About Stephen

To teach our children the meaning of gratitude, to grow as a family through love, adventure, service community and of course travel.

This is a summary of costs for 34 days in South Africa with our family of 4 including all airfare, car rental, transportation, accommodations, excursions, food, groceries and everything down to a stick of gum:

  • Total cost for 34 days: $5,221.40  USD
  • Daily average: $153.57
  • Accommodation: 1,795.58
  • Transport (including 34 day rental car): $904.71
  • Excursions: $1,128.21
  • Restaurant: $495.92
  • Groceries: $360.16

South Africa Family Expense Worksheet

Date Local Currency Amount In Local Home Currency Amount In Home Category Note
08/08/14 ZAR $28.00 USD $28.00 Restaurant San Francisco lunch airport
08/10/14 ZAR $350.00 USD $32.92 taxi Taxi from airport
08/10/14 ZAR $94.00 USD $8.84 street food Dinner outdoor market eastern food bazaar
08/10/14 ZAR $180.00 USD $16.93 Restraint at. Birds
08/11/14 ZAR $230.00 USD $21.63 Zoo & Aquariums World of birth
08/11/14 ZAR $540.00 USD $50.79 bus Hop on hop off buss 2 day pass for 2 adults
08/11/14 ZAR $95.50 USD $8.98 Restaurant Breakfast
08/11/14 ZAR $60.00 USD $5.64 taxi Taxi
08/11/14 ZAR $535.00 USD $50.32 Excursions Table top 2 adults 1 kid
08/11/14 ZAR $197.00 USD $18.53 Restaurant Dinner
08/11/14 ZAR $180.00 USD $16.93 Souvenir Table picture
08/11/14 ZAR $167.00 USD $15.71 Groceries Groceries
08/12/14 ZAR $740.00 USD $69.60 Excursions Robbin island
08/13/14 ZAR $60.00 USD $5.64 taxi Taxi
08/13/14 ZAR $133.00 USD $12.51 street food Eastern food bazaar
08/14/14 ZAR $20.00 USD $1.88 tips Penguin tip parking
08/14/14 ZAR $90.00 USD $8.46 Souvenir Headbands
08/14/14 ZAR $160.00 USD $15.05 Excursions Boulders Simmons cove penguin
08/14/14 ZAR $248.00 USD $23.32 Restaurant Dinner Oscars
08/14/14 ZAR $310.00 USD $29.16 Excursions Cape of good hope
08/14/14 ZAR $15.00 USD $1.41 Souvenir Lucca’s bracelet
08/15/14 ZAR $900.53 USD $84.69 Excursions Hermanous shark
08/15/14 ZAR $6.00 USD $0.56 Transport Parking Hermanus pool
08/15/14 ZAR $26.97 USD $2.54 Groceries Beer
08/15/14 ZAR $609.00 USD $57.28 phone Phone 500 min and data
08/15/14 ZAR $1,180.00 USD $110.98 Accommodation Hermanus esplanade 2 nights fishing cottage
08/15/14 ZAR $1,500.00 USD $141.07 Excursions Shark diving
08/16/14 ZAR $280.00 USD $26.33 Restaurant Buffeldrift dinner
08/16/14 ZAR $20.00 USD $1.88 street food Ice cream
08/16/14 ZAR $16.90 USD $1.59 gear Plug converter
08/16/14 ZAR $100.00 USD $9.40 Souvenir Layla’s magic scarf
08/16/14 ZAR $425.95 USD $40.06 Groceries Groceries Oudsthorn
08/16/14 ZAR $15.00 USD $1.41 phone Extra min 300
08/16/14 ZAR $384.65 USD $36.18 Transport Gas 27.26 liters
08/18/14 ZAR $40.00 USD $3.76 tips Tip elephants
08/18/14 ZAR $353.50 USD $33.25 Excursions Elephant I counter
08/18/14 ZAR $88.00 USD $8.28 Restaurant Bufflsdrift milk shakes
08/18/14 ZAR $350.00 USD $32.92 Zoo & Aquariums Cango wildlife
08/19/14 ZAR $191.00 USD $17.96 Restaurant Cocomo dinner
08/19/14 ZAR $1,950.00 USD $183.40 Accommodation Karoo soul 3 nights oudtshoorn cash
08/19/14 ZAR $412.85 USD $38.83 Transport Gas
08/20/14 ZAR $205.10 USD $19.29 Restaurant Kynesna lunch kid play area falcon creek spur
08/20/14 ZAR $900.00 USD $84.64 Excursions Kynesna township visit
08/20/14 ZAR $35.60 USD $3.35 Groceries Milk
08/20/14 ZAR $100.00 USD $9.40 Entertainment Surf board rental buffles bay 1hr
08/20/14 ZAR $900.00 USD $84.64 Accommodation Beach house backpackers wilderness 2 nights
08/21/14 ZAR $234.00 USD $22.01 Resturaunt Moby dick lunch plettenberg
08/22/14 ZAR $706.00 USD $66.40 Zoo & Aquariums Monkey land and birds of Eden 2 adults2 kids
08/22/14 ZAR $12.00 USD $1.13 street food Candy
08/22/14 ZAR $142.00 USD $13.35 Resturaunt Birds if Eden lunch
08/22/14 ZAR $402.38 USD $37.84 Groceries Groceries Plettenburg
08/22/14 ZAR $32.15 USD $3.02 Groceries Beer
08/22/14 ZAR $2,400.00 USD $225.72 Accommodation Swallows Nest 3 nights Plettenbergbaai
08/23/14 ZAR $465.00 USD $43.73 Zoo & Aquariums Tenikwa wildlife awareness center plettenberg 2 adults 1 child
08/23/14 ZAR $100.00 USD $9.40 Laundry Laundry Plattenberg
08/24/14 ZAR $40.00 USD $3.76 Transport Toll Plattenberg to Jbay
08/24/14 ZAR $36.00 USD $3.39 street food Ice cream at bunggy jump
08/24/14 ZAR $400.00 USD $37.62 Excursions Bunggy pictures
08/24/14 ZAR $1,090.00 USD $102.51 Excursions Bloukrans bungi 790 jump, 300 witnesses
08/24/14 ZAR $10.00 USD $0.94 Excursions Laminate picture
08/24/14 ZAR $452.76 USD $42.58 Transport Gas
