HOLD UP…..MY SISTER'S WHAT??? AND I'M GOING TO BE WHERE????

The stunning bride and groom...xxx

Well…It's official!! I'm going to be an Auntie again!!! That's right my little baby sister is pregnant! YAY!!!! And I'm going to be where????

 My little sister finally found the man of her dreams and after...(insert sigh here)... a fairytale wedding...they are finally pregnant with their first precious little bundle of joy.

  You see, my brother In Law, is a true survivor...after beating cancer, not only once, but 3 times, falling pregnant has been a roller coaster ride, the ups and downs of IVF cycle after cycle, the heartbreak, emotions and tears that it endures, ( I was also on the ride for my other sister) which was tough as I was secretly concealing baby number 4........ but finally we have a little miracle and I'm super excited…I just LOVE babies, which you may have already gathered, having 4 of my own and all! And could have easily had another one, which has been contemplated over the past years, but  I'm getting too old now and on the other side of parenting coping with teenagers, an entire different species!

My siblings and I are all very close...there are 4 of us and we all live within 3 hours of each other, I think that's possibly the reason that I wanted 4 children, to be just like my Mum and be surrounded by lots of love and sweet babies. Family is the most important thing in the world to me and I can't wait to have a little baby to love and spoil.

But, SHOCK, HORROR.... the travel agent in me, had already booked our annual overseas holidays way back in August last year, after coming across a deal, that I couldn't possibly resist.....and It's when the baby is due!!!

All I can hope for my little sister is that she is lucky enough to nurture that little baby for at least an extra 9 days past her delivery date, just as I did!

Congratulations Louise and Juddy, you are going to be AMAZING parents, and If you need a babysitter, I'm just around the corner...xxx

With my gorgeous siblings...xxx

The Fairytale wedding...xxx

Such a beautiful bridal party...xxx

10 Things You Will LOVE About The Reef View Hotel

We have just returned from an extremely relaxing 10 nights on the stunning Island of Hamilton Island. It was our first visit to Hamilton Island , part of the Whitsundays, located in the heart of the great Barrier Reef,  it is one of Australia's most spectacular and sought after holiday destinations. On Hamilton Island you'll be surrounded by pristine white beaches, and a kaleidoscope of coral and marine life. Hamilton Island is the perfect base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and world famous Whitehaven Beach, which is a MUST.

We chose to stay at The Reef View Hotel, and this is our top 10 reasons why you will LOVE it as well.

1. THE ROOMS: The well appointed rooms are huge! We opted for a King and an interconnecting twin for the Children. The rooms are massive and all have stunning views out to the Coral Sea, when booking ask for a higher room for the most incredible view. And BONUS….the rooms are serviced daily….winning!

Our view from the balcony...

  2. DIDNT OPT FOR EARLY CHECK IN? Didn't opt for early check in? No worries. After checking in to the Hotel, make your way to the transfers and departure lounge, choose to read in the lounge, freshen up, change into your bathers, grab some beach towels and hit the beach, whilst waiting for your room.

      3.LOCATION: The Reef View, located directly from the stunning Catseye Beach is perfect.

4.ACTIVITIES: As part of your Accommodation package all guests of The Reef View Hotel have free access to Catamaran Hire, Paddle boarding hire, canoe and sea kayak hire, Beach Volley Ball and all snorkel equipment for the duration of your stay.

Lucie having a blast water walking...

5.ENTERTAINMENT: I seriously can't say that I have ever stayed at a resort that is so Family friendly. During our visit The Hotel had scheduled activities daily for resort guests, from water walking, moonlight movies each night in the gardens, nightly story time, live music by the pool, live magician shows, which was quite interesting as we noticed this guy and I said, he looks really familiar, we got chatting and he was a Melbourne based entertainer that we had hired for a corporate event 3 years ago (It's a small world!) and daily quizzes and activities. It was brilliant! The Island also has its own 10 pin bowling alley, Go Kart track and mini golf course at an additional charge.

6. POOLS: With access to 4 stunning pools to choose from within the resort, this may be the biggest decision you will make whilst on Holiday.

7.BONUS: KIDS UNDER 12 EAT FREE. From a choice of 5 beautiful restaurants, Kids under 12 eat free. Choose to dine at Sails Steak and Seafood Grill, The Pool Terrace, Wild Life Hamilton Island Koala Cafe, the newly refurbished Manta Ray, overlooking the marina and my absolute favourite Coca Chu, with a fun, fresh menu inspired by the hawker-style street food of South East Asia, Coa Chu offers a fun, relaxed vibe and a peaceful location overlooking Catseye Beach.

8. BREAKFASTS: I'm not normally much of a breakfast person, but the range of fresh food and  freshly squeezed juices offered was huge. Each morning you can choose to eat at one of 3 restaurants, all a little different and you can also eat breakfast with the Koalas, novel but fun for the younger Children.

