tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65644338901107980182024-03-13T21:34:17.735+01:00Working. Parenting. Traveling. Discover the world with childrenA collection of memories, tips and advices for parents who want to travel the world with children. From week-end trip to extended annual vacations, enjoy your family travel time!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-65281678391413900032015-03-12T06:09:00.003+01:002015-03-12T06:10:02.538+01:00Cycling in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kswTFjsOmSM/VQEfRNfK7dI/AAAAAAAAIgc/7rRm4LGs88k/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kswTFjsOmSM/VQEfRNfK7dI/AAAAAAAAIgc/7rRm4LGs88k/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Kamphaeng Phet is a small town in northwestern Thailand. This little city is home to remarkable relics dating from the Sukhothai era. Located within a hundred miles of Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet was a prestigious and flourishing city in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.<br />
<br />
Less impressive than those of Sukhothai, the ancient temple ruins are still worth discovering. The majority of them is scattered in a large shady park. The shade is welcome on hot, sunny days. We rented bikes to explore the place: our guesthouse offered bicycles with cushioned back seats for our younger children. Our 8-year old used a folding adult bicycle which saddle was lowered.<br />
<br />
Cycling is the ideal way to discover the site: ride along the deserted wide alleys, follow paths along the ruins, stop wherever and whenever you like.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Which site is better to visit with children? </b>There are three major sites dating from the Sukhothai era, all recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Sukhothai, Sri Satchanalai, Kamphaeng Phet. Sri Satchanalai is the most difficult site to access and visit, unless you drive your own vehicle. Sukhothai is the largest and most popular place. Yet, it wasn't crowded when we visited in February. It's extremely pleasant to explore on a bicycle. Renting a bicycle is cheap and easy, children's bikes and bikes with baby seats are available everywhere. The site in Kamphaeng Phet is mid-sized, pleasant and ignored by many tourists.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Where to sleep? </b>Three J Guesthouse offers a family room (up to 5 people) with bathroom and A/C for 800 THB per night.<br />
<br />
<b>Rent a bike:</b> At Three J Guesthouse, 50 THB/day. Also available at the park's entrances, 30 THB/hour (city bikes with backseats for children).<br />
<br />
<b>Visit Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park:</b> One site is located about 2 kilometers out of town in the north-western direction. From the city center, it is easy to reach by bicycle and well signposted. The other site is right in town. Entrance fee to either site: 100 THB/person, children free. Combined ticket: 150 THB/person<br />
<br />
<b>What else? </b>There's a local swimming pool, great for kids, in Kamphaeng Phet. Entrance fee is 40 THB/person, adult or child. Note that the children's pool is not adjacent to the adult's pool, it's located in the center of a park next to the Ping river. There's also a nice, free playground in the park close to the pool.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-8745585056847801972015-01-22T14:12:00.002+01:002015-03-12T05:40:18.950+01:00A day trip to Kuang Si waterfalls<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UaVDetrKkGo/VMD28dgKUbI/AAAAAAAAIaY/zNyhBWc3O2g/s1600/IMG_7789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UaVDetrKkGo/VMD28dgKUbI/AAAAAAAAIaY/zNyhBWc3O2g/s1600/IMG_7789.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A taste of paradise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Kuang Si waterfalls park is popular tourist destination
from Luang Prabang. In Kuang Si, the river streams down from a 30-meter cliff,
then forms a cascade of multiple, large turquoise-blue pools. No matter the
swarms of tourists, the spot is incredibly beautiful and deserves a visit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a great destination for children:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->There’s a small bear conservation center at the
entrance of the park, where kids can observe a handful of animals that were
rescued from poachers.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The walk alongside the waterfalls is easy and
pleasant. For a longer walk, climb to the top of the cliff and enjoy the view!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Last but not least, it is possible to bath in
the refreshingly cool water of the cascade pools. Bring swim suits and towels
for the whole family, and remember to cover your bodies when not swimming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>In short:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Transportation from/to Luang Prabang: 300000 kips for a
private vehicle, or 50000 kips per person. To bring the costs down, join a
group of other tourists and negotiate a discount for the children (we spent
150000 kips for the five of us).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Entrance fee: 20000 kips per adult / free for children</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Where to eat?</b></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are numerous local restaurants and shops outside the
waterfall park. A grilled fish cost 30000 kips.</div>
<div id="__if72ru4sdfsdfrkjahiuyi_once" style="display: none;">
</div>
<div id="__hggasdgjhsagd_once" style="display: none;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-82964856471153992122015-01-15T10:07:00.001+01:002015-01-15T10:07:22.255+01:00Northern Laos: Nong Khiaw with children<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The small town of Nong Khiaw, if slightly less peaceful than Muang Ngoy, is a great spot for vacationing families! There's no shortage of fun activities in and around Nong Khiaw. Biking, kayaking, hiking... You name it! </span><br />
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">We particularly enjoyed the trek to the 100 waterfalls. Other highlights included walking to 2 kilometers along the relatively quiet main road to the caves (entrance fee: 5000 kips/ 0.6 USD per adult) or completing the strenuous climb (access fee: 20000 kips/ 2.5 USD per adult) to the spectacular viewpoint in less than 2 hours! </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehnB28EhMg0/VLE_05q_fRI/AAAAAAAAIYE/cVFxJYJlPjc/s1600/IMG_7734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehnB28EhMg0/VLE_05q_fRI/AAAAAAAAIYE/cVFxJYJlPjc/s1600/IMG_7734.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning view from the summit (it's a tough climb!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b></b></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Where to stay? </b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We stayed in a clean and comfortable triple room at CT Guesthouse. (Triple room: 100.000 kips or about 12USD)</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b>Where to eat?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Our children love eating Indian food. The two side-by-side Indian restaurants serve cheap and delicious meals (just ask to get for non-spicy meals). The Chennai restaurant is also a good place to have breakfast. For a sweet treat, Delilah's has a wide choice of excellent (but more expensive) western-style breakfasts. Delilah's is a great place to go to with children, as it has a selection of toys and board games for kids of all ages.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-38910567852751139202015-01-14T16:23:00.000+01:002015-01-14T16:23:30.616+01:00Undertaking the 100 waterfalls trek with children <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RxZ_mKT8qo/VLE4OWgH9CI/AAAAAAAAIXs/Dh4lc_JAxGc/s1600/IMG_7657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RxZ_mKT8qo/VLE4OWgH9CI/AAAAAAAAIXs/Dh4lc_JAxGc/s1600/IMG_7657.JPG" height="300" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
The "100 waterfalls" is a popular one-day guided trek, starting from the village of Nong Khiaw, in Northern Laos. The tour involves a 1-hour boat ride on the Nam Ou river down to a village, where the actual trek starts with an easy and pleasant walk across rice fields. One hour later, you reach the bottom of the waterfalls. Now it's all about walking and climbing upstream. Tour guides will serve lunch at the top of the waterfalls, then it goes down along a steep forest path, back to the village. A wonderful hike with beautiful views! <br />
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<b>Can the trek be attempted with children? </b></div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
Here’s our return on experience.</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
