tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71180702116914694912024-03-14T04:46:14.704-07:00Lemonade From LemonsThe Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-69407876306440364462012-08-12T18:42:00.000-07:002012-08-12T18:42:07.552-07:00Cambodia's Trauma - Too confronting for some.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><br />
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Traveling in South East Asia can be a lot of things: fun, beautiful, delicious. But sometimes, it can also be a very dark place. The latter half of the twentieth century was not so kind to mainland South East Asia, and it’s impossible to ignore the repercussions of this.</div>
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Over the past few months I’ve learned a lot about <a href="http://twenty-somethingtravel.com/2011/02/bad-guy-war-remnants-museum/" style="text-decoration: underline;">the American War in Vietnam</a>, and <a href="http://twenty-somethingtravel.com/2011/03/laos-violent-hidden-history/" style="text-decoration: underline;">the Secret War in Laos</a> but nothing was able to prepare me for the carnage associated with Cambodia. In just a 4 year span between 1975 and 1979 over 1.5 million Cambodians (a quarter of the countries population) were killed by their own tyrannical government. The ultra-communist Khmer Rouge, sought to destroy everything modern and turn Cambodia into a giant agrarian collective. They killed every intellectual, person of wealth or political official, evacuated all cities and basically propelled the country back to the Stone Age until they were overthrown by the Vietnamese.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><i>Should I go ?</i></b></span></div>
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Aside from watching the movie The Killing Fields, in high school, I knew very little about this dark chapter of history. I think it’s impossible to visit Cambodia and not be informed about this, however I'm torn as to whether I want to go visit these places myself.</div>
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The more I read and learn about what went on inside S21 for example, I get anxious and fearful, I feel overwhelmed and confronted by death. I feel the grief to my core. I have shed many a tear while in Cambodia. The saddness is everywhere. Men and women, young and old without limbs, without a means to support themelseves or their families. They beg, they sell odd 'tourist' junk in a hope of making enough money to eat that day. Then there are the children. The orphans, or even those fortunate enough to have living parents, roam the streets begging for money or some food. You can not avoid the trauma and suffering, but to visit the places where so many deaths occured ? I'm just not sure I can do it. I hope this does not come off as selfish - I'm calling it self preservation, for now at least I can not visit or bear witness to these horrific events.</div>
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I will continue to read and educate those around me on the countries history in the hope that we can inspire more people to come visit all this beautiful country has to offer. The people here rely so heavily on tourism, it seems the only way I can really help them on a greater scale. By spreading the word if you like.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i><b>The Killing Fields</b></i></span></div>
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There are a number of sites in Cambodia known as the Killing Fields. They are all mass graveyards where thousands of people were executed- usually beaten to death to save valuable bullets. The most famous of these fields is Choeung Elk, about 17km outside of Phnom Penh, which is now a memorial site.</div>
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There is the Buddhist stupa which towers over the field. This monument is filled to the top with human skulls. Many of the skulls have been damaged or smashed in. They stare out, eyelessly bearing witness.</div>
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What is left now in the killing fields are a series of mass graves, some have been excavated, others are merely labeled pits. After heavy rains bone fragments and teeth are known to rise up out of the dead land but even after months of no rain, dozens of scraps of clothing are visible, reaching out of the earth like disembodied hands.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><i>S-21</i></b></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, or S-21, was once a high school, haphazardly converted into a Khmer Rouge prison. It’s new role was primarily the gruesome torture and execution of political prisoners. The government’s idea of what constituted a political prisoner was pretty liberal- men, women, children and even babies were imprisoned here, over 20,000 people total. Of all of the people who entered the prison only seven walked out alive. Yes, that is correct, seven. Most others met their ends in the killing fields.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;"><div style="line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">
I believe the Killing Fields would be heartbreaking, but I consider S-21 to be absolutely horrifying, a place of nightmares. The buildings have been preserved basically as they were in 1979. Large classrooms with metal beds and torture instruments made up one building. Another has been subdivided into prison cells the size of coat closets, dark and claustrophobic. Barbed wire lined the outside, a sign tells how it was to prevent prisoners from committing suicide.</div>
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It’s hard to even conceive of the amount of misery that occurred inside these walls, but there are pictures to help. The Khmer Rouge took mug shots of every person who was incarcerated here, these blown up shots are now posted on chalkboards all through the museum. Walls and walls of faces, young and old, thin and beautiful, scared and tough. It adds a heartbreaking touch of humanity to his harsh place. I simply could not cope with this.</div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">I know it's essential to be aware of the world around you, the experience the context of every country you visit- and you can’t just get it from Wikipedia entries or photos. However staring at those forgotten scraps of cloth, tearing their way out of the ground, or the picture board of victims even in photograph only I think I better understand the Cambodia of today- a place that is troubled but very optimistic. I’ve never seen more smiling people than I have in this country. And, in the same way that knowing someone's secrets makes you feel closer to them, I think I now love Cambodia a little more.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> I hope this is the case for you too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><div class="dd_post_share" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 6px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i><b>Your Thoughts ?</b></i></span></div>
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<i>Would love to hear what you think of this article. Education is a huge reason I write, I hope even one person has learnt a new fact, albeit sad and dark, about Cambodia.</i></div>
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</span>The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-66300973261980228052012-08-11T20:16:00.000-07:002012-08-11T20:16:16.222-07:0060 days in - How are we traveling ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's start by recapping where we have been in the first stage of this adventure. WOW what a whirlwind two months it has been.<br />
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<li>Bali - Legian and Ubud</li>
<li>Vietnam - Hoi An, Hanoi and SaPa</li>
<li>Kuala Lumpur</li>
<li>Cambodia - Otres Beach, Sihoukville and Siem Reap.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day we left Australia - miss u guys !</td></tr>
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There certainly have been days that either of us could have happily packed up and headed for home. But the problems would still be there. Being back home would not change a thing.<br />
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The reason we opted for an extended trip with our young family was to reset our lives, to find our mojo again if you like. To heal and recover. We have yet to do that, the first 60 days have been a total rollercoaster of emotions and juggling act with the kids. Working out what works and what definately does not.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">We have learned some valuable lessons, the hard way !</span></i></b><br />
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<li>We need to slow down. Four countries in the first 6 weeks was way too much.</li>
<li>Regardless of the size, hotel rooms are not suitable for us. Apartments work best for us.</li>
<li>A fridge and kitchenette are essential.</li>
<li>The baby NEEDS to be in a cot, everyone sleeps better.</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>We have meet some amazing and inspirational people and families.</b></i></span><br />
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In the past 60 days we have connected with so many like-minded people who just seem to accept us and understand what it is we are trying to do. They have done it themselves and are full of encouragement. They see the struggles we have with small children and tell us stories of when they traveled with young children or even just the early days of travel as a family. This has helped us greatly.<br />
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">We now have some help.</span></b></i><br />
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After losing our friend Nai after our time in Bali, we struggled to get a break. We longed for the opportunity to have a quiet dinner together or just to be able to debrief and plan for the next step of this journey. Once we reached Siem Reap, another traveling family introduced us to a wonderful, caring polish women who started spending time with us and the kids. She soon captured the kids imagination with art and activities. She is now the childrens 'teacher', spending a few hours each days, reading, singing, creating master pieces with playdough or paint. They love it, and so do mum and dad.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">We miss family and friends.</span></i></b><br />
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More than we can say. It's a long time to not see or hug the ones you love. This is something that you just do not get use to. Talking on skype is great but so not the same. Coming home for christmas will be truly special.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is so you don't forget what we look like LOL !</td></tr>
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So that is a quick run down on the first 60 days abroad. Thank you for following our journey so far and we look forward to getting to know you all better as we continue with this blog.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i><b>Any questions ?</b></i></span><br />
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If you have any questions about us, travel in general, or you want to know more about a particular place in south east asia, please ask and we will be happy to do a post to answer your question.<br />
