Thailand here we come

We have been busily planning our holiday to Thailand this last couple of weeks. We live on Sept 12. Our itinerary is as follows

Arrive Kuala Lumpur - Zoo & Bird/Deer park etc (2 days)
Train to Butterworth and Ferry to Penang - George town (3 days)
Train to Bangkok - floating markets kings palace etc (2 days)
Chaing Mai - including 2 day trek and elephant experience (5 days total)
Chaing Rai - Akha village Ikoh San Yuek, Hilltribe Developments and Welfare Center in Amphoe Mae Chan and Mai Sai (Myanmar border) (4 days?)
Golden triangle - Chiang Khong cross Laos border to Huay Xai - 2 day slow boat journey to Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang - Pak-Ou Caves and waterfalls, Temples, weavers, revolutionary museum etc
(2 days)
Travel to Vientianne - sightseeing 2 days
Train from Nong Khai to Bangkok - for some shopping before heading home.

We are away for 4 weeks in total. I was hoping to do some Wwoofing but our time is short and David is not keen to work during his holiday - which is completely understandable.

It is quite daunting looking at all the places we are craming into our 4 weeks, but there will be a few quiet days along the way - like the 2 day boat trip in Laos.

Cant wait to start packing!

money troubles

We are in the process of buying a new car at the moment and i am feeling so stressed. Our old car is quickly fading away and we need to act now.... but i am so worried about the finances. I am mindful that we only have a few more years when the kids will be home full time and so we want to get a car we can travel around in - interstate holidays and the like - and know we will make it to our destinations and back without any issues. But then there is the money... Having 2 pre-teen boys keeps the bank balance drained most weeks. Its all about choices i suppose - what we need to give up in order to afford a nice new (used) car.

I probably just need to rethink our spending strategy. We need this new car and I just have to accept that rather than stressing about it. Maybe i can pick up a few more shifts at work??

reflecting

Stephanie: Today i have been considering my life. I would love to be content with just parenting my boys and homeschooling happily in our little community.... But I feel there is so much more to me, to life, to being a responsible participant on this earth. I want to be involved in peaceful solutions for the earth. I want to toss around great ideas and see them fulfilled..... I want to move and renovate and grow gardens and help my neighbours with their pergola and go out for coffee..... and in all the little decisions i faced today I wondered whether it is better to be content and struggling, or to go with the flow but do it tough (if you undertand that ??!!).

Who knows... for now i will just reflect.

Christmas 2005 with my mum, hubby and kids.