Our kids are beautiful people – they buy the best gifts ever, which tend to be experiences rather than stuff that clutters up your cupboard. This one was next level – however the timing was unfortunately and unknowingly awkward, with COVID arriving just weeks after their gift. The fantastic people at Balloon Aloft Mudgee worked … More Mudgee 2025 – A Hot Air Balloon Experience

Mudgee – what a gorgeous, unpretentious and friendly country town. We’ve visited this jewel in the NSW Mid West a number of times over the years and the myriad attractions just keep drawing us back. This time to experience a hot air balloon flight that our kids bought us a few years ago (COVID times) … More Mudgee 2025 – A day at the wineries

We were really looking forward to this part of the trip in Siem Reap when we got to explore the Angkor Archaeological Park which is home to ten temples Located just a few kilometres from Siem Reap, the most famous and dramatic Temple is that called Angkor Wat. Built in the 12th century originally as … More Cambodia 2025 – Angkor Wat

After breakfast on board the ship, our cruise ended in Angkor Ban and we travelled north for around 5 1/2 hours to Siem Reap through some of the most gorgeous rural landscapes. Greens as green can be, farm land, small villages, market gardens, rice fields, rivers and dams. The tine in the bus just flew … More Cambodia 2025 – North toward Siem Reap by road – Part Five

Back on board the ship for our last couple of days before disembarking and heading to Siem Reap. The time has flown by. Tonight we were invited to a specialty dining experience aboard the Mekong Serenity, in their most gorgeous small and intimate restaurant named “Indochine”. Each night around a dozen guests have the pleasure … More Cambodia 2025 – The Mighty Mekong River- continuing North toward Siem Reap – Part Four

Today was a significantly different experience than the Killing Fields of yesterday We headed out reasonably early to Oudong, Cambodia’s former Royal Capital from the 17th Century. What a lovely drive to get there. The main attraction now, is a visit to the Vipassana Dhurak Buddhist Centre of Kingdom of Cambodia Many trainee and fully … More Cambodia 2025 – The Mighty Mekong River- Phnom Penh and Surrounds – Part Three

We sailed from Tan Chau, Vietnam and arrived at or near the Cambodian Border at around 2:00pm, where we had to wait for Cambodian Border Force and Immigration officers to board our ship. When we first got on in My Thon we had to forfeit our passports and Vietnam VISAS which was a bit too … More Cambodia 2025 – The Mighty Mekong River- Phnom Penh and The Killing Fields – Part Two

And so the highlight of our trip begins. After four fantastic days in Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding areas it was time to depart the big smoke and take a short drive of around an hour and a half to the port town of My Tho to embark on APT’s Luxury River Cruise … More Vietnam 2025 – The Mighty Mekong River – Part One

The Cu Chi tunnels are a network of underground tunnels and caves located approximately 70kms north of Ho Cho Minh City. They were first built by the Viet Cong during the Indochina War and the conflict with the French Resistance. However they came into their own during the Vietnam War and became the Viet Cong’s … More Vietnam 2025 – Cu Chi Tunnels, a reminder of a dark time

After a sad farewell to Hoi An we headed off to Da Nang Airport for our short flight South to Ho Chi Minh City. Seems like a routine now; get to airport nice and early, easiest check in and security experience in any airport and through in less than ten minutes. Aircraft is waiting at … More Vietnam 2025 – Ho Chi Minh City, or still Saigon if you’re a local