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Beijing - Beijing, China

Beijing - Beijing, China

Beijing, China My first event as a self-employed Disaster Management Specialist brings me to Beijing. It had been set up by Bournemouth University and part of the United Nations' Development Programme and paid for by DIFD (Department for International Development) and the title of the conference was on Emergency Earthquake Search and Rescue. Before I left - the visa caused me more angst than I would have liked. The obligatory eight pages of complicated forms to fill in, photographs, a list of all the countries visited in the last 10 years (!) and an invitation from the Chinese combined with a three (working) day turnaround requirement added to the last minute panic. At a cost of £250 it all seemed fairly expensive but amazingly all worked out (just!). I was delighted to be referred to as Professor Stileman in all correspondence I'd had sorting the trip out; and I clearly didn't correct them. When I arrived in Beijing I was slightly disappointed that the sign which greeted me in wasn't for 'Professor Stileman', but with the name of the conference I was attending. I was then driven an hour through the Beijing traffic to the hotel. I was informed that with 23 million people (only 7 million in London) and 5 million cars, Beijing is one large car park. Thankfully despite traffic jams, lack of road work warning signs cars switching lanes (& there are a minimum of four lanes on each side of the carriageway) without indication, it's all quiet because honking the horn is illegal. There is a lot of white fluff in the air - apparently this is normal in spring and comes from the willow trees. They are trying to find a way to stop it because some people are 'highly intolerant' of the fluff. When the wind isn't blowing, there is a thick layer of smog sitting over Beijing. China bans a number of websites including google (which means I couldn't receive any of my emails) and Facebook, but also a number of others also blocked. The great firewall of China! I had a fairly quick turnaround at the hotel and jumped in a taxi and made my way to Tienamen Square. This took an hour and was fairly expensive. It seems that using your phone while driving is acceptable demonstrated by my taxi driver who was watching YouTube videos while driving. I didn't get a chance to visit the Forbidden City (by this stage it was too late in the afternoon), but I spent a couple of hours wandering around - and I'm so glad I did because there was no other time off to explore. I was keen to not catch taxi back but used pubic transport. How hard could it be?! There is a lack of English signs around which always adds to the challenge. It did take a bit of guess work and was much more fun. The UN conference started the following day. It consisted of Bangladeshi and Nepalese (& only a small group of Chinese) and me. About 30 people in total. I had to moderate the first session (which was a new experience for me & I had to get advice on how to do this from the legendary Rebekah). The conference room had a translation booth at the back of it. Chinese to English and vice versa. We were all given headphones so could listen to the translation if required. I was amazed by the translators who could listen and translate simultaneously. It was a strange feeling knowing that whatever you were saying was being repeated a few seconds later. I could just about hear it and it was slightly off putting. I was confused when one Chinese man got up to speak; I couldn't work out if he was speaking Chinese or English. I grabbed the translation headphones which were clearly translating it in to Chinese; I couldn't understand a word he was saying. I had been asked to talk about Spontaneous Volunteers in my lecture. Basically, people that turn up to a disaster without any former training and want to help. They themselves can become a disaster if not managed, they clog up the logistics (transport, food, water, communications etc), they require careful organisation and can easily become a victim within the disaster (physically and or mentally). I found the research for this interesting and I was keen to put a positive spin on how to manage them. I spoke (note free - as requested from Bournemouth University) for 45 minutes and then had to fend off some questions (I was absolutely dreading because I wasn't sure I'd understand what they were saying)! The first day of the conference was all lecture based. The next three days consisted of field trips, with hours each day spent on the coach travelling across the city. It was at times, like a school field trip with absolutely no control over the unruly students. One video (attached) is search and rescue expert trying to show us how he uses a chainsaw in a disaster scenario. The translator is doing her best (with her loud speaker which was not very loud) while the majority of the class has wandered off and not paying any attention; utter chaos. Some of the lectures were awful. I've attached a short clip of one. I was doing my very best to look interested, but not always successfully. During the lectures - there was a constant chatting, people were always late; it was quite unlike anything I had experienced before. I had to bite my tongue and ignore all of it; that was hard for me! We did visit to a very interesting visit to a custom built post-earthquake town which was used for training. There was one building which was leaning at 19 degrees. Going inside the building was strange and upset your balance. Stairs going up were actually going down and walls were not where you expected. There was a 4 dimensional cinema - which allowed us to 'experience' an earthquake, much to the screaming delight of the audience. Other visits were not so good and I became slightly fed up with getting fairly insignificant information. However, this was not aimed at me - it was training for the others on the course. There were endless amounts of photographs taken of absolutely everything, there must be some very dull photographs taken back to Nepal and Bangladesh. On the first couple of days, I could feel photographs were being taken of me (some were trying badly to do this surreptitiously), then as we got to know each other - they were being taken blatantly. For example, the ladies would queue up on the coach to sit next to me for a couple of minutes while their friends took their photos. This was done without chatting to me. It was exhausting and did not ease up. Not only were photographs taken, it seems that business cards are the going currency. I slightly dread how many emails I am likely to receive. I may make fake cards for the next trip! Bournemouth University had told me that although the contact rate was rubbish, I would get a small amount of pay (US$500 in total). It all became rather awkward. When I asked when I was getting the money - the Chinese said there was no pay. I was horribly embarrassed asking for it and then having to fight my corner. The Chinese said that there was never an agreement for payment. There had clearly been a mix in communication with Bournemouth (and I couldn't get hold of them to help me out). I was really fed up (& felt like I had totally wasted a week of my life). I think I've managed to sort it out - but it was incredibly uncomfortable but probably the best learning experience for me during the whole trip! I know from experience that burping (men and women) and hoiking (the process of moving flem from the back of your throat to your mouth) and spitting is acceptable in Nepal (& I am quite sure also in Bangladesh). I'm not sure the Chinese were ready for it as the group were making these revolting noises throughout the week (much to my personal amusement!). Presentations would be in full flow and a lady would let out an enormous burp much to the horror of the Chinese; absolutely brilliant!! The use of chopsticks flummoxed them too - and I saw the visitors just dig in to the food as they would at home using their right hand leaving chopsticks to one side. An experience for me and my first trip as a paid Disaster Management Specialist. Not all useful but I'm sure it will add to my experience in the long run.

