TOURIST TUESDAY: ROAD TRIP TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA DAY THREE

I woke super early, as this, was the day that I would get to see my caravan for the first time!

After fuelling up, we drove back into Hay. For every stop along our journey I wanted to buy a fridge magnet, and we had gotten into Hay too late the night before. Pretty much every stop Justin bought a coffee and I bought a fridge magnet.

Balranald was our first stop of the day. For Jarvis and I, to use the toilets, and Justin for more coffee. Can't say I was enticed to stay any longer than a loo break. So we headed off to Mildura, where we stopped at a cute cafe for lunch. Or in a crazy parenting move, allowing Jarvis to eat his body weight in meringue!

The idea was to go across the South Australian boarder to Lyrup, pick up the van, then drive back, and stay in a caravan park in Mildura. Justin estimated two hours for this....

What we didn't count on was the previous owner! Des... how funny was he, when he figured out that neither of us had owned, or towed a caravan. That Justin, had never even towed a trailer. So he took a huge amount of time, and effort, to teach Justin how to hook up the van, and all of the little nuances of the van.

I admit, it was too hot to stand in the sun, and get a lesson on the van. So Jarvis and I hung out in the van.

Very interesting couple, Justin stayed even later to do a portrait shoot of them. Anyhow, much to Des's concern I drove off the property towing our new van! Only under the strictest of promises, that if anything went wrong to phone him.

The car towed the little van pretty well. I took it easy, and sat on around 90 KLM instead of the 110. Thing I did note, was how towing the van sucked up the fuel. In my mind I could hear my credit card screaming in pain.

Pulled into the All Seasons Caravan park and the fun began. I made Justin park the van. I know when to admit that someone does things better than me. The set up was all pretty easy. Bar for the fact we could not get the power to work. Thankfully our neighbours came over and sorted it out.

We were all so tired we didn't really get to enjoy our night at the All Seasons. Also, their name is misleading, we only got sweat box hot in the afternoon, and so effing freezing overnight we all slept cuddled together like popsicles. Even after I added every towel and every item of clothing on top of the bed to add any warmth possible. Lucky for us it was cold, cause three in a double bed is cosy. 

TOURIST TUESDAY: HONG KONG DAY SEVEN

Justin's cousin had planned a day for us, so we caught the train out to Diamond Hill to meet up with everyone. 

(Does this count as our family portrait for the day? Not sure who the random is to my left)

Before we left for our adventure, we walked (what felt like ages, carrying Jarvis) to an Italian restaurant for lunch.

Side note: add to the list of things I have learnt while travelling. Don't eat Chinese food in France. And do not eat Italian in Hong Kong.

After lunch we then drove to an area which is known for the wild monkeys, that wander willy nilly all over the roads. Golden Hill Country Park or Kam Shan Country Park was established in 1977, its a country park located in the ranges north of Kowloon. Kam Shan, or Monkey Hill is home to the macaques. I was told these monkeys are probably descendants of monkeys released by pet owners a hundred or so years ago.

Another car pulled up at the same time as we did, and they came with a box of fruit to feed the monkeys. This was fun and terrifying at the same time. After all they are wild monkeys. However, it is illegal to feed the monkeys. Which I found out when the other driver incurred a fine. Opps.

We then just drove around looking at the scenery, yes Hong Kong really is kinda smoggy. But the drive was great, as we stopped at a really tiny village.

Justin's cousin dropped us back off at the hotel for a rest. Getting stuck in peak hour on the way back to the hotel made me very aware why the air in Hong Kong is very smoggy.

We did our normal shower, and rest. Before heading our to meet up the entire family for a massive banquet dinner. Justin scoffed the first course, he thought that was it. But then they kept bringing out course after course after course! Ever needed a forklift to get you home after way too much food?

TOURIST TUESDAY: HONG KONG DAY FIVE

By Thursday, day five, we had settled into the groove of being in Hong Kong. 

Yes, we were still super hot and sweaty every moment outside. Yes, Jarvis still got overwhelmed by the crowds and wanted to be carried. But, I noted Jarvis was happier to wander more. Being covered in sweat, and having a heat headache became the norm.. Or maybe it was because I was learning to say no, to doing too much every day.

Eight o'clock in the morning, and look at Jarvis's sweaty head...

Instead of wandering for ages looking for anywhere open for breakfast I suggested Maccas, pancakes and coffee. Yes, the coffee was crap, but lucky for me I don't drink it, so Jarvis and I enjoyed hotcakes and a chocolate frappe. He was thrilled to get a toy.

I suggested the park for the morning as we were meeting Justin's family for lunch, I wanted Jarvis to have the chance to play and be a kid. Which put Jarvis in an even better mood.

A hotel pitstop for another shower, more snacks, and water. And of course more elevator selfies.