08/24/14 ZAR $304.00 USD $28.59 Resturaunt Dinner Jeffrey bay Nina’s
08/25/14 ZAR $171.20 USD $16.10 Groceries Groceries J Bay
08/25/14 ZAR $146.00 USD $13.73 Resturaunt Lunch pizza Jbay cafe portofinos
08/26/14 ZAR $75.45 USD $7.10 Groceries Alcohol Jbay
08/26/14 ZAR $271.45 USD $25.53 Groceries Groceries Jbay sunblock
08/26/14 ZAR $180.00 USD $16.93 Resturaunt Dinner at hostel
08/27/14 ZAR $82.50 USD $7.76 Groceries Addo park groceries
08/27/14 ZAR $105.40 USD $9.91 Groceries Addo park groceries
08/27/14 ZAR $600.00 USD $56.43 Excursions Addo elephant park entree
08/27/14 ZAR $2,100.00 USD $197.50 Accommodation Crystals cove 3 nights
08/28/14 ZAR $150.00 USD $14.11 Restaurant Avaco breakfast
08/28/14 ZAR $258.50 USD $24.31 Restaurant Addo dinner Hazel’s kitchen
08/28/14 ZAR $140.00 USD $13.17 Groceries Addo groceries
08/28/14 ZAR $193.76 USD $18.22 Groceries Groceries kirkwood /Addo
08/29/14 ZAR $1,950.00 USD $183.40 Accommodation Avaco chalet Addo 3 nights cash
08/29/14 ZAR $47.98 USD $4.51 Groceries Groceries Addo/kirkwood alcohol
08/30/14 ZAR $211.00 USD $19.84 Restaurant Barefoot cafe dinner Chintsa
08/30/14 ZAR $522.88 USD $49.18 Transport Gas grahmstown to Chintsa
08/31/14 ZAR $23.00 USD $2.16 street food Coke
08/31/14 ZAR $386.62 USD $36.36 Transport Gas coffe bay
08/31/14 ZAR $640.00 USD $60.19 Accommodation Coffe bay coffee shack kings cottage
08/31/14 ZAR $112.00 USD $10.53 Restaurant Breakfast coffee shack
08/31/14 ZAR $550.00 USD $51.73 Accommodation Chintsa buccaneers backpackers
09/01/14 ZAR $126.40 USD $11.89 Groceries Groceries on the way to Durban
09/01/14 ZAR $223.55 USD $21.02 Restaurant Dinner bluffs Durban Spurs
09/01/14 ZAR $750.00 USD $70.54 Accommodation Bluffs Durban 1night
09/01/14 ZAR $415.00 USD $39.03 Transport Gas Durban
09/01/14 ZAR $18.50 USD $1.74 Transport Toll Durban to st Lucia
09/02/14 ZAR $35.00 USD $3.29 Transport Toll to st Lucia
09/02/14 ZAR $194.00 USD $18.25 Restaurant Lunch st Lucia reef / dune
09/02/14 ZAR $255.95 USD $24.07 gear Towels
09/02/14 ZAR $452.76 USD $42.58 Groceries Groceries St Lucia
09/02/14 ZAR $2,400.00 USD $225.72 Accommodation Stokkiesdraai St Lucia 4 nights
09/03/14 ZAR $580.00 USD $54.55 Excursions Boat safari
09/03/14 ZAR $90.00 USD $8.46 Souvenir Bracelet turtle
09/03/14 ZAR $15.00 USD $1.41 street food Pineapple
09/03/14 ZAR $20.00 USD $1.88 Restaurant Dinner tip
09/03/14 ZAR $301.00 USD $28.31 Restaurant St Lucia John Dory ‘s
09/03/14 ZAR $159.95 USD $15.04 gear Rash guard
09/04/14 ZAR $2,850.00 USD $268.04 Excursions Safari half day
09/04/14 ZAR $338.42 USD $31.83 Groceries Groceries st Lucia
09/04/14 ZAR $80.00 USD $7.52 Internet Internet
09/04/14 ZAR $30.00 USD $2.82 Internet Internet with Joann
09/04/14 ZAR $195.00 USD $18.34 Excursions Isimansaliso wetlands eastern shores
09/05/14 ZAR $600.00 USD $56.43 Accommodation St Lucia stokkiesdraai
09/05/14 ZAR $60.70 USD $5.71 Groceries Alcohol st Lucia
09/06/14 ZAR $46.00 USD $4.33 school supplies Markers balloons
09/06/14 ZAR $110.00 USD $10.35 school supplies Book
09/06/14 ZAR $44.00 USD $4.14 school supplies Notebooks
09/06/14 ZAR $199.00 USD $18.72 Groceries Groceries st Lucia
09/06/14 ZAR $185.00 USD $17.40 Excursions Goat farm cheese an tour
09/06/14 ZAR $228.00 USD $21.44 Restaurant Dinner at Lucia John Dory
09/07/14 ZAR $53.50 USD $5.03 Transport Tolls st Lucia to Durban
09/07/14 ZAR $390.20 USD $36.70 Transport Gas to Durban
09/07/14 ZAR $235.00 USD $22.10 Restaurant Breakfast Durban hotel
09/07/14 ZAR $140.00 USD $13.17 Excursions Stadium tram
09/08/14 ZAR $112.00 USD $10.53 Entertainment Stupid dinosaur thing at stadium
09/08/14 ZAR $205.00 USD $19.28 Restaurant Hops dinner
09/08/14 ZAR $3,672.00 USD $345.35 Accommodation Riverside hotel and spa Durban 4 nights
09/09/14 ZAR $200.00 USD $18.81 Entertainment Bikes
09/09/14 ZAR $259.65 USD $24.42 Groceries Groceries Durban
09/09/14 ZAR $160.00 USD $15.05 Restaurant Dinner Durban Indian bunny chow
09/09/14 ZAR $20.00 USD $1.88 Miscellaneous Charity
09/09/14 ZAR $57.98 USD $5.45 Groceries Groceries Durban
09/10/14 USD $7.50 USD $7.50 Groceries Groceries
09/10/14 ZAR $262.00 USD $24.64 Restaurant Silver spur Durban dinner
09/10/14 ZAR $355.90 USD $33.47 Transport Gas
09/10/14 ZAR $77.00 USD $7.24 Groceries Milk snacks
09/10/14 ZAR $547.00 USD $51.44 Excursions Ushaka marine world and water park
09/10/14 USD $578.00 USD $578.00 Transport Car rental 29 days
09/10/14 ZAR $104.60 USD $9.84 Restaurant Breakfast Durban airport Spur restraint
$49,608.14 $5,221.38  USD

