"My love affair with travel ..." lindyz's Profile

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY NEW PHUKET PAGE JUST FINISHED .... MY BIGGEST AND BEST PAGE YET WITH 67 TIPS AND 216 PICS!!!!

MY LATEST PAGE IS MY HONG KONG PAGE AND ITS IS ABOUT ONE QUARTER DONE, SO PLEASE KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR ITS COMPLETION!!!

I ALSO HAVE SOME UPDATED TIPS AND PICS ON MY HORSHAM PAGE

I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED MY TIME HERE ON VT IN MY FIRST TWO YEARS .... SUCH A WONDERFUL, HELPFUL AND CARING COMMUNITY ... LINKED BY THAT ONE VERY SPECIAL THING ... AND THAT IS THE DESIRE TO EXPLORE AND LEARN AND EXPERIENCE NEW AND DIFFERENT PLACES IN THIS WONDERFUL WORLD WE LIVE IN.

THANKYOU TO ALL MY FRIENDS HERE, AND TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE EVER ANSWERED MY MANY QUESTIONS AND HELPED TO MAKE MY TRIP TO CHINA IN 2009 SUCH A SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE ONE, AS WELL AS MY UPCOMING FIRST VISIT TO HONG KONG.

I HOPE TO MEET MANY OF YOU (IN THE FLESH!) ONE DAY .... THE ONLY THING THAT WILL ENSURE THAT HAPPENS IS ... FUTURE TRAVEL!!!

I WAS SOOOOO EXCITED TO BE MEETING SOME FELLOW AUSSIE VTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MARCH 2011 .... IT WAS JUST LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. EVEN THOUGH NONE OF US HAD MET PREVIOUSLY, WE JUST GOT ON SO WELL, JUST LIKE OLD HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS THAT HADNT SEEN EACH OTHER FOR A FEW YEARS! WE MET IN SYDNEY AS HEATHER WAS IN TOWN AND THERE ENDED UP BEING 7 OF US. HEATHER AND CHRIS FROM PERTH, BETTY FROM PORT STEPHENS, BETTY'S BROTHER STEVE FROM SYDNEY, LEONIE FROM SYDNEY AND FRANK AND I FROM THE GONG. WE HAD A FANTASTIC DAY, CAUGHT THE FERRY TO MANLY FOR LUNCH. THE WEATHER WAS GORGEOUS AND THE COMPANY MAGNIFICENT!!! LOVE YOU GUYS XXXXX

MY NEWEST/UPDATED PAGES ARE "MULWALA" AND "THREDBO" PLUS ALSO NEW TIPS AND PICS ON MY WOLLONGONG, BATEMANS BAY, HAMILTON ISLAND AND SYDNEY PAGES.

When my girlfriend Tracy and I turned 40 in 2004, we had a bit of an early mid-life crisis and we decided to have a girls-week holidaying in Bali. We had been to a Health Retreat called Solar Springs near Wollongong a few times for 3 days and now worked out that a week in Bali would actually not cost much more than our 3 days at Solar Springs!! We booked it, both nervously and excitedly, and ended up having the time of our life and that was when we decided that we should treat ourselves and travel somewhere exotic AT LEAST every 2 years (I wish it was more frequent than that - but I guess I should be happy with that). Ive actually managed to fit in one overseas holiday each year for the last 3 years, so Im not complaining. China in 2009, Phuket in 2010 and upcoming Hong Kong in 2011.

Two years after Bali, we ventured even further abroad and spent 2 weeks in Vietnam, no organised tours, pretty much doing it all ourselves thereby saving lots of money, which we were told was NOT possible. We spent time in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi-an and Saigon. Tracy then had a family holiday in Fiji in 2007 and last year I took my daughter and went to Thailand for 2 weeks, with another girlfriend, her hubby and their 2 kids.

There was now no turning back ... I was in too deep ... the love affair had taken hold ...

Siam Safari Elephant Trek in Phuket

And so ... the journey continues.

Next ... Tracy and I conquered China. Three weeks, with no organised tours again. We save so much money doing it this way, plus we have the flexibility to come and go as we please on a daily basis. We do have all our accommodation, some guides and domestic flights pre-booked - we are NOT that flexible!!! I would absolutely love the freedom to arrive in a country with only the first nights accommodation booked and then you just go as you wish, but, for peace of mind sake, it will be a while before I become that "independent"!

I have gained soooooo much valuable information from people on this forum, that I am positive our trip to China will be the best yet.
Thankyou ...

Sunset on Patong Beach

Ive discovered that there is just so very much to see and do out there, especially in Asia.

In a way, I think its a bit sad that more often than not it's cheaper to holiday in Asia than in our own country, Australia. I have seen a little bit of Australia though - I was born in Victoria, so Ive seen most of Victoria and Ive lived in Wollongong NSW since I got married in 1985. Ive also been to Tasmania, South Australia, the ACT and spent many holidays in sunny Queensland. So, that means the only 2 states I havent been to are Western Australia and Northern Territory. My dream is to leave this world (one day not too soon I hope!) having been everywhere and done everything Ive ever wished to do. Life is just too short ... and there is no room for "I wish Id done that" or "I would have loved to have gone there". While my health is good and I have a few pennies in my pocket, I plan to travel and experience many different and diverse corners of the world, if only to come home and appreciate the paradise we live in called Australia.

My journey continues .... the sun has not set yet ... there is plenty more travel left in this old bird!

