Lisa, Will & Lexie World Trip
 As my father once said, 'school is great but travel is better'.
Education is not just about how many exams you get, but putting what you learn into practise. Facts are useful tools against ignorance, but hands on experience is paramount for a truly wise insight.
With this in mind, we wanted to 'go get' some worldly experience inc. different smells, tastes, climates, cultures, religions, animals, environments, etc whilst minimalising any detrimental impact on traditional school life. By missing the second half of the summer term, we have just over 14 weeks for this world 'taster' with the benefits hopefully vastly outweighing any 'losses'.
As we are carrying our own rucksacks, inc. sleeping bags, I didn't want to be weighed down by bulky cold weather kit so sticking to the tropics seemed sensible. Also, I have a realistic take on my offspring (any myself), in that there are only so many museums, wats and buddhas a person can take, so we made animals, followed by cultural tourism our primary focus.
The children break up for summer half term on Friday 22nd of May, and we board our first flight out of LHR the following morning.
We have a gentle start with 3 nights in San Francisco before heading off to Sebah, Borneo for 10 days staying in the jungle at 'Uncle Tan's', seeing the orangutans and participating in a homestay at a Rungus Longhouse - a rapid reminder that this trip is about 'real' travel and life enhancing experiences - not 5* hotels!
It's then on to meet our lovely friend, Anita, in Singapore. After 2 nights, we all travel overland up through Melaka to KL where she lives. Having explored this part of Malaysia, we head off again on our own, making use of the local buses up to Taman Negara, the oldest 'jungle' in the world (130 million years) for a 2 night trip, then on to Father's Guest House In the Cameron Highlands. From here its 'chill time' on Langkawi and Penang.
So that's taken care of June! For July (and the monsoon season) I've allowed 2 weeks in both Sri Lanka and India with a 'man and a van' to show us the sights. These will inc. white water rafting in SL, the famous elephant orphanage and Yala NP, and much of the cultural triangle via car, train and plane in India, ending in Mumbai.
Its then off to Africa for August (dry season). This is where Simon is hoping to join us for a week or two as his parents taught in Tanzania in the late 60's and he hasn't been back since. The only slight snag is that he is having problems coming to terms with basic bush camping and down town hostels, so as yet is uncommitted. I think he is hoping for an extended tropical beach stop - think again!
So firstly Nairobi/Kenya for a short safari inc. Maasai Mara, and then overland to Arusha in Tanzania for the another camping Safari inc. Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, ending in Zanzibar for some much needed 'beach' time.
From here plans are still a little vague, but we will either be hanging around a little longer in East Africa, or else catching a glimpse of Vic. Falls (budget allowing) before heading into Jo. Burg. for a couple of nights before flying back to the UK.
If you would like to follow us en route to see what we are up to and where we are at.... look no further........... |
My latest 5 diary entries
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| 5th Jan 2010 - 7th Jan 2010 | ||||
| El Boqueron and Scuba Diving at Illopango, El Salvador, CA | ||||
| El Boqueron and Diving at Illopango We last visited the crater of San Salvador Volcano three years ago. It was pleasantly empty and untampered with. You just parked near the top and made your way to the edge and fol... | ||||
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894 Words | 31 Reads |  | Read more | |
| 30th Dec 2009 | ||||
| Road Trip to Perquin, El Salvador - 28th Dec 2009 | ||||
| Due to a Salvadorian cutleral defect of being incapable of planning ahead, we had several false starts before finally setting off a mere 1 hr late.In the first car was Alan with Claudia and two other... | ||||
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1539 Words | 44 Reads | | Read more | |
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| 24th Dec 2009 | ||||
| Christmas Eve - El Salvador Style | ||||
| It is Christmas eve and after a clear start to the day, the odd cloud is now gathering. But can't complain as it's still 30 degrees and not a snowflake in sight. I am writing this whilst reclining at the Campestre ... | ||||
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653 Words | 30 Reads | | Read more | |
| 21st Dec 2009 | ||||
| Back to El Salvador - a potted history | ||||
| I get frustrated with the ongoing obscurity of this beautiful.country. It may be small (the size of Wales) but it is the most densly populated at approx. 7 Million in Central America. So why do most peopl... | ||||
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931 Words | 57 Reads | | Read more | |
| 18th Dec 2009 | ||||
| Getting a feel for Guatemala | ||||
| Keen to make the most of the cooler dawn hours before the sun musters its true strength, Central America is an early riser.I awake to the multitudinous dawn chorus of chattering birds. They keep up their anim... | ||||
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617 Words | 21 Reads | | Read more | |
