Update on its way . . .

We're back from Deepest Darkest Africa  . . .  will update blog with all our news, incl elephant and hippo charges, within the next week.

It's midnight in London - the hottest few days in a long time - the 4 of us are squashed into one hotel room because there has been a stuff up with the motorhome (not happy campers) but more about that later . . .

Missing all our family and friends (old and new) but having the adventure of a lifetime.

45 degrees at lunchtime in Dubai . . .

What do you do when the temperatures are skyrocketing in the city of Dubai with kids in tow - you head straight to Wild Wadi's Water Park to cool off!  And that is just what we did.  We joined the locals and tourists and splashed our morning away cruising down Wadi's Lazy River and tearing up and down the 11 water slides that make up Wadi's River Rapid Ride. 
In Taashi's own words "that was totally awesome!"
If you're in Dubai and are heading to Wadi's to cool off leave yourself a whole day - you'll be glad you did.



The girls on Wadi's River Rapid Ride

In the evening we ventured out into the desert for the Sunset Dune Safari where we raced up and down the dunes (much to the girls horror - although they were in tears of laughter by the end of it and not just tears!)We spotted lots of Oryx which is considered very lucky by the locals and a few gazelle.  In the Bedouin Camp we had a delicious Middle Eastern Feast, had our hands painted with Henna, watched belly dancing and rode on camels.  This tour is a must do for visitors to Dubai and everyone does it.  We ran into quite a few people from our flight from Singapore yesterday.

The Sheers Family on Aussie Camels in Dubai's Conservation Park

With only 2 whole days to see what we could of Dubai we decided to do the City of Merchants Tour as a last minute thing to give Glenn and the girls a feel for the city.  We explored mosques, the Dubai Muesum, caught an Abra (local water taxi) across Deira Creek to Deira and visited the Spice and Gold Souqs.  Thankfully most of the tour was in an airconditioned coach as temps soared once again into the high 40's.  Even the tour guide commented on the heat and congratulated us all on making it to the end saying that we could almost claim to be locals now!

 

Jumeirah Mosque



Abra's on Deira Creek

In the Dunes

Tilly and Taashi at sunset in the Desert



An Orchestra of Bull Frogs in Phuket . . .

An Elephant Village Phuket

From Singapore we got the chance to do a little side trip to Phuket with family.  For those of you who have had the lucky chance to get to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands Phuket is very similar just on a much larger scale.  Stray dogs run the streets, a rooster will crow at 3 in the afternoon, the beaches are blinding with white sand and giant waves (many of which wiped us out at Nai Haan Beach right down the bottom of the island), locals zoom around 2, 3, 4, and 5 people at a time on crazy motorscooters (some with side trailers that fit everything including the kitchen sink). 

A Family on a Motorscooter Phuket

What stood out most was the friendliness of the Thai people and the delicious food.  The best food we had was at the most unlikely of places (one for the Lonely Planet books).  Under the red white and blue umbrella's behind Nai Haan beach sit some local cafes where we sat and had the most delicious Thai Green Chicken Curry and Thai Fried Rice.  If you don't mind waiting for your food and the meals coming out in dribs and drabs it is well worth it (and cheap!) We organized a private boat to take us out kayaking to the Phang Nga Islands which consist of 42 limestone islands. 

The Longboats at James Bond Island Phuket

It didn't cost us much more than if we had piled onto a tourist boat with 40 other people.  This way we could time it so that we had beaches and hongs (caves you can kayak into) to ourselves.  It was fabulous and the girls had an absolute ball.  We managed a visit to James Bond Island (from the film The Man With The Golden Gun) where Taashi fell and badly sliced her knee open.  This resulted in a visit to the first aid room built into a cave in the rocks and what will be a good scar on her knee that she now calls her 'James Bond Scar'.  Phuket was an amazing break from the steamy heat of Singapore - even with temperatures in the high 30's at least there was a breeze and water to cool off in.

Each evening after the sun had gone down the Bull Frogs would appear in full song - Phuket's Orchestra of Bull Frogs.  Who knew such small critters could be so loud!

The Spaghetti Wires that are Phukets Powerlines



James Bond Rock from The Man with the Golden Gun

Tilly, Natalie and Taashi swimming in our Villa's pool



Pounding the HOT Singapore Pavement . . .



