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Weird but Wonderful Facts on our Family World Trip (and a few more photos!)
Oceania » Australia » Victoria » Melbourne
June 6th 2007 by TheEversonFamily
It's been more then 6 months now since the Everson-Crane family of five started our world trip. In just a couple of weeks we will be back in the UK and we've been reflecting on what we've done:
* Been around the world twice (once going East & once going West)
* Travelled on 35 flights
* Spent over 180 hours (or more than a week!) in the air. (Yawn!)
* Slept in 42 very different hotels, houses and homes - hence 42 different beds each around the world!
* Produced over 40 travel blogs (Which have been looked at over 8000 times!!)
* James has produced over 12 hours of “really exciting” video footage (Dad’s quote!)
* Taken over 9,000 photos!
* Converted money between 8 types of currency,
* Managed mainly with 100kg of baggage (20kg each) - even including skiwear for Canada!!
(At times we’ve crept up to 130kg - but so far avoided any excess baggage charges even on low “budget” airlines)
*Only at Perth airport did they actually weigh our hand luggage!
* And Only at Los Angeles airport did they search Mum in an isolated glass cell (and made Dad show the boarding
cards at least 5 times before getting on one flight!)
* Rented 7 cars and 2 motor bikes, and bought, assembled and given away 5 bicycles to an anti-whaling
campaign - Sea Shepherd.
Here are our votes for our favourite places:
Best Hotel: Pathumwan Princess - Bangkok - with three decisive votes from Jake Helena and Sam - this stunning hotel wins for its illuminated floors, chocolate cake counter and proximity to the vast mindblowing, (& cheap!) MBK shopping centre! James voted for the Adelphi in Melbourne (very swish) and Rachel chose the Torre Dorada in Cusco (very friendy!)
Best Airline: Shock winner with 3 votes LAN Peru! Jake & Helena picked PB Air because they like flying in small jets!
Best Place to stop for a Quick Snack : Subway (Sandwich)
Best Restaurant; Rachel & Helena - Little Creatures (Freemantle near Perth, Australia), Sam - Hai Café (Hoi An, Vietnam), James World (on Southbank, Melbourne, Australia) Jake "can't remember!"
Best City: Melbourne, Australia 5/5
Best town: Hoi An, Vietnam 5/5
Best Breakfast: Brunettis, Melbourne
Best Beach: Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Best Cakes: Cargo Club - Hoi An - Vietnam
A Vietnamese reader commented below that we have not included Best & Worst Toilet!
The Best toilet we visited must have been in a posh hotel in Canada - mind you it's still not easy in ski gear!
The wost toilet was a bucket in Vietnam! Mind you this was in a stranger's house who spoke not one word of English. So whilst the toilet's not great - they must win full marks for hospitality and kindness! Please don't let this put you off visitng Vietnam as many hotels, cafes etc have proper Western toilets!
Best Memory;
James - spending time with disabled, a very humbling experience - Vietnam
Rachel - being guests at Vietnamese wedding & spending time with Hanh
Jake - Performing with Diablo and Fire juggling at Crab Festival near Perth with Fire Flys
Helena - Sitting on the bed with Hanh, discussing scarf idea
Sam - Meeting Loi, one of our drivers in Vietnam.
Most popular medication: Nurofen - due to Altitude sickness in Cusco, Peru!
Number of Hospital visits - 2 - Thankfully none for the children! James with food poisoning in Thailand - had to stay overnight (as good as a five star hotel). Rachel with excruciating toothache/facial pain to outpatients for half an hour at 3.oo am in Melbourne.
Number of teeth lost- 3! Samuel lost two baby teeth and Rachel was delighted to have her troublesome tooth removed before we got to Vietnam!
Number of visits by the Tooth Fairy: 3 (but all for Sam! Rachel's tooth was so infected they would not let it leave the dentist because of "infection control"!!! On the third visit the Tooth Fairy left Sam a letter and some drawings!)
Number of Birthday's Celebrated!: Jakes 12th - in Melbourne at WagaMama's and Brunettis, Samuel's 7th (or eight in Vietnam!) at Hai Cafe in Hoi An, Rachels (21st!) Swimming with wild dolphins out to sea near Perth, Australia.
Best free childrens activities: ArtPlay, Melbourne;Melbourne State Library - Media Dept & Sparky Stories (thanks Claire!!)
Best value childrens activities: Little Devils Circus Skills, Melbourne, Australia.
Amount of homework done - Nil - But that’s not to say we haven’t learned anything!
Number of paperback books read by Jake, Helena and Samuel between them: 29 + Sam has read 3 of his Zac Power books twice!
Best weather: Freemantle, Perth
Worst weather; Hoi An, Vietnam in June - it’s nearly 40 degrees every day!
Items lost: 2 pairs of nail clippers - last seen being used by Helena!
Number of customs immigration forms completed: 130
Friendliest Immigration Staff: Australia
Rudest Immigration staff: America and Canada
Country offering best value: Vietnam
Most expensive country (after UK!) Canada
Budget for overall trip: Don't Like to calculate! Budget exceeded - but worth every penny, cent, baht & dong! You can’t take it with you!
