Top 5 Places Your Kids Would Love in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is in Malaysia and is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a place that many have as their dream vacation location and is a huge favorite during the winter months. That is because it is in the tropics and they have no winter so it’s always warm. It is also a great place to take the kids on a vacation and there are several promotions all year round. People are often surprised if I suggest Kuala Lumpur as a family holiday destination - it's not your first instinct, but the kids will adore it!

If you decide to go on a vacation to Kuala Lumpur with the kids or are already there, you might be wondering just what there is to do in this city. While there are numerous places to see and things to do, these ones in particular would interest the kids and they might even get an education out of it.

1. Petronas Twin Towers: Until 2004, these were the tallest towers in the world but still remain the world’s tallest twin towers. Designed by the architect Cesar Pelli, the twin towers as they are often called represent an architectural and structural wonder of glass and steel. Although it contains a fantastic mall and is home to the dancing fountains, what would really capture the imagination of your kids are: the sky bridge, which is accessible for about $1 and the small museum owned by the Petronas Oil Company. This museum has a section for school age kids.

2. Genting Highlands: Located just about 2 hours from Kuala Lumpur, Genting highlands is a playground for both adults and children. Your kids would have a wonderful time in any of the three different theme parks. It has an outdoor park, an indoor park and a water park.

3. Sunway Lagoon: Another place that you should not miss, especially if you are with kids is the Sunway Lagoon resorts. This has a lot of attractions packed in one location - The Parks alone consist of the Extreme Park, where much older kids would definitely enjoy; the water park which is fun for the whole family; the Scream park, the name says it all; the Amusement Park and the Wildlife Park, which is a huge hit among kids.

4. KL Butterfly Park: This is a natural habitat that was built for the butterflies and contains about 6,000 of them with 12, 00 different species. It is such a lovely experience with butterflies on beautiful flowers and some even landing on you. Kids and adults alike will be in awe. Just make sure you do not go when it is raining as the butterflies go into hiding then. Pick a nice sunny day.

5. KL Bird Park: This is the world’s largest covered bird park and houses over 3,000 birds from all around the world. Get to see birds like the Hornbill, Pelicans and the beautiful Flamingo, not to forget the Cockatoo.

There are many more interesting places to visit in Kuala Lumpur so if you find yourself there on vacation, don’t just stay in the hotel or limit your visit to the shopping malls. See the beauty of the city. Let your intuition guide you in your discovery of a new place.

5 Places Your Kids Would Love in Paris

Paris, France’s capital and largest city is located at the Northern part of the country, by the Seine River. It is a beautiful city, rich in history and art, and ranks among the top ten most liveable cities in the world. Popularly referred to as the world’s most romantic city, Paris is a magnet to over 27 million tourists annually. 

From its picturesque landscape to the horses and carriages, the roadside painters and the museums, Paris plays host to thousands of historical monuments including four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The wide range of available places can overwhelm a visitor to the city, particularly when travelling with kids. Kids have a way of not being impressed by the things which impress their parents. Thankfully, there are several places that kids would have fun in Paris. 

When visiting, plan to stop by any of these places, you kids would absolutely love it.

1. The Eiffel Tower: When people think of Paris the Eiffel tower is often what comes to mind and for a very good reason. It is one of the architectural wonders of the world and the kids would especially love going up the tower. The base of the tower is also filled with a lot of activities; make sure you buy some souvenirs to take home with you.

2. Disneyland Paris: Though not in Paris itself, Disneyland Paris is only a few miles outside the city. This Disneyland has two theme parks; Disneyland Park and the Walt Disney Studios Park. It would also be an experience to visit the Disney Village to catch an interesting show at the end of the day.

3. Paris Beach: Known as the Paris Plage in French, this is an artificial beach right in Paris but a great place for kids to have fun in summer. It is located on the banks of the Seine river and there are lots of activities for kids right there.

4. The Kids Museum: If you are in Paris, what you should be looking for is the Cite des enfant and it is part of the museum of science and industry. But this particular one is tailored for kids with hands-on activities to introduce them to science and technology. It is divided into several age groups and kids from ages 2 to 15 will find it fascinating.

5. Parc de la Vilette: If you are looking for musical concerts or exhibitions this park is a place you should consider. It is melting point of different cultures and concerts are scheduled all year round for local and international artists among other activities including the annual open air film festival. 