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Taninges - Taninges, France

Taninges - Taninges, France

Taninges, France We spent four nights at the municipal campsite in Taninges, a small village getting into the Alps on the way to lots of ski resorts. The weather was amazing, sunny and warm, hard to believe at this time of year. We didn't get up to much, spent a bit of time organising the boot and finally got a TV for the bedroom. It took an hour or so to fit it on the bracket due to the lack of space to get to the bolts. Learned that the new Chromecast device we bought only works when there is an active internet connection, whether it needs it or not, i.e. If you are streaming a film from your mac or iPad to the telly, it doesn't need Internet, doh! Keith's dodgy knee didn't cause him too much of a problem, however his good knee started to bother him on weds evening, he woke up Thursday and he couldn't bend it or put weight on it. Luckily his dodgy knee had recovered before the other one kicked off! So on Friday when we were leaving I had to do all the packing up and drive to our next campsite. The twisty hairpin roads weren't ideal for my first outing, arrived without any scary moments, so all good. Spent the afternoon sunbathing at our new site, booked in for a week whilst the visitors are here.

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First day if work - Singapore, Singapore

First day if work - Singapore, Singapore

Singapore, Singapore It is my first time at the new offices of VP Bank in Singapore. It is open space. There are many new faces since we are growing fast and some replacements gave taken place. The main purpose of my visit is to meet my new HR person - Elizabeth. I have internal and external meetings including a lunch/work session at an external office. I got my own batch. So I can hop up and down these towers by myself. Everywhere I have been received very well. The day just flies by. After work, Elizabeth and Nicolet (also VP Bank employee) take me out for dinner. From the office we walk all the way to Marina Bay. On the way they show me some of the other banks but also tourist attractions like for example the Fullerton Hotels. Elizabeth walks in her high heels all the way! At Palm Beach Seafood restaurant she had reserved a nice table for us outside with a nice view on the landmark hotel "Marina Sands". We also get to see the light and sound show right from our table. They order special Chili Crab, fish and some asparagus with mushrooms. Since I have never cracked a crab so far, I asked the waiter to do it for me. He got some gloves and did a great job. All I had to do was to enjoy the delicious crab meat. Elizabeth, Nicolet and I had a nice evening and laughed a lot. They had to take the MTR and bus to go home. I just walked back to The Westin hotel.

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Setting off on the 21st January - Mulwala, Australia

Setting off on the 21st January - Mulwala, Australia

Mulwala, Australia

Where I stayed

Wanani Road

What I did

Hometown of great beauty

21st January We left home today after busily packing the van with goodies for our short trip, but I still managed to forget to complete emptying the fridge. Fortunately Maree finished the job and at the same time scored some really nice potato salad. We arrived at Swan Hill at about 4pm, had tea and settled in for the night which was fairly cool. 22nd January Explored the shops and found an Aldi's I was in heaven. I then read for most of the day in between drinking and eating. 23rd January We slept really well, and turned the air con on. It was going to be a very hot day. After going to Bunnings and getting something Ross needed to fix the breakaway on the van we went back to the park - The Big 4 Riverside Tourist Park, which by the way is spotless and we changed into bathers and jumped in the pool as it was 39c. Tomorrow we move on to Wentworth to join the Silver City Highway to make our way to Broken Hill, although we are not staying in the town, but at a free camp Popiltah rest area which is beside a lake which may or may not have water in it. It does have plenty of shade, toilets and picnic area and sounds quite nice. After that we will take the Barrier Highway bypassing Wilcannia and staying at The Warrawong Caravan Park, 3km past Wilcannia, which has very good reviews..If it's as good as the reviews we might stay a couple of days. I'll get back to you.in a few days unless there is something interesting to report.

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Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco, CA

Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA Today we woke at 7:00, shattered from another night of poor sleep. "Well, we can sleep when we're dead" said Karleen. After getting sorted, we left the hotel and joined the queue for the cable car at the bottom of Powell Street. We managed to get the first car, so no real waiting. The cable car seemed to take a different route on the way to the Bay, as it stopped at the top of the Lombard Street zigzag, and let a bunch of tourists (unlike us) off. The cable car stopped at Hyde Street, just a few metres from Blazing Saddles bike rental. We went in, after having breakfast & coffee at Starbucks, and picked up our bikes. About 15 minutes later, Christopher our guide, picked us up and we were off. We travelled past the WWII embarkation sheds at the Presidio (Fort Mason), and past the $4 to $10 million houses to along the waterfront. We took a short detour to the Palace of Fine Arts, a magnificent 'folly' beside a large pond with white swans. Our next stop was at the Warming Hut Pavilion, where it was time for a Golden Gate selfie. Up a long hill and we were nearly at the bridge. Excellent views of the bridge and of a Humpback whale breaching. Onto the bridge itself, which was quite windy, but very impressive. You have to navigate the pedestrian traffic as well as return cyclists, so you had to be a bit careful. After crossing the bridge, it was largely downhill to the seaside town of Sausalito, a quaint and picturesque town which, Karleen remarked, was quite like Akaroa. After a wander around the shops, we boarded the ferry, which took us close by Alcatraz island, before berthing at the Embarcadero. We biked back to Blazing Saddles, and returned them (except for the bike lock key). We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Pier 39 before walking straight up Powell Street and back to the hotel. Pizza for dinner, along with a beer for me, and a mojito for Karleen.

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SNAFU IN SWEDEN: WHEN A DREAM VACATION TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE

What do you do when your dreams to see the Northern Lights in Sweden are dashed? When you travel, kids in tow, all the way to the perimeter of the arctic circle to find that your accommodations in no way resemble the “comfortable,” “cozy” images proffered on the website? When the property in question had […]

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Weekend away in Wang Nam Khiao - Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Weekend away in Wang Nam Khiao - Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand Sorry for nothing over the last few days, I've been a bit busy! Friday was a fantastic, Krysta (American teacher), New (English speaking teacher) and myself learnt how to play the Thai flute! It was really interesting. Then on Friday night, I stayed with another family and went to a place called Wang Nam Khiao for the last two days. I'm staying with them tonight and then back with my hosts tomorrow. Wang Nam Khiao was beautiful, we stayed at a quiet little resort, which was amazing. There are photos below. Last night we went and watched the sunset at the top of some hill, it was so cool. This morning, we went kayaking really early! It was actually quite cold, only around 22°C, but it got up to 33°C later in the day. Tomorrow is meant to be a busy day back at school, Thai art in the morning and more music in the afternoon!