Tracy & I in Bali 2004- our first BIG adventure!

Well, as of early May, our China expedition is fully booked, and sadly, Ive already started packing! With over 4 months until we leave, I realise thats a bit extreme, but thats just me, Im very organised ... take it or leave it!!! I have a very strong feeling this trip will be our best yet, with just so much to see and do in China.

We have 6 nights in Beijing, then overnight train to Xian, then 3 nights in Xian, then fly to Guilin, then 3 nights in Guilin, then fly to Shanghai, then 7 nights in Shanghai ... AND THEN FLY HOME!

We have saved sooooo much money by just booking everything one piece at a time through my fantastic travel agent, we have put the puzzle together and its now complete. We did get a price to do exactly as we have booked it, with most tours included, and the price was over $2,500 more expensive than what we are paying. I am positive all our sightseeing will NOT cost $2,500, so we are happy about that.

I am so excited about what we will see in China, do in China, eat in China and BUY IN CHINA! BRING IT ON!!!

Frank and I at a Bob Dylan concert in Sydney

I was born in the Victorian country town of Horsham and lived there until I married. I went on a cruise on the "infamous" Fairstar in April 1984 with my girlfriend Kim and that is where I met my husband Frank.

We've always said we will go back on a cruise one day, but haven't got there yet!

I married my hubby Frank in 1985, approximately one year after we met. During that year, we lived about 10 hours away from each other (he was from Wollongong), sent lots of letters, made lots of phone calls, but only saw each other occasionally. And ... 26 years later - we are still happily married!
We have 3 beautiful (somewhat challenging at times!) children. Ben, who is the eldest and has just completed a Bachelor of Commerce at University and has just come home from an overseas trip including a 5 month student exchange to UMASS Amherst near Boston and one month travelling. He also did a 5 week holiday in Europe this January gone, and already planning his next overseas trip, so that bug has well and truly bitten him!!! Andrew is our middle child and has just completed his second year studying to become a PE Teacher at University as well. Both our boys love playing soccer and have played non-stop since they were very young. Then there is Georgia our youngest child, who is I am certain a very typical teenager going through all of life's little dramas and challenges! She is a dancer and is currently at High School in their dance program.

And so ... that is my story. I am currently working as a Supermarket Demonstrator and have been doing that for the last 8 years. I started out my working life as a Legal Secretary, but then became a full-time Mum when Ben was born and only re-entered the workforce 14 years later. Frank works as a Biotechnician, specialising as a Renal Technician.

I guess my love affair with travel really began when Tracy and I went to Bali 5 years ago, and as Ive said previously ... I definitely see no end in sight...

Just me and the Great Wall

I joined VT in March 2009 to research my planned trip to China with Tracy and it would be an understatement to say that the information I have gained from this forum has been invaluable. The helpful answers to my never-ending questions enabled Tracy and I to plan our 3 weeks in China and to devise an itinerary that suited us and include what we wanted to do and see.

Not only have I received incredible amounts of information and advice, I have also made a lot of new friends.

Funnily enough, some of these new friends, I feel like I have known for years, even though it is only months. And, most of these new friends I have not even met, and may never meet in person, but I know that we are linked and joined in the spirit and love of travel. Two of my new friends I have met, Susan from Kansas America and Sandi from Edmonton Canada, what a fun mini vt-meet we had at Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing - thanx for the memories! And to Norman from Phoenix Arizona, my JuMpInG friend, who inspired me to jump on the Great Wall of China (a promise made to him) and who I have inspired (through my many many failures!) to create a new Photo Gallery - of "Failed Jumping Attempts!!!" And to Susan of Cottonwood Shores Texas, our somewhat heated discussion on Bob Dylan was my real introduction to the Miscellaneous Forum, it was frenzied and FUN, and Im glad we agreed to disagree and we are now "friends"!!! Congrats on being No. 1 Rookie (at least for a short time Susan!)- LONG LIVE BOB!!! Thought it would be an odd tribute to leave in my words about the infamous Susan .... I still get updates on her via a mutual friend, even though Im sure shes not aware of that!!! And she is still up to all her old tricks, some of them even more bizarre than the amazing "Susangate" dramas here on virtual tourist. Anyway, enough about her!

Virtual tourist is a literal gold mine of helpful information, from those who have travelled the world and know first-hand the answer to any question you would ever dare to ask! I would urge anyone who is contemplating an upcoming trip, to join vt and become a member of our big happy family!!!

CHINA ... it is impossible for me to sum China up in one word, or even in several words. China was simply amazing, every day was a new journey and around every corner was a new adventure. Every smile made you light up and made your long journey worth the miles travelled to get there and every minute will always be treasured by me. There were many many highlights for Tracy and I, and it is simply impossible to nominate just one. There was nothing we disliked about China and we will definitely return one day in the future, for there is much we did not get to see and do first time around.

Imperial dress-ups in Beijing

But ... we will return.

As I said, there is much that we did not get to see first time around. China is such a HUGE country (I used that word to describe many things about China!) and every city that you travel to ... is simply a whole new world.

At this point, I would like to thank my fellow VTers from the bottom of my heart, for guiding and helping me to prepare our 3 week holiday to China. For without your valuable knowledge and advice, I am certain our trip would not have been as memorable and successful as it was.

I do thoroughly appreciate your time, your helpfulness and most importantly, your friendship.

My next BIG trip will hopefully be to Hong Kong and (back to) China in around September 2011 so I will no doubt have many questions to ask leading up to that time!