Gallery

Don Joaquin Estancia , Argentina

Well , we cried when we left ( at least I did ) the estancia so that says something about the place . Just fantastic , and we can't even fault the hosts .....how perfect is that ! One of the top places to stay and an experience we will never , ever forget . READ MORE
Buenos Aires

Arriving into Buenos Aires was a kick to the senses . Majestic dilapidated buildings rub shoulders with lots of 70's era modern and well cared for original art nouveau . It is bursting with artistic energy but there is not enough government aid to save all of the cities old buildings . Banks have no money and the Argentines survive on a black market strategy which seams to work for the lucky ones . Recoletta is one of the nicer areas and beyond that there is everything in between . Ice cream and fresh pasta is sold in every corner cafe and the waiters still wear bow ties .The language is Spanish but the accent and attitude is Italian. It's a great city and one we look forward to going back to . READ MORE
Santa Cruz , Chile

Chile is so long that you really need to fly if you are going any great distance . We decided to stay around central Chile as we wanted to keep things simple with the kids . Patagonia was going to be too cold in December and apart from the Acatama desert up north there is not much more to see . We didn't get to Chiloe or The Lakes District but both of those place came highly recommended by fellow travelers . Santa Cruz was our wine valley stop but with the kids we could only fit in one vineyard . The town itself is shabby but that may have had a lot to do with the amount of earthquakes this area has been hit with in recent years. The most impressive museum / private collection of artifacts is housed here and for that reason alone it is worth the stop . READ MORE
Santiago 22/11/2010

It's a nice city but not somewhere you take out your camera so excuse the lack of snaps ! We have to travel light and with 2 lots of money , an out of date credit card , one for the robbers incase we are held at knife point and the other for spending . So far we have meet only friendly people eager to help when asked for directions . You could be in Valencia or any of the other Spanish cities . It's not cheap here and food options are limited , think of pollo cazuela (chicken stew) , chicken and chips , meat and chips , eggs and chips and you have a good cross section of the food on offer ! They are also a curvey bunch of females ........I wonder why? READ MORE
Vicuna , Chile

The scenery here is stunning . Cacti stud the mountains ( and there are lots of them ) and the valley beds are a rich , dense green . The pretty town of Pisco Elqui is like going back in time and the dusty streets and adobe cafes give a wild west feel to the place . READ MORE
Valpariso

They say in the travel bible that Valpariso has World Heritage status with it's muti coloured tin houses , antique stairways for the steep and chaotic cerros (hills) but venture into the Barrio El Porto and this unusual city becomes a hub full of sailors , dockworkers and not so pretty prostitutes . It's down and dirty feel is loved by many but for us the smell of urine is something we would rather pass on . One thing that we loved was the graffiti art , it was everywhere and added to the charm . If you are going , stay in the Concepcion rather then the Artilleria barrio . Artilleria is in Barrio El Puerto area which is up and coming but at the moment is still a dingy and dangerous area. READ MORE
New Zealand

We have lost our photos of New Zealand in our upload so have only a handful to look back on . C'est la vie ! READ MORE
First Love

I must route out some of the original circa 1985 pictures . David hasn't changed a bit but I have lost the perm .......thank god ! READ MORE
Wet & Wild

Great rides , out of the fun parks here was definitely the best for selection and heart thumping fun . I loved the loop , you have to climb a stairs for 5 mins and stand in a perspex capsule , close your eyes and count to 3 before the trap door opens and plunges you into a vertical fall for about 10 meters where you pick up enough speed to be twisted upside down and looped over and over all while in darkness and with gushing water helping you through , I think I held my breath for the full ride and being honest it took me a moment or two to get myself together after this one. Eric and Axel loved the black hole , a fast ride on a rubber ring big enough for 2 where you are plunged over the edge and up the sides of a black enclosed tube until you come out at the end . READ MORE
Sea World

The roller coaster and the jet ski ride where full on but the dolphin show was tame and short lived . There is a deal between the 3 parks , buy an adult pass valid for a year for $99.00 and you get entry into Sea World , Wet and Wild & Movie World . Unless you love these places there is no need to go to more then one and that has to be Wet & Wild . Sea world had lots of things for the under 3's which was great for Elka but only some of the other rides were suitable for Axel who was 7 . READ MORE
Australia Zoo