Then we headed off to catch the trains to Kowloon to meet Justin's family. 

After filling our bellies with yum cha, we walked a short distance to Yuen Po Street Bird Garden and Flower Market.

The Yuen Po Bird Garden is actually a small lane, the traditional Moon Gate is at the start of this pedestrian alley. The Chinese had traditionally liked to keep birds as pets. When you walk into this small garden you can see one of Hong Kong's nuances of talking birds for a walk. The garden is a place to hang out and chatt and bond of their love of birds.

The market stands are just a small stroll away, it is a small area with only a few shops but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up with the variety of birds, there is everything from delicate canaries to colourful parrots. Plus, the beautiful hand-crafted bamboo cages and all the sorts of funny and peculiar "bird food" like the buckets  full of live crickets which. I really enjoy this kind of tourism which shows an old and enduring part of traditional Chinese lifestyle.

We, then walked past the flower markets to get to the fish markets. Not sure if it was because we were feeling tired, but Jarvis and I were not as impressed with the fish markets. I struggled with seeing the fish trapped in plastic bags, and Jarvis struggled with the smell.

So I decided to go back to the hotel for a short nap before, meeting up with Justin's family again for dinner. 

Which I am glad I did. Dinner with Justin's family was delicious, but very very late for our travelling four year old. We didn't even get on the first train until 10.30. So, Justin and I took turns carrying him the whole way home. Poor thing barely had a shower before falling asleep. Actually, we all had quick showers and all fell asleep exhausted. 

EVERYDAY MOMENTS: WEEK ELEVEN

Not an everyday moment that Justin goes overseas. Yet, how these two play and interact, is. They are "same same, but different" in so many ways. 

EVERYDAY MOMENTS: WEEK NINE

Years ago Justin bought himself a keyboard. These days it is the boys who use it for their very special LOUD concerts and dance offs. 

EVERYDAY MOMENTS: WEEK EIGHT

We had planned a mini getaway for ages. Justin had a surfing lesson and a dive voucher.

But after on half a day Jarvis asked if Tamika and 'his Chester" could join us. Best move ever. I got to spend so much time with all of my babies. Tamika got to relax. And Jarvis and Chester got to hang out every minute of every day.

Most afternoons were spent like this. Just lazily enjoying the beach.

I TRAVEL A LOT! OR THIS COULD BE TITLED 'HOW TO TRAVEL ON A MINIMAL WAGE.'

It has been commented that I go on a lot of holidays. This is true. But I have a very strong love for travel. From the dodgiest hotels to the best money can buy. I love them all. I don't care if it is somewhere in my own country or somewhere overseas, I just love visiting new places.

I have also been asked how I manage to travel so much on a very minimal wage. It is a combination of two things.

One: Advise given when I was a single mother.

I was working a dead end job trying (barely) to make ends meet. I have never left the country and not travelled much within Australia. When I was talking to a very elderly lady. She asked if I could save $20 a week, after much thought I answered yes. To which she replied that if I could do that, every three years I could afford to go a an overseas holiday to anywhere in the world.

Yep, $20 a week ads up to $3120. Throw in extra from asking for cash for birthday presents and any spare I would have left over at the end of a week, Tamika and I managed to travel to 16 countries by the time she was 16. Not a bad feat for a single Mum, who worked part-time and studied.

To this day I have continued my $20 a week savings.

Two: Do not buy 'Stuff'.

Some people are really bad with credit cards, I am the opposite. If I have cash in my purse I buy 'stuff', most of it I really don't need. So much money has been saved with me not having cash on me. It also helped that for the first 12 months after Jarvis was born I bought nothing for myself. (Undies and Make-up excluded). As time passed, I found I needed less and less. This has even split out over into buying stuff for the house. The less I buy the less I want.

So if it is your priority, like it is mine, travel is very possible on a minimal wage.

Having said all of the above... in two more sleeps we are all off for a holiday to the Sunshine Coast for four days!!

The salt air is just what my body needs. 

EVERYDAY MOMENTS: WEEK SEVEN

Tamika was off at her antenatal appointment. Justin was working on the coast, so it was just the boys, and I, today. With no pool and horrid heat and humidity, we spend ages splashing in the little Splash and Play pool. Best $20 bucks I have spent in a long time.

EVERYDAY MOMENTS: WEEK FIVE (TWO WEEKS LATE)

I actually posted the first two images about ten days ago. For my everyday moments, Weeks five, I called it guitar hero. At first I thought how cute the two boys looked playing guitar, on an extremely hot and humid day.

Seconds after I posted it, I realised my error and whipped that post down.

Opps Chester's t-shirt. I would have given the game away two week too early.

For those of you who do not follow me on instagram... I am going to be a GRANDMOTHER AGAIN! Yep super excited. Baby number two is due mid August. How adorable does Chester look in his Big Brother t-shirt?