Off on our first early safari looking for big game today. Onto the truck and dressed in warm ponchos supplied by the driver. Still not enough to keep the bitter cold off our faces, but anyway, into the wild west we headed. Get to the made road, turn right to the gates of the Etosha National Park which were about 300 metres away and stop. A queue of trucks, cars and safari land cruisers. After about half an hour we are in and on a straight stretch of road similar to the Nullarbor plain. The plan was to stop at the resort for a toilet break then into the park. Oops, bypassed the resort and onto the dusty gravel roads. Yells of stop, there were zebras. No stopping, then we see lots of vehicles on the ... read more

Up early again, but this time by our choice. Fantastic sunrise to bookend last nights sunset. Opened the canvas walls,up and had a bedside view of the rising sun. Pretty special. Aah, the serenity....... Down for brekky then straight into the truck for our morning Safari. This time we weren’t hunting animals, more so the little bugs and flora and fauna. Along the way, however, a truck load of Oryx were again spotted. We were shown little beetles that were called Tikka Tikkas (or something like that - might have got a bit lost in the translation...). They scurry around the sand, the male chasing the female - hmm.... Also in the mix were dung beetles and the elusive trapdoor spider (still to see that one). We also learnt that Oryx poo is hard and in ... read more

Today is possibly the hardest day of the tour. Meet and greet day. Today we get to join our other travellers which is a bit like tattslotto, you never know what or when you are going to pick the right numbers (or in this case, interesting people....). Anyway, we start the day with blue sky and sunshine - nice from what we left behind in Melbourne. Breakfast done and we do chats with the family. Also find out our kitchen has been gutted - good and also interesting feelings of oh shit, here we go again with an new kitchen. At least we know it is going to a good place - our electrician who is bartering time for cupboards...... Good to catch up with everyone at home - even if the questions of where and ... read more

A long day of travel. Left home at 1545 with Jessica and the kids waving farewell as we headed to the airport. Got there in no time and checked our bags all the way through to our final destination - Namibia, so no pick up and re-check - bonus. Flight to Perth left on time with a very full flight. No issues and straight to international terminal, Customs and some duty free then to find the lounge. Hmm, no SAA lounge in sight. Go into Qantas lounge to ask where we had to go - right here - OK. Even better was that our gate was right outside the lounge. Flight called, find our seats and away for the 12 hour flight to Johannesburg. Chris straight to sleep, I start a movie and have dinner then ... read more

Last day in Bali. Oh dear. Organised last night to have a slightly later check out. This morning went over to organise cars for 1030 this morning to the airport - booked a room by the hour at the Hilton beside the airport - super cheap. No problems. Cooked breakfast using up all the fresh eggs left for us - maybe not me or Jessica in that order..... Kids have been n the pool most of the morning making the most of the water before we leave. Bags packed and eventually the cars arrive. Bloody spiral staircase is a pain for bags moving up and down. Never mind, one at the bottom starting the lift and one at the top to grab them up to the top Seemed to work. Went over to say thanks to ... read more