The UK is full of amazing attractions. Some are more budget friendly then others but most will not break the bank. There is a surprising amount of great kid friendly free things to do throughout the UK, even in London. Museums, parks, and historical sites all can be seen for free or at a reduced rate if you do it right. Here is our list of best family UK breaks that won't break your budget.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of those sights on most people's must see list when comig to the UK. Estimated to have been built in 3100 BC, it is a true marvel. It is stunning and worth driving out to see, especially since the English countryside out towards Wiltshire is stunning in itself. We could have spent 2 days exploring the hillsides and the free archaelogical areas around Stonehenge.
For around $30 US the entire family can get into Stonehenge. But it may be a cost easily avoided as even upon paying to enter you will not be permitted to walk amongst the stones themselves. If you need to save more money then simply stop and take some photos. When I went in 1998, we drove up, took some photos and watched the sun set, never paid a dime, and drove on. There are some other fascinating ruins, like Avebury, all around this very same area. Avebury is free of charge to enter and because it is not as well known or protected you can get much closer to the stones than at Stonehenge.
Tower of London
At roughly $80 US for a family of 5's entrance fee this appears to have no place on a budget list. But I had to include it as I feel it is worth every penny. Inside the tower you will discover five centuries worth of arms from tudors to todays Royal family. It is also where the crown jewels are stored and can be viewed.
The tower itself is stunning and one of the worlds most famous fortresses. It has served as an armory, a fortress, and at one time even a zoo. Today it is a museum of sorts and well worth the entrance fee. It will be a hit with kids of all ages.
To save a bit of money you can obtain free tickets with a London Pass. The pass will cost you but with all the discounts, if you are touring London, it will be a good investment. With it you can also enjoy entrance to the Tower Bridge, one of the most famous landmarks in London.
Eden Project
Eden Project, in Cornwall, is a charity and social enterprise, as well as an eco destination you can feel good about visiting. It may not be on your radar yet but I think it should be. They conduct research, offer amazing insights for studies, and create and foster a social environment that can benefit everyone.
They offer loads of discounts including children 16 and under gaining free admittance, and annual passes. Inside you will enjoy the worlds largest rainforest in captivity, cutting edge architecture, arts and music exhibitions, beautiful garden displays, and well done examples of how we can live a more sustainable life.
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall, built in the year 122 when Hadrian was Roman emperor in the UK was one of the most heavily fortified walls in the area. A huge portion of the wall still exists and can be hiked and explored.
Declared a world heritage site in 1987, it now sees a bit of tourism as there are no guards and no fee is charged. A footpath has been installed along the 120 km wall for those willing to walk a bit. The wall is the perfect spot for kids to soak in a bit of history while being able to burn off some steam at the same time. And did I mention free?
Lake District National Park
For those that enjoy outdoor time there is no better spot in the UK than its largest national park. The Lake District park has the highest mountain, deepest lake, and quite a few quintessential towns. You can enjoy beautiful vistas, cheap accomodations (or camping), and real serenity when you've had enough of the big city in London.
The park sees over 16 million visitors a year so it must be an amazing spot. Check it out, the pictures speak for themselves. They offer free childrens activities, playgrounds and extensive gardens to explore.
As you can see the UK has a lot to offer. From London, to the Northern hills, to the beautiful beach towns of Minehead or Skegness on offer at Butlin's cheap, fun, and kid friendly can be found everywhere!
Stonehenge
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For around $30 US the entire family can get into Stonehenge. But it may be a cost easily avoided as even upon paying to enter you will not be permitted to walk amongst the stones themselves. If you need to save more money then simply stop and take some photos. When I went in 1998, we drove up, took some photos and watched the sun set, never paid a dime, and drove on. There are some other fascinating ruins, like Avebury, all around this very same area. Avebury is free of charge to enter and because it is not as well known or protected you can get much closer to the stones than at Stonehenge.
Tower of London
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The tower itself is stunning and one of the worlds most famous fortresses. It has served as an armory, a fortress, and at one time even a zoo. Today it is a museum of sorts and well worth the entrance fee. It will be a hit with kids of all ages.
To save a bit of money you can obtain free tickets with a London Pass. The pass will cost you but with all the discounts, if you are touring London, it will be a good investment. With it you can also enjoy entrance to the Tower Bridge, one of the most famous landmarks in London.
Eden Project
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They offer loads of discounts including children 16 and under gaining free admittance, and annual passes. Inside you will enjoy the worlds largest rainforest in captivity, cutting edge architecture, arts and music exhibitions, beautiful garden displays, and well done examples of how we can live a more sustainable life.
Hadrian's Wall
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| wiki image |
Declared a world heritage site in 1987, it now sees a bit of tourism as there are no guards and no fee is charged. A footpath has been installed along the 120 km wall for those willing to walk a bit. The wall is the perfect spot for kids to soak in a bit of history while being able to burn off some steam at the same time. And did I mention free?
Lake District National Park
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| wiki image |
The park sees over 16 million visitors a year so it must be an amazing spot. Check it out, the pictures speak for themselves. They offer free childrens activities, playgrounds and extensive gardens to explore.
As you can see the UK has a lot to offer. From London, to the Northern hills, to the beautiful beach towns of Minehead or Skegness on offer at Butlin's cheap, fun, and kid friendly can be found everywhere!
Imagine the Arctic air on a clear, crisp night with the endless sky dotted in brilliant stars and alluring green glow of the aurora borealis. The northern lights and healing mineral spas of Iceland make this location a perfect winter holiday destination.
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True relaxation warms the skin with the mineral rich waters of Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
Before you ever leave home this holiday, be sure to book your airport parking spot in advance! I've learned the hard way that you can spend a while lot more than you anticipated if you wait until the last minute.
Only in the old Viking land can you capture the sight of magnificent geysers, soak in rare geothermal baths and experience the gorgeous landscape of rushing rivers, misty falls and a lagoon of ancient icebergs. The emerald, moss-covered mountains of Iceland are the perfect place for a natural spa holiday. The steaming waters of Blue Lagoon are an exquisite spa experience with scenic views of the surrounding countryside located in the heart of Iceland.
Travel to the misty waters of Blue Lagoon in Grindavik, one of the country’s most popular features located in an old lava field. Here you can relax in a warm bath, receive a luxurious massage and let the mineral rich waters heal common skin ailments such as psoriasis. The milky blue seawater is a testament to Iceland’s volcanic history. Enjoy delicious cocktails, an exclusive lounge, and the LAVA restaurant located on-site.
The Blue Lagoon offers a wide range of services that are sure to energize the soul in an Icelandic oasis of peace and serenity. These tranquil waters of the lagoon make this a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. The pampering does not stop with a variety of in-water therapies, beauty treatments and private packages. You won't want to miss this unforgettable geothermal spa, such a rare indulgence for the skin.
After one fine spa experience, it is easy to find yourself traveling the countryside to seek-out the spectacular landscape on The Golden Circle. Explore this popular round which features a list of various Viking hangouts from the medieval times and includes a one-of-a-kind view at plate tectonics. I suggest stopping at the very place where the European and North American plates split to form an enormous rift in the Earth's surface. The sheer force of plate tectonics that fuels volcanoes and erupting geysers are enough to humble the human mind!
In the summer-time, the popular location of Gullfoss waterfall is often captured in photographs ribboned with a brilliant rainbow, though its' winter counterpart is equally delightful when the falls glimmer with snow and ice. In a town named Geysir, it would be fitting to expect to see a geyser. As it turns out, the etymology of the world geyser originates from this town, where you can find the Strokker, a massive geyser that spouts hot air 15 meters into the Icelandic air. When in Iceland, you won't want to miss a chance to see Glacier Lagoon. This particular location is a fantastic sight indeed, so take your time exploring the many waterfalls with a grand view of mossy mountains and frigid 1,500 year-old icebergs floating on the lagoon.
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True relaxation warms the skin with the mineral rich waters of Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
Before you ever leave home this holiday, be sure to book your airport parking spot in advance! I've learned the hard way that you can spend a while lot more than you anticipated if you wait until the last minute.
Only in the old Viking land can you capture the sight of magnificent geysers, soak in rare geothermal baths and experience the gorgeous landscape of rushing rivers, misty falls and a lagoon of ancient icebergs. The emerald, moss-covered mountains of Iceland are the perfect place for a natural spa holiday. The steaming waters of Blue Lagoon are an exquisite spa experience with scenic views of the surrounding countryside located in the heart of Iceland.
Travel to the misty waters of Blue Lagoon in Grindavik, one of the country’s most popular features located in an old lava field. Here you can relax in a warm bath, receive a luxurious massage and let the mineral rich waters heal common skin ailments such as psoriasis. The milky blue seawater is a testament to Iceland’s volcanic history. Enjoy delicious cocktails, an exclusive lounge, and the LAVA restaurant located on-site.
The Blue Lagoon offers a wide range of services that are sure to energize the soul in an Icelandic oasis of peace and serenity. These tranquil waters of the lagoon make this a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. The pampering does not stop with a variety of in-water therapies, beauty treatments and private packages. You won't want to miss this unforgettable geothermal spa, such a rare indulgence for the skin.