Best country visited: Vietnam (5/5 votes) - an amazing culture shock, yet a beautiful place filled with friendly people. At present Hoi An seems like it is set back in time, but tourism is beginning to take off. we feel lucky to have spent so many weeks here before it does!
11 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
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June 7th 2007 - Anita & Colin: What an adventure!!
What wonderful pictures & memories you all have.Thanks for keeping us up to date with all the happenings both happy & sad!!It must feel good to have been able to see such different lives & to have been able to help in so many different ways.Looking forward to catching up again.Let us know when you come back Lots of love Anita & Colin
June 7th 2007 - Michelle Cavanagh: All good things come to an end!
Interesting to read the facts in this blog...pleased to see the positives you've given Australia. I'm so glad that we were lucky enough to spend some time with you in Sydney and Melbourne...can't wait for you to return! And I hope that getting back into the new routine won't be too much of a shock for you all.
Lots of love to you all.
Michelle & Kevin xx
June 7th 2007 - Michelle Cavanagh: Send a birthday card to Aung San Suu Kyi
James,
I don't know whether or not you'll want to include this but as you have many people who read this blog they may be interested. So here goes, and its taken from an email sent to me...and I send a birthday card off to Aung San Suu Kyi today. And when I told the people in the post office they sent one off too!
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent most of the last 17 years under house arrest.
On 19 June she will celebrate her 62nd birthday, alone.
My friend Felicity was at a conference with some Burmese women and the women Nobel Laureates who miss their colleague who won the prize in 1991. Felicity said "Their words have really moved me about her plight." Her sentence was just extended for another year.
They ask that we PLEASE send her a birthday card, from now, in order
to reach her by her birthday, 19 June.
Seems small, but don't underestimate the power of such actions. As we
say in Australia, from little things, big things grow.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
54 University Ave
Bahan 11201
Rangoon / Yangon
Burma / Myanmar
Anyway if you can it would be great...but I'll understand if its not possible.
Michelle : )
June 7th 2007 - Kathryn Manning: Best Travel Blogs
We award you "The Best Travel Blogs in The World" and can't wait to see you soon. We are going to France for two weeks soon and will be consulting with you on how best to squeeze the "kitchen sink" in a suitcase! What are you going to do next? Love from Kathryn, Ian, Amy and Grace xxxx
June 7th 2007 - huynh:
It's a wonderful travel story. You must be a very lucky family to be able to enjoy such a "weird and wonderful trip" as you said. If you can afford the time, why don't you, especially the kids, tell the story to the media such as lifestyle magazines/newspapers, TV talk shows, schools/private clubs etc.. back home to raise funds for the Lifestart foundation? This could help them to help people like Hoa and Lieu.
or maybe you can turn this into a travel book. After all, how many people in the world have done a 6-month world trip and especially with 3 kids?? and still survive and enjoy life as you do??
Hey, you have not voted for the best and worst toilets around the world yet :)) I hope Hoi An did not top the list! Enjoy the rest of the trip!
Thank you for your ideas and suggestions - I wasn't sure how interested people would be in these stories! Your idea for best and worst toilet is great! I will edit the blog to include it!!!
Cheers
Rachel
June 8th 2007 - travellingmum: Loved your journey!
I have loved reading your blogs. I have been reading Karens for a long time too. Your family gives me hope that one day I might be able to do the same with my 3 daughters (aged 6-1 years) and travel and teach them about the world
It will be a shame to not have your blogs to read anymore
Since I live in Queensland Australia, I am glad you enjoyed Australia.... You have a free mattress at my house if you ever make it back here!!
Good luck
June 8th 2007 - claire henry: hey
congratulations!! I am in total awe of you all. What a fantastic journey. Your blogs have been inspiring to say the least. I feel so lucky to have even a slight insight as to the experiences you've had through your blogs. Thank you so very much for sharing your trip with us. I'm looking forward to seeing you all soon. Claire x
Thanks for your comment! I'm sure you will soon enjoy lots of travel with your daughters! Although the children are looking forward to seeing friends, family and our dogs(!) we will be sad to end our trip! I will be writing a few more blogs on people we have met in Vietnam and perhaps we can meet with all the children if we ever return to Queensland! Best wishes, Rachel
The children are looking forward to returning and seeing all their friends! I think they have forgotten how much schoolwork/exams await them!!! See you soon! Rachel x
March 16th 2009 - Calle: Adopt me! haha
Well I randomly stumbled upon this page after searching women from Burma and I must say this looks like one of the most interesting family i've ever seen! I wish I knew how you were all able to travel the world...TWICE!! What an amazing experience that must be to share with your family. I am only 21 but I travel on my own because I too hope to travel the world. I just can't imagine what it would be like to do everything you guys did. I think it's wonderful your children will grow up with such knowledge of different cultures and countries!
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Discovering Hoa's Story...