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-76771610366288297122012-08-04T20:20:00.000-07:002012-08-04T20:20:30.685-07:00Top 10 fun things to with kids in Bali<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sure, for children (as for adults) Bali’s principle attraction is the <u><strong><a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/balis-best-beach-villas" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">beach</a></strong></u> but there’s plenty more to keep them entertained in the island paradise. From exciting rides at Waterbom Park to exotic wildlife at the <u><strong><a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bali</a></strong></u> Zoo here’s our pick of 10 fun things to do with your kids.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">1. Sea Walking: Club Aqua Bali </span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(For ages 9 to 12)</span></strong></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This relatively new activity called sea walking, involves literally walking on the sea bed. Conducted at a depth of 15 ft for 20 minutes per session, participants get the opportunity to come face-to-face with underwater marine life. Easy to spot here are fire corals, Anglerfish and occasionally the Mola-Mola (Sunfish). An instructor is present at all times making it a safe, fun activity for the entire family to indulge in. You’ll be happy to hear knowing how to swim is not a requirement for sea walking.<br /><em>Sekar Menuh Bldg, By Pass Ngurah Rai #5, Padang Galak, Sanur, Denpasar, Bali (+62 361 281408; </em><a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>www.clubaquabali.com</em></a><em>) Ticket from: Rs 3,135 (Children) and</em> <em>Rs 3,985 (adults)</em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">2. Adventure Time: Bali Treetop (For ages 4 to 17)</span></strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b>Situated in <em>Eka Karya </em>or the Bali Botanical Garden, Bedugul, this adventure park is a great destination for fun activities with kids as young as four. They can suspend from the sky or swing from the treetops like Tarzan at any of the seven Adventure Circuits. One of the circuits called the Squirrel Yellow Circuit is designed especially for younger children (from ages 4 to 8). It comes with complete supervision at all times and has an easy-to-complete obstacle course (footbridge, monkey track, fishing net) and a mini Flying-Fox. As you progress from one circuit to the other the level of difficulty increases. The ultimate challenge here is the Adrenaline Black Circuit. Supervised at all times, it features adrenalin pumping 20m jumps and a 160m-long Tarzan Flying Fox. It’s open only to teens over the age of 14.<br /><em>Bali Botanical Garden, Candikuning, Bali (+62 361 852 0680; <a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">balitreetop.com</a>) Open: 8.30am to 6pm. Tickets from: Rs 744 (children) and Rs 1,116 (adults)</em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">3. Up Close with the wildlife: Bali Zoo (For ages 2 to 14)</span></strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b>A huge display of Indonesian wildlife can be seen at the Bali Zoo. Visitors are taken on a virtual jungle tour of the zoo that features a petting area where kids can touch domesticated animals such as horses, baby deer and rabbits; Gibbon Island’s where the famous primates can be swinging from tree to tree. There’s also an area where kids can themselves feed wallabies, sun bear and orang-utans. Children as young as two, accompanied by an adult,can have a go at feeding some of the more wilder animals such as crocodiles, tigers and lions, with the help of their keepers of course.<br /><em>Jl. Raya Singapadu, Sukawati, Gianyar, Bali (+62 361 294357;<a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a></em><em><a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.bali-zoo.com</a></em><em>) Open daily from 9am to 6pm. Ticket from: Rs 637 (children) and Rs 1,275 (adults)</em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">4. White water rafting: Bali SOBEK and Bali Adventure Tours (For ages 7 to 15)</span></strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b>The two popular rivers here, ideal for white water rafting are the Ayung River and Telaga Waja River. Both offer varying levels of difficulty so choose a stretch of rapids based on the age of your child. Home to some of the more challenging rapids, with breath-taking scenery to boot, is the Telaga Waja River. The Ayung River in contrast provides calmer rapids making it more suitable for younger children. Bali SOBEK and Bali Adventure Tours (both adventure companies) organise thrilling rafting experiences. Bali SOBEK offers rafting experiences for kids above seven years of age, on both Ayung River and Telaga Waja River. Rafting with Bali Adventure Tours is limited to the Ayung River and minimum age required is five years.<br /><em>Pt. SOBEK Bali Utama, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 100X Simpang Siur Kuta, Bali (+62 361 768050; </em><em><a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.balisobek.com</a>) </em><em>Rafting duration is 1.5 to 2 hours. Tickets from: Rs 2,765 (children) and Rs 4,201 (adults)<br />Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai, Pesanggaran, Bali (+62 361 721480; <a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.baliadventuretours.com</a></em><em>)</em> <em>Rafting duration is 1.5 hours. Tickets from: Rs 2,331</em><em>(children)</em> <em>and Rs 3,542 (adults)</em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">5. A natural education: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (For ages 3 to 12)</span></strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b>Take your kids to the Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana or simply the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary for a wonderful experience amidst Bali’s exotic flora and fauna. The idea behind this sanctuary is to educate children on the importance of conserving our natural resources. Well-trained guides take you around the Sanctuary that has many temples that are considered sacred by Balinese Hindus. Home to about 340 Balinese long-tailed macaques and 115 separate species of trees the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary promises to be an informative place to visit with your kids.<br /><em>Jalan Monkey Forest, Padangtegal, Ubud, Bali (+62 361 971304; </em><a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>www.monkeyforestubud.com</em></a><em>) Open daily from 8am to 6pm. Ticket from: Rs 57 (children) and Rs 115 (adults)</em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">6. Feathers aplenty: Bali Bird Park (For ages 2 to 12)</span></strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b>Some of Indonesia, Africa and South America’s rare tropical birds are to be found here. The park is home to almost 1,000 birds of 250 different species. It features giant walk-through aviaries that are designed to replicate actual rainforests. At this park kids can pet a number of birds and witness a show featuring eagles, owls and macaws. Visit the bird nursery to see how they are bred. You children can feed the parrots, cockatoos and hornbills and have them sit on their shoulders. Bird handlers supervise this and do their best to ensure the birds behave themselves.<br /><em>Jl. Serma Cok Ngurah Gambir Singapadu, Batubulan, Gianyar, Bali (+62 361 299352; </em><a href="http://www.cntraveller.in/content/10-things-do-kids-bali" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>www.bali-bird-park.com</em></a><em>) Opening daily from 9am to 5.30pm. Ticket from: Rs 624 (children) and Rs 1,248 (adults)</em></span></div>
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">7. Water sports and more: Waterbom Park (For ages 2 to 12)</span></strong></div>
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<b><br /></b>Opened in 1993, Waterbom Park houses more than 17 exciting water rides making it an ideal destination for fun and entertainment for multiple age groups. The park is located on the Kuta stretch and features slides like the Smashdown, an eight storey-high slide that’s built at 60 degree incline. This means you can reach speeds of up to 70 km per hour. Then there’s the Boomerang that slides you down 20m and pulls you back up before you can even blink an eye. Parents can feel safe about the rides at the Kiddy Park, which is always supervised and is specially designed to make it child-friendly with easy slides and fun games such as water cannons and jets.<br /><em>Jl. Kartika PO BOX 1055 Tuban, Kuta, Bali (+62 361 755 676; </em><a href="http://www.waterbom-bali.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>www.waterbom-bali.com</em></a><em>) Open: 9am to 6pm. Tickets from: Rs 850 (children) and Rs 1,382 (adults)</em></div>
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">8. Animals and more: Bali Safari and Marine Park (For all age groups)</span></strong></div>
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See the rarest of animals such as the Sumatran elephant (one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian Elephant), white tiger, and Komodo dragon at the Bali Safari and Marine Park. You can take a guided elephant ride to see these animals up close. The Marine Park here houses the Fresh Water Aquarium, which is home to almost 40 species of fresh water fish, including the white tip shark. Don’t miss witnessing the park keeper feed the 10ft-long-piranha. In addition to all this the Dolphin Encounter attraction is scheduled to open soon.<br /><em>Jl. Bypass Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra, Golden Line of Bali, Gianyar, Indonesia (+62 361 950 000;</em><a href="http://www.balisafarimarinepark.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>www.balisafarimarinepark.com</em></a><em>) Open: 9am to 5pm. Ticket from: Rs</em> <em>1,845</em></div>
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">9. Go dive: Blue Season Bali (For ages 8 and above)</span></strong></div>
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Kids as young as eight can learn how to scuba dive with the PADI Bubblemaker course offered at Blue Season Bali, where basic techniques to experience the underwater world are taught in a pool no deeper than 6ft. A full range of diving courses are available here for those above 10 years of age, from Discover Scuba Diving for beginners to the more advanced Open Water Diver. The Liberty wreck in Tulamben, where the American ship, <em>The</em> <em>Liberty </em>was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during World War II, is Bali's most famous and accessible dive. This is one of the safest wreck sites and amongst the top 15 dive sites in the world. Rich in underwater flora and fauna, it makes for a superb diving destination for the entire family.<br /><em>PADI 5 Star Career Development Center, PT Bali Ocean Adventure, Jalan Danau Tamblingan 69x Sanur, Bali (+62 361 282574; </em><a href="http://www.baliocean.com/en/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>www.baliocean.com</em></a><em>) Courses start from Rs 3,190 per day</em></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><strong>10. Burst of culture: Devdan Show Bali</strong><strong>(For ages 4 to 12)</strong></span></div>
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<b><br /></b>Take you kids to the Devdan Show at Bali Nusa Dua Theatre where they can enjoy a fantastic recreation of the history of Indonesia's culture and diversity through theatrical performances. The show is called <em>Devdan</em> <em>Treasure of the Archipelago</em> and features traditional Indonesian dances, thrilling aerial acrobatics and spectacular special effects. The show takes place four times a week at the famous theatrical complex, Bali Nusa Dua Theatre. Nestled in the heart of Bali’s touristic enclave and next to the Bali Collection Shopping center this top tourist attraction is a must-visit with your kids.<br /><em>Bali Nusa Dua Theatre (Ex. Amphitheatre Nusa Dua), Kawasan Pariwisata Nusa Dua, Komplek BTDC, Nusa Dua (+62 361 770 197; </em><a href="http://www.devdanshow.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>www.devdanshow.com</em></a><em>) Show timing is 7pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Ticket from: Rs 1,541 (children) and Rs 2391 (adults)</em></div>
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-75782201738341625002012-08-03T21:36:00.000-07:002012-08-03T21:36:18.627-07:00Some Interesting Facts About Cambodia<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.culturaltravelguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cambodia-lotus-Tonle-Sap.jpg" style="color: #a45944; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Cambodia-lotus-Tonle-Sap" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-301" height="88" src="http://www.culturaltravelguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cambodia-lotus-Tonle-Sap-88x88.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(26, 39, 46); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(26, 39, 46); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(26, 39, 46); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(26, 39, 46); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" title="Cambodia-lotus-Tonle-Sap" width="88" /></a><strong>When you hear the word “Cambodia”, what comes to your mind? </strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>I used to draw a blank or in the best of cases I thought it was a far east land, of oriental-looking people who… probably had a lot of wars?</strong></em></div>
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It wasn’t until I started looking for places to visit near Thailand for our extended trip that I got to learn more about this fascinating country.</div>
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Let me share with you four things I learned:<br /><span id="more-298"></span></div>
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1. A bit of the history of Cambodia</h2>
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From Wikipedia:</div>
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“Cambodia is a country located in the southern portion of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indochina" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Indochina">Indochina</a> Peninsula in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Southeast Asia">Southeast Asia</a>. With a total landmass of 181,035 square kilometers (69,898 sq mi), it is bordered by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Thailand">Thailand</a> to the northwest, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Laos">Laos</a> to the northeast, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Vietnam">Vietnam</a> to the east, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Thailand" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Gulf of Thailand">Gulf of Thailand</a> to the southwest.”</div>
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Cambodia is one of those countries that made me think: “Exotic!”. But how little did I know about its tragic recent past:</div>
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From Wikipedia:</div>