After one fine spa experience, it is easy to find yourself traveling the countryside to seek-out the spectacular landscape on The Golden Circle. Explore this popular round which features a list of various Viking hangouts from the medieval times and includes a one-of-a-kind view at plate tectonics. I suggest stopping at the very place where the European and North American plates split to form an enormous rift in the Earth's surface. The sheer force of plate tectonics that fuels volcanoes and erupting geysers are enough to humble the human mind!
In the summer-time, the popular location of Gullfoss waterfall is often captured in photographs ribboned with a brilliant rainbow, though its' winter counterpart is equally delightful when the falls glimmer with snow and ice. In a town named Geysir, it would be fitting to expect to see a geyser. As it turns out, the etymology of the world geyser originates from this town, where you can find the Strokker, a massive geyser that spouts hot air 15 meters into the Icelandic air. When in Iceland, you won't want to miss a chance to see Glacier Lagoon. This particular location is a fantastic sight indeed, so take your time exploring the many waterfalls with a grand view of mossy mountains and frigid 1,500 year-old icebergs floating on the lagoon.
Second up in our travel hotel review series are 2 of our favorite countries. We have spent a lot of time in Thailand and Malaysia this year but Cambodia and Laos are where we found adventure, peace and deep connections with the culture. It is also where we found some amazing hotels at even more amazing deals.
None of these are luxury spots, that just isn't really our style. But they were all clean, comfortable, and perfectly sufficient for a nights rest, and in some cases even more!
Cambodia
Siem Reap
Palm Village Resort $35 a night for a triple (let us squeeze in) including breakfast
Palm Village Resort, just outside the main town of Siem Reap was perhaps the loveliest place we have stayed thus far. The staff was incredibly welcoming and adored our children. We rented the triple room, which came with a double and a single bed. The room was nothing special, but it was comfortable and clean with AC, TV and a large bathroom.
The attached restaurant served a nice variety of food, even made to order for the kids. The included breakfast was large and also had a wide variety of Khmer and Western cuisine. The WIFI internet worked well in the room...most of the time!
The best part of this hotel was the location and garden filled surroundings. Set just outside town you could really get a reprieve from the hectic day touring the temples or hanging out in town. The hotel also had a large pool which was a relief from the humidity and heat of Cambodia. They also have a wonderful tuk tuk driver who was able to stick with us the entire time taking us to temples, dinner, or basically anyplace we wanted for an extremely reasonable fare.
Battambang
Battambang Lotus Hotel $23 per night including breakfast (we needed 2 rooms)
Battambang Lotus hotel is a bit obtrusive when first entering. It appears a large hotel and when you enter the furniture is large and quite imposing. Beautiful but somewhat out of place.
The rooms are lovely and again clean. Bathrooms even had a bathtub which is a nice option not offered very often in Asia. The rooms come with SAT TV, AC, and a lackluster breakfast but certainly better then nothing. The WIFI worked well when it was on but we found that it went in and out often.
The location is not the best as its not walking distance to town but on several occasions the manager of the hotel offered to take us to town to run errands and a tuk tuk costs very little if you need to go that route. There is a nice salt water pool and many areas for relaxing around the lobby.
Phnom Penh
Cyclo $40 per night suite
Cyclo was definitely the coolest room set up we've had so far. For $40 we had a nice little living room area, refrigerator, large bathroom with tub, a bedroom and a airy balcony. Upstairs, in a loft type area, we also had another bedroom and small bathroom. It was a fun set up for the kids but admittedly the beds were really hard! The WIFI worked well throughout the room. We had a different a room upstairs at one point and the internet did not function as well so try and get a lower floor room if that is important to you.
They offer many room types to fit every need. The property also has a nice French themed restaurant, large hang out area on the roof complete with a huge jacuzzi, an Xbox and a pool table. The location was great, near a mall and lots of cool little side streets to explore.
Sihanoukeville
Beach Road Hotel $20 a night (2 rooms)
Sihanoukeville is FULL of inexpensive hotels. We chose Beach Road as it was centrally located and one of the cheapest with AC and a pool that we could find. The rooms were clean, spacious, and the WIFI worked great. The rooms we had came with SAT TV and a refrigerator, always nice additions.
The location was good and bad. The good; a spa and a movie theater were attached to the hotel, the restaurant was large, comfy and had a nice variety of food and a pool table, and the beach was a short walk down the road. There was also a nice pool but it didn't seem very clean by the end of our stay. The chlorine level simply rose each week. The bad; that would have to be the large nightclub attached to the back end of our room. The music blared until 2am, not an issue for us really but for some I know this would be a deal breaker.
We got a 30% discount for staying for one month. This made our cost $28/night for two large rooms.
Laos
Vientianne
Suksavanh River 2 Hotel $30 a night, family room (they let us squeeze in), breakfast included
I knew when I was in the capital of Laos I wanted to be on the river. Most of the hotels were outside our price bracket until I stumbled upon the Suksavanh. It is in a perfect location, right across the street from the Mekong River and an easy walk to loads of great restaurants and a beautiful and large playground.
The rooms were nothing special but they were clean, had 2 large comfortable beds, SAT TV, solid WIFI, and a fridge. The restaurant onsite provided a nice breakfast and the staff was really great, always going above and beyond to help. My 5-year-old was quite the hit! There is no pool but for a small fee the hotel next door will let you swim all day.
Vang Vieng
Laos Haven Hotel $21 a night including breakfast, for a triple room
Vang Vieng is one of our favorite spots we have traveled to so far. Part of why we loved it so much was the hotel. It was not fancy, but it was inexpensive and perfect for what we needed. The only downside was the internet, it was a very weak signal and really why we left after 3 weeks. But that being said, none of the hotels seemed to have good WIFI, maybe something to do with the stunning limestone cliffs surrounding the town. Maybe the connection has improved since our visit. For a more in depth look check out this video .
The room was basic but clean and the owners became like family after the first couple of days. The breakfast was amazing and the food throughout the day was even better. We squeezed into one room and they didn't mind at all, even gave us all breakfast free of charge. Perhaps the best part was the location. It is sort of a party town and can get loud in the evenings. Laos Haven is set at the far end of of the strip so it was quiet at night yet still close enough to easily walk to everything.
After being on the road for over a year we have figured out what works and what doesn't when looking for accomodations. First of all, we like to book our hotels slightly in advance, in order to avoid the whole, traipsing through town with 3 kids and tons of luggage deal. We also only book 1-2 nights in case we don't like it and want to move on! There are loads of great sites when looking to book a hotel like agoda, booking, or hostelbookers.
Sometimes though we want more then a hotel! Wimdu is one site where we go to find affordable apartments and unique lodging opportunities. Sometimes hotel living can get to us and having a kitchen to cook familiar foods in and more space to spread out in is just the cure to fix our hotel funk! If living in hotels is just not working try and branch out to a different living environment and see if that helps!
None of these are luxury spots, that just isn't really our style. But they were all clean, comfortable, and perfectly sufficient for a nights rest, and in some cases even more!
Cambodia
Siem Reap
Palm Village Resort, just outside the main town of Siem Reap was perhaps the loveliest place we have stayed thus far. The staff was incredibly welcoming and adored our children. We rented the triple room, which came with a double and a single bed. The room was nothing special, but it was comfortable and clean with AC, TV and a large bathroom.
The attached restaurant served a nice variety of food, even made to order for the kids. The included breakfast was large and also had a wide variety of Khmer and Western cuisine. The WIFI internet worked well in the room...most of the time!
The best part of this hotel was the location and garden filled surroundings. Set just outside town you could really get a reprieve from the hectic day touring the temples or hanging out in town. The hotel also had a large pool which was a relief from the humidity and heat of Cambodia. They also have a wonderful tuk tuk driver who was able to stick with us the entire time taking us to temples, dinner, or basically anyplace we wanted for an extremely reasonable fare.
Battambang
Battambang Lotus Hotel $23 per night including breakfast (we needed 2 rooms)Battambang Lotus hotel is a bit obtrusive when first entering. It appears a large hotel and when you enter the furniture is large and quite imposing. Beautiful but somewhat out of place.
The rooms are lovely and again clean. Bathrooms even had a bathtub which is a nice option not offered very often in Asia. The rooms come with SAT TV, AC, and a lackluster breakfast but certainly better then nothing. The WIFI worked well when it was on but we found that it went in and out often.
The location is not the best as its not walking distance to town but on several occasions the manager of the hotel offered to take us to town to run errands and a tuk tuk costs very little if you need to go that route. There is a nice salt water pool and many areas for relaxing around the lobby.
Phnom Penh
Cyclo $40 per night suiteCyclo was definitely the coolest room set up we've had so far. For $40 we had a nice little living room area, refrigerator, large bathroom with tub, a bedroom and a airy balcony. Upstairs, in a loft type area, we also had another bedroom and small bathroom. It was a fun set up for the kids but admittedly the beds were really hard! The WIFI worked well throughout the room. We had a different a room upstairs at one point and the internet did not function as well so try and get a lower floor room if that is important to you.
They offer many room types to fit every need. The property also has a nice French themed restaurant, large hang out area on the roof complete with a huge jacuzzi, an Xbox and a pool table. The location was great, near a mall and lots of cool little side streets to explore.