The trek includes <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a moderate 3 to 4 hours walk; the only minor difficulty is the ascent in the water. T</span>he rocks aren’t very slippery and when a passage is too difficult for a child, there’s an alternative way on the side.</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our 7-year old </span>jumped up the waterfalls like a salmon. Our 5-year old followed quite easily with the support of an adult (ou local guide was very helpful in this matter). Our 3-year old was safely secured in a baby carrier on the back of her dad. Walking up the stream would have been too difficult for her, as she would have had water up to the waist. All five of us surely enjoyed our day!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVnEyu5jEkY/VLE5Ea-kxqI/AAAAAAAAIX0/OJT7w_El4bA/s1600/IMG_7653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVnEyu5jEkY/VLE5Ea-kxqI/AAAAAAAAIX0/OJT7w_El4bA/s1600/IMG_7653.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking up the stream</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>In short:</b></div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
The guided trek costs between 250000 and 350000 kips (30 to 45 USD) per person, we got a 50% discount for our children aged 5 and 7 and our 3-year old went for free (we booked with Tiger Trails).</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<ul class="Apple-dash-list">
<li>Children aged 7 and above will love the refreshing experience of climbing upstream!</li>
<li>Children aged 4 to 7 will also enjoy the walk in water if you can lend them a hand to help them in difficult passages.</li>
<li>For children under 4, you will need a good baby carrier that also keeps your hands free. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-67675423896265551402015-01-10T16:10:00.000+01:002015-01-10T16:10:05.341+01:00A gem in northern Laos: Muang Ngoy<span style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">For families exploring northern Laos, the village of Muang Ngoy is a true gem. The perfect spot to unwind, enjoy quality time with children or be active with them!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ME-_aQvUME/VLEsoXHN9LI/AAAAAAAAIXE/jj9Fe4iUQBA/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ME-_aQvUME/VLEsoXHN9LI/AAAAAAAAIXE/jj9Fe4iUQBA/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Muang Ngoy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
Muang Ngoy can only be reached by waterways, one hour boat ride north of Nong Khiaw or three hours south of Muang Khua. The village has no roads, therefore no cars and no motorbikes. Children can play undisturbed while parents enjoy the sweet life on the banks of the Nam Ou river and the dramatic landscape designed by surrounding peaks.</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
For sportive families, Muang Ngoy offers a wide range of activities:</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
- kayaking on the Nam Ou river </div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
- caving in the Buddha cave (bring multiple flashlights, the second cave is a very long one. We didn't reach the end of it but it's said to be several kilometers long). Entrance fee: 10000 kips (1.25 USD) per adult (children free) - the trail continues up to a fantastic, if difficult to access, viewpoint.</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
- hiking to nearby villages. Toll on the track: 10000 kips per adult. The walk to nearby Ban Na village is moderate and very pleasant, leading though rice fields and along small rivers (approximately 11 km return). There's a small restaurant along the way and one in Ban Na village.</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
- biking: bicycles are available for rent in many places. We didn't find kid's bikes though.</div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Where to stay? </b></div>
<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
The village has an impressive number of guesthouses ranging from basic accommodation to mid-range ones. We couldn't find a family room, thus booked two cheap doubles in charmless but clean and comfortable Rainbow guesthouse.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-54284988403487438902015-01-10T11:22:00.000+01:002015-01-10T11:22:47.113+01:00Trekking in northern Laos with children<div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Northern Laos is a wonderful trekking destination. We did a 3 days/2 nights trek in the mountains around Muang Khua and had a great time enjoying the stunning scenery as much as quiet, rustic village life.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Undertaking a trek with young children is possible if those are good hikers. Guided treks can be expensive (usually around 350000 kips per person per day) but you should be able to negotiate a discount for participating children.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8TJhzNX4Lw/VLD9DHIPj8I/AAAAAAAAIKU/nt1e9BXML7A/s1600/IMG_7403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8TJhzNX4Lw/VLD9DHIPj8I/AAAAAAAAIKU/nt1e9BXML7A/s1600/IMG_7403.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trekking with children in Laos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div>
Before you depart:</div>
<div>
<ul class="Apple-dash-list">
<li>carefully confirm the itinerary with your guide: how many hours of daily walks are planned? How high will you climb? How difficult does he rate the trek? Our trek involved strenuous walks up the mountains, but also left us plenty of time spent in ethnic minority villages. Time that our children clearly enjoyed, playing with village children.</li>
<li>foresee a good baby carrier if necessary.</li>
<li>confirm with your guide if purchasing gifts for the village kids is appropriate. We brought pencils and notebooks for local school students.</li>
<li>if trekking in winter time, pack extra clothes for the nights, as it gets really cold in the mountains.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Enjoy your trek!</div>
</div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div>
<b>Muang Khua village: where stay and what to do?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's a wide choice of accommodation in tiny Muang Khua town. We didn't immediately find a family room and opted for two cheap and basic rooms in Manotham guesthouse across the river. For children, crossing the river on the impressive suspended bridge will surely be the highlight of the day. Watch out for missing planks on the bridge </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ7AJCeuWcg/VLD8YTyJ69I/AAAAAAAAIKM/Pfl6GWoE-jo/s1600/IMG_7239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ7AJCeuWcg/VLD8YTyJ69I/AAAAAAAAIKM/Pfl6GWoE-jo/s1600/IMG_7239.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The suspended bridge in Muang Khua</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-2189370341451962502014-11-14T06:03:00.000+01:002015-01-10T11:41:17.253+01:00Exploring marble mountains<div class="MsoNormal">
The Marble Mountains are located about twenty kilometers
north of Hoi An. The five mountains stand at a short distance from the sea, in
the middle of the plain. We drove there on our own, fitting the three children
on two rented motorbikes. The road to Marble Mountains is easy to ride; wide,
straight and with little traffic. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYaTuh8pnhw/VGWKsCRcCxI/AAAAAAAAGss/qghDmktacV8/s1600/IMG_5730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYaTuh8pnhw/VGWKsCRcCxI/AAAAAAAAGss/qghDmktacV8/s400/IMG_5730.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The marble statues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Near the mountains, you’ll witness countless shops offering
huge marble statues. Large marble sculptures are processed using machines;
smaller objects are still hand carved. The artisans have preserved their
expertise, even if they now use an imported Chinese marble.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two paths lead up the mountain: a marble staircase or a
large glass elevator. Entry to Marble Mountain area cost 15.000 VND per person
(children enter for free), the ride on the elevator is an extra 15.000 VND per
person (children also free).</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnVThl6apKA/VGWLU3r6SBI/AAAAAAAAGs8/p9AU-jFrRLA/s1600/IMG_5668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnVThl6apKA/VGWLU3r6SBI/AAAAAAAAGs8/p9AU-jFrRLA/s320/IMG_5668.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elevator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We chose the lift, not to spare us the effort but to enjoy
the view. The mountains host many natural caves, as well as several Buddhist
and Confucian temples. The elevator leads to a terrace, halfway up the mountain.
In the immediate vicinity stands a beautiful pagoda, a little further away, a
nice little temple.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SghE_OE0AnA/VGWLxhBWuLI/AAAAAAAAGtE/dR5LgxgGVqQ/s1600/IMG_5701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SghE_OE0AnA/VGWLxhBWuLI/AAAAAAAAGtE/dR5LgxgGVqQ/s400/IMG_5701.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Behind this temple, there’s a path that leads to a small
cave, decorated with marble Buddha statues. Turn back to climb a trail that
leads to a point of view. Further, follow the path clogged between the two
peaks of the mountain. On the left, a few steps lead to another Buddha cave.