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“The <strong>Khmer Rouge</strong> … literally translated as <strong>Red Cambodians </strong>was the name given to the followers of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Kampuchea" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Communist Party of Kampuchea">Communist Party of Kampuchea</a>, who were the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruling_party" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Ruling party">ruling party</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Cambodia">Cambodia</a> from 1975 to 1979, led by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_Pot" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Pol Pot">Pol Pot</a> and others. The regime led by the Khmer Rouge was known as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Kampuchea" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Democratic Kampuchea">Democratic Kampuchea</a>.</div>
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This organization is remembered primarily for its policy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_engineering_%28political_science%29" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Social engineering (political science)">social engineering</a>, which resulted in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Genocide">genocide</a>. Its attempts at agricultural reform led to widespread <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Famine">famine</a>, while its insistence on absolute <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-sufficiency" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Self-sufficiency">self-sufficiency</a>, even in the supply of medicine, led to the deaths of thousands from treatable diseases (such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaria" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Malaria">malaria</a>). Brutal and arbitrary executions and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Torture">torture</a> carried out by its cadres against perceived <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subversive" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Subversive">subversive</a> elements, or during purges of its own ranks between 1976 and 1978, are considered to have constituted a genocide.</div>
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Today, examples of the torture methods used by the Khmer Rouge can be seen at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuol_Sleng_Genocide_Museum" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum">Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum</a>. The museum occupies the former grounds of a high school turned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Internment">prison camp</a>. Some 17,000 people passed through this centre before they were taken to sites (also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_Fields" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="The Killing Fields">The Killing Fields</a>), outside Phnom Penh such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choeung_Ek" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Choeung Ek">Choeung Ek</a> where most were executed (mainly by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickaxe" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Pickaxe">pickaxes</a> to save bullets) and buried in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_grave" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Mass grave">mass graves</a>. Of the thousands who entered the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuol_Sleng_Genocide_Museum" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum">Tuol Sleng Centre</a> (also known as S-21), only twelve are known to have survived.”</div>
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Sure I had heard of the Khmer Rouge, but I had no idea about these horrific events and when I did learn about them, it made me the more curious about today’s Cambodia.</div>
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2. Busy and noisy</h2>
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Cambodia is not at all how you imagine it. Despite their recent history, Cambodians are not at all sad or resentful. In fact, they are working hard to build up their country again and to catch up with progress.</div>
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People are always on the streets, lively, happy people, they are always on the run to get somewhere, thousands or motorbikes and bicycles, wrecking havoc and in the midst of all the chaos, there is an inherent order.</div>
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Thousands of stalls and food stands, offering you all kinds of exotic and delicious food, people calling you out to try them. Commerce happens on the streets.</div>
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Even though there’s still poverty, there is also great development, places where you go Wow! at the buildings and the infrastructure.</div>
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To think this country has been rebuilt from the ground up in my lifetime. WOW. Imagine what this great nation can achieve in the next 10-20 years.</div>
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3. Shiny happy people</h2>
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People are at peace for the most part, everything but sad and instead vivacious and cheerful, people who seem to compete for who has the loudest speakers to play their music, right outside, on the street, where it all happens.</div>
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Even pagodas, where people go to pray and meditate, blast their speakers with sacred chants. Some say that living next to a pagoda can be very noisy, they can start chanting at 5 am!</div>
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Even though some people literally live on one dollar a day, everybody has a cell phone. Some are illiterate, so they remember which keys to push when they want to call someone. A bit timid when you first approach them, they are kind-hearted people.</div>
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4. Angkor</h2>
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If Cambodia’s recent history is tragic, their more “ancient” history is just amazing. Near the city of Siem Reap, the second largest city of the country, and the Tonle Sap lake (tonle = lake) there is a temple complex from the 12<sup>th</sup> century, Angkor Wat being its main and most preserved temple.</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Angkor Wat</a> is the main attraction for visitors and you can reach it by bus, six hours from Phnom Penh or from Thailand from the north, or reach the city directly by plane.</div>
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From Wikipedia:</div>
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“The initial design and construction of the temple took place in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suryavarman_II" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Suryavarman II">Suryavarman II</a> (ruled 1113 – c. 1150). Dedicated to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a>, it was built as the king’s state temple and capital city. As neither the foundation <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stela" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Stela">stela</a> nor any contemporary inscriptions referring to the temple have been found, its original name is unknown, but it may have been known as <em>Vrah Vishnulok</em> after the presiding deity.”</div>
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But there is just so much to say about Angkor Complex, that I’ll leave it for a later post. Suffice it to say that it has been considered one of the wonders of the world and it is included in the <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">World Heritage Site list of UNESCO</a>. We owe it to ourselves to go visit the temples and visit this wonderful exotic country and meet its kind people not only for the richness of their culture and their magnificent forests and wildlife, but to be multipliers of it, and never forgetting the horrors of the past, so that we don’t repeat them in the future.</div>
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<strong><em>Have you ever been to Cambodia or are you planning a trip there?</em></strong><br /><strong><em>What was your experience?</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Tell us about it here in the comments field and if you liked this post, don’t forget to hit the sharing buttons below!</em></strong></div>
</span>The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-87062097682263680842012-08-03T00:53:00.000-07:002012-08-03T00:53:43.019-07:00Sandan - Creative Cambodian CuisineCambodian cuisine is a little known highlight of the region.<br />
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Yes, everyone knows that thai food is amazing but have you had Cambodian cuisine? Hands down the most amazing food we have tasted so far in Cambodia was from a gem of a restaurant named, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g325573-d2621228-Reviews-Sandan-Sihanoukville.html">Sandan</a>.<br />
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Sandan is a training restaurant run by former street youths and their teachers from the local organisation <a href="http://www.mloptapang.org/">M'lop Tapang</a>.<br />
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The goal at Sandan is to give these hospitality students the practical experience and confidence necessary to gain safe employment in Sihanoukville's growing tourist industry.<br />
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M'lop Tapang has been working with the street children of Sikanoukville since 2003. They currently work with over 3000 children and youths and over 1000 families at nine specialist centres in the Sikanoukville area. They provide safe shelter, medical care, family reintegration, sports and arts, education and training, counseling, family support and protect from all types of abuse.<br />
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All profits from Sandan restaurant are reinvested into M'lop Tapang programs.<br />
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This restaurant impressed us from the start. It's beautiful entrance and smiling staff welcomed us and showed the children to a nearby pagoda where an array of books, puzzles and toys awaited them. The menu was extensive with meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes to choose from. Then the kids menu was nothing short of awesome. Creative dishes with cool names that had the kids pondering for ages which they would choose.<br />
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The children played while waiting for our food to arrive which gave Joel and I a chance to speak with the staff and teachers. They were able to give us some background on the students. The opportunity provided to these men and women is nothing short of a miracle. It truly is a dream come true for many of them to be taugh a skill that will give them a better chance of gaining employment to provide a life and income for themselves and their families.<br />
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Then the food came, oh my god. It was exquisite. I enjoyed a traditional dish called Amok with seafood and Joel savoured over the Khmer muslin beef and peanut curry. The kids did not waste any time eating up their honey soy chicken skewers with rice and dipping sauce.<br />
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While the kids enjoyed one last play in the pagoda, Joel and I enjoy a delicious dessert, cashew nut crusted banana fritters with kaffir lime syrup and coconut chili gelato - absolutely devine !<br />
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We enjoyed this restaurant so much and believe that the service they are providing is so wonderful we wanted to share this with all of you. So if you ever find yourself in sunny Sihanoukville please please go support this wonderful program and enjoy some of the best Cambodian cuisine money can buy.<br />
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-41211053039696641072012-07-22T09:02:00.001-07:002012-07-22T09:02:37.241-07:00The Secret Garden, Otres Beach Cambodia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Cindy and I have travelled a fair bit around Asia however never to Cambodia. We were so excited
to get there and as usual Cindy done her thorough research for our accommodation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our first stop was to arrive in Phnom
Penh via Kuala Lumpur. We then took a 3-hour car trip to Cambodia’s best beach
town, Sihanouk Ville. With several locations to choose from we chose the
secluded area of Otres Beach. A 3-kilometre stretch of beach, which offers
various hut style bungalows and bars. This area is less developed than other
nearby tourist locations however offers an even more relaxed atmosphere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">We chose The Secret
Garden for our week stay. This newly built resort and bar offers 10 bungalows,
pool, beach bar and restaurant. The Secret Garden is located at the secluded
end of Otres Beach and offers the only pool amongst the strip of nearby
properties. I have to admit the drive into the resort I was thinking my wife
has gone nuts and may have got this one wrong. Remember we have three boys 4
& under with us. I thought this might be a check in – check out situation.