I traveled this world for what?

Over in an instant, gone in a flash, around the world, full of life and beautiful adventure.

We return and life picks up where it left off,  indifferent, absorbed in text messages and the size of one’s screen time….  like nothing happened.

Beyond description I have grown, in ways I cannot comprehend I have become a different person. I feel alone in this regard as my family eases back into the consumerist mindset. Back into jobs, into the grind, it’s “busy-ness” as usual.

So I return to meaningful work to find meaning and purpose, my wife assumes the role of working mother and night shift RN, family time pushed to the back-burner to be lived “another day”.

It is so very typical, “have we learned nothing”?

I am afraid the answer is yes.

You know the drill, it’s time to book your hotel stays in Bali but as a family the process can be daunting.

You want to save money but you don’t all want to be sharing a bed. You want to have a pool for the kids but you don’t want to pay $80-$100+ per night for the privilege.

Many blogs and travel guidebooks, including my beloved Lonely Planet, recommend places like the Hard Rock Hotel or the Westin Resort as “great family friendly hotels in Bali”. Hell yeah, they are great for the family, who wouldn’t want a resort with water slides, man-made beaches, and babysitting? But, unless you have just won the lottery you may be like ourselves: looking for Westin comfort at hard rock bottom prices.

Finding budget-friendly, and family-friendly accommodations doesn’t always go hand-in-hand.

Below are the exact locations and accommodations we booked during our 30 day stay in Bali.  Keep in mind, prices will fluctuate by 2-3x during the high season!

Budget Accommodations for Families in Bali


We found each of the places below to be wonderful, family and budget friendly options that will provide maximum comfort at median/minimal cost.

Jimbaran

Hotel Puri Bambu Bali

Poolside at The Hotel Puri Bambu in Bali

Where we stayed: The Hotel Puri Bambu (Bookings) Hotel Puri Bambu (Agoda) ****  Spectacular budget friendly hotel accommodation in Jimbaran that will make it hard to leave your hotel.

WIFI STRONGWiFi – very good

Jimbaran is not a “must see” location by any means on a Bali itinerary. It is made very nice by the well priced and well located Hotel Puri Bambu which really sells it in my mind as an airport stopping point. The breakfast is one of the best we have had and they have a convenient and free shuttle into Kuta.


