Our First Camping Trip in Yarramalong

We just got back from our first camping trip in Yarrmalong. It was a wonderful experience for our family as we got close to nature and learned the real essence of living in 'the wild'.

The weather wasn't in our favor and it was raining all weekend. Yet, the kids didn't care a bit and played to their heart's content the entire weekend. Seriously, the rain didn't bother us even though our canvas in the tent was wet and I was glad I grabbed a raincoat at Big W on Friday morning! Our plans to do sausage sizzle was changed due to the wet weather and we still had a great time in the tarp of Carlo and Rosa's 'taj mahal' tent. These guys had opened up our eyes to camping!

We were so thankful for the generosity and graciousness showed by various ones who shared their stories and spirit of camping as a community. Alex had the chance to learn how to pitch a tent and I enjoyed cooking in the outdoors with the rest of the ladies. Clayton experienced what was it liked to have a campfire and he was so brave to jump into the creek with the rest of the kids. If the rain didn't persist, they would stay at the creek for the entire morning!

It looks like Alex is keen to get a tent during the Easter sale and I hope we can do more camping as a family in the near future. With the weather warming up this weekend, I hope to head for another beach this weekend! That's what I like about life in Brisbane!

On to our First Outdoor Camp

March is such an exciting month. There are a few things happening this month in school and it's also our third month here in Brisbane.

We have been busy the last couple of weekends. The first march weekend was spent at North Stradbroke island with Rachel and her family and it was another awesome trip. The weather was not like Moreton but we were so thankful that it didn't rained. It was a rainy week and we almost wanted to postpone the trip.

We spent a half day out in the cruise and landed at the McLarens Landing. The highlight of the trip was the sand tobogganing done near the beach. It was a very windy day that afternoon and we were feeling the pain when the sand hit our body! Climbing up the sandy hill was tiring but good fun! The boys had so much fun despite the pain from the sand and wind.

Tomorrow will be our first outdoor camping in Australia. We bought our air bed, lanterns and food necessities and sleeping bags. In Queensland, you won't need electric blanket in the nights during autumn but a sleeping bag is enough to keep one warm. We are excited and Clayton is looking forward to camp in the outdoors! I need to pack the important stuff including my repellent! Tomorrow will be a busy day for me as I cook our Saturday dinner to bring along and pack all the last minute camping gear.

Woohoo... it's been an exciting March and school holidays is here in two weeks' time!

book hotel accommodation online

I'm a big believer for online accommodation reservations - I seriously do! It saves time, hassle and money! All you need to do is some research to compare hotel rates and if you need, read some travel reviews in the travel forums such as trip advisor or virtual tourist and you can get our travel planning going. It's that simple. Whether you are booking las vegas hotels or any asia hotels, online hotel reservation makes it so convenient and simple!

Of the so many travel search engines I frequently, hotels.com and travelocity top my list of travel booking sites. The nice thing about Hotels.com is that you don't need to make a prepayment and most hotel accommodations allow you to cancel 3 days before your arrival date, with no penalty charges. As for Travelocity, the Good Buy hotels require you to make a prepayment. In other words, you will forfeit your payment should any cancellation arises due to last minute change in your travel itinerary.

If you are planning to book your hotel accommodations this holiday season, check out these travel coupons and savings from hotels.com:

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japan hotels, hong kong hotels and hari raya holidays

In a way, I was looking to the long holidays this Hari Raya but then my schedule seems to be fuller than usual so I guess it's not so much of a 'break' for me.

As far as my little kiddo is concerned, he's the happiest person in the house this holiday season. He slept in for a couple of days, put on his sun cap and went swimming in DH auntie's new condo and spent lots of time in front of the tellie.

I'm still comparison accommodation hotels for our Hong Kong trip since the Tokyo and Osaka accommodation have been confirmed. I have picked the Somerset Roppongi in Tokyo and Swissotel Nankai in Osaka for our Japan family trip after all that travel research, travel reviews and comparison. Do not expect accommodation hotels to be cheap if you want to travel comfortable as a family but for solo travelers or indie travelers, budget accommodation rates is definitely possible.