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Ha Long Bay - Halong Bay, Vietnam

Ha Long Bay - Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam It's 8:30am and our bus arrives right on time just as we are finishing our pho. It's at full capacity with 18 passengers, but we're comfortable. We were warmly welcomed by Duke, our tour guide for this Ha Long Bay Adventure. He explains our itinerary. It's a 2 day 1 night cruise, all of our meals are provided and we can look forward to plenty of fresh seafood. Our activities include, kayaking, swimming, cave exploration, squid fishing and a cooking class. Sounds like an action packed 24hrs. It's a long and bumpy drive from Hanoi to Ha Long, approximately 3.5hrs to 4hrs, traffic depending. This includes a little pit stop at the half way point. With my face glued to the window, I was fascinated by the beautiful country side and the Vietnamese peoples' mad scooter skills. I saw a man carry several 4x8 sheets of drywall on his scooter. Then I saw a man on a scooter with another scooter strapped to his back! Something I have appreciated about the people here is how hard they work. As we drove through the country side, we saw people ploughing their fields by hand with a hoe, or with an Ox. These are not small plots of land; they have acres of land that they cultivate by hand. Truly inspiring. 4hrs later we arrive at the port In Ha Long City. It is overcast and raining, with low visibility. We are sad and disappointed, thinking this will affect the view. Oh well, at least the boat is nice! Our boat is called "Stellar", which is a fitting name. It's three floors with 21 cabins. After orientation we are given our cabin keys. The rooms are small but clean. Our one wall was floor to ceiling patio doors, so we had an incredible view from our bed. After getting settled it was lunch time. The food was fantastic: crab, calamari, cat fish, and seafood soup. They weren't joking about having plenty of fresh seafood. We enjoyed our meal while sharing a table with a couple from Switzerland. Our boat was filled with people from all over Europe, Australia, Indonesia and South America. It was mostly couples and everyone was pretty quiet, which is just the way we like it. After lunch we went to surprising/amazing cave. We didn't know what to expect, but we were blown away. The largest grotto in the cave is over 100,000sqft and has millions of stalactites and stalagmites. Once back on the boat we were able to enjoy a Vietnamese coffee on the top deck. We opted out of swimming out of pure laziness and just relaxed and enjoyed the views. Although it was grey and over cast, the views of the limestone cliffs was still spectacular. In fact the looming mist made them look mystical. After another delicious meal, we went back to our room and skipped the squid fishing. Fortunately everyone turned in early and we had the best sleep we have had since being in SE Asia, so peaceful. Bright and early we hear Duke over the intercom system inviting everyone for breakfast and then kayaking at the floating village. Breakfast consisted of fresh fruit, eggs and toast. Out of all the activities planned, Gaby and I were most looking forward to kayaking, and it didn't disappoint. We had an hour to explore one of the last fishing villages in Ha Long bay. 100 people live in this village, and they make their livings by fishing and tourism. The floating houses are simple and tiny, but well kept. While Gaby took pictures and videos I paddled us through little bays and coves. At times we both sat there in silence, in disbelief of where we were and the beauty we were surrounded by. Just a glimpse of what we will enjoy in paradise. On our way back to shore we learned how to make spring rolls, and then we got to eat them! All in all it was an incredible experience and we would highly recommend taking the time to visit if you are ever in Vietnam! Tips We recommend A class cruises. They have 3 boats: Stellar, Legend, and Carina. Though the other two cruises have less people on board, the Stellar cruise is a taller ship, which means better views. Spend the extra for a second floor room, you get bigger windows and a better view

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Nick Baker 1/5/2017 - Dublin, Ireland

Nick Baker 1/5/2017 - Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland I was able to sleep in this morning til 8 AM and was able to have breakfast prior to leaving for the National Sports Campus. As we got to the center, we waited for our two tour guides named Gareth and Mickey. We first tour the National Aquatic Centre.Touring the facility, I gained a lot of knowledge about the swimmers who train here as well as the divers. Also, I learned much of the marketing side of the aquatic centre and how they attract people to come to the centre. The next we walked to on the tour from Gareth was to a training facility for divers.This place was not a actual place for them to dive, but to rather work and build on their gymnastics skills for the dive. Next, we visited the Football Association Of Ireland. We did not walk inside, but from the outside of the building, it seems very nice and organized. We instead went near one of the fields and talked about those who take part on these fields such as the Ireland National Team.Finally, we ended the tour by visiting one of the new buildings made for cross country, basketball, badminton, etc... Overall, I enjoyed my time at the National Sports Campus and I think Gareth did about 95% of the talking while Mickey really did not do or say anything at all. After getting lunch, we traveled to Aviva Stadium, the home of the Ireland soccer and rugby. My favorite part of the tour was looking down at the pitch where the Ireland soccer players played at. The ground where they play at overall looked amazing and I would love to see a match at the stadium.Last place we went as a group was to the Royal Dublin Society. As we arrived, we went to the stadium where the Leinster Rugby Team plays their matches. We were then lucky enough to go into the locker room of the Leinster Rugby Team and we saw all their jersey out and ready for their match tomorrow. After having a chat with Marcus at the end, we got ourselves a quick snack and drank and headed back to the Generator. Once I headed back, me, Blake, and Dakota, did our own thing. We visited a pizza place across the Generator and then went to a local pub to enjoy ourselves. Overall, today was a good day.

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5 Insider Tips for Beaches Negril

Ready to vacation in Jamaica? Yeah, mon! Whether seeking fun in the sun or something to get in my belly, I found Beaches Negril provided my family with teen and tween plenty more than we could do in the four days we had allotted. So we're sharing 5 insider tips to make the most of this delightful Beaches Resorts property.

Beaches Negril has a prime location on Seven Mile Beach in Negril. Photo credit: Sherry Boswell/Melodious TravelingMom.

Beaches Negril: Sun, Sand, Reggae, and Good Times

Jamaica is known for all of these. And Beaches Resorts, one of the preeminent resort chains, has upped the ante on luxury-inclusive vacations for families. One thing I've learned about traveling to the Caribbean: it's important to be prepared. Especially when it comes to the resort of choice.

