a planner and have found that living in the “now” works

 ...just take a bit of getting used too...

Year two will be full of fun and excitement and has already started off with

Ian’s surf trip to Morocco and my girls weekend in Paris.

And next week, we’re off to BALI for two weeks.

(now that’s a first – two weeks off of work... another UK perk!)

Can’t wait to share those with you soon.

xx
the mcgees

London Lately

Life has slowed down for us, so sorry for the lack of posting.

But, I'm not a big fan of posting just to post!

Over the last few weeks, we've enjoyed our little London life.

Weather has played a massive role in what we've been up to lately.

A few weeks ago, we had a Sunday full of sunshine - we took full advantage.

A trip to Chapel Market for fresh fruits, veggies, flowers and scallops.

We've found some items are extremely expensive, but others - not so much.

 Fresh fruits and veggies are the way to go, 

but wow - having a fish monger... now that's the key!

£10 for about 40 massive sea scallops. 

STEAL.

Our market run was followed by a visit to Somerset House

for an Andy Gotts photography exhibit. 

We wandered and wandered the Southbank and stopped to watch 

people of all ages skate one of the major "skate parks".

We try to keep up with the art exhibitions, shows, markets, etc.

Because why not, that's what makes London so interesting!

We've also been to a few really fun concerts: Deer Tick and Phoenix

 Both were amazing shows!

Phoenix played at Brixton Academy.

An absolutely stunning venue built in 1929 and 
initially used as a cinema and theatre - now a leading music venue.

At times you can forget how historical and charming London really is.

And it's when you walk into a place like Brixton Academy that

you quickly remember all of its history - even our music venues are beautiful.

Most recently, we went to a great East London pop-up restaurant.

Sea Adventure Series 

"Embarking on our own Phileas Fogg inspired epic journey-
‘Around the World in 81 Days’ our mission is to
circumnavigate the globe on a quest to discover some of the
best seafood delights the world has to offer."

There is something really interesting about pop-ups.

Yes, we know they're trendy, cool and overly hipster. 

But, knowing that it's not a permanent restaurant, you may never go back,

and will most likely never eat that exact meal again is really fun. 

Feels like a little place in history that will soon be no longer...

if that makes sense??

Ian hit his "one year" anniversary this month and mine is in March. 

We've had a fun-filled year and can't wait to share our 

greatest moments in our next post. 

 

 

All of our love.

the mcgees

Just a little extra...

beautiful rainbow over Royal Exchange.