I'm still hoping to pick the right accommodation hotel in Hong Kong though I've reserved for Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay. I feel the urge to be near the Victoria Harbour and my foodie DH would probably like to stay in Kowloon island more than Hong Kong island, tho I personally prefer the latter. There are heaps of accommodation hotels in Hong Kong itself but to find spacious rooms in Hong Kong lodging, you better be prepared to pay a little more.

For now, here are some of my foodie shots in Klang's famous Pai Kuat restaurant - we went there 2 times in a week - it is super duper cheap and good!

find cheap discount deals and cheap hotel deals in just one step

Searching and finding cheap discount hotels and cheap hotels rooms can be a tiring one if you don't know just where to search. For those who are new to booking your hotel accommodation online, you are missing out a great deal. Not only does online hotel accommodation booking saves you time, it saves you money too.

But with so many travel and hotel search engines out there, it can be difficult to identify which hotel booking site is offering you the cheapest discount hotels or best hotel deals. Instead of searching through one, three or five online hotel booking sites, you can now find out the best hotel deals in just one step. Don't believe it? Why not enter your destination and watch how this travel search engine find you the best cheap discount hotels and lowest hotel rates.

all inclusive for stress free vacation

The last thing you want when traveling with a child is to start worrying about finding a child friendly restaurant during your summer beach vacation. With proper planning and research, you can find lots of ideas for family friendly travel and all inclusive vacation packages seem to be the best thing to do if you have no time for your travel planning. All inclusive vacation are popular with families who like to pay one price and not worry about accommodation, food and even recreational costs. There may be times where you may need to pay a little fee for an excursion but for most times, recreation within the hotel premises are included in the package. So if relaxation and total peace of mind is what you want to achieve in your upcoming summer or year end vacation, all inclusive is the way to go!

Book your Travel on Black Friday to complete your holiday shopping in person. Click here for great deals in New York.

orlando vacation

Orlando has much to offer when it comes to family travel and vacations. Packed with all the fun filled activities for all ages, it is one place where children can have a ball of a time while the adults can indulge in gourmet dining and busy nightlife entertainment. To book your Orlando Hotel and plan your trip, Orlando Hotels makes it easy and convenient for anyone with its friendly features and website resources. And if you have no clue where to go and what to do, the site has all the information you need to make your trip a memorable one.

all inclusive Club Med vacations

DH and myself have been talking about all inclusive vacations for this year. Well, we have never been to this kind of holidays but I heard that there are some really cool ones for family. Club Med has always been a popular choice among honeymooners, couples, families and travel groups. Personally, I've never been to any Club Med but would love to give it a try one of these days especially Club Med Sahoro!

From the website, I understand that this is an ideal destination for the great outdoors enthusiast! Majestic, mountain resort views all around and truly the freshest air to fill your lungs – Club Med Sahoro is unsurpassed in idyllic scenery and beauty, on the rural island of Hokkaido.

What seems cool is that it provides excellent facilities for skiing & snowboarding, including tuition from 4 yrs old - Clayton will have a ball of a time! Now, I have to find out how much it cost and read more about this potential vacation spot for 2008!

perks of all inclusive vacation

Do you have a difficult time trying to convince your partner who doesn't like to travel to take a vacation? I learnt that in order to convince these individuals, you need patience and highlight not the fun of the vacation but the value and meaning behind taking a break together.

DH used to detest traveling but he had agreed to our Australia, New Zealand, Shanghai and our recent Hawaii/LA trips - and I'm thankful. Yesterday, he suggested that we should consider all inclusive vacation since in a vacation like this, the accommodation, meals and recreation are usually covered. In other words, you won't spend much of add-ons unless you need that alcohol booze.



Karisma Hotels have several options if you are keen on All Inclusive Mexico Vacations and honestly, I find the hotels listed very attractive, relaxing and charming. Azul Blue Hotel in Riviera Maya allows children if you really do need to bring the kiddies along. You get a dedicated butler to every luxury suite which means you can sink into pure relaxation as he takes care of the suitcase. With the help of a babysitter, your children will be kept occupied with wholesome children's activities. The Azul Blue's is said to be the most complete one on the Riviera Maya so this is the time to spoil yourself rotten and invigorate your senses with the soothing treatments.

get travel help from htoa

Few years ago, we visited Yosemite National Park, which I thought was one of the most beautiful natural parks in the United States. With its abundance of diverse sights, from the impressive granite cliffs, to the spectacular waterfalls, there’s nature at her best everywhere you look.