My family and I vacationed at Beaches Negril in October. It was a first trip Jamaica for our kids, so we wanted to squeeze as much as possible in to make the most of our experience. Now that we're “insiders” of sorts, we're sharing our 5 insider tips that we learned while vacationing at Beaches Negril.

5 Insider Tips for Beaches Negril

1. Make time to unwind.

It's funny how we arrive on vacation and want to press fast forward to fit everything in. The vacation results in a bit of a frantic pace. To avoid that, we intentionally schedule times to unwind.

Some of my favorite options at Beaches Negril:

Book a massage or body treatment at Red Lane Spa. Reserving an oceanfront cabana for the day. Or chilling out floating down the lazy river at the Pirates Island water park.

Cool as a cucumber in the Pirates Island lazy river. Photo by Taylor Boswell, daughter of Sherry Boswell/Melodious TMOM.

An outdoor chess set, shuffleboard and pool table were just some of the games that enticed us to play outside. There's also a miniature golf course, hot tubs, hammocks, game room, and gift shops. The key is do whatever relaxes and helps each person unwind.

TravelingMom tip: Grab a Mezzaluna signature pizza (half ricotta calzone and half margherita pizza) from Dino's Pizzeria Italiana for a poolside snack between meals.

2. Food and Beverage Selections are Crucial.

Beaches Resorts are luxury-inclusive, so our food and beverages were part of our Beaches Negril resort costs. With 9 restaurants and 8 bars, 2 of which are swim-up bars, it was nearly impossible to eat and drink at all of them.

So here's the skinny:

Make reservations for Kimonos and the Venetian.

Kimonos is hibachi-style Japanese, while The Venetian is Northern Italian fare.

Our favorite restaurants: Stew Fish for toes in the sand dining; The Venetian for the most gourmet quality food at the resort; Mariachi for those Mexican cravings; and Cafe de Paris for coffee, teas, pastries, and crepes! My favorite: any crepe with Nutella!

The Venetian wows with delish dishes like Chard Grilled Romaine Lettuce with Parmesan cheese and Garlic Lemon Chicken Breast and Jerk BBQ Shrimp. Photo by Sherry Boswell/Melodious TMOM.

Try the specialty drinks.

A Dirty Banana was my absolute favorite. Of course, anything with that view behind it is going to seem even better:

Cheers from 7 Mile Beach, Negril. Photo by Melodious Traveling Mom Sherry Boswell.

Beaches Negril swim up bars are the best!

My teen and tween couldn't wait to have virgin strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas to their hearts content. Having been to Beaches Turks & Caicos, the swim-up bars were on their short list of places they couldn't wait to try at Beaches Negril. One nice touch: all the swim-up bars have a kids' menu displayed prominently over the bar with lots of tantalizing options.

TravelingMom Tip: When dining at Kimonos, ask for Lashaun because she cooks teppanyaki AND sings. Multitalented!

3. Let the Kids Choose Their Activities.

My teen daughter and tween son have different interests. So it's no wonder that principle also applies when we vacation. My daughter quickly made friends with another teen, and their idea of fun was snorkeling and kayaking together, hanging out on the beach to take photos, and exploring the resort together.

Meanwhile, my tween's favorite pastime right now is water bottle flipping. Banned at school and yet free to do on vacation, he spent almost an hour bottle flipping at the main pool with Orlando, one of the lifeguards. He says his next favorite things at Beaches Negril were playing pool and the Xbox Play Lounge.

Orlando lifeguards AND plays water bottle flipping. Photo by Melodious TMOM Sherry Boswell.

When an opportunity to collect another coconut on vacation came along, my son welcomed it with open arms. He found one at Turks & Caicos and named it Bubbles. Heartbroken that we had to leave Bubbles at the resort last year, he couldn't wait to find another “Bubbles” at Beaches Negril. Fortunately for us, Kevin, one of the groundskeepers, saw my son's coconut fascination, so he got him a fresh one from a tree and macheted off the top so we could have fresh coconut water. Thanks, Kevin!

Fortunately for us, Kevin, one of the groundskeepers, saw my son's coconut fascination, so he got him a fresh one from a tree and macheted off the top so we could have fresh coconut water. Thanks, Kevin!

Catch the coconut. Then drink! Photo by Sherry Boswell/Melodious TMOM.

TravelingMom Tip: Give your kids a resort map and lists of activities the resort offers ahead of time so they can be deciding what things sound most intriguing to them. But also be open to ones they come up with on the fly!

4. Do a Photo Shoot with SnapShots.

We are so happy that we scheduled a photo shoot with Snap Shots. Thinking ahead to our Christmas cards! The session is free; all we purchased were the shots we liked. And there were plenty to choose from!

Our photographer Jesuth took an assortment of excellent shots, and he knew precisely when we needed to amble over to the beach to grab those sunset stunners. He had taken so many good ones, it was difficult for me to pair it down, so I ended up buying a bigger package. It included a photo album with the 30 prints as well as the digital prints and rights to use them for approximately $250.

Photo purchased from Snap Shots. All rights Sherry Boswell/Melodious TMOM.

TravelingMom Tip: There is also a complimentary photo shoot indoors at the EPIX Studio for a totally different feel.

5. Don't Miss the Exceptional Water Sports.

Beaches Negril blew our family away with all the water sports options. Here's one of the major selling points: water sports are included!

My teen did the snorkeling tour, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. My tween loved the banana boat, which is pulled by a speedboat and is aptly named because of its shape. Plus there's glass bottom boat tours, kayaks, waterskiing, scuba, and even snuba.

Banana boat bound! Photo by Sherry Boswell/Melodious TMOM.

My personal favorite: Sailing. Ok, so I wasn't in love with my life vest, but learning the fundamentals of sailing and charting my own course was simultaneously fun and scary. Wasn't it Eleanor Roosevelt that said: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Mission accomplished!

TravelingMom Tip: Book your water sports activities one day ahead of time or the slots may be filled. 

Getting in my sailing groove. Photo by Sherry Boswell/Melodious TravelingMom.

Ready for more tips about Beaches Negril? Fellow VIP TravelingMom Tara shares her 11 VIP Tips for Beaches Resorts Negril. And for a side by side comparison of Beaches Resorts, check out Indulgent TravelingMom Andrea's Beaches Negril vs. Beaches Turks and Caicos.