 

Kuta Beach

Where we stayed: Satriya Cottages (bookings) Satriya Cottages (Agoda) – Nice, well priced, central location – pull some cushions from the poolside lounge chairs at night and save money on the extra bed for your kids.

WIFI STRONGWiFi – Very Good


 

Sanur

Where we stayedPrima Cottages (Bookings) Prima Cottages (Agoda) – Great budget family friendly hotel in the heart of Sanur with lots of decent eats nearby.

WIFI WeakWiFi – spotty


 

Balian Beach

Where we stayed: Pondok Pitaya (Bookings) on Pondok Pitaya (Agoda) Balian Beach. * One of the best places we have ever stayed!

WIFI WeakWiFi – Spotty and not accessible from the houses at the far end.

Balian has a combination of surf and exotic accommodations that will blow your mind. Pondok Pitaya is the glue the brings it all together!We came to stay for a few days and spent a week. The surf can be hit and miss but if you want surf, yoga, sun, swimming and a mansion for a week for less than it costs to fill up your car back home, Balian is for you!


 

Pemuteran

Where we stayedAmertha Bali Villas (Bookings)  Amertha Bali Villas (Agoda) When it comes to finding the perfect place in Bali for kids, snorkeling, beach and relaxation, it is hard to beat the Amertha Bali Villas.

WIFI STRONGWiFi – Very Good

The Amertha Bali Villas were heaven on earth. Although we were housed near the entrance in a group arrangement, we ended up pretty much having our own pool, with a pool slide, a shared outdoor kitchen a wonderful sitting area and lots of frogs for the kids. You walk one way and you get the beach, you walk 3 minutes the other way and you are on the main drag. This is a real advantage when you are toting around little ones. Breakfast was heavenly, we ate right on the beach and although our accommodations set us back at almost $100 per night, we stayed within budget, as the huge breakfast and plenitude of free daytime activities meant we had very little extra out of pocket expenses.


 

Ubud

Where we stayed: Gayatri Bungalows (Agoda)  – The Gayatri Bungalows are simple, clean and conveniently located hotel right in the center of Ubud. It’s a family run business with a traditional feel. If you can’t find an apartment to rent in Bali this is a great alternative and gets big points in my book for its prime Bali real estate and great pricing.

WIFI WeakWiFi – It’s spotty and can be slow at times but is free.

 

Don’t miss our family friendly Bali destination guide.

Before our trip, many people questioned the sanity of traveling with small children. Our son and daughter were 4 and 6 at the time, and many people were concerned that they wouldn’t remember much of the experience.

I started to agree with them until my wife shared a wonderful comment by a mother of three who had traveled with even younger children:

“We don’t question the validity of reading to our children when they are small, and they probably won’t remember that either”

I think you get the point.

There are definitely disadvantages to traveling with small children (in this case I will use under the age of 12 as my reference point). I will discuss these in a later post. Today I am going to focus on the positives.

8 Underappreciated Benefits of Long-Term Travel with Small Children

1. Small children often get into attractions for free or at a reduced price

This doesn’t end at just attractions, this includes metro fares (free), museums (free or reduced price), city buses (free or reduced price), hotel’s, amusement parks, bathrooms, hotel breakfast etc. etc. You get the point. My favorite word in the English language (FREE) is something you get to hear all the time while traveling with little children and it is music to my ears.

2. It’s easier to have sex

There I said it! Another question we have been asked by a couple understandably concerned pre-parent couples contemplating future travel with kids was “how do you, you know, do it?” I love it when people have the guts to ask me this question.  And the answer is the title of a 1995 Sandra Bullock Movie: While You Were Sleeping  If you are a parent of small children, then you know most kids can sleep through a fire alarm, an earthquake or both at the same time. Which is why, if all goes well 🙂 then we have that covered. I am proud to say that even though we spent the entire year in tiny rooms the size of some people’s walk-in closets, we were still able to get down and dirty from time to time without emotionally traumatizing our children… We let the travel do that.

3. They can share a bed (or closet)

If this doesn’t seem like a big deal to you then you haven’t traveled through South East Asia with kids. In Asia, a standard budget family room will consist of one double and one single bed in a small room. If you were to ask for a roll away bed it will certainly almost always double the price of the accommodation. Because our kids are small they get excited about “a camp out in the hotel closet” or “we will put the chairs together and make a sleeping fort”. Try this one with your teenagers. Needless to say, this tactic saved us a TON OF MONEY on accommodations and is a huge advantage to traveling with small children.

4. They see “the little” things

I could reword this and say “they see the important things”. Part of this is because of physics – kids are low to the ground so they see things that my knees would never pick up. Like really cool bugs, seashells, and even money (my daughter found $50 on the ground in Singapore last week that I walked right over). Also, they are not yet jaded by the world, they bring with them a sense of excitement and optimism, they are culturally clueless which means they judge everyone by a single standard based on kindness and if they have any good treats for them. They find cool bugs, other cool kids and make the most mundane things into a new and exciting adventure.

