2007
2nd June: I LAND IN LONDON!
June: Paris, France
Saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time. Explored Paris Disneyland over two days. Walked down the Champs Elysees and had a fantastic dinner. Unfortunately the Louvre was closed but I sunbathed outside it!
July: Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Took a train from Zurich to the valley of Lauterbrunnen - one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, going through Bern, Spiez, and Interlaken. Took a cable car up (Mittelberg), hired mountain bikes and had the most insane 8 hour ride down.. got lost and returned to Lauterbrunnen by nightfall. Enjoyed a scenic train ride to Jungfraujoch (the Top of Europe), passing the little villages of Wengen and Klein Scheidgg. Visited an ice palace and went skiing.
November: San Francisco, USA
Spent 3 weeks at the Hilton (lucky!). Cycled across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Walked down the infamous Lombard Street and rode on the trams. Tried clam chowder (yum) at Fisherman's Wharf. Had an amazing dinner at the ever-so-popular Cheesecake Factory overlooking Union Square. Visited my cousins in Lafayette, across the bridge. Did the Lindy Hop during a dance festival at the Golden Gate Park. Played with lots of things at the Exploratorium. The Tactile Dome was heaps of fun! Had many meals at the diner where they have real pinball machines! Watched the annual lighting of the Embarcadero for Christmas - loved the whole atmosphere. Lots of shopping and eating and I finally got to visit Macy's.
2008
March: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Yearly month-long holiday to see my sister and parents
April: Dubai, UAE
Went on the desert safari alone, seeing the Burj, and dancing at the infamous 360 club
May: Alanya, Turkey
A week on the southern coast. Great food and people, beaches. Did a boat tour, a jeep ride up the mountains, and a 5-hr long CRAZY white-water rafting course. Experienced Hammam (Turkish bath) for the first time (and 2nd, and 3rd).
July: Maria Alm/Skt Johann, Austria
8 days in the beautiful countryside at two 5* hotels. Discovered a new love: Sommerrodelbahn! Hiking, boating, and walked on The Pasterze, the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps. Went on the Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg. Visited Mozart's old house. Went paragliding! Climbed up to go into the amazing ice caves/Eisriesenwelt.
September: Amsterdam, Holland
Found the elusive giant yellow clog. Shopping at the 9 streets, visited Anne Frank's house, and went to a big vintage/flea market.
November: Barcelona, Spain
With my old friend Lini from Perth. A long weekend of great food. Saw that church, Sagrada Familia whatever it is. Decided I don't like Flamenco. Visited Barcelona FC stadium.
2009
January: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Another annual visit.. Went on weekend trips around the country.
April: Olso/Kongsberg, Norway
Included a weekend skiing in Kongsberg with a bunch of noisy Norwegians. Love skiing. Discovered lefse.
May: Milan, Italy
AMAZING FOOD. Drove around the whole of Lake Como and up to Lake Garda to spend a day at an awesome water park. Visited Verona and tried horse meat pizza (delicious).
June: Prague, Czech Republic
Visited Prague Castle. Lots of sightseeing. Food was..(sorry, again) AMAZING!!
July: Schladming, Austria
Second time in Austria, this time with my parents and sister for a week <3. Went hiking many times, and on a couple of Sommerrodelbahns. Beautiful mountain lake. Revisited the Sound of Music sites in Salzburg for my mom's sake. Toured the Eisriesenwelt for the 2nd time.. surreal.
October: Bodrum, Turkey
One week at a beautiful beach resort. Visited the Dalyan Delta and Turtle Beach. Had a mud bath. Ate LOTS.
November: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Another month-long trip to visit family because I missed them so. Took small holidays around the country.
2010
April: Copenhagen, Denmark
Tried something different and spent 5 days at a homestay arrangement with a Danish lady. Visited Christiania and went on the best ride ever at Tivoli amusement park.
May: Bilbao, Spain
Part of a 4 day cruise. Best food ever in Bilbao called 'pinchos'. VERY nearly missed ship back to England.
May: Mallorca, Spain
A week exploring the island and its many beautiful beaches. Amazing food. Drove around the whole island. Stayed with our friend Carryn. Got free g-strings at popular nightclub (can't remember name!).
June: Amsterdam, Holland
Magic truffles.
July: St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Corsica, Elba, Rome (France, Monaco, Italy)
9 day sailing trip on a friend's boat. Got spoilt with expensive food daily. Got stung by jellyfish. Visited beautiful beaches and ports. Discovered my new talent: waterskiing!
October: Zakynthos, Greece
8 days on the tiny island. Explored the island in a 4WD, took a boat around the island, had a traditional 'Greek Night - dancing till we stopped traffic!, hired a dune buggy for more exploring, cycled 30km across the island (and back), and went swimming in waters so blue (Shipwreck Bay) it was like blue paint!
2011
January: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
First holiday with all my family in years. We spent it eating lots of amazing food! Went up to Mount Merapi (which recently erupted and devastated villages) and visited Borobudur and Prambanan Temple. Went quad biking around the beach!