Tilly, Taashi and Natalie on the MRT



We don't know how anyone could get used to the heat in Singapore.  It's knocked as all around a bit - but in saying that we have been pounding the pavement and taking in the sights.  Glenn has perfected using the MRT (Mass Rail Transport) System and so we are getting around using the trains and buses like all the locals.  It's the best way with kids in tow - it's airconditioned, clean and quick and they love putting the money into the ticket machines and pushing all the buttons to select the right stations etc.  At the end of the day you can return your tickets (which are actually plastic cards) and get a dollar refund for each one so the girls make sure we do that too!

 

The MRT Singapore

 

We've taken in the Singapore river area of Clark Quay (it's as brown as the Yarra River in Melbourne) and walked the streets of Chinatown.  Nataile (the girls 12yr old cousin) was our guide and she took us right into the heart of it all.  The local vendors with animal horns in the windows, the market like stalls and the red lanterns hanging above all the streets.  A fabulous people watching place.  We were amazed by the Chinese and Indian temples and the mosques with their fancy colourful architecture and statues.  Chinatown lived up to all of our expectations. 




The Girls in Chinatown







The island of Sentosa, on the other hand, couldn't have been any more different.  With it's HOT, white, man made beaches in a resort setting overlooking oil refineries and shipping lanes it was a sight to see. Despite being 'hotter than I've ever been in my whole life' - Tilly's words - we had a blast riding on the beach trolley tram, climbing the mosaic mythological Chinese monster fountain up to the BIG Merlion Statue and catching the Cable Car back to the MRT station.  It was FUN and the despite the heat and the fact that by the end of it the girls were shattered (and so were we) we all really enjoyed the day.



 


Sentosa's White Sands and Tanker Ships

Last night was a highlight for us all - we went to the World Famous Singapore Night Zoo.  A must for anyone heading to Singapore, it starts at 7pm with a fire twirling show before you head through the gates and off down the night trail walks to view all the animals.  Our favourite were the Fishing Cats who pounce into the water to catch fish.  Despite watching them for ages, each time we thought they were going to catch a fish they would settle back down again.  The tram ride around the zoo was also a huge highlight - especially for the girls as they got to see the new baby elephant.  The fact that it was at night was a huge bonus - I sound like a whinger when it comes to the heat but it's just so hot and walking around the zoo at night was a pleasant relief!  We caught the bus and MRT home again, walking from the station at midnight.  One thing I'll give Singapore, it is such a safe place to visit and we had no reservations at all about walking home alone down unfamiliar streets in the middle of the night . . .  What I think we have done right is to have a great big day out sightseeing and then a rest day and to keep doing it this way.  If we hadn't I think the girls would be a right royal mess!

Singapore Traffic Jam



At the Merlion on Sentosa



From Autumnal Melbourne to Steamy Singapore . . .

Mad Family Portrait

 


Glenn in Union Lane Melbourne

  

A Shower of Autumn Leaves Melbourne

Having spent a week catching up with family, friends and footy in Melbourne we are now in steamy (or as Tilly puts it 'boiling') Singapore.  Arriving at midnight was fabulous. We flew through customs (we were the only ones there!) and made our way out to the car that was waiting for us with a 'Glenn Sheers and fam' sign.  Once outside Taashi said "it smells just like Rarotonga" - the heat and the frangipani - and she was right. We've been staying  in Singapore with Glenn's brother Barrie and his family in a lovely 3 storey house surrounded by fragrant tropical flowers for 3 full days now and they have been full days.  From here we have explored the Botanic Gardens on foot and come across squirrels, lizards, butterflies, bugs and a bright green Bamboo Snake chilling out on a thorny bush (apparently one of the most venomous snakes in Singapore). 


