BEEN THERE - DONE THAT! (My Personal Experiences)
- adventureyourwayjo
- Apr 12
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 9
Travelling is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. It opens doors to new cultures, breath-taking landscapes, and unforgettable memories. However, planning a trip to unique destinations can be overwhelming. With so many options available, how do you choose the right place? This blog post will guide you through where I have been and what I have done, so that you can have an understanding of what dreams can come true. This is an overview of the places I have visited and one or two key memories from each. For more details, I will do separate blogs by destination.
INTERNATIONAL
I had only travelled overseas twice as an adult before kids, but once both were over 3 years of age we decided to drag them along with us, and made so many wonderful memories.
LA, Disneyland, Knottsberry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld & Tijuana: My first overseas trip was a solo trip to my dream destination of Disneyland, which never disappoints. If you have never been to Disneyland, you are missing out. Tijuana & LA were my first major culture shocks, and it was the food that caused this. I looked forward to a home-cooked roast and fresh air on my return. I had caught the travel bug.
Tokoriki Island, Fiji. (Honeymoon): We had never snorkelled before, and fell in love. We snorkelled straight off the beach or kayaks. Our days were spent eating beautiful seafood, drinking cold beers and cocktails and playing pool volleyball and ludo. "Fiji Time" is a real thing.
Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Disneyland & Tijuana: Many unique locations boast stunning natural beauty, fascinating architecture, and delicious local cuisine that you might not find in more popular areas.
Bali (4-times with the kids at various ages): Highlights have been the Bali Bird Park, cheap but great massages, manicures, food and drink. Our kids are starting to realise how other people live.
Phuket & Bangkok, Thailand: Learning how to bargain, amazing resorts at great prices and Siam Niramit, a world-class cultural performance. Watching our kids make friends and converse with language barriers.
Pattaya, Thailand: Amazing first-class beauty salons on the cheap; this is where we discovered that there is always one Irish Bar no matter where we travel to, and none have disappointed us. It has now become a habit to find one wherever we go.
Ao Nang, Thailand: We had a pool entrance from our room, and my daughter and I fell in love with the street vendor food of Kang Kong & Fried Roti. The hot springs and snorkelling were also great.
Siem Reap & Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Our favourite temple was Ta Prohm in Siem Reap. We rode to an animal sanctuary in the back of a ute and had a behind-the-scenes visit for our son's 11th birthday with a surprise birthday cake.
Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Hanoi & Halong Bay, Vietnam: We all learnt a lot at the Cu Chi Tunnels; the War museum was a bit of a challenge with the kids. Hoi An is beautiful, and we made many memories with a market tour - where our daughter named a shrimp and set it free from our ingredients for the cooking class, and though our daughter was young, they supported her to do her own cooking. We backpacked with the kids, and the staff everywhere we slept or ate were wonderful and treated our kids with much care, including doing our daughter's hair and nails while we rested. Halong Bay Cruise was amazing, and the second night we had a whole boat to ourselves, where we kayaked and jumped off the boat.
South Pacific Cruises (Noumea & Vanuatu): The most relaxing family holiday, good fun for all, plus plenty of alone time while the kids enjoy the kids clubs for all ages and amazing snorkelling and beaches. Surprisingly, a lot to do on and off the ship.
England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland (UK Motorhome trip): This 6-week motorhome trip was incredible. No backtracking after the day's adventures, thank goodness, as some of the one-lane roads were enough to do just once. My daughter seeing (imagining) Tinkerbell above Big Ben, looking at Dinosaurs (model) in Wales, Dan-Yr-Ogof caves. Looking for Dinosaur Fossils on the Isle of Wight, overnight on the car ferry to Ireland. Checking out the pubs along Temple Bar, all very kid-friendly, and the Guinness Factory. Trying many different candies. Standing either side of the Meridian Line and viewing the mythological paintings on the ceiling of the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College.
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hakone, Kakagawa & Hiroshima, Japan: One of my favourite places. Just so much to do and see. Delicious food, fast trains, the weird and wonderful, the Osaka Street Food Cooking Class was super fun. Eating Nagashi Somen was hilarious fun. Fire Ramen in Kyoto. The gorgeous temples and friendly people. Pokemon stores, Nishiki Market and I can just keep going.
Singapore: Gardens By The Bay, The Supertree Grove at Night and the Flower Dome & Cloud Forest. The food - Oh My Gosh! - the food. Sentosa Island, Singapore Zoo, River Wonderland and Bird Paradise. Chinatown with Shaved Ice-cream and Chilli Crabs.
Prague, Budapest, Lviv & Warsaw, Europe: Beautiful architecture world famous beer, the Budapest baths and ruin bars. Food tours were filling and delicious. Lviv was surprising and reminded us of Melbourne. We experienced a friends family wedding in a small farming village which was the highlight of the trip.
Bohol & Cebu, Philippines: Amazing scenery, private small boat snorkel and Islands tour, getting lost in a tuk-tuk, Swimming with turtles, the Chocolate Hills, a River Cruise lunch and swimming in a cave. A very different food tour in Cebu. Our first overseas trip without our kids.
Sri Lanka: Climbing Sigiriya Rock, the Elephant Safari, seeing a leopard in front of our jeep, ancient temples.
Borneo (Malaysia): This was all about the animals and the war history, Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, Monkeys, Sun Bears and so many birds. The Jungle Cruise and stay was fun. We learnt so much about our Australian war history we never knew happened, with so many Australians lost I am unsure why this is not taught in schools.
AUSTRALIA
I have been lucky enough to have seen nearly all over Victoria and all our Capital Cities.
Melbourne (my hometown): My first overseas trip was solo to my dream destination of Disneyland, which never disappoints. If you have never been to Disneyland, you are missing out. Tijuana & LA were my first major culture shocks, and it was the food that caused this. I looked forward to a home-cooked roast and fresh air on my return.
Victoria (my state): There are many favourites I have visited as day trips, camping holidays or by car. The Dandenong Ranges have quaint towns, Puffing Billy, Lake Lysterfield, Healesville Sanctuary and many fantastic gardens and shops. The Yarra Valley has some of the country's best wines and food. Phillip Island with it's Fairy Penguins and Chocolate Factory Tour. The Great Ocean Rd with interesting seaside towns, history, whales and natural scenic sights. Gippsland and the lakes with natural wonders, wildlife and beautiful forests. Mornington Peninsula has plenty, including hot springs, wine, beer and beaches. The Little Desert, Grampian, The Murray, the Goldfields, The Rutherglen Region and the High Country, even with a bit of skiable snow. There is so much to do and see in Victoria.
Adelaide: As a kid, we visited most Easter Holidays either by the Overland Train or car. My favourite things as a kid were The Big Rocking Horse and visiting Handorf & Glenelg. As an adult the National Wine Centre and Botanical Gardens are a must.
Mount Gambier:
Sydney:
Brisbane:
Hobart:
Perth:
Darwin:
Canberra:
Cairns:
Gold Coast:
Port Douglas:
Launceston:
Alice Springs & Uluru
Watchout for my further Blogs on these individual destinations for great ideas for you next dream trip.
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