One of the best known must see features of Yosemite National Park is Glacier Point. This isn’t open year round, but usually between June and November you can guarantee access up to enjoy the magnificent views from the top. We missed that as we were there in April. I read that there are many waterfalls in the park, with Yosemite Falls being the highest at just under 2,500 feet. The best time to see the waterfalls is early summer. Whilst some of the falls are easily accessible; others take more time and effort in order to be able to appreciate their beauty.



If you are planning for a vacation this Christmas and are too busy to organize your own itinerary, you may like to get some help from the travel specialists at htoa. Holiday Travel of America can assist in all your holiday planning and travel plans including a host of land adventures, cruises and land tours. The company also provides B2B solutions by providing incentives and rewards to companies.

a fun-filled family vacation at Orlando

There are many ways to enjoy a fun-filled family vacation where the kids are all excited and mommy and daddy can look forward to a time of relaxation. I haven't come across any kid who doesn't like theme parks, car rides and amusement activities. I look at my three year old and I know this is true!

I have read so much about the many things a family can enjoy at Orlando, Florida. And if you are planning for a vacation in that region, Orlando.com has all the information and resources you need in your vacation planning. Book your orlando hotels, compare accommodations, reserve a rental car and more.

how to travel 'light' and on a budget

Most people mistakenly think that you need a lot of money to travel, or that vacations are simply too expensive and lavish. This is a good example of a wrongful assumption. Traveling ‘light’ so to speak, with limited cash, combined with a positive attitude and a deep personal commitment, persistence and resourcefulness is possible - with proper and careful planning, of course.

Simply put, planning pays and travel budgets save money. Taking the extra time to review sources at your disposal prior to, during and after your trip encourages a hands-on, pro-active approach to traveling and vacationing in general. These days, you can search through free vacation rental listings where owners can list their properties on the web. You may be searching for a Telluride vacation rental or California condo for your family and the free condo rental listings will provide some ideas for you.

Most of us want to focus on having a good time and ensuring that a couple of the smaller details are taken care of. Taking advantage of saving opportunities and discounts, limited offers and utilizing tips and tricks from frequent travelers seem to be the keys to travel success.

cheap tailoring at Shanghai

DH has been busy uploading all our family videos to our new zealand website. I took the opportunity to reminisce the good times we had in Shanghai, New Zealand and Perth and the Shanghai was special cos we traveled with our good friends, David and Tracy. Both Tracy and myself went crazy with buying accessories and pearl necklace in the pearl center. I bought a couple and was tempted to buy the premium ones, which I didn't at the end. Shanghai is a nice city to visit for food and cheap tailoring. We went to the tailor's market and ended up spending a full day there! DH tailored more than a dozen shirts and pants and so did Tracy, David and myself! Oh yes, if I ever visit Shanghai again, it will be for food and cheap tailoring... really cheap lah!

how about pigeon forge for your next vacation?

I have heard so much about how pleasant and relaxing a family getaway at Pigeon Forge vacation rentals can be which makes me wanna plan a trip someday. Imagine waking to the views of mountains and the calmness of forest greens. Listen to the sounds of singing birds and have breakfast at your private balcony. Well, these are things you can look forward to in a Pigeon Forge vacation. I believe it'll be great fun for families, honeymooners, big groups and the outdoor lovers. It's great to know that there are so many lovely cabins to choose from with prices that are affordable. So if you need any travel destination ideas for your upcoming break, take a look at Pigeon Forge.

i prefer the free and easy way

In all my years of travel, I always prefer the free and easy style. I don't like waking up to a fixed schedule and spend my time waiting for other fellow travelers to show up. Not only is this a waste of my time, it's inflexible and boring. The truth is booking directly with the vacation property can be cheaper than a package holiday though it requires some homework on your part to organize this. For instance, if you are a UK resident who is planning to take a vacation to Florida, you can book with ThinkFlorida.co.uk instead of settling for a package holiday suggested by your travel agent. The website allows you to book your rental car, theme park tickets and vacation homes and condos in Disney region. Isn't it better to choose your own Villa in Orlando than letting someone else decide that for you and your family?

for adults only

Well, I have forgotten what romanticism is after becoming a mom for the last three years. Oh, what I mean is we have said goodbye to couple holidays for now until 'don't know when'... I know many couples still go for holidays by themselves even after they have children but it's not so for us since we are full-time caregivers to our boy too. Besides, our parents are not fit enough to run after an active boy like Clayton.