Sihanoukeville
Sihanoukeville is FULL of inexpensive hotels. We chose Beach Road as it was centrally located and one of the cheapest with AC and a pool that we could find. The rooms were clean, spacious, and the WIFI worked great. The rooms we had came with SAT TV and a refrigerator, always nice additions.
The location was good and bad. The good; a spa and a movie theater were attached to the hotel, the restaurant was large, comfy and had a nice variety of food and a pool table, and the beach was a short walk down the road. There was also a nice pool but it didn't seem very clean by the end of our stay. The chlorine level simply rose each week. The bad; that would have to be the large nightclub attached to the back end of our room. The music blared until 2am, not an issue for us really but for some I know this would be a deal breaker.
We got a 30% discount for staying for one month. This made our cost $28/night for two large rooms.
Laos
Vientianne
I knew when I was in the capital of Laos I wanted to be on the river. Most of the hotels were outside our price bracket until I stumbled upon the Suksavanh. It is in a perfect location, right across the street from the Mekong River and an easy walk to loads of great restaurants and a beautiful and large playground.
The rooms were nothing special but they were clean, had 2 large comfortable beds, SAT TV, solid WIFI, and a fridge. The restaurant onsite provided a nice breakfast and the staff was really great, always going above and beyond to help. My 5-year-old was quite the hit! There is no pool but for a small fee the hotel next door will let you swim all day.
Vang Vieng
Laos Haven Hotel $21 a night including breakfast, for a triple room Vang Vieng is one of our favorite spots we have traveled to so far. Part of why we loved it so much was the hotel. It was not fancy, but it was inexpensive and perfect for what we needed. The only downside was the internet, it was a very weak signal and really why we left after 3 weeks. But that being said, none of the hotels seemed to have good WIFI, maybe something to do with the stunning limestone cliffs surrounding the town. Maybe the connection has improved since our visit. For a more in depth look check out this video .
The room was basic but clean and the owners became like family after the first couple of days. The breakfast was amazing and the food throughout the day was even better. We squeezed into one room and they didn't mind at all, even gave us all breakfast free of charge. Perhaps the best part was the location. It is sort of a party town and can get loud in the evenings. Laos Haven is set at the far end of of the strip so it was quiet at night yet still close enough to easily walk to everything.
After being on the road for over a year we have figured out what works and what doesn't when looking for accomodations. First of all, we like to book our hotels slightly in advance, in order to avoid the whole, traipsing through town with 3 kids and tons of luggage deal. We also only book 1-2 nights in case we don't like it and want to move on! There are loads of great sites when looking to book a hotel like agoda, booking, or hostelbookers.
Sometimes though we want more then a hotel! Wimdu is one site where we go to find affordable apartments and unique lodging opportunities. Sometimes hotel living can get to us and having a kitchen to cook familiar foods in and more space to spread out in is just the cure to fix our hotel funk! If living in hotels is just not working try and branch out to a different living environment and see if that helps!
Cenang Beach, Langkawi, Malaysia. A beautiful spot for relaxing, reading, or cooling off in the water!
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My children enjoy a great deal of freedom. When I was child we also had freedom. It was OK to take a bus alone, walk slowly to a friend’s house exploring along the way, and even **gasp** speak to some to strangers. But as my childhood progressed I saw a slow weakening of trust in people. I remember palpably feeling distrust take over my parents when a made-for-TV movie came on about a child kidnapped or murdered. It felt as if it was actually the intended purpose of the show to instil fear.
Flash forward to the present and almost every news story is encouraging fear. All the recent shootings and violence throughout the US keep us scared, worried, and in a constant state of reacting to things through emotion alone. The thing that most people do not realize, what I didn’t realize for a long time, is that through fear we are easier to control. We also lose who we were meant to be, and we do not follow the life path we were on as children.
When we hold onto fear or instil it in our children it fundamentally changes who we are, who they are.
Most parents I know, me included sometimes, use fear to control our children. Usually it is in the name of safety but a lot of times it stretches far beyond safety and more towards just getting our children to do what we want. It works..sometimes…in the short term! But is it worth it? Is it worth scaring our children, making them fearful, and capable of being controlled through their emotions?
I don’t think that it is. My youngest 2 sons have always been daredevils, scaring people where ever we go. And I am sure some people look at my reaction to the things they do and wonder where I am, why I am not yelling at them, demanding they stop doing x, y and z, and to be more careful. I understand this mentality and sometimes I am gritting my teeth and holding my proverbial tongue because as a mom I am petrified and do not want anything bad to happen to them….EVER!
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| Sometimes you have to let them leap! |
I my opinion, the latter of each is far worse, especially in the long run. I do not want my children’s actions to be controlled by fear..EVER! For when they allow themselves to be controlled by fear anyone can control them, push them towards unhappy choices, and throw them off the path they were destined to be on. A cut heals, a broken arm sets and bruises fade, but it is nearly impossible to reverse those fearful thoughts and images that we are conditioned to accept as reality as children.
Is it my job to keep them safe? Of course it is and I do that to the best of my ability without taking away the person that they are. One son has broken his arm and needed stitches twice, and one son has had a concussion. I think that is standard fare for three boys over the span 13 years. Just because we can picture the next bad thing that could happen does NOT mean that it will happen. Most people would be shocked that we let our 13-year-old take a bus alone, or let our 9-year-old walk down the street to the store in a foreign country, or let our 5-year-old climb pretty much anything, but nothing bad has happened.
Now you are thinking that just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it won’t! I get that, and I think that at times as well. Remember I, too, was conditioned to accept fear as part of my reality when I was a child. But in the long run my boys feel confident and proud of themselves where a lot of children have replaced those things with fear and low self-esteem.
We need to trust our children and give them the freedom to find their own successes and to learn from their own failures. It is possibly the hardest part of parenting but I believe one of the most imperative gifts we can give. It can be hard in this world to separate real dangers from imagined ones, but when you make the change you and your children will prosper.
Our conditioning to this fear based mentality coupled with the realization that we are passing it on to our children is a perfect example of why we have to stop the cycle.
So what can we do to stop the cycle of fear?
-For starters be aware of how much you are controlling your child. It is their life and they have a right to be in control of it far more than is the cultural norm of today.
-Next get your own emotions and fears in check, whatever it takes let go of the fear and stop making irrational decisions based on emotions.
-When your child asks you to do something that immediately makes you see danger signs. STOP! And think through what the real concerns are. Is it a real danger? Are others doing it and surviving?
-Trust your child to make good decisions. I find children are far more capable if we let them live and learn on their own. They know their capabilities better than we do in most instances.
-Start small, each week let them do something you used to immediately say no to. Your comfort level will rise and so will their confidence.
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| Not much feels better then accomplishment on your own terms! |
When searching for adventure on the island of Langkawi there is no shortage of things to do. Kayaking, caving, hiking, and jet skiing are just a few of the options. Tours abound! One of the more popular tours to take is in the mangrove area, Kilim Geopark, in the North East corner of the island.
We typically do not take tours as I worry that the kids may impede the outing for others. We also like to move at our own pace allowing for more time inquiring about something or less time when impatience begins. That being said everything I read pointed me to the fact that we would need some type of tour or guide to get around and really get the most out of the Kilim Geopark area.
We considered simply hiring a boat and going it on our own but then Dev’s Adventure Tours offered to host us. Not being a family to ever turn down an adventure we drove ourselves over to the docks and met up with our guide Jerome. We happen to have a car here so decided to meet at the park, but all tours with Dev’s includes transfer to and from your hotel.
Immediately we knew this was going to be a great day. Jerome beamed a huge smile, spoke to the kids, and had an energy and passion for wildlife that I was not expecting. I could tell this was going to be a kid friendly tour, and I was right. We were on tour with another family so the kids actually outnumbered the adults, a point my 9 year old let me know quickly.
Our first stop was the bat cave. Jerome was so informative pointing out things we would have never seen on our own and answering the kid’s questions so patiently. We spotted snakes, otter tracks, and of course bats. We were not allowed to use flash near them but as you can see we really didn’t need it as they were so close. We have visited many caves with bats in the past but this one was by far the coolest for the kids. We all learned so much and were able to see the bats up close and personal, a little too personal for me but that’s a story for another day.
After the bat cave we rode through the mangroves learning as we went. Jerome told us about Langkawi, about the mangrove, and so much more. Did you know that the seeds of the mangrove trees can float around for 1 year before they die giving ample opportunity to plant and start growing? Did you know that the mangroves will eventually close in making more land for the island, pushing up the soil through the massive root system? Mangroves are a fascinating spot to visit.
We sort of made our own way as Jerome left it up to us as to what we wanted to do, which I really enjoyed. The whole tour we felt relaxed and had a sense of flexibility that I am sure most tours do not offer. We all agreed that exploring rather than sun bathing on a beach was far more fun. Along the way we spotted wild dogs, numerous snakes, 2 different types of monkeys, otters, eagles, many different birds, and as a finale….dolphins! Supposedly it is quite rare to spot them so we were all thrilled and felt it was an icing on the cake moment, even Jerome!