9. HIKING: If you are a fan of hiking, the trails to passage peak and Escape Beach all start directly behind the Hotel.

10. GYM: If you like to workout and maintain your fitness routine on Holiday, you have full access to the Hotel Gym. Tennis Courts and Basketball courts are also available for use.

WOW! WHAT A YEAR….

Watching the stunning fireworks from our Hotel in Singapore.

New Years Eve, 2013

Well, what can I say? 2014 certainly kicked off with a bang. We introduced the Children to Singapore between Christmas and New Year's Eve, staying at The beautiful Fullerton Hotel on Clarke Quay, before flying off to the stunning Island of Koh Samui, Thailand for 16 nights, where our friends joined us for part of our Holiday, the food was to die for, the fishing was fabulous and the Muay Thai, again a favourite #notfortheweak... you can read more about Koh Samui here

This resort was heavenly.

Romantic dinner on the beach?

Amazing Fishing..

#notfortheweak #Muaythai

February rolled on and it was back to school with my baby doll starting college and routine was back with a vengeance and I had a severe case of the holiday blues, that's where the Thai cooking class came in handy!

Between working, and juggling family life we were counting down to our Holiday to Hawaii. It was just magical. It had taken 6 months for my Mum to convince my Dad to come and join us and then fly home with the precious cargo, whilst Hubbie and I continued on for a conference. I never dreamt in a million years that my Dad (who had never flown in his life, and the fact that he had absolutely no desire to do so whatever)…. would get on that flight, but he was amazing, I was so proud of him and we had the most amazing Family Holiday with My parents, which you can read about here, here and here. Hawaii truly is paradise!

Meet and Greet Lei at Oahu.

Heading to Chiefs Luau.

I almost bought him home.

There were a few interstate trips, a mini break in Melbourne where the Children met Usain Bolt, and my sister and I watched him work out….HOT, I'm not too sure who was more impressed, the kids, my sister or I?? Actually…I secretly think it was my sister to tell you the truth…..x

Louis, Isabella, Lucie and William meeting the fastest man in the world… Usain Bolt.

The year has just flown by so incredibly fast. And the travel agent in me has 2015 all planned and ready to go, with a little bonus Holiday in March, which was never on the agenda, It's going to be fabulous!

When I started my blog back in September 2012 it was merely my own little space and a journal for my Children to reflect upon as they grew older, and remember some of our amazing and crazy holiday experiences and adventures. Little did I know that my little blog would grow so quickly and gain such an amazing base of followers, turn into a career as a home based travel agent and become such a passion. In that time, I have 'met' and become great friends with some of the most amazing readers / clients. I absolutely love reading your emails, comments and fan questions each week. My blog really has lead to so many different opportunities and friendships, and I thank each of you for being part of that.

I sincerely wish each of my readers, friends, family and followers a wonderful New Year, and I look forward to sharing our journey and following yours in 2015.

Happy New Year, see you all in 2015.

Love,

Elizabeth xox

TRAVELLING WITH YOUR TEENS…..

Learning to surf on the iconic Waikiki Beach… 

I'll be the first to admit that travelling when the Children were babies was so much easier. Sure, there was no sleep, lack of routine, lots of nappies, intermittent crying and pretty much taking everything bar the kitchen sink to go away on Holidays. But,they were happy to go anywhere, as long as it was with you.

 This pleasant phase continues until the moment they blow out the last candle on their 13th Birthday cake, or thereabouts….but currently, mine are still happy and willing ( as long as we are paying!)

Ahh, teenagers, the joys. Those gorgeous, moody, spotty, surly, hormonal, door slamming, sardonic creatures. One minute your BFF and the next your worst enemy!

Suddenly, your family dynamics have changed by the teen in the corner, who now has a fondness for sleeping untill midday and technology. Here are a few tips to get you through the impending Christmas Holidays!

1. Treat them like an adult

‘I’m not a kid anymore’, they wail (while acting like a six year-old). So if they're old enough send them off on a group holiday on their own and see how they cope, building huts in Cambodia? Sure why not? Which is probably not what they had in mind, but that’s the deal. Forget Bali, Thailand, Maldives, Hawaii, Europe and stop whinging, you brat. 

2. Treat them like a teenager

One minute they hate you because no-one else’s parents make them be home by midnight (Your just ridiculous Mum!) and the next, they want their mum…awwww. Don’t expect them to behave like an adult. Don’t expect them to enjoy museums, ( because to be honest, as a teenager, I found them totally boring as well) and I remember what it was like to be a teen! Don't expect them to help out with all of the bookings (thats my job anyhow). Their teenage years are heart-breakingly difficult enough, figuring out how to deal with those raging hormones, so let them mope about the house watching Breaking Dawn/ The Vampire Diaries... if they want to.