We arrived on a Monday to Australia Zoo , being honest it was only ok . I am sure when the place is full and the shows are all on there is great atmosphere but without these props there is not much to see. We specifically came here as when Axel was younger , he watched the Crocodile Hunter all the time and we , like many other people grew to love Steve Irwin . The highlight of our afternoon was seeing two very large kangaroos getting more then a bit amorous and Axel asking what it was they were doing ! Having a cuddle was our answer but really it was more vigorous then that . Poor Axel , my memories of kangaroos as a kid were all about skippy, I don't know what impression he will be left with after seeing the full show . READ MORE
Brisbane

Brisbane is a nice city , easy to get around , well laid out , unpretentious and the city beach is just fantastic . We met up with my brother Ross who is living here at the moment and it was really great to see him . His lovely house mates put on a barbecue for us even though they had been up all night partying ! READ MORE
Byron Bay 25/10/2010

Byron Bay was the first town we came to that has some life after 6 pm . We have been completely baffled up to date as to where everybody goes as most towns we have passed through are like ghost towns in the evening . Filled with restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and miles and miles of stunning beaches it is easy to see why so many people come here . We met the Gordons in our camp and spent some fun times together. I even managed to have a few surf lessons with Axel , we had just as much fun getting battered by the surf as we did trying to stand up on the board . Halloween is not really celebrated in Oz like it is at home but we did find a pumpkin and had a treat party in our camper , much to the kids delight . READ MORE
Port Macquarie 19/10/2010

Our first few weeks of camping started here . Heading north of Sydney along the coast brought us to Flynns beach , a beautiful cove safe for kids learning to surf . We met Herman here who was travelling around in his uber cool VW touring van and Axel had his first surfing lesson . After a couple of nights under the trees in our campsite we were happy with our introduction to camping . READ MORE
Sydney 13/10/2010

Arriving into Sydney was as close to coming home as we have had so far except that the Sydney suburbs are more like Dalkey then Donaghmeade . It was a holiday in itself being able to see all the signs in English and understand everybody with ease . Squawking flocks of brightly coloured parrots flew everywhere and herons were two to a dozen in the parks . Super public barbecues and amenities were stationed at regular intervals and everything was clean . A tour around the harbour by ferry was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours before we headed for one of the great pubs that serve fantasic food with every pint .We can see why so many Irish people want to come here ! READ MORE
Tanjung Lesung 4/10/2010

We ended up here to escape the city of Jakarta and it turned out to be a wonderful six days . This is where the well heeled expats head for on a Friday for some R&R. The kids had so much freedom and the parents had peace and quite , perfect combination for all . Giant monitor lizards roamed the gardens and huge beetles buzzed about in the air .The natural ungroomed beach was perfect for lazy mornings while the locals collected shells for making jewellery . READ MORE
Borobudur

Comparable to Ankar Wat in Cambodia but not as well known, this huge temple rises above the skyline in central Java . Rain on the day we visited made the views misty but added to it's eerie charm. READ MORE
Solo 29/9/2010

We stopped here for no particular reason other then to have a look at Candi Sukuh temple . Not really a major sight but the stunning views from the top of the temple were worth the three hour drive up the volcano and the passing villages gave us a real insight to country life on the beautiful island of Java. READ MORE
Mount Bromo 27/9/2010

Getting here was yet another but worthwhile trek . You cannot come to Java without visiting one of the many volcanos but with kids there are few that are easily accessible . Luckily one of the nicest volcanos to visit is Mount Bromo and after climbing above the rain clouds in a jeep and a bumpy ride to the summit on a pony we got to see the crater and smell the oozing sulphur that is belched out every few seconds . READ MORE
Malang, Java

This colonial tree lined city was a perfect base for our Mount Bromo visit . We stayed in the Splendid Inn which I loved for it's granny chic interiors . It reminded me of my granny Forde's house which was comforting in funny kind of way . READ MORE
Gili Island