They were magnificent, small and pink bellied. We watched them for at least 30 minutes before begrudgingly moving on with the day. Eagle feeding was up next although we did not do any of the feeding! Dev’s tries to be very eco conscience and feeding eagles is not a very good idea. Jerome explained that it hurts them in the long run as they no longer need to hunt for food and so lose that instinct, not to mention how bad placing fatty food in the water is. We could see the chicken fat running through the water for quite some time. Yes I said chicken…the other tour guides feed birds to the eagles creating a cannibalistic situation. It just felt wrong on so many levels. Please avoid feeding the eagles if you are in Kilim or anywhere for that matter.
Moving off my soapbox, the birds were beautiful and the kids really enjoyed trying to count them as they moved about so effortlessly. I must admit it was great to see them up close and I am sure that the opportunity would not have been there if the food wasn’t!
We were all starving at this point. Jerome did give us water on the boat but I was glad we had a bit extra as well as a few snacks to tide the boys over. As we rode out into the open sea and were told that lunch was our next stop our curiosity peaked as to where we would end up. We hadn’t seen any buildings at all since leaving the boat launce area 3 hours earlier.
Suddenly out of nowhere we saw a stretch of beautiful boats to one side and floating restaurants to the other. Sure enough this was our lunch spot. Dev’s tours include a simple lunch of 1 drink and fried rice and veggie/prawn/or chicken meal with soup. It was all delicious and even my pickiest boys scarfed it all down. The owner even made me a special steamed veggie plate and brought out a nice fruit plate to end the meal.
The best part was the free entertainment. Located at the same restaurant was some sort of fish farm complete with huge tuna and grouper, manta rays, and eels. Time passes very fast when waiting for lunch with a show like that right next door. Although on its own I certainly wouldn’t make the trip out just to see it.
After lunch we stopped to plant our own seeds as a contribution for helping the mangrove to repopulate and thrive. The kids loved it as Jerome told them they was laying claim to their own piece of land! 4 hours after embarking we returned to the dock to say goodbye and head home.
We had a great day! The things that stood out to me, making Dev’s different than your average tour, was first and foremost how family friendly it was. Interestingly, we saw a few other tours going out and coming back of Dev’s and could see that it was equally fun for couples and singles alike. In fact they offer a kayak tour through the same mangroves where you paddle yourself, a great outing for couples. They also start their tours at 1 person so even a single traveller will not miss out.
I also enjoyed the fact that our boat was owned by the Geopark and driver was a local. I am told that all of the staff is local, which is important to me as I like to support the local economy. Jerome was professional, passionate, and knowledgeable about Langkawi and nature in general. The tour was really made special by his thoughtfulness and positive nature. Life jackets were provided for all, even for the youngest children aboard. Each tour includes insurance making it that much more professional. I was impressed.
Dev’s Tours also offers discounts as they have so many great tours you will most likely want to take more than 1. They offer an eco-package that gives a 20RM pp discount on a second trip. I have heard from many that the evening nature walk is amazing. I think you could definitely find a cheaper tour but I do NOT think you could find a better value for your money! I also like that they are affiliates with the Charity club on the island sponsoring trips for underprivileged people and for school children to help educate them about nature and conservation. You cannot care about something unless you are around it, educated about it, and learn to love it! To keep Langkawi as beautiful as it is now will take the locals protecting it!
For prices and a list of tours on offer go to www.langkawi-nature.com or head over to their Facebook page.
In the interest of full disclosure we were given a tour in exchange for our review but as always the thoughts and opinions here are mine alone…well with a little help from my rug rats. It was sincerely a great day and I would not hesitate to recommend a tour with Dev’s Adventure company to anyone!
We typically do not take tours as I worry that the kids may impede the outing for others. We also like to move at our own pace allowing for more time inquiring about something or less time when impatience begins. That being said everything I read pointed me to the fact that we would need some type of tour or guide to get around and really get the most out of the Kilim Geopark area.
We considered simply hiring a boat and going it on our own but then Dev’s Adventure Tours offered to host us. Not being a family to ever turn down an adventure we drove ourselves over to the docks and met up with our guide Jerome. We happen to have a car here so decided to meet at the park, but all tours with Dev’s includes transfer to and from your hotel.
Immediately we knew this was going to be a great day. Jerome beamed a huge smile, spoke to the kids, and had an energy and passion for wildlife that I was not expecting. I could tell this was going to be a kid friendly tour, and I was right. We were on tour with another family so the kids actually outnumbered the adults, a point my 9 year old let me know quickly.
Our first stop was the bat cave. Jerome was so informative pointing out things we would have never seen on our own and answering the kid’s questions so patiently. We spotted snakes, otter tracks, and of course bats. We were not allowed to use flash near them but as you can see we really didn’t need it as they were so close. We have visited many caves with bats in the past but this one was by far the coolest for the kids. We all learned so much and were able to see the bats up close and personal, a little too personal for me but that’s a story for another day.
After the bat cave we rode through the mangroves learning as we went. Jerome told us about Langkawi, about the mangrove, and so much more. Did you know that the seeds of the mangrove trees can float around for 1 year before they die giving ample opportunity to plant and start growing? Did you know that the mangroves will eventually close in making more land for the island, pushing up the soil through the massive root system? Mangroves are a fascinating spot to visit.
We sort of made our own way as Jerome left it up to us as to what we wanted to do, which I really enjoyed. The whole tour we felt relaxed and had a sense of flexibility that I am sure most tours do not offer. We all agreed that exploring rather than sun bathing on a beach was far more fun. Along the way we spotted wild dogs, numerous snakes, 2 different types of monkeys, otters, eagles, many different birds, and as a finale….dolphins! Supposedly it is quite rare to spot them so we were all thrilled and felt it was an icing on the cake moment, even Jerome!
They were magnificent, small and pink bellied. We watched them for at least 30 minutes before begrudgingly moving on with the day. Eagle feeding was up next although we did not do any of the feeding! Dev’s tries to be very eco conscience and feeding eagles is not a very good idea. Jerome explained that it hurts them in the long run as they no longer need to hunt for food and so lose that instinct, not to mention how bad placing fatty food in the water is. We could see the chicken fat running through the water for quite some time. Yes I said chicken…the other tour guides feed birds to the eagles creating a cannibalistic situation. It just felt wrong on so many levels. Please avoid feeding the eagles if you are in Kilim or anywhere for that matter.
Moving off my soapbox, the birds were beautiful and the kids really enjoyed trying to count them as they moved about so effortlessly. I must admit it was great to see them up close and I am sure that the opportunity would not have been there if the food wasn’t!
We were all starving at this point. Jerome did give us water on the boat but I was glad we had a bit extra as well as a few snacks to tide the boys over. As we rode out into the open sea and were told that lunch was our next stop our curiosity peaked as to where we would end up. We hadn’t seen any buildings at all since leaving the boat launce area 3 hours earlier.
Suddenly out of nowhere we saw a stretch of beautiful boats to one side and floating restaurants to the other. Sure enough this was our lunch spot. Dev’s tours include a simple lunch of 1 drink and fried rice and veggie/prawn/or chicken meal with soup. It was all delicious and even my pickiest boys scarfed it all down. The owner even made me a special steamed veggie plate and brought out a nice fruit plate to end the meal.
The best part was the free entertainment. Located at the same restaurant was some sort of fish farm complete with huge tuna and grouper, manta rays, and eels. Time passes very fast when waiting for lunch with a show like that right next door. Although on its own I certainly wouldn’t make the trip out just to see it.
After lunch we stopped to plant our own seeds as a contribution for helping the mangrove to repopulate and thrive. The kids loved it as Jerome told them they was laying claim to their own piece of land! 4 hours after embarking we returned to the dock to say goodbye and head home.
We had a great day! The things that stood out to me, making Dev’s different than your average tour, was first and foremost how family friendly it was. Interestingly, we saw a few other tours going out and coming back of Dev’s and could see that it was equally fun for couples and singles alike. In fact they offer a kayak tour through the same mangroves where you paddle yourself, a great outing for couples. They also start their tours at 1 person so even a single traveller will not miss out.
I also enjoyed the fact that our boat was owned by the Geopark and driver was a local. I am told that all of the staff is local, which is important to me as I like to support the local economy. Jerome was professional, passionate, and knowledgeable about Langkawi and nature in general. The tour was really made special by his thoughtfulness and positive nature. Life jackets were provided for all, even for the youngest children aboard. Each tour includes insurance making it that much more professional. I was impressed.
Dev’s Tours also offers discounts as they have so many great tours you will most likely want to take more than 1. They offer an eco-package that gives a 20RM pp discount on a second trip. I have heard from many that the evening nature walk is amazing. I think you could definitely find a cheaper tour but I do NOT think you could find a better value for your money! I also like that they are affiliates with the Charity club on the island sponsoring trips for underprivileged people and for school children to help educate them about nature and conservation. You cannot care about something unless you are around it, educated about it, and learn to love it! To keep Langkawi as beautiful as it is now will take the locals protecting it!
For prices and a list of tours on offer go to www.langkawi-nature.com or head over to their Facebook page.
In the interest of full disclosure we were given a tour in exchange for our review but as always the thoughts and opinions here are mine alone…well with a little help from my rug rats. It was sincerely a great day and I would not hesitate to recommend a tour with Dev’s Adventure company to anyone!