Behind the altar, in the darkness, follow the few steps to continue the
exploration to a cavity that lets in daylight. Don’t forget your flashlight!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Outside the cave, a path on the left side leads to the top
of the southern peak. A little further, there is a path on the right side that
will let you reach the top of the (slightly higher) northern peak. Both ways
are strenuous climbs but the beautiful view on the sea is a great reward. Back
on the main path, follow it straight ahead to enter the largest cave, a huge
cavity decorated with temples and statues of marble.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's already time to go down by a staircase. At the foot of
the mountain, next to the elevator, there’s the entrance to another cave. It
costs another 15.000 VND per person (children free) but it’s well worth seeing. The
cave is huge and has many passages to explore. On the right side, you’ll see a
dark staircase going down; if your children are too sensitive, don’t go down.
The staircase is a descent into hell and the walls of the cavity are covered
with plaster statues representing visions of horror. The tunnel ends in a small
cave. On the left side, there is a set of stairs. It is very steep and leads up
to a very nice outlook. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our kids loved exploring Marble Mountains!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>How to get there? We rented motorbikes for 5 USD a day.
Bikes can be parked at the foot of the mountain for a fee of 5000 VND per bike.
You can also easily get there by taxi. The last alternative is to book one of
the many tours in Hoi An or Da Nang.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>What to bring? The usual sun screen, sun hats and rain
coats, but pack extra flashlights for the kids!</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-65227487895232950652014-11-09T17:51:00.000+01:002014-11-09T17:51:24.992+01:005 reasons to visit Hoi An with children <span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Hoi An is a beautiful ancient town. It is one of the most charming and most visited city in Vietnam. If you needed a reason to stop in Hoi An on your family trip, here are 5:</span></span><br />
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">1. Let them run! The old town in the center of Hoi An is a pedestrian zone. </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">There's no honking and beeping of motorcycles, no ignored traffic lights, no walkways turned into parking lots. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Children can walk, or run, safely and freely in the streets. Our kids truly enjoyed it and we walked the streets of Hoi An north to south, east to west, up and down. Beware of the many cyclos though!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3inr5kRO9p0/VF-Y_FJ4x_I/AAAAAAAAFgI/ZDTNNxYY-TY/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3inr5kRO9p0/VF-Y_FJ4x_I/AAAAAAAAFgI/ZDTNNxYY-TY/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">2. It's free! There's an entrance fee to visit the well-preserved monuments of Hoi An, based on a voucher system. You pay 120.000 VND to receive five vouchers that give you each access to any of the 22 sites. You then pick and choose the places you want to visit. However, children may enter any site for free. To maximise their experience, mum and dad have not selected the same sites and the children have visited more than 10</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> monuments. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fa6L0YQHtMw/VF-Z8knS5SI/AAAAAAAAFgY/TjaJh9QAws0/s1600/IMG_5528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fa6L0YQHtMw/VF-Z8knS5SI/AAAAAAAAFgY/TjaJh9QAws0/s1600/IMG_5528.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">3. It's fun! Each visit will take you 10 to 20 minutes, short enough to keep children active and interested. It's easy to fall back in time when entering the houses, shops and temples that have remained unchanged.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oESsay_mKUA/VF-ak28LNhI/AAAAAAAAFgs/ujR1oBD7j-M/s1600/IMG_5835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oESsay_mKUA/VF-ak28LNhI/AAAAAAAAFgs/ujR1oBD7j-M/s1600/IMG_5835.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">4. It's yummy! Hoi An has lots of exquisite restaurant, local specialities or fine world food. For a sweet treat, head to the fine bakery of the </span><a href="http://www.restaurant-hoian.com/index.php/en/restaurant-cargo-hoi-an.html" style="font-size: 12px;" target="_blank">Cargo Club </a><span style="font-size: 12px;">or enjoy the atmosphere at Reaching Out teahouse, a social enterprise that employ hearing impaired people.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0YjuBXaN60/VF-a1PrL1pI/AAAAAAAAFgw/sY0AOQ64rX0/s1600/IMG_5656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0YjuBXaN60/VF-a1PrL1pI/AAAAAAAAFgw/sY0AOQ64rX0/s1600/IMG_5656.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">5. Let them enjoy sun and sea! Hoi An is also a beach destination. The Cua Dai beach is only few kilometres away from the city center and the An Bang beach is an infinite strip of white sand.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIX_uuKNa8Q/VF-bWBlLYUI/AAAAAAAAFg4/Elj1-5Mb_Ko/s1600/IMG_5800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIX_uuKNa8Q/VF-bWBlLYUI/AAAAAAAAFg4/Elj1-5Mb_Ko/s1600/IMG_5800.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Come to Hoi An and you will find many more reasons why it is not to be missed with children.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-65135166259844683762014-11-07T17:33:00.001+01:002014-11-07T17:38:27.512+01:00Sweet buffet in Da Lat<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When staying with children in Da Lat, a good place to
enjoy a sweet afternoon break is Langfarm shop and cafeteria. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-za0fgeVa5ao/VFz0AS4j9NI/AAAAAAAAFfg/jPu8Li0yrL4/s1600/IMG_5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-za0fgeVa5ao/VFz0AS4j9NI/AAAAAAAAFfg/jPu8Li0yrL4/s1600/IMG_5398.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Langfarm buffet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">The Da Lat area benefits from mild mountain climate.</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Many crops grow in the countless
greenhouses: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, artichokes, small and sweet
persimmons. The numerous Langfarm shops sell local products such as: fruit
jellies, dried or candied berries, artichoke teas, and fruit juices.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Located in the city center, the Langfarm cafetaria offers
an incredible sweet buffet: seven flavors of smooth ice cream, blackberry,
raspberry or passion fruit juices, artichoke or Lingzhi tea, slices of banana
or green peas cake and a wide variety of fruit, dried, candied or jellied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<i>More information: http://www.langfarmdalat.com/buffet-en/</i><br />
<i>The buffet costs 39000 VND per person; only our oldest (7-year old) daughter paid the full adult price. The other two children ate (a lot!) for free.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-68561342992509548142014-11-04T17:03:00.000+01:002014-11-05T16:27:18.163+01:00Around Da Lat on a scooter<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s a lot to see and do around Da Lat. That’s why we rented
scooters to explore the city and its surrounding area during three days with
the children. The first excursion takes us to the village of Nam Ban, 30
kilometers from the city. The girls ride with their father, while Loïc, my son,
climbs with me on the bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along
the way, the scenery is beautiful but, soon, works on the road make the
driveway rather impracticable. Yet, we manage to ride through mud and gravels
and reach our first stop after an hour's drive. It starts raining heavily and
we’re just in time to find shelter in a silk factory, which gives us the
opportunity of a very interesting visit. The visit stretches for two hours
while it’s pouring rain outside. As the rain finally stops, we resume driving,
only a few miles to the Elephant waterfalls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to the heavy rain, the falls are really impressive, with
loads of brown water storming down the rocks. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoBZBXqq17k/VFj3Xt2PBJI/AAAAAAAAFYU/Lz0bOoQOZeY/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoBZBXqq17k/VFj3Xt2PBJI/AAAAAAAAFYU/Lz0bOoQOZeY/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressive waterfalls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fortunately, we are not alone on this tour and Aron and
Sandra, the German friends who accompany us, lend a hand to help our children
follow the trail down to a viewpoint. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CToqvweAk1o/VFj3ttNUoPI/AAAAAAAAFYc/8sRVHmPrtfU/s1600/IMG_5244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CToqvweAk1o/VFj3ttNUoPI/AAAAAAAAFYc/8sRVHmPrtfU/s1600/IMG_5244.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Aron and Sandra, for helping the children down!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back up the trail, we walk a few hundred meters more to see a quiet temple, known as the Happy Buddha Temple, which dominates the valley and the falls.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpOF1MZwVuA/VFj4JZF6DBI/AAAAAAAAFYk/p2drKE5or5g/s1600/IMG_2565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpOF1MZwVuA/VFj4JZF6DBI/AAAAAAAAFYk/p2drKE5or5g/s1600/IMG_2565.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The happy buddha temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now it is about time to drive back to town, in order to
arrive safely before nightfall. Alas, a new tropical downpour forces us to take
refuge in a cafe. A few hours later, it's still raining and it got dark...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, we leave our scooters in the local coffeeshop and arrange
a pickup by minivan. A much better option for the children, who are now tired
and fall immediately asleep in the van. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day, children stay at the hotel, while we, adults,
take a local bus to Nam Ban to recover the bikes. The first stretch of road
back to town is really nice, and what a pleasure to ride alone for once,
without children on the bike! We even take a short break in the middle of a
coffee plantation to enjoy a "weasel coffee" - guess what that is.