If white rimmed beaches and no traffic are your idea of paradise then this group of small but perfectly formed islands may be for you . We stayed on Gili Trawangan which was nice enough and the bigger of the three islands .Getting there was a trek as we took the safer ferry option which took ages .The 4 and 5 star places are to the left of the pier as you come off the boat but there are some interesting better value places to the right in the lanes on the 2nd line . Gilli Hideaway was a real hidden gem and the breakfasts were to die for . The island is small and a pleasant half hour bike journey will take you all the way around and if you are felling lazy a horse and kart with do all the work while you jiggle on the bumpy paths. READ MORE
Bali 6/9/2010

You have to go to Ubud to get the Bali traditions of old . Very sad actually but unfortunately with tourism comes wealth for the locals and a more commercial way of life . Bali of old is disappearing and I am so happy that I saw it in it's traditional state 17 years ago as those memories are with me today. If you are planning to go , make a short stop over in the Seminyak area for shopping and then get yourself to the hills where tremendous treatments await and your soul will be restored . READ MORE
Singapore 4/9/2010

You will either love or hate this place . I have to say we liked it . After months of traveling it is nice to be somewhere organized , clean and easy to get around . So thumbs up Singapore . READ MORE
Tioman 28/8/2010

Chillled out and pretty as heaven, this beautiful island has it all. Giant monitor lizards patrol the land during daylight and the night fishing produced an abundance of squid for dinner . And the stars, the stars were so bright you really have to see them for yourself. READ MORE
Jungle Line

We were all looking forward to traveling by train and seeing some of the smaller towns in Malaysia not normally visited by tourists. Taking in the greenery and lush vegetation while chatting to locals made a very pleasent journey and breaking up the trip ensured the kids didn't get too bored. READ MORE
Perenthian Islands

Without a doubt these are some of the more beautiful Islands we have ever been to and if your are tossing the coin on where to go between Thai and Malaysian Islands , we would say there is no contest . Cheaper then Thailand for food and island hoping the Perenthians win hands down and we can't wait to go back . Delicious fresh seafood barbecues cooked on the sand and cold beers to wash the thirst were a perfect end to every day . READ MORE
Koh Lipee

This small island will implode if too many tourist make the journey there . With little or no infastructure there is little chance that it will survive to great success . If you do make the journey the best views are from the Mountain Resort side overlooking Ao Anang . READ MORE
Phi Phi Island

Great to go back but the warmth and friendliness we experienced first time round is not here anymore . Saying that we did get a few smiles but most of the time we had to work hard for them . The sand is white and the sea is a beautiful turquoise blue and when you are on the beach no one is there to bother you. Forget about Ton Sai Bay as it is a dump and I cannot understand how anyone would travel this far to stay here . The best beaches are from long beach up and the further you go the quieter it is. READ MORE
Krabi

Forget about Ao Nang beach as you may as well be in the Costas . Railay beach is nicer but not as remote as it once was .... the hords of backpackers have taken over ! READ MORE
Elkas 3rd Birthday

True to princess form we had a grown up dinner party . Peter , Oy and us lot all present and after managing to get the ice cream cake from Swenson's without melting we devoured the lot . Ariel was a big hit along with a giant dog that Oy and Peter gave her . And the kids , well they were so well behaved I had to pinch myself ! READ MORE
Bangkok

Bangkok is a great city , full of life and anything goes . We spent a lovely few days there and hung out with Mark , Alisera and Newt at the pool . READ MORE
Uncle Peter

Doesn't Peter look great ? And after such a big operation he is in the right place with first rate care all in a warm and sunny climate . We were lucky enough to sample Oy's fantastic cooking and still crave the stuffed squid that she made us . After we all jumped into the pool for our very own pool party ............When can we come again ? READ MORE
Panglao Island

With white sandy beaches , plenty of eating options, lovely people and surrounding islands to visit it's a nice stop . READ MORE
Camaguin Island

It's a bit of a trek to get here but Camaguin has lots of things to see . It's only downfall apart from the food is the fact that there are not many beaches and being honest , half the reason to come to the Philippines is to lounge around and spead your toes in the white sand. READ MORE
Osaka

Buzzing city with a rough edge not seen elsewhere in japan makes it a great stop . The place is jam packed with fantastic resturaunts and edgy Japs . Tokyo pales in comparison ! READ MORE
Hiroshima

Known to all mainly from the atomic bomb that was dropped on the 6th August 1945 this city stands as an incredible example of strength after complete devastation . Hiroshima today would beat hands down many other cities with it's easy navagation system using the tram lines of old and this thriving new city looks like it has been here forever with only the A Dome to remind us of the horrors that passed . READ MORE
Kyoto