5. You have an excuse to go to Aquariums, Zoos, Science Centers, Parks and kids movies

Some people may put this into the disadvantage column, but not me. After a year of traveling with kids, I am now an expert on Zoos, Aquariums, Science Centers and Kid Zania’s from around the world. You would figure that if you have seen one Sea Life Aquarium then you have seen them all. Shockingly, this is not the case. Feeding hippos in Bangkok Zoo, walking through a navigable human body at Singapore Science Center or playing with elephants in Chiang Mai is so much fun, and it is fun BECAUSE you have kids.  I see a lot of awkward couples and single travelers trying to find their place among these kid-filled places of high-octane and high-tech learning until they give up and go see a temple. Don’t get me wrong, temples are great, and they may offer more of a “cultural experience”. But I can name all the types of puffer fish that live in the South China Sea. So there! Also, parks offer their own cultural rewards and striking up conversations with a hadith wearing Muslim mother of 3 in Malaysia helps you realize that we parents/people are all in the same boat.  And that is better than any temple.

6. You get to use “the family line” in Airports

When we arrived in Thailand we walked into customs looked at the 1.5-hour line ahead of us and started to cry.  Just then a very nice airport attendant took our family by the hand walked us past 1,000’s of hungry, tired and travel weary singles and brought us through the family line. We were out in 10 minutes! This has happened at bus terminals and various other such establishments.  I think they do it for the sanity of the other travelers, but I don’t really care what the reasons are, it is always awesome.

7. Homeschool vs. No School

If your children are preschool age this can be the perfect time to travel. For example, prior to leaving for our trip we were paying close to $500 per month for very limited part-time preschool for our son. While traveling we can chalk this off as one less expense.  At age 4/5 we can practice writing letters and numbers easily on the road. Once kids are school age, you will have to make roadschooling/homeschooling a priority which (although being a chance to educate on the road) can be difficult if you are traveling and trying to create a study routine. For this reason, I think kids the age of 4/5 are at the perfect age for a family gap year.

8. People treat you like celebrities

Everywhere I go, I seem to comment on the friendliness of the people. I have stared shocked at backpackers who tell of horror stories about locals treating them poorly.  Not once in a year have I had that experience.  People open doors for our family, help our children at every possible opportunity (even when they are acting like they escaped from a mental facility, which is quite often), smile at our family, take pictures with our family, feed our family, let our children have seats on the metro, help us get sim cards, give us free tickets, tons of treats and once in Penang we were walked to the very front of a 2 hour line to go up the famous, yet highly overrated, funicular bypassing everyone is disbelief. Even when my dad, age 72, who traveled with us through Vietnam didn’t receive this kind of priority treatment. It seems that everyone who sees a couple little white kids tramping about Asia can’t help but smile and offer a helping hand. It is one of the highlights of this journey, and one of the number one reasons you should travel the world with small children.

Why Taiwan?

I can’t begin to tell you the number of people who when I explained to them that we were headed to Taiwan for 3 weeks looked at me and said “why Taiwan”?

But, no matter where we traveled in Asia we would invariably meet families, teachers, vagabonds and adventure enthusiasts alike who would rave about their time spent in Taiwan.

I hate to admit while I nodded my head in agreement I would have been hard-pressed to point to Taiwan on a map without a bit of coaching. “Somewhere near China I think?”

On our trip to Hong Kong in April something became apparent to me: I wanted to learn more about Chinese history and culture.

Since the Chinese visa laws for our family were cost prohibitive I figured I would put it on the backburner and make China, Tibet, and India a trip for a later time. But while searching for cheap  routes home from Malaysia to Japan and home, there it was; Taiwan. I found it on the map and now thinking back to what everyone told me, I figured why not plan a trip there?

7 Reasons to Visit Taiwan With Kids

Taiwan is a great destination for families. On our year of travel, the most enjoyable places have been regions that combine nature along with rich culture, great food, and navigable cities. When I say navigable, what I mean is a good public transportation system, and Taiwan has one of the best. It’s also safe and easy to tackle by car, which means you have a lot of options. For families wishing to get off the beaten track a combination of the two is probably your best bet.

1. Taiwan has wonderful cities

The big cities like Taipei and the east coast cities of Tainan have spectacular food quaint and walkable streets and lots to do.

Taiwan with Kids

Just “chilling” at the Taipei National Palace Museum.

2. Taiwan has nature that rivals New Zealand

One word comes to mind “suspension bridge”! Along with suspension bridges, Taiwan boasts some of the most beautiful scenery we have seen in all of Australasia. I can’t tell you how many times I would walk outside and say “this looks like New Zealand“. Big surprise here. Also, Taiwan’s trails are accessible, easy day hikes abound for families.

Hiking in Taiwan with Kids

Day hiking the Walami Trail

3. Taiwan has extremely friendly people

People say hi with a smile. Contradictory to the warnings of fellow travelers, almost all Taiwanese under the age of 40 speak some English, they love to discuss culture, travel, and family. I would not be exaggerating if I said Taiwan has some of the friendliest most welcoming people on earth.

Family Friendly Travel Taiwan

Family photos with friendly locals.