There is so much in Paris for the whole family to do. While it is okay to visit places like the Notre Dame Cathedral, if you insist on dragging the kids solely to these places you would soon have a mutiny on your hands. Spice up your visit; go to the places above, where you kids would have a fantastic time and help them build wonderful memories about this beautiful city.

3 Places to Experience in Melbourne

Melbourne Australia is a beautiful city. Everywhere you go, there is art in Melbourne; little wonder it is one of the fashion capitals of the world. But it is also much more than that. It is a place which has a vibe and energy that is easily contagious. When visiting, if you know where to look you would enjoy the best that Melbourne has to offer.

Great Otway National Park

There is no how you would be in Australia, within the vicinity and not stop by the Otway National Park. Home to one of the most beautiful rainforests, the Great Otway National Park also houses lovely waterfalls and fantastic terrain for the Great Ocean Walk which involves coastal hikes. Worth seeing are the Redwood forest near Apollo Bay and the rainforest and waterfalls which are near Lorne.

If you really want to explore the park, one day is not sufficient as there is just so much to do. Starting from hiking the Great Ocean Walk to camping; the campsite is great for kids. It is large without a lot of disturbance so that there is enough space for the kids to play around. The Old Beechy Rail Trail does not run too far from it too.

Some main attractions are the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures. This is a treetop walk that allows visitors to see the rainforest from above. For most kids though, the highlight would be the Prehistoric Path, which allows them to travel back in time to a period when dinosaurs roamed the land.

This lovely park would afford great delights to kids and the adults with them. It is often neglected by tourists who have never been before but is absolutely worth the detour and you would be unable to resist going back for more.

The Puffing Billy Steam Train

This has been dubbed Australia’s favorite steam train and sitting inside one during a ride, it is easy to understand why. It is actually Australia’s oldest steam railway and is very well preserved. The wonder of the Puffing Billy though is not just the age of the train, even though that is quite impressive considering it is a Century old. The main delight is the route through which it runs; 24 kilometers of sheer beauty and splendor as it moves through the forests from Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park and then Gembrook. There are so many historic and scenic spots along the way such as Trestle Bridge and the Cuckatoo station.

The Studley Park Boathouse

This is the perfect place for the whole family to have a scenic picnic. The boathouse is by the river banks and there is enough space there for your kids to run around and play and if they have their bikes or scooters with them, even better.

You can hire a rowboat or a canoe and take the whole family out for a fun day on the river. Kids particularly love feeding the ducks there. Kids love Studley Park because they can play around and have fun. And parents love it because they can watch their kids play around from where they are relaxing. It is win-win for both.

If you are ever in Melbourne or maybe you even live there, make an effort to get your children immersed in nature in a way they would absolutely love.

The Day I Grew Up...

Have you ever had one of those moments in your life when it suddenly hits you like a bolt of lightning. A light bulb pops over your head and the penny drops. You suddenly drop whatever you are doing and shout...

'Oh My God! I have become my father!'

Fear not. It happens to us all, it's that one irrefutable sign that despite our very best efforts, we have in fact matured into responsible adults. I had one such moment today. Here I am, sitting in a Polish bar watching Portugal secure a place in the next round of Euro 2012, when I am struck by a moment of panic. I suddenly asked myself 'Did I shut off the water before I left home?' I started to fret so much that I actually rang my dad to go round and check that I had done it! I'm pretty sure there was a hint of pride in his voice when he agreed to do it for me!

Of course the incident earned me no end of ribbing from my buddies, but I brushed it off because it is actually an important thing to do if you will be away from home for an extended period of time. It is a great way to minimize the risk of any water damage while you are away enjoying your holiday. So laugh they might, but they will not be the ones laughing if they return to a basement flood now will they?

I learned my 5 step checklist from watching my dad as a kid and its become something of a holiday ritual, so I thought I'd share it with you all!

1. Check the plumbing and water heater for signs of leaks or damage. This includes appliance hoses.
2. Make sure gutters and drainpipes are clear of debris. Do the same for the sump pump.
3. If it's winter insulate the pipes in case of freezing.
4. Ask someone to check in every few days.
5. If no one can check the house while you are gone, turn of the water main.

So there you have it! Johannes' Dad's top tips for avoiding waterdamage while on holiday.