How wrong was I!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lp0n5acziAKlUn5QY-hyMW6PsZVdf2AoN9I0M2m2yQKVjFTGegHnyeX6Dre7xmvknyXeL6Y8XCOP_midXy67JyCncHhJIFBvhmGj13KQUAicvvJajuLHROldHBHEwt1FeZjEMp60Qb2Y/s1600/_H1A9947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lp0n5acziAKlUn5QY-hyMW6PsZVdf2AoN9I0M2m2yQKVjFTGegHnyeX6Dre7xmvknyXeL6Y8XCOP_midXy67JyCncHhJIFBvhmGj13KQUAicvvJajuLHROldHBHEwt1FeZjEMp60Qb2Y/s400/_H1A9947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The bungalows are
fresh and modern. Our room had a double bed, fold out trundle for the boys, ensuite
with and outdoor shower which was really cool. The large pool situated at the
front of property was maintained every morning. The bar and restaurant is
located right on the sands edge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Secret Garden is only a 15 minute Tuk Tuk ride back into
the main town centre and costs around $5 one way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nfO4ahSGMk1v1YKu2QMRm1KN0z6esQFQQweA2OCzex2PzMHtslntLZD14qM1fG-irHFVHkSIy8m0wIKQEhq7Ucrx5wOFhuw0L_atWbAb68IfaXx0pbcu9wavziwQB31pUnsWxlxPFmjR/s1600/IMG_1026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nfO4ahSGMk1v1YKu2QMRm1KN0z6esQFQQweA2OCzex2PzMHtslntLZD14qM1fG-irHFVHkSIy8m0wIKQEhq7Ucrx5wOFhuw0L_atWbAb68IfaXx0pbcu9wavziwQB31pUnsWxlxPFmjR/s400/IMG_1026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The menu was small but
the quality of the food was high – go the Texas burger!!! Breakfast was
included and had a great simple choice. Again the standard was high and Cindy
and I were most impressed with the food (Cindy had a double serving of pancakes
every morning!) . The nature of Sihanouke Ville is that nothing is a problem
and if you cants become relaxed at Otres then you had better seek medical
attention. As I type this I can hardly move my fingers I’m that relaxed –
sitting under the thatched roof of the bar, listening to the ocean….. it goes
on and on. Day six and we are relaxed –even with 3 active boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwH8ZG4CKB66XDMhfbR99dwCpUFEKhiKYJwgr-cwpMrkd3UqHFS0rrpQ1F8dRIWRrkxlWEl1rl7na6f0Y_EEIWR2vzjxuYK1fTTZiyMy_UhOLC04YVkih2sKSTkfZT8lAMquLoAnVil-3/s1600/_H1A9643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwH8ZG4CKB66XDMhfbR99dwCpUFEKhiKYJwgr-cwpMrkd3UqHFS0rrpQ1F8dRIWRrkxlWEl1rl7na6f0Y_EEIWR2vzjxuYK1fTTZiyMy_UhOLC04YVkih2sKSTkfZT8lAMquLoAnVil-3/s400/_H1A9643.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view from our breakfast table - pretty nice !<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMyeI-8GUMLE4ei3943ALsgDYto90mX7Ra8L9UABUDd70I3jHw2C7G4C9tmXwERzNV9AfSKmm80BUI5aBZ8TeyMa_FHEshDy1PsHdr3vl5iukeOtAJCT581AfKmOXKluqa3A3iYQzsRlG/s1600/_H1A9618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMyeI-8GUMLE4ei3943ALsgDYto90mX7Ra8L9UABUDd70I3jHw2C7G4C9tmXwERzNV9AfSKmm80BUI5aBZ8TeyMa_FHEshDy1PsHdr3vl5iukeOtAJCT581AfKmOXKluqa3A3iYQzsRlG/s400/_H1A9618.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Secret Garden Bar and Restaurant - right on the beach...<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkD5wNUDg4cULcEgZCAMecREnsBHkPiT3JSNKOQQek4-SLhN_hEorqB73DZFuhLhIFazNEHQNTXLINXKIhi2QJ1yNkvenN0k8md2ea07YacvyXf_eUXQ6CdL3JvBhDGt4DFAV4EVewzqT/s1600/_H1A0198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkD5wNUDg4cULcEgZCAMecREnsBHkPiT3JSNKOQQek4-SLhN_hEorqB73DZFuhLhIFazNEHQNTXLINXKIhi2QJ1yNkvenN0k8md2ea07YacvyXf_eUXQ6CdL3JvBhDGt4DFAV4EVewzqT/s400/_H1A0198.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Would only be fitting to have this sunset on our last night</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Finally the staff here
was absolutely fantastic. Firstly the owners are hands on and the small amount
of staff they have to assist is so friendly and helpful which is unique and
makes the stay even more relaxing. We highly recommend this property. For
further information you can contact The Secret Garden at <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.secretgardenotres.com/">http://www.secretgardenotres.com</a></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-85680351982865706742012-07-22T07:13:00.000-07:002012-07-22T07:14:13.300-07:00Introducing the Family Travel Community aka 'Vagabond Families'<br />
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<i><b>Did you know that there are a whole cast of families traveling the world with their children in tow. We had no idea until a few months ago and this knowledge changed our lives.</b></i></div>
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This adventure evolved
from an invitation from friends to travel to Bali in June with our
children. It was proposed that 3
weeks in Bali would be a great ‘testing’ ground for travel with children in
tow. The flight was an easy 5 hours. We were hopeful that all would go well so
we could consider a trip to our beloved Thailand later in the year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had been thinking
of heading to Thailand in September, just before the high season room rate
rises. We thought we were being adventurous and brave by even considering to
travel abroad with 3 small
children with some of our friends and family saying as much. Our passion for
travel, the need to redefine
ourselves and re-start our lives were so strong that we were prepared to give
it a go. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We had nothing to loose and
everything to gain. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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We expected travel
with the children to be different to what we were use to and even difficult at
times, so that in mind we wanted to travel slowly, allowing for ample rest days
if required for the children. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So after a few days of
thinking ‘yeah, we can do that’ - a trip to Bali in June, then a trip to
Thailand in September I had a crazy idea. </div>
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Why come home in between ? We would be half way to Thailand when
in Indonesia after all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So our initial
thoughts of 6 -8 weeks in Thailand quickly jumped to 4 months of travel starting
in Bali then going to Thailand and Vietnam, perhaps even to Cambodia. We needed
to do some research to decide if Cambodia was kid friendly and safe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was during that
research that I stumbled upon a website dedicated to families travelling with
their children, some indefinately. Finding <a href="http://vagabondfamily.org/">vagabondfamily.org</a> was like a light bulb moment for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To think that others thought and
dreamt like us.</i></b></div>
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It was reassuring,
inspiring and validating all at the same time. I quickly registered as a member
(which happens to be free) and received access to other members who were in
varying stages of family travel. Some were planning and working towards saving
for their big adventure, others had been on the road for a few months through
to a few years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each member could list
their contact details. This is how I learnt about travel blogs, in particular
family travel blogs. I had hit the jackpot. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I had found what I had been
looking for.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent most nights
for the next few weeks reading and researching what others had done or were
planning on doing. It was awe inspiring. I was reading of families with not
only more children than I had but some of whom were traveling with a
disability. Surely if they found a way to make it work, we could.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This shed a light
of hope into Joel and I. Our lives had been somewhat stagnant for the past few years, neither of
us having much direction in what to do or where to go next in our professional lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maybe this could be our new life.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe just maybe we
could live life to the fullest and love life again. The thought of being truly
happy again was exciting. It was like our life dream was becoming a reality
right before our eyes, yet we couldn’t believe it was really happening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were a number of
families that were either currently in South East Asia or had travelled to
destinations that were of interest to us. I made contact with a few of the
families either via their website, blog or email. I was taken aback by how
generous and helpful people were to us. The common thread I was finding was
encouragement, positive reassurance that it had been the best decision of their
lives and that the misconceptions about travelling with children were just
that. Misconceptions.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There was so much about a nomadic
lifestyle that appealed to us. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were happy to be
considering a lifestyle that encouraged openness to other cultures and belief
systems.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We loved the thought
of our children learning about the world in such a hands on way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also loved the
thought of showing our children just how very lucky we are to be Australian and
to have all that we do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The thought of
escaping the materialistic world, full of media tactics to entice you into
thinking you NEED something that in fact you have no use for at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then there is the news
media. That is definitely something that I could do without. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So that 4 months of
travel soon expended into being on the road for the remainder of 2012. So six
months of adventure was now in the planning. After a few speed bumps, the plans
were falling into place. The first leg of the adventure was set, but after that
we were free to explore where and when we wanted. We were wanting to be open to
the advice and direction we received from other travellers whilst on the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we are now coming
to the end of that first leg and fast approaching the winging it part. We have
had the pleasure of meeting four of the vagabond families already. <a href="http://www.akingslife.com/">A King's Life</a> , <a href="http://www.etbender.com/">Travel with Bender</a> , <a href="http://www.bohemiantravelers.com/">Bohemian Traveler's</a> and <a href="http://www.goinganyway.net/">Going Anyway</a>. Each one of
them have inspired us and shown us how travel has changed their life for the
better in more ways then we even thought possible. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have been exposed
to a whole new world of options in relation to financing a life of travel. Our options are endless. Yes we have a
blog and a facebook page but we have so much to learn and so much to work
towards. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The future is excitingly bright.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-78861563473958339912012-07-19T07:32:00.000-07:002012-07-19T07:32:55.338-07:00Sa Pa - Where heaven meets earthI had heard that far north Vietnam was beautiful, phrases like where heaven meets earth were being quoted left right and centre. It looked like a photographers dream so on our list it went.<br />
<br />
The thought of arriving on an overnight train excited the kids. So all boxes were ticked, all family members catered for, which can be a challenge at times.<br />
<br />
Let me give you a bit of background.<br />
<br />
In a beautiful valley close to the Chinese border, Sapa is a former hill station built in 1922. History has not always been kind to Sapa, and the series of conflicts that swept over Vietnam nearly saw it wiped off the map. From WWII, successive wars against the French and the USA, not forgetting the more recent border skirmish with China in 1979, took their toll. The old hotels built by the French were allowed to fall into disrepair and Sapa was forgotten by all but a handful of residents.
With the advent of tourism, Sapa has experienced a renaissance. Bad roads have been upgraded, many streets have been given names, countless new hotels have popped up, the electricity supply is reliable and the food has improved immeasurably. Inherent in all of this prosperity is cultural change for the Montagnards, many of whom are now well versed in the ways of the cash economy and are reaping the financial rewards of the tourism influx. The downside is a building boom that has seen one hotel after another raise the roof in a continual quest for better views. Height restrictions are rarely enforced and the Sapa skyline is changing for the worse.