A family that stays and eats together stays happy and contented. A family that travels and enjoys together is infinitely more so. That these are not idle words can be seen when you visit online sites where families describe their joint experiences in diverse lands.
One thing that may dissuade people not to take their families to eat or an excursion is the high price of paying for several people at once. However, travelling should be open for all families. They are amazed at the vibrancy of Vietnam, the sunshine and warmth of Costa Rica, the earthy feel of Laos and wonders of Singapore. If you travel with kids, you can do a lot more and are welcomed into families at each place; you discover the warmth of human nature. It may cost more, but on the whole, you can get marvelous deals on accommodation and meals.
Families have discovered they can live like nomads, stay and earn in one country and then move on to another without missing out on the good things in life because of money. Read all about such family experiences on a popular travel blog. If you travel to South East Asia, Singapore could be the entry point.
Never hesitate to use those discount vouchers that you have. From GrabFood to FoodPanda, hold opportunities to make the most use of discounts offered by companies. Once you seize such opportunities, get a free percent off calculator that calculates the amount of money that you have saved after getting discount offers.
One thing that may dissuade people not to take their families to eat or an excursion is the high price of paying for several people at once. However, travelling should be open for all families. They are amazed at the vibrancy of Vietnam, the sunshine and warmth of Costa Rica, the earthy feel of Laos and wonders of Singapore. If you travel with kids, you can do a lot more and are welcomed into families at each place; you discover the warmth of human nature. It may cost more, but on the whole, you can get marvelous deals on accommodation and meals.
Families have discovered they can live like nomads, stay and earn in one country and then move on to another without missing out on the good things in life because of money. Read all about such family experiences on a popular travel blog. If you travel to South East Asia, Singapore could be the entry point.
Never hesitate to use those discount vouchers that you have. From GrabFood to FoodPanda, hold opportunities to make the most use of discounts offered by companies. Once you seize such opportunities, get a free percent off calculator that calculates the amount of money that you have saved after getting discount offers.
Also, remember that banks are one of the best sources of dining discounts and offer in Singapore, and all you need to hold a valid credit card or debit card. Simply, browse any bank’s dining offer page to find savings on everything from fast food to restaurant meals. The best discount offers are those that provide you with massive savings for unlimited food – that’s amazing, buy one get one for buffets, including lunch, dinner, and high-tea. And, if the sale-tax is included in your meal, try this online discount calculator that estimates what exactly your savings will be after applying discount and sales tax on the specific meals.
Apart from the many tourist attractions, dining is one of the finer experiences on this island nation. Dining in restaurants in Singapore exposes you to multi-cultural as well as ethnic cuisines. Restaurateurs are discovering that mixing and blending gives rise to new tastes and flavors, much appreciated by locals as well as tourists.
Before you set out to explore the many fantastic restaurants in this island nation, there is one essential thing you must do. Go online, navigate to an online discount coupon website and buy a bunch of discount coupons. You can use these to have a wonderful banquet at the same price or have a great dinner at a huge discount. A 9 course Hokkaido Seafood and Wagyu Beef Kaiseki will cost you only $ 49.90at the Hokkaido Sushi Restaurant. Go to the Holiday Inn and dine on Cantonese fare for only $ 30. Another day get yourself to the Muchos in Plaza Singapore and dine on Mexican food for only $ 40. Discounts range from 20 percent to 70 percent. Who would want to pass up such offers?
Vegetarianism is a growing practice as people lean towards healthy life styles. Discover vegetarian restaurants Singapore and you will be surprised that veggie food can be so delectable. That it becomes more affordable through discount coupons only makes vegetarian food all the more spicy and enjoyable.
Head for South East Asian restaurants to enjoy a whole spread of vegetarian food. Or drop in at Vegan Burg and spend only $ 10 when you redeem your discount coupon against the list price of $ 20. You do not have to trawl Singapore in search of vegetarian restaurants. Simply visit the online discount coupon website and go through the vegetarian section of restaurants in Singapore and there you have it: all the deals at fantastic prices.
It is happy times, especially for families visiting Singapore on a budget.
Before you set out to explore the many fantastic restaurants in this island nation, there is one essential thing you must do. Go online, navigate to an online discount coupon website and buy a bunch of discount coupons. You can use these to have a wonderful banquet at the same price or have a great dinner at a huge discount. A 9 course Hokkaido Seafood and Wagyu Beef Kaiseki will cost you only $ 49.90at the Hokkaido Sushi Restaurant. Go to the Holiday Inn and dine on Cantonese fare for only $ 30. Another day get yourself to the Muchos in Plaza Singapore and dine on Mexican food for only $ 40. Discounts range from 20 percent to 70 percent. Who would want to pass up such offers?
Vegetarianism is a growing practice as people lean towards healthy life styles. Discover vegetarian restaurants Singapore and you will be surprised that veggie food can be so delectable. That it becomes more affordable through discount coupons only makes vegetarian food all the more spicy and enjoyable.
Head for South East Asian restaurants to enjoy a whole spread of vegetarian food. Or drop in at Vegan Burg and spend only $ 10 when you redeem your discount coupon against the list price of $ 20. You do not have to trawl Singapore in search of vegetarian restaurants. Simply visit the online discount coupon website and go through the vegetarian section of restaurants in Singapore and there you have it: all the deals at fantastic prices.
It is happy times, especially for families visiting Singapore on a budget.
Last month we were able to find cheap flights to Langkawi, so we took a house sitting position and now find ourselves on a beautiful island in Malaysia for the holiday season. If housesitting is not an option for you, there are plenty of cheap hotels in Langkawi. As soon as it was set in stone I started to research some of the fun things we could do on the island and found that there is a lot to choose from. When I research things to do in a new location I also try and find indoor activities for the inevitable day or more of rain that typically occurs.
We are not huge on zoos and aquariums as we often times feel sad for the animals and know that the best place for them is usually in their wild habitat but everything we read about Underwater World Langkawi sounded wonderful. With our third rainy day upon us we decided to give it a try.
Immediately upon entering the boys were captivated by a lovely large tank full of arapaimas, which are enormous catfish like aquatic critters indigenous to Asia. It gave a nice feeling as the tank was larger than a lot we have seen and was very clean. We went in the afternoon in order to make our way around during the various feeding times the aquarium has. It was a good choice!
I shuffled the boys along as the first feeding was to start soon at the fur seal tank and I knew they would want to see that. First though we made our way through various tanks of lizards and a rainforest environment complete with Macaws, flamingos, marmosets, and you guessed it more fish! This area was clean, well ventilated and offered a good amount of space for all the animals.
The seal area was one of the highlights. We all enjoyed that as they fed and gave medications to the seals there was a women explaining everything and several more women around and available for answering any questions. It was not a seal show but rather an informative feeding which I greatly preferred. My 5 year old on the other hand would probably have been more entertained if the seals were doing “flippy tricks” as he so LOUDLY begged for. Again the tank was clean but seemed a bit small.
Next we moved on to the penguins which in my opinion were the most impressive. They have 2 different types, the blackfooted African penguin and the Rockhopper penguins. We all preferred the rock hopers for their cool hair dos but we spent quite a bit of time at each area observing. The aquarium runs a breeding program as well which helps to keep the population numbers up. All throughout the back of the area there were mamas set in their nests caring for eggs or babies, it was hard to tell which.
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| A feeling they are not familiar with at all:) |
As we moved further towards the otter feeding we passed through loads of tanks full of amazing fish. Lionfish, eels, manta rays, a huge shark tank, a 50 foot walk through tunnel where there is also an in tank feeding, puffer fish, sea horses, jellyfish and so much more were available for viewing. We spent about an hour marvelling at all the fish you usually can only see on a thriving reef.
Otters have been one of my favorite animals ever since becoming enamored with them as a child at a small waterpark in Florida. They were adorable but their environment seemed quite small especially the water area and I wondered how happy they could be.
At this point we went outdoors through the touch tank area. I am not sure if it was just the hour we walked through but they were empty and no one was around. The kids were disappointed but quickly moved on to the koi pond and were amazed by the size of the “gold” fish in the pond! On the way out we passed through another room full of beautiful and clean tanks filled with a bounty of interesting fish and eels.
Our time at Underwater World Langkawi was fun, educational, and the perfect spot to go on a rainy afternoon! There are over 4000 animals and aquatic life forms on display to keep you and your children busy for hours!
Details:
The aquarium is open every day from 10am to 6pm and it is located right on Cenang beach. The entrance fee is 38 RM (roughly $12 US) per adult and 28RM (roughly $9 US) per child 3-12. Under 3 is free. They accept cash or credit card and there is an ATM machine located just outside.
As 2012 draws to a close I have been thinking back through our year traveling around the world! I sit here in wild wonder at where we have been, who we have met, and the experiences we have all had! Instead of the run of the mill photo round up of the year I decided to start annual awards. Every year will feature different categories and all will highlight the best of our year!
So here it is; our 2012 best of awards!
Best historical landmark
No question at all on this one. Angkor Wat would place first in a lot of different categories for travel. It is enormous, stunningly beautiful, historical and a must see on anyone’s itinerary in Asia. Easily our pick for first place. We spent 3 days exploring all the temples and I wish it could have been more. Be sure to do the sunrise morning, it is worth the 4am wake up, and it takes a lot for the night owl in me to admit that.
