Our Aussie Adventure

This one is really probably only of interest to the family.  Here are some shots of our recent trip to Aus.  We had a great time!  The selection of photos below speak for themselves.

Taking in the beautiful fresh air of the Dandenong Ranges onboard the old Steamer Puffing Billy.

Nicks mum and dad kindly took the kids for the night and we snuck away to a beautiful Bed and Breakfast.  "Merrow" was also nestled in the Dandenongs.

Scarlett cooking with Nanny

Our home away from home.  This is the "Coastal Retreat".  It is our onsite caravan down on the Victorian Surf Coast.  We spend a very relaxing week here.

Point Lonsdale lighthouse

We overindulged again and again and again.  With food like this at "Barwon Orange" in Barwon Heads it was impossible not to.

Oh this is making me hungy

My dad and my niece Sophie

F&C's

Aunty Rose, Uncle Dave and Smokey!

My sister Nicole and my niece Steph. (and quiddy copping a handful)

Scarlett and George

At Meltemi Greek Tavern

I could live on dips alone.  I love the stuff.

The girls swing bye to say goodbye

From this......

...to this!  Welcome Charlie!

Nick caught up with some work buddies

Speaking of Buddy...my sisters dog Buddy was a huge hit with the kids, especially Scarlett.

Had a night with our old neighbours, well, they are not old but you know what I mean.  Very strange being next door to our house and having someone else living in it.  Pete was kind enough to move the trampoline over so we could bounce up and down and peek over the fence but after a couple of drinks I thought I might fall off so gave it a miss.

A nicer bunch of people you could never meet.  Thanks guys.  It was great to see you.

Pizza night.

Nick finally getting his Anth's Special with BBQ sauce.  One of the foods he misses from Aus.

We celebrated my good friend Nicoles birthday by going on a magical mystery tour.  2 Wineries and a party later I had a 2 day hangover.

We borrowed Nicks brothers Alfa....what can I say.

Gosh I love a bargain!

Shopping can be very hit and miss here in Saigon.  In general I find it no where near comparable to places like Bangkok but if you delve deep enough there are some great bargains to be had.  Over the past year I have built up a list of my favourite places that stock things that fit my apparently enormous frame and cover my so called "clown feet". (I am a size 12 in clothes and 39 in shoes....go figure!).  I'm not really into buying the fake stuff and the things at upmarket shopping centres are just so out of my price range.  I have no idea who buys THAT stuff.  Occasionally I come across a shop with the odd bits and pieces that were manufactured here but did not quite make it out of the country come export time.  Usually this information is passed on through the expat grapevine.  I love a bargain and was happy today when I bought these for 450,000VND (about 23 Aussie).  I could tell they were originals but I had never heard of the brand (KG by Kurt Geiger).  I took a punt and googled it when I got home.  The exact shoes can be bought for a mere 120 pounds in England.  What more could a girl ask for!

.....and they ROCK!

I wonder if the egg is fertilised or not?

Dear visitors to Vietnam, don't let this put you off!

I really don't know what to say.  Absolute gold.  This country cracks me up!

A Singapore stopover.

On a whim we decided to stop over in Singapore for 3 nights on our way to Aus.  As my friends will tell you, I should be hired by any country suffering a drought.  Rain tends to follow me wherever I go and Singapore was no exception.  Not being made of sugar we made the most of it and enjoyed our time there. Quote of the trip; Scarlett upon entering our hotel room "Oh this is nice, I'm just going to go and look for the lounge room."

Rules!

Even though in Vietnam it is the year of the Cat, in Singapore they are entering the year of the Rabbit.

Ah Ronald, how I have missed you (until I ate your food then I remembered you are actually pretty crappy) and I love the fact that the kids went "Mumma, whose that?"

Nick and this kids took a tour on this amphibious bus....I went shopping!

You cannot get Guinness on Tap in HCMC.  This one cost as much as a small house but well worth it he tells me.

How did they know I was going to pack on the kg's in Aus.  I should have known this was a premonition.

Bugis St Night Market.

God this was good!

....and so was this.

.....and I am tipping, so was this.

The markets were a great place for a really delicious meal and very very cheap.  Hundreds of stalls with everything made fresh right before your eyes.

We gave the kids $10 each and they went nuts.  They struggled to spend it as everything was so cheap.

Singapore Zoo

Monkeying around with Scarlett

She has him right where she wants him.

Princess Scarlett.  God forbid she get wet.