But soon, the sky darkens again, and we ride the last ten kilometers under
heavy rain. We are lucky to have left the children safe and dry at the hotel! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3L2lwUVF4Ks/VFj4Y690dhI/AAAAAAAAFYs/zObZXT6RTdM/s1600/IMG_5292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3L2lwUVF4Ks/VFj4Y690dhI/AAAAAAAAFYs/zObZXT6RTdM/s1600/IMG_5292.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the rain...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the afternoon, we take the children back on our bikes to
visit the Summer Palace of Emperor Bao Dai, close by the city center. It is a beautiful
art deco residence, slightly faded but pleasant. The kids have great fun
exploring the bed- and bathrooms of princes and princesses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We continue our tour with a visit of the historic train
station of Da Lat, just in time to see the ancient train arrive in the station.
We end the day with a delicious meal in a vegetarian restaurant. It is already
time to say goodbye to our German friends, leaving Da Lat to Saigon the next
day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aron and Sandra enjoyed traveling with children, who are so
prompt to marvel the wonders of this world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Additional information: Scooter can be easily rented anywhere in town for about 5USD a day. Ask for the directions to get to the Elephant waterfalls, which are quite easy to reach from Da Lat.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://weltreise.aronschmid.com/unterwegs-in-dalat-mit-lise-loic-und-lucy/" target="_blank">Here</a> is a link to Aron and Sandra's blog!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-88924537061891423482014-11-04T05:06:00.000+01:002014-11-04T05:06:50.005+01:00Hiking mount Lang Biang with children<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We decide to climb the Lang Biang
Mountain, one of the highest summits around Da Lat, 2167 meters above sea
level. Our guide first seems to have little confidence in the physical
abilities of the children and asks us several times if we did not book the wrong
excursion. The ascent, he says, is difficult, especially in the last kilometer,
when the trail climbs steeply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HraIHro1Uh0/VFhPmMHdL1I/AAAAAAAAFX0/iyH4pHPLJwY/s1600/IMG_5413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HraIHro1Uh0/VFhPmMHdL1I/AAAAAAAAFX0/iyH4pHPLJwY/s1600/IMG_5413.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to climb: the Lang Biang mountain is right behind us.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We are determined to attempt it: our
children are definitely good hikers! The trail climbs gently at first, amidst
coffee plantations, then more steeply in a pine forest. Lucie, 3-year old,
finds it sometimes hard to follow our steps, but keeps on climbing, while we
encourage her with songs and stories. Four kilometers further, we reach a
wooded ridge, just in time for a lunch break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IR8sBJWfl7Y/VFhQZHXRXFI/AAAAAAAAFYA/3tQ4I-FX6DI/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IR8sBJWfl7Y/VFhQZHXRXFI/AAAAAAAAFYA/3tQ4I-FX6DI/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lang Biang peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">After a hearty picnic, children are
full of energy to start the final kilometer of the ascent. We now walk on a
narrow path lined with wooden planks that make the steps of a high and
irregular stairway. We’re only 400 meters away from the summit when Lucie
abandons, exhausted: the steps, sometimes as high as her, are extremely difficult
to climb. She gets in the baby carrier and falls asleep within seconds. Lise
and Loïc reach the top easily. The weather remains clear; the view is gorgeous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OqQeFnxsYyQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Summary of the hike: 3h30 ascent, 2h descent, 10
kilometers walk and more than 670 vertical meters climbed. Who would think
children aged 3, 5 and 7 years could climb that much with little to no help?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-75963749636129610772014-11-02T18:38:00.000+01:002014-11-02T18:38:00.582+01:00Riding the cable car in Da Lat
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you've visited the Crazy House already, and you're in search for the next kids-friendly activity in Da Lat, I'd recommend you take a ride with the cable car. The cable car station si located on the outskirt of the city, on the top of a southern hill. The ride will take you over the valley to the site of a large, quiet zen monastery that overlooks a beautiful lake. Enjoy the silent ride, glide over a superb valley, take a stroll on the grounds of the monastery and around the lake. Our children loved it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fApg6EqTA-s/VFZqYNVkwnI/AAAAAAAAFR0/lMZUtswBe6o/s1600/IMG_5364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fApg6EqTA-s/VFZqYNVkwnI/AAAAAAAAFR0/lMZUtswBe6o/s1600/IMG_5364.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itL4d3oWSG8/VFZqXwa6T9I/AAAAAAAAFRw/BBpYfFy14DM/s1600/IMG_5366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itL4d3oWSG8/VFZqXwa6T9I/AAAAAAAAFRw/BBpYfFy14DM/s1600/IMG_5366.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A ride with the cable car costs 70.000 VND (return) per adults, children (from 1 to 1,3 meter) pay only 40.000 VND (return). As often in Vietnam, officers at the ticket counter are not too strict with age and height limit, and our 1,05-meter tall son didn't pay for the ride.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iiCv9dFpYhY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-32605288169742187362014-11-02T17:59:00.001+01:002014-11-02T17:59:30.956+01:00The Crazy House in Da Lat, Vietnam<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Crazy House is the work of a
Vietnamese architect, the daughter of Ho Chi Minh's successor to
the leadership of Vietnam. The house is a surprising mixture of architectural elements evoking the
creations of Gaudi, with a touch of Hundertwasser for interior fittings. The Crazy House grows every year, since more than twenty years. It is an incredible labyrinth of narrow bridges, corridors, ladders, with few fantastically decorated rooms. The place is definitely a must-do with children, the kids loved getting lost in this unspeakable maze! Be careful though, as some high-level passages have no handrails and the works in the unfinished house are not child-safe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Crazy House is also an hotel where you can stay with your family for approximately 60 USD.<br />
<br />
More information about the<a href="http://www.crazyhouse.vn/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank"> Crazy House</a><br />
The Crazy House is open on weekdays from 8.30 to 7 pm.<br />
Entrance fee is 20.000 VND per person (children inclusive), toddlers enter for free.<br />
<br /></div>