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Noosa, Rainbow beach and Fraser Island - Locating...,

Noosa, Rainbow beach and Fraser Island - Locating...,

Locating..., Okay, wow! I knew this was going to be a long one...to the point where I have actually been putting off writing it but here goes. So, this is two weeks in one. My first week was really just a chill, beach week leading up to my Fraser Island tour. I left Brisbane city and made my way to Noosa. Noosa - apparently - is suppose to be the posher and richer version of Byron bay, the hippy town I went to a few stops ago. I had a few mixed opinions about Noosa but, personally, I loved it. I spent a week there chilling and hanging out with lots of different people who were passing through. The first few days I hit the beach and checked out the town. One of the girls I met in Byron bay joined me the next day and we made friends with another two girls who were travelling down the coast. On the Monday we got a nice bottle of wine and headed to the beach - with the rest of the town - to watch the sunset and see the super moon. The super moon was incredible and unlike in England - so I hear - it was the clearest night it could have been! So we got a great view and lots of pictures. Everyone just stayed down at the beach and chilled for the rest of the evening. Funny story - Just as we were about to leave the beach, we thought we saw something big moving across the sand. Being tourists, we immediately thought it was a beached shark or something really scary. We decided to try and try a closer look and edged towards it. When we were pretty close we flashed on our torch only to find it was two people trying to have a romantic smooch on the beach. As you can imagine we ran off very quickly and and thought it was highly hilarious and couldn't stop laughing for like an hour! The next day, we headed into Noosa to do the recommended coastal walk around the national park. It was amazing! We started in Noosa town and walked all the way round the coast and along the beach back to our hostel. It was around a four hour walks and we stopped quite a few times and climbed down onto the rocks in an attempt to spot Dolphins, turtles and sharks. Unfortuantly, we weren't there at the best time of day to spot them but we were more than happy just sitting looking at the incredible views of the deep blue. We continued round and through a forest part of the national park before climbing down on to a beach, which we had to walk across as part of the walk. It was a beautiful beach so we stopped for a swim and took lots of silly photos. It was quite a long beach so we continued walking and to our surprise there were lots of naked sunbathers....yes you got it we had only gone and accidentally entered a nudist beach. Again we giggled kept our eyes forward and quickly got off the beach and continued our walk. The next part of the walk was a steep forest track (maybe we shouldn't have worn flip flops). When we got to the opening at the top we were gobsmacked by the ridiculously incredible views all the way down the coast line. Blue waters and golden sand stretching for miles. We then had to make our way down the cliff via some stairs and walked a good distance along the beach back to our hostel. It was brilliant! Sadly, the girls that I was hanging out with had to move on but it wasn't long before the next people arrived and I had some new friends to hang out with. The next day, I did one of the national park rainforest walks with one of the new girls my dorm. That was pretty cool lots of interesting and noisy wildlife. We hoped we might spot a koala but we again no such luck! The following day the new girls wanted to do the coastal walk as they hadn't done. I enjoyed it so much the previous time I did it, I decided to go again. We finished the evening going to a trivia night at another hostel. It looks like all my pub quiz attendances with mum have paid off... We came second! I left Noosa and got a three hour bus to my next stop, Rainbow beach. This is the place where my 3 day Fraser Island tour would be leaving from. I arrived a few days early. In hindsight this was a slight error as it is the smallest town I have ever seen and most people arrive and disappear off on their tours the next day. I made lots of 24 hour friends and spent the majority of my days on the beach, by the pool and reading my book. One night I did a free sunset tour and went sand larding down the dunes, which was pretty awesome! It was actually a very nice chilled four days but as you can imagine I was ready for action when they were over. The night before my tour I moved across the road to a hostel called Pippies, which is where the tour was leaving from. We had a pre tour meeting, met our new buddies for the next few days and were told which car we were going to be in. I instantly made friends with three guys and we all went for dinner together after. There were also two people from our car who were arriving in the morning. Two hilariously fun, crazy Irish people! In the morning, we got up at 6am, put our bags in the luggage room, had breakfast, one final brief and loaded the 4x4s ready to go. Once everyone was ready we jumped in the cars and made our way to the car ferry that took us across to Fraser Island - the biggest sand island in the world. I was in a car with the two Irish people Aaron and Claire, George from England and Lea, Carole-ann, Virginia and Linda who all from Germany and very quiet...well that's what we thought! As soon as the radio was on they were dancing and singing like crazy cats - this may have been where our nickname the crazy car came from. We went across the island on the car ferry and began driving on the sand. Sliding and skidding all over the place but don't worry we had some driving training. That's totally normal and you get used to it and let the car take you. There's not much to crash into other than the sea and the other three cars you are with so as long as they keep their distance - you are pretty safe! We began a bumpy and skiddy ride down 75 mile beach. They are really creative with their names here - as I mentioned previously - so I will see if you can guess why it's called that! Driving on sand next to beautiful, choppy, blue waters for about an hour before we stopped at our first stop, Lake Mackenzie. We jumped out the jeep and made our way down the path to the lake, armed only with swimsuits towels and cameras. Watch out for the dingos! Lake Mackenzie was beautiful and my pictures will prove it with its crystal clear, fresh water! We went swimming, did handstands and flips, played volleyball and started to mingle with the rest of our group. We spent about an hour and a half there before returning to the cars ready for our next stop. After Lake Mackenzie, we went to a small rainforest area. We had a yummy lunch, all included in our tour, and then went on a cool walk through the rainforest. Lots of very tall trees, rustling in the bushes, a creek and some loud noises. The guide showed us some very cool trees called strangling fig trees. This is when the branch on a tree touches another and decides to send roots down to the ground. Once it roots itself (those roots are very long) it starts to grow around the other tree and after a long time take over and essentially suffocate the old tree ( a bit mean...) but looks very cool! After our walk, we made our way to our campsite - home for the next two nights. It was very cool and well set up. Lots of tents underneath a canopy and a very well kitted out kitchen and seating area too. All surrounded by an electrified dingo fence. I though dingo was a joke name but no they are really wild dogs. I was terrified about seeing one and being eaten due to everyone talking about them...didn't see one the entire trip! We had a great first night bbq'ing, drinking wine and beer, playing games and having a little party together - lots of fun! First night in the tent, other than being a little hot, was actually the best night sleep in a while. No one on the bunk above or below waking me up in the night. However, we did have a 6am wake up call. Early mornings are important as once the tide comes in, you can't drive along the beach for several hours. We had breakfast, packed our bag ready for our first stop - The champagne Pools! So, like me you are probably thinking... Jacuzzi and champagne. Correct. It is exactly that just without the champagne or jacuzzis... In fact, I would describe them as huge rock pools you can sit in and the waves crash over the rocks and into them creating a fizzing type effect. They are really cool and I have some great footage of us being wiped out by waves whilst chilling in the pools. We spent around an hour there in the pools and sunbathing and then headed off to Indian head. Indian head is an extinct volcano on the island. We walked up to the top for some breath taking views and even spotted some turtles - yay! After that, we made our way back to camp for lunch. After lunch, we went to Eli Creek. Our guide had packed some huge doughnuts on top of the car for us to float down the fresh water creek on. It was beautiful. I felt like I was floating through the rainforest. However, we quickly learnt that the tube wouldn't stay afloat with two girls and four guys on it. Lucky for us, the boys got off so me and Claire could float down the creek. The water was fresh - so fresh you could drink it - and freezing (Dad, you would have not got in!) On our way back from our relaxing creek experience we stopped at a huge shipwreck. Known better as the SS Maheno. An ocean liner which was crossing between Australia and New Zealand and got washed ashore Fraser Island by a Cyclone in 1935. Obviously, it's not looking as good as it did back then but it is pretty phenomenal and I think it will be gone with in the next decade or so. After that, we went back to camp, where George and I cooked spaghetti bolognaise for 35 people. Julie I don't know how you do it, ha ha! Last day! Packed up camp, got in the car and made way to our last stop on Fraser Island, Lake Wabby. When we arrived we had to walk 2km down a sandy path and across a sand blow to the lake. A beautiful lake again but a little greener than the last one. We all got in and were surprised by the sudden drop in depth. We were told there might be turtles on the other side so, despite not really being able to see what was in the water, we swam across. Mum you are going to hate this next bit. Suddenly, across the water we saw a long black thing poking its head out of the water... Snakes like water right? We came to our own conclusion that it was a snake. You can imagine the reaction of 15 people in the water where they thought there was a snake..... Lots of splashing and very fast swimming and screeching back to the shore... It was a bird! Looking cool guys! We sunbathed for a bit (after our traumatic experience) and then walked 2km back to the car. We made our last journey across the sand to the car ferry and said goodbye to Fraser Island. What a great trip. So much fun, lots of great sights, good friends and memories. We spent the next night in rainbow beach with all our new buddies and the next day some carried on their travels down the coast and some of us travelled up. I don't think I will have a minute to myself from now on! Next stop, Agnes Water aka 1770 the second place Captain Cook discovered in Australia!