A close second for us was also a UNESCO heritage site. Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, is rich in history and full of stunning temples and ruins. They suffered a devastating blow during the floods in 2011, so supporting the town through tourism is a wonderful benefit to them. It is a landmark town worthwhile of the 1 hour train ride North from Bangkok. Warning: It is hot as hell there or at least it was in March so a room with AC is a must!
Best amusement park
We are not huge amusement park goers but this year we saw quite a few. Without a doubt Universal Studios in Singapore takes first place. We spent the entire day going on roller coasters, 4D rides, watching shows, and so much more. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Singapore. Quick tip though; get the fast pass so you can skirt the lines, with a 5 year old that was a life saver!
Runner up would have to be the Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh, Malaysia. Not anything like Universal but it had a charm of its own. We spent the entire day enjoying the waterpark, tiger feeding, amusement rides, hot springs, copper panning, and small Animal Park. The Lost World is really the perfect size park as even though it offered many different things to do, we never felt overwhelmed.
Best snorkelling spot
Snorkelling is one of my favorite activities. It takes a special kind of beach and ocean water to really make it stand out. One of the best places I have ever snorkelled and certainly the best this year was in the Perhentian Islands off the East coast of Malaysia. Beautiful secluded beaches and a reef directly offshore, so even the little guys can snorkel with no problems, made this an easy pick!
Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand comes up in second place. The beach made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is absolutely stunning. An added benefit to the snorkelling was that we got to swim with some sharks while we were there. The noise and air pollution that is overrunning this beautiful spot took it out of first place for us though. The reef is slowly dying and it is hard to really fall in love with a beach when you can hardly find it behind all the tourist boats.
Best cave
One of the best days on our entire journey so far was in a cave. Hands down the best cave was an unmarked cave in a village near Vang Vieng, Laos. The boys helped each other, pushed me way outside my comfort zone, and we even got to swim deep inside this remarkable Earth cavity.
A close second was a day we spent up in Northern Thailand in Tham Lod cave. Roughly 2 hours North of Pai, it was a beautiful motor bike drive up, where we were met with one of the most astounding caves I have ever seen. A river runs slowly through this massive cavern so you are able to take a bamboo canoe to navigate to various on /off points. It is definitely worth a day trip north!
Best sign
One day I will do an entire post just on the funny signs we come across. For now though I leave you with 2 of my favorites from this year. The first one is a menu choice from our hotel in Battambang where apparently they serve up your friends rather than French fries to go along with your meal. During our stay they also were convinced that apple juice was the proper name for ketchup. Confusion ruled the meals, in a fun way!
Bathroom signs and bathrooms themselves are always something interesting in Asia. TP or no, squat toilet or western, you never know what you will get. This instructive sign was found in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the faces in the sign as well as the need to explain this process just cracked us up!
Best hawker stall/ street food
I’ll split this one up. Best hawker market food we have had is Long Beach in Penang. Hawker markets are basically street food that is set up all under one roof. They offer everything from Chinese food, Satay, Western food, soups, roti, etc. It is fast, cheap, and mostly delicious. You can find hawker markets all over Penang but in our experience Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi was the best.
For street food Thailand wins this hands down. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai the food is incredibly cheap and wonderfully flavorful. One woman in particular is our absolute favourite. She has her stand inside the temple grounds for the weekend markets just down the main street from the Tae Pae gate. She makes one dish only, Pad Thai, and it is the best we have had anyplace. If you get a chance head down to see her…oh and you can get a $3 foot massage while you eat it…from a different lady of course
Most used phrase
When you travel all the time in strange and exotic locations things just do not always go the way you expect. Actually what we have learned is to not really expect anything and just live in the moment and go with the flow. But it is from our, let’s say, misadventures that our most used phrases come from.
“This is going to make a great story…someday!” Used most often during bus travel but not exclusively reserved for those trips, this phrase sees a lot of action in our family and really helps us through the less exotic parts of full time travel.
“What is going on here”, or “what is this all about”, comes out often as well. Asia seems to be the capital of random things put together and it is often times impossible to decipher the connection…hence the phrase!
Best train ride
Since starting our trip we have taken countless train journeys. Some were short and others quite long but they have all been comfortable, exciting, and fun! The first place spot is held by a train unlike any others. In Battambang, Cambodia, for a very reasonable rate you can ride on the bamboo railway. A creative way to make use of the railroad after it was ruined for actual trains in the 1970’s. Locals transport goods and run bamboo train tours out to a local brick factory. It was exhilarating as we took off from the “station” and quickly realized how fast this thing could really go. Even more exciting when you realize it’s only 1 track for 2 way traffic…have no fear you simply pay attention and disassemble the train when another train carrying more passengers comes by.
In second place is one ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We have taken this route several times over the year but this particular train ride was the most fun we have had on a train. It was just my oldest son and I and after seeing that our seats were not so lovely we decided to find the restaurant car. To our delight it turned into a nightclub after 8pm and we ate, danced, drank, and had a great time meeting other travellers.
Best sunset
Not much to say on this category. We have seen a lot of sunsets over the year and even more sunrises than ever before in my life. Without a doubt Penang takes first place in this category. We were lucky enough to have a view of the sunset over the ocean every single day for months. The only problem was picking my favourite sunset photo.
Coming in as runner up has to be the sunset over the Mekong River in Vientianne, Laos. Loads of people converge on the steps down to the river to watch in amazement as Mother Nature paints a sunset night after night. It is incredibly peaceful to sit among locals and watch.
Best flash mob
No award ceremony for 2012 would be complete without at least 1 mention of Gangnum style, the K-pop sensation that seemingly has been sweeping the world over. Now I have not actually seen the real video, which has topped over 1 billion views on YouTube but I am still familiar with the song. As my 9 year old and I made a quick stop into the Gurney mall in Penang, we heard the music begin to blare and made our way to the center court of the mall to find a full blown flash mob. I have always wanted to see or be in one so this was such a treat. We watched, we videotaped, and here we are sharing the video of the best flash mob we saw this year.
In second place, yes we actually saw 2 flash mobs this year, is a Christmas flash mob that we saw in a small mall on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. At a time when I was not feeling very much in the Christmas spirit it really brought tears to my eyes. I was at the mall to work so unfortunately did not have a camera and didn’t capture it.
Best Lord of the Flies moment
Two separate times this year I or another mom has remarked that what we were watching was a true Lord of the Flies moment. First place goes to my son and his friend, who within minutes of landing on Monkey Beach spotted, captured, killed, cooked, and ate a humungous crab. I do not like crab usually but we all had a taste and something about the freshness made it scrumptious.
While tubing down a river in Laos we came across several locals doing what they do every day; watering their buffalo, washing their clothes, and fishing. But the thing that struck us as a LOTF moment was when we came across these young boys in their underpants and spears trying to catch an evening meal.
Best beach
Best beach seemed a category we just had to include since we have spent the majority of the year on a beach. This was a hard one to choose but when looking at the beauty, fun and resources of the area the first place award has to go to Koh Samet in Thailand. 3 hours to the East of Bangkok and set in the gulf of Thailand this small island packed a huge punch of fun. Beautiful beach, food vendors and massages available everywhere, restaurants on the beach complete with cushions for maximum comfort, and best of all daily fireworks, nightclubs, and amazing fire shows. Needless to say, we had a great time!
Second place goes to the Perhentian Islands, which also snagged an award for best snorkelling. This Malaysia Island set is serene, striking, and the most relaxing place we have been so far. Although there are pretty much only tourists there it is never busy or overrun and most of the island doesn’t even use electricity for the majority of the day. We had a wonderful stay and would not hesitate to go back.
Best festival
Unquestionably the winner here is the Yi Peng festival that we travelled 100 hours to see! It was beautiful, peaceful, magical, and downright life changing. Anytime you are even remotely in the area be sure to head up to Chiang Mai, Thailand and partake in this amazing festival. It was probably the best thing I did the entire year!
Runner up in the category is the Chinese New Year celebration also in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were acrobats, dragons, and a parade that wasn’t too overwhelming but still fun. Nothing really amazing but we had a great morning celebrating!
Most stunning trees
Trees are possibly the most enchanting things on the planet in my opinion. They shock and amaze me on a regular basis. They are also the thing that pictures just cannot seem to capture. The magic and grandeur is just lost and you really need to be there to get the full feeling. First place award for trees goes to the silk cotton trees that envelope the ruins at Ta Prohm in Angkor Wat. This Cambodian wonder truly needs to be seen to be believed.
The runner up was tough to choose but in the interest of showing something different I decided to choose artificial trees. The Avatar like trees in the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore will amaze you. Take my advice and be sure to head there next time you are in Singapore. They are directly across the street from the Marina Bay Sands making an evening visit breath taking!
Grossest meat on a stick
There is no shortage of gross things that Asians eat on a stick. They do not waste anything and we have seen embryos, baby chicks, tarantulas, and numerous types of bugs. But the winner of this category has to be the bats on sticks that we saw in Laos. Maybe if it was just the meat it would not have been so unthinkable to eat but when you could still see the hair, teeth, and claws it, well, it takes the place as winner of grossest food on a stick!