But should we have a chance to visit any adult resorts, we will check out Hedonism by Superclubs. Imagine waking up to spectacular views and not worrying about a fixed schedule and routine. Have breakfast in bed, laze in your comfortable sleepwear and party till there's no tomorrow! Well, that's what an all-inclusive vacation in Hedonism is all about - don't need to worry about your wallet, tipping, paying for food and recreation... it's just pure luxury and relaxation. It's the ideal place to start your life together or to renew your marriage vows by falling in love with each other again... how nice!

hoping to spot whales in Maui

According to travel guides, it says that we may be able to catch the sight of whales spouting at Maui's shore. Wow! How exciting is this! In other words, we don't even need to take a boat out there and be worried about getting sea sick to spot these humpback whales!

Our Maui Vacations are getting more and more exciting as I put together a list of must-dos and must see's. With the short time we had, we may consider booking ourselves to one of the helicopter flight seeing excursions that take us over Hana, Haleakala Crater and West Maui mountains. The information at the Hawaii travel blog are useful in our itinerary planning. Thanks to the people at Hawaiian Beach Rentals who updates the blog with valuable information for tourists and vacation seekers.

These helicopter flights may cost around $125 fo a half hour to $400 for a 2 hour mega experience. While two hours may be too long for us, I hope there is something between 45 - 50 minutes during that time.

all set to visit Haleakala National Park

In case you don't know, next to Waikiki, the next most popular destination in Hawaii is Maui. In December, we will be part of the 2.5 million travelers to set foot on its sunny shores. From what I read, Maui has lots to offer in every sense - nature, sun, mountains, ocean and the waterfalls.

We are planning for a trip to the Haleakala National Park during our two nights there. I heard that watching sunset at the summit is the best experience anyone can have yet I am not sure if we can ever make it with a three year old :P Those who have traveled with little children know that we can't have high expectations when we travel with kids. Be realistic is the best way to make everyone happy. If we can't have the best, we must be prepared for second best.

Maui is an ideal destination for families. With the many Maui condos in the area, it's easy to find one that suits your needs and budget. If you need help on accommodation search, the Hawaiian travel blog is a good source of information, hosted by Hawaiian Beach Rentals, a booking site for all accommodations in Hawaii. Choose from the huge list of condos and vacation rentals, all listed along with detailed information and photos on the website. And if you need any help, don't hesitate to drop them a line.

great water adventures at the Big Island

Oh yes, we are going to Kona and I'm excited to take Clayton on this cool submarine expedition! This is an unforgettable 35-minute journey aboard an Atlantis 48-passenger submarine, and you may remember seeing it in featured in National Geographic television. Clayton will be so happy to see these colourful sea creatures at a depth up to 100 feet! He has seen it in Little Einstein's TV but very soon, he can experience it for real!



If you are planning for a trip to Kona, here are lots of nice Big Island vacation rentals to choose from. You can also find more travel ideas and tips at the Hawaiian Travel Blog if you are planning on your Hawaii itinerary. Some of these vacation rental homes in Big Island have the best oceanfront views and they do command a higher price. But the scenery of the Big Island is as dramatic as the setting sun, which glows with an enchanting beauty as the ocean beckons. This is what a real vacation is all about, isn't it? To behold the beauty of Mother Nature and all of its surrounds.

how about a luxurious Hawaii travel experience?

Would you spend $1,000 a night for studio suite for a family of three for a vacation? Well, I don't live in a lifestyle of the rich and famous so the obvious answer for me is 'no' :) But well, if you can afford a Hawaii rental house, whether it's owned by a hotel group or privately owned, go for it! For that cost per night, you can expect an oceanfront room with distinct standards in service, comforts and style. The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort offers the famous Heavenly bed with whirlpool tubs and a gourmet kitchen and luxurious amenities. I can only say that if you want to spend your honeymoon in a luxurious place like this, don't just book it for a night cos it won't be suffice to complete your experience.

For more Hawaii travel info on luxurious stays and selections in all the islands, read the blog at Hawaiian beach rentals.