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygF1hKw4jcZb49GppCEhPw55_yx_iFprQQldjGlpdEGqYkg824AI70l1xwQt2MADfg7DoEKXmCAb1i-9eRq8x8ILCoGr65kd5RKhGtqlddNdO3z3hpNxj4PrN1OeOlni1qrNoA5KWzfod/s1600/_H1A9033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygF1hKw4jcZb49GppCEhPw55_yx_iFprQQldjGlpdEGqYkg824AI70l1xwQt2MADfg7DoEKXmCAb1i-9eRq8x8ILCoGr65kd5RKhGtqlddNdO3z3hpNxj4PrN1OeOlni1qrNoA5KWzfod/s400/_H1A9033.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan enjoying the scenery en route to the hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Dzao head dress</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pz0BBUO_DFzC6lvG9fZUvezPe5UdjEt7SN3pmK1ux1j9Ta1LrWm27ZTWkiH5o4vfMy28uKZ_01142p9gRrwg7j2atnZFWvHE2NKgPPj_ynKg4daXhUqF0HpCrpyRfbmTf4tzDCaVuZsD/s1600/_H1A9149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pz0BBUO_DFzC6lvG9fZUvezPe5UdjEt7SN3pmK1ux1j9Ta1LrWm27ZTWkiH5o4vfMy28uKZ_01142p9gRrwg7j2atnZFWvHE2NKgPPj_ynKg4daXhUqF0HpCrpyRfbmTf4tzDCaVuZsD/s400/_H1A9149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another inconvenience that will not change is the weather. If you visit off-season, don’t forget your winter woollies. Not only is it cold (like 0°C), but winter brings fog and drizzle. Quite why the French alighted on this spot is difficult to comprehend: it must have been one of those rare clear days when the views are to die for. The chilly climate does have its advantages, however. The area boasts temperate-zone fruit trees bearing peaches and plums, and gardens for raising medicinal herbs.
The dry season in Sapa lasts from around January to June. January and February are the coldest (and foggiest) months. From March to May the weather is often excellent, and the summer is warm despite the rains between June and August. The window from September to mid-December is a rewarding time to be in Sapa, though there is a bit of lingering rain at the start and the temperature dips by December.<br />
<br />
Sapa would be of considerably less interest without the H’mong and Dzao people, the largest ethnic groups in the region. The billowing red headdresses of the Red Dzao are visible all over town, a surreal sight amid the accelerating development. The H’mong are more numerous and canny traders. Their villages may look medieval but most will have a mobile phone and an email address to stay in touch. Traditionally, they were the poorest of the poor, but have rapidly learnt the spirit of free enterprise. Most of the Montagnards have had little formal education and are illiterate, yet all the youngsters have a good command of English, French and a handful of other languages.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our room, it does not get better than this !</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
We stayed at Sa Pa Eden Hotel, this 3 star property received great reviews not only for its location, but for its kind and friendly staff. The property definitely lived up to the reviews. The family room although simple in decore, was comfortable and our view was to die for. The hotel was at the beginning of the road to Cat Cat village, we enjoyed a half day walk down hill into the village, stopping to buy a traditional H'mong baby carrier along the way. Both Phoenix and I agree that it is super comfortable, no wonder the H'mong babies are happy to sleep all day while their mothers work either in the rice fields or guiding tourists along treks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan was most interested in the fresh produce at the markets, often wanting to look or touch for himself.</td></tr>
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<br />
The local market was a wonder to us, the kids especially. We would go buy fresh fruit each morning and the colorful and sometimes unusual produce was a great conversational point with the kids.
The scenery was more than breath taking, the air was so clean and we found ourselves being far more active than we normally would be, trekking a few kilometers each day. There was always something to see and always a perfectly positioned cafe or restaurant to stop at to catch our breath and take in the view.<br />
<br />
Absolutely magic.The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-3735863267595574942012-07-17T01:12:00.000-07:002012-07-17T01:12:12.776-07:00Please feel free to leave us commentsSome people have stated that it is difficult to comment on our posts.<br />
<br />
Let me give you some help.<br />
<br />
Step 1: Move your curser into the comment box, then type what you want to say.<br />
Step 2: Then go to the bottom of the comment section and select NAME / URL,<br />
in the COMMENT AS section.<br />
<br />
Step 3: Then you can either type your name or website details.<br />
<br />
Step 4: Press PUBLISH.<br />
<br />
Hope that helps.<br />
<br />
We love getting feedback on our posts. Keep them coming.The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-70435558811301185392012-07-17T00:14:00.001-07:002012-07-17T00:14:46.382-07:00The way to Sa PaWe had been looking forward to visiting the far north of Vietnam, Sa Pa in particular. Our previous trips to this amazing country had only taken us as far north as Halong Bay. Finally the time came to leave Hoi An and make the long journey to Sa Pa.<br />
<br />
We traveled by car for an hour to Da Nang airport, there we took a one hour flight to Hanoi. Once we landed in Hanoi we needed to grab a taxi to the train station, for some reason I thought I had read this would take about 20 minutes. Forty five minutes later and we are still driving but the good thing was that both Phoenix and Morgan were now asleep.<br />
<br />
We finally reached the train station. It was stinking hot, about 32 and it was now 6:30pm.<br />
<br />
So with our four children, two of which were asleep and all our luggage we sit at the entrance of the train station not having a clue where we need to go. Joel opts to stay with the kids and bags while I head off to get some direction. Remembering that no one speaks English here, or at least not very well. We also do not find the people of vietnam to be very helpful to tourists in general. I know there are exceptions but with no signs in english I was hopeful that I could find an exception here at the train station.<br />
<br />
I went to an information counter and was waved off into another direction. I walked in that direction and a young male, about 20 years old came to me and said, "You need ticket". I said, "Yes I have a voucher for the Orient Express". He took my voucher from my hands and walked off, so I had little option by to follow. He brought me to the travel counter. I soon realised that he was trying to change my voucher to travel on another carriage provided by Lavitrans. I insisted that I wanted to travel with Orient Express and tried to get my voucher back.<br />
<br />
The young boy then said, "Ok I'll help you - come with me" and off he walked again. All my instincts were screaming, get your voucher off this guy and get the hell out of here. But what was my alternative. He at least spoke English.<br />
<br />
We walked fast, out of the train station entrance and onto the street but the male kept saying 'follow me'. I walked over to Joel and said that I'm not sure where to redeem the voucher but this guy said he would help. With a shrug of Joels' shoulders I knew that the decision lie with me. I really didn't know what to do but had to do something otherwise my family would be sleeping at the entrance to Hanoi Train Station for the night.<br />
<br />
As I walked off to follow the male, Hamish shouted out that he wanted to come with me. Again not ideal but I had to get things done. So off we set. The male walked so fast, Hammy and I had a hard time keeping up with him. He stopped and lifted Hamish onto his back. Hamish smiled, he was use to asian people just picking him up without consent by now. We walked for ages and I really thought that this guy was leading us somewhere other than the Orient Express counter. I was doing my best to take in where we were walking in case I needing to return to Joel alone. We were walking on the road, motorcycles, cars and trucks within inches of us, the noise of horns and vehicles was deafening. There were people everywhere. Hanoi is crazy busy. Again all my instincts were screaming. This is wrong....<br />
<br />
Anyway after about 10 minutes we reach what looks like another entrance to the train station, the male waves in a direction and said, "you get ticket over there, I wait here." Ok I walked in that direction and to my delight I see a small counter for Orient Express. It takes all of about 2 mins for the staff there to issue our train tickets. I return to the male who then takes the tickets from my hands, again I'm not happy with this. He walks to the entrance to the train station and hands over my tickets to the guard who punches them and we enter the train station.<br />
<br />
At this point I start asking, 'My family..... I need to get my family" The male says 'yes, yes' but I'm not convinced he understands what I mean. We do not walk back in the direction we came. We are now walking on the train tracks inside the station. I start to worry that I'm not going to be able to find Joel and the kids from here. We walk for about 5 minutes in between train carriages and platforms. Then I see the area that we had started at, he had taken us via a short cut over the rail crossing. Phew....<br />
<br />
I went out and got Joel and the kids, then this male helped carry of bags to platform 5 where the orient express carriage was boarding. Finally our beds awaited us. Seriously, if it was not for trusting this male against all my better judgement we would have NEVER found the Orient Express counter and NEVER made the train on time. Thank god I was able to find an exception to the rule, the best $10 I've spent all trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOZPRh_2vEvNH2QxxkeQiLJpwfO4P3BrvB0IuRYFtXPAY-ja2D7fGbJdmUUTrwaM6Xn0o2i2QjnvcVtlMb4tTqix-SfwFOPecOsGhhstbKvWNOXFgHfdhes7s1FrlXOscoQ5xko-xG440/s1600/_H1A8513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOZPRh_2vEvNH2QxxkeQiLJpwfO4P3BrvB0IuRYFtXPAY-ja2D7fGbJdmUUTrwaM6Xn0o2i2QjnvcVtlMb4tTqix-SfwFOPecOsGhhstbKvWNOXFgHfdhes7s1FrlXOscoQ5xko-xG440/s400/_H1A8513.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgia loving the top bunk of the overnight 'sleeper' train.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_mPT7chDqKpjupztL_z27wlCzTvDDmXcy-WlPJR7vVOg5cHSUm_USY6656pyB2E_b9QGX0eNGNfhNn1zzrrq7ZPq1-c-OMofi5EpYlfRfJdNxMwRl4Zgzl_e174S646jm1UDZ02G59UT/s1600/_H1A8532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_mPT7chDqKpjupztL_z27wlCzTvDDmXcy-WlPJR7vVOg5cHSUm_USY6656pyB2E_b9QGX0eNGNfhNn1zzrrq7ZPq1-c-OMofi5EpYlfRfJdNxMwRl4Zgzl_e174S646jm1UDZ02G59UT/s400/_H1A8532.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Space was at a premium. 4 beds with a narrow standing area in between. But we all slept like babies the whole 9 hour trip.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The kids settled into bed quickly and we all slept the whole nine hour trip to Sa Pa. We were woken by banging on our door to let us know that the train was approaching the Lai Ca stop. We were met by a transfer from SaPa Eden Hotel. This vehicle drove us the 45 minutes into the Sa Pa village. The most amazing landscape I have ever scene. Simply breath taking. We were greeted with smiles at this wonderful hotel. Although in was only 7am and our room was not yet ready they sent us up onto the rooftop cafe for breakfast. What a way to start the day ! And Sa Pa only got better from here. Will write a more detailed post about that shortly.</span></div>
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-59752578525495660752012-07-14T22:05:00.000-07:002012-07-14T22:05:03.741-07:00Airports Worlds Apart: KLIA - V- LCCT<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">It was my first time
to Malaysia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">On landing at Kuala
Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) I was overwhelmed. Not only by the
responsibility of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>traveling alone
with the children for the first time but also as I had to navigate a foreign
airport in search of a helpdesk to book an onward flight to Bangkok for our
friend Nai. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">This challenge was met by little customer service, and a very
overpriced Malaysian Airlines ticket. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">After that we caught a
bullet train to the baggage collection terminal. This train is contained within
