beautiful Booderee National Park...

I could say beautiful Jervis Bay, but it was my week long experience of camping at Booderee National Park at Jervis Bay that was beautiful.
Being the Festive Season I was fortunate to escape the shackles of the keyboard and retreat for week with my dear friends on their fortnight stay within Booderee.  They're seasoned family campers - mum, dad, 2 kids and teenager! Me, o my gosh, I had not camped for decades, not since my primary school years with my family to which I'm glad for those experiences and memories, so I was keen for the adventure.
I was joyfully met with a 'welcome karen' held up against the window of the family mover, yes, you need wheels when staying in Booderee - lucky for me, as I flew to Sydney then boarded the shuttle bus to Nowra where my fun began.  We picked up supplies, then it was off to the site, my home for a week.  Maeve and Charlie were awesome at putting up my tent - kids...forget instruction, whack-bang, it was up! I managed to set up my self-inflating mattress, throw my pack in the tent before I was eagerly toured around the grounds, facilities and to our beach - green patch, so I knew what was where and which shower to grab!
Read up here, on all that Booderee National Park has to offer.  It was fabulous having no power, living out of an esky, having to walk to the community shelter to wash our dishes, to hear the constant sound of birds, to hear children mingling with other children of different nationalities (and grown ups!) then to retreat to my tent at night only to listen to the sounds of our campsite and surrounding slowly quieten, ready for dawn and the commencement of another day of activity.
Our days were full, not sure whether it was because there's such an array of great beaches to explore or whether it was because there were kids involved! There was bush walks/runs, card games, snorkelling, beach walks, bike rides, indigenous story-telling, camp fire 'prepping', storms, timely showers to test your patience, laughs, beach bag packing and unpacking, pesky possums and the joyous g&t knock and nibbles at the end of a day.
It was a fabulous holiday with beautiful scenery. I laugh reflecting on the kids faces painted daily with streaks of hot pink zinc and coloured sunnies, as though they were going to a rave party (that's ahead of them!) and to the enthusiasm of all to explore or try something new - whether snorkelling and duck-diving around beach rock platforms, paddling the rubber boat...the memories are there. x

endless sounds of birds

just walk...

out on a nature trail

exploring around another little point

love a beach trail

family fun and adventres

what a bloke will do to stay cool

what goes down must come up!

fun waves and dolphins galore

you've got to grab a moment whilst you can!

Travel With A Difference has some 'glamping' holiday options within Australia and overseas...only for the fun-seeker.  For reservations phone: 03-5254 1279

ika mata

This was a real cultural wow factor meal I experienced, over twelve years ago firstly when I was visiting the Cook Islands, then again with friends when we sailed into Hai Pai, Tonga.  Lucky me! Only to experience it again recently at a Cook Island function and it was you, who I thought of, thinking I must share this. So, here is, an amazing local fish dish you can try at home or on holiday when at The Cook Islands....

INGREDIENTS:
3-4 kg Fresh game fish
1 Fresh chili
2 1/2 Medium tomatoes diced
1/2 Large cucumber
1 Red onion
1lt Coconut cream
3 Lemons
White vinegar and salt to taste

WHAT TO DO:
Cut the fish into bite size cube sand place into a bowl. Fill the bowl with salted water with a cup of white vinegar and a couple squeezes of lemon juice.  Let marinate for 2-4 hours.

Dice up the vegetables and place into a bowl. Squeeze three lemons into the salsa mix with a couple of splashes of white vinegar.

Add cococut cream to your salsa mix and stir together.  Make sure you taste it and add more lemon, salt or vinegar if need be.

Once you have the taste acquired, add as much chili as you want or just enough to counter the acidity. 
Let it set for an hour or two and serve chilled.  Serves 4-6 friends.  And whilst there have some fun.....xx

getaway in vietnam...

Many holiday options and offers come into our office from river cruising, to dog-sledding, to trans Siberian rail journeys to walking, cycling and trekking journeys...but this, I just had to share.
Its Six Senses newest resort, Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam.  Why do we love Six Senses?  - they operate sustainable resorts offering comfort, wholesome food and privacy within a location that is unique.
On Saturday, 2 July at 5pm Getaway on Channel 9 will feature Con Dao, an island that is a 45 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

In conjunction with the show, Travel Indochina have a 6 Night stay in an Ocean Front Villa with private infinity pool and daily breakfast.  This is including three free nights.
COST:  per person $1137 twin share
TRAVEL: 02 July to 30 September

OFFER: ends 31 July 2011 - yes, our 10 Year Celebration offer is valid also.

This is a stunning holiday offer for anyone who wishes to sit back and relax...whilst not forgetting that Côn Đảo National Park is working with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Vietnam to further protection in the marine areas, with programs to establish a Marine Protected Area that protects coral reefs, seagrass beds and species, while also developing sustainable nature-based eco-tourism. The island's management is strongly geared towards sustainable use, hoping to learn from previous experiences in Vietnam and the region to balance development with conservation.

Combine this with a few days in Ho Chi Minh City...what more could you ask for?

Speak to us today for further information, a brochure or to book your deserving getaway....