dancinbudgie's VirtualTourist Home Page

Everyone had a favorite family holiday spot as a child. My partner Grant spent his childhood summers at Arrawarra with his mum, dad and brother. It is on the Coffs Coast of NSW, a few hours drive north of us here in Newcastle. Now when we stop there, it is usually to break up the journey to the Gold Coast. It does make for a great stoppover, but has so much more to offer. Not much has changed in the 35 years Grant has been going there, it still has a small 'village' atmosphere, and is one of those places where you feel your kids can run off and explore.

Callalla beach is on the South Coast of NSW, a few hours drive South of our home in Newcastle. It is where my brothers, cousins and I spent all our childhood summers. While it has become a bit more built up, it is largely the way I remember it. Just like Grant's Arrawarra, it is a place the kids can run free. Now I only go there when I have a fit of nostalgia (last time I was pregnant with Brad), but I still love the place!

Cairns has a bit of everything...rainforest and reef, sun and sand, romance and adventure, history and modernity...you name it, Cairns has it! The weather is hot and humid, just the way I love it and the locals are warm and friendly. It is also an absolutely beautiful city...town planners did a great job!

This is always a great one for the kids! Just over the NSW/Qld border, it is an easy drive from our place (especially if it is broken at Coffs for a few days), with some great views along the way. The main attraction for the kids are the theme parks, but there are great beaches and national parks as well.

What can I say? This was a cultural experience extrordinaire!! We visited Tokyo, Nikko, Tsumago, Kanazawa, Himeji, Kyoto, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Uwajima, Kochi, Takamatsu, Shodo Island, Hakone, Kamakura and Enoshima. We were there for a month and have brought home memories that will last a lifetime!

Yay...heading back to Japan (in 3 sleeps) to spend a week in Kyoto, which is the city we didn't get to see properly last time...we saw a lot of the hospital though! This time we'll try to get out more....

We went to Fiji to learn to dive and to get married stress free. Both agendas were met! ...Well...we did get married...and Grant did get his Open Water Certification...I chickened out and just did an introductory dive!
The wedding was beautiful...the diving was great...the people we met fantastic...the places we stayed glorious, and the entire experience absolutely marvelous!

Vietnam was fabulous! I loved the north far more than the south...but it was all great! We stopped in Ha Noi, Sa Pa, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. My favourites were Ha Noi and Hoi An. I have started work on the pages, but it will take me forever to sort through the million pics we took!

Cambodia is going to upset all my travel plans for the future, because I loved it so much that I want to go back, so somewhere else is going to get bumped...
It really is an intriguing place. We only stopped in Siem Reap and were only there for 4 days... I want to see more of the country and meet more of the beautiful people!

'Everywhere Else' is starting with my first big VT meet at Airlie Beach this September. I can hardly wait! After that, the kids have begged for a caravan holiday...so we've booked a spot at Shoal Bay (only an hour from us) for a couple of weeks over the Christmas / New Year break.
Later in 2010 we are going to spend 6 weeks in Italy...largely unplanned yet, but I'll get to it. There will probably be a stopover in Dubai on the way there, and Bangkok on the way back (I can't do long flights).
In 2011 we will go to South Africa first, then hope to attend the Africa VT meet in Nigeria, and from there maybe Morocco and Spain? Who knows...we'll wait and see...but we're going places baby!!! Any places!!!