 

The ACTUAL Bamboo Snake we came across

Yesterday was a comedy of errors and lots of fun.  From running through torrential downpours with only a sun hat for protection, to jumping on a train and Glenn, Tilly and Poppa missing it and the doors closing in their faces, to the panic on Tilly's face and the horror in her eyes when she saw us disappearing, to the massive hug when they caught up with us again (from this point on Tilly became the train nazi making sure we were all together getting on and off the trains - great practise for Europe's train networks), to being given the wrong directions by the lady behind the glass at the train station and having to u turn to reach our bus depot and on and on it went.  It was a scream - Poppa almost let out a scream at one point when the automatic ticket gates closed abruptly on his privates.  We explored the largest bird park in the world (Jurong Bird Park) dodging thunder and lightning and more torrential rain and made our way home without getting lost!  It was a hoot and we laughed our way through the days calamaties and had a ball.  I think the girls have especially enjoyed the trips to the Singapore Polo Club and the British Club where they have been able to cool off in the pool! 


 

Running through the Singapore Rain

A little Singapore supermarket trivia for all the Aussies and Kiwi's out there - a punnet of strawberries will set you back NZ$19 and a bottle of Oyster Bay Red Wine is NZ$60 - so enjoy your wine and strawberries tonight and think of us drinking tap water and nibbling on rice crackers!

Where to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th . . .

Before we get on a plane in 4 days time (!!!) we should let you all know where we are heading . . .
Our first six weeks are pretty much set in concrete. 
First stop Melbourne, Australia (1 week) to catch up with Mum and Dad, my sisters and their families, Uncle Fred and friends we haven't seen for awhile.  We can't wait to pound the pavement through the city streets, sample all the Easter goodies in Melbourne's famous foodie halls and try to catch the Autumn leaves as they fall in the gardens (something we really miss living in Auckland are the colours of Autumn).
Second stop Singapore (2 weeks) to catch up with Glenn's bro and his family and to celebrate G's mum's 70th birthday.  Here we're hoping to experience the atmosphere of the night markets and the world famous zoo at twilight.  The girls will just want to get as much cousin time in as possible!
Third stop (which is actually a little side trip from Singapore for 4 days) Phuket, Thailand.  The girls can't wait to take an elephant trek and go snorkelling.
Fourth stop Dubai, UAE (4 days) just because we're flying Emirates and G and the the girls have never been.  We have booked the iconic Twilight Dune Safari and of course the girls want to spend a day at Wadi's Water Park.
Fifth stop Cape Town, South Africa (5 days) for some R& R after the first four stops!  Hopefully the sun will shine on Table Mountain and we'll make it to the top.
Sixth stop Johannesburg, South Africa where we will depart for our 14 day Southern Magic Camping Safari.  Hoping to see the Big 5 and all their friends. 
Last stop for our set in concrete part of the trip London, England.  Straight off the plane, onto a train and out to Upminster to pick up our Motorhome (which has been waiting for us for 6 weeks already!)
After that the plans are there are no plans - may the road take us . . . wherever
For 11 months we will be tiki touring around the UK and Europe taking in as much as we can, schooling the girls as we go (it helps that Glenn is a teacher in this instance) and having family FUN time.
If we don't find a fabulous little cottage tucked away in the French or Italian countryside we will be dropping the Motorhome back in London early in 2013 so it can be shipped back to New Zealand and we will catch a flight to New York to take in a couple of months worth of America and Canada before heading home.
Whew . . .

The Storage Unit Jigsaw Puzzle . . .

2 weeks to go and the mad rush to get everything done is in full swing.  We've just spent the weekend making trips between our house and the storage unit we have hired, about a 40km round trip.  Up and down the motorway too many times to count.  But what a fabulous place . . . 3 stories high with white corridors that just seem endless, broken only by padlocked doors every few metres.  My good friend Mariana likened it to a modern prison.  PPP - Possession Protection Prison.  Taashi and Tilly loved it!  They spent the day racing trolleys up and down the lift and winding their way through the corridors.  As a result of good family team work our house is pretty much a ghost house furniture wise.  We're all sleeping on mattrasses on the floor (which the girls think is soooo much fun - it's like camping in your bedroom!).  There is no furniture left upstairs and just the essentials downstairs - TV, couches, table and chairs and the BBQ!  We managed to piece the storage unit jigsaw puzzle together really well - on our second attempt - and our fingers are crossed that all will fit in.  Otherwise everything is starting to fall into place now.  It's always the last minute things that catch you unawares but as the girls remind us every morning how many sleeps we have to go I don't think we are at risk of running out of time . . .