4. Taiwan has excellent internet speeds

Although this may not be a big draw for many of you, as digital nomad, I was so excited to login to wonderful and speedy WiFi everywhere we went. For $30 I was able to purchase a 30-day unlimited data package for my phone as well. We were able to Skype, share photos and even take the grandparents on a virtual tour of a Sun Moon Lake temple.

Take a picture of your WiFi code then you will never forget it.

Take a picture of your WiFi code then you will never forget it.

5. Taiwan has Farm Stays

I would never have thought of Taiwan as a place to spot grazing farm animals, but Taiwan’s farm stays are notorious and a hit for the kids. Although on the pricier side for sure, our stay at the Touching Leisure Farm will remain in our memories for a long time to come.

Farm stays with kids in Taiwan

Butterfly spotting at the Touching Leisure farm

6. Taiwan is the biking capital of the world

Giant is a Taiwan biking company that in the 80’s and 90’s became one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world when they took over production for Schwinn. Now, in every big city Giant has a rental office and Taiwan has the largest, most well developed (albeit in some places a bit dangerous) system of biking trails I have ever seen.

Biking with kids in Taiwan

Biking cool family tandem bikes at Sun Moon Lake

7. Taiwan has Surfing

As a surfer, I am always on the lookout for a country where we can get in the water and go for a paddle. We did just this in Kenting and I was delighted to find a great beginners wave that in the off-season was a big hit for our family. The beaches are OK, but countries that combine the ocean and the mountains are always some of my favorites. Taiwan has surfing, who knew! Oh yeah, Taiwan also has Diving and Snorkeling.

Surfing Taiwan with Kids

Hanging Ten in Kenting Taiwan – A great place to learn during the low season!

Even with all these wonderful traits, I would say that Taiwan is probably still not going to please everyone. You have to be open to making mistakes, navigation by GPS when your car and the road signs speak another language, eating Subway from time to time be willing to pick up the phone and try your hand at Chinese, and make the decision to be adventurous.

Taiwan is a lot more than the makers of toys, bikes, and cheapt electronic parts but full of lush tropical forests, farm stays, mountains, hiking and biking trails, culture and yes, even surfing.  If you like an active vacation, nature, smiling locals and jumping on a bicycle, then Taiwan will surely delight.

I was laying down in the park at the Singapore botanical gardens today while the kids were playing in the water fountains.  Disney music was playing in the background and I am relaxing while reading an excellent book called “how doctors think” on my iPhone.

I was jotting down ideas and highlighting like crazy like I always do. And then, I had a moment of panic, I couldn’t remember how much Lantus Insulin I used to use in my diabetic patients… Have I forgotten everything?

Then I remember that I have to take my recertification exam when I get back, interview for jobs and renew my CPR. I have to figure out health insurance, find a place to live, get the old junker Ford working. We have to start school, figure out play dates and birthday parties.  We have to collect rent, fix up the house, pull our stuff out of the garage. We have to set alarms, sign up for after school activities and organize our lives around two separate school pickup times. We have Halloween costumes, talent shows, Christmas presents, work parties, short weekends and of course, traffic.

I started going down “the list” and what was once a tranquil moment relaxing in the park turned into a moment of sheer panic. I could feel my heart beating and my breathing quickening. I could feel my chest tightening. I can feel it now again as I write this blog post.

I took a deep breath.

The list, it is never really gone is it? We can press pause, we can crumple it up and throw it away for a moment, or better yet, the year but, it will always be there waiting for me.

Today I saw it there on the ground, staring me down. I couldn’t resist the urge to read it, I quickly tore it up. But here it is again, it is often the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see before I close my eyes at night.

List, this blog post is for you… When I get back you are in for it! I don’t know what I am going to do to you just yet, but I will figure something out.

Hiking-The-Camerron-Highlands-with-Kids

When we came to the Cameron Highlands from Kuala Lumpur (or KL as the locals call it) we were excited to get out and about into nature. Unsure of how we could accomplish this with kids we did the only thing smart world traveling families can do: We just found a trail and started walking.

Jungle Trekking the Cameron Highlands with Kids

There are several treks throughout the Cameron Highlands that are suitable for small children. The key is finding the starting point, which is not at all obvious. We did two treks both starting from Hotel De La Ferns which is 2km North of Tanah Rata.

  1. Path 4: Which began down a little known, unmarked road at the forestry department near the Kelab Golf course.
  2. Path 1: Gunung Brinchang – A true uphill jungle trek not for the weak of heart that requires some prior proper planning.

1. Hiking Path 4 to Tanah Rata

This is an extremely easy, rewarding (and a bit slippery) walking path that leads from just below the golf course all the way into Tanah Rata. You will pass two child-friendly parks, strawberry farms, and a waterfall. It is a good hike to get your feet wet – literally!

From Hotel De La Ferns you can take the road (or the secret path behind the blue/white apartments) down towards the golf course and the strawberry farms. There is an unmarked road that veers off into what appears to be no man’s land. This is the road you want.