the shopping area of the airport and has trains leaving every 2.5 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The KLIA is a slick and shiny state of the art structure, full of designer shops and high end stores. After we collected our bags and said our goodbyes to Nai, it was time to make our way to our Hotel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I thought it best to feed the children at the airport not knowing what was available at or nearby the hotel. We had a quick bite to eat then made our way to the exit doors of the airport, assuming taxis would be available outside. I was wrong. I needed to go back inside, a 500 meter walk to a taxi ticketing counter and purchase a taxi ticket. There I told them which hotel we needed transport too and they informed me of the price, which I paid to them and not the driver. I was then directed (and by that I mean a wave of her arm) to the exit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I walked back to the exit door. And stood in line, once I reached the front I was told I was in the wrong line, that I needed to go to exit 3 instead. Ok then, off we go, another 200 meters away I line up again. This time we reach a taxi who drives us to our hotel to await the arrival of Joel and Georgia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I had done it. I had jumped thru all the hoops at KLIA and successfully traveled solo with 3 toddlers into a foreign country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The following day we all traveled to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) for our onward flight to Vietnam. This terminal is for Air Asia flights and given that Kuala Lumpur is the hub for Air Asia this terminal is enormous. Basic and busy but utterly enormous. Think super large warehouse or shed like structure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">In strike contrast from KLIA. Apart from a few food outlets and a couple of basic shops there is nothing on offer at LCCT. The checking in area was much like a cattle yard, after checking in we walked to the lounge area and waited for our flight to board. The lounge was basic and very very crowded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You really would think you were in two different countries when you compare these two airports which are only 20 minutes apart in reality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-46793562821546054322012-07-14T01:27:00.000-07:002012-07-14T01:27:09.963-07:00World Vision Sponsor Child VisitJoel and I have had the pleasure in sponsoring a wonderful boy from vietnam since 2003. We not only pledge the small amount of $50 per month to his village but we had the chance to visit with him and his family back in 2005. This was an absolutely amazing experience and we had been waiting for the children to get a little older so we could take them there to meet Hon.<br />
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Our children have grown with pictures of Hon in our home, writing to him and sending him small gifts at Christmas and birthdays. So not only were we keen to have our children finally meet Hon but we wanted to show them the conditions some children live in and impart on them how lucky they are to live in Australia and to appreciate all they have.<br />
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So from our hotel in Hoi An we were met by a world vision representative, in fact this man was the book keeper for world vision project area in which Hon and his family lived. We traveled the one and a half hours from Da Nang to the remote province.<br />
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On our arrival Joel and I were shocked yet glad to see the development the province had made since our last visit. We met with some community leaders who greeted us before taking us to see Hon. WOW - this little boy had grown into a handsome young man.<br />
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We spoke with Hon and his father as best we could via an interpreter. Hon was encouraged to speak to us in English which he did a little but he was not confident and a little embarrassed to do so. He was such a sweet boy. He held Phoenix and Hamish and gave them cuddles. Morgan was a little reserved as usual and stayed with Mum and watched on.<br />
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Hamish was thrilled to be able to give to Hon and his teacher all the drawings and pictures that his prep class had drawn as gifts. Hon looked and spoke with Hamish about these pictures for a while. It was gorgeous to watch, Hamish had a huge smile on his face the entire time.<br />
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Georgia was super keen to play some soccer with Hon. We had bought with us some sports equipment for the local community to use. Several soccer balls, footballs and tennis racquets and balls. Soon we all went out to the front grassed area and the kids had an awesome time kicking the ball around with Hon. It was great that Georgia was able to get the chance to do this with Hon, as we had talked so often about what that would be like. She was in her element.<br />
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We spoke some more with Hon and was glad to hear that it is his wish to study at university to gain as much qualification he can to enable him to get a good job to support himself and his family. This young man was so thankful to us for our sponsorship and on going support to him. We agreed to stay in contact even after the World Vision work is complete in his province in 18 months time. We arranged for the intrepreter who works for World Vision to pass to Hon any direct emails we send him and he will return Hon's replies to us.<br />
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Our visit was far too short but very valuable indeed. I believe the children came away with all the things we had hoped they would. We not only have the memories of this visit but some awesome photographs as well.<br />
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After our visit with Hon we were able to see some of the other great projects that World Vision had implemented since we were there last. We visited a daycare that was built and is funded by World Vision. This centre allows parents to work in the field or farms without the need for taking their babies or small children along with them. They are able to be more productive and the children are safer. While here the children learn nursery rhythms and learn through play. Our children gave some gifts to the daycare and loved listening to the village children sing for us. Phoenix (our social butterfly) made himself at home and was the star attraction.<br />
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-90490076290279181242012-07-13T23:54:00.000-07:002012-07-13T23:54:24.682-07:00Our Hoi An Hospital ExperienceHamish had been complaining of an ear ache for a few days. A common complaint by children who swim in the not so clean waters of Bali.<br />
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We had hoped that if he refrained from swimming that it would pass quickly. Unfortunately this was not the case. As we arrived at Hoi An, Vietnam he was in alot of pain and we noticed some redness and swelling to the back of his ear. We had recently met a little boy who had a severe ear infection from bali waters so we were keen to get on top of this condition before it got too bad.<br />
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I asked the receptionist at our resort if there was a medical centre nearby. She asked what was wrong and I told here. She then made two phone calls. One to the local hospital and one to a taxi. She confirmed that Dr. Quang was on duty and that he was excellent with children. So flying blind and not knowing where we were going, we headed off in a taxi for the short ride to the Pacific Hospital.<br />
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On arrival, it was like stepping into a 1950's hospital or at least how I imagine they looked back then based on the movies of that time. The place was antiquated, yet clean and functional. The nurses worn blue uniforms with a white apron and white triangular hat. Maybe this is why it felt so 1950's. I had to hide my giggles when I approached the head nurse.<br />
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She was expecting us and asked if we were from the Vinh Hung Riverside Resort and I confirmed. She then gave me some paperwork to complete and walked off. A few minutes later, a neatly dressed, well spoken doctor appeared. He introduced himself and read through my paperwork. Soon he showed us to an examination room. I was surprised to see the equipment he was ready to use. Not only did he use the standard, ear light and magnification device that we are accustom to but he then used a microscopic camera to look inside the eardrum with the image appearing on a nearby computer screen.<br />
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Dr Quang took great care in explaining the condition and was very detailed in his treatment plan. He then asked the nurse to fetch the medication for us. He explained what I was to do for the next 5 days and then showed us to the cashier. $65 USD for consultation and medication.<br />
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We were in and out in about 10 mins.<br />
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Overall I was very impressed with the level of care we received. The treatment took affect within 2 days and Hamish was back to his happy healthy self.<br />
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If vietnam is a third world country, their medical system and level of care certainly is not.<br />
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-14204484628054759702012-07-12T18:33:00.000-07:002012-07-12T18:33:32.258-07:00A day out with a French photographer in Hoi An<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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When I was in Hoi An, Vietnam, I booked a photo tour with French Photographer Etienne Bossot. He is a local photographer living in Hoi An and has great knowledge of Hoi An. His connection with the local community made it a great morning. His tour catered for all levels of photographers and was delivered in a relaxed nature. Hopefully I will meet up with Etienne in Laos later in the year! If you are heading to Hoi An I strongly recommend taking this tour. <a href="http://www.hoianphototour.com/">www.hoianphototour.com</a></div>
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This is a photo of Etienne chatting with local. This man runs an ice making business which he allowed us to go and look at.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Craftsman - he makes all the cane products for the village. His hands were like stone.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing lady was happy to pose for a few minutes before getting back to work</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These bamboo boats are all made by the man in the first image.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a lot of activity around the fishing wharfs. However there was a break in the kaos and I caught this lady riding towards me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Craftsman - His face and ands well worn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got low in the water for this shot and was able to freeze the water being splashed. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea snake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woman shovelling freshly crushed ice into buckets of fish which are loaded directly onto a waiting truck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Village kids resting in their backyard. Fishing village life...</td></tr>
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-14969679709480317802012-07-10T19:55:00.001-07:002012-07-10T19:55:17.609-07:00Things settling down.We know we made a big decision to travel with our small children. Most people were worried for one reason or another and then there were the travel minded people who understood why we wanted to do this so very much.<br />
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We received wonderful advice from family, friends and some very special traveling families before we left. Many had warned the there would be a period of adjustment, a period of settling in and it may feel like the worst decision we had ever made. I thought I was prepared for that, I thought I knew it was not going to be a walk in the park etc..... But<br />
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It still knocked us both for a six. The reality was harder than I first imagined. Even with the kids flying well, eating and sleeping well it was hard. I feel blessed that those things were on track at least.<br />
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What we have struggled with is confined spaces. We are always conscious of how noisy our boys can be, they are active and lively. That is not so great at 6am in a small hotel room with paper thin walls. We have struggled with no adult alone time. Sharing one big room has been a challenge at times and we often wake with all of us in one bed.<br />
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Things I have learnt in our first month on the road are;<br />
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My children seem to love travel as much as their parents.<br />
My children are good at adapting to new places, have proven to be able to sleep anywhere.<br />
My children are willing to try new foods. They are keen to order what they see for sale at the local markets. This really surprised me.<br />