This is the Japan you think of when you close your eyes . It has everything here , hot springs , old buildings , temples and beautiful gardens . Nicer then Tokyo and central to lot's of other interesting places makes this a great base to explore the central regions of Japan . READ MORE
Tokyo

Glitzy glam babes without a tan , bright neon lights that hit the sky , sushi on every corner to wash down with beer . Tokyo is heaven for those who love to shop and have the cash to do so . Pity they don't smile though ! READ MORE
Beijing

Beijing hutong life is great ,everyday is lived on the streets here , shops are open from 6 am to sleeping time , families squash into tiny spaces and sleep on overlapping mattresses and eat their dinner on makeshift seating on the street . Shirtless men play mehong while "chewing the fat" as it is known as and drinking beer .The locals already know us to see and the "ni hao" and the "hao pui lui " that greats us most days is a conforting feeling on our visit to this huge , huge city that surrounds us . Staying in the hutongs are the best way to see the city . Ok there are no mod cons such as swimming pools and gyms and the small 20 room ocupancy allows you little anomity but sometimes that is just perfect . We have wifi hot/ cold shower albeit a tiny ensuite , twin beds pushed together with all four of us in it and its a steel 27 quid a night . READ MORE
Nanjing

The relief of arriving here after the colossal Shanghai chilled us out . We made some great friends here and had fun , food and culture all rolled into one . The Nanjing Memorial was well worth the visit and a very moving place to see . It's a get on your bike kind of city with breezy cafes and enough familiar options to make you feel comfortable . READ MORE
Xian

Steeped in history and the one thing that most people associate with China is here . The terracotta warriors are a world away from today but it is as unbelievable now as it must have been then . Xians muslim area has some great out door food stands that are jam packed at 8pm with all sorts of mad stuff to eat . Never mind the guided tours that all the hotels and travel agents try to get you roped into . Go it alone and it will work out much more interesting and much , much cheaper . You will see from these photos that we have our own James Galway with us ! READ MORE
Shanghai

With Pearl Tower looming over the city like an image from the Wizard if oz you would easily think that this city was the capital . But try as it might to woo you it is missing soul and takes ages to get around . READ MORE
Shenzhen

Counterfit Capital .......Shop till you drop and just people watch . Apparently all the LV and Gucci copy factories are close to this town supplying the world with 5 different grades of copies . Head for the 6th floor in the Lou Hu for excellent although somewhat more expensive Jimmy Choo , Mulberry and Marni "re makes" . Real leather and hand stitch detail are a given but there is only one shop doing this type of quality so choose wisely . Lily's on the 2nd floor is an optician and the Tom Ford frames combined with lenses will set you back a whole $20.00 but be prepared to haggle ! READ MORE
Hong Kong

Gateway to China, Hong Kong. A big and strange town yet somehow comfortingly familiar. A high tech cutting edge city with a seedy underbelly, great place to bring the kids .......if you have a nanny ! READ MORE
Sri Lanka

Don't hear much about this place as it has been off the tourist map for years while the civil war was going on. Now that it is over ( hopefully forever ) it is opening up and is a really great place to visit . Much better beaches then India and not as far as Thailand, it won't be long before the sleepy Island will be bombarded with visitors . READ MORE
Mysore

Nice climate , famous for its traditional painting and its silk, sandalwood and incense production , Mysore is a pleasant place to visit and is one Indian city that rewards a slower pace. READ MORE
Gokarna, India

This is in the next state down from Goa and is about a 2 hour drive from Paloem beach . Yesterday we went to Om beach and after navagating our way through the cow turds scattered in the sand we picked a spot halfway up the cove . We had just settled down when along came a cow . The cow walked straight over to my beach bag and wouldn’t take his nose out . I couldn’t understand why he would’nt go away and then I remembered the carrot , apple and banana that I had brought for the kids . As soon as I gave him the fruit and veg he slowly wandered off to the next beach bag leaving a dirty big poo in his place . READ MORE
Goa

