CHINA...HERE WE COME

So Where to next???

The stunning light show at Victoria Harbour...xx

My husband and I made our first trip to China on May 4th, 2007, the date is firmly locked in my mind as it was the first time that he pushed me on an international flight leaving my 4 beautiful babies behind, It was also on arrival that we learnt of the abduction of Madeleine McCann.

In 2007 we visited Shanghai and Beijing for business and absolutely vowed and declared that when the children were old enough, we would return with them to show them this magical country full of culture and history.

Okay, so fast forward 5 years and I am faced with a dilemma. Next month, my eldest baby boy will turn 14 and I feel that we have such a small window of opportunity to travel to all of these amazing destinations which I want to share and experience with my children, and 4 years time, will fly and who know's where he will be? I don't want to look back with any regrets and fit in as much as possible to their childhoods as we can.

So, we have decided that 2013, The Year of The Snake, China it is!!! I feel that the children are all at a good age to be able to handle the Great wall of china, and possibly toboggan down it, if it all becomes too hot and whiney, experience the Forbidden City, Fly a kite in Tiananmen square and the possibility of a visit to an orphanage really excited my daughters, Im sure the orphanage wouldn't notice any missing babies, would they? I can't wait to visit the armies of terracotta warriors in Xian and then the excitement of a week in Hong Kong, which we also can't wait to experience with the children,  I adore Hong Kong, It is such a vibrant City and such a family friendly destination.Disneyland, Oceanpark, Victoria Harbour, The peak tram and Madame Taussauds, the shopping, amazing food, The symphony sound and Light show at Victoria Harbour....so much to do, so little time to fit it all in....

So, the flights are booked and the countdown is on....xxx

CHINA...HERE WE COME

So Where to next???

The stunning light show at Victoria Harbour...xx

My husband and I made our first trip to China on May 4th, 2007, the date is firmly locked in my mind as it was the first time that he pushed me on an international flight leaving my 4 beautiful babies behind, It was also on arrival that we learnt of the abduction of Madeleine McCann.

In 2007 we visited Shanghai and Beijing for business and absolutely vowed and declared that when the children were old enough, we would return with them to show them this magical country full of culture and history.

Okay, so fast forward 5 years and I am faced with a dilemma. Next month, my eldest baby boy will turn 14 and I feel that we have such a small window of opportunity to travel to all of these amazing destinations which I want to share and experience with my children, and 4 years time, will fly and who know's where he will be? I don't want to look back with any regrets and fit in as much as possible to their childhoods as we can.

So, we have decided that 2013, The Year of The Snake, China it is!!! I feel that the children are all at a good age to be able to handle the Great wall of china, and possibly toboggan down it, if it all becomes too hot and whiney, experience the Forbidden City, Fly a kite in Tiananmen square and the possibility of a visit to an orphanage really excited my daughters, Im sure the orphanage wouldn't notice any missing babies, would they? I can't wait to visit the armies of terracotta warriors in Xian and then the excitement of a week in Hong Kong, which we also can't wait to experience with the children,  I adore Hong Kong, It is such a vibrant City and such a family friendly destination.Disneyland, Oceanpark, Victoria Harbour, The peak tram and Madame Taussauds, the shopping, amazing food, The symphony sound and Light show at Victoria Harbour....so much to do, so little time to fit it all in....

So, the flights are booked and the countdown is on....xxx

Floating Lanterns.....

This time last year we had purchased 2 Khoom Fay ( wish lanterns) in Koh Lipe after watching them being set off all over the Island in amazement and headed to Sunset Beach Bar to watch the sunset with our new English mate Mike and children in tow.

 After one failed attempt, the owner of the bar tried again and lit the lantern and we stood there holding it and waiting for the heat to whisk it off into the night sky. It was pure joy, watching this beautiful lantern magically float into the night sky....until the wind changed direction and the burning lantern started heading into the lush tropical jungle of the Mountain View Resort. We then had a very angry Belgian owner of the property to deal with.....not that there was ever any risk?? We are in Thailand? There are no laws regarding setting off fireworks or floating lanterns? Right??  And the bar owner set it off for us?? Surely it was all good?? Luckily for all of us the magic lantern burnt out, before causing any damage!!! EPIC FAIL. 