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Our adventure in revel stoke - Revelstoke, Canada

Our adventure in revel stoke - Revelstoke, Canada

Revelstoke, Canada Today we got up out of bed and ate a late breakfast . And left to go up on a gondola ride it wasn't that high but it was okay we didn't go up to the top of the mountains . Because it only runs in winter to do skiing . But we will go to Banff we there is a really high and fun gondola . Then we went by the mount revel stoke there was a lot of snow on the mountain there was a lot of snow so I made snow balls and though them at mom and dad it so much fun dad made snowmen and made a snow laddie with a flower sticking out of her head and he also though a slushy at me witch ran down into my shoes that made me get really cold feet I also made angels in the snow witch made my back get really cold .

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The road (slightly) less travelled - Bangkok, Thailand

The road (slightly) less travelled - Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand Myanmar has 5 borders: India, Laos, China, Thailand and Bangladesh. It has a number of different languages depending what border you are near to. It is more expensive than Laos, Thailand and the Philippines but also most certainly less touristy. They drive on the right hand side of the road, but just to keep tourists confused, their steering wheels are also on the right. Most women wear a yellow paste on their face; this is some sort of tree root made in to a pulp, added to a little water then used as a sun block. In local restaurants, green tea is served from a thermos which sits on every table, is free flowing, drunk without milk and is actually very good. Food (for every meal) is generally rice or noodles with some sort of meat and always served with a soup. It is not spicy but there is often chilli paste around which can be added. The people are very friendly and it's not at all like travelling in other parts of Asia; there is not the hard sell or constant pressure. I also don't think it has the poverty that so many of the Asian counties have. I was told that the average daily wage for a farm worker was 5,000 kyat (about £2.50). There is internet is in some places, but it is sporadic. My local SIM card worked in most places. Money is fairly complicated; £1 = 1,800 kyat (pronounced 'chat') There are notes only, the smallest denomination is 50 kyat (less than 5 pence). Travelling is remarkably easy; I was advised to avoid the trains which are notoriously delayed, slow, rickerty and uncomfortable. Busses seem to be a cheap and good option for long distances. I survived two long journeys, opting for the VIP style bus which were surprisingly good. The 12 hour night journey from Inle Lake to Yangon left me remarkably unscathed (for the first three hours there were people being sick as the hairpin bends combined with a road which had more potholes than actual tarmac which was fairly hard going) but I managed to sleep. Because my plans had changed right at the start of my Myanmar trip, it was great to almost be accidentally and unplanned in Bagan for two nights after a 9 hour boat trip from Mandalay. Bagan has over 2,000 pagodas (it used to have more than 10,000) and it is quite incredible. On my first morning there, I hired an e-bike which is a battery powered moped, which I collected just before 5am and somehow navigated in the dark to a recommended viewpoint for my first sunrise. Because I only arrived in Bagan the previous evening, it was fairly tough going trying to navigate; the tarmac road was pitch black and when I came off the road I was riding on random goat tracks to get where I wanted to be for sunrise. I eventually found the pagoda which (after taking off my flip flops) I climbed up to the top layer and was there for about 5.30am. I had prime view and relished this as a number of other tourists arrived after me. I spent the day whizzing around on the bike, taking tracks that led to pagoda after pagoda and temple after temple. It felt a bit like Siem Reap in Cambodia, but if anything it was bigger and therefore it is able to soak up the tourists, giving it a feeling of being far less overcrowded. Sadly, in 1975 the epicentre of an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Ricta scale badly hit Bagan and significantly damaged many of the structures. The failure to retain the original architectural styles and the use of modern materials drew widespread condemnation from art historians and preservationists worldwide and therefore initially it was rejected as a UNESCO heritage site. In August 2016, it had another earthquake of the same magnitude. However, the epicentre was not directly underneath Bagan (it was a few km away) but still, over 4,000 structures were damaged; many of the pagodas are subsequently covered with tarpaulin or bamboo scaffolding. As you can imagine, I was very interested in this and had an fascinating conversation with one local woman who was surprised by my interest and subsequently showed me around one of the monasteries which was severely damaged in 1975 and now very much forgotten about. I had the place to myself. Next stop after Bagan (after a fairly long but exciting/hair-raising bus journey up hairpin bends at speed sometimes on the wrong side of the road while overtaking) was Kalaw. It's a bit of a strange town and only just taking off as a tourist location, and as such there is not much to see or do. It is high up (1,400 m above sea level) and noticably colder. The guide book describes it similar to a Himalayan town. The only thing it does have are numerous trekking shops all offering very similar trips (Kalaw to Inle Lake) which is why I wanted to stop there. I didn't really know what to expect with the three day trek. I was, however, delighted by the whole experience. Rather less trekking and more walking, but it was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed getting out of the city and in to the countryside away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life with camera in hand (which saw a huge amount of action). Our 21 year old female guide - YouYou was delightful. She was working as a guide in order to improve her already good English. My travel compagnions turned out to be great fun; a French couple (Louis and Chloè) and Tony from Hong Kong. Myanmar is nation that has been oppressed for decades, but the 60 km stretch of land from Kalaw to Inle Lake still seems like an old-world paradise, free from political turmoils and frustrations. People smiling and laughing, seemingly unforced and not for the