There are actually several trail heads here. One option heads north and will take you up and around towards Tanah Rhata or connect you with several of the other trailhead towards Gunung Bringchangand.  The one we want heads south and is just up behind the small park with swings (you will know it when you see it).

As I mentioned, the hike is flat and passes several very nice destinations for picnicking, frolicking and simply enjoying the outdoors.

This trail ends at the elementary school, from here simply veer right and you will be on the main road of Tanah Rata. You can eat and catch a cab to wherever your need to go. In our case, it was back up the hill. The kids rode with mom in a $2.30 taxi and I hiked back up where once again it started to rain 🙂 Go figure!

2. Hiking Gunung Bringchang with Kids (The tallest peak in Malaysia)

Cameron Highlands with Kids Malaysia (1)

I must admit we did absolutely no research prior to heading out to hike up “Jungle Walk No. 1”. We had met some friendly young hikers the day before who recommended the trek and gave us some details about how to find the trailhead and how to “easily” secure a ride back down. It seemed easy enough, so we decided to give it a go. We spoke with our hotel manager before leaving and he assured us it was an easy trek suitable for small kids.

I am going to warn you, this hike is a 2-hour trek straight up a mountain and when you get to the top there is a 5-mile hike back down into civilization on the other side. Do not go up this mountain without having a plan for getting back down on the other end. We were led to believe that there would be taxis waiting or empty cars of people who could help. When we arrived there was one visiting family who we sadly watched leave.  It then began to POUR. We started our trek downward with no one in sight.  We walked for several miles down in the pouring rain. After about an hour, we came across a strawberry farm and spoke with a group of Malay farm workers who, despite their good intentions and big smiles, couldn’t understand a word we were saying. Luckily, a couple of minutes later a truck came up the hill and we were able to wave him down.  He kindly used his phone to call for a ride.

Now that I have scared you, I will tell you that this hike is one of the most beautiful and rewarding hikes I have ever taken and our kids absolutely loved it. You will find yourself enveloped in deep, lush green tropical rain forest, with root systems that you must scale, climb and grapple with until you finally are released from the mountains tentacles at the top. Watching the rain clouds pour into the mountainside, surrounded by giant ferns, mammoth vines, and exotic bird calls will transport you to a different word.

I haven’t seen country this green and spectacular since New Zealand. If you are debating whether or not to visit the Cameron Highland on your trip though Malaysia the answer is; you definitely should. Guided tours abound and they will take you to all the local “touristy” spots, for us though, simply getting on the trail and spending 4 days outdoors hit the spot.

For a good budget friendly accommodation check out Fathers Guest House. If you want something quiet with a nice view and a good breakfast I can recommend Hotel de La Ferns. It was a bit out-of-the-way but they offered us a great off-season rate ($64 with a huge breakfast) and the view was spectacular. It is best to book through their website as they often run 50% off promotional deals.

Trail Map of Cameron Highlands Hiking Trails

Below is a helpful trail map of the Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata and the various hiking tails. Download the image to your phone and take it with you hiking, it may come in handy.

 

When I think of Vietnam I envision pointed Vietnamese hats and long lazy river cruises down the Mekong.

For this reason, a tour down the Mekong Delta was a must on our family gap year trip through Vietnam

The best launching pad for your tour will be from Ho Chi Ming City,  There are lots of ways to get to the Delta from HCM which is a 3-hour bus ride from the city center. I think the easiest and possibly the best is to simply book a tour through your hotel or one of the many travel agents that line the backpacker’s district. They will arrange transport and accommodations for you, which takes a lot of pain out of the process. Although it is a bit touristy your guide will take you to a coconut factory, rice paper factory, fruit farm, a tropical fruit farm and of course the floating market as well as a trip down the Mekong in a traditional Vietnamese boat.  There are 3 options, a one-day tour, a 2-day tour and a 3-day tour with a homestay or a hotel stay. We chose the 2-day tour on a smaller 18 passenger bus with a homestay which cost us $45 and had a wonderful experience.

Although it is a bit touristy the guided trips will take you to a coconut factory, rice paper factory, a tropical fruit farm and of course the floating market as well as a trip down the Mekong in a traditional Vietnamese longboat.

There are 3 options while booking: a one-day tour or a 2 and 3-day tour with a homestay or a hotel stay. We chose the 2-day tour with a homestay which cost us $45 per adult and a discounted rate per child, we had a wonderful experience. We stayed at the

Our Mekong Homestay

We stayed at the Hung Family Homestay where the family made us feel at home. This culminated with their 18-year old son coloring our son’s hair green! This may have been a lapse of judgment on our behalf, but it made for a great cultural experience!

The Rice Factory and Tropical Fruit Farm

Visiting the noodle factory and the tropical fruit farm were fun. Our guide walked us through the farm explaining all the curious produce and we had an hour break to relax and enjoy the region. The rice noodle factory was a real road schooling adventure for us all and I will never eat a rice covered spring roll without appreciating its origins again.