Enjoying drinks @ Koh Lipe's Sunset Bar waiting for the stunning sunset..xxx

Isabella and Lucie making new friends @ Sunset Beach Bar...xxx

Fast forward 11.5 months and tonight we set off Khoom Fai lanterns on the beach of Ao Nang. It was so much fun and such a breathtaking sight as they light the night sky. My husband didn't want to partake in this event due to our previous experience.  Thai Lanterns are another phrase that is sometimes used to refer to as Wishing or Lucky Lanterns. It was seriously like a scene out of the animated movie 'TANGLED' and the kids enjoyed this immensely.

Our 'Thai' friend igniting the wish lantern...xxx

The Thai wish lantern is the safer and quieter alternative to fireworks that create an amazing visual effect once they are released into the sky. It is considered good luck to release a thai lantern with the belief that misfortune will fly away with the lanterns. The offering of lanterns is also said to symbolise knowledge, their light guiding revellers on the right path to follow in life. If you are holidaying in Thailand this is an absolute must....just take note of which direction the wind is blowing...haha..xxx

William and I ready for lift off...xxx

Like a scene from the children's movie 'TANGLED'...xxx

Making a wish...xxx

The children getting into the spirit of 'Lucky Lantern's'...xxx

This video is of our attempt go lighting our lantern in Koh Lipe last year..xx

Floating Lanterns.....

This time last year we had purchased 2 Khoom Fay ( wish lanterns) in Koh Lipe after watching them being set off all over the Island in amazement and headed to Sunset Beach Bar to watch the sunset with our new English mate Mike and children in tow.

 After one failed attempt, the owner of the bar tried again and lit the lantern and we stood there holding it and waiting for the heat to whisk it off into the night sky. It was pure joy, watching this beautiful lantern magically float into the night sky....until the wind changed direction and the burning lantern started heading into the lush tropical jungle of the Mountain View Resort. We then had a very angry Belgian owner of the property to deal with.....not that there was ever any risk?? We are in Thailand? There are no laws regarding setting off fireworks or floating lanterns? Right??  And the bar owner set it off for us?? Surely it was all good?? Luckily for all of us the magic lantern burnt out, before causing any damage!!! EPIC FAIL. 

Enjoying drinks @ Koh Lipe's Sunset Bar waiting for the stunning sunset..xxx

Isabella and Lucie making new friends @ Sunset Beach Bar...xxx

Fast forward 11.5 months and tonight we set off Khoom Fai lanterns on the beach of Ao Nang. It was so much fun and such a breathtaking sight as they light the night sky. My husband didn't want to partake in this event due to our previous experience.  Thai Lanterns are another phrase that is sometimes used to refer to as Wishing or Lucky Lanterns. It was seriously like a scene out of the animated movie 'TANGLED' and the kids enjoyed this immensely.

Our 'Thai' friend igniting the wish lantern...xxx

The Thai wish lantern is the safer and quieter alternative to fireworks that create an amazing visual effect once they are released into the sky. It is considered good luck to release a thai lantern with the belief that misfortune will fly away with the lanterns. The offering of lanterns is also said to symbolise knowledge, their light guiding revellers on the right path to follow in life. If you are holidaying in Thailand this is an absolute must....just take note of which direction the wind is blowing...haha..xxx

William and I ready for lift off...xxx

Like a scene from the children's movie 'TANGLED'...xxx

Making a wish...xxx

The children getting into the spirit of 'Lucky Lantern's'...xxx

This video is of our attempt go lighting our lantern in Koh Lipe last year..xx

Thailand Deadliest destination For Aussies....

Gosh, after returning from an amazing 16 days in Thailand in January, we returned home later that week to read that Thailand is in fact the deadliest tourist destination for Australians. We absolutely LOVE Thailand, and each year we can't wait to head back for a holiday in tropical paradise, but these recent statistics had got me thinking "Am I putting my family's life in jeopardy by travelling to South East Asia??".

Sure, we as a family have experienced a few mishaps in Thailand, and as most of you have probably read, we have had 2 encounters with post rabies vaccinations, within days of each other...'Just bad Luck', my husband and I agreed, but after our near death experience in a speedboat In January, which really terrified us, we vowed that we would never travel by speedboat in Thailand again. Next year Fly in, Fly out destination...Koh Samui was looking grand.