My children are kind and accepting of others differences.<br />
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I have more strength and patience than I thought.<br />
It is ok to ask for help.<br />
I will be able to enjoy life again. I will.<br />
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So after some bumping days and a few tears, I think our second month will start to see us settling into this family travel lifestyle a bit more.The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-7385272081813963062012-07-06T02:49:00.001-07:002012-07-06T02:52:03.973-07:00Ubud - A place to recoverWe fell in love with Ubud.<br />
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We visited briefly in November last year without the kids and had a great relaxing break. So once we said goodbye to our friends in Legian it seemed the natural place to head for our last 4 nights in Bali.<br />
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We stayed our first night a the Jati 3 bungalows and although they were lovely and very well located on Monkey Forest Road, we required something with a little more space for the kids to roam and play.<br />
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I jumped on trusty <a href="http://tripadvisor.com/">tripadvisor.com</a> and searched for a vacation rental in ubud and a number of good value villa's came up. I soon learned that the majority of these villas were managed by Private Ubud Villas <a href="http://privateubudvillas.com/">http://privateubudvillas.com</a>. A lovely australian gentleman, Steven Castley answered my request and the following day we moved to the beautiful Villa Palm Merah.<br />
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These 2 bedroom pool villas are luxury plus. The attention to detail that Steven has taken with these villas is second to none. The living space, dining and kitchen is all open aired which gives such a glorious feeling of freedom. We were super surprised how there seemed so few mosquitos in this environment. Much fewer than we experienced in Legian which seemed strange.<br />
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We could have easily stayed put here for a couple of weeks if not months. The villa was perfect, the service which included a bellboy to clean the villa, service the pool and make breakfast for us all was great and Steve popped in a few times to make sure all was satsifactory.<br />
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The area is full of yoga classes, meditation, alternative therapies and gorgeous fresh organic foods.<br />
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The only spoiler was that our friend Nai decided to head back to her family in Thailand. We had hoped that she would continue with us on our travels to help with the children and give Joel and I a chance to have some R & R from time to time. Oh well, all things happen for a reason.<br />
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We definately will be back to Ubud in the near future. I can totally understand why it featured in the Eat, Love and Pray story. It would be a perfect place to recover.<br />
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-45148252380631622972012-07-01T01:23:00.000-07:002012-07-01T01:23:25.530-07:00Good Deed For The Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">It was our second day
in Ubud and we decided to try hiring a scooter to show the boys a few sights
while the baby slept in the care of Nai.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In previous trips to Asia it was always one of the first things Joel would
do was to source a scooter for the duration of our stay as we had the freedom
to explore the area on our own terms. We both loved the feeling that driving
through the busy streets<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or the
greenery of Asia gave us, a true sensory overload. The boys were super excited
about riding on the back of a scooter. So you can imagine Hamish’s joy when he
learned he would in fact be heading up the family scooter, standing on the foot
plate in between Joel’s arms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">As Joel navigated out
of the sleepyness of Penestanan where our pool villa was located, Morgan sat
bright eyed and full of smiles as he sat in between Joel and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one stage he put his arms out as if
he was flying. So I guess he was enjoying the freedom of the scooter as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXH8kFHpyaKyKPz-gEQqTXd82IIU_6Seu_3vI2qYcZwS947hr86FwSV1cYGys83Bz2ieZM3I_anuHx1wfb5O4A03Nt2WEHPYG7bKXXq68laaRVRI0VCIzrFkpSs8oj4P1nPEbW5xehDcO/s1600/_H1A7380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXH8kFHpyaKyKPz-gEQqTXd82IIU_6Seu_3vI2qYcZwS947hr86FwSV1cYGys83Bz2ieZM3I_anuHx1wfb5O4A03Nt2WEHPYG7bKXXq68laaRVRI0VCIzrFkpSs8oj4P1nPEbW5xehDcO/s640/_H1A7380.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">We drove around the
Monkey Forest area a few times, giving the boys a look at the monkeys that
managed to escape the grounds and were waiting for unexpecting tourist to steal
food from or pose for photographs. My money was on the former due to an
unfortunate incident I had with these monkeys some 15 years earlier. So I
personally was glad when the boys were happy to watch the monkeys from the
safety of the idling scooter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">After that we head up
and down some side street, taking in the scenery of Ubud and enjoying the warm
weather. We came across some pretty rice fields and saw a photo opportunity.
Joel asked a man passing by, an American tourist I believe, if he would mind
taking a photo of us sitting on the scooter in front of this beautiful backdrop
of bright green. The man kindly agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">While Joel got his
camera set. I asked the man how he was enjoying Ubud. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “Just fine, until I went and
got myself lost.” He went on to explain how he had arrived the night before
after dark and was ill prepared when leaving the hotel to go for a quick
morning walk. He did not know the name of the hotel nor the street it was
located. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So after a quick
photo, we offered to help him find his hotel. While the boys and I found a
nearby café, Joel and the American tourist rode off in search of a five or six
story tall building, located somewhere in the Ubud centre !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I had only planned on
getting myself and the boys a cold drink while we waited, but that drink then
turned into lunch, which then turned into I think we have overstayed of welcome
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About one and half hours
later Joel returned to the Café. But the American tourist was still a
passenger, they had had no luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So I headed off in a
taxi with the boys back to the pool villa while Joel headed to the nearest
tourist office to see if they could help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Over lunch and during
the taxi ride home the boys had lots of questions about what daddy was doing
and why. It was the perfect opportunity to explain to them about helping others
and taking time to give back in even the smallest ways when and if you are
able. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So while the boys had
yet another swim in our villa, Joel continued to drive the American tourist
around before asking a travel information centre if they had a list of hotels
in the area, to see if any of the names rang a bell with the gentleman. When
one did, the travel agent kindly called the hotel to confirm that the gentleman
was in fact a registered guest there and he was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">So with address and
directions in hand, Joel scootered his way to the American’s villa back to his
waiting wife who had become a tad concerned about the whereabouts of her
husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Both the gentleman and
his wife were very grateful for the assistance that Joel gave to them.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His good deed for the day was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-39105298700824190922012-06-25T04:55:00.000-07:002012-06-25T04:55:39.821-07:00Holiday is over - but the travel has just begun.After 13 fun filled days in Legian, we said goodbye to our friends who unfortunately were headed back to the cold winter in Australia. It seemed surreal that we were continuing and that this journey of ours is about to begin.<br />
<br />
This is honestly the first time I have felt anxious about what we are doing. Like the penny just dropped about the enormity of what we are doing. This feeling was mainly because the children did not handle leaving their friends well. Morgan wanted to go home too, Hamish is still asking when are we going back to Villa Asih to see his friends again.<br />
<br />
Their behaviour has been horrid. Both Joel and I feel like we are constantly playing referee and chastising them. Conflict of any kind is something we try to avoid given our past but at the moment we are surrounded by it. I feel like a ticking timebomb and I sense Joel is not much better.<br />
<br />
Today I felt like going home. I really did. But there are lessons to learn and by quiting would not allow the growth and transition that we hoped this trip would bring. So I'll allow myself, Joel and the boys to have a few rough days and try to keep my head above water in the meantime.<br />
<br />
There have been a couple of positive things over the past few days though. We met up with three other travelling families. The inspiring Going Anywhere, Travel with Bender and A King's Life. All three families are committed to long-term if not indefinate travel with their children.<br />
<br />
Going Anywhere's, Chris and Jill (www.goinganyway.net) were absolutely awe inspiring. They are an Aussie couple traveling with there 5 children, one of which requires a wheelchair. Personally I found Jill to be the zen type of mother that I strive to be. Our time with Chris and Jill was also a great source of info as they have just completed travels thru most of the countries on our list.<br />
<br />
Travel with Bender's (www.travelwithbender.com) Erin and Josh are also a aussie couple traveling with their two toddlers. Similarly, they have a 16 month age gap between their two children. There are also just beginning their family adventure and Bali was the obvious starting point for them too. I'm sure our paths will cross again along the ways.<br />
<br />
Sabina and Keith of A King's Life (www.akingslife.com) have been traveling for a massive, 785 days and do not plan to stop anytime soon. They have two gorgeous children who enjoy traveling with mum and dad. We have been fortunate enough to rent a villa within walking distance of this lovely family and we plan to meet again before we leave Bali.<br />
<br />
So although the holiday is over......... the travel has just begun !<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURD0PA3cHSBHQrN8mZvdAWgqHk10Pm3Rp6uF_5bA4h8RH5XJu-mEWUdI5KQggjV0T4u7bMBROCPw45arFbrFU3u4ulebvQI4ZvP5YZ3T6RsDGNxIhZHQqShRuFLRz9xTXeVc0H5wvIfig/s1600/_H1A6778opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURD0PA3cHSBHQrN8mZvdAWgqHk10Pm3Rp6uF_5bA4h8RH5XJu-mEWUdI5KQggjV0T4u7bMBROCPw45arFbrFU3u4ulebvQI4ZvP5YZ3T6RsDGNxIhZHQqShRuFLRz9xTXeVc0H5wvIfig/s400/_H1A6778opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-60897725886287369822012-06-19T01:06:00.000-07:002012-06-19T01:06:34.858-07:00Highlights of Bali - Week One<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0077cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<h2 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Bali may be small in size - you can drive around the entire coast in one long day - but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ask travellers what Bali means to them and you'll get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerising dance performances and ribbons of beaches are just some of the images people cherish.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Small obviously doesn't mean limited. The manic whirl of <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=356553" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0077cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kuta</a> segues into the luxury of Seminyak. The artistic swirl of <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=356560" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0077cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ubud</a> is a counterpoint to misty treks amid the volcanoes. Mellow beach towns like Amed, <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=356554" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0077cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lovina</a> and Pemuteran can be found right round the coast and just offshore is the laid-back idyll of <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=356555" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0077cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nusa Lembongan</a>.</span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">