The Mekong Delta

You will tour two floating markets: One is for bulk purchases and wholesale and the other is a smaller market where you can purchase items from your boat.  The first day includes the wholesale market and on the second day you will go to the smaller market – my wife purchased a Vietnamese iced coffee and I cringed as she drank up the ice from the fishing boat… She didn’t get sick! To top it off the coffee supposedly was the best sheevery had.

If you are on the line of whether or not to take a detour from Saigon to the Mekong I would say go for it. This 2-day adventure included a lot of bus time for sure, but it is an adventure I will never forget.

What have we done?

It is the question I ask myself as I stare into the blank faces of the 100 or so black and white photographs that line the schoolroom walls; now converted to a memorial in remembrance of the brutal genocide of the Khmer Rouge.

This photo board is titled 1977, the year I was born.

s21 photo of the dead

In the 9 months, my mom holds me in her womb, 1000’s of innocent men, women and children are tortured then brutally murdered, and afterwards their bodies are disposed of; landfill for the rats and stray dogs to pick away at their rotting carcass’.

And to think, the next 20 years of my life would hold a similar fate for those unlucky enough to be born into this time and to this place.

Doing ad libs with my kids, sheltered from the scorching mid-day Cambodian sun of the S21 courtyard gives me pause, I look onward at the face of only one of 7 survivors during that 4 year period. I ask the kids if they will come shake his hand, I consider him a hero.

Tonight, in this hotel room surrounded by the ones I love I wonder how I would react if someone held a gun to my family and asked me to take the life of a child. My family or theirs? What would I do? Would I have the courage to do the right thing?

Many of those who survived the genocide have gone on to forgive their captors, acknowledging they were only following “orders”.

Following Orders S21

But I am not sure I believe in orders, in the end it comes down to free will and being prepared to do what we know is right even if it means dying for what we believe in.

We must ask ourselves, from whom then do we take our orders?

 

Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport.

Thai kickboxing wasn’t on my radar prior to our trip, but after a couple weeks in Thailand and seeing adverts for Muay Thai events just about everywhere it was beginning to look like a fun family team building activity that we could all do together.

In Railay I watched an 11 year old and his father have a great time during a practice session and I was sold.

I spent a while searching for a place to do Muay Thai with tour small children and came up short-handed.

Internet searches for “kid friendly” and “Muay Thai” were not very productive. I emailed places in Phuket and Bangkok but most were very vague about age restrictions, cost and whether or not they would train our family together.

Muay Thai is fun for the entire family

We were lucky to happen upon the Lanta Sports Resort Muay Thai complex in Koh Lanta while riding our mopeds around the island in search of an apartment to rent for the week.

The complex itself is hidden down a dirt road with only the tiniest sign marking its presence.  You would never know that it was a renowned Muay Thai center if you weren’t looking. The road is difficult to navigate on a moped but if you hang in there you will be welcomed by what may be the finest Muay Thai complex in all of Thailand, and it just so happens to have a fabulous kids program.

After speaking with reception we were able to negotiate a great deal that included a huge, airy pool side room with our own kitchen and 3 days of Muay Thai kickboxing for the family at an exceptional rate.

The information regarding the kickboxing itself is lacking and almost everyone who comes to take a class (including the guests at the sport resort) have a confused look on their faces. Like many places in Thailand there were no set times or schedules posted and it seemed like even training times could be negotiated to fit your needs. Many of the trainers speak little English and the girls in the office inside were well-intentioned but it was hard to get a straight answer.

That being said, it is pretty straightforward if you are determined to figure out what is going on. You can book private training or join a group session. Group sessions run from 8-10 am and the beginners session are at 10 am. They have a dedicated kids class in the afternoon at 3 pm.

The first day we took a class together at 10 am which was a blast. The next several days we split up, where I trained in the morning and the kids would take the afternoon class. The kids really enjoyed training with all the other children.

Why to consider Lanta Sports Resort for Family Muay Thai Training

There may be other places to take Muay Thai classes in Thailand but I never found one quite as nice and quite so child friendly. The grounds are impeccable and the trainers are gentle and work well with children.

The cost for a kids training session is 300 THB or roughly $9, the adult session is $12 per adult per 1 hour session. If you stay at the resort 2 sessions per day are included in the price and like I said, it is a wonderful resort. It is not on the beach, but it is a short walk to the beach which is just accross the street.

The staff at reception are not the warmest but they get the job done. When I asked them why they didn’t advertise their resort they looked at me like I was crazy. The truth is that this resort is extremely popular and beloved by the local Swedes who come here by the hoards during their winter season. If you arrive in January-March like we did you will realize very quickly that most of Koh Lanta is a German and Swedish hot spot. They love their Muay Thai and so do their kids who heavily populate the 3 pm class. If you are booking after the first week in February you better make reservations well in advance. Especially if you want one of the cheaper rooms.

You can check the latest prices at the Lanta Sports complex on Agoda or consider booking as well at the White Flower Apartments. We stayed here after we left the sports complex and it is a great value.  Again, book early if you can.

Koh Lanta Kickboxing

Also, if you are wondering if taking your kids to a kickboxing event is appropriate? My answer is yes, consider staying up late one night an attending one of the evening competitions that is put on my the sports complex. We had a great time!