<pre class="tw-data-text vk_txt tw-ta tw-text-small" data-fulltext="" data-placeholder="Translation" dir="ltr" id="tw-target-text" style="border: none; color: rgb(33, 33, 33) !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px !important; height: 480px; line-height: 24px !important; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 237.5px; word-wrap: break-word;"></pre>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40DwfsbPBfY/VFXBeD2FHXI/AAAAAAAAFQI/goWuYCDLFvY/s1600/IMG_5168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40DwfsbPBfY/VFXBeD2FHXI/AAAAAAAAFQI/goWuYCDLFvY/s1600/IMG_5168.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1VZk618EoA/VFXBgTihsAI/AAAAAAAAFQY/14SNg2YRqXg/s1600/IMG_5171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1VZk618EoA/VFXBgTihsAI/AAAAAAAAFQY/14SNg2YRqXg/s1600/IMG_5171.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPupTcnocTQ/VFZiS5V6PGI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/oY7pqb7xjmI/s1600/IMG_5118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPupTcnocTQ/VFZiS5V6PGI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/oY7pqb7xjmI/s1600/IMG_5118.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOyTUctamUg/VFZiW6gd2BI/AAAAAAAAFRg/665S7TcGsUw/s1600/IMG_5124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOyTUctamUg/VFZiW6gd2BI/AAAAAAAAFRg/665S7TcGsUw/s1600/IMG_5124.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TcPXjfevmvU/VFZiSoy4lRI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/YB_iGtR6YSw/s1600/IMG_5119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TcPXjfevmvU/VFZiSoy4lRI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/YB_iGtR6YSw/s1600/IMG_5119.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<pre class="tw-data-text vk_txt tw-ta tw-text-small" data-fulltext="" data-placeholder="Translation" dir="ltr" id="tw-target-text" style="border: none; color: rgb(33, 33, 33) !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px !important; height: 480px; line-height: 24px !important; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 237.5px; word-wrap: break-word;"></pre>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-45857474652214271472014-11-02T05:54:00.003+01:002014-11-02T05:54:35.166+01:00Refreshing Da LatA great destination with kids, Da Lat is a mid-size town nested in the mountains of the southwest highlands. Da Lat welcomes many tourists every day, but the majority of them comes from other parts of Vietnam.<br />
<br />
Da Lat enjoys a moderate climate, which makes it, literally a refreshing place to visit. The city and its surroundings have a lot to offer to families; rent two swan-shaped pedalo boats to explore the lake (60.000VND per hour, per boat), ride on the cable car or take a short hike in the mountains...<br />
<br />
Visiting the crazy house is a must-do with children, although ou should keep a wary eye on them as not all passages in the house are child-safe!<br />
<br />
Spending a few days in Da Lat with you family is definitely a refreshing idea!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I4lyzitS7WM/VFW43aai8dI/AAAAAAAAFPw/OPCjfE371UE/s1600/IMG_5113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I4lyzitS7WM/VFW43aai8dI/AAAAAAAAFPw/OPCjfE371UE/s1600/IMG_5113.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lake in Da Lat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-6198877227165473262014-10-12T09:08:00.000+02:002014-10-12T09:09:41.479+02:00Discover the Tra Su bird sanctuaryThe Tra Su bird sanctuary is a marvellous place, a dense forest of immersed trees, a refuge for birds and other endangered species of the Vietnamese fauna. The visit combines a short motorboat ride that brings you to the heart of the forest, a wonderful 15-minute tour onboard a rowing boat, gliding on the smooth green waters, surrounded by trees and dozens of birds, and a short walk and climb to the top of an observation tower.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9c0sAOtwLfc/VDohmqCZo4I/AAAAAAAADkk/7f3vSyQYomg/s1600/IMG_4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9c0sAOtwLfc/VDohmqCZo4I/AAAAAAAADkk/7f3vSyQYomg/s1600/IMG_4670.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful Tra Su bird Sanctuary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/v5DB8WSn1Hw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The boat rides, bird watching and climb to the tower make it a great excursion to arrange with kids. Even if your children are as young as mine, the half-day exploration of the sanctuary will enchant them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lx91tEV4n5k/VDoh9cpjneI/AAAAAAAADks/gc1edAKhwfw/s1600/IMG_4682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lx91tEV4n5k/VDoh9cpjneI/AAAAAAAADks/gc1edAKhwfw/s1600/IMG_4682.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the observation tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Tra Su is difficult to reach by public transportation, best is to book a tour or arrange transportation through your hotel or travel agency. Through our guesthouse (<a href="http://www.murrayguesthouse.com/" target="_blank">Murray Guesthouse</a>), we booked 2 motorbikes with drivers, who brought the five of us to the sanctuary for a total cost of 40 USD. This included a few stops and detours on the way back to visit temples. Entrance to the sanctuary cost us 75000 VND per person; we were not charged for the children.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-83651180217560064032014-10-10T03:02:00.000+02:002014-10-10T03:03:23.687+02:00Cycling around Chau Doc with childrenA good thing about the <a href="http://www.murrayguesthouse.com/" target="_blank">Murray Guesthouse</a> in Chau Doc is that the hotel, next to offering a family room (triple, 43 USD a night, breakfast included - children under 9 stay for free), puts bikes at your disposal, including one in children size.<br />
<br />
Hopefully your child is a girl, because an 8-year old boy might not be enthusiastic about riding a pink, 'Hello Kitty" bike. It was perfect for our daughter. One child behind his dad on one adult bike, our youngest girl in the carrier on my back, and off we went, the 5 of us, to travel the 7-km distance to the nearby sacred Sam moutain.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3fB3W5H3xY/VDaryIzOSBI/AAAAAAAADSs/OtsouvU_wl0/s1600/IMG_4613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3fB3W5H3xY/VDaryIzOSBI/AAAAAAAADSs/OtsouvU_wl0/s1600/IMG_4613.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lise on her "Hello Kitty" bike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A few hundred meters further, we have to stop already: one tire is flat. Thanks to friendly and efficient Vietnamese repair service, we're ready to start again a quarter later, with a brand-new tire. Tire and service cost us no more than 80000 VND.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1P9wMbERVpM/VDauVh9gXVI/AAAAAAAADS4/fI1D8katTtE/s1600/IMG_4554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1P9wMbERVpM/VDauVh9gXVI/AAAAAAAADS4/fI1D8katTtE/s1600/IMG_4554.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repair service was flawless</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The route to Sam mountain is somewhat dull, flat and straight. The road is currently a worksite, large and empty, sometimes smooth, sometimes bumpy, always dusty under the heat. Arrived at the bottom of the hill, we park our bicycle in one of the many private garages, where people will watch over your bicycles for 10000VND each. You'll easily find motorbike drivers ready to take you to the top of the hill; we opted for a hike up the hill. The ascension is certainly not the most easy one, on a very steep road with little shade, bur eventually, even our 3-year old manage to reach the top. It was well worth it; the views from the top are stunning.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKlosYauWXs/VDcmk73XO-I/AAAAAAAADTQ/fxBV5kMPMo4/s1600/IMG_4561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKlosYauWXs/VDcmk73XO-I/AAAAAAAADTQ/fxBV5kMPMo4/s1600/IMG_4561.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of Sam mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a well-deserved rest, lying in hammocks and enjoying the views, we set off again for the much easier descend. Halfway down, we stop for another break at <a href="http://www.victoriahotels.asia/en/nuisam-maphome" target="_blank">Victoria Nui Sam Lodge</a>. It's not that we're addicted to luxury, but the hotel's wonderful lookout on the valley seems the perfect place for a drink and a snack. Quite over our budget, but the view makes it worth.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fCxjRzhxbu0/VDcrZPsOyJI/AAAAAAAADTc/B_6dz_b3Spg/s1600/IMG_4581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fCxjRzhxbu0/VDcrZPsOyJI/AAAAAAAADTc/B_6dz_b3Spg/s1600/IMG_4581.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The restaurant of the Victoria Nui Sam Lodge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back down, we fetch our bikes to drive around the mountain and visit few of the many pagodas that surround the hill. When we head back to our hotel, it is already late in the afternoon. The children are tired but happy.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oT1AuhSPMdQ/VDcss-Jut4I/AAAAAAAADTo/HYudWEOQiDE/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oT1AuhSPMdQ/VDcss-Jut4I/AAAAAAAADTo/HYudWEOQiDE/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of the Tay An pagoda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-2616059829072618792014-10-08T18:39:00.001+02:002014-10-08T18:39:42.690+02:00Charming Chau Doc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I've skipped a few places we've been visiting in Southern Vietnam. I've been busy setting up our French blog: www.lespetitsbourlingueurs.com. I'll take some time report about the places we've seen in the Mekong Delta and give a few tips.<br />