tourists' sake. It's refreshing. We stopped at schools, farming areas, and places where we sampled local produce of all shapes and sizes (I do not recommend the chewing stuff that makes your spit go red, which tastes of a smoky toothpaste made from wood). The route is obviously a well trodden path and it seems all the trekking companies go the same way. However, for the majority of the time we were on our own and it was magical to watch the locals, mainly ignoring us, carry on with their daily lives. We stopped for countless amounts of green tea and photographs (seeing some fairly large spiders close up). The homestay accommodation was basic and included a washing area with freezing cold water which you had to scoop out of a bucket and splash over yourself which was surrounded by a bamboo screen. The loo also rustic. I was over the moon I'd taken my down-jacket and a woolly hat as the temperature dropped significant as soon as the sun had set (5.30pm) and got down to about 10 degrees during the night. Our beds were made from a (very) thin mattress, a pillow which was like a large brick, placed on the wooden floor with a couple of blankets each. It was almost warm enough, if fairly uncomfortable but so much fun. Inle Lake is beautiful. It is 13.5 miles long and 7 miles wide - fringed by marshes and floating gardens, where stilt-house villages and Buddhist temples rise above the water. Fishermen are on the lake balancing on their boats and largely ignore anybody who gets close to them. They propel their boats along via a unique technique of leg-rowing, standing on the front of their boat and paddling with one leg. It must require an enormous amount of core stability and concentration. They have a large pinnacle net/basket on the boat which they use to catch fish. It does make for some incredible photography. The lake itself is big, with many surrounding villages living off the land and the water. It is surrounded by mountains. The town we stayed in (Nyaungshwe) which is a scrappy backpacker location and very relaxed and has a wonderful feeling about it. It is 900 m above sea level, the temperature is nice in the day (28-29) and cooler at night (12-13). The four of us from the trek decided to stay together in Nyaungshwe for the next three days. I was delighted. They were all good fun and spending the last part of my trip at Inle Lake with company was amazing. We hired a bike for 1,500 kyat (£2) for the day and we went very much off piste; it really felt like the road less travelled. We saw people in their own environment and not expecting to see tourists, kids shouting 'ming-guh-la-ba' (hello) and waving madly at us. We were in the middle of farming land, and it was spectacular with something new around every corner. One twist and turn brought us to the middle of sugar cane farming area. Not only were they growing it (& ladies covered head to toe in clothing cutting it), a bit further down the track, they were making the raw product into blocks of sugar. Various cauldrons boiling away, the fire stoked by the sugar cane 'straw' which had been squeezed dry. There were a number of people at work and they only really raised an eyebrow at us as we look on in interest. Very low level, rustic family farming. The bikes were not great; none had suspension, one didn't have breaks, mine was stuck in a very high gear which made it tough going especially up hill and cross country. They were also built for midgets. My knee was almost smacking my chin my seat was so low. I loved it! We hired a boat to take us around Inle Lake which was amazing. Stopping at factories (lotus-silk, cigar, boat building and silver moulding). We were taken to a village which sits on stilts over the lake and to the hydroponic vegetable garden (rows and rows of vegetables all bobbing up and down on the water). The boats are locally made and long and thin. They have a noisy machine gun sounding engine and the chairs placed (with a pillow and a rug) one behind each other. We visited a heavily populated pagoda area, with hundreds of structures jammed tightly together in various states of repair. However, the highlight for me was watching the fishermen balance on the ends of their boats. Our boat driver did tell us that some of these fishermen don't actually fish; they just balance for tourists. This broke my heart after taking what I thought were some incredible photos first thing in the morning. This was proved all too true while we watching the sunset from our boat; two fishermen came alongside us and started a balancing act (wearing traditional clothing) and promptly came up to us expecting money. I have an absolute hatred for being followed around when I'm buying something. It happened after visiting the lotus-silk factory when we were ushered into the post-factory mandatory shop. One girl was followed my every move. It started to annoy me so much that I decided to make a game of it. I would pick something up, she would would help me hold it (which infuriates me). I'd say no and then walk off very quickly; she would have to re-fold it then find me. I could see her coming so would go the other way. My game lasted a good 15 minutes and highly entertained me. I thinks she was glad to see the back of me when I bought nothing. For the last day on Inle Lake, I pottered around. My plan was to go to the market and think about getting some Christmas presents. However, all markets are closed when there is a full moon and the town is 60% shut down. So frustrating! I ended up walking around the somewhat quieter than usual town, treating myself to some reflexology. I get very frustrated when a foot massage is sold as reflexology. Reflexology is not just a foot massage, it is not poking my feet haphazardly with a stick. It is not a leg arm or shoulder massage. It is most certainly not fiddling with or platting my hair as the lady during this session seemed to think she would do. The only reflexology that I've really enjoyed during my trip was in the Philippines, apart from that all frustratingly poor. I should have stuck to massages! I'm now in Bangkok (the cheapest route home). I have tried to pack in as much as I possibly can, signing up as I arrived last night to a night five hour bike ride and then stayed out until 3am in Khoisan Road with a couple of the people who were cycling. Bangkok is noisy, touristy and very much an assault on my senses. I sort of like it. What a trip. What an experience. It was amazing. Too much to summarise. I will be back and I have no doubt it will be fairly soon; maybe in the role of a teacher, a NGO worker or possibly just a tourist again? Two incredible months.