February: Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
A weekend trip away to the mountains! Picked strawberries, did a short hike, and bought lots of food from the local markets.
February: Bali, Indonesia
Amazing place. Went to Tanah Lot, got groped by mischievous monkeys at the Monkey Forest, visited temples and markets. Had a magical day at a beautiful private beach. And then another magical day by the pool.
March: Budapest, Hungary
The best thing was the super fast whirlpool in the outdoor thermal baths (Szechenyi) - lots of fun and laughing. Also went to the Gellert baths, visited Memento Park (where old communist statues live), tried lots of Hungarian food, treated ourselves to 'the best restaurant in Hungary', the Gundel, and had a magical night walk through a fairytale-like castle.
April: Valletta, Malta
Explored a whole lot of Malta and its islands, Comino and Gozo. Visited the Blue Lagoon which was beautiful. Walked on the edge of lots of cliffs. Took a boat ride out to the Azure Window and the Blue Grotto. Rabbit meat is a Maltese delicacy and so I had fried rabbit, rabbit stew, and rabbit pasta. Sat at the Grand Harbour watching the annual Fireworks Festival. Skipped around the Salt Pans of Gozo.
July: Lake District, England
Long weekend in the town of Windermere in the Lake District. Hired mountain bikes and cycled around the area for a whole day. Also hired a motor boat, and a normal boat and hung out on the lake under the beautiful sunny sky.
August: Carcassonne & Nice, France. Monaco. Pisa & Florence, Italy.
Sudden/spontaneous short eurotrip after being kicked out of a farm I was volunteering at. Ended up in Nice for a week at Villa St Exupery, the top hostel in France and top ten worldwide, thanks to work! Visited the beautiful hilltop Eze Village. Swam and sunbathed at the beach by the promenade. More beach time at Cap D'Ail. Went to Monaco for the second time. Went scuba diving for the first time - a truly magical experience (an octopus squirted at me, and I saw a bazillion little fish in what was a galaxy of stars in the ocean). Went canyoning - abseilled and slid down waterfalls, and lots of huge cliff jumps. Italy: Saw the leaning tower of Pisa. Sat at the Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence. Shopped at the popular leather market. Watched the sunset from the bridge. Ate lots of gelati and tried the Florentine Steak. Went on a wine tour. Visited the little towns of Siena and San Gimignano. Made a few new friends ;)
September: Munich, Germany (Oktoberfest). Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Road trip with a bunch of crazy people to Munich for Oktoberfest. Drank beer like never before for three days in a row and went on some funfair rides. An amazing experience. Then off to Amsterdam - my third time - and had a magical day at Vondelpark where all my dreams came true and I rode a rocket to space to catch the sun! Danced to crazy lights at Escape club. Hung out by the canal. Ate lots. Visited my fourth market (Nieuwmarkt - antiques/flea). Bought more toys. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
December: Singapore.
First time in Singapore since 2008! Spent a whole day at Universal Studios. Went shopping and eating. Was only here for two days before catching my connecting flight to NZ
December: Auckland/Taupo, New Zealand.
Caught up with my aunt and cousins in Auckland. Spent a day on the picture-perfect Waiheke Island. Visited the glow-worm cave in Waitomo - truly an AMAZING, MAGICAL experience. Visited Ruakuri Cave. Swam in Lake Taupo. Went skydiving. Went bungy-jumping. Went fishing. Soaked in natural hot springs in Taupo. Saw lots of craters/geysers/weird rock formations/volcanic stuff. Visited Huka Falls. Did lots of hiking (including going up to a waterfall)/thermal walks. Climbed up Mt Ruapehu dressed in animal costumes - lots of glacial snow up there! Ended the trip with a BBQ to welcome 2012 and celebrate my dad's birthday.
2012
January: Melbourne, Australia
Felt like I was back 'home'. Stayed at my brother's apartment with an amazing view of the city. Went to Chelsea Beach with friends - at 40 degrees. We had tents, eskys, hats, everything! Swam with a baby octopus. Spent an afternoon at St Kilda Beach. Enjoyed the trams and ate lots of my favourite food. Went to the Victoria Night Market to eat and shop. Caught up with heaps of my old friends. I LOVE MELBOURNE.
January: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bonding time with the family and living my 'second life'. Repainted my sister's room. Celebrated the Chinese New Year. Met all my cousins and caught up with old friends. ATE a LOT. Spent a weekend away at a villa away in the forest. Played golf with my dad. Played pranks on my brother with my sister. Family stuff! :)
February: Peaslake, Surrey Hills, UK
Last-min pre-planned weekend away to wait for the snow. And SNOW it did. Pranced around in the snow as it fell through the night. Took long walks through Hurt Wood the next day. Made a snowman and rolled a giant snowball. Tap-danced on a frozen pond. Ate cheese, drank wine, and ran a bath. The most wonderful snow weekend!