<br />
We arrived today in the city of Chau Doc, a small town near the Cambodian border. After 6 days spent on the beautiful but touristy Phuc Quoc island, the little town brings a refreshing change. A stroll in the park "à la française" that stretches along the river Bassac, a peak into a couple of kitschy pagodas, a delicious vegetarian dinner on the night market; Chau Doc is a quiet and charming place.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVac3ZRmjW4/VDVmZ_ViDqI/AAAAAAAADAs/3sRW0dI9Q9o/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVac3ZRmjW4/VDVmZ_ViDqI/AAAAAAAADAs/3sRW0dI9Q9o/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Jardins à la française" along the river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZ86bobijQQ/VDVnD3epQ_I/AAAAAAAADA0/Fj_AMqTkO60/s1600/IMG_4541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZ86bobijQQ/VDVnD3epQ_I/AAAAAAAADA0/Fj_AMqTkO60/s1600/IMG_4541.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view on the Bassac river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A monsoon rain shower forced us to find shelter in the classy <a href="http://www.victoriahotels.asia/en/chau-doc" target="_blank">Victoria Hotel</a> around 4 p.m.; at the hotel's bar, we've ordered a Western-style coffee and lemonades, which we've sipped while enjoying the amazing view on the river and playing boardgames with the children. A somewhat pricier but very pleasant experience.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, we'll visit Sam mountain. More to come in my next post.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0chau doc, Long Châu, Tân Châu, An Giang Province, Vietnam10.8004689 105.24374490000002-4.177390599999999 84.589447900000025 25.7783284 125.89804190000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-20376527983312963642014-09-26T07:03:00.001+02:002014-09-26T07:06:14.561+02:00Take a break - and plan for the next steps?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CdSQLtwIf4/VCTzoAPDQnI/AAAAAAAACZY/e6BwfB9HqFo/s1600/IMG_7074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CdSQLtwIf4/VCTzoAPDQnI/AAAAAAAACZY/e6BwfB9HqFo/s1600/IMG_7074.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I admit
that I have been neglecting this blog for a while. It’s not that we have not
been active with the family, visiting great places in Belgium, Holland and
France during week-ends and bank holidays, but with my full time job, three
children, and time spent on preparing our next trip, I found it hard to get the
energy to write new posts on this blog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="NL-BE" style="mso-ansi-language: NL-BE;">Now we’ve
sold our house, our furniture, donated toys and clothes. I took a career break
and we chose a life of travel, at least for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="NL-BE" style="mso-ansi-language: NL-BE;">I admire
people who plan their long-trem trip to the closest details. We hardly know hat
our next stop will be. Living for the day requires a different mindset; it
feels enjoyable as well as sometimes distressing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="NL-BE" style="mso-ansi-language: NL-BE;">Follow us
on this blog on our new adventure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-30123294738652712942014-02-06T20:22:00.001+01:002014-02-06T20:22:39.982+01:00World food in BelgiumGrilled crickets Thai-style. Most Europeans wouldn't eat it. I loved it and so did the children!<div><br></div><div>www.littlefood.org</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-umi3e_4xWMA/UvPg_ZYCBmI/AAAAAAAACLo/Ahf_BWUBzs0/s640/blogger-image-1836697528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-umi3e_4xWMA/UvPg_ZYCBmI/AAAAAAAACLo/Ahf_BWUBzs0/s640/blogger-image-1836697528.jpg"></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-43952391829852370772014-02-03T22:55:00.001+01:002014-02-04T22:27:22.789+01:00Bits of Belgium: the Atomium (Brussels with kids)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; outline: none; padding: 0px;">We've been on 4 continents and we've seen major sites of this world. We've climbed to the top of many remarkable buildings, such as the<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> s</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">pace needle in Seattle, U.S., the</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Baiyoke Sky Tower in Bangkok, Thailand or the</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Fernsehturm in Berlin, Germany.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Yet, we had never visited the Atomium, a landmark of Belgium, located some... 50 km away from our home!</span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R16KUxB61hI/UvAQSgoaQeI/AAAAAAAACJ4/PDmrnv8aHFo/s640/blogger-image--150389570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R16KUxB61hI/UvAQSgoaQeI/AAAAAAAACJ4/PDmrnv8aHFo/s640/blogger-image--150389570.jpg"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Well, It's done now, we've been there and may mark that spot on our list. Was it worth the short trip? Yes, definitely, it's been quite some fun! The Atomium offers an impressive elevator ride, a splendid view on the capital city (especially when you pick a bright, sunny day for your visit - as we did), and interesting permanent and temporary exhibitions. But the most enjoyable part has been to explore this awkward structure with the children, climb the stairs, watch the sky through round windows, get up and down through long metallic tubes.</span></font></div></div>When?: The Atomium is open throughout the year. In the low season, there's almost no need to queue to get up there.<div>What?: check atomium.be </div><div>How much?: Children under the age of 6 enter for free, children aged 6-18 pay 6 euros, adults pay 11 euros</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4XPmB3F2WYs/UvFbG6dRHWI/AAAAAAAACKI/5odqLY_IR6M/s640/blogger-image-1110744616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4XPmB3F2WYs/UvFbG6dRHWI/AAAAAAAACKI/5odqLY_IR6M/s640/blogger-image-1110744616.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZPzjNfgr19I/UvFbHxZ_L4I/AAAAAAAACKQ/MeFT5-FqEN0/s640/blogger-image-322824296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZPzjNfgr19I/UvFbHxZ_L4I/AAAAAAAACKQ/MeFT5-FqEN0/s640/blogger-image-322824296.jpg"></a></div><br></u></font></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-28036312506685668792013-11-09T20:54:00.001+01:002013-11-14T07:04:08.247+01:00Lyon with kids: fun and freeCan't afford Paris? Go to Lyon, and enjoy history, culture, French flair and excellent cuisine for half the price. Is it a kid-friendly destination? Absolutely, I bet your children will love it. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We stopped for a few days in Lyon during our mini road trip through France, and discovered a city that offers lots of fun for families.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Ideas of free and fun activities in Lyon:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">- Put on good hiking shoes and roam through the old city. In particular, explore the "traboules": those narrow passages, hidden behind secret doors, connect larger city streets. Children love the mystery of those secret passages and parents might discover along the most astonishing Renaissance architecture. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7tvdr7oddRk/UoRnJpsgEqI/AAAAAAAACGs/jrSJLHYOjU4/s640/blogger-image-1689394905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7tvdr7oddRk/UoRnJpsgEqI/AAAAAAAACGs/jrSJLHYOjU4/s640/blogger-image-1689394905.