Happy teenagers? This isn't real, they're models

3. Let them choose activities

Let your Children help plan your holiday destination and activities whilst on Holiday. My eldest loves to Surf, the youngest is a mad keen fisherman ( we had to buy him a fishing rod at Walmart on our last Holiday) which did the job and my girls love to shop, swim, snorkel and chill with their Mumma. Make sure that everyone has something on their wish list, including yourselves, after all…It's everyone's Holiday.

4. Give them space

With a family of 6, we are way past adding a roller bed, and of course, safelty regulations won't avow it. There comes a time when your offspring become cumbersome in confined spaces and needs their own space, especially when they have past the 6ft mark and still growing. Beware of growth spurts – a lot can happen between booking a  Holiday in April and going away in January. Are you continually amazed at the amount of time your teen can spend asleep on the weekends? Don't forget they still need extra downtime when you're travelling, too. Be sensitive to their need for a little space and some extra rest. If the crankiness starts to build, It's time to take a break and chill.

On our last Holiday to Hawaii in May, my girlfriend and I let our 12 and 13 year old daughters (which look more like 18 year olds) have some free shopping time at Ala Moana Shopping Centre, a very safe 5 minute walk from our resort, sometimes you just have to go with your gut, and Mumma always knows best. The girls, loved their independence and were perfectly safe.

5. Wifi

Kids these days need to connect with friends whilst on Holidays through social media, for starters they'll need wifi to catch up with friends back home ,they need to be Instagramming, snap chatting and face booking so just limit their usage. When the Children were younger our Holidays were all Apple free, but now you just have to go with it, they need downtime as well.

6. Master the art of travel

Getting to the airport on time, remembering to pack your hair straighteners (for the daughters!)… going on holiday can be stressful. Be organised and start packing at least 1-2 weeks ahead of your departure.


  8. Just Chill      

Take a cue from the average teen's attitude, and don't freak out when things go wrong. Because chances are things will go wrong! Be spontaneous and flexible and embrace the unexpected as an adventure! I can count the numerous occasions that we have encountered dodgy accommodation, waiting for elusive buses (that don't appear) and desperately searching for WIFI- but every story is now an amazing memory, that we reflect on often and laugh, so hard! Don't let detours ruin the fun! 

9. Preserve the Memories
 Don't forget to take pictures with your teen! I always have at least 3 cameras and my Iphone on hand. You don't want to return home to find hundreds of shots of the sights, the odd picture of your teen and maybe a few selfies of yourself. Be sure to find other friendly tourists and get some great family shots. You'll be glad that you did and those photos together, taken at such memorable times, are priceless. Then share your memories!

10. Look to the future

Before you know it your Children will be all grown up..and the Family Holidays will be a distant memory. Make the most of what precious time we have with these beautiful souls.It'll all be back to normal as soon as you get home, but they will thank you for it one day...…when they understand what it's like to be a parent. Until then, Happy Holidays!!

Got any good tips on holidaying with teenagers? Feel free to share them with us.

 

HOW TO SAY "THANK-YOU" IN 50 LANGUAGES

Surviving in a country where English is not widely spoken (and you don’t speak the language) can be challenging at times, I know from experience. My funniest recollection would have been when we were in Shanghai and we had a quick change of plans and tried to mime to our cab driver of our new destination ( yeah, we didn't have a map either, go us!) as he spoke no English, thankfully we ran into a lovely Iranian man who helped us out. Perhaps the best word/phrase you can learn to show your willingness to learn is the old and faithful “thank you”. Here’s how to say thank you in 50 languages so you’ll never be stuck again! And trust me, the locals will love the fact that you have made the effort.