Wandering in Warsaw

As I mentioned a few days ago, I made the journey to Poland this weekend to soak up the atmosphere of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament. Funnily enough, I never cared too much for soccer until we hosted the World Cup in 2010 and from then on I was hooked! So when my buddy Renier suggested we hop over to Poland for a little break I jumped at the chance. We haven't actually got tickets to any matches – we might pick some up here in Poland, but we really just came for the atmosphere.

We flew into Warsaw, Poland from Johannesburg on Friday night via Amsterdam. It was a 17 hour trip with a 4 over stop in Amsterdam, but it was actually worth it! This is my first time in Poland, and aside from the football there is actually plenty to see and do. We have already been to visit the Chopin Museum and have plans to take in the Palace of Culture and Science, The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Royal Route over the coming week.

The strange thing is, if it hadn't been for soccer I would most likely have never added Poland to the list. And yet here I am having a lovely time and browsing through tourist information for cities other than Warsaw with a view to coming back later with my girlfriend. It has really made me think about what other countries or cities I might be missing out on. I need to rethink my strategy when it comes to thinking of places I would like to visit! Just for example, a friend is just back from Israel and loved every minute, yet I would never consider it as a holiday destination. I need to start thinking outside of the travel agent box and broaden my horizons. There is a whole word out there ready for me to explore!

Attitudes Around The World

When I am on my travels, one of the things that really catches my interest is the various styles and fashions each different culture exhibits. One thing that has really stood out for me is the difference in the attitude to body modification from country to country!

Coming from South Africa, I have a fairly good grasp on the history of body modification from my research of local African tribes. It was (and actually still is) commonplace for rite of passage and certain rituals to include scarification or some other form of permanent marking and tribes across Africa, South East Asia and the Americas also have a long history of piercings, especially those enlarged with large discs. That is where the modern forms of body modification come from. However, it is so different depending on where you go.

In my personal opinion, the most extreme cases are in Japan where 'bagel heads' are the height of fashion! That's people who have a bagel shaped object implanted under the skin on the forehead surgically! In the UK tattoos are popular as are some forms of body piercing including tongue, eyebrow and belly button. Germany is also big on all types of body modification including tattooing, piercing, implanting and scarification! The USA too seem to have an affinity for making holes in their bodies! At the other end of the scale some places frown on the practice. In Argentina, men should not even sport earrings never mind any other body piercing!

It's just one of the reason's that I really enjoy travelling. It opens up a world of cultures and learning that I just could not get at home. Not just about tolerance , or lack of, regarding body modification, but also about many other issues like clothing, food, religion and politics. I find it so interesting learning about customs and traditions as we move from place to place. My girlfriend and I actually keep a travel journal, and we mark in it useful titbits to keep us out of trouble. For example, which countries it is safe for her to wear shorts rather than a skirt or whether or not a tip would offend. It's like our bible!

It's All About The Journey

When it comes to travelling, people often wonder why I can't seem to keep my feet in one place! Sure, everyone goes on trips maybe once or twice a year, but me? I like to go much more often. I go on at least 2 major vacations every year – 2 weeks or more, but then I also like to take weekend breaks and road trips most weekends. I am lucky that my job allows me the freedom to do this. I can shove a laptop in my bag and head off late on a Thursday night, knowing I'll just catch a few hours work on the road and come home on Monday. That sort of freedom really suits me.

I'm what my father liked to call a free spirit. I don't like to be cooped up or tied down. I am always scanning the horizon for my next adventure! A large amount of my travel takes me to various parts of my beautiful home country of South Africa. That's how it began. Growing up in Johannesburg I was raised a city boy, but I saw in books and on television, all the wild parts of the country and I wanted to experience them too. I was desperate to go to the game parks, to the beaches and to all the various sights and experiences that South Africa has to offer. When I was in college, my buddies and I took our very first road trip and hit Durban for a long weekend. I had never left Jo-burg before that day! It was a revelation. The way of life in Durban is so much more relaxed and laid back than here in Johannesburg. I had never felt more alive than on that trip.

It's not that I don't love living in Johannesburg, but for me it's not just about seeing new places – it's also about the journey. I love the whole process of getting to my destination. I think that's what is really appealing about travel. That's what pulls me towards the next plane, the next train, the next auto-mobile! I love the excitement of setting off. The anticipation of wondering what my new destination will be like. I'm setting off to Poland this weekend to take in some of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament, I'll be sure to blog about my experiences there!