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">- Spend at least half a day, if not more, in the Parc de la Tete d'Or. The park is huge, and most activities are completely free of charge. Visit the zoo, the greenhouses and the rose garden, play on the yard, all without spending a cent. (If little feet grow tired, you can still rent a funny family bike, or a boats the large lake, against a small fee.) <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FV287bv7FOI/UoQA1zKbThI/AAAAAAAACGU/ikDD7WrbGJc/s640/blogger-image-1322216256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FV287bv7FOI/UoQA1zKbThI/AAAAAAAACGU/ikDD7WrbGJc/s640/blogger-image-1322216256.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">- Climb the Fourviere hill, by foot or by cable-car (it's fun with the funicular, and there's no extra charge to your transportation day pass). Visit the roman theater ruins along the way and the basilique on the hilltop and descend through the steep but beautiful parks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Fl-c1l8e_RI/UoQBA8lW8nI/AAAAAAAACGc/FIu94rzfhnU/s640/blogger-image-208857642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Fl-c1l8e_RI/UoQBA8lW8nI/AAAAAAAACGc/FIu94rzfhnU/s640/blogger-image-208857642.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">- Go to a museum. Entrance to the national museums is free for children below 18. Parents of large families get a discount. There's certainly no shortage of culture in Lyon. We picked the Musee Gadagne, which is a great choice for kids.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sVK7x97CePs/UoRn1f5kGPI/AAAAAAAACG0/bSM4HBuINJI/s640/blogger-image-1625374196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sVK7x97CePs/UoRn1f5kGPI/AAAAAAAACG0/bSM4HBuINJI/s640/blogger-image-1625374196.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>How to get around?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lyon has an excellent, modern network of public transportation. For your peace of mind, and the fun of boarding the funicular, forget about driving and parking in the city center. A day pass to access all public transportation costs 5 Euro per person, children under the age of 4 ride for free.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Where to stay?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The Ibis Lyon Perrache is great for large families. It is quite centrally located, near a metro station. The family room is simply huge, with the charms of an old building. Book online for the best deal and skip the breakfast offer: the suite has a dining room with table and chairs to let you have breakfast like home. We ordered a deli meal (from a sushi shop) in the evening and picked up our croissants from a nearby bakery the next morning.</font></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-9139707793216272192013-11-06T23:22:00.001+01:002013-11-09T22:30:18.941+01:00A family road trip through FranceExotic travel destinations are great, but there are so many wonderful experiences you can enjoy only few kilometers away.<br>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
France is well-suited for a family road trip. The country is large, but not excessively. Naturally, you can select a destination and cover long distances to reach it as fast as possible. But you can also take the sideroads and stop every few kilometers to discover unexpected treasures: a medieval castle, a roman church, a nice cosy village or a beautiful landscape. A<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">lmost everywhere, you'll be able</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> to halt for food and enjoy a simple good meal or for a rest and stay in a charming, even if slightly ageing, hotel room.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Short road trips to France are pleasant with children, mainly because of the many discoveries that you can make along the way.</div><div><br></div><div>Here are the discoveries we made during our recent trip:</div><div><br></div><div>- Savor a piece of authentic "tarte Tatin", the delicious apple pie, in the Hotel Tatin of Lamotte-Beuvron, the place where the dessert was created.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TmTUwbUoBPk/Un6ZMCgkC_I/AAAAAAAACEc/rUVrK7N2BGg/s640/blogger-image-1406607407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TmTUwbUoBPk/Un6ZMCgkC_I/AAAAAAAACEc/rUVrK7N2BGg/s640/blogger-image-1406607407.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">- Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Auvergne during a hike in the mountains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S6qR5e7bZ3c/Un6loQ_FzRI/AAAAAAAACE0/v-mNY1xpJXY/s640/blogger-image-1226194045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S6qR5e7bZ3c/Un6loQ_FzRI/AAAAAAAACE0/v-mNY1xpJXY/s640/blogger-image-1226194045.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>- Meet imaginary knights and princesses (but no dragons) when visiting a medieval castle in Tournemire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sZ5xKin0Df0/Un6oLY3HboI/AAAAAAAACFM/8j_vLDdHJrA/s640/blogger-image--588783703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sZ5xKin0Df0/Un6oLY3HboI/AAAAAAAACFM/8j_vLDdHJrA/s640/blogger-image--588783703.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>- Explore the narrow streets of Salers, one of France's most beautiful villages.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cQUB5l4jO90/Un6pAuGfyjI/AAAAAAAACFU/AGJZ-NkQWdU/s640/blogger-image--1366315439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cQUB5l4jO90/Un6pAuGfyjI/AAAAAAAACFU/AGJZ-NkQWdU/s640/blogger-image--1366315439.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">- and so much more...</div></div></div>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-loV1w6OQ_LM/Un6paMmxTcI/AAAAAAAACFc/v1xz_bj0UW4/s640/blogger-image-1013781735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-loV1w6OQ_LM/Un6paMmxTcI/AAAAAAAACFc/v1xz_bj0UW4/s640/blogger-image-1013781735.jpg"></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-37046089181699899972013-10-17T20:59:00.000+02:002014-01-09T21:37:23.452+01:00Riding on the bamboo train - in Battambang, Cambodia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object id="BLOG_video-UPLOADING-0" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="UPLOADING" width="320" height="266" ></object></div>
Do you want to experience something different with your kids? Take the bamboo train!<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
What's a bamboo train? It's a simple platform made of bamboo wood, set on two boogies. A belt transmits power from the engine put on the platform to the rear boogie. Start the engine and off you go, sitting on the hard platform, rushing through overgrown vegetation to the next village at a stunning 15km/h! It's a rough ride for your spine and bones, where you often need to bend to dodge the thorny branches of invasive trees. It's fun ride too, especially for the younger ones.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How do you ride in reverse direction with a bamboo train? As simple as it gets: dismantle the train, switch boogies to have the front one heading towards your new destination, put the platform and engine back on the boogies, and there you go.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More info: the bamboo train station is located some 10 kilometers south of Battambang. A tuk-tuk will drive you there for 5-6 USD. Villagers will set up and drive the train upon request. The ride costs about 10 USD and lasts about one hour return.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lav73Svqgr4/UfP1N8SATZI/AAAAAAAAAiY/Dm0Nqh09RpU/s640/blogger-image--200107321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lav73Svqgr4/UfP1N8SATZI/AAAAAAAAAiY/Dm0Nqh09RpU/s640/blogger-image--200107321.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Want to take a ride? Check out this video:</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-31032133812769399362013-10-15T22:58:00.003+02:002013-10-15T23:07:22.837+02:00Selecting family-friendly hotels in South-East Asia<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When traveling with the
family, selecting the right hotel or guesthouse can be a challenge. It's not
just about booking a simple dorm bed or a nice double. The place should be
right to satisfy the needs of each family member, from the oldest to the