A close second, and this was a tough choice, has to be the snakes on the stick that we saw in Cambodia. Do I really need to say more here….just look at the picture! Yuck!
Best animal encounter
We have enjoyed a lot of amazing animal encounters this year but 2 stand out quite a bit as the level of interaction was not something you would ever find in the US. First place goes to our time with the elephants in Pai, Thailand. Frolicking in the water, feeding them and just being in their presence in such a close and intimate way was just spectacular!
Second place is our time spent at the Orangutan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia. It is a rehab facility that really cares for and tries to reintegrate the primates back to their wild habitat on Borneo. We could have stayed for hours watching them play but our favourite part was watching the different personalities in the toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Most life changing/touching experience
The award for this category goes, hands down to the killing fields in Cambodia. You cannot walk away from that place with the same feelings about humanity as you have when walking in. It is done beautifully and respectfully but was without a doubt the hardest day I have spent on the journey. I would NOT recommend it for children under 12 as it is very deep subject matter and a level of respect and quiet needs to be displayed.
Second place goes to the Yi Peng lantern festival, where for a brief moment we actually felt the negativity of the planet rise to the skies and felt a magical Peace overcome us. As I said before if you are ever in the Thailand area in November this is a must see!
Best reference to my old home, Costa Rica
An extremely popular saying in Costa Rica is Pura Vida, it is said throughout the Spanish community but in Costa Rica it is everything from a way of life to a greeting! We have actually run into this saying several times since we have been in Asia. Our first month was spent in Chiang Mai. We explored every inch of that city and in our travelling around we came across the words “Pura Vida” spray painted on a wall. We were shocked and delighted, took many pictures, and now consider it an award winner. It is a random category, but a winner none the less.
In Pai, Thailand we also came across the words Pura Vida. There is a hotel overlooking a beautiful rice paddy called Pura Vida. The property is stunning and really seems to fit the saying, pure life!
Most beautiful Mosque
In the 12 months of 2012 we spent over half that time in countries that are predominantly Muslim. That has availed us numerous opportunities to visit Mosques. The Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the winner for us. It was so much larger than we had been expecting and absolutely stunning. We spent 2 hours there listening to the Iman, and oohing and ahhing at the splendor and grandeur of the walls and floors around us. Word of warning; be sure to pay attention to exactly where you take your shoes off upon entering. The Mosque is so huge that we actually lost our shoes for over an hour.
Our runner up is the Masjid Kapitan Keling, the oldest Mosque in Penang. Georgetown Penang is a UNESCO world heritage site and there is good reason for this distinction. It is a wonderful place to soak in religion, history, and culture and a perfect spot to enjoy a day or 2. The Keling Mosque is beautiful and worth stopping by to see. There is usually a guide there to show you around and explain things, which is helpful as it is sometimes difficult to know the right way to behave in a new religious environment. Do not go on Fridays, the high prayer day.
Best use of Gold
We have seen a lot of amazing structures and figures made out of gold over the last year so this was also a hard category to pick the two winners for. In first place is a magnificent golden Buddha statue housed at the Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang, Malaysia. We were shocked at how beautiful the entire grounds were but the Buddha and the temple it is housed in are simply magnificent.
A close runner up is one of Chiang Mai’s largest attractions. On Doi Suthep is a stunning and spiritual temple. The centrepiece of the temple grounds is a huge golden chedi flanked by countless Buddha statues also golden. It is special chedi where you will find people circling in meditative contemplation. It was extremely spiritual and peaceful to watch.
Most Creative way to pump gas
Our last category seems random but honestly we have seen so many cool and downright dangerous ways to pump gas in Asia. Our first place winner is insane, basically a metal drum with a hand crank on it. This definitely wouldn't pass any safety standards in the US but hey it works so why not! Not sure about the shower cap but I bet its a cheap fix for something!
The runner up is one of the coolest gas pumps ever. It is located in Pai, Thailand and I am pretty sure I have never seen it before. A freestanding station perfect for motorbikes! I never saw a car at it so not sure if they are allowed or not. Since most people get around in Northern Thailnd by motorbike its perfect. Exploring around Pai is really spread out so its geat to have these spread throughout the countryside. The best part is the cheering and clapping that commences through a loudspeaker once your gas has been pumped...we felt like celebrities:)
Start to finish this has been an amazing year, our first of nonstop travel. We visited 5 countries, 23 destination towns, and experienced countless outings. It was a wonderful year and we cannot wait to see what the New Year brings.
What are your travel plans for the 2013??
So here it is; our 2012 best of awards!
Best historical landmark
No question at all on this one. Angkor Wat would place first in a lot of different categories for travel. It is enormous, stunningly beautiful, historical and a must see on anyone’s itinerary in Asia. Easily our pick for first place. We spent 3 days exploring all the temples and I wish it could have been more. Be sure to do the sunrise morning, it is worth the 4am wake up, and it takes a lot for the night owl in me to admit that.
A close second for us was also a UNESCO heritage site. Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, is rich in history and full of stunning temples and ruins. They suffered a devastating blow during the floods in 2011, so supporting the town through tourism is a wonderful benefit to them. It is a landmark town worthwhile of the 1 hour train ride North from Bangkok. Warning: It is hot as hell there or at least it was in March so a room with AC is a must!
Best amusement park
We are not huge amusement park goers but this year we saw quite a few. Without a doubt Universal Studios in Singapore takes first place. We spent the entire day going on roller coasters, 4D rides, watching shows, and so much more. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Singapore. Quick tip though; get the fast pass so you can skirt the lines, with a 5 year old that was a life saver!
Runner up would have to be the Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh, Malaysia. Not anything like Universal but it had a charm of its own. We spent the entire day enjoying the waterpark, tiger feeding, amusement rides, hot springs, copper panning, and small Animal Park. The Lost World is really the perfect size park as even though it offered many different things to do, we never felt overwhelmed.
Best snorkelling spot
Snorkelling is one of my favorite activities. It takes a special kind of beach and ocean water to really make it stand out. One of the best places I have ever snorkelled and certainly the best this year was in the Perhentian Islands off the East coast of Malaysia. Beautiful secluded beaches and a reef directly offshore, so even the little guys can snorkel with no problems, made this an easy pick!
Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand comes up in second place. The beach made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is absolutely stunning. An added benefit to the snorkelling was that we got to swim with some sharks while we were there. The noise and air pollution that is overrunning this beautiful spot took it out of first place for us though. The reef is slowly dying and it is hard to really fall in love with a beach when you can hardly find it behind all the tourist boats.
Best cave
One of the best days on our entire journey so far was in a cave. Hands down the best cave was an unmarked cave in a village near Vang Vieng, Laos. The boys helped each other, pushed me way outside my comfort zone, and we even got to swim deep inside this remarkable Earth cavity.
A close second was a day we spent up in Northern Thailand in Tham Lod cave. Roughly 2 hours North of Pai, it was a beautiful motor bike drive up, where we were met with one of the most astounding caves I have ever seen. A river runs slowly through this massive cavern so you are able to take a bamboo canoe to navigate to various on /off points. It is definitely worth a day trip north!
Best sign
One day I will do an entire post just on the funny signs we come across. For now though I leave you with 2 of my favorites from this year. The first one is a menu choice from our hotel in Battambang where apparently they serve up your friends rather than French fries to go along with your meal. During our stay they also were convinced that apple juice was the proper name for ketchup. Confusion ruled the meals, in a fun way!
Bathroom signs and bathrooms themselves are always something interesting in Asia. TP or no, squat toilet or western, you never know what you will get. This instructive sign was found in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the faces in the sign as well as the need to explain this process just cracked us up!
Best hawker stall/ street food
I’ll split this one up. Best hawker market food we have had is Long Beach in Penang. Hawker markets are basically street food that is set up all under one roof. They offer everything from Chinese food, Satay, Western food, soups, roti, etc. It is fast, cheap, and mostly delicious. You can find hawker markets all over Penang but in our experience Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi was the best.
For street food Thailand wins this hands down. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai the food is incredibly cheap and wonderfully flavorful. One woman in particular is our absolute favourite. She has her stand inside the temple grounds for the weekend markets just down the main street from the Tae Pae gate. She makes one dish only, Pad Thai, and it is the best we have had anyplace. If you get a chance head down to see her…oh and you can get a $3 foot massage while you eat it…from a different lady of course
Most used phrase
When you travel all the time in strange and exotic locations things just do not always go the way you expect. Actually what we have learned is to not really expect anything and just live in the moment and go with the flow. But it is from our, let’s say, misadventures that our most used phrases come from.
“This is going to make a great story…someday!” Used most often during bus travel but not exclusively reserved for those trips, this phrase sees a lot of action in our family and really helps us through the less exotic parts of full time travel.
“What is going on here”, or “what is this all about”, comes out often as well. Asia seems to be the capital of random things put together and it is often times impossible to decipher the connection…hence the phrase!
Best train ride
Since starting our trip we have taken countless train journeys. Some were short and others quite long but they have all been comfortable, exciting, and fun! The first place spot is held by a train unlike any others. In Battambang, Cambodia, for a very reasonable rate you can ride on the bamboo railway. A creative way to make use of the railroad after it was ruined for actual trains in the 1970’s. Locals transport goods and run bamboo train tours out to a local brick factory. It was exhilarating as we took off from the “station” and quickly realized how fast this thing could really go. Even more exciting when you realize it’s only 1 track for 2 way traffic…have no fear you simply pay attention and disassemble the train when another train carrying more passengers comes by.