Kick off your shoes , grab a book and listen to the waves . That is what Goa is all about . Paloem beach is one of the quieter beaches and with a 2 hour drive from the airport it is worth the journey . The sea is perfect for the kids and food here is excellent . We have arrived at the end of the season which suits us perfectly and accommodation is plentiful . READ MORE
Mumbai

Not many photos were taken here ....it was just too hot . Between wiping the sweat of our faces and guzzling water we were wrecked ! READ MORE
Udaipur

Our favorite Indian city to date .We fell in love with this city and would definitely like to return . One of the cleaner Indian cities we have visited and a with good range of restaurants to choose from the kids were happy . The hotel was amazing and we met some lovely people there so that all added up to a great few days . READ MORE
Pushkar

In contrast to the crusty shoeless westerners hanging about and strolling down cow dung laden streets were some really amazing local people who truly belong here . READ MORE
Jaipur

Jaipur, the pink city. This is by far the nicest Indian city we have been in. So well laid out and with far less of the traffic problems associated with other places. The only problem might be the 30,000 or so stray cow's that live inside the walled city. Originally built and painted a bright pink to hide the less than perfect workmanship the only thing that they should be hiding today are the heaps of rubbish strewn around the side roads. Having said that there is much to see and it is a great place to visit. READ MORE
Agra

There is not a lot that I can write about Agra other then the Taj Mahal but that has to been seen to be appreciated . READ MORE
Delhi

The little we had heard about Delhi was not always good press but this city is alive and kicking and street life is where it's at . The smells , colours , sounds and amount of people per square meter make it what it is and we think it's well worth a visit but not for the squeamish. We don't have many images as we were completely immersed in just been there in person ...actually that is bull we are just too sweaty for photos so hence the scenery images ! READ MORE
Aquaba

Aqaba, a favorite Red Sea destination for Jordanians and Saudis looking for some R & R . It has some great diving for learners and plenty of restaurants to choose from . READ MORE
Wadi Rum Desert

We all loved it here . Wish we had more time to stay but flights are booked for India so we will just have to come back on another trip ! READ MORE
Lunch with Kalid

We didn't get many shots but any we have are up on the site READ MORE
Petra

Try and make this trip at some stage during your lifetime and go the 1st week in April so the weather is dry and warm. READ MORE
Madaba , Jordan

We based ourselves here for a few days as it is closer to all the sights that we wanted to see .We couldn't believe how close we were to Israel . I mean we were only meters away from one point on the Jordan river . The view from Mount Nebo is incredible during daylight hours but when we stopped on our way home after sunset and looked across at the twinkling lights of Jerusalem , it was really special . READ MORE
Amman, Jordan

Initially , there is not much to look at on ground level but once you get up to the citadel the view is amazing . The seven hills that Amman sits on roll into one another creating a densely built terraced landscape that can only be viewed from above . READ MORE
Byblos

Nice medieval town and the beach club at Edde Sands is worth a visit if even just to people watch . READ MORE
Beirut

Not much going on here except for partying and shopping so don't expect to see any old buildings . Any that are still standing are riddled with bullet holes . The Holiday Inn is still standing as a reminder to the people how fragile their city is. The Holiday Inn was near completion when civil war broke out and you can see the damage it incurred in the photos below . Most of the international hotel chains have presence here now but the Holiday Inn have never come back . READ MORE
palmyra 12/3/10

Pack your bags and prepare yourself for this vast landscape ! READ MORE
Our Syrian Hosts

We cannot thank enough our fabulous hosts while in Damascus, but we can put a face to the hospitality so to speak . READ MORE
Syrian Breakfast 5/3/2010

Zabadani in the mountains was our spot for breakfast. Remote, refreshing and away from it all made it a perfect venue. The views from the balcony were breathtaking as you can see from the photos. After a few stops on the way home as Elka felt sick , we came across some sheep which she was not long in chasing . READ MORE
Damascus, Syria

We really , really love it here . I cannot explain how nice and easy it is , nor can I describe how nice the people are . If you ever get a chance to visit make sure you do . READ MORE
Cappadocia, Turkey

Hopefully these will give you an idea of Cappadocia READ MORE
Istanbul

Great place , such a miss match of everthing . Well worth a long weekend visit for some serious shopping and pampering in the Hammam . READ MORE
Aleppo, Syria

Oh what a beautiful gentle place to visit . READ MORE