youngest one.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">During our trip through Laos,
Thailand and Cambodia, we chose and booked hotels as we went. We had a lucky
hand and stayed mostly in pleasant rooms. Over time, we elaborated a mental
checklist. What were the most important criteria for our family when selecting
a place to stay?</span><br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1) The availability of a
family room, a family suite or the like. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Booking two doubles is rarely our
preferred option as we, adults, need to sleep in separates rooms with our share
of children. Luckily, in South-East Asia, we found many creative alternatives:
from a huge 5-person family room (The Balcony in Kratie, Cambodia) to a tiny
triple where children shared a single bed (Jasmine Garden Villa in Siem Reap,
Cambodia), over a twin where we judged the single beds large enough to
accommodate 2 persons (Mariya Hotel in Kampong Cham, Cambodia) or a large
double fitted with one (Vayakorn House in Ventiane, Laos) or 2 extra beds (The
White Mansion in Phnom Penh, Cambodia). The luxury family option is the suite,
which is not necessarily an expensive choice (Paradise Palm Resort in Koh
Chang, Thailand or Thmorda Garden Resort in Ko Kong, Cambodia). In short,
selecting a hotel for our large family has been much easier in Asia than it has
ever been in Europe!</span><br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2) The cleanliness of the
place in general and of the bathroom in particular. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As a general appreciation, we found
that hotels and guesthouses, even in the low budget range, offer clean rooms
and bathrooms. Shared bathrooms were fine, although we often preferred to enjoy
the luxury of a private bathroom to shower the children. Always ask to view the
room before booking it, there are so many good hotels available that it would
be a pity to fall in a tourist trap and select a neglected place. One point
that you might want to check upfront is whether the accommodation offers <b>hot
showers</b>. We stayed in great places that had only cold water. Our 6-year old
loved it but the cold showers caused many tears with the two younger children.</span><br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3) Kids-friendly
facilities and a good service</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.
There are a few amenities that can definitely make your life, and your family travel
experience, easier. The most obvious one is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">swimming pool</b>. I guess all children love playing and swimming in
the pool. Nevertheless, we seldom selected hotels with pools. We were on budget,
and the availability of a pool often drives the room fares up. Instead, we swam
in rivers in Laos, in the sea in Cambodia. Many hotels also grant access to
their swimming pool for a small fee: a cheap alternative, unless you’re
planning to devote your time to swimming every day. But, honestly, in Siem
Reap, Cambodia, there are so many things to see and do that you’ll hardly want
to spend your days in a hotel pool! With younger kids, I find the presence of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">garden</b> or a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">yard </b>more important, a place where children can play safely while
parents enjoy a moment of rest – or blog. Mut Mee Guesthouse in Nong Khai, Thailand
has a beautiful garden with hammock and swings, on the banks of the Mekong. On
some occasions, we appreciated eating in a fine in-house <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">restaurant</b>, where we could enjoy a late candlelight dinner while
the children were already sleeping in the nearby room. A last word about the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">service</b>: I can hardly voice a complaint,
most places we stayed in offered good to outstanding service!</span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What about something more exotic</b>? Sleep in a jungle bungalow, or right
at the beach, spend the night in a tree-top cabin, share a meal with locals in
a homestay, are few of the unusual alternatives that we tried out. It’s a
lot of fun, and it’s easily found in Asia!</span><br>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L-MVFaUyLiE/Ul2uHTBEpbI/AAAAAAAAB-I/kP4Gi6ol0hA/s640/blogger-image--1438814649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L-MVFaUyLiE/Ul2uHTBEpbI/AAAAAAAAB-I/kP4Gi6ol0hA/s640/blogger-image--1438814649.jpg"></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564433890110798018.post-78147362370318961552013-10-01T23:46:00.004+02:002013-10-01T23:46:56.295+02:003 unspoken reasons why you should travel with your children (while you can)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Traveling with (young) children is a wonderful experience.
There are many excellent reasons why you should travel with your family. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>To spend precious moments together. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>To open youthful minds to other cultures, to
educate young tastes to varied and delicious food. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>To let children experience, more than study, art
and history. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>To teach to the new generation values of
tolerance and openness. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>To allow young lives to become fearless,
adventurous ones.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>And many more!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That said, I can think about at least 3 (more or less
serious) reasons why traveling with my young kids is so great:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwGUUYeL72g/UktBq_IGqtI/AAAAAAAAB9w/P7_TOpavOkc/s1600/2013-10-01" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwGUUYeL72g/UktBq_IGqtI/AAAAAAAAB9w/P7_TOpavOkc/s1600/2013-10-01" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the border to Laos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reason 1: Cut the queues at airport gates and customs. Air
travel with young kids is so easy. Know these long lines that form when
passenger board a plane or these endless queues at custom’s booths? Forgot
about them! Thanks to priority boarding and lanes, you will not have to wait
another minute in queues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reason 2: Seize your chance to travel - now. Many people I
know dream of the journeys they will take “when the kids are older”. Well, when
are they old enough? With 6, 8, 10 years? Think about these 2 facts and start traveling
today:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Traveling with young kids is cheaper. Infant and
toddlers often get anywhere for free, preschoolers for half the price. Travel now
before you have to break the bank for it!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The more you travel today, the more you are
likely to travel in future – simply because your kids will like, or even love
it! Our children are ordinary kids but they are accustomed to travel, and thus fall
asleep everywhere, eat (nearly) everything and enjoy (within reasonable limits)
every church, museum and temple visit. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reason 3: Get full credit for your parenting job. This is
probably the most unexpected reason, the one you’d never think about. When we
share travel stories with family or friends, we often get admiring comments: “Wow,
you really toured Cambodia with 3 children? Wasn’t it exhausting, difficult?
You’re so brave!”. Here’s the truth: caring for 3 young ones is what we do on a
daily basis. Feeding, bathing, solving conflicts, comforting, dressing and
undressing... Indeed, parenting is sometimes challenging. But why would it be more
difficult abroad than home? Our kids don’t suddenly turn into little monsters
when we cross borders. So, thank you, dear friends and family, for the
appreciative feedback, but we’re really just ordinary parents.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025473169653685658noreply@blogger.com0