<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Padkos &amp; Passports</title><description>Slow roads and open skies — solo or with the whole family, from the Karoo to Kyoto.</description><link>https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/</link><language>en-za</language><item><title>The Karoo, slowly: four days from Graaff-Reinet to Prince Albert</title><link>https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/karoo-slowly-graaff-reinet-to-prince-albert/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/karoo-slowly-graaff-reinet-to-prince-albert/</guid><description>A solo road trip through big skies and small dorps — where I stayed, what I spent and why I&apos;ll never rush the R407 again.</description><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category>South Africa</category><category>road trip</category><category>Karoo</category><category>budget</category></item><item><title>Eland Valley with the Family</title><link>https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/grandkids-drakensberg-family-week/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/grandkids-drakensberg-family-week/</guid><description>A family week in the Champagne Valley: hikes small legs can manage, rainy-day rescues and the self-catering trick that saved our budget.</description><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category>South Africa</category><category>Drakensberg</category><category>with kids</category><category>KwaZulu-Natal</category></item><item><title>Solo in Kyoto at 67: temples, trains and a very patient tea master</title><link>https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/solo-kyoto-at-67/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/solo-kyoto-at-67/</guid><description>My first big overseas trip alone. How I planned it, what the rand bought, and the moment I stopped feeling like a tourist.</description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category>Japan</category><category>Japan</category><category>trains</category><category>first time abroad</category></item><item><title>Sossusvlei with the family, on a budget</title><link>https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/namibia-sossusvlei-family-budget/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://padkosandpassports.pages.dev/blog/namibia-sossusvlei-family-budget/</guid><description>Red dunes, a borrowed 4x4 and a cooler box full of boerewors — our self-drive family trip into Namibia.</description><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category>Namibia</category><category>Namibia</category><category>self-drive</category><category>budget</category><category>with kids</category></item></channel></rss>