Asia

Taking a Vacation in Phuket

Traveling is fun and exciting, but when it is your lifestyle, sometimes you need a vacation. We chose to take a break for a week in Phuket. We booked a resort hotel on the beach in Kamala Bay with our friends, the McDougalls. We were exhausted after our 10-day worldschooling eco-retreat in Krabi, Thailand. We stayed at the Sunwing Kamala…

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Asia

Swimming with Sharks in Ko Phi Phi

Phi Phi Don is a small island that is administratively part of Krabi. In the 1940s, the island was inhabited by Thai Malay fishermen. It was also a coconut plantation for a while. Today, it is a tourist destination. People come to Ko Phi Phi to dive, snorkel, and relax at hotels and resorts. A few thousand people are living…

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Asia, Worldschooling

Worldschooling Eco-Adventure in Krabi, Thailand

We said goodbye to Vietnam and headed to southern Thailand. We signed up for a 10-day worldschooler eco retreat in Krabi, Thailand with NatureMind-ED, an organization “aiming at restoring connections between the human and non-human world, reigniting a spirit of discovery and adventure, cultivating respect for diversity and love for otherness, embracing the unknown as a place to grow, offering…

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Asia

Ha Long Bay

Our last stop in Vietnam was Ha Long Bay. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with around 2,000 limestone islets. All four families booked a 3-day 2-night cruise. We got picked up at our Airbnb at 8:00 a.m. It was a three-hour journey to the dock and another 45 minutes to our cruise ship on a smaller boat. We…

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Asia

Hanoi

Hanoi is a change from Hoi An. It is the second largest city in Vietnam with over 8 million people and 5 million motorbikes. It feels a lot like New York, but more hectic. The sidewalks are full of motorbikes, restaurant tables, and goods for sale, so walking in the street is common. Crossing the street is a challenge because…

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Asia

Scuba Diving at Cham Islands

Scuba diving has been on Michael, Lucas, and Henry’s wish list for a while. I got scuba-certified over 20 years ago in Australia while studying abroad. I was excited to go diving again. The Cham Islands are a group of eight small islands of Quảng Nam, which form a part of the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, a world Biosphere…

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Asia

Hoi An – Week 4

Our last week in Hoi An began with rain. Lucas and Henry had a surf lesson despite the lightning in the distance. They also played pickleball and Michael and Kristian played badminton. It rained all Sunday night and Monday. The streets started flooding. It was a small glimpse of Hoi An during the rainy season. Vicki and I went to…

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Asia

Hoi An – Week 3

Week three marks halfway through our stay in Hoi An. There is so much to do and so little time. I went back to acupuncture on Monday. The kids dove into video editing at You Hub and gaming. We swam in the pool, and Michael and Lucas went to play pickleball. Michael played pool. Tuesday is a big day because…

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Asia

Hoi An – Week 2

The second week in Hoi An was a busy one. The kids went to You Hub on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. They now walk by themselves to You Hub, and they are thrilled to be able to do that. Lucas and Henry are on week two of budgeting for and planning their meals for the week. Lucas got up one…

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