2 days later, William lines up for his dose...xxx

Isabella after her first dose of a 5 course Post rabies vaccination course...xxx

But these statistics have really worried me, even though, I am known as 'Safety Mum'..we don't take risks, we don't ride scooters, the children always have their lifejackets and we always use a private transfer van fitted with seat belts. I realise that a lot of these are tragic accidents, and the majority involving alcohol, risk taking and scooter accidents...but What If??? What if one of my children was stung on an Isolated Island by a deadly box jelly fish and we couldn't  seek the medical help we needed? What if we were in an accident, that was life threatening??? What If..What if..What If?????

My girlfriend who is heading to Thailand again in April alerted me last night to the beautiful young Australian boy who died after being poisoned in Bali by methanol poisoning. She had previously told me a story about a prior trip to phuket where her husband, Brother In Law and mate were drink spiked with Methanol and how scary it was. I rushed home to watch the interview of Liam Davies and just how tragic it was, imagining if this was my son in 4 or 5 years, and if Liam had proper medical attention Liam would have been still alive. Such tragedy. And then there was the story of my girlfriend and the scooter.....ARGH!!! Luckily, it wasn't that bad, and they lived to tell the story......

Yes, maybe we are taking a risk travelling to Thailand and South east Asia with our children, but we could just as easily have a freak accident in Tropical Far North Queensland or just outside of our home. Even though this has scared me a little , It won't deter us from travelling to Thailand in future years and as the old saying go's 'If you can't afford to take out travel insurance when you travel overseas...then you can't afford to travel...'.

Luckily our travel Insurance is absolutely brilliant and if we are ever in trouble or in an emergency situation they will fly in  Medical assistance and mercenaries to rescue us. http://acchealth.com.au/ Stay safe, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and always be extremely careful, not just in Thailand, but worldwide.....xxxx

Paradise....xxx

 

Thailand Deadliest destination For Aussies....

Gosh, after returning from an amazing 16 days in Thailand in January, we returned home later that week to read that Thailand is in fact the deadliest tourist destination for Australians. We absolutely LOVE Thailand, and each year we can't wait to head back for a holiday in tropical paradise, but these recent statistics had got me thinking "Am I putting my family's life in jeopardy by travelling to South East Asia??".

Sure, we as a family have experienced a few mishaps in Thailand, and as most of you have probably read, we have had 2 encounters with post rabies vaccinations, within days of each other...'Just bad Luck', my husband and I agreed, but after our near death experience in a speedboat In January, which really terrified us, we vowed that we would never travel by speedboat in Thailand again. Next year Fly in, Fly out destination...Koh Samui was looking grand.

2 days later, William lines up for his dose...xxx

Isabella after her first dose of a 5 course Post rabies vaccination course...xxx

But these statistics have really worried me, even though, I am known as 'Safety Mum'..we don't take risks, we don't ride scooters, the children always have their lifejackets and we always use a private transfer van fitted with seat belts. I realise that a lot of these are tragic accidents, and the majority involving alcohol, risk taking and scooter accidents...but What If??? What if one of my children was stung on an Isolated Island by a deadly box jelly fish and we couldn't  seek the medical help we needed? What if we were in an accident, that was life threatening??? What If..What if..What If?????

My girlfriend who is heading to Thailand again in April alerted me last night to the beautiful young Australian boy who died after being poisoned in Bali by methanol poisoning. She had previously told me a story about a prior trip to phuket where her husband, Brother In Law and mate were drink spiked with Methanol and how scary it was. I rushed home to watch the interview of Liam Davies and just how tragic it was, imagining if this was my son in 4 or 5 years, and if Liam had proper medical attention Liam would have been still alive. Such tragedy. And then there was the story of my girlfriend and the scooter.....ARGH!!! Luckily, it wasn't that bad, and they lived to tell the story......

Yes, maybe we are taking a risk travelling to Thailand and South east Asia with our children, but we could just as easily have a freak accident in Tropical Far North Queensland or just outside of our home. Even though this has scared me a little , It won't deter us from travelling to Thailand in future years and as the old saying go's 'If you can't afford to take out travel insurance when you travel overseas...then you can't afford to travel...'.

Luckily our travel Insurance is absolutely brilliant and if we are ever in trouble or in an emergency situation they will fly in  Medical assistance and mercenaries to rescue us. http://acchealth.com.au/ Stay safe, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and always be extremely careful, not just in Thailand, but worldwide.....xxxx

Paradise....xxx