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Arrived - Melbourne, Australia

Arrived - Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

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Plane Ride - ,

Plane Ride - ,

, The plane ride was very beautiful. The sky was illuminated with colors, that created an amazing view.

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Florida's Tradewinds Island Resort: Your Adults-Only Getaway

Craving a few days somewhere tropical, but headed to Orlando for a work event, I decided to compromise and book a pre-business trip on the Gulf Coast in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The sugar white sand, warm water and lively beach atmosphere are as satisfying as a trip to the Caribbean but far less expensive! Where? At Tradewinds Islands Resort – an amazing destination for a grown-ups only getaway.

Amazing view from a gulf front room Tradewinds Island Grand Resort. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist, Healthy TravelingMom.

Located right on the water in St. Pete Beach, Tradewinds Islands Resorts is actually comprised of two fabulous St. Petersburg FL hotels, Island Grand and Guy Harvey Outpost. Tradewinds is an ideal family resort, but don't let that keep you from considering this resort for your next grown-up getaway, either with your girlfriends or as a couple. I traveled there solo, but had no problem meeting people when I wanted company and having a lovely time by myself when I didn't!

Here are six super reasons to make Tradewinds Island Resort the destination for your next grown-ups only getaway.

No Shirts, No Shoes, No Problem

Just like you'd expect at a beach resort, the atmosphere is casual. Feel free to wander on up to the bar in your flip-flops and swimsuit. In fact, you'd probably feel overdressed wearing much more! Guy Harvey has The Sandbox, an outdoor bar facing the beach with live entertainment, drink specials, and a fire pit every evening.

I had lunch there and enjoyed a delicious chicken Caesar salad accompanied by a daiquiri and the beachy atmosphere.

No Cash, No Problem

The resort fee covers an array activities at both resorts. Forget about carrying cash. You can charge food and beverages to your room. This is a great perk! It was so nice to enjoy the beach without worrying about leaving my wallet unattended while I swam.

Eat, Drink & Be Social

With 15 restaurants and bars to choose from, you won't go hungry at Tradewinds. And while there are plenty of family-friendly spots, nothing is overrun with kids, and there are many options for adults only too.

The Tiki Bar at Tradewinds Island Grand Resort. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist, Healthy TravelingMom.

Because let's be honest, when you take a vacation without the kids, you want to be able to let your hair down and have a little fun. A great place to do this is at Sharktooth Tavern at Island Grand. This pirate-themed bar is where I found the best selection of imported beer. It offers live entertainment and karaoke on select nights.

RumFish Grill at Guy Harvey's Outpost. Photo credit: Tradewinds.

Another unique spot is the RumFish Grill at Guy Harvey's Outpost. I ate eat fresh, sustainable seafood while sitting beside a massive aquarium built on the TV show “Tanked.” I, literally, felt like I was eating underwater!

Exhilarating Water Activities

Between the two hotels, there are seven pools to choose from, including one for adults only at both Island Grand and Guy Harvey Outpost. They are super clean and some overlook the beach. I actually didn't use the pools much, as I was only there for two days and wanted to soak in as much beach time as possible! The Gulf water was warm and clear and totally relaxing.

For sports enthusiasts who like their time in the water to be a little more active, there is paddle boarding, parasailing and snorkeling.

Tradewinds also features a 3-story high inflatable water slide on the beach right in front of the Island Grand Resort. It may look like an amenity for the kids but I saw plenty of grown-ups shooting down the slide! The best part? Use of the water slide is included in Tradewind's nightly resort fee, so you can go down as many times as you like.

Just Relax

When I think of a beach vacation, what I really think about is lying on the beach with a good book, taking long walks, or sitting on my balcony and enjoying the view in peace. These are all things you can do when you travel to Tradewinds sans kids. I did, and it was pure serenity. I also really enjoyed lounging in the hammocks on the beach.

Use of beach cabanas is included with your stay at Tradewinds Island Resort. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist, Healthy TravelingMom.

And while most resorts charge extra for the use of beach chairs, Tradewinds doesn't go there. Among the many great amenities, the resort fee also allows guests unlimited use of the two person cabanas right on the beach, and the friendly staff to set them up for you. Can you say “cabana boy?”

Enjoy the Spa

Pamper your mind, body and soul at Body Works Salon & Spa at Island Grand, TradeWinds Resort's spa and salon. The spa offers more than 25 treatments. This is a great spot to indulge in a couple's massage, or if you are with your gal pals maybe get some mani/pedis or a facial.

Tradewinds Island Resort offers free yoga classes. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist, Healthy TravelingMom.

Healthy Tip for This Destination

Tradewinds offers complimentary yoga on the beach every Friday and Saturday morning. I tried the yoga class and admit I was nervous about going, since yoga is not typically my thing. But the instructor was great, and almost everyone taking the class was new to yoga, so it helped not being the only newbie. Because after all, isn't getting to try new things the best thing about traveling?

The post Florida's Tradewinds Island Resort: Your Adults-Only Getaway appeared first on Traveling Mom.

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Traveldaze # 17 - Delhi, India

Traveldaze # 17 - Delhi, India

Delhi, India Day 17 My roomie, Hillary and four others are moving on for a two week on another G Adventure tour to the south of India. Tiffany would of been the only one in the group going to Nepal. I could do another day in Delhi for some shopping but I'm looking forward to home. I've left a few items in the hotel and I have depleted most of my stock. Great, my bag should be lighter, but no ... it weighs a ton! I say my goodbyes with promises to keep in touch and I am off to the airport ! A big shout out to Ash from G Adventure; a superb Tour Director! Thanks for a great tour and all you did behind the scenes for us to make this an awesome time! A big shout out to all my fellow travellers; I had a super time because of all our laughs and all of you! A big shout out to Tiffany, we missed you!