AFRIKAANS – dankie
ALBANIAN – faleminderit
ARABIC – shukran
ARMENIAN – Շնորհակալություն / chnorakaloutioun
BOSNIAN – hvala (HVAH-lah) 
BULGARIAN – благодаря / blagodaria
CATALAN – gràcies (GRAH-syuhs) 
CANTONESE – M̀h’gōi 
CROATIAN – hvala (HVAH-lah)
CZECH – děkuji (Dyekooyih)
DANISH – tak (tahg)
DUTCH – dank u
ESTONIAN – tänan (TA-nahn)
FINNISH – kiitos (KEE-tohss)
FRENCH – merci
GERMAN – danke
GREEK – ευχαριστώ (ef-hah-rees-TOH)
HAWAIIAN – mahalo (ma-HA-lo) 
HEBREW – .תודה  / todah (toh-DAH) 
HINDI – dhanyavād / shukriya
HUNGARIAN – köszönöm (KØ-sø-nøm) 
ICELANDIC – takk (tahk) 
INDONESIAN – terima kasih. (tuh-REE-mah KAH-see) 
ITALIAN – grazie (GRAHT-tsyeh)
JAPANESE – arigatô (ah-ree-GAH-toh)
KOREAN – 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) 
LATVIAN – paldies (PUHL-dyehs)
LEBANESE – choukrane
LITHUANIAN – ačiū (AH-choo)
MACEDONIAN – Благодарам / blagodaram (blah-GOH-dah-rahm) 
MALAY – terima kasih (TREE-muh KAH-seh) 
MALTESE – grazzi (GRUTS-ee)
MANDARIN – Xièxiè
MONGOLIAN – Баярлалаа (bayarlalaa) 
NORWEGIAN – takk
POLISH – dziękuję (Jenkoo-yen)  
PORTUGUESE – obrigado [masculine]  / obrigada [feminine] (oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah) 
ROMANIAN – mulţumesc (mool-tzoo-MESK)
RUSSIAN – спасибо (spuh-SEE-buh) 
SERBIAN – xвала / hvala (HVAH-lah) 
SLOVAK – Ďakujem (JAH-koo-yehm) 
SLOVENIAN – hvala (HVAA-lah) 
SPANISH – gracias (GRAH-syahs) 
SWEDISH – tack 
TAMIL – nandri
THAI – kop khun
TURKISH – teşekkür ederim (teh shek uer eh der eem) 
UKRAINIAN – Дякую (DYAH-koo-yoo) 
WELSH – diolch (DEE-ol’ch)
YIDDISH – a dank
ZULU – ngiyabonga

The Perfect Malsalda

 Tex Drive-In

Don’t let the dilapidated building, the occasional missing window pane, or the barely interested drive-through cashiers scare you off. This 43 year old Honoka staple is a gem, located on The Big Island of Hawaii.

Tex' Famous Malsalada's

We stumbled upon this diner as a point of interest on our GPS, on driving between Hilo and Kona and my Hubbie quickly doubled back, searching for this place, let me tell you, it was well worth the stop! These fried pastries are delicious! The malasadas are un-freaking believable.With an array of different flavoured centres from Jam, fruit and chocolate (perhaps our fave), a perfect balance of light and chewy, these malasadas are made from scratch on-site and their pastry station features an extra large window to allow visitors a lesson in the art of malsalada making, whilst drooling at the same time waiting for your order. In case you don’t believe us, just go in and watch them.You certainly won't be disappointed!

A quick pitstop and sugar hit from Hilo to Kona...

Volcanoe's National Park

A quick 40 minute flight from the Island of Oahu with Hawaiin Airlines will have you arriving at Hilo, the doorstep to The Volcanoes National Park. We picked up our rental car on arrival into Hilo Airport and for an extra $15 USD we hired a fully automated GPS, which was brilliant for upcoming points of interest as you are driving around The Big Island ( we would not have found those delicious Malsaladas at Tex Drive in, if it were not for our GPS.) Just be sure to stick to the left side of the road….(we seemed to have a few problems with this, the lack of sleep the night before, the Children received news of a good School friend that had passed away rather suddenly and the girls were awake all night crying, absolutely beside themselves, on top of that a super early start, which found me dozing in the passengers side and being awoken by Hubbie to swap drivers…I casually drove on to the wrong side of the road…ooops, my bad, but he also did the same thing!

Deep in concentration...

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is easily visited by car in just a few hours or it can be explored in more depth over several days. We spent 5 hours exploring the park, such an amazing landscape, the rugged terrain, It felt as we were on a totally different planet at times. Here are some recommendations when planning your visit to the Park:

One to 3 Hour Visit?

If you have only 3 hours, explore the summit of Kilauea volcano via Crater Rim Drive Crater Rim Drive; a 17 km road that encircles the summit, passes through desert, lush tropical rain forest, which provides access to well marked scenic stops and short walks.



Four to 5 hour Visit?

If you have four to five hours, be sure to explore the East Rift and coastal area of the Park via Chain of Craters Road. This road descends 3,700 feet in 20 miles and ends where a 2003 lava flow crossed the road.

Crater Rim

If you have time for one quick hike in the Park, you can't go past this as the best "bang for your buck." This trail traces the northern rim of the Kilauea Crater and then returns to the trailhead across the centre of the crater itself. Its an exciting hike that crosses warm fifty year old lava with steam arising from cracks in the earth caused by rainwater that has percolated and boiled.

This hike is approximately 5 km, be sure to take  plenty of water, a hat ( I borrowed one of the boys) and sunscreen up, as it gets pretty warm.

Thurston Lava Tubes

The Thurston lava tubes were an absolute hit with the kids. An easy 20 minute walk through a lush green forest will have you at the well lit prehistoric cavelike lava tubes.