In second place is one ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We have taken this route several times over the year but this particular train ride was the most fun we have had on a train. It was just my oldest son and I and after seeing that our seats were not so lovely we decided to find the restaurant car. To our delight it turned into a nightclub after 8pm and we ate, danced, drank, and had a great time meeting other travellers.
Best sunset
Not much to say on this category. We have seen a lot of sunsets over the year and even more sunrises than ever before in my life. Without a doubt Penang takes first place in this category. We were lucky enough to have a view of the sunset over the ocean every single day for months. The only problem was picking my favourite sunset photo.
Coming in as runner up has to be the sunset over the Mekong River in Vientianne, Laos. Loads of people converge on the steps down to the river to watch in amazement as Mother Nature paints a sunset night after night. It is incredibly peaceful to sit among locals and watch.
Best flash mob
No award ceremony for 2012 would be complete without at least 1 mention of Gangnum style, the K-pop sensation that seemingly has been sweeping the world over. Now I have not actually seen the real video, which has topped over 1 billion views on YouTube but I am still familiar with the song. As my 9 year old and I made a quick stop into the Gurney mall in Penang, we heard the music begin to blare and made our way to the center court of the mall to find a full blown flash mob. I have always wanted to see or be in one so this was such a treat. We watched, we videotaped, and here we are sharing the video of the best flash mob we saw this year.
In second place, yes we actually saw 2 flash mobs this year, is a Christmas flash mob that we saw in a small mall on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. At a time when I was not feeling very much in the Christmas spirit it really brought tears to my eyes. I was at the mall to work so unfortunately did not have a camera and didn’t capture it.
Best Lord of the Flies moment
Two separate times this year I or another mom has remarked that what we were watching was a true Lord of the Flies moment. First place goes to my son and his friend, who within minutes of landing on Monkey Beach spotted, captured, killed, cooked, and ate a humungous crab. I do not like crab usually but we all had a taste and something about the freshness made it scrumptious.
While tubing down a river in Laos we came across several locals doing what they do every day; watering their buffalo, washing their clothes, and fishing. But the thing that struck us as a LOTF moment was when we came across these young boys in their underpants and spears trying to catch an evening meal.
Best beach
Best beach seemed a category we just had to include since we have spent the majority of the year on a beach. This was a hard one to choose but when looking at the beauty, fun and resources of the area the first place award has to go to Koh Samet in Thailand. 3 hours to the East of Bangkok and set in the gulf of Thailand this small island packed a huge punch of fun. Beautiful beach, food vendors and massages available everywhere, restaurants on the beach complete with cushions for maximum comfort, and best of all daily fireworks, nightclubs, and amazing fire shows. Needless to say, we had a great time!
Second place goes to the Perhentian Islands, which also snagged an award for best snorkelling. This Malaysia Island set is serene, striking, and the most relaxing place we have been so far. Although there are pretty much only tourists there it is never busy or overrun and most of the island doesn’t even use electricity for the majority of the day. We had a wonderful stay and would not hesitate to go back.
Best festival
Unquestionably the winner here is the Yi Peng festival that we travelled 100 hours to see! It was beautiful, peaceful, magical, and downright life changing. Anytime you are even remotely in the area be sure to head up to Chiang Mai, Thailand and partake in this amazing festival. It was probably the best thing I did the entire year!
Runner up in the category is the Chinese New Year celebration also in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were acrobats, dragons, and a parade that wasn’t too overwhelming but still fun. Nothing really amazing but we had a great morning celebrating!
Most stunning trees
Trees are possibly the most enchanting things on the planet in my opinion. They shock and amaze me on a regular basis. They are also the thing that pictures just cannot seem to capture. The magic and grandeur is just lost and you really need to be there to get the full feeling. First place award for trees goes to the silk cotton trees that envelope the ruins at Ta Prohm in Angkor Wat. This Cambodian wonder truly needs to be seen to be believed.
The runner up was tough to choose but in the interest of showing something different I decided to choose artificial trees. The Avatar like trees in the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore will amaze you. Take my advice and be sure to head there next time you are in Singapore. They are directly across the street from the Marina Bay Sands making an evening visit breath taking!
Grossest meat on a stick
There is no shortage of gross things that Asians eat on a stick. They do not waste anything and we have seen embryos, baby chicks, tarantulas, and numerous types of bugs. But the winner of this category has to be the bats on sticks that we saw in Laos. Maybe if it was just the meat it would not have been so unthinkable to eat but when you could still see the hair, teeth, and claws it, well, it takes the place as winner of grossest food on a stick!
A close second, and this was a tough choice, has to be the snakes on the stick that we saw in Cambodia. Do I really need to say more here….just look at the picture! Yuck!
Best animal encounter
We have enjoyed a lot of amazing animal encounters this year but 2 stand out quite a bit as the level of interaction was not something you would ever find in the US. First place goes to our time with the elephants in Pai, Thailand. Frolicking in the water, feeding them and just being in their presence in such a close and intimate way was just spectacular!
Second place is our time spent at the Orangutan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia. It is a rehab facility that really cares for and tries to reintegrate the primates back to their wild habitat on Borneo. We could have stayed for hours watching them play but our favourite part was watching the different personalities in the toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Most life changing/touching experience
The award for this category goes, hands down to the killing fields in Cambodia. You cannot walk away from that place with the same feelings about humanity as you have when walking in. It is done beautifully and respectfully but was without a doubt the hardest day I have spent on the journey. I would NOT recommend it for children under 12 as it is very deep subject matter and a level of respect and quiet needs to be displayed.
Second place goes to the Yi Peng lantern festival, where for a brief moment we actually felt the negativity of the planet rise to the skies and felt a magical Peace overcome us. As I said before if you are ever in the Thailand area in November this is a must see!
Best reference to my old home, Costa Rica
An extremely popular saying in Costa Rica is Pura Vida, it is said throughout the Spanish community but in Costa Rica it is everything from a way of life to a greeting! We have actually run into this saying several times since we have been in Asia. Our first month was spent in Chiang Mai. We explored every inch of that city and in our travelling around we came across the words “Pura Vida” spray painted on a wall. We were shocked and delighted, took many pictures, and now consider it an award winner. It is a random category, but a winner none the less.
In Pai, Thailand we also came across the words Pura Vida. There is a hotel overlooking a beautiful rice paddy called Pura Vida. The property is stunning and really seems to fit the saying, pure life!
Most beautiful Mosque
In the 12 months of 2012 we spent over half that time in countries that are predominantly Muslim. That has availed us numerous opportunities to visit Mosques. The Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the winner for us. It was so much larger than we had been expecting and absolutely stunning. We spent 2 hours there listening to the Iman, and oohing and ahhing at the splendor and grandeur of the walls and floors around us. Word of warning; be sure to pay attention to exactly where you take your shoes off upon entering. The Mosque is so huge that we actually lost our shoes for over an hour.
Our runner up is the Masjid Kapitan Keling, the oldest Mosque in Penang. Georgetown Penang is a UNESCO world heritage site and there is good reason for this distinction. It is a wonderful place to soak in religion, history, and culture and a perfect spot to enjoy a day or 2. The Keling Mosque is beautiful and worth stopping by to see. There is usually a guide there to show you around and explain things, which is helpful as it is sometimes difficult to know the right way to behave in a new religious environment. Do not go on Fridays, the high prayer day.
Best use of Gold
We have seen a lot of amazing structures and figures made out of gold over the last year so this was also a hard category to pick the two winners for. In first place is a magnificent golden Buddha statue housed at the Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang, Malaysia. We were shocked at how beautiful the entire grounds were but the Buddha and the temple it is housed in are simply magnificent.
A close runner up is one of Chiang Mai’s largest attractions. On Doi Suthep is a stunning and spiritual temple. The centrepiece of the temple grounds is a huge golden chedi flanked by countless Buddha statues also golden. It is special chedi where you will find people circling in meditative contemplation. It was extremely spiritual and peaceful to watch.
Most Creative way to pump gas
Our last category seems random but honestly we have seen so many cool and downright dangerous ways to pump gas in Asia. Our first place winner is insane, basically a metal drum with a hand crank on it. This definitely wouldn't pass any safety standards in the US but hey it works so why not! Not sure about the shower cap but I bet its a cheap fix for something!
The runner up is one of the coolest gas pumps ever. It is located in Pai, Thailand and I am pretty sure I have never seen it before. A freestanding station perfect for motorbikes! I never saw a car at it so not sure if they are allowed or not. Since most people get around in Northern Thailnd by motorbike its perfect. Exploring around Pai is really spread out so its geat to have these spread throughout the countryside. The best part is the cheering and clapping that commences through a loudspeaker once your gas has been pumped...we felt like celebrities:)
Start to finish this has been an amazing year, our first of nonstop travel. We visited 5 countries, 23 destination towns, and experienced countless outings. It was a wonderful year and we cannot wait to see what the New Year brings.
Happy New Year!