The Vietnamese find it unatural to express their feelings, here among her closest friends Hoa feels able to tell her story for the first time.
We hope to help Lieu by selling her bags!
Helena and I have been searching for high quality fabrics and Helena will soon be writing a "bag blog!"
It was great sharing the experience with my brother, David Smith
He hopes the photos will help raise money for LifeStart Foundation
Best beach in the world? Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
This beach has been voted one of the top ten beaches in the world. By the time you have climbed over a mountain to get there it definitely looks like No 1!!!!
11 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
June 7th 2007 - Anita & Colin: What an adventure!!
What wonderful pictures & memories you all have.Thanks for keeping us up to date with all the happenings both happy & sad!!It must feel good to have been able to see such different lives & to have been able to help in so many different ways.Looking forward to catching up again.Let us know when you come back Lots of love Anita & Colin
June 7th 2007 - Michelle Cavanagh: All good things come to an end!
Interesting to read the facts in this blog...pleased to see the positives you've given Australia. I'm so glad that we were lucky enough to spend some time with you in Sydney and Melbourne...can't wait for you to return! And I hope that getting back into the new routine won't be too much of a shock for you all.
Lots of love to you all.
Michelle & Kevin xx
June 7th 2007 - Michelle Cavanagh: Send a birthday card to Aung San Suu Kyi
James,
I don't know whether or not you'll want to include this but as you have many people who read this blog they may be interested. So here goes, and its taken from an email sent to me...and I send a birthday card off to Aung San Suu Kyi today. And when I told the people in the post office they sent one off too!
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent most of the last 17 years under house arrest.
On 19 June she will celebrate her 62nd birthday, alone.
My friend Felicity was at a conference with some Burmese women and the women Nobel Laureates who miss their colleague who won the prize in 1991. Felicity said "Their words have really moved me about her plight." Her sentence was just extended for another year.
They ask that we PLEASE send her a birthday card, from now, in order
to reach her by her birthday, 19 June.
Seems small, but don't underestimate the power of such actions. As we
say in Australia, from little things, big things grow.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
54 University Ave
Bahan 11201
Rangoon / Yangon
Burma / Myanmar
Anyway if you can it would be great...but I'll understand if its not possible.
Michelle : )
June 7th 2007 - Kathryn Manning: Best Travel Blogs
We award you "The Best Travel Blogs in The World" and can't wait to see you soon. We are going to France for two weeks soon and will be consulting with you on how best to squeeze the "kitchen sink" in a suitcase! What are you going to do next? Love from Kathryn, Ian, Amy and Grace xxxx
June 7th 2007 - huynh:
It's a wonderful travel story. You must be a very lucky family to be able to enjoy such a "weird and wonderful trip" as you said. If you can afford the time, why don't you, especially the kids, tell the story to the media such as lifestyle magazines/newspapers, TV talk shows, schools/private clubs etc.. back home to raise funds for the Lifestart foundation? This could help them to help people like Hoa and Lieu.
or maybe you can turn this into a travel book. After all, how many people in the world have done a 6-month world trip and especially with 3 kids?? and still survive and enjoy life as you do??
Hey, you have not voted for the best and worst toilets around the world yet :)) I hope Hoi An did not top the list! Enjoy the rest of the trip!
Thank you for your ideas and suggestions - I wasn't sure how interested people would be in these stories! Your idea for best and worst toilet is great! I will edit the blog to include it!!!
Cheers
Rachel
June 8th 2007 - travellingmum: Loved your journey!
I have loved reading your blogs. I have been reading Karens for a long time too. Your family gives me hope that one day I might be able to do the same with my 3 daughters (aged 6-1 years) and travel and teach them about the world
It will be a shame to not have your blogs to read anymore
Since I live in Queensland Australia, I am glad you enjoyed Australia.... You have a free mattress at my house if you ever make it back here!!
Good luck
June 8th 2007 - claire henry: hey
congratulations!! I am in total awe of you all. What a fantastic journey. Your blogs have been inspiring to say the least. I feel so lucky to have even a slight insight as to the experiences you've had through your blogs. Thank you so very much for sharing your trip with us. I'm looking forward to seeing you all soon. Claire x
Thanks for your comment! I'm sure you will soon enjoy lots of travel with your daughters! Although the children are looking forward to seeing friends, family and our dogs(!) we will be sad to end our trip! I will be writing a few more blogs on people we have met in Vietnam and perhaps we can meet with all the children if we ever return to Queensland! Best wishes, Rachel
The children are looking forward to returning and seeing all their friends! I think they have forgotten how much schoolwork/exams await them!!! See you soon! Rachel x
March 16th 2009 - Calle: Adopt me! haha
Well I randomly stumbled upon this page after searching women from Burma and I must say this looks like one of the most interesting family i've ever seen! I wish I knew how you were all able to travel the world...TWICE!! What an amazing experience that must be to share with your family. I am only 21 but I travel on my own because I too hope to travel the world. I just can't imagine what it would be like to do everything you guys did. I think it's wonderful your children will grow up with such knowledge of different cultures and countries!
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