A visit to Bali means that you are in the most visitor-friendly island of <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=356546" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0077cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Indonesia</a>. There are pleasures of the body, whether a massage on the beach or a hedonistic interlude in a sybaritic spa. Shopping that will put 'extra bag' at the top of your list. Food and drink ranging from the freshest local cuisine bursting with the flavours of the markets to food from around the globe, often prepared by chefs and served in restaurants that are world class. From a cold Bintang at sunset to an epic night clubbing in <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=356553" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0077cc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kuta</a>, your social whirl is limited only by your own fortitude.</span></span><br />
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Jimbaran Bay</u></b> is fringed by one of the best beaches in Bali. The sand is fine and white, and the calm waters make it very suitable for swimming, children and adults alike. The southern end of the beach close to the Four Seasons Resort is the quietest but the whole stretch is very pleasant indeed.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: url(data:image/png; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Best to arrive at around 5PM, take a seat in one of the restaurants located on the beach, order food drink, and enjoy the romantic sunset while waiting for your orders. The sunsets in Jimbaran are very beautiful.</ul>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMUk2rl-cXL6KPGlpwZJYkfT53cXkuslDcgEiFW5JHG8I8A4h5JkPjs0fZ9hcKuNcADDx5kl-Hg5ELrr8xOLY21cHuCs4Y3q2OvyaAdD6ycrvdHHrXgln__6AVmkBSyxHv1psahH2QUKS/s1600/_H1A6252opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMUk2rl-cXL6KPGlpwZJYkfT53cXkuslDcgEiFW5JHG8I8A4h5JkPjs0fZ9hcKuNcADDx5kl-Hg5ELrr8xOLY21cHuCs4Y3q2OvyaAdD6ycrvdHHrXgln__6AVmkBSyxHv1psahH2QUKS/s640/_H1A6252opt.jpg" width="640" /></a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Turtle Island</u></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> is just off the coast of Nusa Dua. We enjoyed a glass-bottom boat ride from the shores of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">Nusa Dua to the nearby reef where the kids got to feed to local black fish some bread. The traffic (on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">the water) was insane. Parasailing, jetski and a multitude of other water sports all mushed into together. How there were no accidents is beyond me. Anyway, after feeding the fish, we traveled approximately 15 mins to the nearby Turtle Island. Here we met our lovely guide, Akmed. He showed us around the island and took time to explain to us and the kids how the turtle conservation program works. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">This month alone they have successful released 28 turtle. They hatch and care for the turtles until around 8 months old and return them to their natural surroundings. The kids enjoyed holding the turtles and some of the other animals on display. While lunching at the island, the boys we 'invaded' by locals. It is school holidays here in Bali, so lots of balinese families are during family friendly activities also. Our kids soon became the centre of attention. Not that they complained</span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">To be continued with Waterbomb Park and Safari and Marine Park visits.</span></span></li>
</ul>The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-20219836084939839362012-06-15T01:54:00.000-07:002012-06-15T01:55:24.132-07:00Preparation paid dividends while flying with our trioTo say we were apprehensive about our first flight with our three young children would be an understand. Our sons are typical boys, full of energy and mischief. In preparation we spoke to them often about what it would be like to fly and what noises they might hear etc. The night before our scheduled flight we opted to stay at the Holiday Inn near Sydney airport to ensure the kids could stick to their normal bedtime routine and not have to be woken early to travel the 2 hours to Sydney in the wee hours of the morning.<br />
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This worked out great. After a full night sleep, we had a quick breakfast before heading to the airport. Our day started afresh. While J checked in our backpack, I amused the boys by walking around looking at the sights, but we quickly became a sight ourselves. Many a person stopped to wish me luck or tell me I was crazy or braver then they. I was loaded up I guess, Phoenix in his kelty child carrier on my back and Morgan and Hamish holding a hand each. I'm sure some thought I was traveling alone with the trio.<br />
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We breezed through customs without any problems, settled in the departure area long enough for the kids to burn off any last minute energy at the McDonald's playground, then boarded our flight.<br />
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Phoenix was alseep before we took off. Both Morgan and Hamish scored a window seat so had a great time experiencing their first take off. The smiles on their faces was priceless. They both dived into the oversized snack bag I bought along. After munching on a quarter of the supplies in the first 10 minutes they settled down into flight mode. Morgan fell asleep on my lap. Awesome, 2 out of 3 asleep. At this point we thought it timely to surprise Hamish with his new 'holiday' toy. An apple iTouch. He was over the moon and sat quietly playing games and watched a new movie on his new best friend.<br />
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This allowed mum and dad some very unexpected rest time for which I was very grateful.<br />
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Once Morgan woke we gave him his iTouch and he took no time at all to master the games section. Kids these days are techno wizards I tell you.<br />
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The remainder of the flight went by so fast. The 6 hour flight truly felt like 3. About an hour out from landing, I changed the children into some cooler clothing, feed them some sandwiches and fruit and made them use the bathroom. All these things were in the hope that I could quell any whinging of 'Im hot, I'm hungry or I need to go to the toilet' while we were transiting through the Denpasar airport. Again this preparation worked well. The process was fast and easy. We were on our way to our villa before we knew it.<br />
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Here's hoping that our next flight is just as enjoyable for all.The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-45362436383688190902012-06-07T20:02:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:03:58.113-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-41141739514818176072012-05-25T23:04:00.000-07:002012-05-25T23:04:10.894-07:00Who are we ?With little over two weeks until we leave our home in New South Wales, Australia, we thought it time to properly introduce ourselves. We are Joel and Cindy Fuhrer, we have been married for 4 years and absolutely love to travel.<br />
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Before our children were born we did plenty of solo and couple travel through Europe, the United Kingdom, America and Canada, New Zealand and many countries within South East Asia.
We now have four children, Georgia 9, Hamish 4, Morgan 3 and Phoenix 18 months.<br />
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We always knew that we would continue to travel once we had children but never in our wildest dreams did we think an adventure like we are about to embark on was possible with children. We resided to the fact that short, expensive holidays were the only way we could continue to indulge in our mutual passion.<br />
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How wrong we were.<br />
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Speaking of mutual passions, we both had worked together for several years as police officers. Some 12 years in fact. To cut a long story short, this type of work took its toll on us both physically and mentally. We are now both medically discharged from the police service. This pains us in a way that is impossible to describe. We lost our careers, the majority of our income and to a big extent our colleagues including some friends.<br />
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During this time we have learnt some very difficult life lessons. To say life has been challenging of late is a major understatement. This is where our blog name comes from.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;">"When life hands you lemons – you make lemonade.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;">This ageless proverb has long served as a beacon of hope and comfort to grieving souls worn by life’s most complex and heart-wrenching difficulties.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So when life hands you a lemon, you can either toss it aside and wait for an apple or you can take life as it has come to you and make a glass of lemonade to share with others through the positive light and influences that you emit. The gift of giving always finds a way to give itself back to you – a thousand times over and only you have the ability to decide which path is best.</span></span><br />
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This adventure marks the beginning of the next phase of our lives, we don't know what will happen, where we will be lead or what the future holds for us work-wise but we do know this feels right for now. We will continue to travel, learn and give back in any way we can along the way.The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-70940450335121019132012-05-25T22:36:00.000-07:002012-05-25T22:36:23.765-07:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Some photographs taken in Indonesia in November 2011. We absolutely loved Ubud - so much so that we are thinking that we will head back there for a few days before we leave Bali in late June.<br />
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<br />The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-9922699553983050322012-05-10T01:28:00.001-07:002012-05-10T01:28:45.728-07:00The countdown is on.Tomorrow marks only 30 days until we leave, the countdown is certainly on. Our family travel adventure is so so close, we are excited, nervous and tingling all at the same time. All the necessary planning things are falling into place. I just hope and pray we can manage to fit all that is required into our one 75tr backpack. Remembering that is for 5 persons
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Our 4 year old son is super keen for Bali and Vietnam especially Sapa. The overnight train to get there in particular. Our 3 year old is just all talk of Disneyland in honk honk (aka hong kong). He also is keen to see and have his photo taken with a koala whilst at kuala lumpur ..... LOL - kids are so precious and a laugh a minute arn't they. Joel and I have travelled quite a bit especially through south east Asia pre-kids but we are looking forward to seeing the surprise, shock and joy in our kids as they see this wonderful part of the world themselves.
Any last minute tips or piece or advice we should know ?The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118070211691469491.post-36587423900731362722012-04-12T15:05:00.000-07:002012-04-12T15:05:05.310-07:00Plans they are a changingOur plans they are a a changing........... but only slightly.<br />
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After our time in the Bali villa with friends. We are now heading to Vietnam as our first stop. So 5 nights in Ho Chi Minh (the old Saigon), then 6 nights in Hoi An (where we will get to visit our sponsor child, Hon through World Vision Australia) then onto Hanoi. Once there we travel by overnight train to Sapa. This is the part of Vietnam we are most excited to see. The scenery looks absolutely amazing. We will stay there about a week (or maybe more if we like it as much as we think). We hope to do a homestay visit with one of the hilltribe minorities whilst there.<br />
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After Vietnam, we heading to Laos then onto Northern Thailand. Well that's the plan at the present time.<br />
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Oh and another piece of news. We finally met with (well via Skype) our friend Nai, who will be joining us to teach / help out with the kids. She is lovely, I'm excited to get to know her better.<br />
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Accommodation for Vietnam almost all sorted. HCMC is proving to be a little difficult as there are so many to choose from.The Fuhrer's Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11542263488398126150noreply@blogger.com0